[{"UniqueID":290917,"EventID":"S4W-19067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-03T15:12:01.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-03T13:49:20.903","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that using the 5% uplift to basic payments for farmers whose holdings are wholly or partly in areas of natural constraint would impact on less favoured area payments under Pillar 2.","AnswerText":"The recently published CAP Regulations state that any payments for Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) made under Pillar 1 must be taken into account when calculating any ANC, payments to be made under Pillar 2 and make it clear there shall be no double funding of measures that can be financed through both pillars.\r\nIn addition, using the Pillar 1 ANC payment would require us to use the new ANC land eligibility designations immediately, which would result in disruption to the current less favoured areas (LFA) system.\r\nHowever, if we do not use then Pillar 1 ANC payment, then the regulations give us until 2018 to change from the LFA to ANC land designations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-17T15:12:01.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290918,"EventID":"S4W-19068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-03T15:12:02.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-03T13:49:20.903","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent guidance it has received from the European Commission on the impact of using the 5% uplift to basic payments for farmers in areas of natural constraint on less favoured area payments under Pillar 2.","AnswerText":"In addition to the text of the CAP Regulations, Member States have received a draft guidance fiche for “Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints” under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. This includes guidance regarding payments under Pillar 1 which confirms it should not be a duplication of the scheme in rural development, and that any payment received under Pillar 1 is taken into account when calculating the payment under Pillar 2.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-17T15:12:02.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290923,"EventID":"S4W-19069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T13:40:28.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-03T14:57:00.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Lanarkshire has stopped supplying bump support belts free of charge to pregnant women and, if so, for what reason.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has contacted NHS Lanarkshire which has provided the following response:\r\nBump support belts have not been supplied by NHS Lanarkshire for the last few years. The decision to stop supplying the belts was taken by the physiotherapy service four years ago. This was based on feedback from women who had used the belts and lack of evidence of their effectiveness. The board’s understanding is that there have been no negative reports regarding the withdrawal of bump support belts, but it is undertaking a further review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T13:40:28.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290924,"EventID":"S4W-19070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T13:40:29.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-05T22:54:48.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the £3 million hardship fund for fishermen announced on 25 July 2013, broken down by region. \r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is shown in the following table: \r\nCONSTITUENCY\r\nNUMBER OF APPLICATIONS\r\nAngus\r\n2\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n14\r\nAyr\r\n1\r\nBanff and Buchan\r\n81\r\nCaithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross\r\n4\r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n1\r\nCentral Fife\r\n1\r\nCunninghame North and Greenock and Inverclyde\r\n7\r\nEast Lothian\r\n5\r\nGalloway and Upper Nithsdale\r\n1\r\nInverness East, Nairn and Lochaber\r\n1\r\nMoray\r\n16\r\nNorth East Fife\r\n12\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n7\r\nRoss, Skye and Inverness West\r\n15\r\nRoxburgh and Berwickshire\r\n7\r\nShetland Islands\r\n23\r\nWest Aberdeenshire and Kincardine\r\n1\r\nWestern Isles\r\n5\r\nOutwith Scotland or unknown\r\n14\r\nTOTAL\r\n218\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T13:40:29.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290925,"EventID":"S4W-19071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T13:40:30.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-05T15:57:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18312 by Keith Brown on 25 November 2013,   what funding it will provide to local authorities to help deliver parking enforcement services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with over £10.3 billion in 2013-14. The vast majority of this funding is being provided by means of a block grant.\r\nIt is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T13:40:30.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290926,"EventID":"S4W-19072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T13:40:30.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-05T15:57:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the need for the provision of traffic warden services and whether it considers that these should be delivered by each local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The management of traffic and the provision of a traffic warden service is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Whether parking enforcement should be delivered locally is a matter for each local authority to consider based on its own local needs and priorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T13:40:30.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290927,"EventID":"S4W-19073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T13:40:31.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T09:52:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whole time equivalent staff were employed by NHS Lothian (a) at the highest point on record and (b) in September 2013.","AnswerText":"The number of whole time equivalent staff employed by NHS Lothian (excluding General Practitioners and General Dental services) is 19,069.1 as at 30 September 2013.\r\nThis is the highest number of staff in NHS Lothian on record.\r\nThe number of staff employed by NHS Lothian from 2002 to 2013 can be found at: https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2013-11-26/Overall_Trend_S2013.xls?35312397.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T13:40:31.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290938,"EventID":"S4T-00552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:36.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:38:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent discovery of six badger carcasses near Peebles, whether it is content with Police Scotland’s resource allocation for detecting and preventing wildlife crimes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:36.213","MeetingDate":"2014-01-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290939,"EventID":"S4T-00555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:37.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T11:25:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to recent flooding in Dumfriesshire and across the country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:37.4","MeetingDate":"2014-01-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290940,"EventID":"S4F-01800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:15.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:18:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:16.003","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290941,"EventID":"S4F-01801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:16.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:29:22.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that schools, pupils and teachers are adequately prepared for the new National 4 and 5 qualifications.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:16.657","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290942,"EventID":"S4F-01803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:18.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:52:44.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on the Scottish economy of a reported additional £25 billion reduction in spending planned by the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:18.047","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290943,"EventID":"S4F-01804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:18.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T11:09:46.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:18.327","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290944,"EventID":"S4F-01805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:18.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T11:18:40.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to increase childcare provision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:18.59","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290945,"EventID":"S4F-01808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T12:29:19.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T11:29:55.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to deal with perpetrators of serious sexual offences.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T12:29:19.48","MeetingDate":"2014-01-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290951,"EventID":"S4W-19074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:24.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:07:03.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many funding applications for transport infrastructure projects have been (a) received and (b) granted by the Scottish Futures Trust in each year since its inception and what the value was of each.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure investment in Scotland by working collaboratively with public bodies and industry, leading to better value for money and ultimately improved public services.\r\nThe bulk of SFT budget is to cover their running costs, around 3/4 of which, is staff costs. They do not generally allocate funding for transport infrastructure or other projects. However, since the spending review 2011, an asset management fund of £1 million per annum (capital) has been established, which is administered by SFT. This contributes to significant savings across the Scottish Government arising from improvements in asset management.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:24.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290952,"EventID":"S4W-19075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:24.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:07:03.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Futures Trust staff have been seconded from the private sector in each year since its inception and from which companies.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of secondments to the Scottish Futures Trust since its inception, broken down by private sector company, is provided in the following table:\r\nCompany\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nBrodies LLP\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\nBurness LLP\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\nCaledonian Economics Ltd\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\nDundas & Wilson CS LLP\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\nErnst & Young\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGleeds Management Services\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGrant Thornton UK LLP\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n1\r\nKeppie Design\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLeighFisher\r\n(trading name of Jacobs Consultancy Ltd)\r\n1\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\nMacRoberts LLP\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMcGrigors LLP\r\n1\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOve Arup & Partners Scotland Ltd\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\nPWC\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nQuayle Munro Project Finance LLP\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\nRyden LLP\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\nShepherd & Wedderburn\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSkanska Scotland\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\nTOTAL\r\n7\r\n3\r\n5\r\n1\r\n5\r\nSource: Information provided by the Scottish Futures Trust\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:24.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290953,"EventID":"S4W-19076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:24.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:07:03.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Futures Trust regarding the funding of maritime infrastructure projects and how many such projects have received funding from the trust since its inception.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Futures Trust to discuss areas of mutual interest.\r\nThe aim of the Scottish Futures Trust is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure investment in Scotland by working collaboratively with public bodies and industry, leading to better value for money and ultimately improved public services. It has not funded any maritime infrastructure projects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:24.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290954,"EventID":"S4W-19077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:24.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:07:03.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what planning protections there are for ports and maritime infrastructure.\r\n","AnswerText":"While there are no specific protections within the marine or terrestrial planning systems, local planning authorities set out policies in their development plans that guide development to appropriate places.\r\nThe Draft National Marine Plan for Scotland contains a policy to ensure maintenance, repair and development of port and harbour facilities are supported in marine planning and decision making with regards to other plan sectors. These include renewables, fishing, marine tourism and recreational activities. The draft plan was consulted on in 2013 and responses are currently being considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:24.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290955,"EventID":"S4W-19081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:25.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T14:49:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Dumfries and Galloway Council’s bid for £460,000 from the Town Centre Housing Fund was unsuccessful.","AnswerText":"We announced successful Town Centre Housing Fund projects on 26 December 2013. Details of these can be accessed on our website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/town-centres/housing-fund \r\nWe have informed the individual applicants of the outcome of the Town Centre Housing Fund and have invited all those who have been unsuccessful to discuss their bid directly with officials in the Regeneration Unit. As we will provide full feedback to applicants in the first instance, I would encourage the member to discuss this specific project with the local authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:25.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290956,"EventID":"S4W-19082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:25.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T14:49:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered funding part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s bid for funding from the Town Centre Housing Fund and, if so, for what reason it did not do so.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19081 on 16 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx. \r\nApplications were assessed in their entirety against the core criteria for the fund, strategic fit, quality and sustainability, value for money and fit with other town centre initiatives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:25.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290957,"EventID":"S4W-19083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:26.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T14:49:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which areas of Dumfries and Galloway receive a full flood warning service from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and whether it plans to fund an increase in the provision of this service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has continuously funded improvements to Flood Warning in Scotland including providing the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) with £8.6 million to enhance their flood warning service by implementing Floodline’s Direct Warning Service, and establishing the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (a partnership between SEPA and the Met Office to provide early warning to local authorities, emergency services and other partners in Scotland through a daily flood guidance statement) at an annual cost of around £560,000. We have also committed to continue to fund the implementation of SEPA’s Flood Warning Strategy and have provided £189,000 for improvements to flood warning in 2013-14.\r\nSEPA’s current service in Dumfries and Galloway includes flood alerts, which cover the whole region and are issued when SEPA forecasts that 'flooding is possible' anywhere in the region. It is an early alert to help people prepare for dealing with the possibility of flooding, generally issued up to 24 hours in advance. However it is not a targeted flood warning at community level.\r\nSEPA offers more specific targeted flood warnings at about 250 locations in Scotland where there are a network of rain gauges and flow gauges sufficient to forecast flooding conditions with more accuracy. In Dumfries and Galloway, SEPA currently provides such a flood warning service for the River Nith in Dumfries, Whitesands.\r\nIn 2014, SEPA will extend the River Nith flood forecasting model upstream of Dumfries. The initial plans were for one additional flood warning location immediately upstream of Dumfries, however, following the flood event of 30 December 2013, SEPA is currently considering the feasibility of extending the model further upstream to include Kirkconnel.\r\nAs published in the 2012-2016 Flood Warning Strategy, SEPA is also planning to develop a new coastal flood warning scheme for the Solway Firth in 2015. The communities which will benefit from this new warning scheme will be defined in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council and will take full account of the recent flood impacts.\r\nWe are also in early discussions with SEPA about extending the warning service in other areas recently affected by flooding in Dumfries and Galloway; such developments require detailed feasibility and cost assessments which will be undertaken in 2014-15.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service can also provide partners with specific advice on areas not covered by formal flood warning schemes, such as estimates of rainfall totals for specific areas and communities which may be impacted. Dumfries and Galloway receives the full benefit of this service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:26.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290958,"EventID":"S4W-19084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:26.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T14:49:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact was of opening the sluice gates on Loch Doon on 30 December 2013 on flooding in (a) Moniaive and (b) other areas of Dumfries and Galloway.","AnswerText":"Reservoir operators are required to manage reservoir levels in such a way as to protect the operational integrity of the dam and the integrity of the surrounding area.\r\nWhilst Moniaive did experience flooding on 30 December 2013, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has advised that this was not as a result of hydro scheme operations but rather as a result of heavy rainfall within the Cairn Water catchment (noting that Loch Doon is not part of the Cairn Water catchment) which resulted in several watercourses breaking their banks and impacting on properties in the area. SEPA rain gauges in the area recorded 80mm of rain, which equates to a 1 in 33 year return period rainfall event.\r\nThroughout the event, Scottish Power informed SEPA, the local authority and the Police of their sluice gates operation at Loch Doon.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:26.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290959,"EventID":"S4W-19087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-06T17:14:27.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T16:09:13.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discounted rates are available for commercial traffic using CalMac Ferries; on which routes these discounts apply; what the eligibility criteria are; what companies are eligible and how much they can save; what companies have applied for discounts, and whether details of these discounts are publicly available.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is set out in Table 1.\r\nTable 1:\r\nDiscount\r\nApplicableRoutes\r\nEligibility\r\nCriteria\r\nWhat Companies are Eligible?\r\nHow much\r\ncan be saved?\r\nAre details publicly available?\r\nLive Seafood Transport\r\nRET Routes\r\nVehicles over 6.0m used for the conveyance of live shellfish are permitted to travel free in one direction when empty (except for pier dues where applicable)\r\nNo restriction\r\nThe cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route.\r\nActual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.\r\n\r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria. \r\nHay Lorries\r\nRET Routes\r\nWhen empty, they are carried free of charge (except for pier dues where applicable).\r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nThe cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route.\r\nActual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.\r\n\r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nHay Lorries\r\n\r\nNon RET Routes\r\nProvided the lorry is returning empty there is a 50% discount on both outward and return journeys.\r\n\r\nWhere a cattle float containing hay or straw is travelling to the island to uplift animals and will be paying the full commercial rate on the return journey then the outward journey will be charged at 50% of the commercial rate. \r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nUp to 50% discount on a return trip.\r\n\r\n\r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nLivestock Floats (including horse transporters)\r\nAll Routes\r\nWhen empty, they are carried free of charge (except for pier dues, where applicable).\r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nThe cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route.  \r\n\r\nActual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.\r\n\r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nLivestock Floats (including horse transporters)\r\nHeadage Rate Only\r\nAll Routes\r\nIf a float is travelling to uplift animals or making a return journey having carried animals in the other leg and would normally be empty, it is permitted to carry cattle or sheep at the headage rate. \r\n\r\nUp to 12m – 5 cattle or 30 sheep\r\nOver 12m – 10 cattle or 50 sheep.\r\n\r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nActual cost depends on the number of beasts being transported. \r\n\r\nSaving therefore depends on length of vehicle, route and the number of beasts being transported. \r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nFarm Tractors (towing wheeled implements)\r\nAll Routes\r\nTowing wheeled implements other than trailers, travelling from an island for repair and then returning to the island, only the implement should be charged.\r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nThe cost of a single ticket for the tractor and driver on the chosen route.  \r\n\r\nActual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.\r\n\r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nFarm Tractors\r\nAll Routes\r\nTractors travelling alone (i.e. not towing) should be charged the appropriate motorhome rate.\r\n\r\nNo restriction\r\nDepends on route and length of vehicle. \r\nNot published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.\r\nTraders Rebate Scheme\r\nAll Routes -with the exception of routes that formed part of  the original RET pilot, namely Ullapool– Stornoway, Uig–Tarbert/Lochmaddy, Oban–Castlebay/Lochboisdale, plus the Mallaig-Lochboisdale winter pilot.\r\n\r\n \r\nThe rebate is calculated on the basis of a numeral which relates to the commercial vehicle operator's annual estimated future turnover and proposed number of journeys. It is calculated on a route by route basis for all operators. The rebates are on a scale from 2.5% up t","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-20T17:14:27.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290961,"EventID":"S4W-19078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:05.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:30:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18758 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 December 2013, how many people who were not Scottish Government civil servants (a) worked in any capacity, and (b) advised on the white paper, broken down by (i) job title, (ii) role and (iii) start and end dates.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18197 on 3 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:05.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290962,"EventID":"S4W-19080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:05.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T10:30:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many non-civil servants it has contracted since 2007 to (a) engage in work and (b) advise on independence, broken down by (i) job title, (ii) role, (iii) remuneration and (iv) start and end dates. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18197 on 3 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:05.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290963,"EventID":"S4W-19085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:06.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T15:35:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how often and (b) when members of the Scottish Police Authority have visited the Police Scotland control room in Dumfries.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). You may contact the Interim Chief Executive of SPA, John Foley, at: Scottish Police Authority, Elphinstone House, 65 West Regent Street, Glasgow, G2 2AF.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:06.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290964,"EventID":"S4W-19086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:07.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T15:35:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how often and (b) when Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board members have visited the service's control room in Dumfries.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:07.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290965,"EventID":"S4W-19094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:07.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T16:18:47.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector jobs are based in Aberdeen and how this compares with other cities in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) provides estimates of employment by industry sector, including a breakdown of the public and private sector at local authority level. The latest data cover 2012.\r\nPublic sector employment in Scottish cities, 2012\r\nLocal authority\r\nPublic sector employees\r\nAberdeen City\r\n32,900\r\nDundee City\r\n23,700\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n88,200\r\nGlasgow City\r\n87,700\r\nSource: Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), ONS\r\nNotes: \r\n1. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred.\r\n2. Estimates available at local authority level, therefore data are not presented for Stirling or Inverness, where the city lies within a larger authority area.\r\n3. BRES does not include employment within HM Forces.\r\n4. 2012 estimates are provisional.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:07.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290966,"EventID":"S4W-19095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:08.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T16:18:47.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is of any increased travelling costs for (a) Aberdeen City Council, (b) Police Scotland Aberdeen City Division and (c) local voluntary agencies as a result of the closure of HMP Aberdeen and the relocation of prisoners to HMP Grampian.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:08.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290967,"EventID":"S4W-19096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:08.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T16:18:47.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what account it will take of the number of (a) offices and services run by national agencies and (b) other Scottish Government-funded public sector jobs in Aberdeen when allocating resources.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s allocation of resources is driven by the Scottish Government’s purpose: to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth.\r\nThe Scottish Government and public bodies have policy and delivery functions across Scotland. Any regional allocation of central Scottish Government resources, such as to health boards and local authorities, is typically managed through objective formula incorporating indicators such as population, deprivation and rurality.\r\nIt is for individual agencies, in collaboration with their community planning partners, to determine the appropriate regional distribution of the resources under their control.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:08.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290968,"EventID":"S4W-19097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:08.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T18:01:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing section 122 (2) of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 122 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (2011 Act) relates to access to advocacy services for children attending children’s hearings. To date, this section has not been commenced.\r\nScottish Government officials have undertaken detailed discussions with relevant partners via the Voice of the Child Group to scope out a range of models and consider possible future options for advocacy services for children in the modernised children’s hearings system.\r\nThe structural and procedural changes flowing from the 2011 Act took effect in June 2013, and will be subject to benefits review in 2014. We will commence section 122 of the 2011 Act and introduce the associated regulations when we are satisfied that new services can be suitably designed and sustainably resourced for the young people within the hearings system that want and need this provision.\r\nOther related activity is being progressed to support vulnerable children and the ‘voice of the child’ measures within the 2011 Act, including guidance for the provision of advocacy services for children. In December the Scottish Government supported the recommendations in the LACSIG Mentoring Hub Report which calls for the development of a national mentoring scheme for looked after children. In the first half of 2014 initial Scottish Government funding will support work on the identification of mentors and the current availability of services. This activity will inform our understanding of the demand for, and benefits of, advocacy provision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:08.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290969,"EventID":"S4W-19098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:10.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T18:01:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to produce regulations for the provision of children's advocacy services as set out in section 122 (4) of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19097 on 16 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:10.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290970,"EventID":"S4W-19099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:10.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T18:01:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to enter into arrangements for the provision of children's advocacy services as set out in section 122 (5) of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19097 on 16 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:10.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290971,"EventID":"S4W-19100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:10.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T10:25:30.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of private tenancy deposits has been paid into a protected deposit scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:10.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290972,"EventID":"S4W-19101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T13:55:11.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T11:36:26.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will commence Part 3, Chapter 1 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is implementing the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 in a phased manner and commencement of Part 3 will be considered following the approval of a regulator of new licensed legal services providers as set out in Part 2.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T13:55:11.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290984,"EventID":"S4W-19102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T16:59:43.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T11:55:26.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Announced Inspection Report - care for older people in acute hospitals: Balfour Hospital, NHS Orkney.","AnswerText":"We expect NHS Orkney to work with the management and staff of Balfour Hospital to address the issues identified as requiring improvement and to ensure the action plan is fully implemented.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T16:59:43.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290985,"EventID":"S4W-19103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T16:59:44.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T15:15:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people on average per month reported sleeping rough the night before making a homelessness application in each year since 2006-07.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the average number of homeless applications per month where any member of the household slept rough on the night immediately preceding the date of application:\r\nYear\r\n\r\n2006-\r\n2007\r\n2007-\r\n2008\r\n2008-\r\n2009\r\n2009-\r\n2010\r\n2010-\r\n2011\r\n2011-\r\n2012\r\n2012-\r\n2013\r\nMonthly \r\nAverage\r\n323\r\n286\r\n275\r\n229\r\n210\r\n163\r\n145\r\nA further breakdown of the number of people within each application who slept rough on the night before making the application is not held centrally.\r\nSource: HL1 Dataset 10 January 2014.\r\nFurther information on homelessness statistics are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T16:59:44.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290986,"EventID":"S4W-19104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T16:59:44.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T15:16:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18805 by Michael Russell on 7 January 2014, whether it will address the issue raised in the question.\r\n","AnswerText":"The answer to S4W-18805 addressed the member’s question about ‘regional college boards’, which she repeats in this question. It may be that the member has in mind safeguarding against profligacy on the part of regional strategic bodies, in which case, the following measures may be pertinent:\r\nThe Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will have power to impose terms and conditions on grants made to regional strategic bodies. \r\nRegional strategic bodies will have a duty when making plans to have regard to ensuring that the funds it receives from the SFC are used as economically, efficiently and effectively as possible.\r\nRegional strategic bodies will have a duty to have regard to the desirability of preventing unnecessary duplication with actions by Scottish Ministers or the SFC in relation to monitoring college performance.\r\nWhere relevant, it would be for the SFC to identify whether minimising overheads was reflected in any principles of governance that regional strategic bodies would be required to comply.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T16:59:44.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290987,"EventID":"S4W-19105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T16:59:45.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T15:50:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of each project subject to a funded service level agreement by NHS Lothian under its Strategic Mental Health Interventions Fund from 2013 to 2016.","AnswerText":"No information is held centrally on projects funded under NHS Lothian’s Mental Health Strategic Programme Budget.\r\nWhile the Scottish Government sets the national direction of mental health policy, for example through the Mental Health Strategy: 2012-15, the management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities, are the responsibility of relevant local agencies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T16:59:45.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290988,"EventID":"S4W-19106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-07T16:59:45.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T15:50:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what decision-making process NHS Lothian carried out prior to agreeing funding from its Strategic Mental Health Interventions Fund for 2013 to 2016.","AnswerText":"No information is held centrally on the decision making process relating to NHS Lothian’s Mental Health Strategic Programme Budget.\r\nWhile the Scottish Government sets the national direction of mental health policy, for example through the Mental Health Strategy: 2012-15, the management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities, are the responsibility of relevant local agencies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-21T16:59:45.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290989,"EventID":"S4O-02777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:44.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:15.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what employment initiatives it is supporting in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:44.67","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290990,"EventID":"S4O-02778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:45.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:15.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to assist the staff of Ortak Jewellery Ltd following the company's closure.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:45.357","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290991,"EventID":"S4O-02779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:45.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:16.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the subject of a compulsory purchase order can complain about how the process is being conducted.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:45.67","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290992,"EventID":"S4O-02780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:45.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:16.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what response it has received from the UK Government to its request that money collected from the opencast coal industry in Scotland should be made available to fund the legacy of Scotland’s unrestored opencast sites.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:45.92","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290993,"EventID":"S4O-02781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:46.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:17.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what further budget projections and policy costings for an independent Scotland it will publish before the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:46.183","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290994,"EventID":"S4O-02782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:46.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:17.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recommendations of the interim report by Sir Ian Wood on the oil and gas industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:46.467","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290995,"EventID":"S4O-02783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:46.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T10:57:10.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help credit unions meet increased demand for their services.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:46.683","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290996,"EventID":"S4O-02784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:46.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:17.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of CBI Scotland and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:46.963","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290997,"EventID":"S4O-02785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:47.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:18.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports job creation in north Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:47.277","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290998,"EventID":"S4O-02786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:47.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T09:59:31.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding a new exhibition and conference centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:47.62","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":290999,"EventID":"S4O-02787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:47.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T14:39:55.12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact would be of the proposals on childcare outlined in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:47.98","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291000,"EventID":"S4O-02788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:48.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:19.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the the Scottish Government when it last met Energy UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:48.273","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291001,"EventID":"S4O-02789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:48.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:19.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic benefits to Scotland  are of the revenues from North Sea oil.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:48.54","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291002,"EventID":"S4O-02790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:48.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T16:37:05.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance the role of community councils.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:48.947","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291003,"EventID":"S4O-02791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:49.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:20.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its small business bonus scheme supports businesses in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:49.21","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291004,"EventID":"S4O-02792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:49.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:12:51.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent Financial Times survey on how a vote for independence would affect the Scottish economy and the rest of the UK in 2014. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:49.523","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291005,"EventID":"S4O-02793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:49.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:20.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to small businesses.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution small businesses make to our economy and is committed to maintaining a supportive environment to assist them to grow and thrive.\r\nSmall businesses are benefiting from policies which: improve business support; reduce the burden of taxation and regulation; improve access to finance; help recruitment; and support the development of new ideas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:49.773","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291006,"EventID":"S4O-02794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:50.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:20.967","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing regarding the future financing of the NHS.","AnswerText":"We understand how important our public services are to the people of Scotland and value an NHS that is publicly owned and appropriately funded.\r\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and I meet regularly to ensure that our resources are effectively and sustainably targeted at delivering better outcomes for the people of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:50.1","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291007,"EventID":"S4O-02795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:50.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:04:21.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on HM Treasury figures that suggest that Scotland has experienced larger budget reductions than London and south east England.","AnswerText":"These figures underline that decisions on Scotland’s economy and public finances should be taken in an independent Scotland. Not only have Westminster’s successive budget cuts over the past four years undermined the economic recovery in Scotland, but the latest announcement by the Chancellor of £25 billion further cuts in 2016-17 and 2017-18 show his intention to embed austerity for years to come.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s spending power is being cut by 11.1 per cent in real terms over the current five year spending review period. In addition to these £3.4 billion of cuts, Westminster politicians have now threatened to introduce a further £4 billion of additional cuts if Scotland votes against independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:50.537","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291008,"EventID":"S4O-02796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:51.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T12:08:15.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer and what issues were discussed. \r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers regularly meet with ministers from the UK Treasury to promote the steps we are taking with our limited powers to deliver a more prosperous and fairer Scotland.\r\nMost recently, in November 2013, I met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Cardiff at the Finance Minister’s Quadrilateral, where we discussed the devolved administrations’ collective concerns over the UK Government’s damaging welfare reforms and the need for greater capital investment to underpin the economic recovery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:51.083","MeetingDate":"2014-01-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291009,"EventID":"S4O-02797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:51.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T09:26:56.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway to ensure that strong and effective governance remains in place until new board members are appointed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:51.38","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291010,"EventID":"S4O-02798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:51.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:05:04.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on the provision of low vision aids.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:51.66","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291011,"EventID":"S4O-02799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:51.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:05:04.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 33 recommendations in the Justice 2 sub-committee report on managing registered sex offenders have been carried out since 10 May 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:51.927","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291012,"EventID":"S4O-02800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:52.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:51:15.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:52.173","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291013,"EventID":"S4O-02801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:52.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:05:05.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its cities strategy provides additional support for local traders.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:52.533","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291014,"EventID":"S4O-02802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:52.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:39:14.077","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional miles of the A9 between Perth and Inverness are on course to be dualled by December 2016.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:52.923","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291015,"EventID":"S4O-02803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:53.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:05:06.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Constable and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:53.377","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291016,"EventID":"S4O-02804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:53.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:29:39.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to communities in East Ayrshire.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:53.64","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291017,"EventID":"S4O-02805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:53.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-06T12:05:07.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional measures it has put in place to support teachers in light of recent concerns expressed by EIS members regarding the introduction of National 4 and 5 exams.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:53.89","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291018,"EventID":"S4O-02806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T12:47:54.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T11:51:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether North Ayrshire will no longer have access to the £23 million in Scottish Futures Trust funding in light of the council's decision not to proceed with the new schools campus.\r\n","AnswerText":"In September 2012, the Scottish Government allocated provisional funding to support the replacement or refurbishment of 30 schools under Phase III of its Schools for the Future Programme, this included support to North Ayrshire Council for its proposal to replace Ardrossan and Auchenharvie Academies, subject to it obtaining a positive outcome from the required statutory consultation process. Support under the programme is project specific and not an allocation of finance to councils.\r\nFollowing North Ayrshire's recent decision not to proceed with this project, Scottish Futures Trust, as programme managers, and the Scottish Government are working with the council to agree a way forward and remain committed to providing appropriate support to lift pupils out of poor or bad condition schools, which are often the legacy of previous administrations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T12:47:54.14","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291020,"EventID":"S4W-19117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:10.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T10:06:50.993","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much new woodland has been established in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"The amount of new woodland established in each year since 2007 is shown in the following table:\r\nYear\r\nConifer (ha)\r\nBroadleaved (ha)\r\nTotal (ha)\r\n2007-08\r\n700\r\n3,400\r\n4,100\r\n2008-09\r\n1,200\r\n2,300\r\n3,500\r\n2009-10\r\n500\r\n2,200\r\n2,700\r\n2010-11\r\n1,500\r\n3,600\r\n5,100\r\n2011-12\r\n3,300\r\n5,700\r\n9,000\r\n2012-13\r\n1,700\r\n5,300\r\n7,000\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:10.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291021,"EventID":"S4W-19118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:10.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T10:06:50.993","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what areas of coniferous woodland have been planted on areas of deep peat and whether such areas will be restocked or whether compensation planting will be sought elsewhere.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not have reliable figures for the overall area of coniferous woodland that has been planted on deep peat.\r\nForestry Commission Scotland will shortly issue guidance on the future management of forestry on peatland habitats. The guidance will provide options to forest managers so that they can assess the carbon retention implications of different land uses, including woodland creation and restocking, which can be considered alongside other priorities such as biodiversity and landscape. The Scottish Government’s Control of Woodland Removal Policy makes clear the circumstances under which compensatory planting will be required if woodland is permanently removed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:10.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291022,"EventID":"S4W-19119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:10.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T10:29:28.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) monitoring is in place and (b) action is planned to ensure that there are no significant underspends in local authority (i) revenue and (ii) capital budgets.","AnswerText":"Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers and duties are set out in statute and are separate from the Scottish Government. As long as they act lawfully, it is up to each authority how it manages its day to day business and how best it maximises the use of the resources and assets at its disposal which includes both its revenue and capital budgets.\r\nThe Scottish Government encourages a local authority to spend its General Capital Grant within the financial year it relates to through the conditions set out in the General Capital Grant offer letter. For revenue funding, however, local authorities may carry forward an underspend of their budget into the following financial year if they feel it is prudent and necessary to so do.\r\nAudit Scotland is responsible for conducting audits of local authorities to ensure high standards are maintained and best value is achieved.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:10.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291023,"EventID":"S4W-19120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:11.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:33:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the governance structure is of each college and who the (a) chair is and (b) board members are.","AnswerText":"The governance arrangements of colleges differ depending on their legal status. \r\nFurther information about the different status and arrangements is set out in the draft summary guide College Reforms and the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013, available on the Scottish Government’s website.\r\nAll colleges should list their chair and board members on their website. However, a key part of our college reforms are new and more rigorous arrangements for making appointments to the position of regional college and regional board chairs. These posts are regulated public appointments. This appointment process is underway and should conclude next month.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:11.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291024,"EventID":"S4W-19121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:11.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:33:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it gives colleges regarding paid board memberships.","AnswerText":"The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 provides that the chair of a regional college can be remunerated. This will come into force in March 2014. Beyond this, incorporated colleges will remain, as now, unable to remunerate individuals for their role as a member of their boards of management.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:11.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291025,"EventID":"S4W-19122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T13:47:11.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T11:51:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the definition of “fairer” is in the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's comment to BBC Scotland that “There should be a fairer distribution of land, communities should have access to land to fulfil their aspirations.”","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that the current distribution of land is highly concentrated, given that reportedly just 432 landowners own 50% of the privately owned land in Scotland and that this concentration of ownership may lead to constraints upon fair access to land to enable communities and individuals to achieve their full potential.\r\nThe Scottish Government cannot pre-empt the outcome of the final report from the independent Land Reform Review Group, or the outcome of the ministerial-led Review of Agricultural Holdings Legislation which are both due to report back later this year. However, our vision is for a fairer, or wider and more equitable, distribution of land in Scotland where communities and individuals have access to land and, where such is lacking, that there is the necessary diversity of tenure. The Scottish Government believe that Scotland needs to ensure communities are empowered to consider how land in their community is used, and that the system allows communities to fulfil their aspirations. This government also believes that land should be available to provide opportunities for new entrants to farming and forestry. Scotland is on a journey to delivering land reform and to enable improvements to engaging with communities on optimising land use. This government believes that the nation’s land should be used to benefit the people and environment of Scotland to deliver sustainable economic growth with due regard for impacts on the environment and upon the health and wellbeing of communities across Scotland.\r\nTo fulfil Scotland’s potential, this government believes we need to build a society with greater diversity of land ownership, where communities have access to land to fulfil their aspirations and needs and to support business and employment in rural areas, including in traditional rural sectors, and for provision of community infrastructure, such as housing and green space. This includes community land buy-outs to achieve greater distribution of land to communities, sustainable development and realise increased economic vitality and employment. There are currently just under 500,000 acres of land under community ownership and the Scottish Government is committed to a target of achieving 1 million acres of land in community ownership by 2020. The Community Empowerment Bill will streamline and extend the existing community right to buy contributing to this target to ensure communities have access to land needed for housing, environmental and employment opportunities and the Scottish Government, as one of Scotland’s largest landowners, is active in exploring opportunities for creation of new community ownership projects through appropriate transfers of ownership from the Scottish Government estate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T13:47:11.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291036,"EventID":"S4W-19107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T16:53:19.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T16:53:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government from which level 4 budget headings the underspend identified in its consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 March 2013 comes, broken down by directorate.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold outturn information at what is termed level 4 budget by directorate. Level 4 information, in the context of the budget, is provided as part of the Draft Budget Scrutiny Phase in accordance with the written agreement with the Finance Committee. The written agreement recognises that there is no formal definition of level 4 information.\r\nIn line with good practice the Scottish Budget is managed with appropriate flexibility to ensure sound financial management of available resources and to meet the reporting requirements of the Scottish Parliament and HM Treasury.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s consolidated accounts, in accordance with agreed protocol, reports outturn against the Scottish Budget as approved at the Spring Budget Revision by portfolio and at programme level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T16:53:20.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291037,"EventID":"S4W-19108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T16:53:21.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T16:53:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the underspends recorded in its consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 March 2013 will be retained in the same departmental expenditure limits for the year 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 March 2013, published on 27 September 2013, record the outturn position against the Scottish Budget as approved at the Spring Budget Revision. Paragraphs 54 to 59 of the Operating and Financial Review section of the published consolidated provide a comprehensive summary of financial performance.\r\nI confirmed the provisional cash departmental expenditure limits outturn for 2012-13 and the deployment of available budget carry forward to 2013-14, in my statement to the Scottish Parliament on 19 June 2013. To support the statement a paper was prepared and shared with MSPs confirming the position against the Scottish Government’s HM Treasury control aggregates. The HM Treasury control aggregates are the key control aggregates in determining budget carry forward for the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T16:53:21.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291038,"EventID":"S4W-19109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T16:53:21.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T16:53:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what underspend there was on specific projects in 2012-13 in the (a) Education and Lifelong Learning, (b) Health and Wellbeing and (c) Infrastructure, Investment and Cities portfolio.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16188 on 24 July 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T16:53:21.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291039,"EventID":"S4W-19123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T16:53:21.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T15:28:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities it consulted and in what form in advance of its announcement on 7 January 2013 regarding the provision of school meals.\r\n","AnswerText":"Extending the entitlement of free school meals to children in primary 1 to 3, has been a Scottish Government commitment since 2007 and there has been an on-going dialogue between COSLA and the Scottish Government about it.\r\nFollowing the UK Government’s autumn statement on 5 December 2013, Scottish Ministers carefully considered how to use the consequential funding to the optimum benefit for children and young people. This included the consideration of the views previously expressed by COSLA and the views of the 5 local authorities that piloted free school meals for primary 1-3 pupils in 2007-08. These views are contained within the ‘Evaluation of the free school meals trial for primary 1-3 pupils’ which was published in 2008 and can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/29114033/0.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T16:53:21.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291040,"EventID":"S4W-19124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-08T16:53:22.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-08T15:44:33.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many notices of liability for expenses under section 50A of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 have been registered, and how many of these have been discharged in each year since 2011, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 50 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (the Act) enables Scottish Ministers and planning authorities to recover expenses for urgent works which they carry out to preserve unoccupied listed buildings.\r\nSince 2011 Scottish Ministers have not exercised their powers under section 49 of the Act, so have not registered any notices of liability for expenses under section 50 of the Act.\r\nThe Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 requires notices of liability for expenses to be registered with the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, Registers of Scotland have confirmed that no cases have been registered with them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-22T16:53:22.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291046,"EventID":"S4W-19125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:09.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the impact of lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies on (a) debtors and their families and (b) the rate of defaults on payments, and with what outcomes.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has examined the evidence which shows that lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies will have no impact on the majority of debtors and their families or the rate at which they might default.\r\nA significant majority of debtors who enter bankruptcy do not have enough income to pay a contribution. Around half of all new debtor applications are now made via the ‘low income, low asset’ route and Accountant in Bankruptcy’s analysis, overall, suggests that a contribution is paid in less than one third of all bankruptcy cases in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:09.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291047,"EventID":"S4W-19127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:10.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 129 respondents to its consultation on the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill felt that the payment product referred to in paragraphs 5.59 and 5.60 of the Accountant in Bankruptcy's response was not required.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s consultation on bankruptcy law reform ran from 24 February to 18 May 2012. A Scottish Government response to the consultation was published on 7 November 2012.\r\nQuestion 10.38 in the consultation asked, “Should a new payment product be developed for individuals who are assessed as able to make a contribution?”\r\nA summary of all responses to question 10.38 is as follows:\r\n38 respondents said, “Yes”\r\n70 respondents said, “No”\r\n15 respondents gave no answers and 6 respondents made a comment but did not answer either, “Yes” or “No”.\r\nThe majority of respondents who chose to answer question 10.38, therefore, indicated that they did not think that a new payment product should be developed and, in accordance with stakeholders’ clearly expressed views, the Scottish Government has not since developed such a product.\r\nThe Scottish Government agrees with the Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3) who, in their response to the consultation, said that, “Current products are available for those who are able to make a contribution.”\r\nPayment product and the duration of the period of the payment of debt collection orders are of course entirely separate issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:10.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291048,"EventID":"S4W-19128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:10.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the differences to be between an individual voluntary arrangement and (a) bankruptcy and (b) a protected trust deed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Bankruptcy, protected trust deeds (PTDs), and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are all insolvency proceedings as defined by Article 2(a) of European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings. All three have similar features, insofar as they “entail the partial or total divestment of a debtor”. However, there are also some differences.Bankruptcy (also known as ‘sequestration’, in Scotland) is an insolvency solution available to persons domiciled in England, Wales and Scotland, in which the debtor’s estate vests in a trustee who administers the assets of the bankrupt for the benefit of creditors. Bankruptcy can currently involve contributions from income for a period of three years or more.\r\nA protected trust deed (PTD) is an insolvency solution available only to persons domiciled in Scotland, in which there is a conveyance of a debtor’s assets, to a trustee, for the benefit of his creditors, protected by statute from enforcement by particular creditors. Previously, PTDs persisted for a period of at least three years, however this was amended in the Protected Trust Deed (Scotland) Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013/318) and a PTD can now involve contributions being made from the debtor’s income for a period of four years (as well as the conveyance, to the trustee, of any assets the debtor might acquire during the same four year period).An IVA is an insolvency solution available only to persons domiciled in England and Wales, in which the debtor will make a proposal to his creditors for a composition in satisfaction of his debts or a scheme of arrangement of his affairs. An IVA can involve monthly contributions being made from the debtor’s income for a period of at least five years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:10.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291049,"EventID":"S4W-19130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:10.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that both an individual voluntary arrangement and a protected trust deed are voluntary agreements between debtors and creditors.","AnswerText":"Yes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:10.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291050,"EventID":"S4W-19131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:10.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the differences to be between debt relief orders and bankruptcy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers that debt relief order (DROs) and bankruptcy are similar in effect, in that both place restrictions on the debtor and prevent creditors from pursuing debts (in a DRO this is done via a moratorium for a 12 month period). However, there are also some differences as follows: \r\nA debt relief order is a debt solution under the Insolvency Act 1986 available to persons domiciled in England and Wales who meet certain qualifying criteria. DROs are ordered by the official receiver (who is an officer of the court.)\r\nBankruptcy is an insolvency solution available to persons domiciled in England, Wales and Scotland (where it is also known as, ‘sequestration’), in which the debtor’s estate vests in a trustee who administers the assets of the bankrupt for the benefit of creditors. Both bankruptcy and DROs ordinarily result in the debtor being discharged from the debtor’s debts after a period of one year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:10.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291051,"EventID":"S4W-19132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:11.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it (a) doubled the fee for access to the low income low asset route to bankruptcy from £100 to £200 in June 2012 and (b) has decided to guarantee that the minimal asset procedure in the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill will have an application fee of under £100.\r\n","AnswerText":"Debtor application fees cover the cost of the process involved in the Accountant in Bankruptcy determining an award of bankruptcy applied for through a debtor application. In June 2012, the Scottish Government increased these fees from £100 to £200. This was because the fee only partly covered the cost of the work carried out. The cost of a debtor application had remained at £100 since 2008, despite the unit cost increasing over this period, due to a decline in the number of applications.\r\nThe increase, therefore, was in line with the guidance in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, where it states that ‘the standard approach to setting charges for public services (including services supplied by one public sector organisation to another) is full cost recovery’, as it was necessary in order to recover more of the cost of the process. The new fee rate of £200 was still significantly lower than fees for similar services elsewhere in the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:11.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291052,"EventID":"S4W-19133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:11.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) steps it is taking to achieve and (b) sources of revenue are compatible with its stated aim of full cost recovery for the Accountant in Bankruptcy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Accountant in Bankruptcy is guided by the Scottish Public Finance Manual, particularly the section on Fees and Charges:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/feescharges.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:11.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291053,"EventID":"S4W-19135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:11.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T09:27:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a timescale for achieving full cost recovery for the Accountant in Bankruptcy.","AnswerText":"The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not have a set timetable for achieving full cost recovery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:11.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291054,"EventID":"S4W-19136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:11.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T10:10:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is consulting local authorities to determine the allocation of funding for free school meals.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in the early stages of a discussion with COSLA to determine the allocation of funding for free school meals to primary 1 to 3 pupils in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:11.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291055,"EventID":"S4W-19137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:12.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T11:30:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have attended accident and emergency services as a result of a dog attack in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"Statistics on the number of people that have attended accident and emergency services as a result of a dog attack are not available from data collected centrally by ISD.\r\nInformation is available on the number of emergency admissions to hospital that were a result of being bitten or struck by a dog. This is shown in the following table. This will not include attendances to accident and emergency departments that were not followed up by a subsequent emergency admission to hospital.\r\nNumber of emergency hospital admissions1 as a result of being bitten or struck by a dog2, year ending 31 March 1999-2012:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNumber of admissions\r\nDischarge rate per 100,000 population3\r\n1998-99\r\n273\r\n5.4\r\n1999-00\r\n307\r\n6.1\r\n2000-01\r\n353\r\n7.0\r\n2001-02\r\n295\r\n5.8\r\n2002-03\r\n317\r\n6.3\r\n2003-04\r\n333\r\n6.6\r\n2004-05\r\n323\r\n6.4\r\n2005-06\r\n363\r\n7.1\r\n2006-07\r\n414\r\n8.1\r\n2007-08\r\n385\r\n7.4\r\n2008-09\r\n486\r\n9.3\r\n2009-10\r\n486\r\n9.3\r\n2010-11\r\n483\r\n9.2\r\n2011-12\r\n554\r\n10.5\r\nSource: SMR01, ISD Scotland\r\nNotes\r\nThese statistics are derived from data collected on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.\r\nAdmissions as a result of being “bitten or struck by a dog” are defined by ICD10 code W54 – in any secondary position. Injuries related to dogs are coded under the ICD10 code W54 “bitten or struck by dog”. This code was used for the analysis when recorded in any secondary position.\r\nRates are based on National Records of Scotland mid-year population estimates for each of the financial years.\r\nData are based on year of discharge.\r\nA patient could have several emergency hospital admissions in a financial year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:12.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291056,"EventID":"S4W-19138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:12.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T11:30:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent treating injuries caused by dog attacks in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information sought is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:12.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291057,"EventID":"S4W-19139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:12.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T11:30:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dog attacks have been recorded in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18116 on 21 November 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:12.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291058,"EventID":"S4W-19140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:12.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T11:37:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted specifically on its proposal to extend the repayment period for bankruptcies from three to four years and, if so, with what outcome.","AnswerText":"There is no “repayment period” set out in the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill. Section 4 provides for the introduction of the ‘debtor contribution order’. Under section 4 of the Bill, a debtor may be required to pay a contribution either for a period of 48 months or such shorter or longer period as may be determined.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:13.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291059,"EventID":"S4W-19142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T13:49:13.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T13:23:28.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted specifically on its proposal to extend the period in which assets vest in a trustee to four years and, if so, with what outcome.","AnswerText":"This proposal arose as a result of feedback from stakeholders who, after the consultation on bankruptcy law reform, reported an issue with the current approach, for example, in protected trust deeds where the practice was often to write the period in which assets would vest in the trustee into the body of the trust deed. This resulted in inconsistencies with debtors being treated differently depending on the terms of their trust deed. The outcome of this stakeholder feedback was that the Scottish Government agreed to correct this inconsistency.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T13:49:13.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291063,"EventID":"S4W-19141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:49.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T13:22:10.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking following Seatricity's announcement that it is relocating from Orkney to Cornwall due to the lack of a grid connection.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council on grid access issues in Orkney, which are critical to the development of the marine energy sector.\r\nHighlands and Islands Enterprise are continuing to work with Seatricity on its technology development path, and will maintain contact with the company to support any potential re-entry to the Scottish market once its device has been developed further, and its technology proven.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:49.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291064,"EventID":"S4W-19143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:50.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:30:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18983 by Keith Brown on 9 January 2014, whether it will confirm how many trains pass through the station per hour at peak periods, broken down by rail service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following services call at or pass through Dalmeny during the morning and evening peaks: \r\n\r\nAM Peak (0700-0900)\r\nPM Peak (1600-1800)\r\nCall\r\nPass\r\nCall\r\nPass\r\nFife Circle (towards Glenrothes\r\n6\r\n2\r\n7\r\n1\r\nFife Circle (from Glenrothes)\r\n5\r\n1\r\n7\r\n1\r\nKirkcaldy to Glasgow Queen Street\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEdinburgh to Perth\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nPerth to Edinburgh\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nEdinburgh to Dundee\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\nDundee to Edinburgh\r\n2\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nEdinburgh to Aberdeen\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\nAberdeen to Edinburgh\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nEdinburgh to Inverness\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nInverness to Edinburgh\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\nAberdeen to London Kings Cross (operated by East Coast)\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\nDundee to Plymouth (operated by Cross Country)\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPlease note: the figures listed above relate to the number of services during the peak period stated above, and not per hour.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:50.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291065,"EventID":"S4W-19144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:50.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS lung cancer nurse specialists there have been in each NHS board area in each year since 2010-11.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on how many NHS lung cancer nurse specialists there have been in each NHS board area in each year since 2010-11 is shown in the following table.\r\nIt should be noted that a change in the definition of a clinical nurse specialist in 2011 means that the numbers are not strictly comparable across the years. Also, due to the multidisciplinary nature of the role, a nurse may work in more than one specific specialty although only one specialist area is recorded for each nurse. The figures shown may not include those nurses recorded against another specialty, but who also spend part of their time working in the lung cancer area.\r\nThe number of lung cancer clinical nurse specialists staff in post in NHS Scotland from Sep 2010 to Sep 2013 (Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) and headcount) by NHS board.\r\n\r\nSept 2010\r\nSept 2011\r\nSept 2012\r\nSept 2013\r\n\r\nWTE\r\nHEAD COUNT\r\nWTE\r\nHEAD COUNT\r\nWTE\r\nHEAD COUNT\r\nWTE\r\nHEAD COUNT\r\nNHS Scotland\r\n25.2\r\n27\r\n26.7\r\n29\r\n28.3\r\n30\r\n27.1\r\n29\r\nNational Waiting Times Centre\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\nNHS Borders\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Fife\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n0.6\r\n1\r\n0.6\r\n1\r\n0.6\r\n1\r\n0.6\r\n1\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n2.0\r\n2\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n6.8\r\n7\r\n7.8\r\n8\r\n8.8\r\n9\r\n8.8\r\n9\r\nNHS Highland\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\n1.0\r\n1\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n2.4\r\n3\r\n4.5\r\n5\r\n4.5\r\n5\r\n4.3\r\n5\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n3.4\r\n4\r\n2.8\r\n4\r\n3.4\r\n4\r\n3.4\r\n4\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n3.0\r\n3\r\n3.0\r\n3\r\n3.0\r\n3\r\n3.0\r\n3\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS), ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:50.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291066,"EventID":"S4W-19145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:50.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many lung cancer patients are being treated by the NHS.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of lung cancer patients who are currently being treated by the NHS is not centrally available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291067,"EventID":"S4W-19146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:51.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average case load is for a lung cancer nurse specialist in each NHS board.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:51.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291068,"EventID":"S4W-19147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:52.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the mortality rate is for lung cancer patients and how it compares with the mortality rate for patients with other cancers.","AnswerText":"The standardised mortality rates for lung cancer and other types of cancer are shown in the following table. This table shows the ten most common causes of deaths from cancer in 2012.\r\nTable 1: Standardised mortality rates for the ten most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland 2012 (per 100,000 population):\r\nCancer Type\r\nNumber of deaths1\r\nMortality Rate per 100,000 population2\r\nLung3\r\n4,189\r\n52.8\r\nColorectal\r\n1,621\r\n19.7\r\nBreast5\r\n1,071\r\n13.0\r\nProstate5\r\n881\r\n23.6\r\nOesophagus\r\n813\r\n10.6\r\nPancreas\r\n742\r\n9.3\r\nStomach\r\n494\r\n6.1\r\nBladder\r\n482\r\n5.9\r\nLiver4 \r\n431\r\n5.5\r\nHead and Neck\r\n422\r\n5.9\r\nBased on date of registration of death.\r\nStandardised rates are based on the 1976 European Standard Population.\r\nTrachea, bronchus and lung cancer.\r\nLiver and intrahepatic bile ducts.\r\nThe mortality rate for cancers that occur mainly or only in one sex (breast, prostate) are calculated using the population for only that sex.\r\nSource: National Records of Scotland \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:52.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291069,"EventID":"S4W-19148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:52.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Detect Cancer Early Programme has made on increasing the five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients.","AnswerText":"The Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013, with a repeat phase of media marketing running from 13 January 2014.\r\nIt is too early to measure the impact of the programme on five-year survival rates for lung cancer. Capital and revenue has been made available to NHS boards to support an increase in diagnostic and treatment capacity. In addition Health Improvement Scotland are undertaking a review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer which includes lung cancer. A series of primary care education sessions focussing on lung and colorectal cancers have also taken place.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:52.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291070,"EventID":"S4W-19149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:53.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure equitable access to a lung cancer specialist nurse at the time of diagnosis and guarantee that patients' physical, social and emotional needs, and their treatment options are appropriately assessed and discussed from the outset.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to providing the people of Scotland with the NHS services which meet their needs and maintain high standards of care.\r\nThe Scottish Government works closely with regional cancer networks and NHS boards to ensure there is the required workforce to meet current and anticipated increases in demand for oncology services.\r\nHowever, it is for each NHS board to plan and deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services, taking account of national and local priorities. This includes how best to utilise funding and deploy staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:53.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291071,"EventID":"S4W-19150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:53.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that NHS boards have a sufficient number of lung cancer specialist nurses and appropriately skilled nursing cover during absences.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works closely with regional cancer networks and NHS boards to ensure there is the required workforce to meet current and anticipated increases in demand for oncology services.\r\nHowever, it is for each NHS board to plan and deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services taking account of national and local priorities. This includes how best to utilise funding and deploy staff.\r\nThe Scottish Government has supported the development of nursing workload and workforce planning tools to inform decisions about nursing and midwifery establishments. Application of these evidence based tools, takes into account professional judgement and local context, and includes assumptions in relation to absence levels. The suite of available tools includes clinical nurse specialists. Application of the tools has been mandatory since April 2013, and all NHS boards are expected to use the tools to inform local nursing and workforce planning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:53.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291072,"EventID":"S4W-19151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:54.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action plans NHS boards have for early diagnosis to improve outcomes for people with lung cancer.","AnswerText":"The national Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013 and activity is still underway with a repeat phase of national social marketing running from 13 January 2014.\r\nNHS boards have developed local detect cancer early implementation plans to tackle earlier diagnosis of all three tumour types in the programme including lung.\r\nThese plans are included in the local delivery plans for HEAT targets and will be reviewed regularly by the NHS board Detect Cancer Early project teams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:54.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291073,"EventID":"S4W-19152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:54.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position in on the recommendations in the report, Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the report Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists.\r\nIt is NHSScotland boards’ responsibility to plan and deliver services, including specialist nursing services, taking account of national priorities and local needs.\r\nScotland’s Chief Nursing Officer has asked nurse directors to consider the implications of recent reports on specialist nursing provision in order to share practice across boards and to help to identify areas where additional guidance or support from the Scottish Government may be useful.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:54.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291074,"EventID":"S4W-19153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:55.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the number of referrals of the recent advertising campaign with Sir Alex Ferguson under its Detect Cancer Early Programme.","AnswerText":"The national Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013 and activity is still underway with a repeat phase of national social marketing running from 13 January 2014. The programme has been working with NHS boards to analyse the impact of the national and local campaigns on diagnostic demand and data on the lung campaign is currently being collated. £30 million has been made available to support the Detect Cancer Early programme and it is anticipated that NHS boards will use much of this funding to provide additional diagnostic capacity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:55.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291075,"EventID":"S4W-19154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-09T16:42:55.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:29:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses to discuss their report, Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists.","AnswerText":"I attended a Scottish Parliament event hosted by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Committee on 9 January 2014 to raise awareness of the value of lung cancer nurses.\r\nIn response to the issues raised by a number of organisations around the role of specialist nurses, the Scottish Government will host regional seminars in early 2014 to explore current provision and the future direction of specialist nurse roles in Scotland. Representatives from The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the National Lung Cancer Forum for nurses will be invited to participate. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-23T16:42:55.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291077,"EventID":"S4W-19156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:28.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its policy to match available dental vocational training places with the number of graduates from dental schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following careful assessment of a range of factors which apply to supply and demand within dental service provision within Scotland, and advice from the chief dental officer for Scotland, the Scottish Government has concluded that a revised policy should apply regarding the provision of dental vocational training places (DVT) in Scotland.\r\nFrom 2014, Scottish Government policy is to match the number of DVT places to the number of dental graduates who have applied for a DVT place in Scotland. This will deliver a more equitable and manageable process for the provision of DVT places, ensuring that no Scottish dental graduate, who presently make up the majority of applicants for Scottish places, will suffer any detriment. It remains the case however that securing a DVT place is a competitive process, and the decision on whether to offer a dental graduate employment rests with the employing dental practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:28.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291078,"EventID":"S4W-19157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:28.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students are expected to graduate from dental schools in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The expected graduate output from Scottish dental schools in 2014 is 190, subject to the outcome of final exams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:28.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291079,"EventID":"S4W-19158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:28.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dental vocational training places will be made available in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2013, 173 dental vocational training (DVT) places were provided. For 2014, in accordance with our revised policy, we will match the number of DVT places to graduates who have applied for such a place, which is 179. \r\nIt is NHS Education for Scotland (NES) which has operational responsibility for delivering the Scottish Government’s policy, and NES is in the process of recruiting the required number of dental trainers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:28.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291080,"EventID":"S4W-19159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:29.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dental vocational trainers it has recruited in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is NHS Education for Scotland (NES) which is responsible for the recruitment of dental vocational trainers in Scotland. Recruitment is an ongoing process and, as of today, 85 dental vocational trainers have been recruited. NES is operating on the basis of ensuring that there are sufficient trainers to match the number of applicants for a DVT place in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:29.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291081,"EventID":"S4W-19160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:29.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there are sufficient dental vocational trainers to meet the needs of graduates in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19159 on 24 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:29.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291082,"EventID":"S4W-19161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:29.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that there are a sufficient number of vocational training places available for students graduating from dental school in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19158 on 24 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:29.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291083,"EventID":"S4W-19162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:30.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last increased the level of vocational training allowance.\r\n","AnswerText":"The grant paid to vocational trainers and salary paid to vocational trainees, were last increased with effect from 1 April 2009. There is an additional vocational training practice allowance which was introduced in 2003 and remains at the level set at that time.\r\nThe various grants and allowances paid to dentists who provide NHS general dental services are kept under review and revised where appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:30.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291084,"EventID":"S4W-19163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:30.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:48:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next increase the level of vocational training allowance and by what amount.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19162 on 24 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:30.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291085,"EventID":"S4W-19165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:30.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:58:21.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18881 and S4W-18886 by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2014, whether it supports the prohibition of so-called \"gay to straight conversion therapy\".\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not consider homosexuality a mental illness and does not support ‘gay to straight conversion therapy’ or any such similar therapies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:30.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291086,"EventID":"S4W-19169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:30.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T12:22:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time (i) disabled students and (ii) students with additional support needs have attended further education college courses in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of students who attended colleges in Scotland are produced by the Scottish Funding Council. The latest data are for academic year 2012-13.\r\nTable 1 shows the number of students who attended college broken down by mode of study, recorded disability and those receiving additional support.\r\nIn recent years, we have asked colleges to concentrate on delivering courses that focus on employability. The shift from part-time to full-time students shown in Table 1 is the result of this re-focusing, and reflects a move away from funding very short programmes of study (under 10 hours), and leisure programmes. Table 1 also makes clear that full-time equivalents (FTEs), a better measure of the volume of learning, have remained largely unchanged over the period in question\r\nTable 1-Students at Scottish colleges, 2006-07 to 2012-13\r\n\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nFull-time students\r\n68,884\r\n68,290\r\n71,319\r\n77,456\r\n80,248\r\n81,373\r\n78,970\r\nPart-time students\r\n294,713\r\n310,943\r\n303,667\r\n269,880\r\n225,721\r\n176,540\r\n159,835\r\nFull-Time Equivalent Students (FTEs)\r\n129,378\r\n131,423\r\n133,374\r\n134,918\r\n134,547\r\n133,199\r\n131,421\r\nStudents with a Recorded Disability (FTEs)\r\n17,132\r\n18,118\r\n19,194\r\n19,512\r\n20,058\r\n20,920\r\n21,477\r\nStudents receiving additional support (AS) /on programmes for those with AS needs (FTEs)\r\n20,428\r\n21,886\r\n23,540\r\n23,940\r\n25,188\r\n25,077\r\n24,090\r\nSource: Scottish Funding Council\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:30.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291087,"EventID":"S4W-19171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T13:40:32.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T12:42:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when Arran will have full service next generation superfast broadband.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its partners are investing over £280 million in our Step Change programme which, alongside commercial deployment, will deliver next generation broadband access to 95% of premises in Scotland by 2017-18.\r\nDeployment to Arran falls within the scope of the Highlands and Islands broadband project. Next generation broadband services are expected to be available in all ten of Arran’s exchange areas by 2016. Coverage to those parts of North Ayrshire being delivered in the Highlands and Islands project (Arran and the Cumbraes) will be around 91% of premises by the end of 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T13:40:32.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291093,"EventID":"S4W-19155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:04.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T10:54:08.8","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) agenda, (b) list of attendees, (c) minutes, (d) details of the purpose of and (e) outcome of each meeting that (i) ministers and (ii) officials have had with (A) public bodies, (B) external stakeholders, (C) MSPs and (D) members of the public regarding the land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project since 17 September 2009.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has kept Parliament fully informed, regarding the land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link through the answers provided to the following parliamentary questions lodged on the subject since February 2010:\r\nParliamentary Question\r\nDate of Response\r\nS3W-31078\r\n04-02-2010\r\nS3W-32270\r\n19-03-2010\r\nS3W-32289\r\n19-03-2010\r\nS3W-33248\r\n23-04-2010\r\nS3W-33251\r\n23-04-2010\r\nS3W-36879\r\n09-11-2010\r\nS4W-17209\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17210\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17211\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17212\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17213\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17214\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17215\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17216\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17217\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17218 \r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17219\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17220\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17221\r\n30-09-2013\r\nS4W-17696\r\n01-11-2013\r\nS4W-17697\r\n01-11-2013\r\nS4W-17698\r\n01-11-2013\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp:--www.scottish.parliament.uk-Apps2-Business-PQA-Default.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:04.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291094,"EventID":"S4W-19164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:05.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T11:52:51.36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) agenda, (b) list of attendees, (c) minutes, (d) details of the purpose of and (e) outcome of each meeting between ministers regarding the land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project since 17 September 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold any such documents. \r\nI refer the member to S4W-19155 answered on 22 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:05.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291095,"EventID":"S4W-19166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:05.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T12:15:22.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the net area is of productive forest being (a) felled and (b) replaced annually.\r\n","AnswerText":"Forestry Commission Scotland does not collect data on the total area of private sector forest felled on an annual basis. Although felling licences are issued for fellings, there is no requirement to harvest in a particular year, however most are conditional on appropriate restocking. The volume of timber harvested on private sector land in 2012 was 3.8m green tonnes. Figures for annual area felled on the National Forest Estate are set out in the following table:\r\nYear\r\nArea felled annually on the NFE (ha)\r\n2010\r\n3200\r\n2011\r\n4900\r\n2012\r\n6200\r\n2013\r\n6400\r\n\r\nConifer restocking figures for both the National Forest Estate and the private sector are published as statistics by the Forestry Commission annually and these are set out in the following table. A small proportion of the total on the National Forest Estate and in the private sector will be restocking with native pinewoods. The restocking figures for the private sector are only for grant aided restocking. In general terms in recent years, grant aid has not been available for restocking with Sitka spruce and therefore the figures from 2010-11 onwards will significantly underestimate the total level of conifer restocking and are not directly comparable with 2009-10 or previous years.\r\nThe comparison of felling and subsequent restock figures will not automatically correspond on a year on year basis. The difference between felling and restock areas will reflect the changes in management practices, such as increasing the fallow period before restocking for improved pest control, to on average between three and five years after felling, and also the introduction of open space to meet modern forest design practices. The felled area in 2012 and 2013 show an increase in the overall area compared with previous years, which corresponds with the operations to harvest trees infected with Phytophthora ramorum and Dothistroma needle blight.\r\nConifer restocking\r\nYear to 31 March\r\nNFE (ha)\r\nPrivate (ha)\r\nTotal (ha)\r\n2009-10\r\n3200\r\n7900\r\n8000\r\n2010-11\r\n4600\r\n1100\r\n5600\r\n2011-12\r\n4100\r\n500\r\n4600\r\n2012-13\r\n4200\r\n1000\r\n5100\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:05.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291096,"EventID":"S4W-19167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:05.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T12:15:22.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual forestry planting programme has been since the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 was passed and how much of this has been of productive conifers broken down by net area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The table below sets out the figures for total woodland creation, creation of new productive conifer woodlands in the private sector and creation of new conifer woodlands on the National Forest Estate between 2009-10 and 2012-13. Figures for 2009-10 reflect projects that will have been committed prior to the passage of the 2009 Act. The figures for the private sector are only for areas where grant has been paid. These areas are not strictly ‘net’ as they include some small areas of open ground required as part of the UK Forestry Standard. In the five years from 2009, just over 300 ha of new native pinewoods have been planted on the National Forest Estate. These form part of the new conifer planting figures on the National Forest Estate:\r\nYear\r\nTotal Grant-aided Productive Conifer planting in private sector (ha)\r\nConifer planting on the National Forest Estate (ha)\r\nTotal Woodland Creation (NFE and Private Sector), inc broadleaves and conifer (ha)\r\n2009-10\r\n424\r\n200\r\n2700\r\n2010-11\r\n975\r\n200\r\n5100\r\n2011-12\r\n1719\r\n800\r\n9000\r\n2012-13\r\n676\r\n300\r\n7000\r\nTotal\r\n3794\r\n1500\r\n23800\r\nSevere weather in Q1 2013 severely impacted on planting rates across Scotland and the final planting figures were lower than anticipated. It is anticipated that some of these affected projects will have slipped to 2013-14.\r\nFigures for new woodland creation are available in greater detail at:\r\nhttp://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7shj56\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:05.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291097,"EventID":"S4W-19168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:06.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T12:15:22.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the amount of extra carbon in tonnes that is present in the environment as a result of premature forestry felling and failure to replant with trees efficient in carbon capture.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK National Greenhouse Gas Inventory provides the basis for estimates of carbon capture by forests. In 2011, the latest year for which figures are available, Scotland's forests captured over approximately 2.5Mt of carbon (equivalent to over 9MtCO2). The current inventory applies an assumed average felling date (rotation length) for conifers and broadleaves respectively to reflect the variation in rotation length applied as a result of the ongoing process of diversifying our forest structure to benefit biodiversity, landscape amenity and climate change resilience. \r\nIn terms of the efficiency of carbon capture, although fast growing trees capture carbon more quickly, where they are felled the relative benefit in terms of overall carbon capture depends upon the timescale over which comparisons with slower growing species are made and how any harvested timber is used. Over the long-term (>100yrs) a series of rotations of productive conifers often lock up a similar average amount of carbon to long-lived trees such as those in native woodlands.\r\nThe Scottish Government strongly supports the use of timber in the construction sector and our Wood First Strategy, referenced in RPP2, sets out to build on Scotland’s good record in use of timber frame construction (in comparison with England and rest of UK) to fuller develop the use of Scottish timber in the design of new homes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:06.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291098,"EventID":"S4W-19172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:06.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T13:42:20.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the appropriateness of Forestry Commission Scotland having Forest Stewardship Council certification if it is felling more forestry than it is planting.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Forest Estate is certified under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard which provides an independent assurance that its management conforms to best practice in terms of environmental sustainability. The UKWAS Standard is approved by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. Whilst it is recognised that in some circumstances (e.g. during restructuring) timber production will exceed the increment, a key requirement of certification is that harvesting and restocking plans do not jeopardise the long term productive potential of the woodland and are consistent with management objectives. This is verified as part of the audit by the UK Accreditation Service accredited auditors.\r\nIn priority habitats where the restoration of a peatland habitat is feasible, forest managers will be expected to leave it as open ground and not be replanted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:06.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291099,"EventID":"S4W-19173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T13:59:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to ensure that private owners maintain properties to an acceptable standard.\r\n","AnswerText":"Owners of private property are responsible for repairing and maintaining their property.\r\nUnder the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 local authorities can use work notices to require private home owners to carry out work on substandard property and maintenance orders to require them to maintain their property. Under these powers local authorities can carry out work if owners are unable or unwilling to do so themselves and to recover their costs.\r\nUnder the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, local authorities have a duty to deal with dangerous buildings. The 2003 Act also provides local authorities with powers to deal with defective buildings. This includes serving a notice that calls for work to be carried out, carrying out emergency work or doing work in default of the owner.\r\nIt is for local authorities to determine when it is appropriate to use these powers.\r\nThe Housing Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in November 2013 contains some amendments to give local authorities a broader range of tools that they can use as part of a strategic approach to tackling poor standard housing in their areas. This includes discretionary powers for a local authority to issue a maintenance plan where it has had to issue a work notice to require the owner to carry out repairs, and no certificate has been issued to confirm that the work required to be carried out by the work notice has been completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:07.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291100,"EventID":"S4W-19174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:07.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle overcrowding in the private rented housing sector.","AnswerText":"Local authorities are responsible for managing issues of overcrowding in the private rented sector. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 gives local authorities powers to licence Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO). Local authorities are responsible for licensing and inspecting the homes under the licensing regime and for applying appropriate conditions to an HMO licence to ensure that the property is suitable for the number and type of persons intending to occupy it. Unless the HMO is exempt, it is a criminal offence for the owner of an HMO to operate without a licence, or to breach any HMO licence condition.\r\nThe Scottish Government intends to bring forward provisions at Stage 2 of the Housing Bill 2013 for additional discretionary powers for local authorities. Under these provisions, a local authority would be required to apply to the Scottish Ministers for an enhanced enforcement area designation. This would provide additional enforcement powers for a specified geographic area characterised by poor private rented housing conditions. It is intended that these additional powers would be for a specified time, and would include powers of entry to, and inspection of, private rented properties for the purposes of checking that statutory housing standards are being met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:07.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291101,"EventID":"S4W-19175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:07.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking against landlords who permit multiple occupancy of their accommodation by families.","AnswerText":"The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 gives local authorities powers to act where landlords permit multiple occupancy by three or more persons from three or more families. In such cases of homes in multiple occupation (HMOs), local authorities are responsible for licensing and inspecting the homes under the licensing regime and for applying appropriate conditions to an HMO licence to ensure that the property is suitable for the number and type of persons intending to occupy it. Unless the HMO is exempt, it is a criminal offence for the owner of an HMO to operate without a licence, or to breach any HMO licence condition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:07.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291102,"EventID":"S4W-19176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:07.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to housing associations to mitigate the impact of the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided £7.9 million to help front line advice services support people dealing with the bedroom tax, with £2.5 million ring fenced for social landlords.\r\nIn addition, £20 million has been provided this year and up to £20 million next year to increase the funding available for the award of Discretionary Housing Payments to tenants in the social rented sector who are in financial difficulty as a result of the so called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:07.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291103,"EventID":"S4W-19177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:08.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce minimum standards on energy performance for all private sector housing at point of (a) sale, (b) rental and (c) major refurbishment and whether government funding will be contingent on properties meeting such standards.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers set out their position in March 2011 that they would not regulate for minimum standards of energy efficiency in private sector housing before 2015, and would look to regulate at the point of sale or rental.\r\nAs part of the implementation of the Sustainable Housing Strategy, published in June 2013, Scottish Ministers have set up a working group to develop proposals for draft regulations for public consultation which would set minimum standards for private sector housing. The working group, which includes representatives from consumer, environmental, local authority and private rented sector interests, will be considering issues such as the point at which standards would apply, and how any regulation would fit with incentives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:08.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291104,"EventID":"S4W-19178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:08.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what fiscal measures it has in place to incentivise people to implement energy efficiency measures in their homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides a range of incentives to improve the energy efficiency of homes. In April 2013 we launched our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) which provides £74 million in 2013/14 to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and support jobs. HEEPS supports the installation of energy efficiency measures in Scottish households and includes funding the Home Energy Scotland helpline which provides people with free impartial advice on the best steps they can take to improve the energy efficiency of their home and incentives available.\r\nThe Green Homes Cashback Scheme has also been running since 1 November 2012 and offers cashback vouchers to householders across all tenures of up to £1200 if they install an energy efficiency improvement that has been recommended on their Green Deal assessment. Since 2012 we have issued 17,449 individual cashback vouchers.\r\nSection 65 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 placed a duty on local authorities to introduce discount schemes for council tax, offering a minimum in-year reduction of £50 where householders undertake efficiency improvements to their home.\r\nWith the full powers of independence, this government would design a new means of funding and delivering energy efficiency improvements to Scottish homes that are fairer and better suited to our needs. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:08.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291105,"EventID":"S4W-19179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:08.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to report to the Parliament on how its policies and programmes will leverage private investment to supplement its funding to deliver on (a) climate change and (b) fuel poverty targets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has committed to provide investment of £200 million per annum to improve the energy efficiency of housing, tackle fuel poverty and reduce emissions through the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS), which in 2013-14 combines £74 million Scottish Government funding with an estimated £120 million energy company funding through the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO). Once final spend for the first year is known (after September 2014), and taking account of UK Government’s recently announced plans following their review of social and environmental programmes, we will publish a detailed breakdown of funding provided by energy companies and Scottish Government. We intend to publish these statistics annually.\r\nThe Scottish Government published its second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2), Low Carbon Scotland, meeting the emissions reduction targets 2013-2027, in June 2013. The report provides the current estimated costs for full delivery of the measures to address climate change emissions contained within it and describes a number of policies which engage private investment and partnership across a range of areas. The financial costs of the measures set out in RPP2 will fall across government, business and consumers. The appropriate balance of spend between the public and private sector will be determined by how much public money is needed to support delivery and encourage private investment in the measures. The next Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP3) will cover the emissions targets for 2028-2032 and is planned for publication in 2016. The report will contain an assessment of the progress towards implementing the measures set out in the second RPP.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:08.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291106,"EventID":"S4W-19180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:08.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what priority local authorities give to looked after children applying for socially rented accommodation and what support they provide to ensure that they maintain their tenancies.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 sets out those groups of people that social landlords, including local authority landlords, must give reasonable preference when allocating their housing. This includes those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.\r\nLocal authorities are responsible for having allocations policies that comply with the Act. The priority they give to looked after children applying for social housing will be based on their assessment of each young person’s particular housing needs.\r\nThrough the Housing Support duty and regulations, all local authorities are required to assess and provide housing support for certain homeless applicants to whom they have a duty to secure settled accommodation.\r\nCare leavers should be supported to make a successful transition to independent living when they are ready to do so and provisions in the Children and Young People Bill are aimed at improving outcomes in this regard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:08.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291107,"EventID":"S4W-19181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:09.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many under-25-year-olds are affected by the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"During August 2013, a total of 75,662 households on housing benefit were affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy in Scotland. Of these, 3,939 were households where the main claimant was aged under 25 years.\r\nNote: As housing benefit can be claimed by a household as well as an individual, age of claimant refers to the age of an individual claimant or, if claiming as a couple, the eldest age within that couple.\r\nSource: Stat-Xplore, Department for Work and Pensions\r\nhttps://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:09.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291108,"EventID":"S4W-19182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-10T15:43:09.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T14:33:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many under-25-year-olds have (a) applied for and (b) received discretionary housing payments in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-24T15:43:09.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291109,"EventID":"S4F-01811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:34.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-09T14:50:54.467","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:34.687","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291110,"EventID":"S4F-01813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:35.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T13:14:34.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:35.373","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291111,"EventID":"S4F-01814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:35.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T09:30:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Treasury announcement that it will honour all UK Government debt up to the date of the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:35.653","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291112,"EventID":"S4F-01815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:36.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T09:46:03.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:36.247","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291113,"EventID":"S4F-01816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:36.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T10:03:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government aims to use the planning process to prevent unconventional gas production.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:36.993","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291114,"EventID":"S4F-01824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:40.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T11:26:48.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to advice given by academics on tuition fees for students from EU countries.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:41.003","MeetingDate":"2014-01-16T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291115,"EventID":"S4T-00561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:54.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T11:09:57.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the effects of the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:54.973","MeetingDate":"2014-01-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291116,"EventID":"S4T-00564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T12:38:55.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T11:29:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure more specialist care for care home residents with dementia.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T12:38:55.877","MeetingDate":"2014-01-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291119,"EventID":"S4W-19116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:28.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:46:55.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities can use income obtained from reductions in council tax discount on energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives to improve the affordability of housing stock.","AnswerText":"The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on local authorities to introduce a discount scheme for council tax, offering a minimum in-year reduction of £50 where householders undertake efficiency improvements to their home. Local authorities do not derive an income from the operation of the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:29.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291120,"EventID":"S4W-19183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:29.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for completion of each section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.","AnswerText":"The timescale for completing individual sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Balmedie to Tipperty project is being developed as part of a current bidding process and will be confirmed once the contract is concluded. The timescale for completing the full projects remains the spring of 2018.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:29.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291121,"EventID":"S4W-19184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:30.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of comments by the Minister for Transport and Veterans reported in the Evening Express on 28 December 2013, there have been changes to completion timescales on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.","AnswerText":"There is no change to the to the completion timescales on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Balmedie to Tipperty which currently remains as spring 2018\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:30.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291122,"EventID":"S4W-19185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:30.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the A90 Balmedie to Tipperty dualling is expected to be completed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19183 on 24 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:30.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291123,"EventID":"S4W-19186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:30.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are financial implications of completing sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route early as per the comments of the Minister for Transport and Veterans reported in the Evening Express on 28 December 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"Any section of the scheme which is opened early will deliver early economic benefits to the North East of Scotland and beyond. These will be fully assessed as part of the procurement process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:31.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291124,"EventID":"S4W-19187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:31.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact changes to the timescale for opening particular sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route would have on work to improve the Haudagain Roundabout.\r\n","AnswerText":"There will be no impact as the overall works completion date of spring 2018 remains unchanged.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:31.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291125,"EventID":"S4W-19188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:31.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments by the Minister for Transport and Veterans reported in the Evening Express on 28 December 2013, what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council regarding changes to completion dates for particular sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.\r\n","AnswerText":"The planned completion date of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Balmedie to Tipperty project remains unchanged. Scottish Government and council officials have had discussions on the potential for bidders to put forward differing phasing proposals as part of their bids.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:31.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291126,"EventID":"S4W-19189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:32.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T15:26:36.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given Aberdeen City Council's request that it sign a legal agreement that it will fund the improvements to the Haudagain Roundabout.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17877 on 6 November 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:32.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291127,"EventID":"S4W-19191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:32.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T10:27:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18974 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 January 2014, which specific industry stakeholders it consulted regarding coverage obligations for internet providers and when these consultations took place prior to the publication of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Coverage obligation issues, such as those related to the recent 4G spectrum auction, have been discussed at regular meetings between Scottish Government officials and Mobile Network Operators. Officials met with EE on 17 October 2013, O2 Telefonica on 3 October 2013, Three on 12 September 2013 and Vodafone on 16 October 2013. In addition, officials met with the Mobile Operators Association on 30 October 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:32.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291128,"EventID":"S4W-19192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T13:56:33.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:39:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will receive the report of the UK Government’s investigation into the blowout on the Elgin platform in the North Sea in March 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service anticipate receiving reports from both the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Energy and Climate Change into the incident on the Elgin platform in the North Sea following the conclusion of their ongoing investigations. The Health and Safety Executive have advised that they hope to be in a position to provide a report before the end of March 2014. As those investigations remains live it would not be appropriate to comment further.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T13:56:33.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291135,"EventID":"S4W-19190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:01.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-10T16:01:50.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18946 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2014, what priorities and objectives it has set for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers’ priorities and objectives for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are set out in the: Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013, as detailed in section 40 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:02.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291136,"EventID":"S4W-19193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:02.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that (a) primary school pupils receive at least two hours and (b) pupils in years S1 to S4 receive at least two periods of PE each week. \r\n","AnswerText":"We have provided £5.8 million through Education Scotland and Sportscotland over the last two years to support schools and local authorities to ensure that children in primary schools receive two hours or two periods of PE and those in secondary schools receive two periods of PE. In December 2013 we announced that a further £5.8 million would be provided over the next two years. In June 2013 the Healthy Living Survey showed that 89% of schools were meeting this target, up from less than 10% in 2004-05.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:02.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291137,"EventID":"S4W-19194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:02.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing the cost of the senior civil service by 25% by 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to efficiency and effectiveness across the civil service. As part of this commitment the baseline staffing cost of the senior civil service in the Scottish Government and associated agencies at 31 March 2013 has reduced by 16.5% since 2010-11. This is a saving of £4,700,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:02.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291138,"EventID":"S4W-19195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:03.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be set aside after 2014 for the elite athlete funding programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"sportscotland will be undertaking its corporate plan review during 2014 which will inform the 2015-19 investment priorities. A full investment review of Commonwealth Games sports and interim investment review of Olympic sports will be undertaken in the autumn, setting out sportscotland’s investment beyond 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:03.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291139,"EventID":"S4W-19196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:03.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many community sports hubs there are, broken down by location.\r\n","AnswerText":"As of 30 September 2013, there are 117 Community Sport Hubs in operation. I have asked the chief executive of sportscotland to provide you with information on their locations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:03.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291140,"EventID":"S4W-19197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:03.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) water and (b) wastewater treatment works have been upgraded in each year since 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"In this regulatory period 2010-15, Scottish Water is tasked with upgrading 97 water treatment works and 185 wastewater treatment works to deliver improvements to drinking water quality and wastewater discharges. This is in addition to the maintenance that will be undertaken routinely by Scottish Water at its installations.\r\nThe numbers of improvements delivered in each year since 2010 are:\r\nYear\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nWater Treatment Works\r\n1\r\n12\r\n23\r\nWastewater treatment works\r\n1\r\n46\r\n35\r\nBy quarter 2 of 2012-13, Scottish Water had upgraded 47 water treatment works and 86 wastewater treatment works.\r\nThe delivery of Scottish Water's investment programme is monitored by the Output Monitoring Group chaired by the Scottish Government. Its quarterly monitoring reports are published on the Government's website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot/publications/deliveryprogress\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:03.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291141,"EventID":"S4W-19198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:04.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many tickets have been sold to (a) domestic and (b) overseas visitors for the event, Bannockburn Live.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for VisitScotland, who are responsible for management of the Bannockburn Live event. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:04.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291142,"EventID":"S4W-19199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-13T16:43:04.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T14:46:12.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage young golfers to attend the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, which will be held at Blairgowrie Golf Club, Perthshire, is a hugely important event for Scotland and will play a key part in inspiring our young golfers of the future.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working closely with Ryder Cup Europe and ClubGolf to provide free fun coaching activities for up to 3,000 young golfers, from schools and clubs across Scotland, over the course of the tournament.\r\nAs a free event, The Junior Ryder Cup is open to all and will offer a small number of volunteering opportunities for young people. The event will be advertised to young golfers through schools, golf clubs and social media encouraging everyone to support the Teams and to be part of what promises to be a truly inspiring event.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-27T16:43:04.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291152,"EventID":"S4W-19200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T13:43:31.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T16:31:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that a proportion of funds raised by the proposed single use carrier bag charge is allocated to environmental charities.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18979 on 10 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T13:43:31.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291153,"EventID":"S4W-19201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T13:43:31.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T16:31:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek to restrict allocation of proceeds from the proposed single use carrier bag charge to charities registered in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18979 on 10 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T13:43:31.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291154,"EventID":"S4W-19202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T13:43:32.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T16:31:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met representatives of the retail sector to discuss the introduction of the proposed single use carrier bag charge and when the next meeting is scheduled to take place.\r\n","AnswerText":"I last discussed our proposals for single use carrier bag charging at the Scottish Grocery Retailers Forum meeting that I chaired last year. Since then, my officials have been discussing the proposals in more detail with retailers and these discussions will continue as we move towards 20 October 2014 when the new charge will come into effect.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T13:43:32.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291155,"EventID":"S4W-19203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T13:43:32.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T08:55:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps its health directorates will take to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully supportive of the aims of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (CCPW). This year CCPW is focussing on all things related to cervical cancer, including spreading information about symptoms and causes of the disease as well as ways to prevent it.\r\nThe Scottish Government operates successful immunisation and screening programmes designed to vaccinate against the HPV virus and to identify possible cervical cancer causing cells before they develop. Through these programmes, women are provided with information to help them make informed choices about attending cervical screening and symptoms they should look out for.\r\nThe Scottish Government will be supporting this year’s CCPW by participating in the ‘Put Yourself in the Picture’” campaign run by Jo’s Cervical trust. Scottish Health and Wellbeing Ministers will be uploading photos of themselves at in a show of support for the aims of CCPW.\r\nThe Scottish Government will also utilise its social media channels to promote the aims of CCPW and the ‘Put Yourself In the Picture’ campaign.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T13:43:32.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291156,"EventID":"S4W-19204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T13:43:32.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T08:55:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures its health directorates will take to increase awareness of cervical cancer symptoms through (a) national education programmes, (b) NHS board initiatives and (c) other means.\r\n","AnswerText":"The earlier a cancer is detected the easier it is to treat. We know that screening is the best way to detect cervical cancer at its earliest stage. Every women in Scotland between 20 and 60 years of age is invited to be screened for cervical cancer every three years. These women will receive communication materials relating to cervical screening that advise that any women who experience unusual symptoms should report these to their GP as soon as possible.\r\nNHS boards have responsibility for publicising cervical screening within their local area and for working closely with their communities to increase screening uptake. GPs also play a pivotal role in highlighting the benefits and risks of cervical screening to their patients.\r\nIn addition, through our £30 million Detect Cancer Early programme, we aim to increase the proportion of cancers detected at the early stage of disease. It is anticipated that the programme will benefit earlier detection of all cancers as people become more confident about recognising and reporting changes in their body and become more aware of screening programmes through social marketing campaigns.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T13:43:32.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291157,"EventID":"S4W-19110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:38.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farms are (a) located on and (b) have consent to be constructed on areas of deep peat.","AnswerText":"There are no figures available that quantify wind farms located or consented on areas specifically of deep peat. However, there are an estimated 17 wind farm sites consented by Scottish Ministers that are located on areas where more than 60% of the soil on site is made up of peat. Of the 17 wind farms, 5 are already constructed, 3 are under construction and 9 are consented.\r\nCarbon assessments are undertaken and checked by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in all areas where peat is identified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:38.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291158,"EventID":"S4W-19111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:38.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average, (b) minimum and (c) maximum carbon payback period is of wind farms for which the developers have used the Scottish Government’s carbon calculator and that have been consented by ministers.","AnswerText":"The average, minimum and maximum carbon payback for wind farms for which developers have used the Scottish Government’s carbon calculator and that have been consented by Scottish Ministers are:\r\nAverage\r\n1.6\r\nMinimum\r\n1.3\r\nMaximum\r\n1.9\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:38.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291159,"EventID":"S4W-19112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:38.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an unacceptable carbon payback period in cases where wind farms are constructed on peatlands and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government do not consider that it is appropriate to set a threshold for the maximum acceptable carbon payback period of a wind farm because each development must be considered on its own merits, and carbon payback is only one consideration among many that Scottish Ministers must consider in weighing up the pros and cons a of a proposed development.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:38.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291160,"EventID":"S4W-19113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:39.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has rejected on the basis of an unacceptable (a) level of carbon impact or (b) length of carbon payback period since 1 January 2008.\r\n","AnswerText":"The carbon impact and associated carbon payback period of a wind farm are only one important consideration among many that Scottish Ministers must consider and balance before coming to a decision on a wind farm application. Ministers have therefore never refused an application expressly on the basis of its carbon impact or because the carbon payback period was too long.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:39.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291161,"EventID":"S4W-19114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:39.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local planning authorities and statutory bodies to assist them in meeting their obligations under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 with regard to assessing the carbon impact of wind farms located on peatlands and other carbon rich soils.","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy (which is due to be finalised in June 2014) and online renewables planning advice provides guidance for planning authorities assessing the carbon impact of wind farms located on peatlands and other carbon rich soils. This cross-refers to the Scottish Government Energy Directorate’s website which contains other sources of guidance on wind farms and carbon, and the use of the carbon calculator.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:39.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291162,"EventID":"S4W-19115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:39.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-07T17:11:24.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to release an updated version of the carbon calculator for assessing the carbon impact of wind farms constructed on peatlands.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government can confirm that an updated version of the carbon calculator for assessing the carbon impact of wind farms constructed on peatlands was released on the 16 January 2014 on the Scottish Government website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:39.633","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291163,"EventID":"S4W-19205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:39.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T14:26:07.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is has taken to deliver (a) the proposals on diversity in the banking sector and (b) each of the commitments identified in Sustainable, Responsible Banking: a Strategy for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is actively taking forward all the commitments detailed in its banking strategy, Sustainable, Responsible Banking: a strategy for Scotland. This includes activity undertaken by the Scottish Government aimed at helping to increase choice for consumers in the kind of organisations they choose to provide their banking services. Further information on progress against these commitments will be made available in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:39.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291164,"EventID":"S4W-19208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:40.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T14:26:07.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support credit unions in 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Credit unions are encouraged to access the Scottish Government’s third sector organisational development and support programmes. We are working with the credit union representative bodies to ensure their members across the country are aware of these programmes.\r\nSupport includes the Enterprise Ready Fund which opened in September 2013 and which will distribute £6 million during 2013-15 to help maintain, develop and grow Scotland’s enterprising third sector. The Just Enterprise programme works alongside the Enterprise Ready Fund. It is a tailored service and provides business development support and training for third sector organisations across Scotland and is also available to credit unions.\r\nIn addition through the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill we are extending a period of payment of debtor contribution order from three to four years, a measure welcomed by credit unions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:40.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291165,"EventID":"S4W-19209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:40.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T14:26:07.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it had with the UK Government in 2013 regarding the banking operations of RBS in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the significant contribution that financial services companies make to the Scottish economy and is fully committed to maximising headquarter functions and employment in Scotland.\r\nThere have been no specific discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government regarding the banking operations of RBS in Scotland in 2013. However, Scottish ministers regularly meet with senior representatives of RBS to discuss matters of mutual concern. Scottish Government officials also closely monitor issues relevant to the banking sector in Scotland with a view to making representations to the UK Government as appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:40.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291166,"EventID":"S4W-19210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:40.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T14:26:07.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18585 by John Swinney on 5 December 2013, whether the UK Government discussed with it the allegations that RBS put \"good and viable businesses\" into default to improve its balance sheet.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been no discussions between the UK Government and the Scottish Government on this matter. The Scottish Government continues to work with all the banks, including RBS, to improve the supply of affordable finance for viable businesses. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:40.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291167,"EventID":"S4W-19211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:40.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T14:51:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support and assistance it is giving to the Morayvia project at Kinloss Barracks.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides support for non-national museums through Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). I would advise Morayvia to contact MGS for advice on setting up a new museum. MGS can be contacted at:http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/\r\n The Highlands and Islands Enterprise Moray Team has been in regular contact with Morayvia and is providing ongoing advice to the project, including information about potential funders for future development.\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:40.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291168,"EventID":"S4W-19212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:41.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T15:26:08.013","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is reviewing the (a) suitability and (b) effectiveness of short assured tenancies in the private rented housing sector.","AnswerText":"I have established a stakeholder-led review group, independently chaired by Professor Douglas Robertson, to examine the suitability and effectiveness of the current private rented sector tenancy regime and to develop recommendations to Scottish Ministers on how the current regime might work better and or the options for taking forward reform.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:41.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291169,"EventID":"S4W-19213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:41.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T15:39:30.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) the Scottish Futures Trust, (b) the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, (c) David MacBrayne Ltd, (d) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, (e) Scottish Canals, (f) Scottish Water, (g) Transport Scotland, (h) the Scottish Housing Regulator, (i) the Drinking Water Quality Regulator, (j) the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner and (k) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has spent on (i) public relations, (ii) overseas travel, (iii) hospitality and entertainment and (iv) external consultancy in each year since 2010-11, broken down by (A) payment and (B) reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally, however, Section 31 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 imposes duties on listed public bodies to publish information on expenditure that they have incurred on or in connection with: a) public relations, b) overseas travel, c) hospitality and entertainment, d) external consultancy. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year, each listed public body must also publish a statement specifying the amount, date, payee and subject-matter of any payment during that financial year which has a value in excess of £25,000.\r\nFor ease of reference links to the reports published by the relevant public bodies are included below:\r\n(a) The Scottish Futures Trust 2010-11:\r\nhttp://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/sft-public-services-reform-act-document-2010-2011/  \r\n2011-12: \r\nhttp://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/sft-public-services-reform-act-document-2011-2012/ \r\n2012-13:\r\nhttp://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/sft-prsa-publication-2012-2013/\r\n(b) The Water Industry Commission for Scotland\r\n2010-11:\r\nhttp://www.watercommission.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/PSRA_1.pdf \r\n2011-12: \r\nhttp://www.watercommission.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/WICS%20PSRA%202012(proof3).pdf \r\n2012-13: \r\nhttp://www.watercommission.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/WICS%20PSRA%202013.pdf \r\n(c) David MacBrayne Ltd, 2010-11:\r\nhttp://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/Downloads/Annual-Reports/Annual%20Reports%202010-11/David%20MacBrayne%20Limited%20Public%20Services%20Reform%20Scotland%20Act%202010%20-%20Duties%20to%20publish%20information.pdf\r\n2011-12:\r\nhttp://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/Downloads/Annual-Reports/Annual%20Reports%202011-12/David%20MacBrayne%20Ltd%20Public%20Sector%20Reform%20Scotland%20Act%202010%20-%20Duties%20to%20publish%20information.pdf \r\n2012-13: \r\nhttp://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/Downloads/Freedom%20of%20information/Public%20Sector%20Reform%20Act%20-%20Duties%20to%20Publish%202013%20doc.pdf\r\n(d) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is preparing to publish the information on its website http://www.hial.co.uk/. In the interim, information on such expenditure is available from HIAL on request\r\n(e) Scottish Canals \r\nhttp://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/corporate-home/facts-and-figures/public-service-reform-reporting\r\n(f) Scottish Water \r\nhttp://www.scottishwater.co.uk/business/about-us/freedom-of-information/public-sector-reform-act\r\n(g) Transport Scotland 2010 – 11:\r\n\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j251355-00.htm\r\n\r\n2011-12, 2012-13:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j290355-02.htm\r\nExpenditure over £25,000:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/expenditure/reports\r\n(h) The Scottish Housing Regulator 2011-12:\r\nhttp://www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/PSR%20Statement.pdf \r\n2012-13:\r\nhttp://www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Statement%20of%20compliance%20with%20the%20public%20services%20reform%20%28Scotland%29%20act%202010.pdf\r\n(i) The Drinking Water Quality Regulator \r\nhttp://www.dwqr.org.uk/about-us/financialstatements.htm\r\n(j) The Scottish Road Works Commissioner \r\nhttp://www.roadworksscotland.gov.uk/Publications/PublicServicesReformInformation.aspx\r\n(k) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd \r\nhttp://www.cmassets.co.uk/en/about-us/information-disclosure.html\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:41.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291170,"EventID":"S4W-19214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-14T17:11:42.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T15:43:05.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what publications it has issued since 1 May 2011 and what the (a) circulation was and (b) production costs were. \r\n","AnswerText":"A list of official publications, together with the total cost per publication, for the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13 has been provided to the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe), Bib number 55625. Information on circulation is not held centrally and over 90% of publications are online-only.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-28T17:11:42.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291179,"EventID":"S4O-02807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:39.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:04:52.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the rehabilitation of young offenders in their communities after short custodial sentences.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:40.067","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291180,"EventID":"S4O-02808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:40.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T17:25:47.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent talks it has had with the UK Government on cross-border parental abduction.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:40.66","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291181,"EventID":"S4O-02809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:40.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T10:57:53.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the prison population.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:41.003","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291182,"EventID":"S4O-02811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:41.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:05:05.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate provided advice on the legal competence of the white paper on independence.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:41.813","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291183,"EventID":"S4O-02812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:42.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:05:05.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in determining whether rendition flights have touched down at Scottish airports.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:42.097","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291184,"EventID":"S4O-02813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:42.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T09:00:32.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received an update from the UK Government regarding the future use of European arrest warrants in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:42.953","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291185,"EventID":"S4O-02815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:43.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T10:23:58.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many authorised police firearm officers there are.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:43.187","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291186,"EventID":"S4O-02816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:43.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:05:06.903","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a national confidential alert line for Police Scotland employees.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:43.437","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291187,"EventID":"S4O-02817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:43.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:32.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many new forests have been planted using forestry grants under the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:43.687","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291188,"EventID":"S4O-02818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:43.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:32.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress there has been in discussions with the UK Government regarding the common agricultural policy budget allocation announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in November 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:43.967","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291189,"EventID":"S4O-02819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:44.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:46:07.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local authorities to address the risk of flooding.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:44.233","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291190,"EventID":"S4O-02820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:45.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T09:32:31.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NFU Scotland to discuss the implementation of reform of the common agricultural policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:45.09","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291191,"EventID":"S4O-02821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:46.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T09:50:15.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale will be for the introduction of areas of natural constraint to replace less favoured areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:46.057","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291192,"EventID":"S4O-02822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:46.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:34.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met representatives from NFU Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:46.323","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291193,"EventID":"S4O-02823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:46.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:34.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland's farmers now receive the lowest farm payments in the EU and, if so, whether this is due to a lack of direct representation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:46.65","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291194,"EventID":"S4O-02824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:47.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:34.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its national litter strategy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:47.103","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291195,"EventID":"S4O-02825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:47.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:34.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent severe weather conditions, whether it can provide an update on the outcome of any discussions of new arrangements or additional funding to deal with flooding.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:47.54","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291196,"EventID":"S4O-02826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:48.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:06:35.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it would take to improve the situation of farmers in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The member will know that this Scottish Government has always sought to put the best interests of our farmers, and indeed our wider rural communities, at the very forefront of our decisions. However, there is no doubt that we could do much more if we were an independent nation in Europe, negotiating and pressing hard on the issues that really matter to Scotland’s farmers and crofters.\r\nOf course, the additional funding that Scotland would gain is well documented. Not only would it enable us to target areas where it is most needed, but it would also transform our rural development programme. But we would also argue strongly for other policy measures, such as the need for a level playing field on the voluntary coupled support scheme to support our livestock sector, rather than the unacceptable two-tier system that is currently in place.\r\nThere are many benefits of Scotland being independent and that I why I urge all farmers and crofters to vote Yes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:48.54","MeetingDate":"2014-01-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291197,"EventID":"S4O-02827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:48.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:00.047","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Funding Council is taking to implement section 15 of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:48.803","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291198,"EventID":"S4O-02828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:49.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:00.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to East Ayrshire Council to enhance learning and teaching.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:49.053","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291199,"EventID":"S4O-02829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:49.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:00.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of public access defibrillators across the country.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:49.333","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291200,"EventID":"S4O-02830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:49.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:00.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action local authorities are taking in light of Police Scotland's decision to withdraw traffic wardens.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:49.63","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291201,"EventID":"S4O-02831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:50.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:01.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the statistics for the Scottish Welfare Fund for the final quarter of 2013.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:50.457","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291202,"EventID":"S4O-02832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:51.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:01.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it considers it appropriate to administer medicines as a form of restraint for residents in care homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:51.237","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291203,"EventID":"S4O-02833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:51.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T10:06:41.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect bus routes in South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:51.55","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291204,"EventID":"S4O-02834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:51.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:02.077","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme for residents of island areas that do not have participating builders.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:51.8","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291205,"EventID":"S4O-02835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:52.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:04:34.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people who are retired who care for older people.\r\n","AnswerText":"I acknowledge the tremendous work of Scotland’s unpaid carers who care for their families, friends and neighbours.\r\nThe Scottish Government is providing unprecedented levels of support to carers. This includes through our manifesto commitment at least £46 million between 2012 and 2015 of the Reshaping Care for Older People Change Fund. This is supporting carers of older people, including carers who are older themselves, to continue to care.\r\nSubject to the outcome of consultation and to parliamentary approval, the Scottish Government also intends to bring forward new legislation to support carers, including those carers who are retired.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:52.75","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291206,"EventID":"S4O-02836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:26:53.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-13T12:14:02.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the French Government.","AnswerText":"I last met with representatives of the French Government in Paris on 16 December 2013.\r\nI met the French Minister of Culture and Communications, Madame Filippetti and signed a statement of intent between Scotland and France to collaborate on cultural activity.\r\nI also met the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry to discuss deepening Franco-Scottish relations, for example, by linking into European funding programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Creative Europe to develop further collaboration.\r\nThe visit has played an important part in developing relations with France which we will continue to build upon.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:26:53.03","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291207,"EventID":"S4W-19215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:45:08.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T15:59:56.68","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18988 by Alasdair Allan on 13 January 2014, for what reason there has been a 61% increase in the number of people in this category since 2011.","AnswerText":"Prior to 2010, only pupils with co-ordinated support plans (CSPs), individual educational programmes (IEPs) or who were attending a special school were recorded as having additional support needs. However, in 2010 this was extended to include anyone receiving additional support, regardless of whether it was under a formal plan. This led to a large increase in the number of pupils recorded with additional support needs since 2010. This would mean that ‘Other’ now applies to all pupils who are attending primary and secondary schools and are receiving support whereas previously this element would only apply to special schools who were providing support which was not recorded in an IEP or CSP.\r\nThere is a continuing trend of increased identification and recording of pupils with additional support needs. It is expected that this trend will continue over the coming years as we continue to work to improve the statistical collection.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:45:08.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291208,"EventID":"S4W-19216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:45:08.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T16:27:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-18971 and S4W-18973 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm (a) what stakeholders it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of the white paper on independence, (b) what discussions it has had with representatives of Channel (i) 4 and (ii) 5 regarding the continuation of commercial broadcast licences in an independent Scotland and (c) what representatives from the BBC it consulted and on what prior to publication of the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions including with broadcasters, academics and other interested stakeholders. The Scottish Government engaged with a number of stakeholders about the media in an independent Scotland and continues to do so.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:45:08.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291209,"EventID":"S4W-19219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:45:09.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T16:36:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland on the closure of police stations.\r\n","AnswerText":"The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the future of police stations would be an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\nThe Scottish Government support the overarching aim of visible policing and the deployment of police resources in the most effective way to keep communities safe, principles which I know the chief constable shares.\r\nThe recent review of public counter provision undertaken by Police Scotland is not about closing police stations. Operational policing continues to be delivered from stations. For the majority of stations, there will be little or no change to opening hours, in fact, some stations could even see their opening hours extended. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:45:09.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291210,"EventID":"S4W-19220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T13:45:09.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-14T16:36:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of police stations needed to provide effective policing.","AnswerText":"The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the future of police stations would be an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\nIn this regard, it is not the role of the Scottish Government to undertake an assessment nor a judgement on the number of police stations needed to provide an effective policing service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T13:45:09.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291216,"EventID":"S4W-19221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T17:05:12.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:25:42.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with the Department for Health the recommendations of the 2013 report, Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, which examined the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T17:05:12.92","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291217,"EventID":"S4W-19222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T17:05:13.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:25:42.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the 2013 report, Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, which examined the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the hospital and what action it is taking to ensure that such adults in Scotland are not subject to similar abuse. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from Winterbourne View Hospital. The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 has been in place since 2008 in Scotland and protects adults who are at risk of being harmed. The Act requires councils and a range of public bodies to work together to support and protect adults who are unable to safeguard themselves. Since Winterbourne, the Adult Protection Policy Forum is focussing on five national priority projects in order to reduce the risk of harm.\r\nThe Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland undertook a joint review to learn lessons from Winterbourne to identify any risks and take mitigative action here in Scotland.\r\nThe keys to life learning disability policy, has a number of recommendations which will improve the quality and consistency of support for people with learning disabilities focussing on outcomes. In addition it calls on all public bodies involved in providing support to those with learning disabilities to carry out equality impact assessments to ensure that the rights of people with learning disabilities to dignity, equality and non-discrimination are respected and upheld.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T17:05:13.5","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291218,"EventID":"S4W-19223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T17:05:14.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T11:25:42.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many adults with learning difficulties there are in residential care homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is published by NHS Services Scotland, Information Service Division Scotland in the 2013 Care Homes Census publication. The information is held in table 8:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Previous-Publications/index.asp\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T17:05:14.03","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291219,"EventID":"S4W-19225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T17:05:14.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T15:15:22.737","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what examples of restorative justice courts have applied.","AnswerText":"Scottish courts have a range of sentencing options open to them when dealing with offenders, including some which include restorative elements. For example, a court can require an offender to pay compensation to their victim. Recent changes made in the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 will, once they are commenced, mean that the courts must consider imposing a compensation order in all relevant cases. Courts can also impose Community Payback Orders (CPOs), which make offenders repay communities for the damage caused by their crimes and address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. The majority of CPOs include a requirement to carry out unpaid work to benefit communities, for example removing graffiti or carrying out improvements to community facilities and parks.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T17:05:14.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291220,"EventID":"S4W-19226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-15T17:05:14.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-15T16:22:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many calls the national confidential reporting system for police employees has received each year.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for Police Scotland. You may contact the chief constable, Sir Stephen House at Police Scotland, Randolphfield, Stirling, FK8 2HD.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-29T17:05:14.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291232,"EventID":"S4W-19227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T13:48:47.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T11:32:20.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the response was to the landslip on the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful on 15 January 2014 and what progress is being made in work to (a) prevent and (b) minimise the impact of landslips on the A83.\r\n","AnswerText":"A minor landslide occurred on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful after 16:00 on 15 January 2014. Our operating company, BEAR Scotland and Police Scotland were quickly on site to review and assess the situation and manage the initial response. The A83 was never closed and the Police controlled traffic until an assessment was carried out. This was completed at 17:30, when temporary traffic lights were installed.\r\nThe road was fully reopened at 15:55 the following day after the debris, verge and drainage channels were cleared.\r\nThe Scottish Government fully appreciates the significance of the A83 trunk road to the communities of Argyll and to the local economy. Over the last seven years, the Scottish Government has spent over £32 million on the A83 trunk road.\r\nOur operating company is currently in the process of procuring the next landslide mitigation phases (10, 11 and 12), which are anticipated to commence on site in February 2014. Progress on this and other works on the A83 are published on the Transport Scotland website: www.transportscotland.gov.uk.\r\nTransport Scotland has also commissioned studies at three other areas on the A83 which are potentially susceptible to disruption due to landslides. These are at Glen Kinglass, Cairndow and Loch Shira. The aim of these studies is to identify solutions to provide a similar level of risk reduction at these areas to that at the Rest and Be Thankful. Draft options reports for each of the sites are currently being prepared.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T13:48:48.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291240,"EventID":"S4W-19228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:19.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T11:46:44.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Practitioner Services’ plans to retrospectively reclaim payments from NHS general dentists for duplicate dental registrations from 2010.","AnswerText":"Practitioner Services have a legal duty to make the recovery of over-payments where that is appropriate.\r\nThe Scottish Government has accepted that a recovery process is required. However in order to mitigate the effect on practices the recovery of duplicate registrations is part of the funding package for 2013-14. This means that the money is recycled and not permanently lost to dental practices.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:19.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291241,"EventID":"S4W-19229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:20.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T11:46:44.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when Practitioner Services plans to start collecting repayments from NHS general dentists for duplicate dental registrations from 2010.","AnswerText":"Practitioner Services plan to commence recovery of overpayments of duplicate registrations from the February paid to March 2014 payment schedule for those dentists who have current list numbers in Scotland. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:20.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291242,"EventID":"S4W-19230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:20.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T11:46:44.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Practitioner Services made it clear when it introduced lifelong registration for dental patients in 2010 that it would retrospectively reclaim payments from NHS general dentists for duplicate dental registrations from 2010.","AnswerText":"The commitment to introduce non time-limited registration was contained in the Action Plan for improving oral health and modernising NHS dental services in Scotland which was published in 2005. The Scottish Government met this commitment by introducing non time-limited registration in 2010. The basis for the policy change was to encourage the development of a longer term more stable relationship between a dentist and a patient that fits with the need to plan care on a long term basis and to monitor oral health over time.\r\nIn preparing for the introduction of non time-limited registration Practitioner Services were required to carry out appropriate system changes. As a consequence of this work a number of duplicate patient records were subsequently identified.\r\nThe presence of these duplicate registrations, and the requirement to make appropriate recoveries, were communicated in a letter of 21 July 2010 to the then Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee of the British Dental Association Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:20.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291243,"EventID":"S4W-19231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:20.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T11:46:44.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding the NHS has received arising from Barnett consequentials and what the increase in NHS spending over and above this has been, in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"Since 2011-12, the Scottish Government has passed on in full the Barnett consequentials to the Health Budget in Scotland which by 2015-16 will exceed £1.3 billion in total. These have arisen from the Department of Health’s funding settlement from both the 2010 UK Comprehensive Spending Review and the 2013 UK Spending Round and are detailed in the following table:\r\n\r\nResource\r\n£billion\r\n2011-12\r\n0.280\r\n2012-13\r\n0.249\r\n2013-14\r\n0.293\r\n2014-15\r\n0.284\r\n2015-16\r\n0.202\r\nTotal\r\n1.308\r\nPrior to 2011-12, Barnett consequentials accrued to the Scottish block as a whole and therefore the benefit to the health budget cannot be individually identified. However the following table details health’s resource budget from 2007-08 and clearly demonstrates the significant additional investment which has been made since 2007-08:\r\n\r\nResource Budget\r\nIncrease\r\n\r\n£b\r\n£b\r\n2007-08\r\n9.716\r\n-\r\n2008-09\r\n10.122\r\n0.406\r\n2009-10\r\n10.442\r\n0.320\r\n2010-11\r\n10.501\r\n0.059\r\n2011-12\r\n10.781\r\n0.280\r\n2012-13\r\n11.030\r\n0.249\r\n2013-14\r\n11.322\r\n0.292\r\n2014-15\r\n11.606\r\n0.285\r\n2015-16\r\n11.808\r\n0.202\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n2.092\r\nNote: care should be taken when making year-on-year comparisons as figures are subject to change through policy and accounting treatments adjustments e.g. in 2010-11 HM Treasury withdrew £125 million from the Scottish health budget (the associated expenditure was also removed to ensure a neutral effect) due to accounting treatment changes in relation to the cost of capital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:20.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291244,"EventID":"S4W-19239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:21.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:41:03.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Cities Investment Fund it has allocated to Inverness.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Cities Investment Fund is designed to accelerate the pace of investment in cities by developing programmes which lever in other funding and support collaborative programmes between cities (including their regions) which will develop large-scale projects. Projects are collaborative in nature and aim to benefit all the cities involved.\r\nOnce projects have been identified, funding is allocated according to agreed protocols. At its most recent meeting in December 2013, the Leadership Group of the Scottish Cities Alliance noted that £2,599,712 of the £7 million Cities Investment Fund had been approved for a range of collaborative projects. A detailed list of approvals is in SPICe (Bib. number 55643).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:21.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291245,"EventID":"S4W-19241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:21.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T15:20:23.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects that, if Scotland becomes independent, British citizens born in Scotland but living in the rest of the UK will retain British citizenship.","AnswerText":"As set out at page 271 of Scotland’s Future, Scottish Government policy is that all British citizens who are habitually resident in Scotland and all British citizens born in Scotland but residing elsewhere would automatically be considered Scottish citizens. Scotland would not create a barrier to individuals holding Scottish citizenship alongside British or any other citizenship.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:21.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291246,"EventID":"S4W-19242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:21.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T15:29:16.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has provided to non-departmental public bodies regarding the impact of an independent Scotland on their operations in terms of (a) currency and (b) EU membership.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not provided formal advice to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) on either of these issues. It will be for individual NDPB boards to determine their own forward planning based on the proposals outlined in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:21.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291247,"EventID":"S4W-19243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:22.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T15:34:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S4O-02756 by Michael Russell on 8 January 2014 (Official Report, c. 26224), whether it will publish details of the \"range of very special circumstances that would make the defence of objective justification entirely legitimate”.\r\n","AnswerText":"As is set out on page 200 of Scotland’s Future, our policy is based on the unique and exceptional position of Scotland in relation to other parts of the UK, on the fee differential, on our shared land border, and common language, on the qualification structure, on the quality of our university sector and on the high demand for places.\r\nWe believe that these distinctive characteristics will enable us to justify objectively the continuation of our current policy in a way which is consistent with the principle of free movement across the EU as a whole and which is compatible with EU requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:22.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291248,"EventID":"S4W-19244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:22.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T15:34:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP surgeries are not accepting new patients, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 2004 Regulations sets out the requirements that GP practices and health boards must follow in managing patient lists, including closure of patients lists.\r\nNHS Board\r\nClosed Patient Lists\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n0\r\nBorders\r\n0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\nFife\r\n0\r\nForth Valley\r\n0\r\nGrampian\r\n0\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1\r\nHighland\r\n0\r\nLanarkshire\r\n0\r\nLothian\r\n0\r\nOrkney\r\n0\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\nTayside\r\n0\r\nWestern Isles\r\n0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:22.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291249,"EventID":"S4W-19245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-16T16:37:23.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T16:03:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its questionnaire consulting on the possible mandatory microchipping of dogs and other measures does not include a question on (a) the awareness of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and (b) what other legislation exists regarding the sale and breeding of dogs.","AnswerText":"We are aware that there are a wide range of other concerns surrounding responsible dog ownership, and have used the consultation as an opportunity to gather initial views on other potential new measures. This includes posing an open question on the promotion of responsible dog ownership under which we can take account of any comments on how existing legislation is operating. This process will continue, both through the forthcoming summit on dangerous dogs this spring, and through other separate investigations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-30T16:37:23.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291250,"EventID":"S4W-19240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-17T13:36:35.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:47:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the outcomes of the Australian Government's post-implementation review of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 will have on the Scottish Government's commitment to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government remains committed to the introduction of this policy in Scotland, given the strong evidence to support the impact it will have on preventing the uptake of smoking among young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-31T13:36:37.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291251,"EventID":"S4W-19246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-17T13:36:38.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T09:29:55.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18944 by Shona Robison on 13 January 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm whether it would support a ban on any payday lender sponsoring any part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that the pay day lending industry needs to be subject to greater regulation so that we can protect those whose financial situation is desperate enough that they take out these short-term agreements and help them avoid the escalating debt problems.\r\nThe Scottish Government support a multi-pronged approach which would see interest rates and total costs of credit capped as they have been in other countries, restrictions placed on the rolling over of loans and tighter regulation of the industry particularly around advertising.\r\nIn view of this position, the Scottish Government would not support any proposal for a payday loan company to become a Games sponsor. Games organisers have made clear that there is no sponsorship category for payday loan companies and no intention to seek sponsorship from any company in that sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-31T13:36:38.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291252,"EventID":"S4W-19247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-17T13:36:39.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T10:53:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have had bariatric surgery in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table gives the information on the number of patients with a recorded diagnosis of obesity that have had bariatric surgery procedures undertaken, by NHS board of residence each year since 1999 to 2012. Except those noted with a *, were values have been suppressed in accordance with the Information Services Division Disclosure Policy.\r\nNHS Board of Residence\r\n\r\n1999\r\n2000\r\n2001\r\n2002\r\n2003\r\n2004\r\n2005\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3\r\n0\r\n3\r\n4\r\n7\r\nNHS Borders\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\nNHS Fife\r\n\r\n3\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n4\r\n9\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n\r\n8\r\n5\r\n9\r\n7\r\n6\r\n8\r\n10\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n\r\n8\r\n11\r\n21\r\n19\r\n32\r\n35\r\n48\r\nNHS Highland\r\n\r\n*\r\n7\r\n3\r\n7\r\n5\r\n*\r\n*\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n\r\n5\r\n5\r\n6\r\n3\r\n6\r\n9\r\n18\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n\r\n8\r\n13\r\n10\r\n9\r\n8\r\n5\r\n4\r\nNHS Orkney Islands\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\nNHS Shetland Islands\r\n\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\nNot Known\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nOutwith Scotland\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nScotland\r\n\r\n36\r\n44\r\n54\r\n51\r\n65\r\n73\r\n105\r\n\r\n\r\nNHS Board of Residence\r\n\r\n2006\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n\r\n9\r\n3\r\n26\r\n31\r\n35\r\n46\r\n27\r\nNHS Borders\r\n\r\n*\r\n3\r\n3\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n\r\n-\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n5\r\n9\r\n18\r\nNHS Fife\r\n\r\n-\r\n*\r\n3\r\n*\r\n*\r\n14\r\n9\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n\r\n14\r\n15\r\n14\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n3\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n\r\n16\r\n19\r\n30\r\n13\r\n16\r\n15\r\n12\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n\r\n67\r\n84\r\n89\r\n22\r\n38\r\n33\r\n39\r\nNHS Highland\r\n\r\n5\r\n6\r\n10\r\n9\r\n11\r\n*\r\n10\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n\r\n21\r\n32\r\n26\r\n14\r\n27\r\n9\r\n12\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n\r\n7\r\n13\r\n21\r\n32\r\n34\r\n41\r\n50\r\nNHS Orkney Islands\r\n\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\nNHS Shetland Islands\r\n\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n4\r\n29\r\n27\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nOutwith Scotland\r\n\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\nScotland\r\n\r\n146\r\n184\r\n229\r\n128\r\n176\r\n202\r\n213\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-31T13:36:39.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291253,"EventID":"S4W-19249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-17T13:36:40.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T11:44:39.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will utilise and release the environmental data collected in relation to the Argyll Array offshore windfarm project to help inform sustainable marine spatial planning and the design of the marine protected area network.","AnswerText":"Environmental data collected by a developer for their environmental impact assessment scoping application would not routinely be used by Marine Scotland in the sectoral plan making or marine protected area designation process. However, environmental information obtained by developers can be, and has been, utilised by Marine Scotland subject to the appropriate permissions being granted by the data owner and a science review being undertaken where appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-01-31T13:36:40.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291267,"EventID":"S4W-19232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:33.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS assuming responsibility for police medical rooms will impact on detainees.\r\n","AnswerText":"The transfer to the NHS of responsibility for healthcare in custody and for the delivery of forensic services will ensure more effective and efficient services for some of the most vulnerable people in society including both victims and suspects. It should lead to better care and health improvements for those who are detained, through the provision of access to wider social and healthcare services in the community.\r\nThe NHS will not assume responsibility for the medical rooms in the police custody estate. The medical rooms will remain the responsibility of Police Scotland and the refurbishment programme to NHS standards will improve the quality of the services provided to those detained by the police.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:33.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291268,"EventID":"S4W-19233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:33.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which public body pays for the refurbishment of police medical rooms and what impact the NHS assuming responsibility for them will have.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland will fund any upgrades to medical rooms in the custodial estate in order to bring them up to, or maintain, national standards agreed with the NHS. The medical rooms remain part of the Police Scotland estate and will be managed as such. Common specifications in relation to room standards, cleaning and waste disposal will be agreed between the police and NHS to ensure consistency across the estate.\r\nLocal NHS boards will supply, maintain and pay for equipment used in delivering healthcare services in the medical rooms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:33.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291269,"EventID":"S4W-19234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:33.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the closure of police medical rooms for refurbishment impacts on policing and what contingencies there are should such a closure be required.\r\n","AnswerText":"The management by Police Scotland of any upgrade works on police medical rooms will include contingencies for the delivery of services from adjacent custody suites. This will minimise any impact on service delivery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:33.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291270,"EventID":"S4W-19235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:33.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many casualty surgeons Police Scotland employs; how much they are paid, and on what basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland currently employs one forensic medical examiner (an equivalent term to a casualty or police surgeon). In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, it is not appropriate to disclose the salary arrangements.\r\nServices of other healthcare practitioners are sourced through pre-existing service level agreements with local health boards, local agreements with GP surgeries or individual doctors as the need arises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:33.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291271,"EventID":"S4W-19236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:34.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been set aside for the refurbishment of police medical rooms.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland has budgeted for £665,700, excluding value added tax, for the phased upgrade of existing medical rooms in the transition to an NHS led service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:34.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291272,"EventID":"S4W-19237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:34.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who will staff police medical rooms and on what basis they will operate after the NHS assumes responsibility for them.\r\n","AnswerText":"Staffing of police medical rooms will be a matter for the NHS once it assumes responsibility for healthcare and the delivery of forensic services. Staffing arrangements will depend on the clinical model agreed by local health boards and the nature of the examination. Currently it is anticipated that the attending healthcare practitioner will be either a doctor or nurse. These staff will be contracted by the relevant health boards supplying the service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:34.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291273,"EventID":"S4W-19238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:34.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:02:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether savings will be made from the NHS assuming responsibility for police medical rooms and, if so, how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is not possible to confirm what, if any, savings will be made as a result of the transfer of responsibility for healthcare and the delivery of forensic services to the NHS. The NHS will be delivering a different service to that currently provided, for example ensuring linkages with wider social and healthcare services, with improved clinical governance, and this will impact on relative costs of the service now and in the future. The delivery of combined healthcare and forensic services by the NHS could lead to efficiencies and therefore savings and we would expect to see the NHS taking the opportunity to introduce greater efficiencies over time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:34.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291274,"EventID":"S4W-19253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:35.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:25:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether consultation on the 20mph speed limit trial on the A7 has started and, if so, when.\r\n","AnswerText":"The consultation began at the end of January 2014 with Transport Scotland contacting the relevant local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:35.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291275,"EventID":"S4W-19254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:35.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:25:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Transport Scotland is consulting with the local community on the 20mph speed limit trial on the A7 in Langholm.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is already engaging with the local authority and will shortly do so with the wider community through meetings and other appropriate measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:35.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291276,"EventID":"S4W-19255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:36.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:25:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when consultation on the 20mph speed limit trial on the A7 in Langholm is expected to conclude.\r\n","AnswerText":"The consultation will take place over the next few months. We hope to be able to deliver a 20 mph limit by the spring or early summer. This will depend on the outcomes both of the consultation with the community and the statutory consultation taken in respect of the speed limit order required to promote any change in the speed limit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:36.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291277,"EventID":"S4W-19256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:36.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:44:07.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government with whom it has had discussions in relation to the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements to small and medium-sized businesses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following a members business debate in the Scottish Parliament on 13 June 2013 on this matter, Mr Swinney wrote to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Treasury to relay the concerns of businesses in Scotland affected by the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements. The FCA responded on 9 August 2013 stating this was an issue for HM Treasury. HM Treasury has yet to respond.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also engaging with counterparts in the Welsh Government regarding the potential for a co-ordinated approach from the devolved administrations to help ensure fair redress for affected small and medium-sized businesses as quickly as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:36.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291278,"EventID":"S4W-19257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:36.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:44:07.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements and what help it is providing to small and medium-sized businesses that have been affected.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the Scottish Banking Strategy ‘Sustainable Responsible Banking, published on 10 May 2013, the Scottish Government has emphasised the need for a banking sector in Scotland that is built on the principles of probity, prudence and trust. We strongly oppose the sale of any financial product which does not clearly meet the needs or the interests of customers.\r\nThe Scottish Government continues to work with all the banks to ensure the supply of affordable and appropriate finance and financial products for viable businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:36.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291279,"EventID":"S4W-19258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:36.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:44:07.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publicise to small and medium-sized businesses the review that has been set up by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is the responsibility of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to raise awareness of its review and for the banks to approach those customers who fall within the remit the FCA review.\r\nThe Scottish Government will continue to urge those who believe they have been mis-sold a product to make a formal complaint directly to the banks or to the Financial Ombudsman Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:36.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291280,"EventID":"S4W-19259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T14:04:37.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:44:07.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to companies that have been excluded from the Financial Conduct Authority’s review of the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements on the grounds that they are classed as ”sophisticated” customers.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for the appropriate regulators and the banks to ensure that all companies that may have been mis-sold financial products are given the assistance they need and any appropriate redress. The Scottish Government will continue to refer such companies to the appropriate organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T14:04:37.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291281,"EventID":"S4T-00569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:51:19.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T10:39:52.31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in The Herald on 20 January 2014 on the pay of university principals.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:51:19.833","MeetingDate":"2014-01-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291282,"EventID":"S4F-01830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:46.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T14:57:45.29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:46.49","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291283,"EventID":"S4F-01831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:47.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-16T15:34:56.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:47.067","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291284,"EventID":"S4F-01832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:47.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T10:32:06.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:47.317","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291285,"EventID":"S4F-01840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:51.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T11:17:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to findings from the universities of Edinburgh and Oxford that the Pentland Firth could provide enough renewable energy to power approximately half of Scotland’s homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:51.543","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291286,"EventID":"S4F-01843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:52.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T11:50:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of recent reports on how the UK Government’s economic strategy is impacting on inequality in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:52.2","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291287,"EventID":"S4F-01848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T12:50:53.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T11:59:52.31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister  what action the Scottish Government is taking to strengthen the powers that local authorities and communities have to purchase land.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T12:50:53.527","MeetingDate":"2014-01-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291295,"EventID":"S4W-19250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:01.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T17:50:28.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's new powers under the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Bill will be (a) operational and (b) enforceable.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following the passage of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Bill through Parliament, the Scottish Government will draft and consult stakeholders on subordinate legislation and guidance on the operation of the enforcement provisions in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Bill.\r\nThe new range of enforcement measures, which received cross party support during passage of the Bill, will ensure that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) can make the right range of risk-based and proportionate interventions to tackle poor performance and environmental crime.\r\nThe measures will also help SEPA focus on supporting sustainable economic growth, improving the health and wellbeing of the Scottish population and protecting and improving the environment are key elements of its new statutory purpose introduced by the Bill.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with SEPA and others to determine the best timetable for bringing these provisions into force. Subject to the Bill gaining Royal Assent, we currently envisage laying these instruments before the Scottish Parliament in early 2015 and for them to be enforceable shortly thereafter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:01.633","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291296,"EventID":"S4W-19251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:01.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T17:50:28.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on the Scottish fishing industry of the dismantling of import tariffs and the end of the previous minimum price and withdrawal system under the common organisation of the markets reform.\r\n","AnswerText":"There has been no change to current import tariff arrangements which are covered by Council Regulation No. 1220/2012 which deals with trade related measures to guarantee the supply of certain fishery products to EU processors from 2013 to 2015.\r\nThe new Common Market Organisation (CMO) regulation (No. 1379/2013) came into effect on 1 January 2014. Among other things, it abolishes altogether the system of minimum prices and the payment to fishermen for fish withdrawn from the market. The Scottish Government did not support abolition under the proposed timescale, preferring to maintain the previous arrangements for at least another three years but this position was not supported by the UK or other Member States. It is, however, too early to judge what impact these new arrangements will have on the Scottish fishing industry.\r\nThe new CMO provides instead for a system of ‘storage aid’ whereby, if a member’s fish product fails to sell at a trigger price set by its fish Producer Organisation (PO) at the start of each year, it may be temporarily removed from the market and stored for reintroduction at a later date. POs may receive financial support to cover the cost of storage. This new funding will be provided as part of the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. We are currently consulting Scottish fish Producers’ Organisations and other interests about the use of “storage aid”. This arrangement will be phased out by 2019.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:01.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291297,"EventID":"S4W-19252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:02.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-17T17:50:28.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) farmers and (b) crofters applied for compensation under the Sea Eagle Management Scheme, broken down by parliamentary constituency.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Sea Eagle Management Scheme pays for positive management of sheep flocks, in order to reduce conflict with sea eagles. It does not pay compensation for lamb losses. The scheme ran for three years from 2011–13, and closed in summer 2013, but Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will honour all agreements entered into under the Scheme. Through the scheme, SNH offered three-year management agreements (MAs) to land managers.\r\nSNH received 70 applications, all of which resulted in management agreements being offered to the applicants.\r\nOf those 70 management agreement offers, 62 have been accepted or concluded by the land manager and 7 agreements were rejected by the applicants. The final management agreement was only offered recently, so it is not known whether the land manager will accept the offer.\r\nOf the 62 concluded agreements:\r\n1 contains ‘special measures to reduce impacts from sea eagles’\r\n2 contain ‘promotional measures’\r\n4 contain ‘special measures to benefit sea eagles’\r\n58 contain ‘sheep management measures’\r\n(The numbers add up to more than 62 because some MA’s contain more than 1 element)\r\nOf the 62 concluded agreements:\r\n17 are with crofters / common grazings\r\n9 are in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch\r\n1 in Argyll and Bute\r\n5 in Caithness Sutherland and Ross (Wester Ross)\r\n2 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar\r\n2 are with constituted community groups (these are the two ‘promotional measures’ agreements) \r\n1 in Argyll and Bute (Mull)\r\n1 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar\r\n43 are with farms/ estates (i.e. not registered croftland)\r\n31 in Argyll and Bute \r\n9 in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch \r\n3 in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Wester Ross)\r\nSNH has commissioned a review and evaluation of the scheme, on behalf of the assessment panel, and this will be completed by the end of March 2014. It will help inform the design of a new scheme, along with advice/input from the Sea Eagle Stakeholder Group, which advised on the design of the current management scheme.\r\nThe expectation is that a new scheme will be launched in late spring 2014. The budget for this has not yet been agreed, nor has its scope and geographical extent. SNH look forward to working with key interested bodies including the National Farmers Union Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation over the coming months to design a scheme that best meets the needs of land managers and others with an interest in sea eagle management.\r\nIn the meantime, SNH will continue to provide advice and assistance to land managers concerned by sea eagle impacts on their livestock.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:02.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291298,"EventID":"S4W-19260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:02.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T14:44:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government about how the work of GCHQ impacts on people and communities in Scotland and whether GCHQ has gathered information in Scotland using the surveillance system, Dishfire.\r\n","AnswerText":"National security is reserved to the UK Parliament and the operations of GCHQ are a matter for the UK Government. As the First Minister indicated in answer to question S4F-01457 on 13 June 2013, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice wrote to the Foreign Secretary on 11 June 2013 regarding his statement on the information leaked by Edward Snowden. The letter and Mr Burt’s response have been lodged with SPICe (Bib Number 55086). These are the only recent communications the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the impact the work of GCHQ has on people and communities in Scotland.\r\nThe answer to the First Ministers oral question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8770.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:02.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291299,"EventID":"S4W-19262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:02.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T14:44:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it was consulted by the UK Government regarding the document, Adapting To Change: UK policy towards the Arctic, and whether an independent Scotland would support the Arctic being given UN protectorate status.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no central record of having been consulted by the UK Government regarding the document “Adapting to Change: UK policy towards the Arctic”.\r\nAs set out on page 228 of the Scottish Government’s “Scotland’s Future” document, the Scottish Government recognises it has key shared interests with its geographical neighbours in the North Atlantic, such as Iceland and Norway, and a common interest in the Arctic and the High North. The government has also stated that it would participate in a range of international organisations, including the United Nations, to promote global issues of importance to the Scottish people. Following independence, specific foreign policy decisions relating to Scotland’s position on the Arctic would, however, be for the government of the day to decide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:02.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291300,"EventID":"S4W-19264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-20T16:49:02.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T14:44:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to local authorities regarding developments near sites of historic interest.\r\n","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland, as the Scottish Government’s heritage agency, takes the lead role in providing advice and guidance to planning authorities, developers and others on the potential impacts of development on the historic environment. In offering advice, Historic Scotland recognises that the historic environment is a fragile and irreplaceable resource, but also a dynamic one.\r\nThere are three specific areas of the planning system in which Historic Scotland is involved:\r\n1. Development planning\r\nHistoric Scotland works with planning authorities during the preparation of local development plans to ensure that the historic environment is considered in a positive way. Historic Scotland also works with planning authorities on development plan delivery initiatives, such as the preparation of supplementary guidance, masterplans and development briefs.\r\n\r\n2. Development management\r\nHistoric Scotland is a statutory consultee for planning applications for works affecting A-listed buildings and scheduled monuments and their settings as well as inventory battlefields or inventory garden and designed landscapes. Where an application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment, Historic Scotland is also consulted.\r\nIn providing views on planning applications Historic Scotland considers various issues, including how the development might affect the appreciation of the site in its wider context. In doing so, Historic Scotland seeks to help decision makers establish a clear understanding of heritage assets so that any impacts can be sensitively managed. Historic Scotland also welcomes early engagement so potential impacts can be identified and addressed at an early stage.\r\n3. Guidance \r\nHistoric Scotland also publishes a series of managing change guidance notes which are intended to be used by planning authorities and other interested parties in the development management process. These guidance notes seek to explain how to apply the policies contained in the Scottish Historic Environment Policy and The Scottish Planning Policy. These can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/managingchange.htm. There is a guidance note on setting.\r\n\r\nHistoric Scotland, together with Architecture and Place and Architecture and Design Scotland, has also produced the volume ‘New Design in Historic Settings’. This aims to set out the means by which we can raise the standard of new design in historic settings and the advice is aimed at designers, developers, local authorities, community groups and other important stakeholders. It can be accessed here at: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/newdesigninhistoricsettings.htm. \r\nEncompassing the natural and built environment more widely, ‘Creating Places is the Scottish Government’s policy statement on architecture and place. Its website is an important element of the policy and it is designed to be a resource for everyone with an interest in the built and natural environment, and includes guidance on culture and heritage. It can be accessed at: http://www.creatingplacesscotland.org/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-03T16:49:02.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291305,"EventID":"S4W-19266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:52.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T16:53:49.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme report, Joint Doctrine: The Interoperability Framework, and whether it has taken (a) the report into account when considering the provision of (i) police and (ii) fire control rooms and (b) steps to review arrangements for each of the emergency services in light of the report’s findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP) is operational business and, as such, Scotland’s emergency services have been actively engaged in it since an early stage. However, both emergency services and Scottish Government officials have been clear from the start that Scotland would review the outcomes of the JESIP programme, and would only implement any aspects which were both relevant to Scotland and which would improve upon Scotland’s already strong emergency services interoperability. That review is currently ongoing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:53.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291306,"EventID":"S4W-19267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:53.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T16:53:49.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the risk assessments that it has made of the proposals to change the number of (a) police and (b) fire control rooms.","AnswerText":"Determining the number of control rooms is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. We have received their assurances that any changes to control rooms will not compromise the safety of their staff or the communities they protect, and will ensure efficient and effective deployment of resources across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:53.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291307,"EventID":"S4W-19268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:53.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T17:36:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have had to travel to Inverness to give birth due to a lack of capacity in maternity services in Aberdeen in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect this information centrally.\r\nHowever, NHS Grampian has advised that its records show that, to date, there were four women transferred from Aberdeen Maternity Hospital to Inverness since 2011,three in 2011, one in 2012 and none in 2013.\r\nThe board has confirmed that it does not transfer to other units for pregnancy care (antenatal, labour and postnatal) unless there is a clinical need to do so or due to maternal request.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:53.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291308,"EventID":"S4W-19269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:54.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage local authorities to adopt the town centre first principle.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18896 on 9 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:54.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291309,"EventID":"S4W-19270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:54.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the town centre first principle differs from the sequential test in the Scottish Planning Policy.","AnswerText":"We recognise that a shared understanding of a town centre first principle across the public sector will be key to its success and have established a working group with COSLA to consider how the town centre first principle will be applied in practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:54.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291310,"EventID":"S4W-19271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:54.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the retail sector is not mentioned in Town Centre Action Plan - the Scottish Government response.","AnswerText":"The Town Centre Action Plan makes clear our commitment to continue to support businesses in town centres, which includes the retail sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:54.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291311,"EventID":"S4W-19272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:54.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role the retail sector can play in implementing the government’s town centre vision.","AnswerText":"The Town Centre Action Plan makes clear the important contribution that businesses make to town centres. The role for retail is complementary to that of the other sectors, working in partnership with the wider town centre community.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:54.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291312,"EventID":"S4W-19273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:55.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it will work with the private sector to develop appropriate investment models to support town centres.","AnswerText":"As we state in the Town Centre Action Plan, it is meant as added stimulus to encourage and support action across the wider public, private and community sectors, all of whom we invite to contribute to the efforts required ahead. We will be seeking views from the private sector on furthering the opportunities that this plan presents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:55.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291313,"EventID":"S4W-19274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T13:47:55.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T10:28:27.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a strategy to grow the retail sector and ensure that it can contribute to the regeneration of town centres.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of a vibrant retail sector to the Scottish economy. That is why we have a range of measures currently in place to allow and encourage the retail sector to grow.\r\nThe Town Centre Action Plan which is the Scottish Government’s response to the Town Centre Review carried out last year, is one such initiative. This plan outlines the importance of securing the future of town centres.\r\nWe also value our engagement with the Scottish Retail Consortium who have been involved in many wide ranging policy discussions including; the economy and town centres.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T13:47:55.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291316,"EventID":"S4W-19278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T16:33:26.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T13:38:33.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with PNE Wind regarding the Cowal and Trossachs Forest District Wind Farm, Bachan Burn.\r\n","AnswerText":"Energy Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU) colleagues met with representatives from PNE Wind on 16 October 2013 to advise the developer on the procedures in place in order for them to take forward a scoping opinion from the ECDU. PNE Wind provided an overview of their early proposals for the site. A subsequent scoping report was provided by PNE Wind on 13 November 2013 and a consultation exercise on that report is on-going.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T16:33:26.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291317,"EventID":"S4W-19279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-21T16:33:26.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T13:38:33.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on notices received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 where a similar but smaller planning application has been recently rejected by the local planning authority.  \r\n","AnswerText":"In Scotland, any application to construct or operate an onshore power generating station with a capacity of over 50 megawatts (MW) requires the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.\r\nSignificant onshore renewable energy proposals will require an Environmental Impact Assessment. To comply with the Electricity works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, Scottish Ministers have to consult the local planning authority, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and internal government consultees, together with other parties who may have an interest in the development. Should the planning authority object to the application, or otherwise at the discretion of Ministers, a public inquiry is called to consider the proposal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-04T16:33:26.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291318,"EventID":"S4W-19284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T09:46:36.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T09:26:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of the responses received to its consultation on the provision of specialist residential chronic pain services in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The ‘Analysis of Consultation Responses’ report will be published on the Scottish Government website on 23 January 2014. A copy of the report has been placed in the Scottish Parliaments Information Centre (SPICe), bib number 55593.\r\nThe consultation has provided a wide range of views and comments on the future provision of specialist residential chronic pain services and I am grateful to all those who have taken the time to respond to the consultation and share their experiences with us.\r\nThe outcome of the consultation shows a clear preference for the first option to deliver a Scottish service in a single location in a centre of excellence. The Scottish Government will produce a report providing our response to the findings of the consultation and the comments received. The response will also set out details of how the new service will be delivered. It is anticipated that this report will be available by spring this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T09:46:36.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291319,"EventID":"S4O-02837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:14.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T11:28:06.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on health and wellbeing in Scotland.  \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:14.337","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291320,"EventID":"S4O-02839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:14.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:51.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on introducing its proposed legislation on carers.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:14.65","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291321,"EventID":"S4O-02840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:14.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:51.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the National Infertility Group Report.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:14.963","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291322,"EventID":"S4O-02841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:15.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T18:38:11.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the NHS about the progress of the diabetes action plan.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:15.337","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291323,"EventID":"S4O-02842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:15.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:55.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the establishment of a voluntary register of interests for doctors.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:15.65","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291324,"EventID":"S4O-02843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:15.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T14:42:41.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what use it makes of academic research from Scottish universities and colleges in formulating health and wellbeing policy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:15.993","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291325,"EventID":"S4O-02844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:16.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:55.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would use policy levers in an independent Scotland to increase life expectancy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:16.257","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291326,"EventID":"S4O-02845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:16.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:56.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the health of young transgender people before gender recognition is granted.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:16.507","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291327,"EventID":"S4O-02846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:16.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T09:42:08.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects a decision by the European Commission on the provisions of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012, and what action it has taken in the interim to tackle alcohol abuse.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:16.757","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291328,"EventID":"S4O-02847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:17.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:56.827","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lanarkshire and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:17.02","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291329,"EventID":"S4O-02848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:17.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:57.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers will next meet the board of NHS Lanarkshire.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:17.287","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291330,"EventID":"S4O-02850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:18.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:58.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported increases in emergency admissions for people over 75.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:18.02","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291331,"EventID":"S4O-02851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:18.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T10:07:51.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle the effects of excess sugar consumption.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:18.317","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291332,"EventID":"S4O-02852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:18.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:58.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is for tackling ADHD among young people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:18.66","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291333,"EventID":"S4O-02853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:18.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:04:59.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to address the reported increase in the number of assaults on its staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"Any violence or aggression against NHSScotland staff is unacceptable and we have policies in place to provide and continuously improve a safe working environment. We encourage NHSScotland organisations to commit to supporting criminal proceedings against anyone who assaults a staff member.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:18.97","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291334,"EventID":"S4O-02856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:19.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:01.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers and government officials meet regularly with representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss matters of importance to local people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:19.347","MeetingDate":"2014-01-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291335,"EventID":"S4O-02857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:19.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:22:16.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it does to support shared or common housing registers for local authorities, housing associations and housing co-operatives.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:19.8","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291336,"EventID":"S4O-02858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:20.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:42.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the statutory consultation period for school closure decisions by local authorities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:20.093","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291337,"EventID":"S4O-02859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:20.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:43.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the 101 non-emergency police telephone number.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:20.343","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291338,"EventID":"S4O-02860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:20.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:43.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to exempt care home residents from council tax payments on their unoccupied properties.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:20.733","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291339,"EventID":"S4O-02861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:20.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T10:00:47.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Historic Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:21","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291340,"EventID":"S4O-02862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:21.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:43:07.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the quality and affordability of private rented housing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:21.297","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291341,"EventID":"S4O-02864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:22.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T09:06:58.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role oil and gas revenues will play in any post-referendum negotiations with the UK Government.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:22.123","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291342,"EventID":"S4O-02865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:22.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:45.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with trade unions since the publication of the ScotRail Franchise Draft Invitation to Tender.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:22.42","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291343,"EventID":"S4O-02866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T14:08:22.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T12:05:46.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of childcare provision in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T14:08:22.67","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291344,"EventID":"S4W-19265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:51.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-20T16:36:44.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group will report on setting up a feasibility study on a breast implant register.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials remain in active contact with NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency over this and related matters. Once further information on the proposed breast cancer registry and feasibility study is available, the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group will be asked to look at this in detail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:51.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291345,"EventID":"S4W-19275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:51.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T13:00:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-12369 and S4W-16395 by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2013 and 25 July 2013 respectively, how many snare users attended the training required to qualify for an identification number for the purpose of setting snares by 1 January 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"By 1 January 2014, a total of 2,144 people had successfully completed the snaring training course required to qualify for an identification number for the purpose of setting snares.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:51.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291346,"EventID":"S4W-19276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:53.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T13:00:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16396 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 July 2013, how many snare users, having attended the required training, had obtained an identification number from the chief constable of their local police force or from Police Scotland by 1 January 2014.","AnswerText":"By 1 January 2014, a total of 1,115 people had obtained their snaring identification number from the chief constable of their local police force or, since 1 April 2013 when Police Scotland was formally established, from the chief constable of Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:53.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291347,"EventID":"S4W-19277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:54.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T13:00:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many snaring training courses have been delivered since 11 March 2010 by (a) Borders College, (b) the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited, (c) Elmwood College, (d) the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, (e) North Highland College, (f) the Scottish Agricultural College, (g) the Scottish Association for Country Sports and (h) the Scottish Gamekeepers Association Charitable Trust, and how many participants there were on each.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) voluntarily administers a central register that holds all details of the snare training courses which are run by the following approved bodies: GWCT, Borders College, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited, Elmwood College, North Highland College, the Scottish Agricultural College, the Scottish Association for Country Sports and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association Charitable Trust. GWCT advise that because of the administrative costs involved, they are unable to provide information on the number of training courses and participants on each course run by the respective training providers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:54.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291348,"EventID":"S4W-19280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:54.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T16:36:36.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which fish farms that do not employ non-lethal seal management measures have (a) applied for and (b) been granted seal licences in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, prior to 2011, seal licences were not required by fish farms to control seals and none were issued.\r\nA new seal licensing system was introduced under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and, since 2011, annual information on seal licences issued to fish farms can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following link: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicensing\r\nMarine Scotland only has information on the presence or absence of non-lethal measures in respect of those fish farm sites, which are included in applications for seal licences. We have no information on fish farm sites not involved in seeking a seal licence.\r\nIn 2011, 98% (230) of active fish farms used non-lethal measures. In the subsequent years, 2012 and 2013, 100% (230 and 225 respectively) of active fish farms used such measures.\r\nAccording to the latest information received by Marine Scotland, the following non-lethal seal management measures are used by fish farms which have been granted seal licences:- 100% use tensioned nets, 62% use acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs), 2% use double nets, 9% use anti-predator nets and 22% use seal blinds.\r\nThe non-lethal measure that is generally considered to be most effective against seals is tensioned nets, which although designed to keep fish contained also help to keep seals out. All fish farms seeking a seal licence have such nets installed. There are, however, a number of restrictions on the ability of fish farms to make use of other non-lethal measures, usually due to their potential impact on other marine species.\r\nMarine Scotland continues to work closely with the industry to extend the use of non-lethal measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:54.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291349,"EventID":"S4W-19281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:55.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T16:36:36.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what non-lethal seal management measures are used by fish farms and what information it has on the percentage of farms that use these, broken down by measure.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19280 on 5 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:55.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291350,"EventID":"S4W-19282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:55.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-21T16:36:36.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of fish farms (i) have applied for and (ii) been granted a licence to (A) shoot seals to prevent serious damage to fisheries and (B) protect the health and welfare of farmed fish in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19280 on 5 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:55.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291351,"EventID":"S4W-19285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:53:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been admitted to residential or care homes following an assessment of no longer having the mental capacity to make decisions to take actions in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:56.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291352,"EventID":"S4W-19286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:56.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:53:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all local authorities have implemented the guidance contained in Chief Executive Letter CEL 6 (2008), NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE.","AnswerText":"CEL 6 (2008), guidance on NHS Continuing Healthcare, covers the responsibilities of the NHS in Scotland for providing continuing health care services. The guidance is relevant to local authorities but is for NHS boards to implement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:56.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291353,"EventID":"S4W-19287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:57.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:53:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many court applications have been made in relation to the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:57.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291354,"EventID":"S4W-19288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:57.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:53:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received a refund having been wrongly charged for care in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:57.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291355,"EventID":"S4W-19289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T13:49:57.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T11:53:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what audit procedures it has put in place to investigate cases of people being wrongly charged for care.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the statutory purchasers of care, namely local authorities and NHS boards. Where people feel they are being wrongly charged for care they should raise it with the relevant local bodies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T13:49:57.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291363,"EventID":"S4W-19344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:11.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:07:52.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Scottish Prison Service has had with the n-ergy group regarding the reported proposal for a telesales call centre to be established at HMP Grampian and what salary inmates staffing the centre would receive.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“In the summer of 2013, SPS commissioned an advertising campaign inviting proposals from external organisations (private, public or third sector) who may wish to host an enterprise in HMP and YOI Grampian. The partner would engage offenders directly in the enterprise with the aim of providing up-skilling and in turn, improving the employment prospects of those released from custody.\r\nA proposal was received from N-ergy Group Limited by the submission deadline and evaluated by SPS. Subsequently, SPS has held a number of discussions with N-ergy. These discussions initially focused on ensuring that the proposal was suitable for delivery in a prison context before SPS agreed a contract with N-ergy. Latterly, following award of a contract, discussions and site meetings have been held to manage the practicalities, fit-out and mobilisation in time for going live from March 2014.\r\nThose offenders who engage with this opportunity will be remunerated by SPS. In line with the SPS’s wage earning policy, offenders will be paid a level three wage of between £10-£11 per week, with the opportunity to earn up to a further £12 per week under the workshop efficiency scheme.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:11.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291364,"EventID":"S4W-19346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:12.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:17:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether schools offer bagpipe tuition on a par with tuition in other instruments.","AnswerText":"Some schools offer bagpipe tuition along with other instruments. As with Curriculum for Excellence, the detail of how this is delivered in schools is decided by local authorities and schools. This includes the choice of instrument and how instrumental music tuition is delivered. These decisions are based on a range of considerations and take account of relevant resource limitations, local traditions and demand and availability of music instructors.\r\nWe welcome the wide range of instrumental music tuition local authorities provide and believe that music plays a vitally important role in education, helping to shape a young person’s sense of personal, social and cultural identity as well as providing significant cognitive, societal and economic benefits to Scotland as a nation and its people.\r\nLast year the Scottish Government set up the Instrumental Music Group chaired by David Green and this spent six months investigating local authorities’ provision of instrumental music tuition services. The group’s report was published in June 2013 and is available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/InstrumentalMusicGroup.\r\nIn terms of accessing traditional music and learning to play the bagpipes, the report does not focus on any particular instrument but recommendation three states that local authorities should review their charging policies and concessionary schemes to ensure that pupils in their area are not prevented from learning a musical instrument because of their background, location disability or financial circumstances. The government has accepted this recommendation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:12.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291365,"EventID":"S4W-19347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:13.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:17:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting pupils in (a) accessing traditional music in schools and (b) learning to play the bagpipes.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19346 on 5 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at;\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:13.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291366,"EventID":"S4W-19348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:14.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:17:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available to children who cannot afford to learn traditional musical instruments.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19346 on 5 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:14.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291367,"EventID":"S4W-19349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:15.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:17:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish country dancing is taught in all schools.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nHowever, dance, including Scottish Country Dance, can be a key context for learning in core Physical Education (PE). PE provides learners with a platform from which they can build the movement skills and competencies, personal and interpersonal skills necessary for participation in all forms of dance and enhances their physical wellbeing in preparation for leading a fulfilling, active and healthy lifestyle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:15.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291368,"EventID":"S4W-19350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:16.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T14:46:13.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been placed on the ACT 2 Care strategy in each of the last three years, broken down by institution.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe following table details the number of prisoners who were placed on the SPS Suicide Risk Management Strategy (ACT2Care) in the last three years broken down into establishments. The same individual may be recorded more than once if they have been placed on ACT2Care in more than one establishment.\r\nPrison\r\n01-04-2010-\r\n31-03-11\r\n01-04-11-\r\n31-03-12\r\n01-04-12-\r\n31-03-13\r\nAberdeen\r\n89\r\n130\r\n102\r\nAddiewell\r\n163\r\n150\r\n178\r\nBarlinnie\r\n404\r\n526\r\n486\r\nCornton Vale\r\n236\r\n244\r\n179\r\nDumfries\r\n39\r\n22\r\n28\r\nEdinburgh\r\n205\r\n203\r\n163\r\nGlenochil\r\n10\r\n26\r\n25\r\nGreenock\r\n84\r\n112\r\n56\r\nInverness\r\n102\r\n85\r\n105\r\nKilmarnock\r\n204\r\n273\r\n191\r\nLow Moss*\r\nN/A\r\n2\r\n76\r\nPeterhead\r\n9\r\n8\r\n9\r\nPolmont\r\n114\r\n152\r\n175\r\nPerth\r\n153\r\n197\r\n186\r\nShotts\r\n12\r\n13\r\n23\r\nTotal\r\n1,824\r\n2,143\r\n1,982\r\n*HMP Low Moss opened in March 2012\r\nThere are no figures recorded for the open estate as prisoners who require to be managed under the Suicide Risk Management Strategy would be transferred to a closed establishment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:16.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291369,"EventID":"S4W-19351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-22T16:37:17.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T15:25:32.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its impact on tourism in Scotland, (a) what recent discussions and correspondence it has had with and (b) when it will next meet the UK Government regarding the cruise ship industry; whether it has received representations regarding the passport checking procedures on cruise ships, and whether this has being raised in the discussions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government regard cruise tourism as a key part of the marine tourism sector and have made repeated calls on the UK Government to end the current imposition of face-to-document checks on cruise passengers disembarking at UK ports.\r\nIn addition the Scottish Government hosted an ‘End of Season’ symposium for CruiseScotland, the umbrella body for the cruise industry in Scotland, on 14 November 2013. That event raised a number of detailed questions and, following analysis, these were passed onto both the UK Home Office and the UK Border Force in ministerial letters dated 31 January 2014.\r\nThose letters were to be in advance of a scheduled meeting between the Scottish Government, CruiseScotland and the UK Border Force on 05 February 2014. This meeting was cancelled at short notice at the request of the UK Border Force. The Scottish Government are urgently seeking a new date for the meeting to take place. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-05T16:37:17.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291371,"EventID":"S4W-19355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:46.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T17:17:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19116 by John Swinney on 22 January 2014, whether local authorities can use income obtained from reductions in council tax discount for second homes and certain long-term unoccupied buildings on energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives to improve the affordability of housing stock.","AnswerText":"Statutory responsibility for the administration of council tax, including eligibility for discounts or exemptions, lies with the relevant local authority. It is for each local authority to determine the allocation of resources based on local priorities. Guidance issued to local authorities states that income received from reducing second and long-term empty home discount between 50% and 10% should be spent on a range of affordable housing activity which could include energy efficiency. Any additional income generated from the discretionary levy on long-term unoccupied homes which was introduced by the Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 can be used entirely at local authorities discretion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:47.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291372,"EventID":"S4W-19356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:47.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T18:13:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) raise awareness of and (b) challenge bullying in local authorities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and should be tackled quickly whenever and wherever it arises. It is for local authorities themselves, as responsible employers, to take action to ensure bullying does not take place in their workplaces.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:47.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291373,"EventID":"S4W-19357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:48.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T10:30:46.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how local food producers can benefit from increased provision of school meals in primary schools.","AnswerText":"The extension of free school meals to all children in primary school years 1 to 3 will increase the amount of food purchased through existing contracts, including local produce. Scottish Government guidance such as Catering for Change – Buying food sustainably in the public sector explains how local authorities can increase participation of small and local producers in future tenders for school food produce while acknowledging that EU procurement legislation prevents preference being given to local suppliers. The National Food and Drink Policy, promotes the use of fresh and in season food and there is a wide range of government funded supplier development activity to support this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:48.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291374,"EventID":"S4W-19358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:48.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T10:30:46.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what health benefits it expects to see as a result of increased provision of school meals in primary schools.","AnswerText":"School meals in Scotland must meet strict nutritional standards as set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Children who take a school meal receive the benefit of a nutritious meal and learn, through the experience, what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet.\r\nThis experience complements learning about food and health which forms a key part of health and wellbeing within Curriculum for Excellence. In addition to ensuring more children get a nutritiously balanced meal, increasing school meal provision can help more children to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy food choices, positively influencing their current and future health.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:48.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291375,"EventID":"S4W-19359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:48.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T10:30:46.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what requirements schools have regarding the collection of food waste.","AnswerText":"From January 2014, The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require schools involved in the processing, distribution or preparation of food to take all reasonable steps to ensure the separate collection of any food waste, with the exception of schools in rural areas. Schools producing less than 50kg of food waste per week, however, do not need to meet this requirement until January 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:48.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291376,"EventID":"S4W-19360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:48.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T10:30:46.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to schools to improve kitchen facilities and expand dining facilities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government are in early discussions with CoSLA around the implementation of free school meals for all children in primary 1 to primary 3 from January 2015 and will work with local authorities around the practicalities, drawing on the experience of the free school meal trial which ran over 2007-08. Evaluation of the trial showed that implementation went more smoothly than anticipated and that local authorities and schools generated a number of successful strategies to address the challenges faced.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:49.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291377,"EventID":"S4W-19361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-23T14:01:49.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T13:05:04.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training the NHS provides on the diagnosis of the condition, progressive supranuclear palsy.\r\n","AnswerText":"While policies, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, individual NHS boards are responsible for planning and funding services in their area and for securing the staff to deliver them. It is for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements, including training, based on the clinical needs and service developments in their area. \r\nIn determining workforce requirements, NHS boards must take into account their role in providing an appropriate training environment in which postgraduate medical trainees can gain the skills, knowledge and experience they require in order to fulfil the requirements of postgraduate training programmes. Such standards and requirements of such programmes are developed by relevant Medical Royal Colleges, and approved and monitored by the General Medical Council. This includes neurological conditions such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-06T14:01:49.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291395,"EventID":"S4W-19363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:45:57.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T17:17:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11842 by Alex Neil on 17 January 2013, how many unplanned emergency admissions there were in 2012-13 and how many were of (a) older people, (b) disabled people and (c) children.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of emergency admissions for (a) older people aged 65 and over and (b) children aged 0-14 during 2012-13. The table also shows the number of emergency admissions as a rate per 1,000 population.\r\nInformation on patient disability is not routinely collected on central hospital admissions data returns.\r\nTable: Number and rate of Emergency Admissions; 2012-13P\r\n\r\nAdmissions\r\nRate per 1,000\r\nOlder people (aged 65+)\r\n232,269\r\n250.9\r\nChildren (aged 0-14)\r\n56,118\r\n65.8\r\nSource: ISD Scotland SMR01\r\nRate per 1,000 derived from GRO mid-year population estimate\r\nP: Provisional\r\nThis and further emergency admissions information is published under the Inpatient and Day Case Activity sub-topic of ISD’s Acute Hospital Care publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:45:58.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291396,"EventID":"S4W-19364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:45:59.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T17:17:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11849 by Alex Neil on 17 January 2013, how many acute NHS hospital beds were allocated for (a) geriatric and (b) paediatric services in 2012-13.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the average available staffed beds allocated to geriatric and paediatric specialties in 2012-13.\r\nTable: Average available staffed beds in Geriatric1 and Paediatric2 Specialties; 2012-13P\r\n\r\nGeriatric Specialties\r\nPaediatric Specialties\r\nAverage available staffed beds\r\n7,229\r\n764\r\nSource: ISD Scotland ISD(S)1\r\nP: Provisional\r\n1: Geriatric specialties comprise: \r\nGeriatric Medicine (including Geriatric Long Stay)\r\nPsychiatry of Old Age\r\n\r\n2: Paediatric specialties comprise:\r\nSurgical Paediatrics\r\nMedical Paediatrics\r\nPaediatric Dentistry\r\nChild Psychiatry\t\r\n\r\nThis and further beds information is published under the Beds sub-topic of ISD’s Acute Hospital Care publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:45:59.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291397,"EventID":"S4W-19365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:45:59.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T16:58:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what minimum number of healthcare (a) staff and (b) professions is expected to work at all times in each prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on numbers of healthcare (a) staff and (b) professions and work times in prison settings is not held centrally. The responsibility and accountability for the provision of health care services to prisoners transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to the National Health Service (NHS) on 1 November 2011. These services are now provided by the respective local NHS Health Boards under the Health Board Provision of Healthcare in Prisons (Scotland) Directions 2011-National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:45:59.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291398,"EventID":"S4W-19366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:45:59.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T16:58:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standard of training is given to healthcare staff working in each prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Health Board Provision of Healthcare in Prisons (Scotland) Directions 2011 contains the following directions from Scottish Ministers to health boards in relation to standards and training.\r\nHealth boards must ensure that the provision of healthcare meets the quality standards set out from time to time in guidance which has been issued to Health Boards by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland or by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.\r\nHealth boards must ensure that health care professionals are appropriately registered with the relevant professional body, that their registration is current and that they have such clinical experience and training as are necessary to enable the health care professional properly to perform such services.\r\nHealth boards must ensure that for any health care professional there are arrangements in place for the purpose of maintaining and updating the health care professional’s skills and knowledge in relation to the services which the health care professional is performing or assisting in performing.\r\nHealth boards must ensure that it affords to each employee in the practice reasonable opportunities to undertake appropriate training with a view to maintaining that employee’s competence.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and individual prisons are responsible for the training of clinical staff for purposes of working effectively and safely within the prison setting. All NHS staff regardless of their role are required to complete mandatory SPS training. Any additional training is agreed locally between the Governor-in-Charge and NHS health board. The NHS provides staff with training specific to providing health care in a prison environment; this training will vary across each health board. Health boards should be contacted to provide this information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:45:59.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291399,"EventID":"S4W-19367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:00.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T16:58:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a minimum standard of healthcare that it expects each prison to provide at all times.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS standards for health care provision now apply to the provision of care within the prison setting.\r\nAlthough there are clear contextual differences between prison and the community in terms of the way healthcare is delivered, the expectation is that the quality of care in prisons, and health care professionals' obligations in this regard, is equivalent to that available in the community and is based on assessed needs and the provision of safe, efficient and appropriate care which offers the best possible outcomes for individuals. Health boards must ensure that in the provision of such services the practice meets the quality standards set out from time to time in guidance which has been issued to health boards by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland or by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:00.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291400,"EventID":"S4W-19368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:00.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T16:58:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff work at HMP Addiewell, broken down by day of the week.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The Scottish Prison Service (SPS), on behalf of Scottish Ministers, has a contract with Addiewell Prison Limited for the delivery of services at HM Prison Addiewell. The contract specifies the number of contracted prisoner places to be made available and does not specify staffing levels.\r\nWhile SPS does not routinely hold a detailed record of the number of staff deployed at the prison, the director of HM Prison Addiewell has advised of the current number of operational staff working shifts across the working day for each day of the week, which is set out in the attached table:\r\nDay\r\nNumber of Operational Staff\r\nMonday\r\n145\r\nTuesday\r\n146\r\nWednesday\r\n147\r\nThursday\r\n146\r\nFriday\r\n146\r\nSaturday\r\n81\r\nSunday\r\n81\r\nIn addition, during each day, there are non-operational staff providing administration and support services, NHS staff based at the prison providing health care services, and other staff providing services under contract and partnership with local authorities and third sector agencies.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:00.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291401,"EventID":"S4W-19369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:00.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T16:58:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many healthcare staff work at each prison, broken down by (a) day of the week and (b) profession. \r\n","AnswerText":"Information on numbers of healthcare staff at each prison broken down by (a) day of the week and (b) profession is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:00.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291402,"EventID":"S4W-19370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:00.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T10:13:07.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there were to the Town Centre Housing Fund and how many came from (a) private sector bodies, (b) housing associations, (c) other landlords and (d) local authorities in the Highlands and Islands region.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government received 25 applications for the Town Centre Housing Fund, two of which were from Highlands and Islands region. Of those applications from the Highlands and Islands region, one was from the Hebridean Housing Partnership and the other from a private developer. Neither application was successful in obtaining funding.\r\nThe breakdown of applications requested is included below:\r\nSummary of Town Centre Housing Fund Applications\r\nPrivate Sector bodies\r\n5\r\nHousing Associations\r\n6\r\nOther landlords\r\n14\r\nHighland and Islands local authorities\r\n0\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:00.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291403,"EventID":"S4W-19372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:01.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T10:41:21.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates there are at HMP Addiewell and what the proportion is of healthcare staff to inmates.\r\n","AnswerText":"HMP Addiewell holds an average of 680-700 prisoners.\r\nThere are 12 registered general nurses, 8 registered mental health nurses covering mental health & addictions, 7 healthcare support workers, 4 senior manager positions, 2 pharmacy technicians and 2 admin staff.\r\nIn addition, a GP is on duty Monday to Friday, am and pm and on Saturday mornings; a psychiatrist works there one day a week. A physiotherapist serves the prison inmates and there is a dental service and a smoking cessation service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:01.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291404,"EventID":"S4W-19373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T13:46:01.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T11:01:39.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports a number of organisations which have a particular role in promoting activity around race equality, engaging with communities on issues of interest and in hosting specific events within those communities. This includes activity around internationally recognised days such as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We are committed to promoting equality across Scotland and working with others to do so. To help achieve this aim, we are providing significant funding (nearly £21 million) during 2012-15 to help tackle inequality and discrimination. £8.5 million of this funding supports projects and initiatives in combating racist bigotry and hatred.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T13:46:01.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291409,"EventID":"S4W-19304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the employment rate of mothers is broken down by (a) number of children and (b) children aged (i) under 1, (ii) 1, (iii) 2, (iv) 3, (v) 4, (vi) 5 to11 and (vii) over 11.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for employment rates for small cohorts of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nThe employment rate of mothers by number of children is shown in Table 1 and the employment rate of mothers by age of youngest dependent child in Table 2.\r\nTable 1: Employment rates1 for mothers by number of dependent2 children \r\nNumber of dependent children\r\nEmployment rate\r\n1\r\n71.6%\r\n2\r\n72.9%\r\n3\r\n61.6%\r\n4 or more\r\n38.7%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.\r\n2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.\r\nTable 2: Employment rates1 for mothers by age of youngest dependent2 child:\r\nAge of youngest dependent child3\r\nEmployment rate\r\nUnder 1\r\n60.3%\r\nAged 1\r\n63.5%\r\nAged 2\r\n60.2%\r\nAged 3\r\n60.0%\r\nAged 4\r\n63.7%\r\nAged 5 to 11\r\n73.2%\r\nAged 12 to 18\r\n80.3%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.\r\n2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.\r\n3. Analysis based on age of youngest child to avoid double counting of mothers with multiple children.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:55.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291410,"EventID":"S4W-19305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:55.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of economically inactive mothers is, broken down by (a) number of children and (b) children aged (i) under 1, (ii) 1, (iii) 2, (iv) 3, (v) 4, (vi) 5 to 11 and (vii) over 11.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for economic inactivity rates for small cohorts of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nThe rate of economically inactive mothers by number of children is shown in Table 1 and the rate of economically inactive mothers by age of youngest dependent child in Table 2.\r\nTable 1: Economic inactivity rates1 for mothers by number of dependent2 children \r\nNumber of dependent children\r\nEconomic Inactivity rate\r\n1\r\n23.2%\r\n2\r\n21.8%\r\n3\r\n32.2%\r\n4 or more\r\n58.2%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.\r\n2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.\r\nTable 2: Economic inactivity rates1 for mothers by age of youngest dependent2 child\r\nAge of youngest dependent child3\r\nEconomic Inactivity rate\r\nUnder 1\r\n36.8%\r\nAged 1\r\n32.4%\r\nAged 2\r\n34.0%\r\nAged 3\r\n35.3%\r\nAged 4\r\n26.8%\r\nAged 5 to 11\r\n19.8%\r\nAged 12 to 18\r\n16.2%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on population aged 16-64.\r\n2. Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married.\r\n3. Analysis is based on age of youngest child to avoid double counting of mothers with multiple children.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:55.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291411,"EventID":"S4W-19309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:55.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the median wage is of women in part-time work.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides information about the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations. The information requested is available from the ‘Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2013 Provisional Results’ Office for National Statistics’ publication:\r\nhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/annual-survey-of-hours-and-earnings/2013-provisional-results/index.html\r\nEstimates of median gross weekly earnings by gender, part-time status and region are available in the zip file ‘ASHE 2013 (provisional) Table 25-Region by Public and Private Sector’ at the following page:\r\nhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-328216\r\n\r\nWithin this set of tables, Table 25.1a gives data on Weekly pay-Gross (£). For female part-time employee jobs: United Kingdom, 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:55.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291412,"EventID":"S4W-19310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:55.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of women is employed on a (a) permanent and (b) temporary, fixed-term or sessional (i) full and (ii) part-time basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nThe proportion of all women, aged 16+, employed on a permanent full-time, permanent part-time basis, non-permanent full-time and non-permanent part-time basis.\r\nProportion of all women by permanent/non-permanent and full-time/part-time status \r\nEmployment status\r\nProportion\r\nPermanent full-time\r\n55.7%\r\nPermanent part-time\r\n38.0%\r\nNon-permanent full-time\r\n2.6%\r\nNon-permanent part-time\r\n3.7%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012 to September 2013, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Proportions based on female population aged 16+, in employment\r\n2. Rates are calculated on unrounded figures\r\n3. Estimates exclude those who gave no response to the question\r\n4. Non-permanent jobs cover those working for an employment agency, doing casual type of work, doing seasonal work or working under contact for a fixed period or fixed task.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:55.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291413,"EventID":"S4W-19311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:56.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what economic modelling it has carried out on the childcare plans set out in the white paper on independence and by whom.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published an economic analysis in January 2014 illustrating the potential impact of increasing Scotland’s female participation rate to levels seen in countries such as Norway and Sweden. The results are outlined in a document entitled Childcare and Labour Market Participation - Economic Analysis, and can be accessed using the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Childcare-and-Female-Labour-Market-Participation\r\nThe results published in the above report indicate that if Scotland’s female participation rate reached Swedish levels, output could rise by up to 1.7% (£2.2 billion) and tax revenues by 1.5% (£700 million) in the long run.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:56.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291414,"EventID":"S4W-19312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:56.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of economically inactive women it considers would enter the labour market on a full-time basis as a result of the childcare plans set out in the white paper on independence\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published an economic analysis of childcare and labour market participation in January 2014. The report is available from:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Childcare-and-Female-Labour-Market-Participation and contains estimates of the increase in the number of economically active women in Scotland that would be achieved if Scotland matched the female economic activity rates of countries such as Norway or Sweden.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:56.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291415,"EventID":"S4W-19313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:57.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the employment rate of women is, broken down by level of qualification.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nFemale employment rate by qualification:\r\nQualification\r\nEmployment rate\r\nDegree, Professional Qualification\r\n81.6%\r\nHNC/HND or equivalent\t\r\n74.2%\r\nHigher, A-Level or Equivalent\t\r\n69.0%\r\nCredit Standard grade or Equivalent\r\n61.6%\r\nGeneral Standard Grade or Equivalent\r\n51.7%\r\nOther qualifications\r\n60.8%\r\nNo qualifications\r\n36.9%\r\nAll\r\n68.0%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012 to September 2013, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on female population aged 16-64\r\n2. Rates are calculated on unrounded figures\r\n3. Rates for all excludes those who didn’t know or didn’t answer\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:57.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291416,"EventID":"S4W-19314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:57.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of economically inactive women is, broken down by level of qualification.","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nFemale economic inactivity rate by qualification\r\nQualification\r\nEconomic inactivity rate\r\nDegree, Professional Qualification\r\n15.7%\r\nHNC/HND or equivalent\t\r\n21.4%\r\nHigher, A-Level or Equivalent\t\r\n26.1%\r\nCredit Standard grade or Equivalent\r\n30.8%\r\nGeneral Standard Grade or Equivalent\r\n41.7%\r\nOther qualifications\r\n35.3%\r\nNo qualifications\r\n57.4%\r\nAll\r\n28.2%\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012 to September 2013, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Rates based on female population aged 16-64\r\n2. Rates are calculated on unrounded figures\r\n3. Rates for all excludes those who didn’t know or didn’t answer\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:57.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291417,"EventID":"S4W-19315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:58.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the proposals in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill would help increase the number of women in employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are a number of ways in which the Bill is expected to benefit women. Amongst other things, the Bill will require public bodies to consider how their procurement activity can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the authority’s area. It will require bodies to consider including community benefit clauses in all new major public sector contracts. These enable public bodies to maximise social benefits from public spending and are increasingly used in public contracts to advance equality of opportunity and deliver thousands of targeted training and recruitment opportunities. The Scottish Government has commissioned further research into community benefit clauses with a particular focus on using them to promote equality.\r\nThe Bill will allow ministers to issue statutory guidance on workforce related matters, such as a company’s approach to recruitment and terms of engagement, including flexible working which should be considered when assessing the suitability of a company to bid for public contracts. The guidance will require purchasers to consider, where relevant to performance of the contract, whether matters such as inappropriate use of zero hours contracts or levels of remuneration may affect the bidder’s ability to provide the required quality of service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:58.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291418,"EventID":"S4W-19327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:59.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the childcare plans set out in the white paper on independence would impact on the demand for college places for (a) 16 to 24-year-olds and (b) people aged over 24.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are in regular contact with stakeholders to gather feedback on a range of factors that impact on demand for college places. The impact of the childcare plans set out in ‘Scotland’s Future’ will be assessed and factored into projections for demand ahead of implementation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:59.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291419,"EventID":"S4W-19328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:46:59.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to help with childcare costs for (a) part- and (b) full-time students in (i) further and (ii) higher education.","AnswerText":"There are two main elements to childcare support for students at colleges and universities in Scotland.\r\nThe Discretionary Childcare Funds provide help with formal registered childcare cost. All eligible further and higher education student parents attending a college can apply for help with registered childcare costs from the College Childcare Fund. Full time eligible higher education students at university can apply for help with registered childcare costs from the University Childcare Fund.\r\nThe Lone Parents Childcare Grant provides a payment to all eligible further and higher education students who are lone parents and have formal registered childcare expenses while studying. This is an entitlement payment of up to £1,215 per year. Lone parent college students and full time lone parent university students can apply for additional help with registered childcare costs (over and above the Lone Parents Childcare Grant) from the discretionary childcare funds at their college or university.\r\nPart time students at colleges or university must apply to the main Discretionary Fund for help with childcare costs. Students with unregistered childcare costs can also apply for help through the main Discretionary Funds.\r\nIn addition to this, students with children can receive support through Child Tax Credits. Students in receipt of child tax credits may also be eligible for free school meals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:46:59.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291420,"EventID":"S4W-19329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:00.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with each of the barriers that women face when trying to access the labour market.\r\n","AnswerText":"At 69.5%, the level of female employment is at its highest rate since the Labour Force Survey series began in 1992. (source, Labour Force Survey, ONS, Sept-Nov 2013). However, the Scottish Government recognises that women continue to face many different barriers accessing, retaining and progressing in employment.\r\nAttendees at the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012 identified a number of key challenges, including childcare; support for women setting up their own enterprise; flexible working; the particular challenges of rural living; and occupational segregation.\r\nSince the event, action has been taken across these areas, and is monitored through the Advisory Group on Women and Work Chaired by Angela Constance \r\nActions include:\r\nChild care: We are increasing the level of funded early learning and childcare from 475 hours to 600 hours per year, for three and four year olds, and the most vulnerable two year olds, and from 2014.  We will extend our childcare offer of 600 hours per year to two year olds in workless households from 2014, and to two year olds who would be eligible for free school meals from 2015.Enterprise: following a series of seminars chaired by Professor Sara Carter of Strathclyde University and Jackie Brierton of Women in Enterprise Scotland, a draft framework for action by Scottish Government and partners has been produced and will be published in Spring this year.\r\nCareerwise: A £250,000 fund which will see the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology to work collaboratively with employers, schools, colleges, universities and Skills Development Scotland to encourage and support young women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths learning and jobs.\r\n\r\nTraining:We are keen to test the impact of an offer of childcare support on uptake of training by women, particularly in non-traditional sectors. Through the Energy Skills Challenge Fund which offers ‘transition training’ to up-skill those with relevant transferable skills and experience, 2 of the 9 providers this year are specifically targeting women for their courses. These are:\r\n\r\nFife College who have commenced training and are contracted to deliver 168 places. Fife College are specifically marketing and targeting women.\r\n\r\nOpito, who are contracted to deliver 331 places, which will include 50 places specifically being offered to women though a four day awareness course on the realities of the oil and gas industry and details of the training available through the challenge fund. The course and training is due to run in March 2014.\r\nBoth providers will pilot offering childcare expenses as an incentive to increase the number of women taking up this provision it is important women can access training offer of childcare;\r\nResearch: Understanding the evidence we have around women’s employment was a key issue identified at the summit. Professor Patricia Findlay of Strathclyde University has chaired a small group which produced and published on the Scottish employability website:-www.employabilityinscotland.com.\r\nAn updated Women’s Employment Summit Evidence Paper, a database of sources for women’s labour market information, alongside a guide to data sources and a thematic guide to data sources, short summary review of evidence papers and a list of women’s employment support networks and resources\r\nIn ‘Scotland’s Future’ we set out further actions we will take if elected in an independent Scotland which would offer more support to women and families accessing the labour market. This includes the introduction of a universal childcare system, a fair pay commission, action to increase the number of women on public and corporate boards and promotion of a living wage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:00.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291421,"EventID":"S4W-19330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:00.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned on the barriers that women face when trying to access the labour market.\r\n","AnswerText":"An evidence paper was produced in-house to inform the 2012 Women's Employment Summit. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence on key issues related to women's employment. It highlights that accessible, affordable and flexible childcare is fundamental to women’s participation in work and training. The paper is available at:\r\nhttp://www.employabilityinscotland.com/media/294295/8_-__women_s_employment_summit_evidence_paper.pdf\r\nThe Council of Economic Advisers considered the economic and social importance of improving childcare provision in Scotland at their meeting on 30 August 2013. The council’s discussion was informed by a presentation by Professor Ailsa McKay on the economic and social importance of access to childcare. The minutes of this discussion are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Meetings/30-08-2013 \r\nThe analysis informing the council’s deliberations will be reflected in the annual Chair’s Report of the Council of Economic Advisers. It is anticipated that the chair’s report will be published in Spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:00.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291422,"EventID":"S4W-19331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:01.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what sectors of the labour market it considers are growing and what the employment rate is in each, also broken down by gender.\r\n","AnswerText":"The latest Gross Domestic Product statistics for Scotland, covering the period July 2013 to September 2013, show that total output in the economy grew by 0.7 per cent compared to previous quarter. The services sector, which accounts for nearly three quarters of the economy, grew by 0.7 per cent during the latest period. The production sector grew by 0.6 per cent, and construction grew by 0.7 per cent.\r\nThe latest labour market statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics, show that the employment rate in Scotland was 72.7% and increased by 2 percentage points over the year to the period September 2013 to November 2013. This increase was driven by an increase in the female employment rate of 3.3 percentage points, and an increase of 0.7 percentage points in the male rate over the same period.\r\nAn employment rate is calculated by dividing the number of people in employment by the total population (employed, unemployed and economically inactive). It is therefore not possible to calculate employment rates for industry sectors since those who are unemployed or economically inactive cannot be allocated to an industry sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:01.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291423,"EventID":"S4W-19332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:01.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent analysis it has made of (a) the childcare sector and (b) its ability to deliver the childcare plans set out in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are in regular contact with stakeholders regarding our plans for childcare.\r\nFor example, as part of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government has worked with a range of stakeholders to assess the capacity of the childcare sector and its readiness to deliver proposals in the Bill around early learning and childcare, including the more recent offer to extend 600 hours to around 27% of two year olds by August 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:01.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291424,"EventID":"S4W-19333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:02.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed in (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector childcare, also broken down by people employed in (i) day-care and (ii) childminding. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Social Services Council publish information on an annual basis on the size and composition of the childcare and day-care of children workforce in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:02.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291425,"EventID":"S4W-19334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T10:45:52.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support capacity building for its childcare plans in the (a) private and (b) voluntary sector.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to fully funding local authorities to deliver high quality childcare provision, drawing on a range of high quality service models including public provision, child minders, innovative third sector organisations and social enterprises.\r\nIn September 2013, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth announced in the Draft Budget £190 million of investment over the next two years to implement the commitments set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.\r\nOn 7 January 2014, the First Minister announced an additional investment of £59 million over 2014-15 and 2015-16 to extend provision of childcare to 15% of two year olds in 2014-15 and then to 27% of two year olds in 2015-16.\r\nIn addition, on 8 January 2014 the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth announced £3.5 million of additional support which will be provided in 2014-15 to meet extra demand for childcare places. This funding will be invested in training and development.","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291426,"EventID":"S4W-19335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:03.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Social Services Council since 2011; what was discussed, and who attended.\r\n","AnswerText":"As a Non-Departmental Public Body, ministers and government officials meet regularly with representatives of the Scottish Social Services Council to discuss their statutory functions and delivery of ministerial objectives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:03.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291427,"EventID":"S4W-19336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:03.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has commissioned since 2007 on the needs of non-working parents and what the findings were.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government uses a range of approaches to assess the needs of non-working parents.\r\nWe develop our own evidence in this area. A key example is an evidence paper which was produced to inform the 2012 Women's Employment Summit. The paper focuses on women's labour market experience but covers issues which are of importance to non-working parents generally. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence on key issues related to women's employment and highlights that accessible, affordable and flexible childcare is fundamental to participation in work and training. The paper is available at:\r\nhttp://www.employabilityinscotland.com/media/294295/8_-__women_s_employment_summit_evidence_paper.pdf\r\nEvidence is also drawn from Scottish Government survey data. For example, in the Sweep 1 Growing Up In Scotland survey over half of unemployed respondents indicated they would prefer to work or study if they could afford good quality, reliable and convenient childcare.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government makes use of analysis of the Annual Population Survey and Labour Force Survey, published by the Office for National Statistics, when considering issues related to employability.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:03.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291428,"EventID":"S4W-19337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:03.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee (a) child tax credits, (b) childcare vouchers and (c) childcare tax relief in an independent Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Governments of an independent Scotland will be able to use a full range of powers to deliver policies that help people into work and protect the vulnerable.\r\nOn independence, the entitlements to benefits, credits, vouchers and reliefs that apply in the UK will continue to apply in Scotland, with such benefits continuing to be paid in exactly the same way as they are now. However, future Scottish governments can choose to do things differently from the rest of the UK. For example, this government will stop the damaging changes to our welfare system being introduced by Westminster, including scrapping the “bedroom tax” and halting the roll out of universal credit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:03.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291429,"EventID":"S4W-19340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people in Scotland in receipt of (a) child tax credits, (b) childcare vouchers and (c) childcare tax relief and the total amount paid.\r\n","AnswerText":"HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) publish bi-annual statistics on provisional awards for child tax credit, available at link:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-and-working-tax-credits-statistics-provisional-awards-geographical-analyses-december-2013.\r\nHMRC also publish information relating to the value of childcare vouchers through Employer Supported Childcare in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Relief supplementary document:\r\nhttp://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/expenditures/table1-5.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:04.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291430,"EventID":"S4W-19343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-24T15:47:04.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many unpaid childminders there are and how the plans set out in the white paper on independence would impact on them.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of unpaid child-minders in Scotland, however findings from the Growing Up in Scotland study confirm that families rely on a mix of formal and informal care arrangements, including unpaid child-minders.\r\nThe Scottish Government is currently engaged with, and will continue to engage with, the Scottish Childminding Association to ensure that the views of childminders are reflected in the development of policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-07T15:47:04.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291439,"EventID":"S4W-19374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:24.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:29:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following its review of local air quality management, when it will be in a position to issue guidelines concerning the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.","AnswerText":"The analysis of responses to the consultation on the review of local air quality management (LAQM) was published at the end of 2013. The Scottish Government is currently developing proposals for overhauling LAQM, taking into account consultation responses, and these will be issued for further comment. Included in this will be a revision of the current guidance issued to local authorities to assist them in undertaking their LAQM duties, which includes a section on biomass policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:24.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291440,"EventID":"S4W-19375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:24.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:29:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to strengthen the guidance available concerning the enforcement of the Clean Air Act 1993 to address the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.","AnswerText":"The Clean Air Act is currently subject to a comprehensive review being undertaken jointly by the four UK administrations. One of the issues under consideration as part of the review is particulate emissions from wood burning stoves.\r\nOnce the review is completed, a decision will be made on whether the current guidance requires strengthening.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:24.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291441,"EventID":"S4W-19376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:25.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:37:45.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many looked-after children there have been in each year since 2007, also broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"\r\nNumber of Looked After Children in Scotland from 2007-2012 by local authority:\r\n\r\nYear\r\nLocal Authority\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAberdeen City\r\n583\r\n650\r\n701\r\n690\r\n642\r\n605\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n424\r\n432\r\n458\r\n496\r\n496\r\n450\r\nAngus\r\n283\r\n287\r\n261\r\n274\r\n250\r\n258\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n219\r\n208\r\n204\r\n250\r\n219\r\n190\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n182\r\n171\r\n207\r\n222\r\n221\r\n214\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n419\r\n462\r\n441\r\n394\r\n418\r\n401\r\nDundee City\r\n542\r\n607\r\n587\r\n637\r\n708\r\n723\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n440\r\n470\r\n526\r\n482\r\n508\r\n517\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n101\r\n104\r\n129\r\n135\r\n145\r\n162\r\nEast Lothian\r\n196\r\n187\r\n202\r\n210\r\n200\r\n200\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n103\r\n137\r\n159\r\n151\r\n154\r\n174\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n1,228\r\n1,294\r\n1,328\r\n1,319\r\n1,362\r\n1,395\r\nEilean Siar\r\n49\r\n39\r\n48\r\n59\r\n55\r\n54\r\nFalkirk\r\n354\r\n486\r\n437\r\n443\r\n399\r\n430\r\nFife\r\n720\r\n777\r\n799\r\n790\r\n823\r\n855\r\nGlasgow City\r\n2,919\r\n3,019\r\n3,280\r\n3,570\r\n3,834\r\n3,740\r\nHighland\r\n501\r\n465\r\n456\r\n469\r\n497\r\n507\r\nInverclyde \r\n272\r\n285\r\n318\r\n293\r\n285\r\n299\r\nMidlothian\r\n302\r\n316\r\n353\r\n315\r\n302\r\n276\r\nMoray\r\n193\r\n182\r\n208\r\n192\r\n207\r\n219\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n473\r\n497\r\n501\r\n529\r\n583\r\n582\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n755\r\n855\r\n728\r\n800\r\n734\r\n730\r\nOrkney Isles\r\n25\r\n41\r\n31\r\n36\r\n18\r\n26\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n183\r\n193\r\n197\r\n201\r\n201\r\n223\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n582\r\n663\r\n718\r\n790\r\n769\r\n786\r\nScottish Borders\r\n194\r\n182\r\n193\r\n216\r\n208\r\n194\r\nShetland\r\n27\r\n34\r\n37\r\n36\r\n28\r\n31\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n264\r\n276\r\n290\r\n351\r\n336\r\n352\r\nSouth Lanarkshire \r\n516\r\n546\r\n490\r\n491\r\n547\r\n617\r\nStirling\r\n192\r\n212\r\n218\r\n218\r\n252\r\n251\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n387\r\n408\r\n376\r\n383\r\n383\r\n369\r\nWest Lothian\r\n432\r\n403\r\n406\r\n450\r\n447\r\n418\r\nScotland\r\n14,060\r\n14,888\r\n15,287\r\n15,892\r\n16,231\r\n16,248\r\nNote: From 2007-2009, this refers to the number of children looked after on the 31st March of each year.\r\nFrom 2010-2012, this refers to the number of children looked after on the 31st July of each year.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:25.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291442,"EventID":"S4W-19377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:25.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:37:45.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many kinship carers of looked-after children there have been in each year since 2007, also broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data on the number of kinship carers of looked-after children is not held centrally. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:25.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291443,"EventID":"S4W-19378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:25.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:37:45.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many non-looked-after children there have been in each year since 2007, also broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"Number of Non-Looked After Children In Scotland by Local Authority 2007-2012:\r\n \r\nYear \r\n Local Authority\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAberdeen City\r\n40,137\r\n39,985\r\n40,566\r\n39,920\r\n39,087\r\n39,337\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n55,852\r\n55,874\r\n56,054\r\n56,195\r\n56,621\r\n56,656\r\nAngus\r\n24,423\r\n24,494\r\n24,493\r\n24,412\r\n24,194\r\n24,002\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n18,234\r\n17,888\r\n17,639\r\n17,409\r\n17,343\r\n17,002\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n11,248\r\n11,388\r\n11,327\r\n11,189\r\n11,087\r\n10,898\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n30,694\r\n30,600\r\n30,466\r\n30,235\r\n30,159\r\n29,644\r\nDundee City\r\n29,369\r\n29,563\r\n29,992\r\n29,320\r\n28,590\r\n28,531\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n26,396\r\n26,256\r\n26,090\r\n25,917\r\n25,746\r\n25,562\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n23,780\r\n23,508\r\n23,192\r\n22,888\r\n22,655\r\n22,484\r\nEast Lothian\r\n21,888\r\n22,316\r\n22,386\r\n22,349\r\n22,356\r\n22,386\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n21,752\r\n21,517\r\n21,391\r\n21,434\r\n21,538\r\n21,347\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n84,546\r\n84,419\r\n86,247\r\n85,903\r\n86,129\r\n87,129\r\nEilean Siar\r\n5,710\r\n5,659\r\n5,621\r\n5,607\r\n5,540\r\n5,512\r\nFalkirk\r\n33,300\r\n33,377\r\n33,518\r\n33,536\r\n33,631\r\n33,533\r\nFife\r\n76,809\r\n76,852\r\n77,009\r\n76,823\r\n76,852\r\n76,905\r\nGlasgow City\r\n117,864\r\n116,715\r\n117,898\r\n115,927\r\n112,846\r\n112,208\r\nHighland\r\n48,135\r\n48,547\r\n48,918\r\n49,025\r\n49,152\r\n48,624\r\nInverclyde \r\n17,442\r\n17,250\r\n16,941\r\n16,668\r\n16,354\r\n16,061\r\nMidlothian\r\n18,182\r\n18,240\r\n18,302\r\n18,354\r\n18,454\r\n18,718\r\nMoray\r\n20,009\r\n20,092\r\n20,264\r\n20,376\r\n20,373\r\n20,118\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n30,069\r\n29,978\r\n29,857\r\n29,425\r\n29,204\r\n28,919\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n76,676\r\n76,904\r\n77,231\r\n76,911\r\n76,644\r\n76,245\r\nOrkney Isles\r\n4,467\r\n4,441\r\n4,415\r\n4,406\r\n4,406\r\n4,346\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n29,506\r\n29,799\r\n30,123\r\n30,258\r\n30,261\r\n30,110\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n37,167\r\n37,169\r\n36,784\r\n36,502\r\n36,166\r\n35,716\r\nScottish Borders\r\n23,610\r\n23,808\r\n23,599\r\n23,353\r\n23,092\r\n22,838\r\nShetland\r\n5,360\r\n5,303\r\n5,329\r\n5,375\r\n5,358\r\n5,267\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n22,590\r\n22,576\r\n22,330\r\n22,116\r\n22,079\r\n21,796\r\nSouth Lanarkshire \r\n68,060\r\n67,915\r\n67,802\r\n67,346\r\n66,415\r\n66,065\r\nStirling\r\n19,813\r\n19,794\r\n19,543\r\n19,571\r\n19,223\r\n19,378\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n19,791\r\n19,694\r\n19,616\r\n19,323\r\n19,051\r\n18,853\r\nWest Lothian\r\n40,898\r\n41,241\r\n41,547\r\n41,532\r\n41,724\r\n41,608\r\nScotland\r\n1,103,777\r\n1,103,162\r\n1,106,490\r\n1,099,605\r\n1,092,330\r\n1,087,798\r\n\r\n\r\nNotes:\r\nThe number of non-looked after children comes from taking the GRO mid-year population estimates for 0-18 year olds for each year and deducting the number of looked after children in that year.\r\nThese should be treated with caution due the small number of looked after children in each local authority and that the mid-year population are estimated to take account for births, deaths and migration.\r\nThe mid-year population estimates are as at the 30 June for each year. From 2007-09, the number of looked after children is as at 31 March. From 2010-2012, the number of looked after children is as at 31st July.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:25.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291444,"EventID":"S4W-19379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:26.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T15:37:45.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many kinship carers of non-looked-after children there have been in each year since 2007, also broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of kinship carers of non-looked-after children is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:26.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291445,"EventID":"S4W-19380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:26.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-24T17:10:00.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the financial criteria considered by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in presenting options for the future of control room services.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers set out their priorities for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in the Fire Framework approved by the Parliament in March 2013 which makes clear that SFRS must ensure that communities can access fire and rescue services through a robust and resilient command, control and communications provision. The Fire Framework can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/11/3822.\r\nThe Governance and Accountability Framework sets out the responsibilities of the SFRS Chair and Board Members and can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/03/2213.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:26.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291446,"EventID":"S4W-19382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:26.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T10:14:34.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government in which Forestry Commission Scotland districts it is compulsory to use only non-lead ammunition for (a) deer stalking and (b) other wildlife management activities; whether this will be rolled out to the rest of the estate, and, if so, when.\r\n","AnswerText":"Forestry Commission Scotland in its work in deer management areas on the national forest estate has used a mix of lead and non-lead ammunition for a number of years, although usage varies between districts. It is not compulsory to use only non-lead ammunition in any of the ten Forestry Commission Scotland Forest Districts for deer stalking or for other wildlife management activities. Forestry Commission Scotland does not have any plans to change that position but will keep the matter under review through monitoring the work of the ‘Lead Ammunition Group’, formed in April 2010 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency to advise on the impacts of lead ammunition on wildlife and human health.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:26.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291447,"EventID":"S4W-19384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:26.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T11:24:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much it would cost and (b) long it would take to set up a (i) motor services, (ii) security and intelligence, (iii) rail regulation, (iv) civil aviation and air traffic control, (v) immigration and asylum, (vi) passport, (vii) tribunal, (viii) industrial relations and (ix) health and safety agency in an independent Scotland, and what discussions it had with the equivalent UK body regarding setting up such a service.","AnswerText":"For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Findlay to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf\r\nMotor services \r\nChapter 3, Pages 130 and 131  \r\n\r\nSecurity and Intelligence\r\nChapter 7, Pages 261-267  \r\n\r\nRail regulation\r\nChapter 3, Pages 125-131 \r\n\r\nCivil Aviation and Air Traffic Control\r\nChapter 3, Pages 131-132\r\n\r\nImmigration and asylum\r\nChapter 7, Pages 267- 271 \r\n\r\nPassport\r\nChapter 7, Page 272 \r\n\r\nTribunal\r\nChapter 10, Page 364 \r\n\r\nIndustrial relations\r\nChapter 3, Pages 105-108 \r\n\r\nHealth and Safety\r\nChapter 8, Page 303 \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:26.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291448,"EventID":"S4W-19387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T13:57:27.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T11:24:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, (b) the UK Space Agency, (c) the European Space Agency, (d) NHS Blood and Transplant, (e) the Royal Mint and (f) Research Councils UK regarding how (i) much it would cost and (ii) long it would take an independent Scotland to set up shared service arrangements with it.\r\n","AnswerText":"For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Findlay to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf\r\nthe Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency\r\nQuestion 95, Page 405\r\nthe UK Space Agency\r\nQuestions 105 and 106, Page 408\r\nthe European Space Agency\r\nQuestions 105 and 106, Page 408\r\nNHS Blood and Transplant\r\nChapter 4, Page 175\r\nChapter 10, Page 364\r\nQuestion 207 and 208, Page 441\r\nthe Royal Mint\r\nChapter 10, Page 364\r\nResearch Councils\r\nChapter 5, Page 200-204\r\nChapter 10, Page 364\r\nQuestions 246-253, Page 452-455\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T13:57:27.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291449,"EventID":"S4T-00582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:47:20.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T10:14:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the air pollution monitoring results for 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:47:20.073","MeetingDate":"2014-01-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291450,"EventID":"S4T-00586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:47:21.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T11:36:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the closure of fire and police control rooms and service centres.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:47:21.633","MeetingDate":"2014-01-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291451,"EventID":"S4F-01849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-23T14:58:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:11.077","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291452,"EventID":"S4F-01852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:12.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T09:48:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last reviewed the powers of the office of the Judicial Complaints Reviewer.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:13.01","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291453,"EventID":"S4F-01853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:13.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T10:03:11.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation about the number of families living below the minimum income standard.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:13.323","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291454,"EventID":"S4F-01854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:13.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T10:09:36.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:13.9","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291455,"EventID":"S4F-01859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:15.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T10:58:13.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authorities regarding the provision of primary school places.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:15.663","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291456,"EventID":"S4F-01866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T12:46:17.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T11:44:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is giving to the dotSCOT process.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T12:46:17.677","MeetingDate":"2014-01-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291457,"EventID":"S4W-19316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:48.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18938 by John Swinney on 16 January 2014, whether it will provide the information broken down by gender for each (a) directorate, (b) agency and (c) non-departmental public body.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following tables show the headcount and full time equivalent staffing numbers of permanent and fixed-term staff, by gender, who were directly employed in each directorate, agency and non-departmental public body at 30 September 2013. The quarterly turnover figure provided is the percentage of full-time equivalent staff who left the Scottish Government (by resignation, retirement or for any other reason but excluding transfer to another unit) in the quarter from 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013:\r\n(a) Directorates\r\nHead count\r\nFTE Turnover rate\r\n\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nDg Enterprise, Environment And Digital Business Management And Support\r\n3\r\n5\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Agriculture, Food And Rural Communities\r\n427\r\n460\r\n3.2%\r\n3.0%\r\nDirectorate For Business\r\n98\r\n57\r\n1.1%\r\n0.0%\r\n* Directorate For Chief Economist\r\n19\r\n28\r\n6.4%\r\n16.7%\r\nDirectorate For Digital\r\n18\r\n26\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Energy And Climate Change\r\n47\r\n42\r\n4.5%\r\n2.4%\r\nDirectorate For Environment And Forestry\r\n49\r\n67\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Marine Scotland\r\n214\r\n444\r\n4.2%\r\n5.6%\r\nDg Finance And Business Support\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nFinance Directorate\r\n67\r\n88\r\n3.1%\r\n1.8%\r\nScottish Procurement And Commercial Directorate\r\n60\r\n60\r\n1.8%\r\n1.7%\r\nDirectorate For Housing, Regeneration And Welfare\r\n155\r\n117\r\n1.4%\r\n1.7%\r\nDirectorate For Hr And Organisational Development\r\n142\r\n184\r\n3.0%\r\n1.6%\r\nDirectorate For Legal Services (Solicitor To The Scottish Government)\r\n105\r\n83\r\n2.1%\r\n0.8%\r\nDirectorate For Local Government And Communities\r\n95\r\n86\r\n0.7%\r\n3.1%\r\nDirectorate For The Inspectorate Of Prosecution In Scotland\r\n4\r\n0\r\n0.0%\r\n100%\r\nDg Governance And Communities And Business Support\r\n\r\n3\r\n2\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nIsis Information Services And Information Systems\r\n44\r\n144\r\n0.0%\r\n2.1%\r\nOffice Of The Scottish Parliamentary Counsel\r\n3\r\n11\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Chief Medical Officer And Public Health\r\n40\r\n27\r\n2.7%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Chief Nursing Officer, Patients, Public And Health Professions\r\n26\r\n14\r\n4.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Children And Families\r\n66\r\n27\r\n4.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Commonwealth Games And Sport\r\n38\r\n32\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Finance, Ehealth And Pharmaceuticals\r\n23\r\n26\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Health And Social Care Integration\r\n65\r\n34\r\n4.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Health Workforce And Performance\r\n33\r\n27\r\n0.0%\r\n3.8%\r\nDg Hsc And Chief Executive Nhs Scotland And Business Support\r\n10\r\n5\r\n0.0%\r\n16.7%\r\nThe Quality Unit\r\n32\r\n23\r\n3.4%\r\n4.4%\r\nDirectorate For Education Analytical Services\r\n35\r\n20\r\n0.0%\r\n9.6%\r\nDirectorate For Employability, Skills And Lifelong Learning\r\n70\r\n30\r\n3.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Justice\r\n127\r\n98\r\n1.5%\r\n1.1%\r\nDirectorate For Learning\r\n63\r\n31\r\n1.7%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Safer Communities\r\n99\r\n92\r\n3.6%\r\n1.1%\r\nDg Learning And Justice And Business Support\r\n7\r\n2\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Communications\r\n49\r\n38\r\n2.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Culture And Heritage\r\n25\r\n15\r\n5.6%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For External Affairs\r\n48\r\n35\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDirectorate For Strategy And Constitution\r\n54\r\n45\r\n8.5%\r\n0.0%\r\nMinisterial Private Offices\r\n58\r\n44\r\n0.0%\r\n1.8%\r\nScottish Development International\r\n15\r\n18\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nDg Strategy And External Affairs And Business Support\r\n5\r\n2\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nPermanent Secretary And Business Support\r\n3\r\n2\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nAll Directorates in Core Scottish Government\r\n2549\r\n2591\r\n2.4%\r\n2.6%\r\n\r\n(b) Agencies\r\nHead count\r\nFTE Turnover rate\r\n\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nAib\r\n98\r\n43\r\n1.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nDisclosure Scotland\r\n130\r\n90\r\n0.9%\r\n2.4%\r\nEducation Scotland\r\n175\r\n83\r\n2.3%\r\n7.2%\r\nStudent Awards Agency For Scotland\r\n108\r\n81\r\n6.3%\r\n6.1%\r\nScottish Public Pensions Agency\r\n137\r\n115\r\n0.5%\r\n0.9%\r\nScottish Housing Regulator\r\n34\r\n16\r\n3.1%\r\n0.0%\r\nTransport Scotland\r\n138\r\n253\r\n1.5%\r\n1.6%\r\n\r\n(c) Non-departmental public bodies\r\nHead count\r\nFTE Turnover rate\r\n\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nCrofting Commission\r\n27\r\n14\r\n3.6%\r\n0.0%\r\nLocal Government Boundary Commission\r\n2\r\n4\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\nParole Board Of Scotland\r\n10\r\n3\r\n0.0%\r\n0.0%\r\n* S","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:48.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291458,"EventID":"S4W-19317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:48.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its recruitment practices promote employing women who are returning to work following a career break.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government as an employer is committed to equality of opportunity and has a range of recruitment practices in place, which promote this, not only for women returning from career breaks but for all potential job applicants. In line with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment principles, selection for appointment to the Scottish Government is made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.\r\nThe Scottish Government has in place a comprehensive flexible working policy which allows for a range of working patterns which may be particularly attractive for those returning to work after a break. It also gives high priority to training and development should up-skilling be required due to time out of the workplace and also operates a salary-sacrifice childcare voucher scheme for all eligible staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:48.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291459,"EventID":"S4W-19318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:48.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many of its female employees have children aged  (a) under 5, (b) 5 to 11 and (c) 12 to 16, broken down by directorate.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold any information on how many of its female employees have children.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:48.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291460,"EventID":"S4W-19319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:49.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) schemes and (b) voucher schemes it operates to provide subsidised childcare to its employees, and what the percentage uptake is.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides access to a salary sacrifice childcare voucher scheme for all its eligible employees. This scheme is run and administered by Edenred on its behalf. 12% of employees are currently registered in the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:49.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291461,"EventID":"S4W-19320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:49.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish Enterprise supports women into the workforce.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Enterprise (SE) is committed to equality as an employer and service provider. They work to the Scottish Specific Equality Duties which came in to force in 2012 and in response to these have published a biennial report and strategy which contains their equality outcomes for the next four years. The report is published at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish-enterprise.com/resources/reports/equal-opportunities-biennial-report-and-strategy-2013.aspx\r\nHighlighted in the report, includes the number of women-led businesses accessing SE services for the first time increasing from 26% in 2010 to 35% in 2012. SE recognises more can be done and are carrying out pro-active work to improve women’s participation in the Scottish economy. This work has included:Contributing £1.6 million over three years to the Princes Youth Trust which supports a wide range of programmes including business start-up through to the accelerator and the growth fund. 46% of participants in last year’s initiative were women.\r\nSupporting the SMART Exporter initiative, with a total budget of £5.7 million, which has upskilled 1,251 women since its launch in September 2010, representing 34% of participants (Lowland Scotland). SE exhibited at the WES Business and Enterprise Conference in May 2013 and is in discussions with the Business Women Scotland magazine to develop networking events targeted at women.\r\nDelivering Business Mentoring Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce through a contribution of £250K match funding each year for the last three years. This programme matches over 800 business leaders per year with experienced volunteer mentors. In the last year 43% of these business leaders were women.\r\nWorking in partnership with the Scottish EDGE, a £2 million fund which supports and encourages entrepreneurial activity in Scotland. 62% of the winners in the latest round of the initiative were women.\r\nSupporting the new ‘Investing Women’ syndicate via SE’s involvement with LINC, who have provided learning support to the group. The SMART Exporter team also exhibited at the launch of the initiative in August 2013.\r\nWorking with companies on improving leadership and entrepreneurial skills through SE’s ‘Leadership Essentials’ programme. 32% of participants have been women since the programme started. \r\nThis carries on with a long tradition of support from the successful Women In Business initiative in 2001. This work transferred to local authorities, under the Business Gateway, and SE continue to work with colleagues in the Business Gateway service to ensure that support is appropriately targeted and delivered to this key audience.\r\nSE work closely with a range of partners including the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Scottish Resource Centre for Women into Science, Engineering and Technology and the Close the Gap initiative. SE continue to work with the Scottish Government to support bodies to assess what more can be done for women beyond the actions outlined. SE also continues to provide support for the Women and Enterprise Commission, established following the Women and Employment Summit held in September 2012.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:49.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291462,"EventID":"S4W-19321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:49.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its youth employment strategy encourages women to enter the labour market.\r\n","AnswerText":"More women are participating in the labour market than a year ago, with female inactivity down 60,000 over the year.\r\nSource: LFS, ONS Oct-Dec 2013\r\nAttendees at the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012 identified a number of key challenges, including childcare; support for women setting up their own enterprise; flexible working; the particular challenges of rural living; and occupational segregation.\r\nSince the event, action has been taken across these areas, and is monitored through the Advisory Group on Women and Work Chaired by Angela Constance\r\nActions include:\r\nChild care: We are increasing the level of funded early learning and childcare from 475 hours to 600 hours per year for three and four year olds, and the most vulnerable two year olds, and from 2014. We will extend our childcare offer of 600 hours per year to two year olds in workless households from 2014, and to two year olds who would be eligible for free school meals from 2015.\r\nEnterprise: Following a series of seminars chaired by Professor Sara Carter of Strathclyde University and Jackie Brierton of Women in Enterprise Scotland, a draft framework for action by Scottish Government and partners has been produced and will be published in Spring this year.\r\nCareerwise: A £250,000 fund which will see the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology to work collaboratively with employers, schools, colleges, universities and Skills Development Scotland to encourage and support young women into science, technology, engineering and maths learning and jobs.\r\nTraining: We are keen to test the impact of an offer of childcare support on uptake of training by women, particularly in non-traditional sectors. Through the Energy Skills Challenge Fund which offers ‘transition training’ to up-skill those with relevant transferable skills and experience, two of the nine providers this year are specifically targeting women for their courses. These are:\r\nFife College who have commenced training and are contracted to deliver 168 places. Fife College are specifically marketing and targeting women.\r\nOpito, who are contracted to deliver 331 places, which will include 50 places, specifically being offered to women though a four day awareness course on the realities of the oil and gas industry and details of the training available through the challenge fund. The course and training is due to run in March 2014.\r\nBoth providers will pilot offering childcare expenses as an incentive to \tincrease the number of women taking up this provision it is important women \tcan access training offer of childcare;\r\nResearch: Understanding the evidence we have around women’s employment was a key issue identified at the summit. Professor Patricia Findlay of Strathclyde University has chaired a small group which produced and published on the Scottish employability website: www.employabilityinscotland.com\r\nAn updated Women’s Employment Summit Evidence Paper.\r\nA Database of Sources for Women’s Labour Market Information, alongside a guide to data sources and a thematic guide to data sources.\r\nA short summary review of evidence papers.\r\nA list of women’s employment support networks and resources.\r\nOn 19 February 2014 we announced an additional £4 million (on top of the £2.1 million announced in the Budget) for phase 4 of Community Jobs Scotland. Both men and women will be able to access this programme on the same terms, but the programme will also be able to mitigate against gender segregation impacts. By dint of being located within the third sector it is also likely to offer work patterns suitable for those with caring responsibilities or, in the case of young pregnant women, particular support in taking up and sustaining employment. Overall, therefore it will be able to promote equality of opportunity on gender grounds.\r\nIn Scotland’s Future we set out further actions we will take if elected in an independent Scotland which would offer more support to women and families a","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:49.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291463,"EventID":"S4W-19322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:49.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women aged 16 to 24 who are (a) employed and (b) economically inactive have children and how it tailors its support to their needs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides the preferred measure for employment rates for small cohorts of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nThe number of women in Scotland aged 16 to 24 with children who were employed was 14,600.\r\nThe number of women in Scotland aged 16 to 24 with children who were economically inactive was 20,000.\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012-September 2013, Office for National Statistics.\r\nNote: Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 who have never-married. \r\nSince the Women’s summit in Sep 2012, we have taken further action to encourage families with children to get into work or set up their own business \r\nActions include:\r\nTraining – We are keen to test the impact of an offer of childcare support on uptake of training by women, particularly in non-traditional sectors. Through the Energy Skills Challenge Fund which offers ‘transition training’ to up-skill those with relevant transferable skills and experience, two of the nine providers this year are specifically targeting women for their courses. These are:\r\nFife College who have commenced training and are contracted to deliver 168 places. Fife College is specifically marketing and targeting women.\r\nOpito, who are contracted to deliver 331 places, which will include 50 places, specifically being offered to women though a four day awareness course on the realities of the oil and gas industry and details of the training available through the challenge fund. The course and training is due to run in March.\r\nBoth providers will pilot offering childcare expenses as an incentive to increase the number of women taking up this provision. It is important women can access training offer of childcare.\r\nChild care: We are increasing the level of funded early learning and childcare from 475 hours to 600 hours per year for three and four year olds, and the most vulnerable 2 year olds. We will extend our childcare offer of 600 hours per year to two year olds in workless households from 2014, and to two year olds who would be eligible for free school meals from 2015.\r\nEnterprise: following a series of seminars chaired by Professor Sara Carter of Strathclyde University and Jackie Brierton of Women in Enterprise Scotland, a draft framework for action by Scottish Government and partners has been produced which will be published in spring 2014.\r\nCareerwise: A £250,000 fund which will see the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology to work collaboratively with employers, schools, colleges, universities and Skills Development Scotland to encourage and support young women into science, technology, engineering and maths learning and jobs.\r\nWe are working with SDS, Scottish Government Equalities Unit and Childcare colleagues to look at developing further support around childcare for pre-employment training and more generally around positive action programmes to tackle gender segregation.\r\nFrom November 2013 unemployed individuals in Inverness who are in receipt of Universal Credit will be able to access childcare support through DWP whilst they train through the Employability Fund\r\nIn Scotland’s Future we set out further actions we will take if elected in an independent Scotland which would offer more support to women and families accessing the labour market. This includes the introduction of a universal childcare system, a Fair Pay Commission, action to increase the number of women on public and corporate boards and promotion of a living wage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:49.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291464,"EventID":"S4W-19324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:50.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the recruitment practices in its (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies promote employing women who are returning to work following a career break.\r\n","AnswerText":"For the Scottish Government and its agencies recruitment practices I refer the member to the answer to question S4W 19317 on 19 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.\r\nNon-departmental public bodies have delegated responsibility for their own recruitment. We do not hold details of their recruitment practices.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:50.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291465,"EventID":"S4W-19325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:50.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many crèches it provides for its employees; how many children use the facilities, and what (a) terms and conditions and (b) costs apply.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides access to a workplace nursery at Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. This nursery is run by North Edinburgh Childcare on its behalf. Currently 55 children (from 42 families) are registered in the nursery.\r\nTo be eligible to enrol in the nursery, the child’s parent or guardian must be an employee of Scottish Ministers, or any other employer that has obtained the written approval of Scottish Ministers to use the nursery.\r\nThe cost per day is £36.93 for under 2s and £34.16 for over 2s.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:50.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291466,"EventID":"S4W-19326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:50.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-22T12:28:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many crèches are provided for employees in its (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies; how many children use the facilities, and what (i) terms and conditions and (ii) costs apply. \r\n","AnswerText":"The information on crèches in Scottish Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:50.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291467,"EventID":"S4W-19389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:51.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:13:58.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has received, broken down by applicant's local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of applications as at 31 January, were as follows:\r\nLocal Authority\r\nNumber of Applications\r\nAberdeen\r\n57\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n128\r\nAngus\r\n12\r\nCity of Edinburgh\r\n118\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n16\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n19\r\nDundee\r\n35\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n36\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n61\r\nEast Lothian\r\n36\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n11\r\nFalkirk\r\n63\r\nFife\r\n106\r\nGlasgow City\r\n84\r\nHighland\r\n87\r\nInverclyde\r\n9\r\nMidlothian\r\n120\r\nMoray\r\n31\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n16\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n154\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n57\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n83\r\nScottish Borders\r\n13\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n26\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n148\r\nStirling\r\n24\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n41\r\nWest Lothian\r\n92\r\nTotal\r\n1683\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:51.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291468,"EventID":"S4W-19390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:51.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:13:58.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received support from the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme, broken down by local authority area of (a) applicant and (b) property purchased.","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the number of sales under the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme by local authority as of 14 February 2014. The data available records properties purchased in each local authority area.\r\nLocal Authority\r\nNumber of Sales\r\nAberdeen\r\n22\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n9\r\nAngus\r\n1\r\nCity of Edinburgh\r\n36\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n3\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n5\r\nDundee\r\n11\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n9\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n7\r\nEast Lothian\r\n5\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n6\r\nFalkirk\r\n16\r\nFife\r\n29\r\nGlasgow City\r\n14\r\nHighland\r\n8\r\nInverclyde\r\n2\r\nMidlothian\r\n18\r\nMoray\r\n8\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n4\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n27\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n8\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n19\r\nScottish Borders\r\n2\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n4\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n28\r\nStirling\r\n4\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n6\r\nWest Lothian\r\n11\r\nTotal\r\n322\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:51.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291469,"EventID":"S4W-19392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:51.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T13:49:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects information on the payment of discretionary housing payments by local authorities and, if so, what information.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government began collecting information on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in December 2013.\r\nThe first publication, covering the period 1 April to 30 November 2013, provides information for each local authority on: the number of applications, the number of determinations, the number of awards granted, and the total amount of DHPs spent or committed. \r\nAverage award values by local authority and a comparison with budget allocations are also made.\r\nAll statistical publications on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/dhp. \r\nThe next publication, covering the period 1 April to 31 December 2013, will be published on Tuesday 18 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:51.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291470,"EventID":"S4W-19397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:51.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:15:49.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support sportscotland has provided to the Scots selected for the 2014 Winter Olympics.\r\n","AnswerText":"sportscotland is supporting Scotland’s athletes as they compete at the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi. As the high performance arm of sportscotland, the sportscotland institute of sport is responsible for developing a world class system for Scotland that ensures Scottish athletes consistently perform with distinction on the world stage.\r\nScots make up over a third of both the Olympic and Paralympic teams, which is testament to the work of sportscotland and the Institute of Sport. I went to meet some of these fantastic athletes to wish them well before they left for Sochi and was also fortunate enough to meet Scotland’s medal winning curlers upon their return.\r\nIn addition to individual investment programmes for each sport, the Institute of Sport provides specialist support and expertise through its highly qualified and experienced staff who work as one unified institute network.\r\nWe estimate the total invested in all Winter Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes by Scotland has been in the region of £3.75 to £4 million. This is over and above the funding provided through sportscotland to the sport’s governing bodies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:51.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291471,"EventID":"S4W-19398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:52.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:15:49.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how sportscotland (a) promotes and (b) encourages participation in winter sports.\r\n","AnswerText":"sportscotland work with individual sports governing bodies to provide outcome based investment programmes in order to help promote and develop the sport.\r\nsportscotland has also provided more than £5 million into Scottish ice rinks, including a £2.5 million award for the ice rink at The Peak, Stirling (the training venue for the curling teams ahead of their very successful Sochi Games). Further information regarding support for Scottish athletes competing in the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games can be found in my answer to question S4W-19397 on 3 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nIn addition to ice facilities, sportscotland has invested significant funds to other winter sporting facilities, including a £933,000 award for the Midlothian Snowsports Centre and £78,411 for Newmilns Snow and Ski Complex.\r\nThe flagship Active Schools programme, such as those operated in Midlothian and Stirling have been expanded to maximise the number of children and young people accessing winter sports. These programmes offer opportunities to participate in snowsports activities after school, during the evenings and weekends in a variety of ice sports.\r\nGlenmore Lodge is Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre and offers world class training in outdoor adventure sports which encourages more people to enjoy the outdoors more often.\r\nFollowing on from medal success for both the men’s and women’s all-Scottish Team GB Olympians, sportscotland and Stirling Council have just announced that they will work in partnership to deliver a multi-million pound investment into Stirling Sports Village. This will significantly enhance curling facilities for both performance athletes and community use and represents a further boost for the sport in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:52.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291472,"EventID":"S4W-19401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:52.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:22:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that the health and social care complaints processes are clear, accessible and fair.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 introduced a new and specific right for patients to complain, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback. A review of the NHS complaints procedure was undertaken to meet the provisions of the Act. Good Practice Guidance was issued to NHS boards, and a programme of training and education has been provided to NHS staff and contractors, in partnership with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). \r\nThe Act established the independent Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) to provide help and support to people to give feedback about their healthcare.\r\nThe Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014. \r\nLocal authorities publish their complaints procedures for social care on their websites.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working to further strengthen these procedures by working closely with the SPSO, COSLA and other stakeholders to ensure that complaints about social care services are handled in a clear, accessible and fair manner.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:52.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291473,"EventID":"S4W-19402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:52.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:22:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the complaints processes for health and social care services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 introduced a new and specific right for patients to complain, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback. A review of the NHS complaints procedure was undertaken to meet the provisions of the Act. Good Practice Guidance was issued to NHS boards, and a programme of training and education has been provided to NHS staff and contractors, in partnership with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). \r\nThe Act established the independent Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) to provide help and support to people to give feedback about their healthcare.\r\nThe Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014.\r\nLocal authorities publish their complaints procedures for social care on their websites.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working to further strengthen these procedures by working with SPSO, COSLA and other stakeholders to produce recommendations for updating the complaints procedures for social work, and will continue to work towards ensuring that the system is fair, clear and accessible for all.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:52.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291474,"EventID":"S4W-19403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:53.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:22:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a new complaints process will be put in place before the integration of health and social care services.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is essential that we take the time to get the right system to allow service users to make complaints, a system that is clear, accessible and fair, where service users can feel that their complaints have been properly heard and investigated.\r\nThe Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working to further strengthen the procedures for social care complaints by working closely with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, COSLA and other stakeholders to ensure that these complaints systems are robust, fair and accessible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:53.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291475,"EventID":"S4W-19404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:53.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:50:54.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training is given to police officers on the recording of crime statistics.\r\n","AnswerText":"The training of police officers is an operational matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:53.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291476,"EventID":"S4W-19405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:53.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T14:50:54.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what audit process it has to verify the robustness of crime statistics.\r\n","AnswerText":"Within the Scottish Government, Justice Analytical Services (JAS) is responsible for the collection, quality assurance and publication of police recorded crime statistics. A wide range of mechanisms are employed to ensure the robustness of police crime data. \r\nData is collected on a cumulative quarterly basis from the police and a number of detailed quality assurance checks are carried out by JAS. This includes the checking of data across the cumulative quarters to ensure data consistency as the year progresses; checking data across legacy police force areas to ensure consistency and confirming local differences; and comparing figures year on year, investigating where significant differences appear. All issues are referred back to the appropriate points of contact within the police to ensure that anomalies are addressed and that the final resulting data is an accurate reflection of police activity within each financial year period.\r\nIn April 2004, the Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout Scotland. The standard was produced by the Scottish Crime Registrar’s Group and agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, following research that identified the need to develop a more victim orientated approach to crime recording. \r\nJAS is a member of the Scottish Crime Registrars’ Group. This group was established to support consistency in implementing the SCRS and associated counting rules. The group discusses matters arising from the application of the SCRS and is also responsible for maintaining and updating the counting rules.\r\nHMICS also conducts national reviews of incident and crime recording, with one of the aims being to assess compliance with crime recording standards. The most recent such review was conducted just after the creation of the Police Scotland, on 1 April 2013, with the report being published in December 2013. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:53.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291477,"EventID":"S4W-19406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-27T17:02:53.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T16:42:04.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Devolution Unit is contacting governments overseas seeking their support against Scottish independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to work within the formal structures agreed with the UK Government. The UK Government and all devolved governments work to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Supplementary Agreements on Devolution. \r\nSection D1.3 of the Concordat on International Relations, one of four supplementary agreements to the MoU on Devolution states that the “…Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) promotes the international interests of the United Kingdom and all its constituent parts. United Kingdom Embassies, High Commissions and other Missions overseas serve the United Kingdom and all its constituent parts.”\r\nIn the context of the independence debate, the Edinburgh Agreement, signed on 15 October 2012 by the First Minister and the Prime Minister, commits both, the Scottish and UK Governments, “…through the Memorandum of Understanding between them and others, to working together on matters of mutual interest and to the principles of good communication and mutual respect.”\r\nThe Scottish Government expects the UK Government to adhere to both the spirit and letter of the Edinburgh Agreement\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-24T17:02:53.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291495,"EventID":"S4W-19407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T13:27:53.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T09:59:21.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bus services (a) FirstGroup and (b) Stagecoach has withdrawn since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as the registration of bus services is the responsibility of the office of the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T13:27:53.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291496,"EventID":"S4W-19408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T13:27:53.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T09:59:21.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the decision to award and announce new maintenance contracts for the north-east and south-east trunk roads has been taken on schedule.","AnswerText":"The procurement process associated with the two trunk road term maintenance contracts has been extended.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T13:27:53.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291497,"EventID":"S4W-19409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T13:27:53.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T09:59:21.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the new maintenance contracts for the north-east and south-east trunk roads will be in force.","AnswerText":"The commencement of service date for the new term maintenance contracts is programmed to be later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T13:27:54.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291498,"EventID":"S4W-19410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T13:27:54.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T11:08:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have graduated in teaching PE in each year since 2004.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the total number of students who have graduated from a Scottish Higher Education Institution whose first, second or third teaching qualification gained subject was Physical Education. The total number includes students who completed Post Graduate Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Education or Combined Degree courses. The table displays numbers from the academic year 2003-04 to the most recent published data available for 2011-12. \r\nQualifiers to teach Physical Education at Scottish Higher Education Institutions, 2003-04 to 2011-12\r\n\r\nAcademic session\r\n2003-04\r\n2004-05\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n\r\nTotal no. of students\r\n\r\n80\r\n\r\n114\r\n\r\n157\r\n\r\n158\r\n\r\n142\r\n\r\n157\r\n\r\n150\r\n\r\n124\r\n\r\n143\r\nSource: HESA Individual Student Records\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T13:27:54.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291499,"EventID":"S4W-19411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T13:33:47.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T12:53:11.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project.","AnswerText":"I can confirm that this government intends to award this NPD contract to Scot Roads Partnership Project Ltd (SRP). The value of the contract is approximately £500 million in Net Present Value (NPV) terms, and includes the cost of the construction of the new road, its operation and maintenance over 30 years and the financing costs.\r\nThe NPV of £500 million represents a construction cost of approximately £310 million; significantly below the pre tender estimate of £415 million, which reflects the robustness of the competitive dialogue process, challenging bidders to provide the optimal value-for-money solution. It also demonstrates the very strong competition for this contract and is indicative of the prevailing market conditions in the construction industry more generally.\r\nThis important milestone heralds a strong statement from the international investor community that Scotland’s infrastructure is seen as a viable and desirable long-term investment. Following a significant level of international investor interest, funding from the project will come from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a group of investors managed by Allianz Global Investors, one of the world’s leading integrated financial services providers.\r\nThe employment benefits of this project will be of a similar scale to the M74 completion which directly supported 900 construction jobs at its peak, the large majority of which were filled by workers from the local area. We expect that the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project will deliver similar benefits to the local economy. Businesses will also benefit from economic savings while more generally the project will improve road safety, accessibility and reduce the number of accidents.\r\nWe will also see considerable community benefits delivered as a result of this project, including opportunities for on the job training for apprentices and local employment.\r\nDelivery of this project will take us another step towards realising our vision of a modern and efficient transport system fit for a 21st Century Scotland, connecting our cities by fast and safe road and rail networks and making Scotland an attractive place to do business both now and in the future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T13:33:47.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291500,"EventID":"S4W-19413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:09.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:02:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of mouth cancer have been diagnosed in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) age of patient.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of new cases of mouth cancer by year of diagnosis and by (a) NHS board and (b) age group is published on ISD’s website under the cancer statistics topic area via this link:\r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/2013-04-30/i_cancer_head_neck.xls).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:09.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291501,"EventID":"S4W-19414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:09.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:02:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ringfence the revenue raised from the new dog licensing system proposed in its consultation on responsible dog ownership for dog welfare purposes.\r\n","AnswerText":"On the 27 December 2013, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on promoting responsible dog ownership. The consultation seeks views from anyone with an interest on possible additional measures to promote responsible dog ownership, such as microchipping, muzzling and dog licensing, as well as views on whether current dog fouling legislation is being used effectively.\r\nThe consultation seeks views only on the principle of whether the introduction of a dog licensing system should be considered. Once the consultation is complete, we will consider the views offered carefully. If there was strong evidence that a licensing system would be advantageous, then the practical implications of introducing a licensing system, e.g. how much a dog licence would cost, how the revenue raised would be used etc., would be assessed and would likely require a further consultation exercise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:10.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291502,"EventID":"S4W-19415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:10.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:02:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the new dog licence proposed in its consultation on responsible dog ownership would cost.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19414 on 24 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:10.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291503,"EventID":"S4W-19416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:10.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:08:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will hold its proposed summit on dangerous dogs. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government consultation ‘Promoting Responsible Dog Ownership’ ends on 31 March 2014 and, while final arrangements for the summit on responsible dog ownership are in the process of being made, the summit will take place before the end of the consultation period towards the end of March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:10.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291504,"EventID":"S4W-19417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:11.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:49:20.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is not expanding the provision of free school meals at the same time as the UK Government.","AnswerText":"Following careful consideration about the use of the consequential funding arising from the UK Government’s autumn statement on 5 December 2013, on 7 January 2014 the First Minister announced his plans to extend the entitlement of free school meals to children in primary 1 to 3 from January 2015.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises that it will take some time to implement the extended entitlement on the ground. Lead in time was identified as an important concern by local authorities in the evaluation of the primary 1 to 3 free school meal trial which was published in 2008 and can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/29114033/0. \r\nThe Scottish Government will work closely with COSLA over the next year to explore how any practical implications might be addressed.\r\nA 12 month lead in time is the same length that the UK Government is allowing to put in place the necessary arrangements for implementation of their commitments around free school meal provision in September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:11.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291505,"EventID":"S4W-19418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:12.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:49:20.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it calculated the figure of £13 million to expand the provision of free school meals in 2014-15 and £42 million in 2015-16.","AnswerText":"The estimated cost of extending the entitlement of free school meals to children in primary 1 to 3 from January 2015 is £13 million in 2014-15 and £42 million in 2015-16. These figures were arrived at using a range of data aggregated at a national level and assumptions drawn from the evaluation of the previous pilot of free school meals in five local authority areas in 2007-08. This broad approach will be used as the basis of detailed discussions with COSLA which will factor in the distribution of the funding across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:12.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291506,"EventID":"S4W-19419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:13.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:07:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government at what (a) age and (b) stage of development children are screened for a learning difficulty or developmental disorder.","AnswerText":"Child development is a core issue covered in the 27-30 month health review offered to all children. The universal health contacts at 6-8 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 13 months, 3-5 years and on entry to primary school also provide opportunities to discuss and identify developmental concerns.\r\nEducation authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, whenever they arise. An additional support need can arise for any reason and be of short or long term duration. Additional support may be required to overcome needs arising from learning environment; health or disability; family circumstances or social and emotional factors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:13.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291507,"EventID":"S4W-19420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:13.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:07:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to measure (a) the impact of ADHD on learning, (b) the location of pupils with ADHD and (c) how pupils with ADHD are being supported in their school work.\r\n","AnswerText":"The impact of ADHD on the learning of individual pupils is complex and specific and varies from pupil to pupil. Therefore we do not collect that information centrally. However, as part of education authorities duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. Education authorities will identify, make provision for and review the needs of their pupils, including those with ADHD.\r\nThe Scottish Government collects and publishes national statistics each year on the additional support needs of pupils recorded by education authorities. This includes information on the location of pupils with additional support needs. These statistics are available from:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4199/0 and: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/pupcensus2013. Within these statistics it is likely that ADHD will be recorded by authorities under the broader category of social and emotional behavioural difficulties.\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:13.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291508,"EventID":"S4W-19421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:14.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:07:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information is available on pupils with ADHD (a) dropping out of and (b) being excluded from school.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government published the Included, Engaged and Involved guidance in 2007 to support education authorities and partners in promoting attendance and managing absence from school. The guidance provides information on the follow up of absence for pupils, both immediately and in the longer term, including the stages of support for pupils, including those with additional support needs.\r\nInformation about school exclusions is published biannually and includes a breakdown of the cases of exclusion amongst pupils with additional support needs by type of need. This includes a category for those with ‘social and emotional behavioural difficulty’, but does not provide specific information about children or young people assessed as having ADHD. The information can be found in Table 14 of the exclusions supplementary dataset, which is available at:\r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/Datasets\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:14.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291509,"EventID":"S4W-19422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:14.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:07:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Education Scotland is planning to undertake a review of the material available to schools to support pupils with ADHD.","AnswerText":"Education Scotland is currently reviewing its online resources including GLOW to ensure that it further improves advice, guidance and information in respect of additional support needs. The purpose of this is to identify and address barriers to learning that arise from health and disability including conditions such as ADHD.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:14.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291510,"EventID":"S4W-19423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:15.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:22:40.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Aecom report on the transport links between Glasgow and Glasgow Airport, and what the reason is for any delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Glasgow Airport Strategic Transport Network study was commissioned by Glasgow Airport Ltd with funding support from Transport Scotland, Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council. Whilst a final report is expected by the client group very shortly it is not for the Scottish Government to publish the completed report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:15.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291511,"EventID":"S4W-19424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-28T17:02:15.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T15:54:34.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to implement each of the recommendations in the February 2008 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland’s thematic inspection report on crime recording standards.\r\n","AnswerText":"Of the five recommendations made in the 2008 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) report, only Recommendation 2: “That, in order to resolve unnecessary inconsistencies identified by force crime registrars (FCRs), the Scottish Government should undertake an urgent review into the suitability of its counting rules for crime recording, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Scottish Crime Registrars Group and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service” relates specifically to the Scottish Government.\r\nI refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06854 on 7 May 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nSince that date, three further reviews of crime recording have been conducted by HMICS, the reports can be found at the following links:\r\n2013: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland: Review of Incident and Crime Recording - December 2013 | HMICS\r\n2011: Crime Audit 2011: National Overview Report | HMICS\r\n2010: Crime Audit: National Overview | HMICS\r\nAs a result of the subsequent reviews, the five recommendations from the 2008 HMICS inspection report were considered discharged.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-25T17:02:15.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291529,"EventID":"S4O-02867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:29.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T09:48:45.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what account the business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme takes of the impact that construction work could have on passenger numbers.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:30.22","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291530,"EventID":"S4O-02868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:30.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:42:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a delay in the publication of the business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:30.953","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291531,"EventID":"S4O-02870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:31.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:54:05.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of upgrading the east coast railway line between Aberdeen and the central belt at Montrose.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:31.887","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291532,"EventID":"S4O-02871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:32.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:02:58.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently announced £90 million in additional costs, whether it plans further upgrades to the Glasgow-Edinburgh rail link under the current improvement plan.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:32.217","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291533,"EventID":"S4O-02872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:32.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:02:59.073","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with service providers and local authorities to improve mobile phone coverage across the country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:32.543","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291534,"EventID":"S4O-02873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:32.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:02:59.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation Transport Scotland has with communities when considering trunk road closures at night.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:32.857","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291535,"EventID":"S4O-02874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:33.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:21:02.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:33.51","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291536,"EventID":"S4O-02875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:33.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:01.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of the so-called bedroom tax on people living in rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"At a meeting with Lord Freud on 30 July 2013, I raised the issue of the bedroom tax on people living in rural areas.\r\nHe agreed that there is less opportunity for people in rural areas to move.\r\nFollowing that meeting, Scotland was allocated £3.5 million out of a possible £5 million that was set aside for Discretionary Housing Payments for local authorities in remote and isolated areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:33.837","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291537,"EventID":"S4O-02876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:34.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T14:21:10.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual running cost is of the Scottish Futures Trust and what the benefits are.\r\n","AnswerText":"The operational cost of running the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) in 2012-13 was £5.5 million. For the same period SFT reported delivery of net benefits of £132.1 million.\r\nSFT’s annual reports and accounts, which are laid before Parliament by 31 December each year, provide more details on income and expenditure. SFT’s benefits statement is published on its website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:34.087","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291538,"EventID":"S4O-02877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:34.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:05:02.313","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what benefits Creative Scotland's Youth Music Initiative could bring to groups in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:34.617","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291539,"EventID":"S4O-02878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:34.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:23.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received regarding an independent Scotland’s share of the UK’s overseas properties.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:34.9","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291540,"EventID":"S4O-02879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:35.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:19:34.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how much it would cost an independent Scotland to establish overseas representation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:35.227","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291541,"EventID":"S4O-02880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:35.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:23.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages local and national organisations to work in partnership to promote historical locations and events.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:35.507","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291542,"EventID":"S4O-02881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:35.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:24.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how an independent Scotland would increase inward investment in the film and television sectors.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:35.773","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291543,"EventID":"S4O-02882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:36.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T10:18:50.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the role of British embassies should be in promoting Scotland's interests.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:36.007","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291544,"EventID":"S4O-02883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:36.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T10:34:51.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting National Libraries Day 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:36.943","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291545,"EventID":"S4O-02884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:37.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:25.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many UNESCO world heritage sites there are in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:37.207","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291546,"EventID":"S4O-02885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:37.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T16:30:19.68","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its main international strategy priority will be in 2014-15.  \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:37.44","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291547,"EventID":"S4O-02886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:37.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:25.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to the project, the Star of Caledonia.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland, Scotland’s national development body for the arts, screen and creative industries, supports quality and excellence in the arts, including public art.\r\nCreative Scotland provided £49,000 support to this project during the development phase. Project sponsors will need to develop a full business case and secure funding ahead of consideration of a further bid to Creative Scotland.\r\nProject sponsors have also been encouraged to continue to seek support from a wide range of sources.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:37.83","MeetingDate":"2014-02-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291548,"EventID":"S4O-02887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:38.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:44.737","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Borders Council about the council’s proposals to withdraw the garden waste collection service.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:38.377","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291549,"EventID":"S4O-02888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:38.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:44.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Constable and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:38.737","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291550,"EventID":"S4O-02889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:38.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:45.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with SSE regarding options for reinforcing the electricity grid in Orkney.\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:39","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291551,"EventID":"S4O-02890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:39.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T10:19:08.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to boost Scottish exports.  \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:39.33","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291552,"EventID":"S4O-02891","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:39.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:18:02.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Police Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:39.61","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291553,"EventID":"S4O-02892","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:39.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:46.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what economic growth opportunities the canal network in Glasgow Anniesland offers local communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:39.843","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291554,"EventID":"S4O-02893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:40.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:46.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to safeguard access to justice in communities in South Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:40.11","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291555,"EventID":"S4O-02894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:40.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T16:55:28.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in tackling unemployment.\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:40.407","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291556,"EventID":"S4O-02895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:40.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-27T12:03:46.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of foster families.\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:40.657","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291557,"EventID":"S4O-02896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:37:40.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T09:31:52.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the cost of repairing the damage to the coastal defences sustained during the New Year floods.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials contacted Dumfries and Galloway Council in the aftermath of the New Year storms, and the triggering of the Bellwin Scheme, to check whether the council would be submitting a claim for additional funding under the scheme. The council confirmed that although it had suffered considerable flooding it would be able to contain the costs within their revenue budget and would not be making a claim under the Bellwin Scheme.\r\nWe have had no specific discussions with the council about the cost of repairing coastal defences. As agreed with COSLA, funding for coastal defences is included in the General Capital Grant to local authorities, which is not ring-fenced and so may be used to fund the capital investment priorities of each council.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:37:40.903","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291566,"EventID":"S4W-19425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:51:57.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T17:15:16.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role the subsuming of crime plays in the recording of separate crimes committed around a single location or by the same suspect at any given time; what changes in the approach to the use of subsuming took place after December 2010, and (a) when and (b) by whom the principle of subsuming was introduced in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) provides a more victim orientated approach to the recording of crime and ensuring uniformity in crime recording standards across Scotland. In April 2004 the SCRS was introduced throughout Scotland. The principle, which is recognised as subsuming, was included in the SCRS when it was introduced in 2004.\r\nPrior to the introduction of the SCRS, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) recognised that greater consistency in recording practices could be achieved throughout the country. To progress this, the ACPOS Crime Standing Committee (ACPOS Crime Business Area) established a Short Life Focus Group (SLFG) to consider, amongst other matters, the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), subsequently introduced in England and Wales on 1 April 2002, and assess its potential for adoption in Scotland.\r\nThe SLFG reported their findings to ACPOS Crime Standing Committee in April 2002 and recommended the development of a new crime recording standard for Scotland, which should incorporate a victim based approach and meet the expectations of the Scottish public in the 21st century. A National Working Group was established to take forward the recommendations, which resulted in the creation of a new SCRS. The SCRS was agreed by ACPOS Crime Standing Committee on 12 December 2002 and endorsed by ACPOS Council on 3 February 2003.\r\nSubsuming practice exists to avoid a single incident being dissected into many multiple parts, when there had been continuity of action. A single location or the same suspect do not solely have a bearing on the decision as to whether or not a crime should be subsumed. \r\nCounting Rules provide a national standard for the recording and counting of crimes and offences recorded by Police Scotland. The Rules, which were devised to take account of the SCRS, are under constant review and updates will normally be effective from 1st April each year.\r\nAs part of the introduction of the new legislation regarding the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (which commenced on 1 December 2010) following consultation between the Police, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Government, some activities covered by this legislation taking place as part of a single incident were considered to be suitable to be subsumed. This was to take account of a series of acts which individually might be criminal in their own right but which are incorporated into an all encompassing crime but in which the individual circumstances are included. The approach to subsuming remained the same. However the guidance material within the SCRS and Counting Rules manual was expanded to provide more guidance, particularly in relation to sexual offences, on when subsuming may be appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:51:57.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291567,"EventID":"S4W-19426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:51:58.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T19:47:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can quantify the benefit that NHS boards derive from the work of Care and Repair teams in terms of facilitating hospital discharges and preventing hospital admissions, and what contribution boards make to the teams' costs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution made by Care and Repair Services in helping older and disabled people to live safely and independently at home and by reducing delays to hospital discharge.\r\nWe have not commissioned research in this area but a Social Return on Investment report in respect of Care and Repair West Lothian published in June 2013 showed a social return of £4.53 for every £1 invested.\r\nThere is no statutory requirement on health boards to contribute to the cost of local Care and Repair services. However Orkney Care and Repair and Midlothian Care and Repair, for example, received additional funding from the Older People's Change Fund to, respectively, extend their information and advice service and support piloting a small repairs service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:51:58.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291568,"EventID":"S4W-19427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:51:58.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:57:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide transitional funding to bridge any gap in European funding from 2014 to 2020 for voluntary sector projects.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects the 2014-20 structural funds programmes to launch in summer 2014. \r\nThe Scottish Government has extended a number of projects into 2014, in particular employability projects where the third sector has a significant delivery role, in order to minimise any funding gap.\r\nIf any underspends emerge, the Scottish Government will consider additional extensions where these are required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:51:58.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291569,"EventID":"S4W-19428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:51:59.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the £244 million to mitigate the impact of welfare reform for (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our current and planned spending will invest at least £258 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16 to limit the damage of the UK Government’s welfare policies on Scotland.\r\nDetails are as follows:\r\nWelfare Reform Mitigation activity\r\n2013-14\r\n£million\r\n2014-15\r\n£million\r\n2015-16\r\n£million\r\n2013-2016 £million\r\nScottish Welfare Fund (£33 million plus admin)\r\n\r\n38\r\n\r\n38\r\n\r\n38\r\n\r\n114\r\nOther Welfare Reform Mitigation\r\n7\r\n7\r\n7\r\n21\r\nCouncil Tax Reduction scheme \r\n23\r\n23\r\n23\r\n69\r\n“Bedroom tax” mitigation* \r\n20\r\n34.85\r\n\r\n54.85\r\nTotal\r\n88\r\n102.85\r\n68\r\n258.85\r\n*Funding for bedroom tax mitigation for 2015-16 will be determined once Department for Work and Pensions funding for Discretionary Housing Payments is known (estimated to be late 2014 or early 2015).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:51:59.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291570,"EventID":"S4W-19429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:51:59.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £244 million to mitigate the impact of welfare reform is welfare funding devolved to Scotland.","AnswerText":"As announced in the Budget (Scotland) (No 3) Bill Stage 3 debate in the Parliament on 5 February 2014, the Scottish Government has provided additional provision to mitigate the impact of the ‘bedroom tax’. This means that our planned spending on welfare reform mitigation will increase from £244 million to at least £258 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16. Further details are set out in the answer to S4W-19428 on 26 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.All of the £258 million funding is devolved and reflects Scottish Ministers’ decisions about allocating resources from within the total Scottish Budget to welfare, following the transfer of a number of relevant functions from the UK Government to the Scottish Government and responding to the adverse effects of the UK Government’s welfare reform on vulnerable people across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:51:59.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291571,"EventID":"S4W-19430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:00.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on the consultation on the Independent Living Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recent High Court judgement quashed the Westminster Government’s decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The Scottish Government is therefore unable to report on the ILF consultation at this time.\r\nThe Scottish Government will consider its next steps, including the report of the consultation, once the Department for Work Pensions make a decision on the future of ILF.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:00.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291572,"EventID":"S4W-19431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:00.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £33 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund was (a) devolved by the UK Government and (b) additional funding.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12726 on 25 February 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:00.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291573,"EventID":"S4W-19432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:01.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the £20 million allocated to mitigate the impact of the so-called bedroom tax was (a) ringfenced and (b) paid to the general revenue account.","AnswerText":"The £20 million allocated to local authorities in 2013-14 will be paid as general revenue grant funding. Councils have been advised that this funding is for the purpose of adding to their Discretionary Housing Payment budgets. However, the Scottish Government does not have the powers to direct councils to make payments in respect of Discretionary Housing Payments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:01.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291574,"EventID":"S4W-19433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:01.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gave to local authorities that had already topped up their discretionary housing payments on the use of the £20 million allocated to mitigate the impact of the so-called bedroom tax.","AnswerText":"On 2 October 2013, I informed local authorities that the Scottish Government was making £20 million available for the purpose of adding to Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) budgets. In recognition of the fact that some local authorities may already have already topped up their DHP allocation to the maximum permitted, I stated that the funding is aimed not only at enabling topping up of DHPs, but also in recognition of the financial pressures that have been placed upon authorities by the UK Government’s welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:01.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291575,"EventID":"S4W-19434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:02.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T22:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequentials arose from the Chancellor's Autumn Statement and how these have been allocated.","AnswerText":"The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 5 December 2013 generated the following Barnett consequentials for Scotland:-\r\n\r\n2013-14\r\n£m\r\n2014-15\r\n£m\r\n2015-16\r\n£m\r\nResource DEL net total\r\n+1.0\r\n+97.8\r\n+111.6\r\nCapital DEL conventional\r\n-\r\n+11.9\r\n+9.2\r\nFinancial Transactions\r\n-\r\n+9.9\r\n+66.7\r\nTotal DEL\r\n+1.0\r\n+119.6\r\n+187.5\r\n\r\nTo date the following amounts have subsequently been allocated to the Scottish budget:\r\n\r\n2013-14\r\n£m\r\n2014-15\r\n£m\r\n2015-16\r\n£m\r\nBusiness Rates measures announced on 11 December 2013\r\n-\r\n38.5\r\n38.5\r\nFree School Meals (all P1 to P3 - implement Jan 2015)\r\n-\r\n13.0\r\n42.0\r\nExtending childcare for 2 year olds - workless households\r\n-\r\n15.0\r\n44.0\r\nChildcare workforce expansion\r\n\r\n\r\n3.5\r\n-\r\nWelfare Reform Mitigation Discretionary Housing Payments\r\n\r\n23.0\r\n-\r\nTotal\r\n-\r\n93.0\r\n124.5\r\nIn order to meet the commitments flowing from Free School Meals and the extension of childcare in 2015-16, the current plan is to carry forward Resource DEL consequentials from 2014-15 into 2015-16 through Budget Exchange flexibilities.\r\nIn respect of capital consequentials we have been allocated £5 million in both 2014-15 and 2015-16, ring-fenced in the Autumn Statement for the Shetland Islands Council to support infrastructure development. \r\nThe consequentials include £76.6 million of financial transactions that can only be used for loans and equity investment, £9.9 million in 2014-15 and £66.7 million in 2015-16. We are currently considering how these consequentials can be best deployed and will inform Parliament in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:02.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291576,"EventID":"S4W-19435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:02.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of progress on implementing Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.\r\n","AnswerText":"In line with the commitments contained within the Diversity Delivers strategy, the Scottish Government remains committed to the progression of the public appointments diversity agenda and to building on the work begun through Diversity Delivers. Following the publication of the Diversity Delivers – Three Years On report in November 2011, which provided an assessment of progress at that stage, responsibility for delivering the diversity agenda passed to the Scottish Government‘s Public Appointments Centre of Expertise (PACE).To support our progress, we created a dedicated public appointments website, www.appointed-for-scotland.org, in 2009. This was followed by the setting up of PACE in 2011, to advise on and to administer the regulated public appointments process across the Scottish Government. We have also undertaken a range of outreach activity and awareness-raising to promote understanding of what board positions are, explaining the work of non-executive board members and how to apply for opportunities. A variety of events have taken place every year since 2008, most recently, in 2013, sessions for the Scottish Housing Regulator to encourage applications from homeless people and those in rented accommodation. All events focused on groups under-represented on Scotland’s public boards. PACE continues to be actively engaged with our equality colleagues and others to identify suitable future events. In addition we have produced and distributed a DVD on public appointments and a short written guide on the work of boards jointly with the then Public Appointments Commissioner and a PACE Twitter account is planned by April 2014. This will promote public appointment vacancies and outreach events. The initial cost of the DVD was £2705: reprint costs are £248.73 per 100. There are no associated costs for the outreach programme and Twitter except staff costs. \r\nWe have also used a range of different application and selection methods to attract a wider pool of applicants. These have varied by individual appointment round. They have included shortened applications that test fewer criteria at application stage, tailored life/career history, personal statements, pre-set questions, notes of interest and bespoke application support and altered interview processes and assessment centre exercises. Some progress has been made in enhancing the diversity of our public appointments but we will continue to develop and monitor this.\r\nTo highlight the importance we place on this issue, a Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was established late last year to drive forward a programme of activity in relation to enhancing the diversity of Scotland’s public appointments. Its first meeting was held on 9 December 2013, with a second on 11 February 2014. All of our current diversity activity is being delivered in line with the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:02.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291577,"EventID":"S4W-19436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:03.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what communications campaigns it has run since September 2008 to promote diversity in public appointments and what the (a) nature and (b) cost has been of each.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:03.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291578,"EventID":"S4W-19437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:03.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has created a new hub website for public appointments since September 2008.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:03.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291579,"EventID":"S4W-19438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:04.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned research into the impact of (a) board meeting times and arrangements and (b) remuneration on the (i) number and (ii) diversity of applications for public appointments.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to understanding the experience of applicants for public appointments and to developing members of the boards of our public bodies.\r\nAlthough we have not commissioned specific research into the impact of board meeting times and arrangements, or into the level of awareness of our public bodies, joint research on applicant experience with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland has been carried out both in 2012 and 2013 and has informed our improvement agenda. Information regarding remuneration is also collected for analysis by the Scottish Government.\r\nPrior to the introduction of the new Commissioner’s Code of Practice on 1 October 2013, all selection panel members were confirmed to the Commissioner as competent in diversity and selection matters. This responsibility has now passed to the Scottish Government. Advice and guidance on diversity issues is provided by the Public Appointments Centre of Expertise at all stages of the appointment process. Training for board members is the responsibility of individual public bodies, although, to support further development, the Public Appointments Commissioner has also previously delivered a mentoring programme for appointees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:04.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291580,"EventID":"S4W-19439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:05.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, when it has established a centre of expertise to advise on and administer the public appointments process as set out in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:05.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291581,"EventID":"S4W-19440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:05.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has piloted different (a) application and (b) selection methods in public appointments and, if so, when and with what result.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:05.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291582,"EventID":"S4W-19441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:06.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided appointment-focused diversity training for (a) everyone involved in the selection process for public appointments and (b) board members of public bodies and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19438 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:06.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291583,"EventID":"S4W-19442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:06.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided a public education programme explaining the work of non-executive board members of public bodies as set out in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:06.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291584,"EventID":"S4W-19443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:07.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it provided workshops on how to apply for board positions, as recommended in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:07.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291585,"EventID":"S4W-19444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:07.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has piloted the use of training positions on the boards of public bodies and, if so, with what result.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19438 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:07.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291586,"EventID":"S4W-19445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:08.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for implementing Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process and how this group differs from the original implementation group.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:08.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291587,"EventID":"S4W-19446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:08.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has action plans for each recommendation in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:08.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291588,"EventID":"S4W-19447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:09.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what reference groups it has set up to support the implementation of Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process since September 2008 and when they have met.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:09.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291589,"EventID":"S4W-19448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:09.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has measured the level of awareness of public bodies and the appointments process and, if so, what the result was and whether the 45% target was reached.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19438 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:09.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291590,"EventID":"S4W-19449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:10.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for public appointments there were in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12 and how many were from (i) women, (ii) disabled people and (iii) people from an ethnic minority background.","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the numbers of applications for public appointments received by the Scottish Government:\r\nApplicants\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\nWomen\r\n209\r\n699\r\n566\r\n310\r\nDisabled\r\n126\r\n160\r\n205\r\n140\r\nEthnic Minority\r\n22\r\n52\r\n64\r\n33\r\nTotal\r\n668\r\n2294\r\n1657\r\n990\r\nSource: Commission of Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland Annual Report 2011-12:\r\nhttp://www.ethicalstandards.org.uk/publications/publication/695/cespls-annual-report-201112\r\nAs at 31 March 2013, the Scottish Government had made good progress but not yet met its previous diversity targets. Figures achieved were: (a) women applicants - 32%, (b) disabled applicants - 13% and (c) ethnic minority applicants - 4.1%. \r\nSource: Public Appointments in Scotland 2012-13 Regulated Ministerial Appointment Statistics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:10.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291591,"EventID":"S4W-19450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:11.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-28T23:41:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it achieved the (a) 40% target for female applicants, (b) 15% target for disabled applicants and (c) 8% target for minority ethnic applicants for public appointments prior to May 2013.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19449 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:11.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291592,"EventID":"S4W-19451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:12.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T10:01:04.78","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive response to question S4W-17791, which received a holding answer on 8 November 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"A substantive answer was issued on Friday 28 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:12.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291593,"EventID":"S4W-19452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:13.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T10:41:23.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the independent review on how continuing healthcare is being applied will be published and when it will respond.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Independent Review of NHS Continuing Healthcare, led by Dr Ian Anderson, past president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has now concluded and reported to the government.\r\nWe are now considering this report and the recommendations and we will publish this report shortly and our response will follow soon after.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:13.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291594,"EventID":"S4W-19453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:13.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:32:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many attacks there have been on (a) ambulance, (b) fire and rescue and (c) accident and emergency personnel in each year since 1999 and how many prosecutions have resulted.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information on the number of attacks on emergency workers reported to the police was given in S4W-18459 on 13 December 2013. The available information on the number of prosecutions in Scottish courts was given in S4W-18460 on 13 December 2013.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe information held centrally on the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 does not specify the type of emergency worker involved in the case.\r\nThe information provided in these earlier answers are from the statistics collected centrally on crimes and offences recorded by the police and on those proceeded against in court. The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are however not directly comparable for a number of reasons. A single crime or offence recorded by the police may have more than one perpetrator, or alternatively, an individual may be convicted of several cases of the same crime. There is the possibility that the crime or offence recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings, or a crime or offence may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings not concluded until a later year. Crimes and offences alleged to have been committed by children under 16 years old are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than through the courts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:13.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291595,"EventID":"S4W-19456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:13.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:32:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what transitional funding arrangements it is making available to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards for the implementation of health and social care integration.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to supporting integration of health and social care and will be providing transition funding to NHS boards and local authorities to support establishment of their integration authorities for 2014-15. The resources available will be around £7 million. Each partnership will be asked to submit a transitional/organisational development plan for the establishment of the new integrated arrangements and will receive appropriate support to implement their jointly agreed transition plan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:13.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291596,"EventID":"S4W-19457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T13:52:13.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T11:32:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the future of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland sets out the intention to establish a Scottish Broadcasting Service, founded initially on the staff and assets of the BBC in Scotland, operating in a joint venture with the BBC. That would include what is now the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which would then come within the Scottish Broadcasting Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T13:52:14.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291597,"EventID":"S4W-19466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:10:56.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:50:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11204 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2012, whether it will provide an update on the final costs of the Scottish Government visit to Chicago in September 2012.","AnswerText":"The projected costs £468,580, previously estimated in answer to Parliamentary Question S4W-11204 on 27 November 2012, covered both Scottish Government and Visit Scotland expenditure. \r\nOn finalising costs, VisitScotland spend was £414,731, this is almost £3,000 less than initially anticipated because some invoices were not settled until after the date of the estimate.\r\nA breakdown of Scottish Government costs by date of purchase and covering the whole delegation of eighteen people is as follows:\r\nFlights\r\n04-Sep-12\r\n854.57\r\nFlights\r\n06-Sep-12\r\n4,795\r\nFlights\r\n07-Sep-12\r\n10,478\r\nFlights\r\n24-Sep-12\r\n17,015.65\r\nAccommodation and business room hire\r\n01-Oct-12\r\n13,333.71\r\nAccommodation\r\n02-Oct-12\r\n298\r\nFlights\r\n06-Oct-12\r\n4,337\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n£51,111.93\r\nScottish Government costs did not change from the estimate and these are detailed in the daily breakdown above.\r\nThe 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah outside Chicago provided a unique opportunity to promote Scotland to a worldwide audience at one of the biggest global sporting events; and to develop new and existing business relationships through an extensive programme of wrap-around activity.\r\nThe Ministerial delegation’s work in Chicago, in the week before the Ryder Cup also included a number of business meetings which secured over 140 new jobs and tens of millions in new investment from US based companies who are successfully expanding their operations in Scotland.\r\nThe next Ryder Cup will take place at Gleneagles in 2014 and has the potential to generate £100 million for the Scottish economy with tens of thousands of spectators attending from all over the world and millions more watching the tournament on television in more than 180 countries. Over 200,000 people attended the 2012 tournament at Medinah and over 500 million watched it on television.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:10:56.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291601,"EventID":"S4W-19458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:29.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T14:40:23.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16274 by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 October 2013, what plans it has for the property on Shetland deemed surplus to requirements.\r\n","AnswerText":"The property was advertised by a local estate agent in Shetland and sold on 20 December 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:30.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291602,"EventID":"S4W-19459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:30.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T14:58:04.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on strengthening the governance and accountability of NHS boards will (a) begin and (b) report.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s engagement on developing governance and accountability of NHS boards will begin in March 2014 and I expect to report on the outcome before the summer recess.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:30.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291603,"EventID":"S4W-19460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:31.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T14:58:04.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its consultation on strengthening the governance and accountability of NHS boards will consider measures to ensure that non-executive directors are appointed in a way that gives a balanced geographical representation of board areas.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s engagement on developing governance and accountability will explore a range of issues relating to the appointment of non-executive directors and representation on health boards.\r\nNon-executive directors have a responsibility to maintain a strategic overview of the delivery of healthcare services to the entire population served by the board. They are not appointed to represent the interests of specific areas or individual communities.\r\nAppointments to health boards are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. The Commissioner’s Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments is clear that the purpose of our appointment process is to attract a diverse range of able applicants and appoint the most able to lead Scotland’s public bodies. However, it is important that these appointments are reflective of the populations they serve. Accordingly, all public appointments are merit based following an open, fair and impartial process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:31.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291604,"EventID":"S4W-19463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:31.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:39:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions there have been regarding the sale of assets paid for by local authorities under the closure of police control rooms.","AnswerText":"I have had no discussions regarding the sale of assets paid for by local authorities under the closure of police control rooms and I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19464 on 24 February 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:31.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291605,"EventID":"S4W-19464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:31.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:39:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Police Scotland should be able to sell off assets paid for by local authorities.","AnswerText":"Responsibility for properties, rights, liabilities and obligations of the former police services transferred to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on 1 April 2013.\r\nThis was in accordance with the principles and transfer schemes as agreed by the Police and Fire Reform Property, Rights, Liabilities and Obligations Project Board and all transfer schemes were subject to full consultation with local authorities, COSLA all the former police joint boards.\r\nPolice Scotland has in place a property asset management plan 2013-16 and it is for them and the SPA to determine the future of the police estate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:31.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291606,"EventID":"S4W-19465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-29T16:38:31.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:39:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers have seen Police Scotland’s business case for the closure of control rooms.","AnswerText":"The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the future of control rooms, is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\nI have been informed by Police Scotland on the proposals for the closure of control rooms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-26T16:38:31.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291619,"EventID":"S4W-19461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:10.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:43:48.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to the stage 1 report on the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill, how many (a) registered health visitors and team leaders on Agenda for Change bands 6 to 8, (b) nursing staff on Agenda for Change band 5 and (c) other nursing staff in health visiting teams on Agenda for Change bands 2 to 4 there have been in each year since 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information, as requested, is not centrally held, however the skills, knowledge and attributes required for public health, health visiting, and school nursing teams are interchangeable. While statistical information is available within each of these categories, the totals do not reflect actual numbers as an individual can have more than one post and these can be at different bands. Staff may perform a multi-disciplinary role in NHSScotland not currently consistently and robustly recorded within boards. Therefore, all three roles must be considered together and information relating to this is found in the following table’s 1a &1b.\r\nTable 1a: Headcount of staff working in health visiting, public health, and school nursing teams by Agenda for Change band, employed by NHSScotland as at 30 September 2009-2013 \r\n\r\nHealth visiting teams\r\nPublic health teams\r\nSchool nursing teams\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal1\r\nBands\r\n1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands\r\n6-9\r\nTotal1\r\nBands 1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands 6-9\r\nTotal1\r\nBands 1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands 6-9\r\n\r\nSep-09\r\n1,372\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1,373\r\n238\r\n10\r\n68\r\n160\r\n435\r\n46\r\n139\r\n255\r\n\r\nSep-10\r\n1,485\r\n61\r\n185\r\n1,240\r\n318\r\n11\r\n73\r\n234\r\n454\r\n75\r\n140\r\n240\r\n\r\nSep-11\r\n1,616\r\n96\r\n250\r\n1,271\r\n265\r\n11\r\n49\r\n205\r\n444\r\n74\r\n134\r\n237\r\n\r\nSep-12\r\n1,518\r\n99\r\n260\r\n1,160\r\n258\r\n17\r\n46\r\n195\r\n374\r\n64\r\n112\r\n199\r\n\r\nSep-13\r\n1,603\r\n144\r\n297\r\n1,164\r\n311\r\n22\r\n58\r\n231\r\n443\r\n86\r\n140\r\n219\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 1b: WTE of staff working in health visiting, public health, and school nursing teams by Agenda for Change band, employed by NHSScotland as at 30 September 2009-2013: \r\n\r\nHealth visiting teams\r\nPublic health teams\r\nSchool nursing teams\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal\r\nBands 1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands\r\n6-9\r\nTotal\r\nBands 1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands 6-9\r\nTotal\r\nBands 1-4\r\nBand\r\n5\r\nBands 6-9\r\n\r\nSep-09\r\n1,139.8\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1,139.8\r\n199.7\r\n7.4\r\n52.9\r\n139.4\r\n306.5\r\n31.4\r\n90.8\r\n184.3\r\n\r\nSep-10\r\n1,218.2\r\n40.5\r\n139.5\r\n1,038.2\r\n262.9\r\n7.9\r\n58.9\r\n196.0\r\n322.7\r\n51.1\r\n92.8\r\n178.9\r\n\r\nSep-11\r\n1,325.2\r\n63.9\r\n184.4\r\n1,076.8\r\n220.0\r\n8.1\r\n39.9\r\n172.0\r\n314.1\r\n50.5\r\n85.5\r\n178.1\r\n\r\nSep-12\r\n1,252.8\r\n66.7\r\n192.7\r\n993.4\r\n212.1\r\n12.6\r\n34.6\r\n164.9\r\n266.1\r\n44.3\r\n71.9\r\n149.8\r\n\r\nSep-13\r\n1,316.4\r\n101.7\r\n218.3\r\n996.4\r\n261.2\r\n16.1\r\n47.6\r\n196.5\r\n317.5\r\n58.3\r\n90.1\r\n169.1\r\n\r\nThe total may not be the sum of the band groupings as an individual can have more than one post and these can be at different bands.\r\n2006 data are not available. Those employees who had been assimilated to Agenda for Change were mapped back as far as possible to the coding used under Whitley to allow for consistency in trend data, this was not possible for the requested staff groups.\r\nA national project to improve the accuracy of recording and reporting on the whole community nursing workforce is currently underway.  The results from this will be reflected in ISD National Statistics publications in due course and will allow identification of those working in health visiting teams.\r\nSee:http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2013-11-26/Nursing_and_Midwifery_SIP_S2013.xls for details on all NHSScotland nursing teams\r\nFurther information on the statistics, including information on how the data are collected and notes to aid interpretation, is given in the 'FAQs' section of the Workforce Statistics website at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFurther information on the statistics, including information on how the data are collected and notes to aid interpretation, is given in the 'FAQs' section of the Workforce Statistics website at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.\r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:10.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291620,"EventID":"S4W-19462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:11.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T15:43:48.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to the stage 1 report on the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill, how many whole-time equivalent staff has been transferred into each health visiting category, broken down by area that they were transferred from, in each year since 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Information is not centrally held. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19461 on 26 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:11.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291621,"EventID":"S4W-19467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:11.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland have been sent for medical treatment in (a) England and (b) other EU countries in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Information Scottish residents who were treated as an elective inpatient/day case or had an outpatient attendance in England for each financial year from 2003-04 to 2012-13 has been provided. This includes people whose residential address is in Scotland rather than patients sent for treatment in England by NHS Scotland.\r\nInformation on patients resident in Scotland who were treated in other EU countries is not collected centrally.\r\nTable 1: A count of finished elective inpatient/day case admission episodes (FAEs)1 for patients resident in Scotland2 and treated in English Hospitals by health board of residence3 for the years 2003-04 to 2012-13.\r\n\r\n2003-04\r\n2004-05\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nArgyll and Clyde\r\n123\r\n106\r\n-\r\n133\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n120\r\n111\r\n136\r\n122\r\n129\r\n136\r\n107\r\n115\r\n130\r\n113\r\nBorders\r\n260\r\n291\r\n341\r\n316\r\n413\r\n358\r\n375\r\n413\r\n308\r\n316\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n1,083\r\n1,271\r\n1,282\r\n1,057\r\n987\r\n1,033\r\n1,244\r\n1,662\r\n1,422\r\n1,314\r\nFife\r\n101\r\n103\r\n153\r\n175\r\n147\r\n181\r\n201\r\n144\r\n138\r\n170\r\nForth Valley\r\n*\r\n69\r\n70\r\n*\r\n64\r\n92\r\n104\r\n90\r\n65\r\n77\r\nGrampian \r\n212\r\n220\r\n231\r\n231\r\n251\r\n260\r\n257\r\n230\r\n182\r\n236\r\nGreater Glasgow\r\n247\r\n233\r\n257\r\n202\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde \r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n289\r\n250\r\n280\r\n347\r\n360\r\n399\r\nHighland\r\n87\r\n95\r\n86\r\n121\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nHighland \r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n212\r\n195\r\n155\r\n182\r\n146\r\n142\r\nLanarkshire\r\n132\r\n122\r\n140\r\n175\r\n189\r\n151\r\n171\r\n177\r\n193\r\n175\r\nLothian\r\n231\r\n228\r\n292\r\n321\r\n350\r\n394\r\n329\r\n326\r\n395\r\n285\r\nOrkney\r\n9\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n7\r\n10\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nShetland\r\n*\r\n*\r\n8\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n7\r\n*\r\n*\r\nTayside\r\n113\r\n118\r\n191\r\n159\r\n134\r\n174\r\n166\r\n140\r\n135\r\n147\r\nWestern Isles\r\n24\r\n9\r\n10\r\n14\r\n*\r\n17\r\n18\r\n18\r\n7\r\n11\r\nNot known/ not applicable\r\n6\r\n51\r\n*\r\n6\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n9\r\n*\r\n*\r\nSource: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre\r\n1. All elective inpatient and day case admissions are included.\r\n2. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector is included.\r\n3. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.\r\n* To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with “*” (an asterisk).\r\n\r\nTable 2: A count of outpatient attendances for patients resident in Scotland1 and seen in English Hospitals by health board of residence for the years 2003-04 to 2012-13.\r\n \r\n2003-04\r\n2004-05\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nArgyll and Clyde\r\n507\r\n638\r\n622\r\n683\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n334\r\n371\r\n411\r\n431\r\n394\r\n498\r\n529\r\n480\r\n474\r\n483\r\nBorders\r\n1,293\r\n1,763\r\n2,251\r\n2,124\r\n2,536\r\n2,574\r\n2,371\r\n2,448\r\n2,256\r\n2,283\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n4,747\r\n4,798\r\n5,267\r\n5,612\r\n6,050\r\n6,047\r\n6,267\r\n6,616\r\n6,435\r\n5,612\r\nFife\r\n363\r\n359\r\n463\r\n624\r\n529\r\n611\r\n674\r\n774\r\n630\r\n714\r\nForth Valley\r\n190\r\n240\r\n271\r\n305\r\n274\r\n407\r\n382\r\n448\r\n349\r\n459\r\nGrampian \r\n800\r\n744\r\n946\r\n1,008\r\n992\r\n1,158\r\n1,039\r\n1,038\r\n977\r\n1,131\r\nGreater Glasgow\r\n835\r\n819\r\n919\r\n846\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde \r\n - \r\n - \r\n - \r\n-\r\n1,148\r\n1,086\r\n1,306\r\n1,343\r\n1,529\r\n1,523\r\nHighland\r\n280\r\n379\r\n465\r\n493\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nHighland \r\n - \r\n - \r\n - \r\n-\r\n859\r\n888\r\n810\r\n889\r\n909\r\n868\r\nLanarkshire\r\n331\r\n365\r\n384\r\n484\r\n574\r\n595\r\n567\r\n658\r\n659\r\n647\r\nLothian\r\n868\r\n965\r\n1,058\r\n1,195\r\n1,329\r\n1,633\r\n1,725\r\n1,769\r\n1,863\r\n1,860\r\nOrkney\r\n19\r\n24\r\n23\r\n26\r\n27\r\n35\r\n40\r\n23\r\n36\r\n40\r\nShetland\r\n49\r\n35\r\n29\r\n59\r\n65\r\n97\r\n44\r\n37\r\n49\r\n43\r\nTayside\r\n348\r\n477\r\n486\r\n548\r\n555\r\n787\r\n741\r\n656\r\n578\r\n703\r\nWestern Isles\r\n36\r\n46\r\n74\r\n58\r\n55\r\n48\r\n69\r\n74\r\n60\r\n118\r\nNot known/ not applicable\r\n56\r\n38\r\n33\r\n71\r\n47\r\n47\r\n46\r\n33\r\n31\r\n63\r\nSource: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre\r\n1. Activity in ","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:11.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291622,"EventID":"S4W-19468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:12.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether five NHS boards continue to receive funding below their NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee target allocation and, if so, for what reason; which boards, and what the level of underfunding has been in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) target and actual percentage shares for those boards below their target share for each of the last five years.\r\nHealth Board\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nActual\r\nTarget\r\nActual\r\nTarget\r\nActual\r\nTarget\r\nActual\r\nTarget\r\nActual\r\nTarget\r\nNHS Fife\r\n6.77%\r\n6.88%\r\n6.76%\r\n6.89%\r\n6.71%\r\n6.87%\r\n6.73%\r\n6.89%\r\n6.72%\r\n6.90%\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n5.30%\r\n5.48%\r\n5.29%\r\n5.49%\r\n5.33%\r\n5.48%\r\n5.35%\r\n5.49%\r\n5.41%\r\n5.51%\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n9.12%\r\n9.45%\r\n9.12%\r\n9.48%\r\n9.14%\r\n9.60%\r\n9.20%\r\n9.63%\r\n9.27%\r\n9.68%\r\nNHS Highland\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\n6.35%\r\n6.36%\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n10.73%\r\n11.01%\r\n10.73%\r\n10.99%\r\n10.80%\r\n10.95%\r\n10.81%\r\n10.95%\r\n10.78%\r\n10.88%\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n13.62%\r\n14.50%\r\n13.69%\r\n14.61%\r\n13.96%\r\n14.72%\r\n14.06%\r\n14.76%\r\n14.22%\r\n14.86%\r\nNHS Orkney\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\n0.43%\r\n0.43%\r\nNote: Percentages are rounded to 2 decimal places, therefore where actual/target figures appear the same, the Board was marginally below target share in that year.\r\nDetailed information on the NRAC formula is publically available on the NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) Information Services Division (ISD) website:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Resource-Allocation-Formula/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:12.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291623,"EventID":"S4W-19470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:13.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider allowing NHS boards to carry forward deficits to allow longer-term financial planning.","AnswerText":"It is a statutory requirement for NHS boards to deliver a balanced financial position at the end of the financial year in terms of both the revenue resource limit and the capital resource limit. Where an NHS board delivered a cumulative financial deficit, this would be carried forward, however this outturn would be classed as failure to meet a financial target and therefore subject to a report by the Auditor General for Scotland under Section 22(3) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 and reported to the Scottish Parliament.\r\nAll NHS boards met these financial targets in 2012-13 for the fifth consecutive year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:13.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291624,"EventID":"S4W-19471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:13.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards have identified savings to break even over the next two years.","AnswerText":"NHS Scotland coards are currently working on draft financial plans that include the identification, classification and risk assessment of efficiency savings. Draft financial plans are due to be submitted on 14 February 2014 for consideration by The Scottish Government; with final versions of these plans to be submitted by 14 March 2014.\r\nThe aim is to formally agree the financial plans by 31 March 2014, with the exception of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which is working to an agreed extended timeframe to allow local governance arrangements to conclude; however the final version of their financial plan is not expected to change from that submitted on 14 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:13.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291625,"EventID":"S4W-19472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:14.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to achieve NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee target funding allocations and in what timescale.\r\n","AnswerText":"The NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula was introduced in 2009-10 and is used in the allocation of around 70% of the total NHS Budget between the 14 territorial NHS boards in Scotland. This provides funding to NHS boards for the provision of Hospital and Community Health Services and GP prescribing. The most important element of the formula is population. Population is then weighed to reflect the effect that age, sex and deprivation have on the need for health care services.\r\nIt is the approach of the Scottish Government that those boards that are below parity will receive additional funding each year to bring them closer to parity, whilst not destabilising other boards. In the 2014-15 draft budget, the Scottish Government agreed to give an additional £42.5 million of funding to those boards below parity to bring them closer to their NRAC share.\r\nThe policy of the Scottish Government is to phase in the NRAC Formula whereby all territorial boards continue to enjoy real-terms growth in their allocations year-on-year, with those above parity (i.e. above their formula target share) receiving less growth than those below parity until the new distribution is achieved. This provides a stable and managed process for moving boards towards their NRAC parity levels.\r\nThe Scottish Government anticipate that, assuming current funding levels are maintained, by 2016-17 no NHS board will be more than 1% below their NRAC parity level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:14.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291626,"EventID":"S4W-19473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:14.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people diagnosed with a stroke is admitted to a stroke unit within one day in accordance with the HEAT target, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The Stroke Admission HEAT target began on 1 April 2011 and expired on 31 March 2013. As with all HEAT targets there was a clearly defined deadline date for delivery of 31 March 2013; after this point the target is considered to be expired.\r\nThe HEAT target data is in the public domain and can be accessed via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/Downloads/2013_report/SSCA_2013_National_Report_tables_and_charts.xls\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:14.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291627,"EventID":"S4W-19474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:15.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional staff were employed in each clinical category in order to achieve the 26-week child and adolescent mental health services waiting times target.","AnswerText":"Building the capacity of the specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) workforce is essential to delivering faster access to services. Over a four year period we have invested £10 million to increase the number of child psychologists from 128 Whole Time Equivalents (WTE) in 2008 to 222 WTE in September 2013, with a further £2 million investment per year to increase the specialist CAMHS workforce. This investment has seen the size of the specialist CAMHS workforce has increased from 645 WTE in 2008 to 908 WTE in September 2013.\r\nCAMHS workforce data is published quarterly by ISD and is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/CAMHS/ \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:15.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291628,"EventID":"S4W-19475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:15.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional staff in each clinical category the NHS will employ in order to achieve the 18-week child and adolescent mental health services waiting time target from December 2014.","AnswerText":"It is for NHS boards to decide what level of staffing is required to meet the needs of their local population.\r\nData contained within national publications such as the CAMHS Workforce \r\nPublication and NHS Scotland Staff Survey are used by Information Services Division and NHS boards to support local, regional and national workforce planning.\r\nFurther information can be found at \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/CAMHS \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4235/downloads#res440163\r\nHealth boards may also use Demand, Capacity, Activity and Queue methodology to assist in determining the needs of their population.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:15.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291629,"EventID":"S4W-19476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:16.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T16:35:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the benefit to stroke patients is of being admitted to a stroke unit on the day of diagnosis or the day following presentation.","AnswerText":"Access to a stroke unit care is known to be associated with a reduced risk of disability as well as death. This is evidenced in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) 108 and the clinical standards for stroke services which emphasise the importance of getting patients to specialist stroke services quickly to allow prompt diagnosis and treatment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:16.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291630,"EventID":"S4W-19477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:16.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T17:08:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of holding the recent Cabinet meeting at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost of holding the recent Cabinet meeting at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate was £7,572.45.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:16.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291631,"EventID":"S4W-19478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:16.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-29T20:50:27.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received from NHS Forth Valley on the implementation of a frailty unit to improve safety and patient experience for frail older people.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Frailty Service in NHS Forth Valley commenced in November 2013. Although it is still early days NHS Forth Valley has reported that the service has had a positive impact, with 80% of patients using it avoiding admission, those patients who were admitted to the Inpatient Frailty Unit experienced a shorter length of stay than would otherwise have been expected. Feedback from patients, family and GPs has also been positive.\r\nThe Frailty Unit was established to improve outcomes for frail elderly patients by reducing avoidable hospitalisation and supporting patients to be cared for in their own home / communities. In the first few weeks the numbers of patients using the service was low, however, numbers are now increasing as elements of the service become more established.\r\nNHS Forth Valley intends to build on these positive results, increasing community use of the service and testing telehealth tools to give improved access to specialist opinion in the community. The board also intends working with the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide access to timely transportation when patients or family do not have transportation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:16.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291632,"EventID":"S4W-19492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:17.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T10:27:34.077","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19228 by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2014, whether it plans to retrospectively reclaim payments for duplicate dental registrations from NHS general dentists who have retired since 2006 or are otherwise no longer in business and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"Practitioner Services, which has the responsibility for making recoveries for duplicate registration payments, will not be seeking to make recoveries from retired and deceased dentists.\r\nPractitioner Services have applied to Scottish Ministers to exempt retired and deceased dentists from the recovery process. This exemption has been granted. On the advice of Practitioner Services the cost and effort of recovering these overpayments, in comparison to other groupings of dentists, does not warrant the recovery of overpayments from retired and deceased dentists.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:17.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291633,"EventID":"S4W-19499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:17.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:44:28.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many nights the First Minister stayed in the Peninsula Hotel when he visited Chicago in 2012 and how much it cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:17.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291634,"EventID":"S4W-19500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:18.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:44:28.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people from the Scottish Government delegation stayed at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago in 2012 and how much it cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:18.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291635,"EventID":"S4W-19501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:18.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:44:28.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what hotel the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport stayed in when she visited Chicago in 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:18.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291636,"EventID":"S4W-19502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:18.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:44:28.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many special advisers accompanied the First Minister on his trip to Chicago in 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:18.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291637,"EventID":"S4W-19503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T14:14:18.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:44:28.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister stayed in any hotels other than the Peninsula Hotel during his visit to Chicago in 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T14:14:18.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291642,"EventID":"S4W-19479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:38.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, for what reason it is recruiting dental vocational trainers without interviewing them.","AnswerText":"NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has operational responsibility for the recruitment of dental vocational trainers. Following a review of the trainer recruitment process in 2013, NES proposed a revised recruitment process be introduced from 2014. These proposals were presented to relevant stakeholders at a meeting of the Scottish Dental Vocational Training Committee in November 2013, and were approved. This committee is chaired by an independent dental practitioner, and membership is drawn from the British Dental Association, the Scottish Dental Schools, NES and a dental vocational trainee. The removal of interviews followed a detailed analysis of data received from a number of previous year’s annual recruitment debrief meetings, and feedback received from trainers themselves. The conclusion reached was that the process of trainer interviews was a poor discriminator of the quality of new trainers, was not a valuable use of resource, and significantly impacted on both applicants’ and panel members’ provision of dental care to their patients. A raft of new measures were introduced including enhanced in-practice mentoring of new applicants, improved reporting of training and clinical performance, plus a centralised process which eliminates regional inconsistencies in interpretation of the required criteria for the trainer role.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:38.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291643,"EventID":"S4W-19480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:40.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects to receive enough applications to meet the demand for dental vocational trainers by the deadline of 13 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is NHS Education for Scotland (NES) which is responsible for the recruitment of dental vocational trainers in Scotland. Recruitment is an ongoing process and, as of today, 180 applications have been received, against a projected demand for 179 dental vocational training (DVT) places.\r\nApplicants do however need to be assessed against robust criteria and that process will likely result in some being rejected. However, as trainer applications are now accepted as part of a rolling process of recruitment, this allows enthusiastic marketing of the role to continue. It is not unusual for current trainers to be undecided at this stage in the year as to whether to offer their incumbent vocational trainee a position within their dental practice and therefore delay application for continued training. The revised trainer approval process will facilitate the speedy appointment of trainers who submit later applications, and NES already has additional train-the-trainer courses scheduled to support applicants who submit applications after the first round cut-off point.\r\nNES is operating on the basis of ensuring that there are sufficient trainers to match the number of applicants for a DVT place in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:40.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291644,"EventID":"S4W-19481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:41.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take if it has not received enough applications for dental vocational trainers to meet demand by 13 February 2014.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19480 on 25 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:41.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291645,"EventID":"S4W-19482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:42.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what factors led to the recent alleged overpayment of NHS dentists.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overpayment recovery process which is underway relates to duplicate registrations of NHS dental patients.\r\nA duplicate registration occurs where a) the patient information submitted by a dentist on a claim, either electronically or in paper form, does not match the information already held by MIDAS (the system used by Practitioner Services to pay dentists), and (b) the information is inaccurately captured.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:42.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291646,"EventID":"S4W-19483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:43.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the alleged recent overpayment of dentists is a result of its introduction of a non-time-limited registration system in 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19482 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nA duplicate registration is not dependent on the period of the registration, whether time limited or non-time limited.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:43.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291647,"EventID":"S4W-19484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:44.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the non-time-limited registration system for dentists introduced in 2010 gave the impression that registrations were increasing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The non-time limited registration system was introduced to ensure a long-term relationship between patient and practitioner. Patient registrations actually fell for the period between December 2009 and March 2010 as a result of removal of duplicate registrations, and deceased patients.\r\nSubsequent increases in the number of patients registered with a dentist are due to a number of factors including the significant increase in the number of dentists providing NHS general dental services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:44.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291648,"EventID":"S4W-19485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:45.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not put in place measures to ensure that duplicate registrations of dentists could be identified and removed.\r\n","AnswerText":"To support the implementation of non-time limited registration Practitioner Services were required to make changes to their payment system (MIDAS), which included matching the Community Health Index with registration data held in MIDAS. This exercise identified potential duplicate registrations, deceased and embarked patients with active registrations in MIDAS.\r\nPractitioner Services now carry out regular matching exercises to ensure that duplicate registrations do not continue in the system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:45.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291649,"EventID":"S4W-19486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:47.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a majority of dentists opposed the non-time-limited registration system introduced in 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have no information on whether or not a majority of dentists opposed the introduction of the non-time-limited registration system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:47.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291650,"EventID":"S4W-19487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:48.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it indicated in recent discussions and correspondence with the British Dental Association that the total amount in overpayment of dentists to be recovered would not exceed £3.5 million and, if so, whether this remains the case.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not in a position to give a guarantee of the total value of the recoveries as this is a matter for Practitioner Services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:48.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291651,"EventID":"S4W-19489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:49.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether duplicate registrations have ever accumulated on the lists of general medical practitioners and, if so, what action was taken.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not manage the patient registration process. Patient registration arrangements are local contractual matters between NHS boards and GP practices whilst The Practitioner Services Division (PSD) of the NHS National Services Scotland helps health boards manage their GP patient registrations.\r\nPractitioner Services uses the NHS Scotland national patient database to keep a note of the GP practice that a patient is registered at. Other non-clinical information is also stored, e.g. patient name, date of birth, address and GP details.\r\nThe database is called the Community Health Index (CHI). The unique index number generated for each patient is called the CHI number and this number is used throughout NHSScotland to accurately identify patients. The information is also used across all services throughout NHS to manage the transfer of medical records, make payments to GP practices for medical services provided to patients, and to issue medical exemption certificates and prescription pre-payment certificates.\r\nA patient’s CHI number can only be recorded on one GP list at a time and it would be only if a patient gave two different sets of demographic details to two different practices then they could end up with two CHI numbers.\r\nWhere PSD do identify a patient with two CHI numbers registered PSD would check with practices to see what is going on and if need be inform NHS Counter Fraud Services (CFS). Where a patient has two different sets of demographic details and one CHI number, and both records to be registered, usually one would be accurate and the other not. They would be linked so one becomes current and the other a history record.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:49.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291652,"EventID":"S4W-19491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:50.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T00:10:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the accuracy of the data used by Practitioner Services to reclaim alleged overpayments of NHS dentists.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Practitioner Services.\r\nIt is for Practitioner Services to ensure that the data underlying the current recovery process is sufficiently robust to begin the process of recoveries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:50.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291653,"EventID":"S4W-19493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:51.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:18:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for activities that require to be screened in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 have been (a) received and (b) approved by each Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture)(Scotland) Regulations 2006 came into force in Scotland on 1 January 2007, and constrain operations to carry out intensive agricultural operations on uncultivated or semi-natural land, or large scale restructuring projects on agricultural land, where the result would have a significant impact on the environment.\r\nEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening decisions are taken by Rural Payments and Inspections Division Area Offices. Where activities are within the scope of the regulation, they proceed to a formal screening, which is recorded on the Scottish Government EIA register. The screening decision may require an Environmental Statement (full EIA) to be carried out.\r\nThe following tables show: \r\na) The number of Screening Applications received, and\r\nb) The number of these Screening Applications which then required a full EIA to be carried out, i.e. the applicant is asked to submit an environmental statement before the operation is approved or rejected.\r\nAFRC\r\nArea Office\r\n\r\n2007\r\n\r\n2008\r\n\r\n2009\r\n\r\n2010\r\nScreening applications:\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nAyr\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nBenbecula\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\nElgin\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nGalashiels\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nGolspie\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHamilton\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nInverness\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nInverurie\r\n3\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nKirkwall\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nLerwick\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\nOban\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPerth\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPortree\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nStornaway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nThurso\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n\r\n\r\nAFRC\r\nArea Office\r\n\r\n2011\r\n\r\n2012\r\n\r\n2013\r\nScreening applications:\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nScreening applic. received\r\nFull EIA required\r\nAyr\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\nBenbecula\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nElgin\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nGalashiels\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nGolspie\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHamilton\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nInverness\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nInverurie\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nKirkwall\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n4\r\n3\r\nLerwick\r\n4\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n_\r\n_\r\nOban\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\nPerth\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n_\r\n_\r\nPortree\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nStornaway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nThurso\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:51.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291654,"EventID":"S4W-19494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:53.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:18:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much land is deemed (a) uncultivated and (b) semi-natural for the purposes of implementing the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006; whether Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff have access to maps of the land and, if so, whether it will publish the maps.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government holds a range of land based information, primarily gathered and used to administer support schemes, including the Single Farm Payment scheme.\r\nThe Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 apply to all land managers, rather than just support scheme claimants. This, along with the fact that support schemes use general land definitions means that, for the purpose of implementing The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the Scottish Government does not hold information, including maps, of how much land is deemed (a) uncultivated and (b) semi natural.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:53.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291655,"EventID":"S4W-19496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:54.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:18:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine whether activities have a significant effect and require screening in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.\r\n","AnswerText":"Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff use the following three criteria to assess whether an operation requires screening:\r\nWhether the land in question is considered to be ‘uncultivated’ or ‘semi-natural’,\r\nwhether the operation is considered to be a project (e.g. cultivations, drainage works, land reclamation, etc) and whether the operation is to change the land use by bringing the land into use for intensive agricultural purposes\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:54.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291656,"EventID":"S4W-19497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:55.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:18:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it makes (a) farmers and (b) land managers aware of their obligations in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and with what frequency. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government publishes up to date comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment guidance, including internal guidance on the assessment of projects, on the Farming and Rural Issues pages of its website. It has not been necessary to publish any updates, because there haven’t been any procedural changes since the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 came into force.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:55.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291657,"EventID":"S4W-19498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:56.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T13:18:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training it provides to Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff with regard to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.","AnswerText":"Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff have access to detailed guidance on assessing land operations under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Area office local training ensures staff are aware of the obligations the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 places on farmers and land managers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:56.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291658,"EventID":"S4W-19504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:57.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T14:02:14.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Education Scotland inspections should take account of the quality of teaching facilities and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Education Scotland Inspectors take account of the quality of teaching facilities during school inspections. No formal evaluation of accommodation is made using a quality indicator, but in cases where pupils' safety might be at risk, or where poor facilities are having a negative impact on pupils' learning experiences, this will be highlighted and discussed with the school and its local authority. Such issues may be highlighted in the letter to parents after the inspection, or in the detailed record of inspection findings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:57.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291659,"EventID":"S4W-19508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:58.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:11:24.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Glasgow Fastlink project and when it will be completed.","AnswerText":"Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is leading on the delivery of the Fastlink project.\r\nSPT has advised that construction on key sections of the route is well underway and this infrastructure is on schedule to be available for use in time for the Commonwealth Games.\r\nAfter the Commonwealth Games, work will continue to complete any remaining construction on the core scheme, including adding shelters, halts and other transit infrastructure, ahead of the opening of the new South Glasgow Hospitals in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:58.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291660,"EventID":"S4W-19509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:51:59.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:26:22.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans the organising committee has to include Gaelic as part of the cultural aspect of the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme includes 13 projects, confirmed to date, which have either Gaelic content or celebrate Gaelic culture. This translates into over 36 events, covering a variety of genres including theatre, song, dance and literature; taking place in a number of locations across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:51:59.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291661,"EventID":"S4W-19510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-30T16:52:00.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:28:08.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans the organising committee has to include Gaelic in the 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.","AnswerText":"Glasgow 2014 is committed to the meaningful incorporation of Gaelic language and culture within the opening ceremony. While it is too early to share specific detail, they are working with well-respected and internationally recognised talents to deliver a series of key moments that will complement the strong Gaelic strand within the Culture 2014 programme. Gaelic music and voices will be heard at multiple points throughout the opening ceremony and will be broadcast to a global TV audience of more than one billion people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:00.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291662,"EventID":"S4W-19505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:54.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T15:11:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought on whether standardised tobacco packaging could result in it paying compensation to manufacturers because of an impact on intellectual property rights.\r\n","AnswerText":"The tobacco industry has a history of challenging public health measures as it did, unsuccessfully, with the tobacco display ban. The Scottish Government is committed to achieving our vision of a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034. Scottish Ministers are clear that standardised packaging has a role in achieving this and on 28 January 2014 the Scottish Parliament agreed a Legislative Consent Motion allowing the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to legislate on tobacco packaging.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:55.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291663,"EventID":"S4W-19506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:56.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T15:11:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made on whether its proposed introduction of standardised tobacco packaging could impact on the UK's world trade obligations.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19505 on 25 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:56.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291664,"EventID":"S4W-19507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:56.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T15:11:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what submission it has made to the independent review of standardised packaging for tobacco, which is being carried out by Sir Cyril Chantler.\r\n","AnswerText":"Sir Cyril is undertaking a review of available evidence, it is not a consultation exercise. The strong evidence base for standardised packaging, as set out in the review by the Public Health Research Consortium and Stirling University, is publically available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:56.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291665,"EventID":"S4W-19511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:56.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:41:52.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how the proposals in the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill could impact on civil society in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has raised concerns with the UK Government over its Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, on a number of occasions. We have pressed the UK Government to ensure that the Bill does not hamper, restrict or lessen the valuable role that Scottish civic society plays in developing and discussing new policy and legislation.\r\nOn September 23 2013, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth wrote to Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform. The Scottish Government did not receive a response to that letter.\r\nOn January 15 2014, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth wrote to Greg Clark MP, Minister for Cities and Constitution.\r\nOn January 26, 2014, the Scottish Government received a response from the Minister for Cities and Constitution, outlining amendments to the Bill that are designed to address concerns raised. These include a review of the effects of Part 2 following the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election.\r\nThe Scottish Government will continue to monitor the impact of this Bill closely.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:56.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291666,"EventID":"S4W-19512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:57.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:51:15.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision; whether this is later than originally planned and, if so, for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"In accordance with plans, and in line with last year’s timetable, the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision, was laid and published on 6 February 2014 together with the supporting document.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:57.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291667,"EventID":"S4W-19513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:57.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T16:51:15.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision will be published in advance of the stage 3 debate on the 2014-15 Budget Bill and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19512 on 19 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:57.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291668,"EventID":"S4W-19515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:57.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T17:25:54.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18819 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 January 2014, what target date it has set for all court reporters on child welfare issues to be assessed in accordance with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for the Scottish Court Service (SCS) and I have asked the SCS to write to the member. However, reporters already appointed and/or engaged by the court prior to 28 February 2011 to undertake reporting work with children will have until 29 October 2015 to become members of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups cheme. They may continue to supply this service to the court during this period.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:57.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291669,"EventID":"S4W-19516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:58.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T17:49:10.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-11204 and S4W-19466 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2012 and 30 January 2014 respectively, in light of S4W-11204 stating that \"Ministers were supported by a team of 12 officials\" and S4W-19466 referring to \"the whole delegation of eighteen people\", whether it will provide a breakdown of the delegates who participated in the visit.\r\n","AnswerText":"The details of the Scottish Government’s visit to Chicago and Medinah were given in response to parliamentary question S4W-11204 and a breakdown of the total cost of £51,111.93 in a freedom of information request dated 24 January 2014:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/BusinessDirectorate/foireleased. The First Minister’s visit consisted of four days in Chicago which was largely business related and two days with the Team Scotland delegation at Medinah where the Ryder Cup was staged. The First Minister stayed for four nights in central Chicago and two nights at Medinah with the rest of Team Scotland and the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport. Visit Scotland has previously confirmed that during the Ryder Cup team Scotland stayed at the Renaissance Schaumburg.\r\nThe full Scottish Government delegation of eighteen comprised of the First Minister, accompanied by Mrs Salmond, the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, four ministerial private office staff, the Scottish Government’s Director of Business, Scotland’s Counsellor to the USA, the Second Secretary of Scottish Affairs, two communications officials, two visits and events officials and an official from the Sports Directorate. Scottish Development International were also represented by three staff members. Twelve of these officials provided direct Ministerial support.\r\nDetails of the First Minister’s programme and job announcements were previously published in November 2012. The Peninsula Hotel was the venue for meetings between the First Minister and key representatives of automotive company American Axle and several business announcements.\r\nThe Scottish Government did not provide any entertainment at the Peninsula.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:58.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291670,"EventID":"S4W-19517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:58.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:28:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cause is of any delay in allocating European funding for 2014 to 2020.","AnswerText":"There is no delay in allocating EU funding for 2014-20. \r\nThe regulations governing how these funds can be allocated and spent were laid in December 2013, and the Scottish Government expects to start structural funds programmes in early summer of 2014, with the rural development programme following in early 2015. This is in line with the other EU and UK nations, and the expectations of the commission.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:58.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291671,"EventID":"S4W-19518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:59.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:28:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will allocate European funding for 2014 to 2020.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been working with partners for more than two years to develop strategic projects, schemes or programmes which could be supported from EU structural funds in 2014-20. The formal allocation of funding to these strategic interventions can begin when the programmes launch in summer 2014.\r\nFunding for different interventions will start at different times, depending on the availability of match funding, the complexity of the proposal and the demand for a particular type of activity.\r\nThe programmes will have a mid-term review to determine whether the strategic interventions remain the best way to allocate the funding, and changes or further allocations may be made at this stage to ensure maximum uptake and impact of the funds.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:59.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291672,"EventID":"S4W-19519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:57:59.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:28:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a transition fund for European-funded projects to avoid redundancies or project closures due to any delay in allocating funds for 2014 to 2020.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects the 2014-20 structural funds programmes to launch in early summer 2014. The Scottish Government has extended a number of projects into 2014, in particular employability projects where the third sector has a significant delivery role, to minimise any potential funding gaps. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the situation and timescales closely to ensure that projects which will be expected to continue into the next programmes can continue to operate until the new programmes launch.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:57:59.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291673,"EventID":"S4W-19520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:00.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:59:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) prevalence and (b) severity is of female genital mutilation.","AnswerText":"(a) It has been estimated that 3,000 women and girls are at risk in Scotland. This figure for Scotland is a pro rata projection based on research by FORWARD in England and Wales in 2007.\r\nAccording to the 2001 Census data, there were 2,946 women between the ages of 0 -49 living in Scotland and born in one of the 29 countries in which female genital mutilation (FGM) is reported to be a traditional practice.\r\nWe will consider data from the 2011 Census which is scheduled for release in the first part of 2014, and that will allow a more-up to date prevalence estimate of FGM to be calculated. However initial data from the census shows that the number of people resident in Scotland who were born in Africa has more than doubled since the 2001 Census (from 22,049 to 46,742), and so the number of women and girls estimated to have undergone FGM is also likely to have increased.\r\nThat does not mean that all those women who were born in a country where FGM is prevalent have been abused in this way, only that they may be at risk.\r\n(b) FGM is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’. The Scottish Government does not hold any information on severity of such ‘procedures carried out.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:00.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291674,"EventID":"S4W-19521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:00.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:59:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what female genital mutilation clinics are available in each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"All fourteen Territorial NHS boards report that they do not have dedicated female genital mutilation (FGM) clinics. If women and children are identified as being victims of FGM, the NHS in Scotland will offer all available assistance to ensure positive health outcomes for the women and children affected.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:00.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291675,"EventID":"S4W-19522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:01.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:59:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what specialist services are available for women who have experienced female genital mutilation.","AnswerText":"Twelve of the fourteen Territorial NHS boards report that they do not offer dedicated specialist services for women who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). Of the boards that offer specialist services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have two clinical staff within Plastic Surgery based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary who provide defibulation (reconstruction/reversal) services for women who have undergone FGM. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also has a link midwife who specialises in supporting asylum seekers and refugees. This role helps ensure that the clinical and emotional needs of women who have undergone FGM are addressed during and following pregnancy, including supporting them to access defibulation services and educating and advising midwifery staff on best practice on FGM.\r\nNHS Lanarkshire have a specialist gender-based violence trauma service that works with women who have experienced FGM and other forms of violence against women. This includes specialist advocacy and therapeutic services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:01.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291676,"EventID":"S4W-19523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:02.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-30T22:59:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what community awareness raising and prevention work is undertaken with women from cultures that practice female genital mutilation.","AnswerText":"A number of methods are used to raise awareness and encourage the reporting of female genital mutilation (FGM) including engaging with individuals and minority ethnic women’s organisations such as Dignity Alert Research Forum (DARF), Saheliya and Shakti Women’s Aid, all of who provide services to women who come from communities affected by FGM.\r\nThe Government also works in partnership with health professionals, voluntary organisations, social services, education departments and the police to support victims, engage with communities for the prevention of FGM, and to share good practice and promote awareness across Scotland for the prevention of FGM.\r\nScottish Government is providing funding to the Scottish Refugee Council and the Women’s Support Project, to carry out a project to produce a baseline of information which will inform work to tackle female genital mutilation. We will be looking closely at all findings and recommendations from that report (due for publication September 2014) to ensure that what we are doing and what we are developing meets our shared objective of tackling FGM.\r\nFGM is addressed within the violence against women policy area and will be included in the Violence Against Women Strategy that is currently being developed and scheduled for publication summer 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:02.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291677,"EventID":"S4W-19524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:02.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:39:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since 2007 with (a) the UK Government and (b) others regarding unincorporated associations.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been in contact with both the UK Government and the Scottish Law Commission on this issue. The Scottish Government will continue to liaise with UK Government to ensure that any legislation concerning unincorporated associations is appropriate and meets the need of Scottish citizens.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:02.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291678,"EventID":"S4W-19525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:02.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:39:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the legal status of unincorporated associations is satisfactory.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) recommended in 2009 on their report on this matter that unincorporated associations, which satisfy certain statutory conditions should be accorded separate legal personality, as the current law is not satisfactory. The Scottish Government is supportive of the recommendations made in the SLC report, however implementation of those recommendations would be a matter for the UK Government to take forward. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government to ensure that action will be taken on this issue in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:02.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291679,"EventID":"S4W-19526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:03.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:39:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a member of an unincorporated association being unable to take legal action against the association.\r\n","AnswerText":"The law, as it stands, does not allow a member of an unincorporated association to take legal action against the association. The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) recommended that unincorporated associations, which satisfy certain statutory conditions, should be accorded separate legal personality, which could allow a member of an unincorporated association to take legal action against the association. The Scottish Government is supportive of the recommendations made by the SLC, any changes to the law however, would require legislation passed by the United Kingdom Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:03.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291680,"EventID":"S4W-19527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:03.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:39:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to change the legal status of unincorporated associations.","AnswerText":"The law concerning unincorporated associations is reserved to Westminster and any changes to the legal status of unincorporated associations would require legislation passed by the United Kingdom Parliament. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government, who remain committed to taking forward legislation on this issue in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:03.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291681,"EventID":"S4W-19528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:03.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:39:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered changing the legal status of unincorporated associations since 2007 and, if so, what action it took.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware of the issues resulting from the current legal framework on unincorporated associations and is grateful to the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) for their 2009 report on this matter which recommended that unincorporated associations, which satisfy certain statutory conditions, should be accorded separate legal personality. The Scottish Government is supportive of the recommendations made in the SLC Report; however implementation of those recommendations would be a matter for the UK Government to take forward. The UK Government consulted on the SLC proposals in April 2012. The consultation demonstrated wide support for the broad principles of the SLC’s proposals but identified that further consideration was required to ensure that there are no unintended consequences that would seriously and adversely affect the interests of either unincorporated associations or third parties dealing with them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:03.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291682,"EventID":"S4W-19529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:03.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:40:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people employed by the oil and gas sector live in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The oil and gas industry provides employment for 440,000 people across the whole of the UK, with 45% of the jobs based here in Scotland. Oil and Gas UK’s Demographic report, revised last year, states that off the majority of offshore workers, just over half, live in Scotland; 25% of the total workforce lives in the north-east of Scotland, with significant numbers living on the east coast and across the central belt.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:03.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291683,"EventID":"S4W-19530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:04.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:52:07.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland is advised of nuclear warhead convoys.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19533 on 24 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:04.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291684,"EventID":"S4W-19531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:04.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:52:07.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any dispensation to break speed limits by vehicles in nuclear warhead convoys has been granted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not granted a dispensation to break the speed limits which apply to vehicles travelling in nuclear warhead convoys. The policing of speed limits is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:04.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291685,"EventID":"S4W-19532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:04.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:52:07.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has been advised not to enforce road traffic legislation with regard to nuclear warhead convoys.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19533 on 24 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:04.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291686,"EventID":"S4W-19533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:05.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:52:07.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) its agencies have been involved in discussions about routes taken by nuclear warhead convoys.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not discuss the routes taken by nuclear warhead convoys with the Scottish Government. Police Scotland are the only agency in Scotland who are notified by the MoD in advance of any convoy being routed through their area, and their response to those is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Police Scotland may also advise the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service of any nuclear weapons convoy which could move into the vicinity of a fire service operation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:05.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291687,"EventID":"S4W-19534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:05.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T11:52:07.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed emergency planning arrangements relating to nuclear warhead convoys.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works with all relevant emergency responders to ensure arrangements are in place, and keeps its arrangements under continual review and refines these when lessons are identified following exercises or real emergencies.\r\nThe Scottish Government also liaises with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in updating and developing the publically available document, Local Authority and Emergency Services Information (LAESI). This document sets outs the arrangements for responding to accidents involving nuclear warhead convoys, and is reviewed on a regular basis. The latest edition (January 2013) is available at:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/82776/LAESI_9.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:05.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291688,"EventID":"S4W-19547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:05.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:31:51.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to establish a national equine database for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) of the European Commission is due to vote in March 2014 on the draft regulation for the identification of equidae, which stipulates that each member state must operate a central database of registered equines. Meanwhile discussions are ongoing with stakeholders regarding the prospect of a national equine database for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:05.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291689,"EventID":"S4W-19548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:06.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:31:51.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it conducts of the requirement for equine passport issuing organisations to maintain a searchable, computerised database.","AnswerText":"Whilst there is currently no formal monitoring of equine passport issuing organisations with regard to the maintenance of a searchable, computerised database the Scottish Government works closely with Scottish passport issuing organisations, and understands that five out of six operate databases. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:06.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291690,"EventID":"S4W-19549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T14:58:06.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:31:51.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to assess the possible impact in Scotland of proposed EU regulations on the provision of food information to consumers.","AnswerText":"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for general food labelling and nutrition labelling in Scotland. During the development of the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation, the FSA consulted on an impact assessment regarding the EU requirements.\r\nThe FSA also consulted on a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment to support the introduction of the Scottish legislation needed to enable local authorities to enforce the EU food labelling rules and to take up flexibilities allowed regarding minced meat and non-prepacked foods. The Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 are expected to be introduced in May 2014.\r\nIn addition to the full public consultations, FSA officials have engaged with representatives from food businesses, stakeholder organisations (including those representing consumers) and local authorities. Further engagement with interested parties will take place during 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:58:06.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291704,"EventID":"S4W-19550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T15:45:15.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:35:56.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many school pupils it estimates will appeal their exam results in 2014; how this compares with each of the last 10 years, and how it will ensure that this year’s pupils are treated fairly compared with previous cohorts in being able to access the results service systems to lodge appeals and in their outcomes.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the chief executive to write to you.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T15:45:15.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291705,"EventID":"S4W-19551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T15:45:15.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:35:56.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be of the SQA's (a) Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service and (b) Post Results Service for exam appeals charging for (i) clerical checks, (ii) marking reviews and (iii) priority marking reviews; how much it estimates the SQA will receive from each of these charges; who will pay the charges; how it will ensure that neither state nor private schools pass the charges onto pupils either directly or indirectly, and how it will ensure that they do not impact disproportionately on (A) pupils from poorer backgrounds and (B) schools with smaller budgets.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19550 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T15:45:15.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291706,"EventID":"S4W-19557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T15:45:15.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:35:56.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the SQA has replaced its appeals process at the same time that it is introducing a new system of exams.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19550 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T15:45:15.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291707,"EventID":"S4W-19559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T15:45:16.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:35:56.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason school pupils using the results service systems to appeal their exam results will no longer be allowed to offer alternative evidence to support their appeals.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19550 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T15:45:16.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291708,"EventID":"S4W-19560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-01-31T15:45:16.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T13:39:44.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the SQA's results service systems have been introduced to reduce the number of appeals.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19550 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T15:45:16.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291711,"EventID":"S4F-01869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:00.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T10:52:32.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:00.497","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291712,"EventID":"S4F-01870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:01.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T14:03:05.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:01.123","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291713,"EventID":"S4F-01873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:02.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T10:23:15.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:02.2","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291714,"EventID":"S4F-01875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:03.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T11:20:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to reduce child poverty.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:03.197","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291715,"EventID":"S4F-01876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:03.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T11:23:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what representations the Scottish Government is making to the UK Government regarding its legal ability to provide extra financial assistance to those affected by the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:03.523","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291716,"EventID":"S4F-01878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:04.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T11:49:49.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps beyond minimum pricing the Scottish Government will take to tackle alcohol misuse.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:04.18","MeetingDate":"2014-02-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291717,"EventID":"S4T-00593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T12:31:19.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T11:28:33.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of figures from the SQA that suggest a reduction in the numbers enrolling for national exams, what action it is taking to ensure access to courses.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:31:19.067","MeetingDate":"2014-02-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291718,"EventID":"S4W-19561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-03T14:20:21.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-01-31T16:58:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all men aged 50 and over have a right to a free prostate-specific antigen test from the NHS provided they have first been given sufficient information on the pros and cons to enable them to make an informed choice about taking the test.","AnswerText":"We fully expect GPs to discuss prostate cancer with people who are at risk and recommend Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing where appropriate.\r\nGuidance in the form of a Prostate Cancer Risk Management Pack which supports the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme was issued to NHS boards (urologists, histopathologists, PSA testing laboratories) and all general practitioners in Scotland. \r\nThe programme provides guidance to medical practitioners on the situations in which it is suitable to offer PSA testing, the information and guidance that should be provided to patients before PSA testing is undertaken, and the support that may be required by men as they deal with the consequences of the PSA test and any resulting diagnosis.\r\nDetails of the programme and copies of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Pack can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/publications\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:20:21.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291743,"EventID":"S4W-19562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:48.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, for what reasons it was unable to provide a list of stakeholders that it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular engagement with media stakeholders in developing policy, at both ministerial and official level. It is not the Scottish Government’s practice routinely to publish records of such meetings with stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:48.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291744,"EventID":"S4W-19563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:49.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, for what reasons the answer did not refer to discussions it has had with representatives of Channel 4 and Channel 5.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19562 on 4 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:49.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291745,"EventID":"S4W-19564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:49.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, what record it holds of stakeholders that it consulted on establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of its white paper and whether it will publish this.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19562 on 4 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:49.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291746,"EventID":"S4W-19565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:50.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, which meetings with stakeholders whom it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of its white paper were attended by ministers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular engagement with media stakeholders in developing policy, at both ministerial and official level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:50.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291747,"EventID":"S4W-19566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:51.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether ministers have been advised of the outcomes of each consultation meeting with stakeholders that they did not attend on the establishment of a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are advised as appropriate of officials’ contacts with stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:51.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291748,"EventID":"S4W-19567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:51.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether it will publish the names of BBC representatives whom it consulted on broadcasting policy prior to the publication of its white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular contact with the BBC on broadcasting policy, including with its director general, Lord Hall of Birkenhead and with the director, BBC Scotland, Ken MacQuarrie.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:51.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291749,"EventID":"S4W-19568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:52.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether it consulted Channel 4 on the continuation of commercial broadcast licences in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is longstanding Scottish Government policy that commercial broadcast licences should be continued in an independent Scotland, as set out, for example, by the First Minister in his speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on 24 August 2012, the text of which may be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Speeches/ed-international-television-festival. As this policy preserves the status quo there is no cause for consultation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:52.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291750,"EventID":"S4W-19569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:53.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014,  on what occasions in the last 12 months ministers have reported to the Parliament on their engagement with broadcasters on the formation of policy on the establishment of a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I will be giving evidence to the Culture and Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 22 April 2014 for its inquiry into Scotland’s potential educational and cultural future following the independence referendum on 18 September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:53.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291751,"EventID":"S4W-19570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:53.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T14:35:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether ministers have been updated on dialogue between officials and representatives of broadcasters consulted on proposals for a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland in the last six months.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are advised as appropriate of officials’ contacts with stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:53.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291752,"EventID":"S4W-19571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:54.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the formation of a joint control room for police and fire and rescue services in Dumfries and Galloway.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. However, I am aware that Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have held discussions relating to joint control rooms over the last few months. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:54.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291753,"EventID":"S4W-19572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:55.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority consulted on the closure of the Dumfries police control room.","AnswerText":"The decision to close the police control room in Dumfries is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. I am however aware that consultation and liaison with staff affected will be undertaken at each phase of the closure plan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:55.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291754,"EventID":"S4W-19573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:56.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service consulted on the closure of the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"The closure of the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:56.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291755,"EventID":"S4W-19574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:57.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the duties of (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Scottish Police Authority and (c) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are regarding participating in community planning in Dumfries and Galloway.","AnswerText":"Section 17 (2) (f) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 places a duty on the Chief Constable to designate local commanders and ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for the policing of each local authority area.\r\nSection 46 of the Act sets out the Chief Constable’s duty to participate in community planning, including that this duty must be delegated in each local authority areas to the local commander for that area.\r\nSection 41J(2)(b) of the Act sets out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) responsibility to designate a local senior officer for each local authority area to carry out the delegated functions of the SFRS including participation in community planning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:57.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291756,"EventID":"S4W-19576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:58.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government to whom the (a) the Chief Constable, (b) Scottish Police Authority Board and (c) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board is accountable.","AnswerText":"The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 Act sets out clear roles and responsibilities for the Scottish Police Authority, the Chief Constable of Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board, including who they are responsible to.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:58.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291757,"EventID":"S4W-19578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:59.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the redeployment opportunities are in Dumfries and Galloway for firefighters employed in the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"Redeployment of staff displaced as a result of the restructuring of the single service is an operational matter for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:59.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291758,"EventID":"S4W-19579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:02:59.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether firefighters employed in the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre who relocate to the control room in Johnstone will receive (a) travel and (b) accommodation expenses and, if so, for how long.\r\n","AnswerText":"Employees relocating to other locations within the organisation is an operational matter for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:02:59.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291759,"EventID":"S4W-19580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:03:00.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-03T15:59:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether staff employed in the Dumfries police control room who relocate to the control room in Govan will receive (a) travel and (b) accommodation expenses and, if so, for how long.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. However, I understand that all staff will be offered the option of alternative posts, re-training or offered the option to apply for voluntary release/early retirement, there will be no compulsory redundancies. I am also aware that Police Scotland will consult and liaise with all staff affected ahead of the proposed closures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:03:00.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291760,"EventID":"S4W-19581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:03:01.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T11:10:07.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on its energy strategy of a further delay in the implementation of Project TransmiT and when it expects the project to be completed.","AnswerText":"Project TransmiT, on-going since 2010, has been a long and exhaustive review of the existing charging regime that is applied to electricity generators for use of the transmission system. It is a regime that discriminates against Scottish generators and is acting as a barrier to our transition to a low carbon economy. This is illustrated by the fact that, for example, Luichart Hydro near Dingwall pays around 10 times more per unit of installed generating capacity than Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk.\r\nThe recent announcement by Ofgem that the conclusion of TransmiT would be delayed even further is causing continued uncertainty for the industry. It also means that Scottish generators will face at least one more year of discriminatory charges.\r\nScottish Ministers have repeatedly called on Ofgem to deliver a timely solution from this lengthy and robust process. Whilst the final set of proposals fall short of removing discriminatory charges and finding a solution for future island and high voltage direct current cable network upgrades, they are an improvement to the current regime and have been forecast to offer long-term consumer benefits. A final decision is now expected in March 2014, with any changes not likely to take effect until April 2015 at the earliest. \r\nWe are especially concerned that even higher transmission charges will create, for marine energy generators in the Western and Northern Isles, an unfair and potentially critical additional hurdle to the progress of wave and tidal energy on these islands.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:03:01.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291761,"EventID":"S4W-19583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T14:03:02.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T12:17:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of flytipping have been reported to procurators fiscal in each year since 1999, and how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were.\r\n","AnswerText":"Fly-tipping is covered by section 33(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which makes it an offence to deposit “controlled waste” unless the deposit is authorised by a waste management licence. The following table contains the information requested in relation to that offence: \r\n \r\nYear\r\nCharges reported\r\nTo Procurator Fiscal\r\nCharges dealt with by Direct\r\nMeasures\r\nProsecutions *\r\n(where main charge)\r\nSource: Scottish\r\nGovernment\r\n(Charges reported to COPFS prosecuted in court in brackets\r\nSource: COPFS)\r\n \r\nConvictions *\r\n(where main charge)\r\n \r\nSource: Scottish Government\r\n2002-03\r\n26\r\n13\r\n(9) 3\r\n3\r\n2003-04\r\n9\r\n2\r\n(5) 8\r\n8\r\n2004-05\r\n39\r\n7\r\n(29) 6\r\n6\r\n2005-06\r\n128\r\n33\r\n(73) 20\r\n16\r\n2006-07\r\n112\r\n17\r\n(45) 14\r\n10\r\n2007-08\r\n101\r\n24\r\n(40) 21\r\n19\r\n2008-09\r\n111\r\n24\r\n(45) 8\r\n8\r\n2009-10\r\n113\r\n17\r\n(48) 15\r\n9\r\n2010-11\r\n198\r\n94\r\n(36) 9\r\n7\r\n2011-12\r\n253\r\n77\r\n(9) 5\r\n4\r\n2012-13\r\n277\r\n60\r\n(16) 3\r\n2\r\n* Based on people at date of disposal\r\nNotes:\r\n1. COPFS does not hold complete statistical data prior to the year 2002-03 and therefore cannot provide data for the years 1999-00 and 2000-01. COPFS records the number of individual charges reported to it, not the numbers of cases containing a particular type of crime. A reported case can contain multiple charges of the same type against one or more offenders\r\n2. Instances of fly-tipping can also be prosecuted under sections 33(1)(b) and 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, other types of criminal act are also prosecuted under these sections. Accordingly, statistics in relation to these offences do not exclusively relate to fly-tipping and cannot be provided as part of this Written Answer.\r\n3. In the majority of cases where no action was taken it was because there was insufficient admissible evidence in law to raise criminal proceedings.\r\n4. Figures for prosecutions and convictions which are based on people at date of disposal come from the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T14:03:02.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291762,"EventID":"S4W-19585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:06.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T13:27:22.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government from what date it will be able to implement areas of natural constraint.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Rural Development Regulation (RDR) requires the new Areas Facing Natural Constraint (ANC) designation to be in place from 2018. To inform negotiations on the RDRs we undertook some initial analysis and mapping through the stakeholder ANC working group. More information can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP/SRDP20142012/SRDP201420AreasofNaturalConstraints \r\nHowever, further work is required to complete the designation, including the requirement for fine tuning, in line with the final regulations. We will work with stakeholders to consider the options for the ANC designation to agree the most favourable scenario for Scotland. This will be part of a wider review in 2015 of the current support to Less Favoured Areas (LFA).\r\nOur intention, subject to the results of the recent consultation exercise on the new Scotland’s Rural Development Programme, is to leave the existing LFA designation and Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme(LFASS) in place until the move to ANC is implemented.\r\nThe specific issues around LFA support and the move to ANC will be considered in a separate public consultation once the details are known.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:07.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291763,"EventID":"S4W-19586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:07.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T15:31:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what remuneration the principal of each university receives and what the mechanism is for agreeing such remuneration.\r\n","AnswerText":"As autonomous institutions, the salary levels of principals and other senior staff are a matter for each university’s governing body and remuneration committee.\r\nThe Scottish Government expects university Principals and senior management to refer to the recommendations set out in the Von Prondzynski review in respect of remuneration:\r\nfurther percentage increases beyond those awarded to staff in general should not take place until existing processes have been reviewed and, if appropriate, amended;\r\nin the light of the wider public debate about executive pay and bonuses, universities ensure that any payments that may be perceived as bonuses are either abolished or at least transparently awarded and brought into line with the scale of 'contribution payments' available to on-scale staff;\r\nremuneration committees should include staff and student members and the work of the committee should be transparent, and in particular, the basis upon which pay is calculated should be published.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:07.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291764,"EventID":"S4W-19589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:07.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T15:31:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its recommendations in response to the Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland.","AnswerText":"In an announcement to Parliament on 28 June 2012, we broadly accepted the recommendations in the report and advised that they would be taken forward by engaging key sector stakeholders as implementing partners; engaging the sector itself in implementing recommendations by agreement; and employing legislation where necessary.\r\nThe Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance, developed by the Committee of Scottish University Chairs, covers a number of the recommendations in the review and was published in July 2013. In addition, we are currently considering the focus and timing of new legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:07.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291765,"EventID":"S4W-19590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:08.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T15:31:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in considering its response to the Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland, it will take into consideration the mechanism for deciding the remuneration of university principals.","AnswerText":"As autonomous institutions, the salary levels of principals and other senior staff are a matter for each university’s governing body and remuneration committee. The Scottish Government expect university principals and senior management to refer to the proposals set out in the Von Prondzynski Review of Higher Education Governance when reviewing pay.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:08.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291766,"EventID":"S4W-19591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:08.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T15:54:39.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in West Scotland (a) received and (b) were refused NHS continuing healthcare in 2012-13, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not hold information to the level of detail requested centrally.\r\nAn annual census of the number of people receiving NHS continuing healthcare is carried out by Information Services Division on an annual basis. This census provides a snapshot of the number of people eligible for NHS continuing healthcare on the census date, broken down by health board.\r\nIt can be accessed at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/index.asp#676.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:08.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291767,"EventID":"S4W-19593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-04T17:15:08.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T15:54:39.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for people with Parkinson’s.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want to ensure that people living with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease, including their families, have access to the best possible care and support.\r\nWe are currently supporting the National Neurological Advisory Group in raising the profile of all neurological conditions within the NHS, the third sector and with the public. Parkinson’s UK (Scotland) are represented on this group.\r\nThe National Neurological Advisory Groups aim is to drive forward the implementation of the neurological standards. The standards aim to improve the patient journey from the point of referral into the service and ensure that every patient with neurological condition experiences a quality of care that gives confidence to the patient, clinician and carer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T17:15:08.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291783,"EventID":"S4W-19594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:17.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T17:04:17.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions ministers or officials have had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer or Treasury officials on (a) new taxes and (b) devolution of taxes under provisions contained in the Scotland Act 2012 since that act came into force.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers and officials regularly meet with their counterparts from the UK Treasury to promote the steps we are taking with our limited powers to deliver a more prosperous and fairer Scotland.\r\nI will be engaging with UK Ministers in relation to the Scotland Act 2012 at the next meeting of the Joint Exchequer Committee in the coming months.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:18.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291784,"EventID":"S4W-19595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:18.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T17:37:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many young people participated in activities provided through the CashBack for Communities programme in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.\r\n","AnswerText":"Figures showing the number of young people who have taken advantage of opportunities presented by CashBack funding and been involved in activities and events since 2008 can be found at\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00430163.xlsx \r\nCashBack partners can work with many of the same young people year after year so the total of the yearly figures does not represent the number of individual young people who have been involved with CashBack.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:18.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291785,"EventID":"S4W-19596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:19.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T17:37:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many young people who participated in activities provided through the CashBack for Communities programme in 2008-09 also participated in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19595 on 4 March 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nCashBack partners can work with many of the same young people year after year so the total of the yearly activity figures does not represent the number of individual young people who have been involved with CashBack.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:19.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291786,"EventID":"S4W-19597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:19.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-04T18:01:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made toward the reopening of Kintore railway station.\r\n","AnswerText":"As specified in the Scottish Government's High Level Output Specification (HLOS) in 2012, Kintore Station forms part of phase one of the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project.\r\nDelivery of phase one is anticipated to begin in 2016 and will be completed by 2019. Kintore Station will only be able to operate after completion of the necessary substantial track and signalling enhancements between Aberdeen and Inverurie. Network Rail will work with promoters on the development of the station and construction timescales and to secure third-party funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:19.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291787,"EventID":"S4W-19598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:19.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed three-yearly peer review of GP practices will be undertaken by Health Improvement Scotland in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners and whether they will be (a) in addition to or (b) amalgamated with the accreditation for training of practices.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is pleased to have reached an agreement with the Scottish General Practitioner’s Committee (SGPC) for delivery of General Medical Services in Scotland in 2014-15, within a framework of an even more Scottish contract which builds on what we agreed for this year.\r\nAs part of the agreement, GP practices will participate in a quality improvement programme, producing an annual report and participating in a three yearly peer review visit, based on a primary care data set review at GP practice level.\r\nThis is being developed and reviewed in conjunction with SGPC and will be delivered in partnership with NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:19.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291788,"EventID":"S4W-19600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:20.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed three-yearly peer review of GP practices will include a patient representative.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is pleased to have reached an agreement with the Scottish General Practitioner’s Committee (SGPC) for delivery of General Medical Services in Scotland in 2014-15, within a framework of an even more Scottish contract which builds on what we agreed for this year.\r\nAs part of the agreement, GP practices will participate in a quality improvement programme, producing an annual report and participating in a three yearly peer review visit, based on a primary care data set review at GP practice level. Also there will be a process for practices to review their access and consider improvements. This is being developed and reviewed in conjunction with SGPC and will be delivered in partnership with NHS boards. There are no current plans to include patient representation within the three yearly peer review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:20.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291789,"EventID":"S4W-19601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:20.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in negotiating changes to the General Medical Services contract, what steps it has taken to strengthen patient involvement.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has an on-going commitment to Primary Medical Services and we have successfully reached a negotiated settlement with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee (SGPC) for the General Medical Services Contract in Scotland for 2014-15 that, along with delivering a commitment to continuous quality improvement in each GP practice, will have real benefits for patients.\r\nThis is an agreement which demonstrates the Scottish Government’s confidence in the general practice profession, removing bureaucracy and freeing up more GP time to spend on face to face patient care. The review of access in particular, to be carried out on an annual basis, will address one of the biggest concerns held by patients, and ensure that practices regularly assess all aspects of access to their practice, thereby maximising access to all of the elements of practice care.\r\nFollowing the assessment, GP practices will produce a ‘Patient Access Action Report’ for the purposes of discussion and review which will be submitted to NHS boards and GP practices will be encouraged to involve patients in this process and share the contents of these reports in a way which is appropriate and reasonable for GP practices and understandable by patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:20.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291790,"EventID":"S4W-19602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:21.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which practices will (a) gain and (b) lose funding as a result of the removal of 264 Quality and Outcomes Framework points.\r\n","AnswerText":"The General Medical Services Contract 2014-15, will bring a 30% reduction in the size of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), with a range of services and funding transferred to the core contract.\r\nWhat this means for GP practices is greater stability of funding, because the funding associated with these QOF points becomes part of their core funding, shared by way of an agreed formula, instead of having to be ‘earned’ through box ticking.\r\nThis enables practices to plan ahead and manage their income streams on a longer term basis, as well as the reduced time spent on bureaucracy. It also demonstrates a high level of trust that the profession of general practice will continue to deliver the highest quality of patient care.\r\nAs agreed with Scottish General Practitioners Committee, all GP practices will receive the funding based on an average of their achievement over the last three years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:21.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291791,"EventID":"S4W-19603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:21.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in amending the frequency of review of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, it will guarantee not to introduce new measures until appropriate software is available.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the issues with IT for GP practices, and are proposing a period of greater stability and allowing time for the 2013-14 changes to embed and deliver the expected patient and service benefits. In addition we are working with our GP IT suppliers to ensure that as the GP contract develops in the future, that the IT infrastructure supports this more effectively.\r\nIn the meantime we continue to work with the Practitioner Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland to ensure the necessary requirements are in place as early as possible within the contract year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:21.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291792,"EventID":"S4W-19604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:22.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it will make available to GP practices to meet any new administrative requirements of (a) an annual assessment of patient access, (b) the annual report and (c) the three-yearly peer review.","AnswerText":"The access review and quality improvement work is part of the Quality Outcomes Framework. As agreed with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee, the funding is freed up from GP practices no longer undertaking the existing programme of reviewing referrals and admissions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:22.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291793,"EventID":"S4W-19605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:22.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:54:58.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in publishing the earnings of GPs, it will ensure transparency regarding any gender inequality.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and the Scottish General Practitioners Committee have agreed to work together, to develop proposals on how the publication of GP NHS net earnings relating to the contract should be implemented for 2015-16 (i.e. publication using the latest available data).\r\nOne of the issues for consideration will be whether publication of GP net earnings can take place on a like for like basis with other healthcare professionals. Publication of this information will be a contractual requirement (in line with arrangements for others in the NHS). Publication will be on a national basis, and would have in mind the privacy of individuals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:22.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291794,"EventID":"S4W-19606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:23.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many doctors from other branches of the medical profession have applied for GP training in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Recruitment to GP training is co-ordinated on a UK-wide basis by the GP National Recruitment Office to a nationally recognised selection criterion, and has been operating since 2006. After successful selection, applicants will be matched in rank order to their highest available preferred Deanery for the next stage of assessment and, if successful, it will be the Deanery that will make them an offer.\r\nNHS Education for Scotland(NES) is the Deanery for Scotland, and the information in the following table has been provided by them.\r\nCategory\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\n1\r\n222\r\n269\r\n332\r\n299\r\n280\r\n2\r\n139\r\n148\r\n171\r\n116\r\n92\r\n3\r\n56\r\n147\r\n239\r\n157\r\n178\r\nTotal\r\n417\r\n564\r\n742\r\n572\r\n550\r\nCategory 1: candidates on Foundation Programme at application stage.\r\nCategory 2: candidates who submitted a Foundation Achievement of Competence Document as evidence of foundation competence. These will have completed a foundation programme in the previous three years and may be applying from another specialty and wish to change career or may have taken time out to work abroad.\r\nCategory 3: candidates who submitted an alternative certificate as evidence of foundation competence. These will have been more than three years beyond a Foundation programme and likely established in another specialty, or be overseas doctors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:23.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291795,"EventID":"S4W-19607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:23.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs are employed on a (a) full- and (b) part-time basis, also broken down by those working (i) in partnerships and (ii) on a sessional-only basis, and whether it will publish this information annually.\r\n","AnswerText":"Most general practices in Scotland are independent contractors and they are not obliged to report whether their individual GP(s) work(s) full time or part time.\r\nThe Primary Care Workforce Survey 2013, a survey of Scottish general practices and GP Out of Hours Services , published on 24 September 2013, provides a ‘snapshot’ of GPs, their designation, gender, age group, total weekly sessional commitment and an indication of whether they combined their ‘In Hours’ responsibilities with any work during the Out of Hours period. \r\nThe survey is not based on all GPs in general practice, only those working in practices that responded to the survey (approximately 63% of practices responded in 2013). We are reliant on practices assisting us by completing the survey in order to help us collect comprehensive information.The ‘full time’ or ‘part time status is only in respect of the GPs’ commitments during the in-hours period and as at 31 January 2013, just over half (50.6%) of GPs in post had full time commitments during the in-hours period (where “full time” was defined as a commitment of eight or more sessions per week). Any additional commitments during the Out of Hours period is not captured in these figures. Further information is available in the Official Statistics report and accompanying Excel tables published by the Information Services Division (ISD) of National Services Scotland at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/General-Practice/Workforce-and-Practice-Populations/Workforce/primary-care-workforce-survey-2013.asp. This includes a breakdown of sessional commitments amongst GP partners as compared with other GP designations. The Workforce Survey Advisory Group (WSAG) report on the survey: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/10/9584 included a recommendation to repeat the survey every two years, with the next one proposed for late summer/early autumn 2015. The official response to the WSAG report can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/8695\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:23.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291796,"EventID":"S4W-19608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:23.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs aged over 55 will retire as a result of the new pension arrangements and what the impact of this will be.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that the number of GPs aged over 55 in the workforce has increased.\r\nPensions are a reserved matter. Whilst, for most individuals, early retirement is a life choice based on their personal and financial circumstances, NHS boards have a duty to plan and deliver appropriate health services for their communities and workforce. The potential for retirements from the general practice profession is one of the elements that is taken into account in planning for the future delivery of primary medical services. However, a number of GPs who take early retirement also choose to come back and do locum work part time, so are not necessarily completely lost to general practice.\r\nThe 2013 GP Workforce Survey was published on 24 September 2013 and can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/General-Practice/Workforce-and-Practice-Populations/Workforce/primary-care-workforce-survey-2013.asp\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:23.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291797,"EventID":"S4W-19609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:24.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any shift in the balance of care is matched by a shift in the proportion of funding spend in primary care.\r\n","AnswerText":"The demands placed  upon health and social care services, and the circumstances under which they will be need to be delivered will be radically different, bringing new challenges for everyone in the health and social care environment.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s 20:20 vision for health and social care, puts primary care firmly at the heart of its ambition to ensure that people are able to live longer and healthier lives.\r\nAs part of the local delivery planning process, health boards have been asked to provide strategic assessments of primary care. As these assessments develop over the coming years we expect health boards to ensure that resources are in place to properly deliver health services in their area which will deliver the 20:20 vision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:24.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291798,"EventID":"S4W-19610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:24.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what models of vehicles are used for official government transport.\r\n","AnswerText":"The makes and models of all pool and ministerial vehicles used in the Scottish Government fleet are listed in the following table:\r\nMake\r\nModel\r\nBMW\r\n520D\r\nCitroen\r\nBerlingo\r\nCitroen\r\nRelay\r\nFord\r\nFocus\r\nFord\r\nRanger\r\nFord\r\nTourneo\r\nFord\r\nTransit\r\nFord\r\nTransit connect\r\nHonda \r\nCivic\r\nIveco\r\nEurocargo\r\nLand rover\r\nDefender\r\nLand rover\r\nDiscovery Commercial\r\nLexus\r\nGS 450h\r\nLexus\r\nRX 450h\r\nMercedes\r\nAxor\r\nMitsubishi\r\nL200\r\nMitsubishi\r\nShogun\r\nNissan\r\nLeaf\r\nNissan \r\nNavara\r\nNissan\r\nNV200\r\nNissan\r\nXtrail\r\nPeugeot\r\n508 RXH\r\nPeugeot\r\ne-Monarch\r\nPeugeot\r\ne-Expert\r\nSkoda\r\nFabia\r\nSkoda\r\nOctavia\r\nSkoda\r\nSuperb\r\nToyota\r\nHilux\r\nToyota\r\nPrius\r\nVauxhall\r\nAstra\r\nVauxhall\r\nCombo\r\nVauxhall\r\nCorsa\r\nVauxhall\r\nVectra\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:24.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291799,"EventID":"S4W-19611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:24.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:56:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which medical directors responded to the letter on the prevention and management of venous thromboembolism by the Chief Medical Officer's deadline of 17 January 2014, and which did not.\r\n","AnswerText":"Responses were received from NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and NHS Highland within the original deadline.\r\nThe matter has been followed up with the Boards that have not yet responded. In Board areas more than 200 clinical areas are implicated in the exercise, so it will inevitably take some time to firstly process the relevant data to confirm that the venous thromboembolism materials have been adopted in all areas, and secondly to have responses approved by the appropriate management committees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:24.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291800,"EventID":"S4W-19617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:25.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T12:06:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bids there have been for air quality management funding in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following table. Three air quality funding schemes currently operate, local air quality management (introduced in 1998), vehicle emissions testing (introduced in 2003) and vehicle emissions reduction/air quality action plan support (introduced in 2009). Not all local authorities apply for funding in a given financial year:\r\n\r\nLocal Air Quality Management\r\nVehicle Emissions Testing\r\nVehicle Emissions Reduction/Air Quality Action Planning\r\n1999-00\r\n8\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2000-01\r\n9\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2001-02\r\n5\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2002-03\r\n12\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2003-04\r\n13\r\n3\r\n-\r\n2004-05\r\n16\r\n3\r\n-\r\n2005-06\r\n17\r\n7\r\n-\r\n2006-07\r\n16\r\n6\r\n-\r\n2007-08\r\n24\r\n10\r\n-\r\n2008-09\r\n14\r\n8\r\n-\r\n2009-10\r\n14\r\n8\r\n8\r\n2010-11\r\n16\r\n8\r\n8\r\n2011-12\r\n17\r\n9\r\n9\r\n2012-13\r\n16\r\n8\r\n10\r\n2013-14\r\n18\r\n7\r\n11\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:25.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291801,"EventID":"S4W-19618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T13:44:25.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T12:06:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much air quality management funding each local authority has received in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following tables. Allocations are based on an application process, rather than being made automatically. Three air quality funding schemes currently operate, local air quality management (introduced in 1998), vehicle emissions testing (introduced in 2003) and vehicle emissions reduction/air quality action plan support (introduced in 2009). Not all local authorities apply for funding in a given financial year.\r\nFrom 2008-09 all local authorities have also received a direct non ring fenced allocation for air quality work. This is a consequence of the Concordat signed by Scottish Ministers and the COSLA presidential team in November 2007, which rolled up a number of specific capital grants into a single General Capital Grant. The air quality allocation is based on funding provided over the previous five years. Following this agreement, the Local Air Quality Management fund is only available to those local authorities with existing or potential air quality management areas, routine air quality work is expected to be fund from the direct allocation.\r\nLocal air quality management: \r\nLocal authority\r\n1999-00 (£)\r\n2000-01 (£)\r\n2001-02 (£)\r\n2002-03 (£)\r\n2003-04 (£)\r\nAberdeen\r\n29,500.00\r\n9,000.00\r\n11,000.00\r\n0\r\n55,000.00\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nAngus\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4,000.00\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2,000.00\r\n10,000.00\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n39,800.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4,000.00\r\n0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n\r\n\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDundee\r\n57,000.00\r\n32,000.00\r\n50,000.00\r\n43,000.00\r\n40,000.00\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n23,000.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n28,000.00\r\nEilean Siar\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Lothian\r\n0\r\n5,000.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n15,000.00\r\n\r\nEdinburgh\r\n0\r\n0\r\n87,000.00\r\n100,000.00\r\n20,000.00\r\nFalkirk\r\n231,000.00\r\n51,000.00\r\n45,000.00\r\n23,000.00\r\n11,000.00\r\nFife\r\n0\r\n32,000.00\r\n0\r\n10,000.00\r\n0\r\nGlasgow\r\n43,000.00\r\n63,000.00\r\n85,000.00\r\n52,000.00\r\n30,000.00\r\nHighland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nInverclyde\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nMidlothian\r\n0\r\n26,000.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nMoray\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n54,700.00\r\n36,000.00\r\n0\r\n23,000.00\r\n10,000.00\r\nOrkney\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n40,000.00\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n22,000.00\r\n36,000.00\r\n0\r\n23,000.00\r\n12,000.00\r\nScottish Borders\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5,000.00\r\n14,000.00\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nStirling\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3,000.00\r\n0\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n15,000.00\r\nWest Lothian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n\r\nLocal Air Quality Management: \r\nLocal authority\r\n2004-05 (£)\r\n2005-06 (£)\r\n2006-07 (£)\r\n2007-08 (£)\r\n2008-09 (£)\r\nAberdeen\r\n2,250.00\r\n72,000.00\r\n39,200.00\r\n50,000.00\r\n77,800.00\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nAngus\r\n21,700.00\r\n15,000.00\r\n15,000.00\r\n22,000.00\r\n0\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n0\r\n0\r\n22,922.00\r\n6,500.00\r\n0\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4,986.00\r\nDundee\r\n39,690.00\r\n118,000.00\r\n110,403.34\r\n19,200.00\r\n0\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n10,682.00\r\n0\r\n30,000.00\r\n44,636.47\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n13,807.00\r\n53,365.20\r\n94,143.00\r\n30,450.00\r\n35,610.00\r\nEilean Siar\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Lothian\r\n2,000.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n10,468.00\r\n0\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n25,000.00\r\n0\r\n5,350.00\r\n12,225.00\r\n4,000.00\r\nEdinburgh\r\n84,850.00\r\n37,000.00\r\n28,214.71\r\n35,000.00\r\n30,000.00\r\nFalkirk\r\n44,358.00\r\n37,000.00\r\n24,000.00\r\n17,500.00\r\n7,500.00\r\nFife\r\n0\r\n43,000.00\r\n23,128.00\r\n60,000.00\r\n89,600.00\r\nGlasgow\r\n72,161.00\r\n58,000.00\r\n104,000.00\r\n0\r\n55,000.00\r\nHighland\r\n34,530.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n17,655.00\r\n0\r\nInverclyde\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n11,412.00\r\n0\r\nMidlothian\r\n0\r\n26,000.00\r\n10,105.00\r\n0\r\n26,013.00\r\nMoray\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n11,700.00\r\n42,650.00\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n17,500.00\r\n58,000.00\r\n56,000.00\r\n67,000.00\r\n55,000.00\r\nOrkney\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n75,000.00\r\n83,000.00\r\n81,222.00\r\n44,722.00\r\n41,500.00\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n0\r\n9,000.00\r\n27,993.00\r\n51,500.00\r\n25,000.00\r\nScottish Borders\r\n31,500.00\r\n0\r\n0\r\n21,930.00\r\n0\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n30,000.00\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n11,730.00\r\n15,0","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:44:25.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291810,"EventID":"S4W-19612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:15.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:57:13.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, for what reason the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland has a different hygiene rating system to the FSA in England and Wales.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) was initially piloted in November 2006 by five Scottish authorities. Following consultation in 2008 on a food hygiene scheme to cover the whole of the UK, local authorities and other stakeholders in Scotland indicated a strong preference for the FHIS. Later in 2008 the Food Standards Agency board considered the strength of feeling highlighted in the consultation and decided that the FHIS should be continued in Scotland and a new six-tier scheme should be developed for the other nations reflecting stakeholder views.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:16.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291811,"EventID":"S4W-19613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:17.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:57:13.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Food Standards Agency in Scotland website displays only two hygiene ratings.","AnswerText":"The Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) is in operation in Scotland only. It is a two-tier scheme and this is why two hygiene ratings are displayed on the website.\r\nFHIS was rolled-out in Scotland by the Food Standards Agency FSA) in partnership with local authorities following a two-year pilot (2006-2008) and a UK-wide public consultation which took place in 2008. The consultation showed a strong preference by Scottish stakeholders for this scheme rather than a multi-tier scheme which is in place elsewhere. Both schemes allow consumers to make informed choices about food purchases and are available on a single platform that allows consumers to search for information published anywhere in the UK.\r\nFollowing inspection by a local authority enforcement officer each food business in the local authority area, is given a FHIS outcome either a ‘Pass’ or an ‘Improvement Required’. These outcomes show how closely the business is meeting the requirements of food hygiene law. \r\n'Pass' – means that the business has achieved an acceptable level of compliance with the requirements of food hygiene law. \r\n'Improvement Required' – means that the business has not achieved an acceptable level of compliance with the requirements of food hygiene law. The enforcement officer will explain to the person who owns or manages the business what improvements are needed and how they can meet legal requirements.\r\nOn an occasion where a new food business is registered with their local authority but not yet inspected. On the FSA website an ‘Awaiting Inspection’ rating will be displayed temporarily. This will be changed to ‘Pass’ or ‘Improvement required’ once the inspection has been carried out.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:17.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291812,"EventID":"S4W-19614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:18.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:57:13.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason some establishments rated on the Food Standards Agency in Scotland website as \"improvement required\" have a time interval from their last inspection of more than a year. ","AnswerText":"Follow-up inspections will be carried out by local authorities if necessary, in accordance with standard enforcement practice and are dependent on the non-compliance involved. Recurring minor non-compliance will result in a Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) ‘Improvement Required’ outcome but may not merit a follow-up inspection \r\nIf an establishment with a ‘Improvement Required’ status has a time interval of more than a year it is due to either the food business not carrying out recurring minor non-compliance or not requesting a revisit to assess if the remedial actions have been addressed and a satisfactory level of compliance achieved. As part of the when a business addresses all non-compliance a revisit to reassess compliance can be requested and the local authority will carry this out within seven days of notification.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:18.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291813,"EventID":"S4W-19615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:19.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:57:13.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether establishments with an \"improvement required\" food hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency in Scotland website are required to display this rating.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is voluntary for food establishments to display the Food Hygiene Information Scheme ratings. However, all ratings are displayed on the Food Standards Agency website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:19.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291814,"EventID":"S4W-19616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:19.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T10:57:13.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many establishments that have had an \"improvement required\" hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency in Scotland website have not had a follow-up inspection for over a year.","AnswerText":"Follow-up inspections will be carried out by local authorities if necessary, in accordance with standard enforcement practice and are dependent on the non-compliance involved. Recurring minor non-compliance will result in a Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) ‘Improvement Required’ outcome but may not merit a follow-up inspection.\r\nAt the start of February 2014, the total number of Scottish food establishments on the Food Standards Agency website site is 38,866. Of these records, provided by local authorities, there were 1,581 Scottish food establishments that have an ‘Improvement Required’ hygiene rating for more than one year.\r\nIf an establishment with a ‘Improvement Required’ status has a time interval of more than a year it is due to either the food business not carrying out recurring minor non-compliance or not requesting a revisit to assess if the remedial actions have been addressed and a satisfactory level of compliance achieved. As part of the FHIS when a business addresses all non-compliance a revisit to reassess compliance can be requested and the local authority will carry this out within seven days of notification.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:19.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291815,"EventID":"S4W-19619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:20.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T12:24:00.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to implement a shared protocol for MRI scanning for back pain.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes any initiative that is demonstrated to improve patient care and encourages NHS boards to share best practice where appropriate.\r\nNHS boards are encouraged to take into account clinical guidance, research findings and quality standards as well as relevant guidance, in developing appropriate pathways to improve diagnosis and patient outcomes.\r\nAt present, the Scottish Government has no plans to implement a national protocol for MRI scans for back pain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:20.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291816,"EventID":"S4W-19620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:21.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T12:24:00.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17739 by Michael Matheson on 4 November 2013, what plans it has to improve rheumatology awareness training for (a) GPs and (b) primary health care professionals.\r\n","AnswerText":"Answer S4W-17739 outlined how GPs learn and update their development requirements to meet the needs of their patients. This is a continuous process. Allied Health Professionals also have a professional obligation to participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities pertaining to their area of work and would be expected to comply with such as part of their Health and Care Professions Council re-registration. They also participate in an appraisal process which helps identify their learning needs required to address the healthcare needs of their patients.\r\nNHS Education for Scotland (NES) provides a range of educational and developmental support for GPs and those working in primary care teams. Specific educational support for GPs, practices nurses and pharmacists in Scotland to improve their awareness of rheumatology includes Practice Based Small Group Learning modules in shoulder pain, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint pain, osteoporosis, Vitamin D deficiency, gout and carpal tunnel syndrome, and taught courses on arthritis (along with Arthritis Care Scotland), joint injections and musculoskeletal medicine are available for GPs practices, nurses and nurse managers. CPD workshops have also taken place locally. In addition Rheumatology CD ROMS are made available to clinicians.\r\nNES also provides education and training resources, to support rheumatology awareness for pharmacists and optometrists and further work is being developed in this area.\r\nNHS Inform is also a helpful source of information for GPs and primary health care professionals and assists in raising awareness about rheumatology. Information specifically about rheumatoid arthritis, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and complications can be found at the following page:\r\nhttp://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/r/rheumatoid-arthritis/introduction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:21.277","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291817,"EventID":"S4W-19621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:21.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T12:24:00.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop clinical guidance (a) for treating and (b) on the causes of low back pain.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) develops evidence based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. SIGN guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into practice.\r\nThe Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network produced, in December 2013, guidelines on the management of Chronic Pain. SIGN 136: Management of Chronic Pain guideline provides recommendations and treatment pathways based on current evidence for best practice in the assessment and management of adults with chronic non-malignant pain in non-specialist settings, including self-management, pharmacological, psychological, physical, complementary and dietary therapies. Reference is made within the guidelines to low back pain.\r\nAny group or individual may propose a guideline topic to SIGN and their selection process is detailed at: http://www.sign.ac.uk/about/proposal.html\r\nNHS Inform has a section dedicated to back pain containing information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and prevention of back specific musculoskeletal disorders and the treatments that are available:\r\nhttp://www.nhsinform.co.uk/MSK/back. The website advises that it can be difficult to confirm what causes the symptoms of back pain and that it can often be due to a build up of different things and be triggered by everyday activities at home or work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:21.883","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291818,"EventID":"S4W-19622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:22.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T13:40:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) INEOS representatives and (b) trades unions on the future of the Grangemouth plant since the end of the recent period of industrial action.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise remain engaged with all parties involved in supporting a long-term sustainable future for Grangemouth. Since the industrial dispute the First Minister has met with UNITE representatives on 23 January 2014 and INEOS representatives on 31 January 2014, and I met with representatives of the Unite union on 11 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:22.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291819,"EventID":"S4W-19623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:23.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T13:40:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether INEOS has (a) sought or (b) been offered financial assistance in relation to the Grangemouth plant and, if so, (i) for what purpose and (ii) whether any conditions are attached.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ineos applied for a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant in December 2008 and received £7.6 million in 2009. The grant was for the development and manufacture of chemicals and petroleum products, and the safeguarding of 551 jobs.\r\nIneos made an application for RSA in 2013 to support the delivery of investment plans, safeguard the future of the Grangemouth facility and safeguard jobs in addition to those covered by the 2009 grant. Scottish Enterprise are finalising the conditions relating to a possible grant.\r\nTo claim an instalment of grant under the terms of an RSA offer, a business has to complete a grant claim form to confirm that project investment, permanent job creation and safeguarding targets have been achieved in respect of the instalment being claimed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:23.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291820,"EventID":"S4W-19625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:23.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T13:40:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the possible impact on the viability of the Grangemouth petrochemical plant because of reported poor industrial relations.\r\n","AnswerText":"As a result of the agreement reached at the end of last year, and continued collaboration of all parties involved we believe the site will become very competitive again. However, it is imperative that everyone works together to support the sustainability of the plant.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:23.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291821,"EventID":"S4W-19626","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:24.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T14:31:24.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the treatment and care of people in the Highlands and Islands with a brain injury.\r\n","AnswerText":"The treatment of acquired brain injury (ABI) requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a wide range of services from different specialities including accident and emergency, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, neuro-rehabilitation and psychiatric services.\r\nWe understand that co-ordination of care for such complex needs is challenging. We continue to support the National Managed Clinical Network for ABI in order to promote consistency of treatment across Scotland and improve the quality of services for children and adults with ABI.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:24.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291822,"EventID":"S4W-19627","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:25.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T14:31:24.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Scots Gaelic speakers there are outwith Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:25.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291823,"EventID":"S4W-19628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:25.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T14:47:30.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take in light of the delay of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.\r\n","AnswerText":"Lord Penrose, Chairman of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products (The Penrose Inquiry) wrote to me on 20 December 2013 informing me that, due to unforeseen personal circumstances and the warning letter process taking longer than anticipated, it will not now be possible for him to publish his report by the end of March 2014.\r\nThe Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and, it is for the chairman to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.\r\nThe chairman has agreed to provide me with a progress report at the end of this month.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:25.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291824,"EventID":"S4W-19629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:26.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T14:47:30.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV. \r\n","AnswerText":"I met with Jane Ellison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, on 11 February, to discuss the possible implications of the Penrose Inquiry. Officials are also in regular contact with counterparts from the other UK health departments. \r\nUntil Lord Penrose publishes his final report, we have no knowledge of what the inquiry will conclude or recommend, and any discussions are therefore limited.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:26.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291825,"EventID":"S4W-19630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:26.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T14:45:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what appointments the Minister for External Affairs and International Development had on 4 February 2014, broken down by (a) the time each appointment was entered into his diary, (b) location and (c) who requested each appointment, and whether the minister sought to rearrange the timings or locations to accommodate parliamentary business.  \r\n","AnswerText":"\r\nAppointment\r\nDate entered in diary\r\nLocation\r\nRequested by\r\nMeeting with officials\r\n04-02-2014\r\nScottish Parliament\r\nMinister for External Affairs and International Development\r\nMeeting with Dr Alison Strang \r\n07-01-2014\r\nScottish Parliament\r\nDr Alison Strang, Queen Margaret University\r\nStage 3 proceedings: Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill\r\n14-01-2014\r\nScottish Parliament\r\nMinister for Parliamentary Business\r\nInterview with Stewart Paterson, Evening Times\r\n03-02-2014\r\nScottish Parliament\r\nStewart Paterson\r\nMeeting with Pakistan Consul General\r\n16-01-2014\r\nPakistan Consulate, 45 Maxwell Drive, Glasgow G41 5JF\r\nMinister for External Affairs and International Development\r\nNone of the times/locations were re-arranged to accommodate parliamentary business.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:26.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291826,"EventID":"S4W-19636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:27.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T15:03:08.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the proposed Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill ensures equal and fair access for communities to build capacity and influence public services.","AnswerText":"We are determined that all communities and all groups within society will be able to access the opportunities offered by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, to achieve their goals and to work in partnership with public services to improve local outcomes. We recognise that for communities to succeed then we must empower local people to take advantage of opportunities in their areas. We already support community-led regeneration through our People and Communities Fund. The Scottish Government also provides support for communities to take on assets, and encourages Community Planning Partnerships to build communities’ capacity to engage and deliver for themselves. We will consider the responses to the consultation on the Bill to see if any specific measures need to be taken in the legislation to ensure fair and equal access.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:27.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291827,"EventID":"S4W-19637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:27.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T15:19:44.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the expenditure has been on NHS Counter Fraud Services in each of the last five years and what the budget is for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"Expenditure on NHS Counter Fraud Services in each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table:\r\n\r\n2009-10\r\n£million\r\n2010-11\r\n£million\r\n2011-12\r\n£million\r\n2012-13\r\n£million\r\n2013-14\r\n£million\r\nAnnual Expenditure\r\n1.6\r\n1.6\r\n1.7\r\n1.7\r\n1.6\r\nThe planned budget for NHS Counter Fraud Services in 2014-15 is £1.7 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:27.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291828,"EventID":"S4W-19638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:28.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T15:19:44.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people investigated by NHS Counter Fraud Services have been subject to  confiscation of criminal assets procedures in each of the last five years, and what amounts were recovered that were related to NHS fraud.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of people investigated by NHS Counter Fraud Services who have been subject to confiscation of criminal asset procedures in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nNumber of Investigations\r\n15\r\n20\r\n4\r\n6\r\n6\r\nThe amount of funds recovered by NHS Counter Fraud Services relating to NHS fraud in each of the last five years broken down into investigations and patient exemption checks (i.e. checks on patients’ entitlement to receive NHS services free of charge) is as follows:\r\n \r\nInvestigation Recoveries (£)\r\nPatient Exemption recoveries (£)\r\nTotal Recoveries\r\n(£)\r\n2008-09\r\n104,325\r\n244,385\r\n348,710\r\n2009-10\r\n317,906\r\n181,699\r\n499,605\r\n2010-11\r\n15,477\r\n208,212\r\n223,689\r\n2011-12\r\n42,368\r\n254,000\r\n296,368\r\n2012-13\r\n19,664\r\n347,908\r\n367,572\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:28.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291829,"EventID":"S4W-19639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:28.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T16:27:55.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage greater provision of Changing Places toilets for disabled people.","AnswerText":"The keys to life learning disability strategy, has a specific recommendation that by June 2015 there will be 100 Changing Places toilets in Scotland. To ensure this happens PAMIS receives Scottish Government funding to lead a sub group to deliver on this recommendation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:28.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291830,"EventID":"S4W-19640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:29.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T16:27:55.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds statistics on the number of Changing Places toilets and, if so, how many there are.\r\n","AnswerText":"Statistics are available in the Scottish Directory of Changing Places toilets. To date there are 91 Changing Places toilets in Scotland including six in Aberdeen City and four in Aberdeenshire.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:29.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291831,"EventID":"S4W-19641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-05T16:54:29.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-05T16:27:55.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage greater awareness in the medical profession of preterm premature rupture of membranes.","AnswerText":"Education about this condition starts in undergraduate medical programmes and will then form part of continuing professional development that healthcare professionals are obliged to participate in to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has published a Green-top Guideline No 44 Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes: http://www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/GTG44PPROM28022011.pdf, which we would expect healthcare professionals to follow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:54:29.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291832,"EventID":"S4W-19643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T11:50:23.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T11:10:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a public consultation on the allocation of Scotland's fish quotas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government announced on 28 January 2014 our intention to consult on the future allocation of Scottish fish quotas. Fishermen from across Scotland have raised concerns with the Scottish Government about the current system of allocating fish quotas, which was introduced by the then UK Government in 1999. Many fishermen have complained that the present system has encouraged trading of quota and its concentration in fewer hands, resulting in increased quota leasing costs for active fishermen. The high cost of accessing quota has also made it difficult for new fishermen to get started in the industry. \r\nThe Government plans to write to individual fishermen and to fishing industry representatives to ask for views about how the allocation current system can be improved to better support active fishermen and fishing communities. Taking into account views received, the Government then plans to publish a consultation paper, which will include proposals for change.\r\nThe Government also announced a temporary halt to transfers of fish quota allocation units off of Scottish fishing licences to fishing licences in the rest of the UK. The temporary halt is in place now to prevent speculative transfers of allocation units out of Scotland, during the consultation, so that there is the same amount of quota held in Scotland before and after the consultation. This is being done within the terms of a 2012 Concordat on Fisheries Management, agreed by the four UK countries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T11:50:23.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291833,"EventID":"S4W-19644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T11:58:06.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T11:54:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funds it is making available to NHS boards for 2014-15.","AnswerText":"Territorial boards have been given a general allocation increase of £248 million for 2014-15, an overall average increase over the equivalent 2013-14 allocation of 3.1 per cent.\r\nSpecial boards allocations have increased by 1.0 per cent. In addition, differential efficiency savings have been allocated to the elements of special boards budgets not providing direct patient care which results in an overall net increase of 0.2 per cent.\r\nDetails of boards revenue resource and capital allocations for 2014-15 are provided.\r\nRevenue Resource:\r\n\r\n2014-15\r\nInitial\r\nAllocation\r\n2014-15\r\nUplift\r\nTerritorial Boards\r\n£million\r\n%\r\nAyrshire and Arran \r\n618.9\r\n2.6%\r\nBorders \r\n179.8\r\n2.5%\r\nDumfries and Galloway \r\n259.7\r\n2.5%\r\nFife \r\n557.3\r\n3.3%\r\nForth Valley \r\n449.6\r\n3.6%\r\nGrampian \r\n773.3\r\n4.0%\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde \r\n2,047.2\r\n2.6%\r\nHighland \r\n525.2\r\n3.0%\r\nLanarkshire \r\n890.3\r\n2.9%\r\nLothian \r\n1,188.0\r\n4.1%\r\nOrkney \r\n35.8\r\n4.5%\r\nShetland \r\n39.6\r\n2.6%\r\nTayside \r\n645.0\r\n2.5%\r\nWestern Isles \r\n62.2\r\n2.6%\r\n\r\n8,271.9\r\n3.1%\r\n\r\n\r\n2014-15\r\nInitial\r\nAllocation\r\n2014-15\r\nUplift\r\nSpecial Boards\r\n£million\r\n%\r\nNational Waiting Times Centre\r\n45.5\r\n1.0%\r\nScottish Ambulance Service\r\n210.0\r\n1.0%\r\nNational Services Scotland\r\n282.0\r\n-0.4%\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland \r\n15.5\r\n-4.4%\r\nThe State Hospital\r\n33.9\r\n1.0%\r\nNHS 24\r\n62.1\r\n1.0%\r\nNHS Education for Scotland\r\n390.2\r\n0.4%\r\nNHS Health Scotland\r\n18.9\r\n-4.2%\r\n\r\n1,058.1\r\n0.2%\r\n\r\nCapital Resource:\r\n\r\n2014-15\r\nInitial\r\nAllocation\r\nTerritorial Boards\r\n£million\r\nAyrshire and Arran \r\n 18.7 \r\nBorders \r\n 4.0 \r\nDumfries and Galloway \r\n 9.5 \r\nFife \r\n 13.8 \r\nForth Valley \r\n 8.3 \r\nGrampian \r\n 17.1 \r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde \r\n 169.4 \r\nHighland \r\n 14.4 \r\nLanarkshire \r\n 21.6 \r\nLothian \r\n 45.7 \r\nOrkney \r\n 1.3 \r\nShetland \r\n 1.1 \r\nTayside \r\n 18.5 \r\nWestern Isles \r\n 4.4 \r\n\r\n 347.8 \r\n\r\n\r\n2014-15\r\nInitial\r\nAllocation\r\nSpecial Boards\r\n£million\r\nNational Waiting Times Centre\r\n3.8\r\nScottish Ambulance Service\r\n14.0\r\nNational Services Scotland\r\n3.7\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland \r\n0.2\r\nThe State Hospital\r\n0.3\r\nNHS 24\r\n0.3\r\nNHS Health Scotland\r\n0.7\r\n\r\n23.0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T11:58:07.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291834,"EventID":"S4W-19645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T12:47:07.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T12:41:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry, wrote to me on 17 December 2013 informing me that the warning letter process will not be completed in sufficient time to allow for the publication of the report by March 2014.\r\nUnder the legislation, the chairman must issue a warning letter to any individual or organisation likely to be the subject of significant or explicit criticism in his report. The warning letter allows them a reasonable opportunity to consider and respond to the criticisms. As a matter of fairness, the chairman must consider these responses.\r\nThe warning letter process is not yet complete and Lord MacLean is unable to give a reporting date until this process is fully completed. I will, therefore, inform Parliament as soon as the reporting date is known.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T12:47:07.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291847,"EventID":"S4W-19646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T16:41:45.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T13:53:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Russian Consulate General (RCG); what issues were discussed; when it will next meet representatives of the RCG, and what issues it will discuss.","AnswerText":"Ministers and officials last met representatives of the Russian Consulate General at the First Minister’s annual reception for the Consular Corps on 18 February 2014, which the Russian Vice Consul attended. Officials discussed with the Vice Consul the proposed start date for the incoming Consul General later this year and the progress of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.\r\nThe last substantive meeting between ministers and the Russian Consulate General took place on 9 January 2014 when the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop and the Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Humza Yousaf, met the Consul General, Mr Sergey Krutikov. The primary purpose of the meeting was to thank the Consul General for his work in promoting links between Scotland and Russia during his posting, which finished later that month.\r\nIssues discussed at that meeting also included Scottish involvement in the UK-Russia Year of Culture and the Russian Government’s plans for recognition of UK veterans of the Arctic convoys during the Second World War. The Consul General extended an open invitation to ministers to visit Russia.\r\nMinisters took the opportunity to raise their concerns about recent Russian legislation regarding the promotion of LGBT relationships, encouraging the Russian government to meet international standards for the protection of human rights and civil liberties.\r\nMinisters are next due to meet representatives of the Russian Consulate General at a dinner to be hosted by Ms Hyslop on 26 March 2014. Topics for discussion will include major events taking place in Scotland in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T16:41:45.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291848,"EventID":"S4W-19650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T16:41:45.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T15:06:57.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much income was raised by the public health levy in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The notified (pre-audit) estimate of the income raised in 2012-13 from the public health supplement was £26.1 million.\r\nThe mid-year estimate of the income raised in 2013-14 from the public health supplement was £33.1 million.\r\nSource: Non-domestic rates income returns provided by councils.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T16:41:45.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291849,"EventID":"S4W-19651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T16:41:45.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T15:06:57.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the income raised by the public health levy in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 was allocated, broken down by (i) government directorate and (ii) other area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The public health supplement was a temporary three year policy introduced at the Spending Review 2011 and was estimated at the time to raise an additional £25/35/35 million over 2012-13 to 2014-15. The estimated additional income was factored into the total resources available in the Spending Review 2011 and contributed to the preventative spend measures introduced at that time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T16:41:45.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291850,"EventID":"S4W-19652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T16:41:46.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T15:06:57.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the income raised by the public health levy in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 was spent, broken down by (i) government directorate and (ii) other area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The public health supplement was a temporary three year policy introduced at the spending review 2011 and was estimated at the time to raise an additional £25/35/35 million over 2012-13 to 2014-15. The estimated additional income was factored into the total resources available in spending review 2011 and contributed to the preventative spend measures introduced at that time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T16:41:46.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291851,"EventID":"S4W-19653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-06T16:41:46.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T15:06:57.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much income will be lost from ending the public health levy.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out at the spending review 2011, the public health supplement is a temporary three year policy. After March 2015 the legislation falls and the supplement no longer applies, so spending plans for 2015-16 were always set taking this into account.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T16:41:46.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291866,"EventID":"S4W-19654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:31.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T17:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies have had in (i) promoting or (ii) explaining Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future is a comprehensive guide to an independent Scotland and what it means for the people of Scotland. Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are engaging with their stakeholders on the guide in the same way as they would for any area of government policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:31.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291867,"EventID":"S4W-19655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:32.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T17:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what events have been organised by (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies to (i) promote or (ii) explain Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; what the cost was, and whether this was met by (A) Scottish Government spending on the referendum or (B) the budgets of the agencies and non-departmental public bodies.\r\n","AnswerText":"In relation to non-departmental public bodies, this is a matter for the bodies. The information requested is not held centrally. The publication has been discussed in routine staff and board meetings and with key external stakeholders at no additional cost to the agency or to the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:32.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291868,"EventID":"S4W-19656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:32.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-06T17:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what publications have been produced by (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies to (i) promote or (ii) explain Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; what the cost was, and whether it was met by (A) Scottish Government spending on the referendum or (B) the budgets of the agencies and non-departmental public bodies.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19655 on 4 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:32.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291869,"EventID":"S4W-19657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:33.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T09:53:18.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19256 by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014, what correspondence it sent to (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) HM Treasury and what response it received.","AnswerText":"The member can obtain access to copies of the correspondence sent to the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury and the response received from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) using BIB number 55686.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:33.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291870,"EventID":"S4W-19658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:34.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T12:56:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the construction of so-called green bridges over the A9 as part of the dualling programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"Green bridges are being considered for the wider A9 dualling programme where a need is identified and will be considered on a location by location basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:34.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291871,"EventID":"S4W-19659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:35.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T13:11:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board on its decision not to hold a public consultaton on the closure of fire control rooms.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service undertook an extensive programme of engagement with staff members, unions, local authorities, and MSPs since the decision to move from eight to three control rooms was made in September 2013, which informed the more recent decision on future control room location.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:35.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291872,"EventID":"S4W-19660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:35.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T13:11:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware in advance of the decision to revise the costings of the options for fire control rooms on the day of the meeting of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board on 30 January 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Decisions such as the rationalisation of control rooms are matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board, who are responsible for undertaking the appraisal of options based on all information available to them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:35.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291873,"EventID":"S4W-19661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:36.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T13:11:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Police Authority on its decision not to hold a public consultation on the closure of police control rooms.","AnswerText":"Consideration of the national structure of police control rooms is an operational matter for the Chief Constable in consultation with the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government did not discuss the decision not to hold a public consultation with the authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:36.127","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291874,"EventID":"S4W-19662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:36.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T13:11:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have met senior officers from the (a) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board and (b) the Scottish Police Authority since April 2013; when those meetings took place; where they were held, and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Since 1 April 2013 various ministers have met with senior Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Police Authority officers to discuss a range of different topics and issues at a number of different venues, events and incidents throughout Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:36.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291875,"EventID":"S4W-19663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-07T15:45:37.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T15:09:33.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19645 by Alex Neil on 7 February 2014, when it expects the warning letter process to be completed.","AnswerText":"The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry is an independent inquiry. The procedure and conduct of an inquiry is determined by the inquiry’s chairperson in accordance with his or her duties under the Inquiries Act 2005. All warning letters have now been issued and Lord Maclean, Chairman is unable to predict when this process will be completed until all of the responses have been received and considered. The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry website will be updated once this process has completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:45:37.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291876,"EventID":"S4W-19670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T10:13:16.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T09:29:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage trade unions, employees and employers to work together to support sustainable economic growth.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will establish an independent review “Working Together: progressive workplace policies in Scotland” focusing on measures which would optimise the relationships that link trade unions, employers and government.\r\nThe review group will be chaired by former Enterprise Minister Jim Mather and include trade union, employer, academic and professional representatives. Full details of the membership and terms of reference will be published separately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T10:13:16.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291877,"EventID":"S4W-19665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:07.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T16:46:33.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether home compostable carrier bags already sold in some supermarkets will be exempt from the proposed 5p charge on single-use carrier bags.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposed regulations are yet to be finalised. Compostable carrier bags will be included in the proposed charging scheme, as the purpose is to encourage people to use fewer bags and promote re-use, rather than switching to different materials.\r\nThere is potential for compostable carrier bags to help boost engagement with food waste collections by providing low cost food caddy liners, but only in certain restricted circumstances where local authorities and reprocessors agree that the specific compostable bags can be handled with food waste without increasing contamination. We are, therefore, exploring scope to facilitate this through the scheme in dialogue with retailers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:07.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291878,"EventID":"S4W-19666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:08.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T16:46:33.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging collaboration between local authorities and supermarkets that want to sell home compostable carrier bags at checkouts.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19665 on 6 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:08.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291879,"EventID":"S4W-19667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:08.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T16:46:33.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the distribution of dual-use home compostable carrier bags will have an impact on reducing contamination at biowaste treatment plants.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19665 on 6 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:08.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291880,"EventID":"S4W-19668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:09.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T16:46:33.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are cost savings in relation to food waste collection when supermarkets sell home compostable carrier bags at the checkout.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19665 on 6 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:09.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291881,"EventID":"S4W-19669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:09.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-07T16:46:33.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the costs of certified, dual-use compostable carrier bags will be considered reasonable costs in the proposed regulations on charging for carrier bags.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19665 on 6 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at the following address: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:09.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291882,"EventID":"S4W-19671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:09.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legislative justification there was for it buying Glasgow Prestwick Airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"The acquisition of Glasgow Prestwick Airport was not carried out under statutory powers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:09.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291883,"EventID":"S4W-19672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:10.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what value-for-money processes it followed to ensure that the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport was in the national interest.","AnswerText":"The business plan developed to inform the decision to acquire Glasgow Prestwick Airport set out its commercial opportunities, a repositioning strategy, the level of funding required and the likely financial returns available. All funding being provided to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, except for vital safety expenditure, is being made on a commercial basis. The airport already employed 360 people and indirectly supported 1500 jobs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:10.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291884,"EventID":"S4W-19673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:10.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence it (a) has undertaken and (b) will undertake to prove that the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport is in the national interest and what assessment it has made of the potential displacement of aeronautic and airport-related businesses in and around Glasgow Airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Confirmatory due diligence was completed prior to the acquisition of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, including the development of a business plan that demonstrates it is reasonable to expect to make a long term return on the investment. This did not include an assessment of the potential displacement of aeronautic and airport-related businesses in and around Glasgow Airport. (b) A ‘stage 2’ business plan will be developed, building on the earlier work and set out the commercial opportunities available to the airport. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:10.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291885,"EventID":"S4W-19674","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:11.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport are for the private sector owners of Scotland’s other airports.","AnswerText":"Since the acquisition of Prestwick we have continued to provide support to other Scottish airports as part of our collective efforts to develop new routes. That work will continue on a ‘level playing field’ basis leaving airlines to decide which airport they wish to fly to.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:11.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291886,"EventID":"S4W-19675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:11.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its investment plans are for Glasgow Prestwick Airport.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided Glasgow Prestwick Airport with £3 million in working capital for 2013-14. Further working capital will be provided, where required. The business plan developed for the acquisition of Glasgow Prestwick Airport also identified that an initial repositioning capital investment of £2.25 million will be required to modernise the terminal facilities, enhance the passenger experience and generally freshen and rebrand the airport. This expenditure is anticipated to be incurred during 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:11.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291887,"EventID":"S4W-19676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:11.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to produce an aviation strategy that will produce similar levels of investment at Glasgow and other Scottish airports to the investment made at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to invest directly in privately owned airports.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:11.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291888,"EventID":"S4W-19677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:12.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact of its buying Glasgow Prestwick Airport on (a) private businesses operating in close proximity to the airport and (b) current land use.","AnswerText":"The decision to acquire Glasgow Prestwick Airport recognised its strategic importance to the aerospace cluster around it, the Ayrshire economy, and to the wider regional and national economy in Scotland, including the 360 directly employed personnel and the 1500 jobs indirectly supported by Glasgow Prestwick Airport.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:12.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291889,"EventID":"S4W-19678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:12.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what Scottish Enterprise's role was in the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and whether its board members have an active business interest in the airport's operations.","AnswerText":"Scottish Enterprise provided commercial and aviation advice throughout the confirmatory due diligence exercise and during the development of the business plan used to inform the decision to acquire Glasgow Prestwick Airport.\r\nI will ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you with the information you requested with regards to its board members.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:12.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291890,"EventID":"S4W-19679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:12.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its projections are for growth in passenger numbers as a result of its investment in Glasgow Prestwick Airport and whether this growth will be supported through the creation of a route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The business plan developed to inform the decision to acquire Glasgow Prestwick Airport included a projection of passenger numbers. Information in the business plan, including passenger growth projections, is considered commercially confidential. The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a route development fund either nationally or in relation to a specific airport, as this would be incompatible with state aid rules.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:12.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291891,"EventID":"S4W-19680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:13.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a strategy to encourage new airlines and routes to operate from Glasgow Prestwick Airport and whether it plans to offer a further subsidy to Ryanair.\r\n","AnswerText":"A ‘stage 2’ business plan will be developed for Glasgow Prestwick Airport, building on the earlier work and setting out the commercial opportunities available to the airport, the recommended repositioning strategy, and the likely level of funding required to deliver these aspirations.\r\nThe contents of this ‘stage 2’ business plan will be commercially confidential. However, a strategic vision will be developed in conjunction with it, and published, detailing the medium to longer term aspirations and intentions for the development of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. \r\nNo subsidy has been provided to Ryanair and none is planned.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:13.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291892,"EventID":"S4W-19681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:13.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the quality of the road network and the lack of a rail link into and out of Glasgow Airport were factors in its decision to invest in Glasgow Prestwick Airport.","AnswerText":"No.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:13.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291893,"EventID":"S4W-19682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:14.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the issue of state aid when deciding whether to buy Glasgow Prestwick Airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"Confirmatory due diligence completed prior to acquisition of Glasgow Prestwick Airport considered European Union state aid rules and requirements. The business plan prepared to inform the decision to acquire Glasgow Prestwick Airport demonstrated that the Scottish Government’s ownership would be undertaken on a commercial basis, and that it satisfied the market economy investor principle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:14.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291894,"EventID":"S4W-19683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:14.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T10:21:38.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the value of land in proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport when deciding whether to buy the airport.","AnswerText":"The value of land owned by Glasgow Prestwick Airport was considered in the business plan developed to inform the decision to acquire the airport. The value of land not owned by Glasgow Prestwick Airport but in its proximity was not considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:14.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291895,"EventID":"S4W-19684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:14.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T11:06:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will undertake a review of the ban on the docking of tails of working dogs.","AnswerText":"We expect the results of the research that we commissioned from Glasgow University on tail injuries in working dogs to be published in the near future, as peer-reviewed papers in an independent scientific journal. When this research is published we will consider whether further action needs to be taken to protect working dogs from injury.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:14.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291896,"EventID":"S4W-19685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:15.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T11:06:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of research undertaken by the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences into tail injuries in working dogs.","AnswerText":"We expect the results of the research that we commissioned by Glasgow University on tail injuries in working dogs to be published in the near future, as peer-reviewed papers in an independent scientific journal. We believe the research will provide a sound basis to discuss whether further action needs to be taken to protect working dogs from injury.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:15.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291897,"EventID":"S4W-19686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:15.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:03:10.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the (a) cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project, (b) reduction in the number of trains stopping at Paisley Gilmour Street and (c) issues affecting road access to and from Glasgow Airport is/are hindering Glasgow Airport's ability to compete with other Scottish airports.","AnswerText":"In relation to surface access, Transport Scotland has been working with Glasgow Airport and Glasgow and Renfrewshire Councils since 2010 in the delivery of the Glasgow Airport Strategic Transport Network Study. This work allows us to compare the performance of a wide range of transport measures with a view to improving public transport access to the airport and a final report is expected to be published soon.\r\nThis report indicates that the decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project was correct, as there are better ways to achieve the same objectives.\r\nInitial examination of the results suggest there is much more that can be done to improve the levels of bus accessibility to the airport, particularly linking to Paisley Gilmour Street Station. In the longer term, the study indicates that a tram/train option running from the airport could be the most effective way to improve public transport access to the airport from the city centre.\r\nThere has been no reduction in the number of trains stopping at Paisley Gilmour Street Station.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:15.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291898,"EventID":"S4W-19687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:15.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:03:10.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it or (b) Transport Scotland has provided funding to ScotRail to facilitate a reduced fare offer to Ryanair passengers travelling to and from Glasgow Prestwick Airport.","AnswerText":"ScotRail offer free or reduced price rail travel to all airline passengers using Glasgow Prestwick Airport. No specific funding is provided by (a) The Scottish Government or (b) Transport Scotland, for these offers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:15.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291899,"EventID":"S4W-19688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:16.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:11:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh in Coatbridge and Chryston will be operational.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Crime Campus will be operational at the end of March 2014. The construction project, which started in 2009 with the purchase of the land from Scottish Enterprise, has been delivered on time and under budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:16.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291900,"EventID":"S4W-19689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:16.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have applied to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for licences to dredge rivers in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"Authorisation to carry out dredging was required from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency from 2006 onwards, with the introduction of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.\r\nAuthorisations can be granted in two forms depending on the scale and likely environmental impact of the proposed dredging activity, by licences and by registration.\r\nTable 1 provides the relevant breakdown of both licence and registration applications each year. Some local authorities applied for more than one authorisation. \r\nTable 1: \r\nYear\r\nNo of local authorities\r\nthat applied for\r\ndredging Licences\r\neach year.\r\nTotal\r\nLicences\r\ngranted to\r\nlocal\r\nauthorities\r\nNo of local authorities that\r\napplied for dredging\r\nregistrations\r\neach year.\r\nTotal\r\nregistrations\r\ngranted to\r\nlocal authorities\r\nPre \r\n2007\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2007\r\n2\r\n2\r\n1\r\n1\r\n2008\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n3\r\n2009\r\n1\r\n2\r\n4\r\n13\r\n2010\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n10\r\n2011\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n12\r\n2012\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3\r\n11\r\n2013\r\n2\r\n2\r\n6\r\n12\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:16.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291901,"EventID":"S4W-19690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:16.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need to dredge rivers and burns to reduce the risk of flooding.","AnswerText":"In December 2011, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) published Scotland’s first National Flood Risk Assessment. For the first time, we have a national picture of flood risk across Scotland, which helps us to target future efforts to plan and invest in reducing impacts in areas most vulnerable to flooding.\r\nWe are now working with local authorities, SEPA and Scottish Water to deliver our strategic flood risk management plans. Building on the national flood risk assessment and SEPA’s recently published flood risk and hazard maps, these will set out objectives for reducing flood risk in potentially vulnerable areas across Scotland, and the best combination of measures to achieve this. These measures may include dredging where it is appropriate and is part of a sustainable, long-term catchment solution to sediment management issues.\r\nWe believe this is the best approach to managing flood risk across the whole of Scotland, rather than focussing on one single issue which is certainly not a \"cure all\" for flooding. Dredging can have a role to play in flood risk management, but carried out in the wrong way and in the wrong place can result in significant environmental damage, and increased flooding and erosion downstream.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:16.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291902,"EventID":"S4W-19691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:17.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has provided to local authorities regarding the dredging of rivers and burns.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has published guidance for local authorities and other land managers on river clearance and dredging. This can be obtained by visiting the following link:\r\nhttp://www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_regulation/guidance/river_clearance_and_dredging.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:17.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291903,"EventID":"S4W-19692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:17.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on events relating to the 2014 Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following costs have been incurred for events in relation to the 2014 Ryder Cup:\r\nEvent staging costs at the 2008 and 2010 Ryder Cups to promote Scotland as the home of golf, in preparation for hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup, were approximately £143,092 and £118,735 respectively.\r\nIn September 2013, a programme of events was held to promote ‘One Year to Go’ which was supported by £36,777 from the 2014 Ryder Cup budget, which is held by VisitScotland.\r\n(Source: all figures supplied by VisitScotland)\r\nIn March 2014, a European event – The 2014 Ryder Cup, Celebrating a European Success Story - was held in Brussels at a cost of approximately £6,000.\r\nThe costs for staging events at 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah have previously been published and are available at: \r\nhttp://www.visitscotland.org/pdf/RyderCupFinalReport.pdf and:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/BusinessDirectorate/foireleased.\r\nIn addition, VisitScotland undertakes a number of promotional events annually as part of its wide ranging golf and tourism marketing campaigns, many of which include the promotion of the 2014 Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:17.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291904,"EventID":"S4W-19693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:17.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its budget will be for the 2014 Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 2014 Ryder Cup budget, which is held by VisitScotland, is £37.3 million. In addition to this, as part of Ryder Cup bid commitments, the Scottish Government has also committed £8 million in support of Scotland’s junior golf initiative, ClubGolf, from 2003-18.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:17.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291905,"EventID":"S4W-19694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:17.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:56:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what budget it has allocated for ministers attending the 2014 Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no separate allocation within the 2014 Ryder Cup budget for ministers attending the event. The package for the host nation partners for the Ryder Cup includes the following ministerial involvement:\r\na delegation to attend the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cups to promote Scotland as future host nation;\r\nattendance at the Year to Go dinner;\r\nactivity to promote Scotland as the host nation and as a leisure, tourism, business and events destination at the 2014 Ryder Cup, for example, through its complimentary ticket allocation.\r\nAs a major international sports event in the 2014 year, ministers are seeking to promote the event through these and a range of other activities. They aim to deliver a comprehensive business engagement programme to maximise the opportunities of hosting the event, targeting international business, tourism and events industry contacts.\r\nThis year it will be the first time that the Junior Ryder Cup is in the same locality as the Ryder Cup, and ministers are planning to support the event by attending its opening and closing ceremonies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:17.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291906,"EventID":"S4W-19695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:18.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many new homes local authorities have completed since May 2011; how many are being built, and how many are planned to be completed by the end of the current parliamentary session.","AnswerText":"Official statistics in respect of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme are published by quarter and financial year. A total of 2,999 homes have been completed by local authorities since 1 April 2011 to the end of December 2013. A further 1,239 local authority homes had started on site but had not yet completed by 31 December 2013. At least 5,000 homes are expected to be completed by the end of the current parliamentary session.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:18.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291907,"EventID":"S4W-19696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:18.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many towns submitted bids for the Town Centre Housing Fund; how much each submitted, and how many homes will be affected.","AnswerText":"There were 25 proposals submitted to the Town Centre Housing Fund, received from 11 local authorities, five housing associations and eight private developers. The proposals encompassed empty properties in 21 towns across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:18.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291908,"EventID":"S4W-19697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:18.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been redeveloped as a result of the Town Centre Housing Fund.","AnswerText":"The Town Centre Housing Fund will see 82 new homes developed from empty or derelict properties in seven towns across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:18.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291909,"EventID":"S4W-19698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:19.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding, broken down by (a) scheme and (b) amount.\r\n","AnswerText":"The three-year Affordable Housing Supply Programme for 2012-13 to 2014-15 is as summarised in the following table:\r\nAffordable Housing Supply Programme:\r\n2012-13 to 2014-15\r\n\r\n(£million)\r\nStrategic local programmes – 32 local authorities and Glasgow Housing Association\r\n\r\n743.250\r\nLow-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers\r\n112.095\r\nHome Owners’ Support Fund \r\n30.000\r\nOther affordable housing projects \r\n87.447\r\nTotal\r\n972.792\r\nThe three-year planned budget of £87.447 million for other affordable housing projects is managed centrally and includes funding for increased subsidies for homes that are built to a greener standard and other affordable housing projects, including those that promote innovation.\r\nA table showing a further breakdown of the strategic local programmes by local authority, together with the planned programme for 2015-16, can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/investment/ahsp/AHSPBudgetallocation\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:19.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291910,"EventID":"S4W-19699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:19.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding has been spent.\r\n","AnswerText":"From 1 April 2012 to the end of January 2014, a total of £485 million has been spent on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP).\r\nFollowing the end of each financial year, actual outturn figures for the AHSP against budgets are published on the Scottish Government website. The following is a link to the AHSP out-turn reports published on the Scottish Government website since 2008-09:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/investment/ahip\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:19.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291911,"EventID":"S4W-19700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:19.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for the (a) New Shared Equity Scheme, (b) New Shared Equity Scheme with Developers and (c) Open Market Shared Equity Scheme and how many have been successful, in each year since 2011.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of application forms received for the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme and New Supply Shared Equity Scheme with Developers schemes is not held centrally. These schemes are administered directly by registered social landlords who have built the properties or are acting as agents for the private developers.\r\nThe number of application forms received for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme and the number of applications eligible to participate in the scheme are provided in the following table.\r\nYear\r\nNumber of Application Forms Received \r\nNumber of Application Forms \r\nEligible to Participate in the scheme\r\n2011-12\r\n404\r\n270\r\n2012-13\r\n921\r\n767\r\n*2013-14\r\n1542\r\n1436 \r\nThe number of completions for a) New Supply Shared Equity Scheme; b) New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme, and c) Open Market Shared Equity Scheme are provided in the following table.\r\nYear\r\n*NSSE\r\n\r\nNew Supply Share Equity \r\nwith Developers \r\nOMSE\r\n2011-12\r\n446\r\n120\r\n186\r\n2012-13\r\n302\r\n73\r\n533\r\n*2013-14\r\n201\r\n5\r\n706 \r\n* These figures are for the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:19.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291912,"EventID":"S4W-19704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:19.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Greener Homes Innovation Scheme and by which organisations, in each year since 2011; how many have been successful; how many homes there will be, and where they will be built.","AnswerText":"The Greener Homes Innovation Scheme was open for applications between September 2012 and January 2013. There were 31 applications and 14 were successful in achieving funding. \r\nThe organisations who bid were: Orkney Islands Council, Partick Housing Association, Irvine Housing Association, Loretto Housing Association, Moray Council, Houses for Heroes, Strachmor Ltd, James Keillor Estates Ltd, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, Perth and Kinross Council, Clyde Valley Housing Association, CCG, Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, Tigh Grian Ltd, West Highland Housing Association, Aberdeenshire Council, Glasgow Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and South Lanarkshire Council.\r\nWe anticipate there will be 319 homes built and they will be built in the local authorities of Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Highlands, Glasgow, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:19.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291913,"EventID":"S4W-19705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-10T15:23:20.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T13:59:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Empty Homes Loan Fund and how many have been successful; how many homes have been brought back into use as a result, and how many are now occupied.","AnswerText":"A total of 20 applications were made to the Empty Homes Loan Fund; of these 17 projects were approved for funding. The majority of successful applicants are councils who will use these funds to on-lend money to individual owners to bring their properties back into use.\r\nThe fund is still in its first year of operation and accordingly we do not have information on the number of homes brought back into use at this stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T15:23:20.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291921,"EventID":"S4W-19709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-11T15:10:24.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T12:16:24.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on the delivery of its Second Report on Proposals and Policies of the EU’s proposed 2030 targets for (a) renewable energy and (b) greenhouse gas emissions.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission’s proposal on 22 January 2014 for a target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases emissions and a 27% target for renewable energy by 2030. We have argued strongly for a 40% EU wide target with a 50% target in the context of a global agreement at the Paris, Climate Conference of the Parties in 2015 and will continue to work with our partners in the EU to make the case for high ambition on climate change. It is clear that a number of Member States are stressing that 27% should be the minimum for an EU-wide target and Germany (30%) and Portugal; (40%) are arguing for a higher level of renewables ambition. The advent of the 2030 targets for both renewables and greenhouse gas emissions will act as a driver for low carbon investment and this will help foster a supportive investment environment in Scotland also.\r\nWe want to see the EU maintain its lead on climate ambition, and will continue to work with other ambitious countries to make the case for the jobs, trade, investment and growth opportunities that the transition to a low carbon economy will deliver. In this respect, we will continue to present evidence to our European partners of the existing investments and low carbon jobs already experienced in Scotland and the potential we have to fulfil a higher level of ambition on climate mitigation, as well as the importance of taking action to support developing nations as part of our Climate Justice approach.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T15:10:24.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291922,"EventID":"S4W-19710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-11T15:10:25.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T12:16:24.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU's proposed 27% target for renewable energy by 2030, what additional measures it will introduce to ensure that the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is delivered in full.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government remains on track to achieving the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 ambition of at least a 42% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2020, and at least an 80% reduction by 2050.\r\nWe expect the policy framework we have developed, the second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2), will allow us to meet our targets although Scottish Government and our partners will need to continue to refine proposals as and when appropriate to do so, given the influence of external factors and ongoing policy development work. Where we can, we will deliver more, and we will continue to seek additional ways in which we can maximise the impact of the low carbon investments we make and to influence the wider Scottish Government and public sector investment programmes. We will work closely with delivery agents and stakeholders to make sure that we have the right package in place and to iterate on our policies as new evidence emerges.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T15:10:25.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291923,"EventID":"S4W-19711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-11T15:10:25.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T13:44:51.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it would implement a scheme to offset the so-called bedroom tax in the event that the discretionary housing payments cap is not removed.\r\n","AnswerText":"If the cap on discretionary housing payments is not removed, the Scottish Government is committed to implement a scheme during 2014-15 which will mitigate the effects of the bedroom tax.\r\nThe details of the scheme, including the date the scheme may be available, will be announced when it is known whether the scheme is required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T15:10:25.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291924,"EventID":"S4W-19712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-11T15:10:25.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T13:44:51.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities would control a scheme to offset the so-called bedroom tax in the event that the discretionary housing payments cap is not removed and, if so, how funds for this would be allocated, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19711 on 3 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T15:10:25.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291925,"EventID":"S4W-19720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-11T15:10:25.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T14:52:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Guide Dogs Scotland will be invited to attend the summit on dangerous dogs.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes, Guide Dogs Scotland will be invited to attend the summit on responsible dog ownership, which will be held in March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T15:10:25.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291933,"EventID":"S4O-02897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:18.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T10:22:50.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the European Commissioner for Education that any attempt to treat Scottish and non-Scottish students differently could be regarded as \"a covert form of discrimination on grounds of nationality\".\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:19.077","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291934,"EventID":"S4O-02898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:19.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T09:50:26.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Director of Education at Dumfries and Galloway Council and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:19.5","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291935,"EventID":"S4O-02899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:19.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T09:22:27.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its foreign language engagement strategy. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:19.953","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291936,"EventID":"S4O-02900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:20.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:32.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the curriculum for excellence addresses the threats posed to children and young people through internet access and social media.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:20.217","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291937,"EventID":"S4O-02901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:20.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:32.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that schools will be in a position to implement the new higher examinations through the curriculum for excellence in 2014-15.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:20.577","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291938,"EventID":"S4O-02902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:20.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T15:58:53.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met representatives of Universities Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:20.78","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291939,"EventID":"S4O-02903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:21.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T09:40:28.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the implementation of national guidance on political literacy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:21.107","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291940,"EventID":"S4O-02904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:21.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:36.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of household income people spend on childcare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:21.387","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291941,"EventID":"S4O-02905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:21.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve outcomes for school leavers.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:21.7","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291942,"EventID":"S4O-02906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:21.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:36.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Edinburgh College and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:21.98","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291943,"EventID":"S4O-02907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:22.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:36.943","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met the Principal of West of Scotland College and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:22.387","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291944,"EventID":"S4O-02908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:22.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:37.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it can learn from the results of the recent UK Commission's Employer Skills Survey in relation to its youth work strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:22.697","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291945,"EventID":"S4O-02909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:22.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:37.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of pupils who started primary one in Edinburgh schools in August 2013 had not had six terms of nursery education. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:22.98","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291946,"EventID":"S4O-02910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:23.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:37.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers that the budget provision for extra childcare will have.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:23.337","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291947,"EventID":"S4O-02911","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:23.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:38.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the availability of supply teachers.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:23.697","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291948,"EventID":"S4O-02912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:24.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T16:25:46.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding the Post Results Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:24.053","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291949,"EventID":"S4O-02913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:24.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:39.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the curriculum for excellence is providing an effective pathway for young people to enter a career in the energy industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:24.337","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291950,"EventID":"S4O-02914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:24.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T11:18:49.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local training organisations in Clydebank and Milngavie.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:24.587","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291951,"EventID":"S4O-02915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:24.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:05:39.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with employers in developing the National 4 and 5 exams.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:24.897","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291952,"EventID":"S4O-02916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:25.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T16:09:48.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand childcare provision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:25.147","MeetingDate":"2014-02-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291953,"EventID":"S4O-02917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:25.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:06:25.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the restoration of train services to the Reston and East Linton stations.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:25.757","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291954,"EventID":"S4O-02918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:26.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:06:26.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed by the Scottish Welfare Fund in its first six months of operation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:26.113","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291955,"EventID":"S4O-02919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:26.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T10:18:16.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:27.003","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291956,"EventID":"S4O-02920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:27.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:06:27.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how pump storage will add to Scotland's clean energy sustainability.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:27.767","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291957,"EventID":"S4O-02921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:28.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T15:34:19.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the timescale for fatal accident inquiries concerning helicopter accidents.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:28.25","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291958,"EventID":"S4O-02922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:28.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T09:55:45.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what lessons Scottish agencies can learn from the extreme flooding in the south of England.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:28.593","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291959,"EventID":"S4O-02923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:28.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:06:28.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:28.907","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291960,"EventID":"S4O-02924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:29.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-10T12:06:28.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would reform welfare in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:29.203","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291961,"EventID":"S4O-02925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:29.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T10:48:44.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is raising awareness of the offence of stalking.\r\n","AnswerText":"I would first like to congratulate Ann Moulds, whose campaigning led this Parliament to pass a law criminalising stalking, on being named the Glasgow Evening Times’ Scotswoman of the Year.\r\nStalking is a serious offence which can cause significant distress to its victims.\r\nThe Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 provides for a specific criminal offence of stalking. Ahead of the section coming into force in December 2010, the Scottish Government issued advice to all key stakeholders within the justice system, making them aware of the offence and where further information can be found.\r\nPolice Scotland has recently launched a stalking awareness raising campaign for all front line officers. The Crown Office has appointed a national lead prosecutor for cases involving stalking who is available as an expert resource to prosecutors considering and prosecuting these offences.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:29.47","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291962,"EventID":"S4O-02926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T12:59:29.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T10:40:37.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding additional funding being available for flood prevention.","AnswerText":"Recent weather conditions have presented significant challenges to households and businesses in many parts of the United Kingdom and it is incumbent on public agencies to provide effective support where they can.\r\nIn Scotland, the Scottish Government is allocating £42 million per year within the general capital grant to local authorities for flood protection. A COSLA Scottish Government panel will meet shortly to consider applications for this funding and make recommendations to the COSLA leadership and ministers.\r\nIn addition, on 31 December 2013 I triggered the Bellwin Scheme, which allows ministers to give special financial assistance to local authorities who would otherwise be faced with an undue financial burden as a result of providing relief and carrying out immediate work due to large-scale emergencies.\r\nIn relation to recent UK flooding announcements, the UK Government has not to date indicated that additional resources will be available to the devolved administrations, but I will be seeking clarity from Treasury Ministers about the funding position as part of my engagement with them ahead of next month’s UK Budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:59:29.733","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291963,"EventID":"S4W-19713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T13:46:19.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T14:51:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it, (b) any of its agencies or (c) any non-departmental public body keeps records of people (i) entering or (ii) in prison with a special educational needs profile.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘We are not familiar with the term “special educational needs profile” and therefore advise the Scottish Prison Service does not collate data on the number of people entering or in prison with a special educational needs profile.\r\nFor further information I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19715 and S4W-19716 on 10 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:46:19.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291964,"EventID":"S4W-19715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T13:46:20.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T14:51:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to keep records of prisoners who identify as having or have a profile of special educational needs and whether it has discussed this with the Scottish Prison Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘We are not familiar with the term “special educational needs profile”, but can advise that following discussions with Scottish Government in 2011, a decision was made to trial a new bespoke learning difficulties/disabilities profiling tool developed by the “Dyscovery Centre” at the University of South Wales. The “Do-it” profiler tool does not diagnose or label specific conditions but does provide a comprehensive profile of the individual across the spectrum or learning difficulties/disabilities and offers guidance for addressing areas of learning need. The pilot will conclude in May 2014.\r\nSPS is also working closely with greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to progress a pilot project across three prisons in the west of Scotland to identify prisoners with learning disabilities. The pilot is using the individually administered Hayes ability screening index screening to index incidence of intellectual abilities.Participation in both the pilots is voluntary.\r\nFor further information I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19716 on 10 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:46:20.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291965,"EventID":"S4W-19716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T13:46:21.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T14:51:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners there are who have a special educational needs profile or have identified as having difficulties with reading, writing or communication and how many (a) have moderate learning difficulties, (b) have language and communication support needs, (c) are physically disabled, (d) are visually or hearing impaired, (e) have autism spectrum disorders and (f) have any other special educational needs.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) does not centrally collate data as to how many prisoners have a special educational needs profile as this is not a term we are familiar with. \r\nIn terms of difficulties with reading, writing and communication, SPS Learning and Skills Services providers offer literacy and numeracy screening to the following groups of prisoners: all prisoners serving 6 months or more; convicted young people (under 18 years old); females serving 31 days or more; and, where capacity permits, all other prisoners serving or remanded for 30 days or more. \r\nParticipation in this screening is voluntary. The results of this screening for the period 2012-13 demonstrate that 70% of prisoners who choose to participate in the screening process lacked functional literacy while 83% lack functional numeracy, as defined in Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 4 and below.\r\nThe SPS does not routinely collect information as to how many prisoners have (a) have moderate learning difficulties, (b) have language and communication support needs, (c) are physically disabled, (d) are visually or hearing impaired, (e) have autism spectrum disorders and (f) have any other special educational needs. However since 7 August 2013, SPS have asked all persons on admission to our custody to self-declare any disability and this information is recorded in our prisoner records system. I have provided below details of the types of disabilities self-declared by those persons admitted to our custody from 7 August 2013 until 3 March 2014.’\r\nType of Disability\r\nNumber of Prisoners\r\nDyslexia \r\n49\r\nHearing Difficulties \r\n48\r\nLearning Difficulties \r\n68\r\nMental Illness\r\n248\r\nOther \r\n30\r\nProgressive Condition \r\n60\r\nReduced Mobility \r\n207\r\nReduced Physical Capacity \r\n214\r\nRefused To Disclose \r\n11\r\nSevere Disfigurement \r\n11\r\nSpeech Impediment \r\n7\r\nVisual Impairment \r\n44\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:46:21.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291966,"EventID":"S4W-19717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T13:46:21.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-11T14:51:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners in each year since 2007 (a) with a special educational needs profile or (b) who identified as having problems with reading, writing or communication (i) have had moderate learning difficulties, (ii) have had language and communication support needs, (iii) have been physically disabled, (iv) have been visually or hearing impaired, (v) have had autism spectrum disorders and (vi) have had any other special educational needs.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19716 on 10 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:46:21.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291967,"EventID":"S4W-19721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-12T13:46:22.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T13:17:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it prefers NHS general dental services to be provided by independent dental contractors or NHS board managed clinics.","AnswerText":"Our preference is for NHS general dental services to be provided by independent contractors where possible.\r\nHowever, it is recognised that some patients with complex treatment needs are not able to be seen by independent contractors. It is also the case that in some parts of Scotland provision of NHS general dental services by independent contractors may not always be viable. In these instances, NHS boards have been given the approval to arrange provision of NHS general dental services by the Public Dental Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:46:22.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291980,"EventID":"S4W-19722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:29.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T14:51:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the membership is of the independent review group led by Lord Bonomy in relation to corroboration.\r\n","AnswerText":"Lord Bonomy has confirmed the following membership for the reference group for the review:\r\n\tRt Hon Lady Dorrian\r\n\tSheriff Michael O'Grady QC\r\n\tSheriff Norman McFadyen\r\n\tIan Cruickshank \r\n\tDavid McKenna, Victim Support Scotland\r\n\tJoe Moyes, Scottish Court Service\r\n\tDCC Iain Livingstone, Police Scotland\r\n\tShelagh McCall, Scottish Human Rights Commission\r\n\tJ D Murray Macara QC \r\n\tMurdo MacLeod QC \r\n\tJane Farquharson, Advocate\r\n\tFrances McMenamin, SCCRC\r\n\tSir Gerald Gordon\r\n\tCharles Stoddart \r\n\tProfessor James Chalmers\r\n\tProfessor Pamela Ferguson\r\nIt is understood that this list does not preclude changes in the composition of the group in light of the development of the work of the review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:30.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291981,"EventID":"S4W-19723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:31.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T14:51:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when will Lord Bonomy’s independent review group (a) first meet and (b) report its findings on corroboration to ministers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The timings for reference group meetings are a matter for Lord Bonomy. The review is expected to take approximately a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:31.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291982,"EventID":"S4W-19724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:31.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T14:51:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is providing to Lord Bonomy’s independent review group on corroboration for (a) research and (b) administration.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has seconded two officials to provide a secretariat to support the administration of the review. The conduct of the review and any research is a matter for Lord Bonomy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:31.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291983,"EventID":"S4W-19725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:31.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T14:51:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration of stage 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill will be delayed until after Lord Bonomy’s independent review group on corroboration has reported to ministers. \r\n","AnswerText":"The general principles of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill including the corroboration reform have now been approved by the Scottish Parliament and the Bill will proceed with its parliamentary passage in the usual way. Lord Bonomy’s independent review will consider any additional safeguards and changes to law and practice that may be necessary to maintain a fair, effective and efficient system in light of the removal of the corroboration requirement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:31.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291984,"EventID":"S4W-19726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:32.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T15:51:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the suspension of (a) council tax for households and (b) non-domestic rates for businesses affected by flooding.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has fully funded the council tax freeze for the last six years to provide much-needed financial relief to vulnerable groups and hard pressed families, and we are committed to continuing this freeze for the lifetime of this Parliament. As responsibility for the administration and collection of council tax sits with Scottish local authorities, it would be for local authorities to determine their approach in circumstances where local communities have been affected by flooding.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also committed to offering the most competitive business rates package in the UK and, should the need arise, will consider the need to offer business rate relief for affected businesses.\r\nMy officials have been in touch with a number of local authorities following the recent flooding relating to the Bellwin Scheme. I triggered the Bellwin Scheme on \r\n31 December 2013 and as a result the Scottish Borders, Orkney Islands and South Lanarkshire councils have notified the Scottish Government of possible claims for additional revenue funding under the scheme.\r\nDumfries and Galloway council is also seeking additional financial support outwith the Bellwin Scheme and I am currently considering that request.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government is working with local authorities, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water to deliver our first ever round of strategic flood risk management plans. Building on the national flood risk assessment and SEPA’s recently published flood risk and hazard maps, these set out objectives for reducing flood risk in potentially vulnerable areas across Scotland, and the best combination of measures to achieve this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:32.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291985,"EventID":"S4W-19727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:32.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T15:01:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards offered three cycles of IVF prior to the introduction of the updated criteria on 1 July 2013 and which achieved a waiting time of fewer than 12 months. \r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Grampian, NHS Highland, NHS Tayside and the three island boards NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles all offered up to three cycles of IVF prior to the introduction of the updated criteria on 1 July 2013. Of these, the three island boards NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles achieved a waiting time of less than 12 months prior to the introduction of updated criteria on 1 July 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:32.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291986,"EventID":"S4W-19728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:32.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-12T15:01:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the NHS's capacity to deliver three full cycles of IVF.\r\n","AnswerText":"An assessment of the NHS’s capacity to deliver three full cycles of IVF will be made as part of the 2015 Review as recommended by the National Infertility Group.\r\nAs indicated in the Scottish Parliament on 29 January 2014 during Portfolio Question Time, if sufficient robust data is available, the Scottish Government is content for an earlier IVF review to take place and for views to be submitted to the Scottish Government by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:32.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":291987,"EventID":"S4W-19729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-13T13:41:33.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T10:34:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the combined carbon emissions has been from Scotland’s power stations in each year since 2006.\r\n","AnswerText":"Between 2006 and 2011, the greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland’s power stations were as follows: (all values in million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent):\r\n2006\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n18.848\r\n15.607\r\n14.302\r\n13.368\r\n15.827\r\n12.147\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T13:41:33.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292007,"EventID":"S4W-19730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:10.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T14:04:18.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's comments of 13 February 2014 on sterling and any currency union, if Scotland decided to separate from the rest of the UK and a Scottish bank failed, who would be responsible for bailing it out.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework, published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9 which are consistent with wider international reforms that aim to ensure that taxpayers are never again forced to bailout private sector financial institutions.\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013. In addition, the response to question 38 (on page 389) covers bank bail-outs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:10.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292008,"EventID":"S4W-19731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:10.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T14:04:18.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's comments of 13 February 2014 on sterling and any currency union, if Scotland decided to separate from the rest of the UK and a Scottish bank failed, what level of compensation would be available to account holders and who would underwrite this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9.\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013.\r\nPage 115 of Scotland’s Future confirms that consistent with every other country in the EU we will continue to have compensation schemes in place, providing protection equivalent to that which is available in the UK and in line with EU harmonised levels of €100,000 (£85,000) for deposits.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:10.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292009,"EventID":"S4W-19732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:11.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:40:49.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, what currency an independent Scotland would pursue in the absence of a formal currency union with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9.\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013.\r\nAs a formal and well-designed currency union is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the UK, the Scottish Government is confident that this will be agreed in the event of a ‘yes’ vote.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:11.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292010,"EventID":"S4W-19733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:11.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:40:49.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19242 by John Swinney on 28 January 2014, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, what advice its white paper on independence gives to non-departmental public bodies regarding the impact of an independent Scotland on their operations in terms of (a) currency and (b) EU membership.\r\n","AnswerText":"For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Kelly to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’ which can be found at: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf\r\n(a) Currency, Chapter 3, particularly pages 109 to 117\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of ‘Scotland’s Future’.\r\nMore detailed proposals are contained in the Fiscal Commission Working Group’s first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapters 7 and 8 set out options, followed by detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9. The report can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/02/3017/downloads\r\n(b) EU membership, Chapter 6, particularly pages 216 to 224\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on EU membership can be found on pages 216 to 224 of ‘Scotland’s Future’.\r\nThere is also information about EU membership in the publication ‘Scotland in the European Union’ which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00439166.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:11.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292011,"EventID":"S4W-19734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:11.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:40:49.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, how the proposals in its white paper on independence on (a) welfare, (b) pensions, (c) tax and (d) a single energy market would be affected in the absence of a formal currency union.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9.\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013.\r\nDetails on welfare and pensions are found on pages 134 to 166, tax system on pages 117 to 123, and energy on pages 293 to 306.\r\nAs a formal and well-designed currency union is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the UK, the Scottish Government is confident that this will be agreed in the event of a ‘yes’ vote.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:11.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292012,"EventID":"S4W-19735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:12.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:40:49.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, how the Scottish financial services sector would be affected by Scotland separating from the UK in the absence of a formal currency union.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations for a formal monetary union in chapter 9.\r\nA summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013. In addition questions 77 to 82 (pages 401-2) discuss financial products and services, whilst questions 91 to 93 (pages 404-5) discuss financial regulation.\r\nAs a formal and well-designed currency union is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the UK, the Scottish Government is confident that this will be agreed in the event of a ‘yes’ vote.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:12.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292013,"EventID":"S4W-19736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:12.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:41:36.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decides to separate from the UK, what will happen to the (a) cash individual savings accounts (ISAs) and (b) stocks and shares ISAs that are currently held by investors resident in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future Chapter 3 Page 115 Paragraph 3 states:\r\n“In an independent Scotland, this Government will continue to support existing tax-free savings products, like savings and investment ISAs.\r\nExisting schemes will be honoured in full following independence.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:12.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292014,"EventID":"S4W-19737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:12.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:41:36.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decides to separate from the UK, whether the tax benefits that are currently applied to funds managed and held in the rest of the UK will be available to residents in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future Part 5 Q & A, Finance and the Economy Page 388 details as follows:\r\nQ 34. What tax relief would be available to specific sectors in an independent Scotland?\r\nA. At the moment of independence, Scotland will inherit the tax system and the prevailing UK rates and thresholds for all taxes, including tax reliefs. Thereafter decisions on the tax system and all specific taxes, including tax rates, allowances and credits will be made by the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:12.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292015,"EventID":"S4W-19738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:12.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-13T15:41:36.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, what will happen to the private pensions of people who are resident in Scotland and are currently making contributions toward these pensions.\r\n","AnswerText":"Occupational and personal pension rights and accrued benefits will not be affected by Scotland becoming independent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:12.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292016,"EventID":"S4W-19739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:13.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T09:50:55.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what EU state aid issues arise from the delivery of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme, particularly in relation to assistance for ditching and draining.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following the European Commission’s acceptance of EU Regulation No. 1310/2013, on the transitional provisions on support for rural development, there are no state aids issues arising from the delivery of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme in 2014. Earlier draft versions of the European Union’s transitional provisions on support for rural development omitted some capital works, such as drainage. With the passing of EU Regulation No. 1310/2013 that omission no longer applies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:13.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292017,"EventID":"S4W-19740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:14.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:42:34.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose is of police written warnings.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland have discretion to issue formal adult warnings for offences which they consider to be minor in nature, as an alternative to referral to the Procurator Fiscal Service. The most common offences include street drinking, drunk and incapable, urinating in public, shoplifting, common assault, breach of the peace and vandalism.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:14.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292018,"EventID":"S4W-19741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:14.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:42:34.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what redress is available to a person to challenge the legitimacy of a police written warning.","AnswerText":"A formal adult warning (FAW) is sent to a person who has 28 days to decide whether to accept or refuse it. If accepted, the FAW is recorded in the Criminal History System for two years and then removed. It does not count as a conviction. If refused, it is a matter for Police Scotland to decide what further action to take, including referral to the Procurator Fiscal for a decision on the most appropriate disposal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:14.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292019,"EventID":"S4W-19742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:14.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:42:34.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who retains details of police written warnings that have been issued, for how long and for what purpose.\r\n","AnswerText":"Details of Formal Adult Warnings (FAWs) are recorded in the Criminal History System (CHS) for two years and then removed. Only two FAWs are permitted on the CHS at any one time so this process enables police officers to check whether an offender has any FAWs already recorded. If there are two FAWs already on the CHS, a FAW cannot be issued for any subsequent offence and a Standard Police Report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:14.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292020,"EventID":"S4W-19743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:15.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:42:34.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people were detained in respect of domestic violence incidents in each of the last three years and, of these, how many (a) were released without charge, (b) had their case marked as \"no proceedings\" by the procurator fiscal, (c) were acquitted after trial and (d) were convicted. \r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Information on the number of people detained in respect of domestic violence incidents is not held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).\r\n(b) (c) & (d) The available information is contained in the following table:\r\nPeople reported to COPFS for a charge with a domestic abuse aggravation\r\n \r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nNo action\r\n3601\r\n4024\r\n4022\r\nAcquitted after trial\r\n734\r\n826\r\n873\r\nConvicted\r\n8564\r\n8872\r\n9292\r\nNotes:\r\n1. The figures relate to people reported to COPFS for charges with an aggravation of domestic abuse\r\nwhich includes both violent and not violent offences.\r\n2. The no action figures relate to people reported to COPFS in the appropriate financial year for \r\ncharges that were initially marked no action. \r\n3. In the majority of cases where no action was taken it was because there was insufficient admissible \r\nevidence in law to raise criminal proceedings.\r\n4. Figures for acquitted after trial and convictions come from the Scottish Government Criminal \r\nProceedings Database.\r\n5. Acquitted after trial includes found not guilty and found not proven after trial.\r\n6. The acquittal and conviction figures relate to the financial year in which the trial concluded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:15.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292021,"EventID":"S4W-19744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T13:20:15.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:47:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports science engagement in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides funding for several organisations and initiatives that encourage people of all ages across Scotland to engage with science. In 2013-14 this includes:\r\nFree or subsidised travel costs for Ayrshire school groups to visit Glasgow Science Centre. This has benefitted around 250 primary pupils so far this financial year, in three schools in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.\r\nSCDI’s Young Engineers and Science Clubs network, which is engaging with every primary school in East Ayrshire.\r\nEdinburgh International Science Festival’s outreach programme, Generation Science, available to primary schools across Scotland. This year’s tour began in January and visits are confirmed for four schools so far in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.\r\nOther activities funded by the Scottish Government are available to any secondary school requesting them. These include visits from the Institute of Physics’ Lab in a Lorry and participation in the Engineering Development Trust’s Go4SET initiative.\r\nAny organisation not already in receipt of science engagement funding may apply for a Talking Science grant, for events aimed at a public audience. The next application deadline is 1pm on 4 March 2014. Further details are on the Scottish Government website:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science/Scienceengagement/engagement-grants\r\nOfficials are in contact with the organisers of this year’s inaugural Ayrshire Science and Engineering Festival in March. The Scottish Government will explore the possibility of supporting this event in future alongside other science festivals receiving funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T13:20:15.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292022,"EventID":"S4W-19745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-14T14:35:08.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T11:56:00.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses primary or secondary legislation to introduce special road schemes and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 provides for special roads to be authorised by means of a scheme, which is a form of secondary legislation. The Act also provides that the power of the Scottish Ministers to make a scheme shall be exercised by statutory instrument.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-02-28T14:35:08.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292026,"EventID":"S4W-19750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T09:42:19.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-15T19:19:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is on the purchase of fairly traded products.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is SPCB policy that its procurement is undertaken in a responsible manner. Our Responsible Purchasing Strategy has been in place for over six years and was developed around 4 broad themes, one of which relates to ethical and social issues which covers fairly traded goods.  We seek to integrate relevant responsible purchasing considerations throughout our procurement and this includes giving consideration to fairly traded goods as an option, if such goods are available and affordable.   We continue to work with our catering provider, to offer a wide range of fairly traded products. All tea, coffee and sugar sachets served at the Scottish Parliament and orange juice for hospitality functions are fairly traded and we have a comprehensive range of confectionery items. Each year in February and March we acknowledge Fair Trade fortnight and use the two weeks to highlight the fairly traded products we sell.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T09:42:20.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani ","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292027,"EventID":"S4W-19746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:03.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-15T12:57:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital has cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"As the Vale of Leven Hospital is an independent inquiry, it is for the chairman to decide on the procedure and conduct of the inquiry. The chairman has indicated that he will publish full costs at the end of the inquiry. However, the information held on costs to date by the Scottish Government is currently being collated with a view to publishing them in the near future. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 55691.).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:03.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292028,"EventID":"S4W-19747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:04.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-15T19:19:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a purchasing policy that refers to fairly traded products and, if so, what it requires.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government issued guidance of fair and ethical trading through a Scottish Procurement Policy Note in 2005, which outlines how public bodies can procure fair and ethically traded goods and services in a manner consistent with EU procurement law. This guidance formed part of the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, published in 2009.\r\nThe Scottish Fair Trade Forum has agreed to work with the Scottish Government to progress the uptake of fair and ethically traded goods and services through public procurement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:04.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292029,"EventID":"S4W-19748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:04.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-15T19:19:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which (a) NHS boards and (b) non-departmental public bodies have purchasing policies that refer to fairly traded products and what they require.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold centrally details of purchasing policies of other contracting authorities.\r\nThe Scottish Government has, though, issued guidance on fair and ethical trading through a Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN) in 2005. The Scottish Procurement Policy Handbook requires every contracting authority to take appropriate action in response to policy developments disseminated via SPPNs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:04.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292030,"EventID":"S4W-19751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:05.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T11:06:46.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Employability Fund has been allocated to support places in further education.  \r\n","AnswerText":"In 2013-14, the Employability Fund for college provision totals £24 million: £18 million allocated directly to colleges by the Scottish Funding Council and £6m ringfenced for colleges by Skills Development Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:05.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292031,"EventID":"S4W-19752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:05.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T11:06:46.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many college places have been (a) partly- and (b) fully-funded by the Employability Fund and how many of these have not been filled, broken down by (i) institution and (ii) level of qualification.\r\n","AnswerText":"In accounting year 2013-14, colleges have been asked to deliver 7950 places financed by the £18 million allocated by the Scottish Funding Council. Details of the number of these places which have been filled are not yet available.\r\nWithin the Skills Development Scotland tranche 2650 starts were ring-fenced for colleges. Colleges were able to bid for these and, if they chose, additional provision and SDS subsequently allocated a total of 3,158 to colleges within its Employability Fund contracts. As at 31 December 2013 1,814 of these starts have been filled. The following spreadsheets detail the number of contracted and actual starts at each college.\r\nSkills Development Scotland are unable to provide details of the nature of qualifications being undertaken by starts yet to be filled as the provision is designed to be flexible to meet the specific needs of individuals:\r\nOrganisation\r\nContracted Starts\r\nAyrshire College (Ayr College)\r\n99\r\nAyrshire College (Ayr College)\r\n63\r\nAyrshire College (Kilmarnock College)\r\n83\r\nBORDERS COLLEGE\r\n90\r\nCity of Glasgow College\r\n175\r\nCoatbridge College\r\n101\r\nDumfries and Galloway College\r\n87\r\nDundee and Angus College (Angus College)\r\n108\r\nDundee and Angus College (Dundee College)\r\n95\r\nEdinburgh College (Edinburghs Telford College)\r\n120\r\nEdinburgh College (Edinburghs Telford College)\r\n25\r\nEdinburgh College (Edinburghs Telford College)\r\n8\r\nFife College (Carnegie College (on behalf of Adam Smith and Carnegie Colleges))\r\n469\r\nForth Valley College\r\n29\r\nForth Valley College\r\n66\r\nForth Valley College\r\n50\r\nGlasgow Clyde College (Anniesland College)\r\n75\r\nGlasgow Clyde College (Cardonald College)\r\n30\r\nGlasgow Clyde College (Langside College)\r\n30\r\nGlasgow Kelvin College (John Wheatley College)\r\n15\r\nGlasgow Kelvin College (North Glasgow College)\r\n20\r\nGlasgow Kelvin College (North Glasgow College)\r\n45\r\nInverness College UHI\r\n11\r\nMoray College\r\n33\r\nNew College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire\r\n60\r\nNew College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire\r\n284\r\nNew College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire\r\n283\r\nNorth East Scotland College (Aberdeen College)\r\n34\r\nNorth East Scotland College (Aberdeen College)\r\n20\r\nNorth East Scotland College (Banff and Buchan College)\r\n50\r\nNorth Highland College\r\n8\r\nOrkney Islands Council (Orkney College)\r\n26\r\nPerth College UHI\r\n43\r\nShetland College\r\n4\r\nSRUC (Scotland's Rural College)\r\n30\r\nWest College Scotland (Clydebank College) \r\n54\r\nWest College Scotland (James Watt College)\r\n34\r\nWest College Scotland (Reid Kerr College)\r\n10\r\nWest College Scotland (Reid Kerr College)\r\n110\r\nWest Highland College UHI\r\n38\r\nWest Lothian College\r\n143\r\nCollege Total\r\n3158\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTraining Provider Type\r\nTraining Provider Name\r\nGrand Total\r\nCollege\r\nAyrshire College (Ayr College)\r\n44 \r\n \r\nAyrshire College (Kilmarnock College)\r\n62 \r\n \r\nBorders College\r\n57 \r\n \r\nCity of Glasgow College\r\n103 \r\n \r\nCoatbridge College\r\n51 \r\n \r\nDumfries and Galloway College\r\n48 \r\n \r\nDundee and Angus College (Angus College)\r\n71 \r\n \r\nDundee and Angus College (Dundee College)\r\n50 \r\n \r\nEdinburgh College (Edinburgh's Telford College)\r\n70 \r\n \r\nFife College (Carnegie College on behalf of Adam Smith and Carnegie Colleges)\r\n350 \r\n \r\nForth Valley College\r\n72 \r\n \r\nGlasgow Clyde College (Anniesland College)\r\n59 \r\n \r\nGlasgow Clyde College (Cardonald College)\r\n14 \r\n \r\nGlasgow Kelvin College (John Wheatley College)\r\n15 \r\n \r\nInverness College UHI\r\n11 \r\n \r\nMoray College\r\n19 \r\n \r\nNew College Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire\r\n439 \r\n \r\nNorth East Scotland College (Aberdeen College)\r\n17 \r\n \r\nNorth East Scotland College (Banff and Buchan College)\r\n12 \r\n \r\nOrkney Islands Council (Orkney College)\r\n17 \r\n \r\nPerth College UHI\r\n25 \r\n \r\nSRUC (Scotland's Rural College)\r\n15 \r\n \r\nWest College Scotland (Clydebank College)\r\n19 \r\n \r\nWest College Scotland (James Watt College)\r\n18 \r\n \r\nWest College Scotland (Reid Kerr College)\r\n49 \r\n \r\nWest Highland College UHI\r\n22 \r\n \r\nWest Lothian College\r\n85 \r\nCollege Total\r\n \r\n1,814 \r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:05.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292032,"EventID":"S4W-19754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T14:19:05.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:47:10.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve non-motorised users of the A9 corridor in the design of its upgrade work.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is actively engaged in establishing a Non-Motorised User Forum in order to provide an opportunity for representatives of this group to highlight issues they consider relevant to the A9 dualling programme and the design of the route as it develops.\r\nMany of the representatives of this forum also form part of Active Travel Stakeholder Group, which I created in September 2013, to promote a long-term vision for cycling and walking.\r\nAdditionally, the first meeting of the Accessibility Forum took place in November 2013. Membership of this separate forum includes representatives of disability and mobility groups and it is intended that membership will be extended as interest from further such groups becomes apparent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T14:19:05.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292037,"EventID":"S4T-00600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T13:00:04.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T11:35:21.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments of the President of the European Commission that it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible\" for an independent Scotland to join the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T13:00:04.907","MeetingDate":"2014-02-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292038,"EventID":"S4T-00601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T13:00:05.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T11:47:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding the \"Edinburgh Agreement\", in light of recent comments by the UK Government regarding currency and a “senior coalition source” regarding respect for the outcome of the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T13:00:05.157","MeetingDate":"2014-02-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292039,"EventID":"S4F-01885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:09.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-14T16:25:20.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:09.58","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292040,"EventID":"S4F-01887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:10.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T09:17:45.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:10.233","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292041,"EventID":"S4F-01889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:11.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T09:39:12.197","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:11.53","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292042,"EventID":"S4F-01890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:12.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T10:03:44.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with Glasgow 2014 officials regarding the financial administration of the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:12.2","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292043,"EventID":"S4F-01896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:13.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T10:45:39.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last met representatives of COSLA and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:13.883","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292044,"EventID":"S4F-01898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T12:59:14.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T11:20:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve the inspection of care services.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T12:59:14.477","MeetingDate":"2014-02-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292050,"EventID":"S4W-19755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:23.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T14:41:51.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17786 by Keith Brown on 6 November 2013, when the Deputy First Minister will announce her conclusion on the way forward.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Deputy First Minister set out to Parliament on 19 September 2013 her intention to consult with the Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Services Steering Group on the future options for service and the next steps prior to reaching a conclusion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:23.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292051,"EventID":"S4W-19756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:24.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:00:39.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Timber Markets Impact Group will report on the long-term sustainability of productive forests.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Forestry Commission will publish a 50 year forecast of potential softwood availability from Scotland’s forests by the end of May 2014. The forecast will account for various scenarios of levels of restocking and new planting. The findings of the forecast will provide an indication of the long term potential timber production from Scotland’s productive forests. The Scottish Timber Markets Impact Group will report on the findings of the forecast shortly after its publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:24.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292052,"EventID":"S4W-19757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:24.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:00:39.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects current net forestry planting rates to provide sufficient round timber at maturity to sustain the wood processing industry at current or higher levels.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18700 on 18 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:24.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse ","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292053,"EventID":"S4W-19758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:24.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:00:39.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking, in addition to external certification audits, to ensure its long-term commitment to the economic sustainability of the national forest estate.\r\n","AnswerText":"The national forest estate is managed in accordance with published national strategic directions to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for the people of Scotland.\r\nIn delivering these benefits, Forest Enterprise Scotland is mandated to secure external income where appropriate in order to complement funding from the Scottish Government. This is in accordance with the published key commitment: ‘We will seek a diverse range of income sources to underpin the cost of managing the estate, and we will continually look for ways to achieve best value in delivery of public benefits.’\r\nIn broad terms, income from sales of goods and services, principally timber, but also including renewable energy rentals, recreation, minerals and venison, covers the cost of land, forest and property management.\r\nScottish Government funding supports the delivery of additional community, recreation, tourism and environmental benefits. Income opportunities are also considered where appropriate, for example through parking charges or seeking partnership funds, to increase the level of benefits that can be delivered.\r\nScottish Government funding also supports capital investments on the national forest estate, such as the recent construction of a timber pier on Mull, the renewal of the estate’s visitor centres, and investment in the timber transport network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:24.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292054,"EventID":"S4W-19759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:24.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:00:39.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the annual target of 10,000 hectares of new forestry planting from 2015 is met, and what proportion of this new tree planting it considers should be productive conifers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working closely with representatives from the forestry industry to ensure the next Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is well designed to help deliver the woodland creation target of 100,000 hectares, over the decade between 2012 and 2022.\r\nWe are also working to minimise the impact on new planting during the transition to the next SRDP. Part of this process has been for Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) to re-open for new Rural Priorities forestry applications including woodland creation. Re-opening allows FCS to continue to consider new proposals for planting in 2015 and they expect to be able to support all suitable applications during 2014.\r\nIn addition, a FCS woodland creation planning grant is encouraging applicants to continue to develop projects for new woodlands which can be submitted under the next SRDP, when it opens in 2015.\r\nWithin the 100,000 hectare target, the Scottish Government would like to see a broad range of woodland types created. We would anticipate that most of these woodlands will contain productive stands which produce both timber and woodfuel in the longer term. The Scottish Government recognises Scotland’s timber processing industry is vital to the economy of our rural areas and is dependent upon quality softwood timber from conifer forests. Therefore FCS has been asked to seek to deliver up to 60% of the woodland creation target through productive conifers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:24.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292055,"EventID":"S4W-19760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:25.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:00:39.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that (a) its agencies and (b) Forestry Commission Scotland play a vital role in implementing its policies and ensure that targets are met.\r\n","AnswerText":"Both the Scottish Government’s executive agencies and Forestry Commission Scotland are vital and integral parts of the Scottish Government and responsible for the direct delivery of public services. Each has a well-defined remit which is aligned with the government’s purpose to create a more successful country through increasing sustainable growth. The priorities and targets set within the National Performance Framework provide a clear vision for the kind of Scotland we want to see. Scotland Performs is the Scottish Government’s tool for reporting progress on overall delivery of the purpose and national outcomes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:25.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292056,"EventID":"S4W-19761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:25.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dentists have been asked to pay back overpayments that arose because of problems with the Management Information and Dental Accounting System (MIDAS) and, in light of such problems reportedly arising over an eight-year period, for what reason some dentists have been asked to repay within six weeks, and what proportion of dentists this represents.\r\n","AnswerText":"A total of 2,131 dentists are included in the process for repaying overpayments.\r\nWe expect the first recoveries to be made in March 2014. We have instructed Practitioner Services to make these recoveries at the same time as backdated payments to dentists for the 2013-14 pay award. This will help mitigate the financial impact of the recovery process.\r\nThe precise mechanics of the recovery process is a matter for Practitioner Services, however we are not aware of any dentists being asked to repay within six weeks.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:25.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292057,"EventID":"S4W-19762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:25.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the original Practitioner Services Division GP17 forms to dentists who have been asked to pay back overpayments because of problems with the Management Information and Dental Accounting System and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Practitioner Services as GP17 forms are not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:25.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292058,"EventID":"S4W-19763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:26.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it was advised that the Management Information and Dental Accounting System had made errors with (a) capitation and (b) continuing care registrations.\r\n","AnswerText":"On 15 March 2010, Practitioner Services notified the Scottish Government of an issue identified with the overpayment of dental registrations which they found to result mainly from incorrect patient demographic data supplied by dentists. The issue was identified as a result of work required to develop the Management Information and Dental Accounting System to support the implementation of non-time limited registrations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:26.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292059,"EventID":"S4W-19764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:27.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported problems with the Management Information and Dental Accounting System and whether it considers it fit for purpose.\r\n","AnswerText":"On the matter of duplicate registrations I refer the member to the answer given to question S4W-19485 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe Management Information and Dental Accounting System (MIDAS) was implemented in 1999 and since then has processed tens of millions of claims and managed the payment of hundreds of millions of pounds to dentists in Scotland.\r\nWe are assured by Practitioner Services Division that they continue to meet the strict operational targets which are in place for MIDAS. Payments managed by MIDAS are subject to regular internal and external audit. These provisions are in place to ensure that MIDAS is operating within the required accuracy and timeliness performance measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:27.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292060,"EventID":"S4W-19765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:28.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Community Health Index of patient identification was introduced by the NHS; when it was first included in the dental payment system, and what the reason was for any delay in introducing it to dental payments system.\r\n","AnswerText":"Community Health Index (CHI) was piloted in Tayside in 1974 and rolled out to the rest of Scotland in 1990.\r\nThe CHI is not, and has never been, required for dentists to claim for treatment provided. However, as part of the introduction of non time-limited registrations in 2010, Practitioner Services conducted a CHI seeding exercise to facilitate dental patient matching.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:28.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292061,"EventID":"S4W-19766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:30.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what processes to identify duplicate registrations were put in place when the NHS introduced continuous registration; whether it considers that these were fit for purpose, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer given to question S4W-19485 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:30.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292062,"EventID":"S4W-19767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:31.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Practitioner Services Division is paying collection agencies to recover debts from dentists arising because of problems with the Management Information and Dental Accounting System.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Practitioner Services. However, we are not aware of the involvement of collection agencies in the recovery process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:31.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292063,"EventID":"S4W-19769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:32.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:25:46.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that Practitioner Services Division will not pursue the estate of deceased dentists for debts that arose because of problems with the Management Information and Dental Accounting System.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19492 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:32.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292064,"EventID":"S4W-19770","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T15:36:35.837","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Forestry Commission Scotland staff facilitate new tree planting.\r\n","AnswerText":"Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) staff work to implement the woodland creation objectives of the Scottish Forestry Strategy, the FCS Corporate Plan and the recommendations of the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group.\r\nFCS conservancy staff are required to facilitate and encourage appropriate new woodland planting. This is done by working directly with landowners who are interested in woodland planting, and by working with other organisations, for example, local authorities to help ensure that regional forestry strategies clearly communicate the opportunities for woodland creation in each area.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also working closely with representatives from the forestry industry to ensure the next Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is well designed to deliver key woodland creation targets. In developing the next SRDP, the Forestry Commission has also been working closely with the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division to reduce the complexity of the scheme and improve the level of support provided to applicants.\r\nNew planting must adhere to the latest forestry standards, including taking into account best practice to reduce the spread of diseases and maintaining open ground where this is most appropriate from a wider ecosystem perspective.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:33.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292065,"EventID":"S4W-19771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:33.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T16:08:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people are (a) prescribed, (b) experiencing withdrawal symptoms from and (c) being treated for withdrawal from antidepressant medication.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information about the prescription of antidepressant medication can be found in the Medicines for Mental Health publication from September 2013: http://www.isdscotland.org/Publications/index.asp. In Scotland a total of 747,158 patients received treatment with an antidepressant in 2012-13. \r\nData on the total number of patients dispensed an antidepressant should be interpreted with great caution, it does not equate to people being treated for depression. This is because many drugs classified as antidepressants can also be used for conditions other than depression; including neuropathic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.\r\nInformation on numbers experiencing withdrawal symptoms and being treated for withdrawal symptoms from antidepressant medication is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:33.86","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292066,"EventID":"S4W-19774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:34.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T16:08:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance GPs have been given regarding withdrawal symptoms from antidepressant medication.\r\n","AnswerText":"General practitioners and other clinicians prescribe according to the British National Formulary  and report reactions to prescribed medication (including withdrawal symptoms) through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Clinicians can access information about reactions to prescribed medication on the MHRA website:\r\nhttp://www.mhra.gov.uk/#page=DynamicListMedicines.\r\nTraining modules for clinicians can also be accessed through this website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:34.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292067,"EventID":"S4W-19775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:35.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T16:08:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any antidepressant medication may no longer be prescribed or advice has been given to GPs on limiting its usage.\r\n","AnswerText":"The licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently a reserved matter and is taken forward by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a UK-wide basis. Decisions on whether or not to prescribe a specific medicine are for the clinician in discussion with the patient. If a medicine has a marketing authorisation (license), then it can be prescribed.\r\nSafety advice and updates on medicines are issued by the MHRA as required and the Scottish Government ensures that, where necessary, such advice is disseminated to health professionals in Scotland. Advice on side effects, benefits and risks of treatment and how to prescribe medicines are included in patient information leaflets, which are available in each pack of medicine, and summaries of product characteristics which are published on the MHRA website and updated as new information becomes available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:35.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292068,"EventID":"S4W-19776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:36.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T16:08:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what services are in place to assist people who are experiencing withdrawal from antidepressant medication.","AnswerText":"People experiencing withdrawal from antidepressant medication would be expected to be under the care of a general practitioner or psychiatrist and any problems would be discussed and managed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:36.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292069,"EventID":"S4W-19777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-17T17:01:37.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T16:08:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS continues to prescribe Venlafaxine and what is known about side-effects.\r\n","AnswerText":"Venlafaxine is prescribed by the NHS. Prescribing information for Venlafaxine in Scotland is published on ISD’s website in Medicines for Mental Health 2012-13 Publication found on the page for prescribing issues http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Prescribing-and-Medicines/Community-Dispensing/Prescribing-Issues/. \r\nThe information is in the data tables for antidepressants, and can be found on tab 6 – Approved Drug (Items).\r\nInformation about known-side effects of prescribed medication can be found on the website of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency www.mrha.gov.uk, and are also listed on the British National Formulary  website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-03T17:01:37.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292070,"EventID":"S4W-19778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T13:55:25.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T11:15:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met officials from (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Creative Scotland to discuss the establishment of a film studio in Scotland and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International meet regularly about the screen sector, including screen production facilities, through the Film and Television Delivery Group.\r\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and I, together with the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, also had a productive meeting on Wednesday 26 February 2014 with Independent Producers Scotland, where we discussed opportunities for developing the screen sector including through a screen production studio.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T13:55:25.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292071,"EventID":"S4W-19779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T13:55:26.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T11:15:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has met officials from (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Creative Scotland in the last two years to discuss the establishment of a film studio in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been in regular contact through meetings and other means with Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland over the past two years and particularly since the introduction of the fiscal incentive for high end television production in April 2013, concerning opportunities for developing screen production facilities in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T13:55:26.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292072,"EventID":"S4W-19780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T13:55:26.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T11:15:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing a film studio in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Last year Scotland secured its largest ever inward investment in screen production through the Sony Pictures series for Starz, Outlander, for which a 140,000 square foot television production studio has been developed in Cumbernauld, with public sector assistance.\r\nIn addition, Scottish Enterprise has commissioned a study into delivery options for screen production space in Scotland. This will be published shortly, giving detailed analysis of options, including locations and potential business models, taking into account changing market conditions, such as the introduction last year of a fiscal incentive for high-end television production.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T13:55:26.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292073,"EventID":"S4W-19781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T13:55:26.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T11:15:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a Scottish film fund.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland is the Lottery distributor for the screen sector and oversees the film and television fund. The first three years of Creative Scotland (2010 -11, 2011-12 and 2012-13) saw it give an average of £6.2 million in support annually to the sector, compared to an average of £3 million annually in the three previous years. (Creative Scotland replaced Scottish Screen on 1 July 2010, at the beginning of Q2, 2010-11.)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T13:55:26.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292074,"EventID":"S4W-19782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T13:55:27.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T11:15:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it has had in discussions with Pinewood Studios regarding the possibility of establishing a film studio in Scotland.","AnswerText":"On 28 May 2013, I wrote to Lord Grade, Chair of Pinewood Shepperton plc’s Board indicating the willingness of the Scottish Government and its agencies to assist in any way they could with Pinewood’s explorations of opportunities in Scotland.\r\nPinewood subsequently came to Glasgow on 30 May 2013, when they visited Film City Glasgow and met officials from Scottish Enterprise and were briefed on specific sites in relation to their operational requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T13:55:27.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292094,"EventID":"S4W-19790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:14.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:26:32.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its definition of a foreigner would be in a Scotland separated from the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out at page 271 of Scotland’s Future, Scottish Government policy is that British citizens who are habitually resident in Scotland and British citizens born in Scotland but residing elsewhere, would automatically be considered Scottish citizens. Other routes to citizenship would be available through descent, naturalisation or by connection.\r\n\r\nAs indicated by the First Minister in his speech to Business for Scotland in Aberdeen on 17 February 2014, “for Scots whether independent or not, the rest of the UK will never be “foreign”. The First Minister also made reference to the Ireland Act of 1949, which specifically states that Ireland is not to be regarded as a “foreign country”:\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:14.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292095,"EventID":"S4W-19791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:15.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:34:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote participation in community councils.\r\n","AnswerText":"As part of the Scottish Government’s work in collaboration with COSLA to enhance the role of community councils, the Improvement Service has established three Short-Life Working Groups consisting of a number of Community Council Liaison Officers who work for Scotland’s 32 local authorities.\r\nOne of these groups is considering ways to promote participation in community councils. The group’s work is at a very early stage but its findings will help inform future work to help promote participation in community councils.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:15.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292096,"EventID":"S4W-19792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:15.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:34:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase the number of contested community council elections from the current level of 8% and, if so, to what level.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities have statutory oversight of community councils under the Local Authority Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and that includes the responsibility for community council elections. That said, the Scottish Government acknowledges that the number of community council contested elections are low across the country. \r\nAs part of the Scottish Government’s work in collaboration with COSLA to enhance the role of community councils, the improvement service has established three Short-Life Working Groups consisting of a number of Community Council Liaison Officers who work for Scotland’s 32 local authorities. One of these newly established groups will evaluate the use of alternative voting methods such as evoting to increase the number of community councils contested elections across Scotland. The group’s work is at a very early stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:15.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292097,"EventID":"S4W-19793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:15.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:34:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to community councils.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not provide funding to community councils as it is for each local authority to decide the level of funding for community councils in their area. A Scottish Government Survey of Community Councils carried out in October 2012 and published in December 2013 showed that local authorities used several different methodologies to allocate money for administration costs. The most popular (18 local authorities) is to allocate a core grant and then top it up using population/elector/community councillor numbers. The full report is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00440438.pdf. \r\nIn addition local authorities have a Scottish local authority External Funding Officer who can advise community groups and community councils about potential external funding streams. Community councils can also apply for BIG Lottery funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:16.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292098,"EventID":"S4W-19794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:16.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:34:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training is available for community councillors.\r\n","AnswerText":"A Scottish Government Survey of Community Councils carried out in October 2012 and published in December 2013 showed that 91% of local authorities provided training opportunities for community councillors, with planning the most common type of training provided. The full report is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00440438.pdf \r\nAs part of the Scottish Government’s work in collaboration with COSLA to enhance the role of community councils, the Improvement Service has established three Short-Life Working Groups consisting of a number of Community Council Liaison Officers who work for Scotland’s 32 local authorities. One of these groups will be evaluating further training and development needs for community councillors and will explore opportunities to share existing training materials and resources. The group’s work is at a very early stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:16.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292099,"EventID":"S4W-19795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:16.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:34:19.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to support community councils that have become inactive.","AnswerText":"Each local authority has a Community Council Liaison Officer working directly with active and inactive community councils in their area.\r\nTo help community councils in their work local authorities have access to a Model Scheme of Establishment, a Model Constitution and a Model Standing Orders in addition to a Model Code of Conduct and Good Practice Guidance for Community Councillors. These were developed in 2009 by a group which involved the Scottish Government, COSLA and representatives of community councils and local authorities. The materials can be found on the Scottish Government website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:16.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292100,"EventID":"S4W-19796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:17.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its definition is of a free school meal.\r\n","AnswerText":"For the purposes of the First Minister’s announcement to extend the entitlement for children in primary 1 to 3 to a free school meal, a free school meal is a free school lunch. A free school lunch means any food or drink which an education authority provides free of charge to pupils in the middle of the day and which the education authority consider is appropriate for consumption as a meal at that time of the day. The food and drink provided must adhere to the standards set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:17.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292101,"EventID":"S4W-19797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:17.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many primary schools have no canteen, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:17.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292102,"EventID":"S4W-19798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:17.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether free school meals will be allowed to be consumed in classrooms.","AnswerText":"School food services across Scotland are designed to suit local and school needs and these vary widely in terms of methods of food preparation, distribution and menu choice. However delivered, the aim should be to optimise the service for quality, food safety and efficiency and ensure that the food served meets the nutritional requirements set out in the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008.\r\nIn preparing to deliver the option of a free school meal to children in primary 1 to 3, schools and local authorities will need to consider the implications for the current school meals service arrangements, any flexibility within these arrangements and any opportunity this may afford to make further improvements. \r\nHowever, local authorities will not be expected to do this in isolation. The Scottish Government has committed to work in partnership with COSLA over the next year to explore how any practical implications will be addressed, building on the experience of the free school meal trial for primary 1 to 3 pupils which ran over 2007-08.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:17.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292103,"EventID":"S4W-19799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:18.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered whether the consumption of free school meals for all children in P1-3 will affect the length of time required for providing lunch.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19798 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:18.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292104,"EventID":"S4W-19800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:18.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the preparedness of schools to deliver its free school meals policy with regard to (a) capital and (b) staffing costs. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19798 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:18.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292105,"EventID":"S4W-19801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:18.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many school rolls there are that exceed the seating capacity of their canteens.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:18.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292106,"EventID":"S4W-19802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:18.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many catering staff are employed in primary schools, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:18.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292107,"EventID":"S4W-19803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:19.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much local authorities will spend on additional catering staff hours in order to meet its free school meals commitments.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19798 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:19.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292108,"EventID":"S4W-19804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:20.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for how many primary schools the catering has been outsourced, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:20.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292109,"EventID":"S4W-19805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:20.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met teaching unions to discuss its free school meals policy, and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"A representative from the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) met with the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 7 January 2014 alongside a wider group of stakeholders. The discussion focussed on the First Minister’s announcement that day to extend the entitlement for children in primary 1 to 3 to a free school meal from January 2015. Attendees indicated that they would be willing to engage in on-going discussion about the policy as it progresses towards implementation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:20.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292110,"EventID":"S4W-19806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:20.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it will give to primary schools and teachers in the event that not all children are able to eat in the school canteen.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19798 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:20.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292111,"EventID":"S4W-19807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:20.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many primary schools have kitchen facilities that allow for hot meals to be prepared, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:20.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292112,"EventID":"S4W-19808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:21.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many primary schools have kitchen facilities that are only suitable for heating already prepared meals, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:21.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292113,"EventID":"S4W-19809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:21.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many primary schools have no kitchen facilities, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:21.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292114,"EventID":"S4W-19810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:22.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides on the nutritional value of meals provided in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2008 the Scottish Government published Healthy Eating in Schools to accompany the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 which sets high standards for food and drink in schools. This guidance, which can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/09/12090355/0, explains the nutritional requirements to help those involved in providing food and drink in schools implement the regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:22.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292115,"EventID":"S4W-19811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:22.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what nutritional information it provides to parents on food that children receive in school.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government guidance Healthy Eating in Schools, which provides information about the nutritional standards of food and drink provided in schools, is available for parents to access through the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/09/12090355/0. \r\nLocal authorities and schools may also provide parents with specific nutritional information about the food provided as part of their school meals service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:22.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292116,"EventID":"S4W-19812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:22.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost of a school meal is, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The following table shows average expenditure per school meal by local authorities in Scotland in financial year 2012-13: \r\nLocal Authority\r\nAverage expenditure per school meal (£:p)\r\nAberdeen City\r\n2.56\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n3.20\r\nAngus\r\n2.25\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n4.13\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n2.30\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n3.63\r\nDundee City\r\n2.47\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n2.88\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n2.42\r\nEast Lothian\r\n2.77\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n2.81\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n2.31\r\nEilean Siar\r\n4.05\r\nFalkirk\r\n2.27\r\nFife\r\n3.08\r\nGlasgow City\r\n2.68\r\nHighland\r\n3.43\r\nInverclyde\r\n2.60\r\nMidlothian\r\n3.31\r\nMoray\r\n3.47\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n3.50\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n2.53\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n5.44\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n2.14\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n2.37\r\nScottish Borders\r\n2.45\r\nShetland Islands\r\n4.74\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n3.54\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n2.26\r\nStirling\r\n3.71\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n4.72\r\nWest Lothian\r\n2.70\r\nScotland - average\r\n2.86\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:22.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292117,"EventID":"S4W-19813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:23.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T14:39:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional children it expects to receive free school meals under its free school meals policy, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation ranking of local authority. \r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the estimated number of children in primary 1 to 3 in each local authority who are not currently registered for free school meals (FSM) under the national eligibility criteria. This is broadly equivalent to the numbers who will become eligible for free school meals as a result of the extension to all children in primary 1 to 3: \r\nLocal Authority\r\nEstimate not currently registered for FSM under national eligibility criteria\r\nAberdeen City\r\n5,100\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n8,000\r\nAngus\r\n3,100\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n2,100\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n1,400\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n3,700\r\nDundee City\r\n3,100\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n2,900\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n3,300\r\nEast Lothian\r\n3,200\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n3,100\r\nEdinburgh City\r\n10,400\r\nEilean Siar\r\n700\r\nFalkirk\r\n4,400\r\nFife\r\n9,600\r\nGlasgow City\r\n11,200\r\nHighland\r\n6,200\r\nInverclyde\r\n1,700\r\nMidlothian\r\n2,300\r\nMoray\r\n2,600\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n3,200\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n9,200\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n600\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n3,900\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n4,400\r\nScottish Borders\r\n3,000\r\nShetland Islands\r\n700\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n2,400\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n8,300\r\nStirling\r\n2,400\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n2,200\r\nWest Lothian\r\n5,200\r\nAll local authorities\r\n135,000\r\nThe Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation rankings are assigned to data zones and cannot be summed or averaged to provide rankings at local authority level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:23.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292118,"EventID":"S4W-19820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:23.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:00:54.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separated from the UK and there was no currency union, what the transaction costs would be for Scottish businesses trading with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Fiscal Commission Working Group set out a number of viable currency options for a country of Scotland’s size and economic strength. Their first report and assesment of the key currency options was published on 11 February 2013. They concluded that retaining sterling as part of a formal monetary union with rest of the UK would be the best option, both for an independent Scotland and for the rest of the UK. \r\nThe Scottish Government accepts their recommendation. A summary of the Scottish Government’s proposals on currency, fiscal rules and financial regulation can be found on pages 109 to 117 of Scotland’s Future published on 26 November 2013.\r\nOne of the key reasons why a sterling area would be in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the UK is that it would support trade between the two countries and ensure no transaction or exhange rate costs. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:23.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292119,"EventID":"S4W-19821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:23.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:00:54.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separated from the UK and there was no currency union, what the transaction costs would be for businesses from the rest of UK trading with Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19820 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:23.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292120,"EventID":"S4W-19822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:24.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:03:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that students who are observing picket lines at further education establishments should face a financial penalty in their student support packages for unauthorised absence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The administration of further education student support is one for individual colleges who operate to guidance produced by the Scottish Funding Council. As the member’s question may relate to the recent dispute at Edinburgh College. I understand the Principal of the College has made clear that no payments to students will be affected by the recent dispute. That is a sensible position.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:24.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292121,"EventID":"S4W-19823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:24.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:03:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the childcare element of student support takes account of the different school holiday timetables of the different local authorities in which further education students live.","AnswerText":"Guidance on Further and Higher Education Childcare Funds is published by the Scottish Funding Council.\r\nhttp://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Circulars_SFC082012/FE_HE_Childcare_Discretionary_Funds_Guidance_2012-13.pdf\r\nThe guidance explains that childcare costs will be met when a student is engaged in study. It is for individual colleges to ensure that local authority school holiday timetables are considered when planning provision of childcare. Students are responsible for keeping the college informed of their children’s school holiday dates affecting their childcare provision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:24.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292122,"EventID":"S4W-19824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-18T16:52:25.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:13:51.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require hospitals to report cases of female genital mutilation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has initiated discussions with the Royal College of Midwives about the recommendations made in the report Tackling FGM in the UK: Intercollegiate recommendations for identifying, recording and reporting and we will take these forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-04T16:52:25.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292128,"EventID":"S4W-19783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:32.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it is making on ensuring that organisations that provide statutory services to children and young people publicise the values that underpin their policies.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s response to recommendation one of the Doran Review indicated that the code of practice would be reviewed in support of this recommendation.\r\nThe Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code of practice in relation to a number of recommendations of the review. The review of the code of practice will also take account of the provisions of the Children and Young People’s Bill.\r\nThe scope of the review has been agreed by the advisory group and a subgroup has been established to undertake the review. This work is currently at an early stage. It is intended that a revised code of practice will be published following a full public consultation and consideration by the Scottish Parliament as required by section 27 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:32.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292129,"EventID":"S4W-19784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:33.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made on meeting the immediate needs of children and young people with additional support needs and their families.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Doran Review made a series of recommendations to support, over time, improved outcomes for children and young people with complex additional support needs. The Scottish Government is delivering against the recommendations through a range of work in partnership with key stakeholders, which will conclude in 2017.\r\nEducation authorities, through the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 have responsibilities to identify, address and review the additional support needs of their pupils, whenever they arise. The first report to Parliament on additional support for learning published in February 2012 indicated that the evidence from the Education Scotland Improving Scottish Education publications was that in most schools in Scotland the needs of most children and young people were being met well with some major strengths.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:33.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292130,"EventID":"S4W-19785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:34.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with local authorities in their provision of resources under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004; what leadership it has provided; what direction it has given to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards to ensure that the transition to adult services for young people with complex additional support needs is delivered in accordance with the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review).\r\n","AnswerText":"Funding for additional support in schools forms part of the block grant given to local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives. The methodology is agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA in consultation.\r\nThe Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning has considered the issue of post-school transition as indicated in the Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review recommendation 11. The subgroup concluded that the legislation was appropriate and that the issue related to practice. The group considered a range of recommendations which have been remitted to the Scottish Government to take forward.\r\nAs also indicated in the response to the review the theme of the next report to Parliament, which is due to be published in March 2014, is transitions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:34.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292131,"EventID":"S4W-19786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:34.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made with ensuring that the revised code of practice for additional support for learning is effective and will help practitioners deliver services locally.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review indicated that the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code of practice in relation to a number of recommendations of the review. The review of the code of practice will also take account of the provisions of the Children and Young People’s Bill.\r\nThe scope of the review has been agreed by the advisory group and a subgroup has been established to undertake the review. This work is currently at an early stage. It is intended that a revised code of practice will be published following a full public consultation and consideration by the Scottish Parliament as required by section 27 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:34.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292132,"EventID":"S4W-19787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:34.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on working with Enquire to develop an online map of information on specialist services that support children and young people with additional support needs and their families.\r\n","AnswerText":"Enquire has been working towards the delivery of this recommendation and the map will be complete and on their website for parents and practitioners ahead of the timescale of the end of 2014. Additionally, as part of their young people’s site Enquire has an online map of accessible activity groups and supporters for children and young people across Scotland. This is accessed at: http://enquire.org.uk/yp/your-area.php.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:34.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292133,"EventID":"S4W-19788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:34.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress the sub-group of the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning has made in the collection of data and measurement of outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs as set out in its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review).\r\n","AnswerText":"The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning are scheduled to begin considering the issue of data collection and measurement of outcomes at the next meeting of the group to be held in April 2014; this is part of the Advisory Group’s two year workplan (2014-16).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:34.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292134,"EventID":"S4W-19789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:35.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T12:48:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing specific support to grant-aided special schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"The seven grant-aided special schools in Scotland share total grant funding of £10.5 million in 2014-15.\r\nA workstream was established in September 2013 to provide support to grant-aided special schools to enable them to prepare for the implementation of a national strategic commissioning model, a key recommendation of the Doran Review. This workstream will continue to provide support until the model is implemented in 2017.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:35.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292135,"EventID":"S4W-19814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:35.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its timeframe is for meeting its pledge of getting an additional 104,000 women into the labour market.\r\n","AnswerText":"As outlined in Scotland’s Future, in the first budget after independence, the Scottish Government will extend eligibility to 600 hours of childcare to nearly half of Scotland’s two year olds. By the end of the first Parliament, vulnerable two years olds and all three and four years olds will be entitled to enhanced provision of 1,140 hours of childcare a year, with a further investment of £600 million. In the longer term, the Scottish Government plans to provide 1,140 hours of childcare a year to all children from age one until they start school. Once fully operational, the Scottish Government estimates that around 240,000 children and 212,000 families will benefit.\r\nOver time, such a policy has the potential to transform the lives and outcomes of many families and children in Scotland. As illustrated in Childcare and Labour Market Participation-economic analysis paper published by the Scottish Government in January 2014, if Scotland’s female participation rate were to reach Swedish levels, this would represent around an additional 104,000 women becoming active in Scotland’s labour market.\r\nThis is an indication of what might be possible post- independence. However, it is encouraging that with an increase in employment of 72,000 over the year to October to December 2013, female employment levels are now at a record high, (Office of National Statistics, Labour Force Survey, 19 February 2014).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:35.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292136,"EventID":"S4W-19815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:35.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the women who entered the labour market in the last 12 months are employed on a (a) full- and (b) part-time basis. \r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent data for labour market flows in Scotland comes from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), April to June 2013 dataset which contains data on individuals circumstances 12 months ago.\r\nBased on the latest available information, there were:\r\n24,000 women currently in full-time employment who had entered the labour market in the last 12 months \r\n49,000 women currently in part-time employment who had entered the labour market in the last 12 months \r\nSource: Labour Force Survey, April-June 2013, not seasonally adjusted, Office of National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Estimates rounded to nearest thousand.\r\n2. These questions have a non-response rate of just under 20%. These figures are therefore likely to underestimate the actual levels entering full-time and part-time employment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:35.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292137,"EventID":"S4W-19816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:35.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have no qualifications and are economically (a) active and (b) inactive, and how many of them have children under five.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from October 2012 to September 2013.\r\nThe number of women who have no qualifications by economic status and whether they have children under five is given in Table 1.\r\nTable 1: Number of women aged 16-64 who have no qualifications by economic status and whether they have children under five years of age:\r\n \r\nAll women aged 16-64 with no qualifications\r\nAll women aged 16-64 with no qualifications and with children under five years old\r\nEconomically Active\r\n80,000\r\n4,000\r\nEconomically Inactive\r\n108,000\r\n12,000\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012 – September 2013, Office of National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Estimates rounded to nearest thousand.\r\n2. Estimates exclude those who did not know the level of their highest qualification or gave no response to this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:35.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292138,"EventID":"S4W-19818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:36.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have no qualifications.\r\n","AnswerText":"Based on the latest data from the Annual Population Survey, which is the preferred source for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population, there were 188,000 women aged 16-64 in Scotland with no qualifications.\r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, October 2012 to September 2013, Office of National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Estimates rounded to nearest thousand.\r\n2. Estimates exclude those who did not know the level of their highest qualification or gave no response to this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:36.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292139,"EventID":"S4W-19819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:36.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to women with no qualifications who are looking to enter training or education.\r\n","AnswerText":"A wide range of learning opportunities are available for people looking to enter training or education. For example, for women who are seeking to gain employment or improve skills, colleges offer a wide range of provision. In addition, there are opportunities through local authority community based adult learning programmes, as well as through the third sector and private learning providers.\r\nFinancial assistance is available through modern apprenticeships, the Employability Fund, Individual Learning Accounts and record levels of investment in college student support, including on childcare.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:36.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292140,"EventID":"S4W-19844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:36.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers had in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 with European Commission representatives on the need to explore the potential for raising the six-year maximum contract length for Scottish ferry services; what outcomes were agreed, and what steps it will take in 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government Ministers and officials have made a series of representations to the European Commission in favour of amending the maximum permissible contract length for public service contracts for ferry services.\r\nThe commission is expected to issue revised guidelines in the first half of spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:36.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292141,"EventID":"S4W-19845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:37.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what developments in European Union public procurement policy in 2013 will influence its policies on tendering public contracts for passenger (a) ferry and (b) rail services, and whether it will set out changes to its public procurement policies in these sectors.\r\n","AnswerText":"A new Procurement Directive was formally adopted by the European Parliament on 15 January 2014 and the European Council on 11 February 2014. The Scottish Government will have 24 months from the date the Directives come into force to transpose it into national legislation.\r\nThe new public procurement legislation approved by the European Parliament will provide numerous policy options. The Scottish Government will consult on these options with a view to bringing forward new procurement regulations next year.\r\nPrior to implementation, the procurement of public contracts for ferry and rail services will continue to be carried out in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and other applicable legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:37.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292142,"EventID":"S4W-19846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:37.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what developments in European Union public procurement policy in 2013 will influence its policies on the design of tendering documents for public contracts for passenger (a) ferry and (b) rail services, and whether it will set out changes to the design of tender documents for these services that have been made since December 2012.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19845 on 3 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:37.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292143,"EventID":"S4W-19847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:37.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many winter sailings on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry routes were cancelled between 1 October 2013 and 16 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Performance information in respect of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service is available on the CalMac website by following the link: \r\nhttp://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate-calmac/Route-Performance-Figures/\r\nThe information details on a route by route basis the number of scheduled sailings, the number of cancelled sailings as well as any additional sailings operated by CalMac. Information for January 20414 and February 2014 is not yet available, but will be published by CalMac shortly.\r\nDuring the period 1 October 2013 to 16 February 2014 the total number of scheduled sailings on the Northern Isles Ferry Service was 1012, with 70 cancellations and no additional sailings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:37.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292144,"EventID":"S4W-19848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:37.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional sailings there have been on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry routes between 1 October 2013 and 16 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question SW4-19847 on 3 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:37.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292145,"EventID":"S4W-19849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:38.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the scale of disruption to Scottish ferry services during winter 2013-14 that was due to adverse weather conditions.\r\n","AnswerText":"As a matter of course both CalMac and Serco NorthLink Ferries will be reviewing their operations over the winter period. Working with Transport Scotland, both CalMac and Serco NorthLink Ferries regularly review performance with a view to implementing any lessons learned across their service routes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:38.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292146,"EventID":"S4W-19850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:38.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue the draft invitation to tender document for the 2018-24 Northern Isles ferry services contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries runs until April 2018. The procurement of the subsequent contract, including the issuing of the invitation to tender, will commence sufficiently in advance of that to ensure a smooth transition from the current contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:38.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292147,"EventID":"S4W-19851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:38.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how regularly vessels operating on the (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides ferry routes undergo a full engine overhaul when dry docked, and when each vessel currently licensed to work on these routes last underwent such an overhaul.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the requirements for surveys by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Classification Society (Lloyds Register) each ship must be surveyed every year for renewal of their Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.\r\nThe three vessels operating on the Northern Isles ferry service undergo dry docking every second year with in water surveys being carried out every alternate year. These vessels were, or are planned to be, in dry dock between January 2014 and March 2014. \r\nAll the vessels operating on the Clyde and Hebrides network have been, or will be, dry docked during winter 2013-2014. The vessels which operate on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service network are dry docked every year\r\nAll machinery on the vessels, including the engines, is maintained to the manufacturer’s instructions and satisfaction of the MCA and Lloyds Register.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:38.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292148,"EventID":"S4W-19852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:39.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) foot and (b) freight passengers were carried on each (i) Clyde and Hebrides and (ii) Northern Isles ferry route in each year between 2009 and 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The publication Scottish Transport Statistics provides a comprehensive summary of trends over the past 10 years and No. 32, 2013 Edition was published on Wednesday 26 February 2014. This covers the period 2002–2012. This edition was made publicly available via the Transport Scotland website.\r\nIn addition CalMac and Serco NorthLink Ferries Limited will shortly be publishing on their respective websites carrying information for 2013 in respect of passengers, cars, coaches and commercial vehicles and lane metres on the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:39.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292149,"EventID":"S4W-19853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:18:39.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:49:07.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the impact of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) formula for setting passenger fares for ferry services; when it last reviewed the impact of RETs on passenger fares, and what the main outcomes were.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government commissioned Halcrow Group Limited to assess the impact of the RET pilot on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree. A report was published in July 2011 and can be found on the Transport Scotland website: \r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/water/ferries/Assessment_of_the_Impacts_of_the_RET_Pilot_-_Final_Report.pdf  \r\nOn 29 November 2011, I announced that RET for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches would be a permanent feature on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.\r\nRET was introduced as a pilot on Islay, Colonsay and Gigha in October 2012, and will be introduced on Arran in October 2014. Monitoring and evaluation work on the impact of the RET pilot on Islay, Colonsay and Gigha is currently underway and we will publish a report of the findings in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:18:39.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292150,"EventID":"S4O-02927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:19.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T11:40:40.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Glasgow City Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:19.297","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292151,"EventID":"S4O-02928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:19.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:40.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what economic risks an independent Scotland would face if it was to use sterling without being in a formal currency union with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:19.75","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292152,"EventID":"S4O-02929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:20.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:58:42.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will tackle avoidance of the taxes devolved under the Scotland Act 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:20.7","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292153,"EventID":"S4O-02930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:21.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T09:25:08.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions ministers have had with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils and public sector agencies in the north east regarding the recruitment and retention of staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:21.59","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292154,"EventID":"S4O-02931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:21.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:42.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer and what was discussed. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:21.98","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292155,"EventID":"S4O-02932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:22.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:47:23.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Youth Employment will next visit the Stirling constituency.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:22.243","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292156,"EventID":"S4O-02934","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:22.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:45.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to establish links between key partners in innovation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:22.697","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292157,"EventID":"S4O-02935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:23.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T17:35:26.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what main changes will arise from the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:23.32","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292158,"EventID":"S4O-02936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:23.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T11:37:39.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on promoting the German model of work-sharing and work-time accounts as a means of moderating the worst effects of the recession.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:23.867","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292159,"EventID":"S4O-02937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:24.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:46.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages local authorities to take advantage of the private and institutional funding streams that are available to them.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:24.6","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292160,"EventID":"S4O-02938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:24.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:47.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group will next meet and what will be discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:24.96","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292161,"EventID":"S4O-02939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:25.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:18:27.657","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the  report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Coping with the cuts? Local government and poorer communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:25.27","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292162,"EventID":"S4O-02940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:26.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:19:19.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what areas of tourism it is prioritising in 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:26.16","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292163,"EventID":"S4O-02941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:26.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:49.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Loan Fund is helping small and medium-sized enterprises.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:26.487","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292164,"EventID":"S4O-02942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:26.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T15:02:37.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it supports that aim to improve employment prospects for women and ethnic minorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:26.723","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292165,"EventID":"S4O-02943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:27.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:03:50.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress was made at the recent summit in Stornoway on transmission charges and on securing grid connections to the islands.\r\n","AnswerText":"Securing connection of the island groups to the mainland electricity grid is a top priority for this Government.\r\nThe summit that Fergus Ewing chaired on Monday 24 February 2014 brought together the key interests in delivering island grid connections, he developers, the transmission owner, the regulator, the three Councils, the Crown Estate, the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Highland and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government.\r\nThe discussion was open and positive, but several significant challenges remain to be addressed before the huge clean energy potential of the Scottish islands can be unlocked.\r\nThe summit identified a range of actions to tackle the remaining barriers to progress, many requiring UK Government involvement and Fergus Ewing will be seeking early discussions with UK Ministers to progress those.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:27.003","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292166,"EventID":"S4O-02944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:27.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T11:00:34.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage sustainable growth in Dumfries and Galloway.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway, by working closely with a wide range of delivery partners, particularly Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries and Galloway Council as partners in the South of Scotland Alliance.\r\nAs part of the Alliance’s programme, we are working together to capitalise on strategic opportunities such as the Crichton Campus; Stranraer Waterfront and the roll out of next generation broadband. We have also worked with Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Enterprise to develop a robust submission seeking Assisted Area status and, while this is subject to European Commission approval, we are hopeful of a positive outcome.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:27.283","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292167,"EventID":"S4O-02946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:27.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:12:24.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many start-up companies have been registered over the last year.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to providing the economic environment to enable businesses to start-up and thrive. The latest official start-up figures, published by the Office of National Statistics in December 2013, show that there were 17,385 new business registrations in Scotland in 2012. Up from 16,940 in 2011, this is the third consecutive year in which the number of start-ups has increased.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:27.55","MeetingDate":"2014-02-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292168,"EventID":"S4O-02947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:27.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:09.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how junior doctors’ hours are regulated.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:27.813","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292169,"EventID":"S4O-02948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:28.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:34:24.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the supply and use of new psychoactive substances.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:28.173","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292170,"EventID":"S4O-02949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:28.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:20:26.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure the highest standards of inspections in care homes. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:28.767","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292171,"EventID":"S4O-02950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:29.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:12.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs last met the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:29.063","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292172,"EventID":"S4O-02951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:29.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:13.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Ayrshire and Arran and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:29.42","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292173,"EventID":"S4O-02952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:29.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:13.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on abolishing so-called slipper farming.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:29.763","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292174,"EventID":"S4O-02953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:30.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:14.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with bus service operators.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:30.107","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292175,"EventID":"S4O-02954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:30.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:14.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to ensure the dredging of rivers where it is appropriate. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:30.403","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292176,"EventID":"S4O-02955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:31.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:15.663","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Housing Regulator.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:31.107","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292177,"EventID":"S4O-02956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T13:32:31.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-17T12:04:16.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it believes urban air quality will reach the specified Scottish and European standards.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Transport Scotland and other partners to ensure that the Scottish air quality objectives are reached as soon as possible. Air quality assessment shows that 14 local authorities have still to secure full compliance with the objectives. All these authorities have declared Air Quality Management Areas and have action plans either in place or in development to address the issues identified. These plans contain a wide range of measures to tackle poor air quality and the Scottish Government is providing practical and financial assistance to help local authorities in their implementation.\r\nAir quality monitoring and modelling suggests that European standards will be reached throughout Scotland by 2015, with the exception of one road stretch. This is the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to the east of Glasgow. The road is due to be upgraded to motorway by 2017-18 and it is expected that compliance will then be secured here also.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T13:32:31.417","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292184,"EventID":"S4W-19856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T16:42:23.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T13:57:07.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for arthritis treatment is in Grampian and how this compares with other NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not collected centrally. Information is only available at speciality level. Most patients with arthritis will be treated in primary care. For those who do require to be referred to an acute hospital they will be covered by the current waiting time standards and guarantee.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s overarching target is for 90% of patients to be seen and treated within 18 weeks from initial GP referral. Information on performance for the month of December 2013 (latest published) by NHS board is provided in table 1 below. Within the 18 weeks referral to treatment time standard the Scottish Government also has a standard that patients should receive a first outpatient consultation within 12 weeks from referral. Performance against this standard for 31 December 2013 is provided in table 2.\r\nTable1: NHS boards’ performance against 18 weeks referral to treatment standard for the month of December 2013\r\nNHS Board\r\nPerformance against 18 weeks  referral to treatment standard\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n92.9%\r\nBorders\r\n92.0%\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n93.0%\r\nFife\r\n92.2%\r\nForth Valley\r\n81.0%\r\nGrampian\r\n89.7%\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n91.1%\r\nHighland\r\n91.2%\r\nLanarkshire\r\n93.7%\r\nLothian\r\n87.2%\r\nOrkney\r\n98.0%\r\nShetland\r\n97.1%\r\nTayside\r\n93.8%\r\nWestern Isles\r\n93.4%\r\nGolden Jubilee National Hospital\r\n100%\r\nNHSScotland\r\n90.8%\r\nTable 2: NHS boards’ performance against 12 weeks first outpatient consultation standard\r\nNHS Board\r\nPerformance against 12 weeks first outpatient standard\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n97.2%\r\nBorders\r\n98.2%\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n96.4%\r\nFife\r\n96.4%\r\nForth Valley\r\n80.0%\r\nGrampian\r\n96.5%\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n99.9%\r\nHighland\r\n89.6%\r\nLanarkshire\r\n98.9%\r\nLothian\r\n90.2%\r\nOrkney\r\n89.4%\r\nShetland\r\n98.1%\r\nTayside\r\n97.9%\r\nWestern Isles\r\n82.6%\r\nGolden Jubilee National Hospital\r\n100%\r\nNHSScotland\r\n95.3%\r\nSource: ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:42:23.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292185,"EventID":"S4W-19857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T16:42:24.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent data that shows an increase in UK emissions between 2011 and 2012, what progress it is making to ensure that the policies and proposals set out in its second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2) are being implemented to meet future Scottish climate targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"Progress towards targets is reviewed and reported on annually by our independent advisors the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC). In their latest progress report in March 2013 the CCC recognised that Scotland has made good progress in delivering on emission reduction measures and that this lays the foundations for meeting ambitious Scottish emissions targets and building a low carbon economy in Scotland. The CCC will publish its next progress report at the end of March 2014.\r\nWe expect the policy framework we have developed, the second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2), will allow us to meet our targets. While annual fluctuations in emissions are to be expected, the long term trend shows that emissions are reducing in Scotland and we remain confident Scotland is on a trajectory to achieve the ambitious 2020 target of a 42 per cent emissions reduction, based on emissions adjusted for trading within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Scotland’s unadjusted emissions have fallen by 29.6 per cent from 1990, and between 1990 and 2011 Scotland’s emissions reduction was the largest in Western Europe (the EU15).\r\nWe will work closely with delivery agents and stakeholders to make sure that we have the right package in place. Where we can we will deliver more and will continue to seek additional ways in which we can maximise the impact of the investments we make. However, Scotland’s actions alone are not enough and that is why we need the rest of the UK to match Scotland’s ambition and targets on tackling climate change. With full powers in an independent Scotland to take our own decisions in areas such as energy and fiscal policy, and a direct voice in the UN and EU, Scotland would have greater freedom and more influence on issues that are fundamental to the low carbon transition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:42:24.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292186,"EventID":"S4W-19858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-19T16:42:24.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the EU’s greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets for 2030 are strong enough to enable the necessary investment into Scotland to allow it to meet its own climate and energy targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has welcomed the European Commission’s package of proposals which include greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets for 2030. We believe a 40% greenhouse gas target should be the minimum adopted by the EU, with a commitment to a 50% target in the context of an ambitious global climate agreement in 2015. We want to see a renewables target that is as ambitious as possible, to give certainty to industry, and act as a spur to investment unlock major new technology development, and create jobs far into the future. The proposed 27% renewables target, binding at EU level, is a step in the right direction.\r\nWe want to see the EU maintain its lead on climate ambition, and will continue to work with other ambitious countries to make the case for the jobs, trade, investment and growth opportunities that the transition to a low carbon economy will deliver. In this respect, we will continue to present evidence to our European partners of the existing investments and low carbon jobs already experienced in Scotland and the potential we have to fulfil a higher level of ambition on climate mitigation, as well as the importance of taking action to support developing nations as part of our climate justice approach.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-05T16:42:24.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292187,"EventID":"S4W-19854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:25.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:15:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19384 by John Swinney on 19 February 2014, how much it would cost an independent Scotland to set up the services listed and what relevant discussions it has had with the equivalent UK body.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has outlined its position on these issues in Scotland’s Future, which is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published. The guide sets out the case for independence and outlines the journey, following a yes vote on 18 September 2014, that Scotland would make to independence day on 24 March 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:25.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292188,"EventID":"S4W-19855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:26.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T10:15:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19387 by John Swinney on 19 February 2014, whether it will address the issue raised in the question and provide information on the discussions that it has had with the bodies listed in the question.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19854 on 4 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:26.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292189,"EventID":"S4W-19859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:27.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:33:05.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff there were in each (a) local authority, (b) executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), (c) advisory NDPB, (d) public corporation, (e) tribunal office, (f) executive agency, (g) non-ministerial department, (h) NHS board and (i) other significant national body in each year from 2007 to 2012 and what information it has on the staff of each commissioner's and ombudsman's office.","AnswerText":"The information requested on staff numbers is as follows:\r\n(a) Local Authorities\r\nInformation on the number of staff in each local authority in each year from 2007 to 2012 is published as part of the public sector employment quarterly estimates. The latest version is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment/PSEwebtables\r\n(b) executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), (c) advisory NDPB, (d) public corporation, (e) tribunal office, (f) executive agency, (g) non-ministerial department, (i) other significant national body \r\nInformation on the number of staff in each category of public body (executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), advisory NDPB, public corporation, tribunal office; executive agency, non-ministerial department and other significant national bodies) in each year from 2007 to 2012 is published as part of the public sector employment quarterly estimates. The latest version is available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment/PSEwebtables\r\nIt is not possible readily to dis-aggregate the statistics to provide reliable and consistent historic staffing levels for each (b) executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), (c) advisory NDPB, (d) public corporation, (e) tribunal office, (f) executive agency, (g) non-ministerial department, (i) other significant national body. The figures provided are aggregated statistics.\r\n(h) NHS Boards\r\nInformation on the number of staff in each NHS board in each year from 2007 to 2012 is published by Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland. The latest version is available at: \r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2013-11-26/Overall_Trend_S2013.xls?67889911\r\nInformation on the number of staff in commissioners’ and ombudsmen’s offices is also published as part of the public sector employment quarterly estimates. The latest version is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment/PSEwebtables \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:27.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292190,"EventID":"S4W-19860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:27.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the 10 year on follow up to the Sandra Grant Report as per commitment 1 in the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has commissioned the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and Voices of Experience to undertake the review. The MHF research team has been gathering the information required for the first two stages of the review and is beginning to move to the engagement elements of the process which will begin in April 2014.\r\nThe review comprises the following stages:\r\n1. A mental health service mapping across all 14 regional NHS boards areas and seven special NHS boards;\r\n2. A literature review to describe how the current mental health system builds on evidence informed practice and innovations;\r\n3. A panel inquiry to gather evidence and expert opinion from five selected NHS Board areas about the local context to mental health service delivery;\r\n4. Interviews with national stakeholders with a particular interest and stake in Scotland’s mental health.\r\nA report of the findings from the review will be published later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:27.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292191,"EventID":"S4W-19861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:28.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on improving mental health through new technology in collaboration with NHS 24.","AnswerText":"NHS 24 participated on behalf of Scotland, in a joint bid for the European Commission ICT PSP seventh call for proposals in 2013. A bid was submitted for the ‘Management of Mental Health Disorders Through Advanced technology and Services-Telehealth for the MIND’ project (MASTERMIND). \r\nMastermind is a project which explores the barriers and facilitators to roll-out computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It looks at the sharing of learning and identification of the factors and best practice required in different cultural and healthcare structures, to replicate this type of intervention more widely in the EU. In this project there are 9 European member states and 14 sites participating.\r\nFunding has been approved for the project and is being finalised. The total value of the project in Scotland is £790,243 of which £395,122 will be funded by the European Commission.\r\nThe project will run for a duration of three years, staring in March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:28.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292192,"EventID":"S4W-19862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:29.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to make training in basic infant mental health more widely available to professionals in the children's services workforce.","AnswerText":"NHS Health Education Scotland are rolling out training in the Solihull Approach. Phase 1 which is due to complete in March 2014 will see 60 Health visitors being trained and with 12 train the trainers training being delivered simultaneously.\r\nPhase 2 of the programme which will take place between April 2104 and March 2015 will see a further 24 trainers being trained giving a total of 36 trainers who will be able to deliver training and support to an estimated 360 cross sectorial staff working in early years on an annual basis. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:29.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292193,"EventID":"S4W-19863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:30.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional trainees were recruited to child psychology courses in 2013 and how many additional trainees are planned for the next five years.","AnswerText":"There were 16 MSc in applied psychology for children and young people and 35 clinical trainees aligned to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in training as at 31 December 2013.\r\nIn 2013 there were 27 trainees who commenced child psychology courses, with \r\n16 starting MSc in applied psychology for children and young people and 11 clinical trainees aligned to CAMHS.\r\nNHS Education Scotland conduct an annual commissioning process where the needs of individual Health Boards are considered. It is at this time that a decision will be taken on the number of trainees and will be subject to future spending review decisions. There were also five child psychotherapy trainees who commenced their training in October 2013.\r\nThe child psychotherapy workforce is currently small and an integral part of training child psychotherapists is ongoing supervision. We have set a limit of 5 to ensure there is sufficient supervision to provide high quality training and ongoing supervision thought the training period.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-2015. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:30.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292194,"EventID":"S4W-19864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:30.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been admitted to adult psychiatric wards in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The number of children admitted to adult psychiatric wards are: \r\n2008-2009\r\n138\r\n2009-2010\r\n147\r\n2010-2011\r\n128\r\n2011-2012\r\n115\r\n2012-2013\r\n148*\r\n*Please note the figures from the Mental Welfare Commission for 2012-13 are provisional.\r\nThe latest figures from the Mental Welfare Commission show the number of young people under the age of 18 who were admitted to adult mental health beds. \r\nThere are some reasons why it may not always be possible for a young person to be admitted to a specialist child and adolescent bed, for example, a crisis admission out of hours where there are concerns for the young person’s safety, or where a specialist facility might be a considerable distance from family support that could help recovery.\r\nMost of these admissions are among young people aged 16 or 17 where an adult facility might in certain cases be clinically judged to be the more appropriate setting, but we nevertheless expect almost all children and young people admitted to adult wards to be discharged quickly or transferred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).\r\nWe have introduced a data set to track progress in developing intensive community treatment teams and how the adolescent inpatient units are working. We are continuing to work with the CAMHS regional tier 4 networks to ensure that tier 4 services for children and young people are operating effectively and safely.\r\nTo meet the need of children and adolescents the North of Scotland are building a new 12 bed inpatient unit to replace the current 6 bed unit. This will increase the national bed base from 42 to 48 beds, and improve the quality of the estate. Work has already commenced onsite and it is expected that the new unit will be commissioned late 2015.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-2015. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the Strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:30.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292195,"EventID":"S4W-19865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:31.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in the use of Steps for Stress as an early intervention approach to address common mental health problems.","AnswerText":"NHS Health Scotland have been distributing the Steps for Stress resource and keeping the website up to date. The Scottish Government, with NHS Health Scotland, have identified challenges in tracking where Steps for Stress resources are going to and how effective they are in being an early intervention for people with common mental health problems.\r\nNHS Health Scotland has set up a short term working group with representatives from NHS, local authority and voluntary sector. This group is currently looking at issues relating to the distribution, use, effectiveness and measurement of staff confidence in using Steps for Stress. The working group will plan and seek to test out methodologies for future data collection, collation and analysis.\r\nAs a first test of data collection, NHS Grampian has agreed to audit Steps for Stress usage via their resources service and to complete a survey, which will gauge how the resource is being presented to patients, what level of confidence staff have in using the resource, awareness of the resource, and where else it could be made available. This data is likely to available during March 2014.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-15. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:31.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292196,"EventID":"S4W-19866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:32.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to more effectively link the work on alcohol consumption, depression and other common mental health problems to improve identification and treatment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware that people may use alcohol as a means of coping when they are in distress or depressed. Discussions have been held with specialist services, Royal College of General Practitioners and primary care partners. These discussions have highlighted the need to develop robust methods of collecting and reporting data which can demonstrate that people are being asked about both alcohol and common mental health problems, and that they are being responded to appropriately. \r\nDifferent methods of collecting this data are being developed and piloted by partners This workstream runs alongside the current alcohol brief interventions Standard work: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol-Misuse/Publications-2013-06-25/2013-06-25-ABI-Report.pdf) for problem drinking.\r\nThe outputs from this stream of work will be linked to the Scottish Government 2013-2016 Suicide Prevention Strategy which identifies distress, depression and alcohol use as contributing factors to the complex picture of suicide in Scotland. \r\nNHS Education Scotland (NES) are providing and evaluating e-learning modules to staff working in both primary care and mental health services to improve treatment options \r\nThe Implementation and Monitoring Group will review these projects and provide strategic direction and support. \r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-2015. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:32.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292197,"EventID":"S4W-19867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:33.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on delivering the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in Mental Health.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Patient Safety Programme-Mental Health (SPSP-MH) has seen a successful Phase 1 with broad engagement and some excellent pieces of work which show considerable promise in making mental health services in Scotland safer for patients.  Phase 2 of SPSP-MH is now underway and all NHS Boards with inpatient units are involved and it is anticipated that over 60% of eligible wards will be participating by September 2014. NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland are also actively engaged. Examples of work to date have included routine debrief for patients, staff and those who witness restraint, management and monitoring of as required psychotropic medication, reducing time it takes to complete risk assessments on admission and the inclusion of safety briefs. During Phase 2 of the programme, all boards are being asked to use the patient safety climate Tool to ask patients what they feel about the safety of the wards they are in. This partnership initiative involves service users and carers, NHS boards and the voluntary sector. This survey will help individual wards, units and NHS boards to find out what needs to be changed and what is working well, with anticipated shared learning across the country.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:33.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292198,"EventID":"S4W-19868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:33.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on enabling early intervention services to respond to first episode psychosis.","AnswerText":"Initial work to support implementation of this commitment will be exploring with NHS boards how they are responding to the needs of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. We have had initial discussions with the Royal College of Psychiatrists Medical Managers Group, and we will be discussing this with each NHS board during the next round of mental health implementation review visits.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-15. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the Strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:34.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292199,"EventID":"S4W-19869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:34.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on developing (a) mental health benchmarking information and (b) indicators of quality in community services.","AnswerText":"The first release of the adult mental health benchmarking toolkit and dashboard is available on the Information Services Division website and can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Quality-Indicators/National-Benchmarking-Project/Mental-Health-Dashboard.asp\r\nWe continue to develop the toolkit and as data improves we will add further indicators thus providing a tool to aid improvement of mental health services in Scotland by using a range of comparative information to compare key aspects of performance, identify gaps, identify opportunities for improvement and for monitoring progress.\r\nThe CAMHS benchmarking toolkit and dashboard is published by Information Services Division on a quarterly basis and can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Quality-Indicators/National-Benchmarking-Project/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/\r\nAs data quality improves we will further develop the toolkit to include further Indicators. The data will act as a mechanism for ensuring enhanced quality, accountability and transparency.\r\nWe are also in the process of developing a dementia benchmarking toolkit and\r\ndashboard with a view to publishing in late 2014. \r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-2015. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:34.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292200,"EventID":"S4W-19870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:35.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to develop a national standard for monitoring the physical health of people being treated with clozapine.","AnswerText":"The national standard for monitoring the physical health of people treated with clozapine was published on 12 July 2013. The standards and covering letter from the Chief Medical Officer are available at:\r\nhttp://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/cmo/CMO(2013)12.pdf\r\nThe document defines minimum standards for physical health monitoring, in addition to manufacturer’s protocols, that should be applied to patients taking clozapine in Scotland.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-15. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:35.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292201,"EventID":"S4W-19871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:35.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with health and justice services to increase the effective use of community payback orders for people with a mental health condition where appropriate.","AnswerText":"We are working with the Association of Directors of Social Work to develop training materials to support criminal justice social workers to identify offenders with a mental illness who could be subject to a community payback order (CPO) with a mental health condition.\r\nIssues relating to the use of the mental health treatment requirement in the CPO will be considered under the Community Payback Order Project within phase two of the Government’s Reducing Reoffending Programme. Phase two is focused on making sure individuals serving sentences in the community build on the support and services that are available to them, and make the most of the opportunities to fulfil their responsibilities as citizens, and move away from offending.\r\nA process evaluation of how CPOs are operating in practice is also currently underway. It is expected that the final research findings will become available later in 2014.\r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-15. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:35.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292202,"EventID":"S4W-19872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:36.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-19T16:38:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve specialist mental health services for people with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.","AnswerText":"Initial developments, led by a consultant psychiatrist from NHS Lothian, is underway and includes:\r\nDeveloping advice on mainstreaming models of treatment of ADHD within general adult mental health services;\r\nDrawing on professional and academic networks to identify opportunities to educate and inform wider workforce of service needs of people with developmental disorders, including ADHD;\r\nDeveloping advice on current best practice for prescribing for people with ADHD;\r\nAligning this work with Autism Strategy to improve diagnosis, intervention and support to people with ASD in mainstream mental health services;\r\nDeveloping advice on training requirements for NHS staff to achieve the above and contribute to development and delivery of training via contacts with NES;\r\nExploring links with Criminal Justice to improve support for people with developmental disorders such as ADHD presenting in crisis and who go on to offend;\r\nDeveloping collaboration with the voluntary sector to assist in development of peer support for people with developmental disorders presenting in adult mental health services. \r\nThe Mental Health Strategy sets out activity that will be delivered during the period 2012-15. Implementation of commitments is planned to take place across this period, with some already completed, some underway, and others being delivered later in the strategy’s timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:36.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292203,"EventID":"S4W-19873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:36.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:52:00.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has been a delay in the publication of its updated race equality statement and what the expected publication date is.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-17153 on 26 September 2013 and S4W-17576 on 18 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:36.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292204,"EventID":"S4W-19874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:37.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:52:00.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list each of the (a) outcomes achieved and (b) action plans developed as a result of the Scottish Government Race Equality Statement.\r\n","AnswerText":"An assessment of progress will be published as part of our work to refresh the race equality statement in spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:37.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292205,"EventID":"S4W-19876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:38.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:52:00.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who it has consulted regarding the development of its updated race equality statement.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17577 on 18 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:38.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292206,"EventID":"S4W-19877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T14:05:39.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:52:00.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people from ethnic minority backgrounds serve on each public body and what percentage of all public appointments this represents.\r\n","AnswerText":"We cannot provide figures for individual public bodies as this information is sensitive personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998 as, due to the small numbers of people on each public body, it may be possible to identify individuals.\r\nFor those ministerial appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland 2% of current board members are from a minority ethnic background, rising to 2.2% when you remove those who chose not to record this diversity strand.\r\nThe Scottish Government is committed to improving the diversity of Scotland’s public boards. For those ministerial appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland in 2012-13, 4.1% of applicants came from a minority ethnic background, with 2.9% being appointed.\r\nSource:\r\nBaseline diversity exercise of all regulated boards carried out by Scottish Government Public Appointments Centre of Expertise in April 2013. \r\nPublic Appointments in Scotland 2012-13 – Regulated Ministerial Appointments \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T14:05:39.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292231,"EventID":"S4W-19878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:03.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:58:42.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which datasets it would consult in the case of an early review of IVF access criteria.\r\n","AnswerText":"As indicated in the Scottish Parliament on 29 January 2014 during Portfolio Question Time, if sufficient robust data is available, the Scottish Government is content for an earlier IVF review to take place and for views to be submitted to the Scottish Government by the end of 2014. Datasets which will be used for this process are currently under consideration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:03.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292232,"EventID":"S4W-19879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:04.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T10:58:42.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of current waiting times for tertiary infertility treatment in each NHS board.","AnswerText":"A full assessment of waiting times by NHS board for tertiary infertility treatment is contained within the National Infertility Group’s report which can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/05/1501.\r\nAs set out in the National Infertility Group’s report, each of the 14 territorial NHS boards in Scotland commissions cycles of IVF/ICSI from one of four specialist tertiary referral centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:04.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292233,"EventID":"S4W-19880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:04.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T14:45:16.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all clinicians are made aware of the Chief Medical Officer's letter of 5 November 2013, which sets out the transitional arrangements for processing individual patient treatment requests.\r\n","AnswerText":"The letter from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer issued on 5 November 2013 asked NHS boards to exercise flexibility in their decision-making of Individual Patient Treatment Requests (IPTRs) in light of the issues highlighted by the Health and Sport Committee and in recognition of the period of transition to a new clinically-led peer review process.\r\nThe letter was issued to NHS board Chief Executives, NHS board Medical Directors, NHS board Directors of Pharmacy and NHS board Directors of Finance under cover of SGHD/CMO(2013)20 on 5 November 2013. It was also copied to NHS board Chairs and NHS board Directors of Public Health. It is for NHS boards to ensure that such letters are circulated as appropriate.\r\nThe letter was also published on Scotland’s Health on the Web website on 5 November 2013: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/cmo/CMO(2013)20.pdf.\r\nI would welcome any information the member wishes to share on circumstances where clinicians are not aware of the IPTR process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:04.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292234,"EventID":"S4W-19890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:05.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T14:50:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many carers each local authority employs; which authorities have a shortage and by how many, and what its position is on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of care and support staff employed by each local authority is not held centrally.\r\nWe are aware that some local authorities are experiencing difficulties in recruiting care and support staff, and we are in discussion with representatives of the sector about how best we can support the social care sector to ensure that all clients in Scotland receive the service they deserve.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:05.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292235,"EventID":"S4W-19892","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:05.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T16:27:28.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its paper Currency - Transaction Costs to UK Businesses, what methodology it used in calculating the distribution of costs between exporters and importers in the event of Scotland leaving the sterling zone. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. We are confident this will be delivered as it is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. There will therefore be no currency transactions costs in trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nThe Scottish Government analysis illustrates a range of potential costs to businesses in the rest of the UK of both importing from and exporting to Scotland in a separate currency.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:05.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292236,"EventID":"S4W-19893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:05.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T16:27:28.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons its paper, Currency - Transaction Costs to UK Businesses, estimates the transaction costs arising from a separate Scottish currency as 0.1% of GDP, given that the paper cites a range of possible impacts of 0.1% to 1.0%.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. We are confident this will be delivered as it is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. There will therefore be no currency transactions costs in trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nScottish Government analysis illustrates a range of potential costs to businesses in the rest of the UK of both importing from and exporting to Scotland in a separate currency.\r\nThe paper makes clear the evidence points to a range of possible impacts, and figures are therefore used to illustrate the effects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:05.697","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292237,"EventID":"S4W-19894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:06.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T16:27:28.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government further to its paper, Currency - Transaction Costs to UK Businesses, whether it considers that an impact of around 1% of GDP in transaction costs for \"small open economies\" would apply to Scotland in the event of the country leaving the sterling zone. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. We are confident this will be delivered as it is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. There will therefore be no currency transactions costs in trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nScottish Government analysis illustrates a range of potential costs to businesses in the rest of the UK of both importing from and exporting to Scotland in a separate currency.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:06.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292238,"EventID":"S4W-19895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:06.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T16:27:28.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its paper, Currency - Transaction Costs to UK Businesses, how much it calculates the transaction costs to Scottish businesses would be if the country left the sterling zone.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. We are confident this will be delivered as it is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. There will therefore be no currency transactions costs in trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:06.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292239,"EventID":"S4W-19896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-20T17:08:06.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T16:27:28.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its paper, Currency - Transaction Costs to UK Businesses, what methodology it used in calculating the value of UK exports to other countries in the EU. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. We are confident this will be delivered as it is in the overwhelming interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. There will therefore be no currency transactions costs in trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nScottish Government analysis illustrates a range of potential costs to businesses in the rest of the UK of both importing from and exporting to Scotland in a separate currency. Data includes HMRC trade statistics between the UK and the EU and corresponding transaction costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-06T17:08:06.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292241,"EventID":"S4W-19897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T13:57:13.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T17:13:31.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its Draft Budget 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published indicative spending plans for 2015-16 alongside the Draft Budget 2014-15.\r\nWe will publish the Draft Budget 2015-16 by 9 October 2014, subject to the agreement of the Finance Committee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T13:57:13.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292242,"EventID":"S4W-19898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T13:57:13.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-21T09:39:44.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separated from the rest of the UK, how much a proportionate share of the UK's EU rebate would be worth if Scotland subsequently joined the EU and was given a rebate.\r\n","AnswerText":"Estimates of Scotland’s historic share of the UK rebate, which assign a population share to Scotland, are presented in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GERS. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T13:57:13.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292243,"EventID":"S4W-19899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T13:57:14.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-21T09:39:44.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee that, if Scotland separated from the rest of the UK and subsequently joined the EU, a rebate proportionate to the UK’s current rebate would be paid to Scotland.","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government proposes that an independent Scotland would negotiate EU membership from within the EU and approach these membership negotiations on the principle of ‘continuity of effect’. This approach ensures ‘no detriment’ to other member states and no disruption to Scotland’s current fully integrated standing within the EU.\r\nAs such the current EU budget has been agreed until 2020 the Scottish Government would not intend to re-open budget discussions until the next financial period post 2020.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T13:57:14.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292244,"EventID":"S4W-19900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T13:57:14.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-21T10:33:03.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) stage 3 report on the Aberdeen to Inverness rail improvement project will be published on Transport Scotland's website.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is currently reviewing the findings of the revised GRIP 3 (Options Selection) Report, which it received at the end of 2013. It is Transport Scotland’s intention to publish a summary of the report’s findings on its website in spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T13:57:14.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292260,"EventID":"S4W-19883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:06.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S4O-02918 by Margaret Burgess on 20 February 2014 (Official Report, c. 27950), what the anticipated underspend is in the Scottish Welfare Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is contained in the official statistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund that can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:06.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292261,"EventID":"S4W-19884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:07.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is an underspend in the Scottish Welfare Fund for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund is a new scheme and an underspend in its early months is not surprising as local authorities adapted to their new welfare responsibilities. Action in recent months, including amending the guidance in October 2013 to give local authorities greater flexibility to make awards and working hard with the third sector to promote the fund, has resulted in a sharp rise in spend. Since October 2013 the fund has been spending broadly to profile.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:07.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292262,"EventID":"S4W-19885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:08.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out an evaluation of the Scottish Welfare Fund and, if so, whether it will be published.","AnswerText":"We have appointed Heriot Watt University to carry out an evaluation of the Scottish Welfare Fund. We expect to publish the report from this evaluation in late spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:08.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292263,"EventID":"S4W-19886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:09.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the Scottish Welfare Fund has been paid out (a) in cash and (b) as goods and what the value was of the goods.\r\n","AnswerText":"Between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2013, the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) spent or committed £9.2 million. Of this £9.2 million, a total of £8.6 million had been paid out to households and this was 94% of the spent or committed value. There is a lag between the amount spent or committed and the amount paid out to households, for example, due to households waiting for goods to be delivered.\r\nOf the £8.6 million, around £1.3 million was paid out in cash and around £4.4 million were paid out in goods. Overall, cash payments accounted for 15% of the overall SWF spend by value, and goods accounted for 51% of the overall SWF spend by value. The remaining £2.9 million (34%) was paid out via other methods.\r\nDetails of all payments can be found in table 25a of SWF statistics, available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf/AprilSept2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:09.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292264,"EventID":"S4W-19887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:09.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people receiving grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund was referred to other agencies for assistance.","AnswerText":"Between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2013, a total of 35,590 households received funds from the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF). Of these 35,590 households, a total of 13,761 (39%) had been referred to other agencies for assistance.\r\nStatistics on the SWF are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:09.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292265,"EventID":"S4W-19888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:10.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people that had a grant application for the Scottish Welfare Fund rejected was referred to other agencies for assistance.\r\n","AnswerText":"Between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2013, a total of 13,981 households applied to the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) and received no funds. Of these 13,981 households, a total of 4,943 (35%) had been referred to other agencies for assistance.\r\nStatistics on the SWF are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:10.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292266,"EventID":"S4W-19889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-21T15:43:11.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:37:26.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people receiving grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund are repeat applicants.","AnswerText":"Between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2013, a total of 35,590 households received funds from the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF). These 35,590 households made a total of 51,662 applications to the SWF. Of the 35,590 households, 10,514 households (30%) made repeat applications.\r\nOf the 10,514 households making repeat applications, 5,010 (48%) had no applications rejected and 4,389 (42%) had only a single application rejected.\r\nStatistics on the SWF are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-07T15:43:11.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292267,"EventID":"S4W-19825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:19.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the likely impact of changes to the energy company obligation on the funding of the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland.","AnswerText":"We are in regular discussion with the delivery partners for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS), including local councils, to assess the likely impact of the UK Government’s proposed changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on HEEPS and how to mitigate this.\r\nECO is a UK Government scheme which places legal obligations on energy companies. It operates across England, Scotland and Wales and there is no separate funding allocation for Scotland. Statistics on delivery of ECO over the first nine months of the obligation show that Scotland has received a greater than pro-rata share of the measures funded by energy companies under the obligation across Great Britain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:19.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292268,"EventID":"S4W-19826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:19.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with stakeholders in Scotland to assess the impact of changes to the energy company obligation.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders to discuss the energy company obligation (ECO) and to work closely with delivery partners on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland. Stakeholders with whom we engage regularly include, amongst others: local authorities, registered social landlords, the National Insulation Association, energy companies, the Fuel Poverty Forum and its energy company obligation (ECO) sub-group. We also keep stakeholders up to date on ECO activity through our regular Scottish Government ECO newsletter and we encourage stakeholders to join the newsletter’s mailing list.\r\nThese contacts will inform our response to the UK Government’s consultation on their proposed changes to the ECO.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:19.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292269,"EventID":"S4W-19827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:20.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether additional funding will be made available for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland in the event that funding from the energy company obligation declines.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently working closely with local authorities, obligated energy companies and other delivery partners to assess the impact of the changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS).\r\nWe will continue to use our HEEPS funding to maximise leverage under ECO and have relaxed the criteria for accessing Scottish Government funding to ensure support for those in fuel poverty continues.\r\nLonger term, we have set out our commitment in Scotland’s Future about what we would do in an independent Scotland. We plan to remove certain obligations from energy bills and maintain current funding levels from central resources.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:20.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292270,"EventID":"S4W-19828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:20.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what alternative funding sources it is investigating for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland in the event that funding from the energy company obligation declines.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently working closely with local authorities, obligated energy companies and other delivery partners to assess the impact of the changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS).\r\nThere is a fixed budget within Government and we are unable to compensate for the decline in ECO caused by Westminster policy changes. However, we will attempt to meet the challenge by exploring all possible routes of funding including Green Deal, Scottish Government funding streams for community renewables, European funding and other relevant public and private sources of finance.\r\nLonger term, we have set out our commitment in Scotland’s Future about what we would do in an independent Scotland. We plan to remove certain obligations from energy bills and maintain current funding levels from central resources.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:20.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292271,"EventID":"S4W-19829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:20.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the likely impact of changes to the energy company obligation on its ability to (a) tackle fuel poverty and (b) meet the emissions targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"On fuel poverty: the UK Government’s proposed changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) will have implications for the delivery of our Home Energy Efficiency Programme (HEEPS). We are working closely with delivery partners to better understand their likely impact. We will continue to use our HEEPS funding to maximise leverage under ECO and have relaxed the criteria for accessing Scottish Government funding to ensure support for those in fuel poverty continues.\r\nOn emissions targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009: we expect the policy framework we have developed, as set out in the second Report on Proposals and Policies will allow us to meet our targets. Its flexibility allows us to deliver more where we can and we will continue to seek additional ways in which we can maximise the impact of the investments we make. Scottish households have received a greater than pro-rata share of the measures delivered under ECO. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:20.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292272,"EventID":"S4W-19830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:21.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households have had energy efficiency measures installed under the affordable warmth scheme, broken down by type of measure.","AnswerText":"Some 1,500 households are reported by energy companies to have received installations in the period to end January 2014. Measures installed include: gas boilers, full gas central heating systems, heating controls, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. The Scottish Government will publish a fuller breakdown by measure once this has been provided by all energy companies participating in the Affordable Warmth scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:21.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292273,"EventID":"S4W-19831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:21.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households have had energy efficiency measures installed under the energy assistance scheme, broken down by type of measure.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of households whose installations have been completed (i.e. passed inspection) and for which the Scottish Government has been invoiced for both the Energy Assistance Scheme and stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package in the period April to December 2013. The Scottish Government will publish data for the full 2013-14 financial year in due course.\r\nInstallation type\r\nEnergy Assistance Scheme\r\nEnergy Assistance Package (Stage 4)\r\nTotal\r\nCentral Heating Systems\r\n1697\r\n3649\r\n5346\r\nOf which:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGas\r\n1591\r\n2897\r\n4488\r\nElectric Dry\r\n51\r\n398\r\n449\r\nOil\r\n33\r\n203\r\n236\r\nLPG\r\n18\r\n81\r\n99\r\nSolid Fuel\r\n4\r\n37\r\n41\r\nAir Source Heat Pump\r\n0\r\n25\r\n25\r\nElectric Wet\r\n0\r\n8\r\n8\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nInsulation only (including mobile home insulation)\r\n68\r\n225\r\n293\r\nTOTAL \r\n1765\r\n3874\r\n5639\r\nInstallations completed under stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package relate to applications made prior to 1 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:21.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292274,"EventID":"S4W-19832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:22.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received support under the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area based schemes initiative, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) type of support.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not hold information on the number of households which have received support under the area based element of the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland. We are working with local authorities and other delivery agents to gather this data.\r\nCouncils have until September 2014 to install measures funded from the 2013-14 area based schemes programme. Final information on delivery through the area based schemes will therefore not be available until after this date.\r\nHowever, our area based schemes are designed to work alongside the energy company obligation and, based on quarterly information provided by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, we know that around 32,000 energy efficiency measures have been installed in Scottish households between January and September 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:22.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292275,"EventID":"S4W-19833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:22.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the second round of funding for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area based schemes initiative.","AnswerText":"Our budget for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) is £74 million in 2013-14. We will spend nearly a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period on fuel poverty and energy efficiency. For each of the next two years the Scottish Government spending plans allocated funding of £79 million for fuel poverty.\r\nOn 3 March 2014 we announced that £60 million of HEEPS funding has been allocated to local authorities for area based fuel poverty schemes for next financial year 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:22.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292276,"EventID":"S4W-19834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:23.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18027 by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 November 2013, what progress it is making on delivering its statutory duty \"to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that people are not living in fuel poverty in Scotland by November 2016\".\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty and is doing everything within its limited powers to achieve this.\r\nFuel poverty statistics published in December 2013 show a reduction in the number of households living in fuel poverty in Scotland. Between October 2011 and mid 2012 there was a 3.4% drop in fuel poverty, this equates to around 74,000 households, with improved energy efficiency contributing two-thirds of the fall.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:23.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292277,"EventID":"S4W-19835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:23.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next publish a progress report on the fuel poverty statement.","AnswerText":"The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 set a statutory duty on the Scottish Government to eradicate fuel poverty in Scotland, as far as reasonably practicable by November 2016. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement was published in August 2002 and last reviewed in November 2010. The next review is planned to be published by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:23.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292278,"EventID":"S4W-19836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:24.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland support the needs of rural and off-grid households.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government funding for area based fuel poverty schemes is distributed across all councils in Scotland. £42 million of the £60 million available is allocated on the basis of need which takes into account levels of fuel poverty and reflects the different types of properties within rural areas. This ensures that funding is directed to those areas most in need of assistance, including our rural areas.\r\nThis year’s funding will support delivery in off-gas grid areas by providing specific funding to be used to deliver heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households who meet the affordable warmth eligibility criteria in off-gas grid properties.\r\nWe are also considering how we can use our funding programmes to best meet the needs of off-gas grid households.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:24.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292279,"EventID":"S4W-19837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:24.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the consultation, European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 Programmes, and whether it plans to use the funds to support home energy efficiency and domestic microrenewables schemes.","AnswerText":"The recent consultation generated 80 responses and the final report will be published by 14 March 2014. There is currently considerable support for domestic energy efficiency within Scotland, and the structural funds must not duplicate that provision, and either fill gaps or create enhanced support. The provision of home energy efficiency has therefore not been considered the highest priority for the use of the funds. In terms of wider energy support, the 2014-20 programmes will focus primarily on supporting energy initiatives in the non-domestic sector to support SME growth, innovation and the development of the low carbon economy. In addition, an intervention aiming to support active community partnership models and projects is under consideration; this could create opportunities for domestic energy and micro-renewable schemes at a community level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:24.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292280,"EventID":"S4W-19838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:25.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to households to undertake enabling works to prepare for energy efficiency measures.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides funding to local councils through area based schemes to support households to undertake enabling works to prepare for energy efficiency. In 2014-15 fifteen per cent (15%) of the £60 million area based scheme budget is available to councils for enabling works. This can cover the costs of loft clearance and other preparatory work in advance of the installation of energy efficiency measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:25.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292281,"EventID":"S4W-19839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:25.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill will make it easier for local authorities to engage local SMEs as installers for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland initiative.","AnswerText":"The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 3 October 2013 will establish a national legislative framework for sustainable public procurement that supports Scotland’s economic growth through improved procurement practice. It will help tackle unnecessary inconsistencies for suppliers doing business with the public sector and will help ensure that doing business with the public sector can be simple, transparent and more accessible to suppliers, especially SMEs.\r\nFunding for the area based element of our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) is distributed to local authorities. It is for them to determine the most suitable means of procuring the work. However, as part of the criteria for accessing HEEPS funding we are clear that projects should support the local economy as much as possible. Councils are requested to provide details on how their proposed schemes support local economic activity, small businesses and provide opportunities for apprenticeships. This information is considered as part of our assessment of requests for HEEPS funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:25.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292282,"EventID":"S4W-19840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:25.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the energy efficiency standard for social housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing is anticipated to be published shortly following constructive discussions and engagement with the representatives of social landlords and local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:25.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292283,"EventID":"S4W-19841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:26.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering the recommendations in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland: 2013 Update.","AnswerText":"Building standards officials are in the process of investigating the fifteen additional recommendations made in the 2013 update of the original 2007 Sullivan Report. \r\nIn announcing deferment of the next set of energy standards in building regulations until October 2015, I have already acted upon the first recommendation made by the panel under the ‘Eventual and Staged Standards’ topic.\r\nAt this time, the focus of officials and the construction industry has turned to the development of an ‘action plan’ in support of the 2015 standards, referred to in the fifth recommendation under the ‘Eventual and Staged Standards’ topic.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:26.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292284,"EventID":"S4W-19842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:26.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector Homes working group will present for consultation draft regulations to improve the energy efficiency of existing private sector housing.","AnswerText":"The Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector houses working group will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on draft regulations that would set minimum standards of energy efficiency in existing private sector housing. Draft Regulations are expected to be published for consultation in spring 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:26.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292285,"EventID":"S4W-19843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:26.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-18T16:49:12.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Housing (Scotland) Bill will include provisions relating to energy efficiency measures as common works by householders.","AnswerText":"The Housing (Scotland) Bill amends the powers of local authorities to require home owners to carry out work on homes that are below tolerable standard, and this includes homes that lack satisfactory thermal insulation. The Bill also includes a provision to enable local authorities to pay missing shares where a majority of home owners agree common works under the Tenement Management Scheme, and this can include works to install insulation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:26.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292286,"EventID":"S4W-19901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T14:08:27.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:00:51.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19745 by Keith Brown on 21 February 2014, whether a special road scheme made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 in relation to a trunk road must be published as a general print or can be issued as a local and private non-print.","AnswerText":"Regulation 6 of the Scottish Statutory Instruments Regulations 2011 requires publication of special roads schemes, which are Scottish statutory instruments, on the Queen’s Printer’s website. A scheme would only be printed if it was laid before the Scottish Parliament, either because it was designated as a ‘national development’ as defined in section 143A of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 or if the Scottish Ministers directed that it should be so laid, or, if the Queen’s Printer was requested to print it under regulation 7(2) of the 2011 Regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T14:08:27.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292295,"EventID":"S4T-00607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:52.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T11:01:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in the Daily Record about conditions at the hostel, the Bellgrove Hotel, and, in light of such institutions being supported by public money, whether it considers that they should meet certain standards.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:52.197","MeetingDate":"2014-02-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292296,"EventID":"S4T-00611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:53.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T11:59:49.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to strengthen and support the energy industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:53.413","MeetingDate":"2014-02-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292297,"EventID":"S4F-01905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:16.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-20T15:39:37.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:16.903","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292298,"EventID":"S4F-01906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:17.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-23T22:10:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will ensure that all sectors of sport are equipped to handle cardiac arrests by participants.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:17.293","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292299,"EventID":"S4F-01907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:17.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T09:36:01.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:17.543","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292300,"EventID":"S4F-01908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:18.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T10:18:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is providing to foodbanks in order to help tackle the impact of UK welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:18.23","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292301,"EventID":"S4F-01916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:21.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T11:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the recent increase in reported incidents of rape.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:21.8","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292302,"EventID":"S4F-01917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T12:55:22.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T11:31:39.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister, in light of the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at the Public Audit Committee on 19 February 2014, how long confidentiality clauses have been included automatically in NHS settlement agreements. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T12:55:22.067","MeetingDate":"2014-02-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292303,"EventID":"S4W-19902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:21.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling the barriers faced by LGBT people when accessing public services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided funding of almost £300,000 to Stonewall Scotland between 2012-15 to work with public bodies who request support to improve the services they deliver to LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:21.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292304,"EventID":"S4W-19903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:22.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether specialist information is given to LGBT people when accessing housing services.","AnswerText":"By complying with equalities legislation and the Scottish Social Housing Charter social landlords will understand the needs of different customers including LGBT people and will deliver services and provide access to housing services that recognise those needs. Stonewall Scotland has been a recipient of Scottish Government funding for equality focussed work since 2001. Their work has included the provision of housing information and advice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:22.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292305,"EventID":"S4W-19904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:22.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training is given to local authority staff on how to deal with homophobic and transphobic discrimination.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided funding of almost £300,000 to Stonewall Scotland between 2012-15 to work with public bodies who request support to improve the services they deliver to LGBT people. Part of this funding supports seminars on training, staff engagement and policy development for public bodies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:22.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292306,"EventID":"S4W-19905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:22.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS provides training for staff on (a) specific health concerns of and (b) issues faced by LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards have a responsibility to ensure that their staff are appropriately trained and are able to deliver person-centred care to all patients and their families.\r\nTo support NHS boards, NHS Education for Scotland has produced ‘Addressing LGBT Health Inequalities', a learning resource on health inequalities for LGBT people. The resource can be accessed at: \r\nwww.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/making-a-difference.aspx.\r\nNHS Education for Scotland continues to embed issues facing LGBT people in its wider educational work. Examples include its educational resources supporting the carers' strategy and the generic 10 essential shared capabilities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:22.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292307,"EventID":"S4W-19906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:22.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have undertaken a modern apprenticeship in the (a) construction, (b) energy, (c) manufacturing and engineering, (d) transport and (e) sport and leisure industry in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) geographical location and (ii) specific apprenticeship.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:22.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292308,"EventID":"S4W-19907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:23.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many men have undertaken a modern apprenticeship in (a) the health and caring sector, (b) tourism, (c) sport and leisure and (d) administration, business and management in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) geographical location and (ii) specific apprenticeship.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:23.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292309,"EventID":"S4W-19908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-24T16:53:23.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:13:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Ugandan High Commission (UHC) and what issues were discussed and when it will next meet representatives of the UHC and what issues it will discuss.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government Ministers have not previously met representatives of the Ugandan High Commission. Scottish Government officials attended a Commonwealth Games diplomatic briefing in Glasgow on 5 and 6 March and met with representatives of over 30 nations and territories, including a representative of the Ugandan High Commission. No meetings between Scottish Ministers and representatives of the Uganda High Commission are currently planned. On 26 February 2014, the Minister for External Affairs and International Development wrote to the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague asking him to make representations to the Government of Uganda highlighting Scottish Government concerns over LGBT issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-10T16:53:23.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292320,"EventID":"S4W-19909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:47.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T15:19:04.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it plans to abolish the post of honorary sheriff.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers that the need for honorary sheriffs will reduce and will cease with the advent of the new summary sheriffs and also as a result of the greater use of technology such as video links to remote locations.\r\nThe efficient disposal of business in Scotland’s courts is a matter for the Lord President under the terms of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:47.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292321,"EventID":"S4W-19910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:48.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T15:19:04.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on concerns that abolishing the post of honorary sheriff could (a) place extra pressure on other parts of the judicial system and (b) lead to a loss of expertise, particularly in rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no evidence to suggest that extra pressure will be placed on other parts of the judicial system as business that would previously have been heard by honorary sheriffs will continue to be heard.\r\nThe efficient disposal of business in Scotland’s courts is a matter for the Lord President and the efficient disposal of business in individual sheriffdoms is a matter for the relevant sheriff principal. The Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill will provide sheriffs principal with a wider range of ways for local business demand to be met than are currently available including summary sheriffs and specialist judiciary.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises the contribution that honorary sheriffs make in rural and island areas. However, given the type of cases that are dealt with by honorary sheriff, we do not foresee any issues regarding a loss of expertise, especially considering that this business will be heard, in future, by fully qualified sheriffs and/or summary sheriffs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:48.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292322,"EventID":"S4W-19913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:48.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T17:10:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its budget of the UK Government's decision to end the Local Welfare Assistance Fund.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is responsible for its own local welfare provision called the Scottish Welfare Fund. As detailed in the budget, despite an 11.1% real terms reduction in our discretionary spending power over five years, the funding level for the Scottish Welfare Fund will be maintained at £33 million for 2014-2015, and 2015-2016. We recognise the challenges households face in the current economic climate and will maintain planned funding for the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2015-16 irrespective of any decisions taken by the Department for Work and Pensions. Its decision to end funding for local welfare provision in England will have no impact on the Scottish budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:48.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292323,"EventID":"S4W-19914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:49.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T17:10:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on poverty in Scotland, what its position is on reports that the UK Government is considering charging people for appealing a decision to stop their benefits.","AnswerText":"We have not been made aware of this proposal by the UK Government but, if implemented, it would present yet another challenge to vulnerable people in Scotland already dealing with welfare reforms that could potentially reduce welfare expenditure in Scotland by over £4.5 billion in the five years to 2014-15. The Scottish Government wants a welfare system that is simpler, makes work pay, lifts people out of poverty and ensures fair and decent support for all. The UK Government’s reforms are not the answer and risk undermining our efforts around tackling poverty.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:49.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292324,"EventID":"S4W-19915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:49.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T09:20:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many property owners under its help to buy scheme it has bought out of the agreement.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the scheme a buyer can purchase a new-build property, up to the value of £400,000, with the Scottish Government purchasing an equity share of up to 20% of the property.\r\nThere is no set deadline by which purchasers must repay to Scottish Government the equity support which they receive through the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme. The Scottish scheme runs on indefinitely and purchasers can decide to acquire all or some of Scottish Government's retained equity stake in their home at a time of their own choosing. Alternatively, the equity support will be repaid upon the occurrence of certain events, the most common one being when the purchaser decides to sell their home. Currently no-one has repaid their equity share.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:49.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292325,"EventID":"S4W-19916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:49.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T09:20:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many property owners under its help to buy scheme have expressed a wish to be bought out of the agreement and how many have been rejected.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19915 on 10 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:49.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292326,"EventID":"S4W-19918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:50.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T09:33:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale would be for setting up the fair work commission that it has pledged to establish if Scotland became independent; what its remit would be, and who would be invited to join.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has adopted a strong social partnership approach, working with the voluntary sector, unions, employer associations and employers directly. With independence we will build on this approach. The fair work commission will commence its work on the first day of an independent Scotland and will consist of members drawn from business, trade unions and wider society. It will provide advice on factors relating to individual and collective rights which contribute to fairness at work and business competitiveness, recognising that both are integral elements of sustainable economic growth in Scotland. It will provide advice on the minimum wage, with a guarantee that it will rise at least in line with inflation. The commission will work with a convention on employment and labour relations to transform the relationship between government, employers and employees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:50.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292327,"EventID":"S4W-19919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:50.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T09:33:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a fair work commission if there is a No vote in the independence referendum and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The rationale for the fair work commission described in Scotland’s Future is dependent upon the creation of an independent Scotland, as employment law is currently a reserved matter.\r\nHowever, Working Together, the independent review of progressive workplace policies in Scotland, which was announced in February 2014, builds on the Scottish Government‘s established position: we are committed to working with the STUC and employer representatives across the public and private sectors in Scotland, on strategic issues of common interest. The terms of reference of the review recognise that the active presence of both of these communities and the quality of the dialogue and cooperation they can achieve are crucial pre-conditions for the attainment of sustainable economic growth, creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish.\r\nOnly independence will give us the powers we need to create sustainable employment that pays fairly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:50.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292328,"EventID":"S4W-19920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:50.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T11:45:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled people have enrolled in modern apprenticeships in each of the last three years for which information is available.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:50.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292329,"EventID":"S4W-19921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:51.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T11:45:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled people aged between 16 and 24 have enrolled in modern apprenticeships in each of the last three years for which information is available.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:51.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292330,"EventID":"S4W-19922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T13:50:51.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T11:45:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland, Modern Apprenticeships, Equality & the Economy: Spreading the Benefits, what it is doing to reduce the discrepancy between the proportion of disabled people taking up apprentices in Scotland and England, and to encourage more disabled people to start modern appenticeships.","AnswerText":"Achieving a balanced workforce which reflects Scottish society as a whole is a challenge for the wider labour market and is not specific to the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme. A key element of the MA programme in Scotland is, and has always been, that all apprentices must be employed. As a result, this limits the influence that this government can have as recruitment decisions rest with employers, providing they act within the appropriate laws.\r\nThe Scottish Government appreciates, however, that we need to do more to ensure all people understand the nature and opportunities available across the labour market, and that employers recognise the economic and social value of a balanced workforce. This requires a cross-Government approach.\r\nPart of this work requires us to challenge employers on their own perceptions of what it means to be a member of an under-represented group working in their industries. Scottish Ministers are strongly encouraging employers to consider all people regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, or other factors, when recruiting and offering MAs and we are reinforcing this message through our Make Young People Your Business campaign.\r\nIn support of this, in July 2012 we launched the Employer Recruitment Incentive for targeted young people which offers funding to employers to support young people aged 16-24 who are care leavers, disabled people, young carers or ex-offenders to sustain employment including undertaking a MA. This incentive can also be used with our Youth Employment Scotland funding.\r\nSkills Development Scotland (SDS) already works to promote equal opportunities in line with the Equalities Act 2010.  In addition the Scottish Government recently agreed with the Equal Opportunities Committee’s recommendation to launch an awareness campaign to better promote inclusion throughout all levels of the MA programme. We will continue to work with SDS to take this forward including a specific focus on under-represented groups during Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014.\r\nYou will also be aware that the recent interim report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce made a number of recommendations relating to MAs, and we are currently considering these. An important stage in the second half of the Wood Commission will be a focus on equality issues, looking to make meaningful recommendations to improve employment outcomes in relation to gender, disability and ethnicity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T13:50:51.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292340,"EventID":"S4W-19923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T17:20:45.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T12:50:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of its proposed peer-approved clinical system and what role (a) patients' and (b) other representative groups will have in the development of this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new peer approved clinical system (PACS) is due to be rolled out in May 2014 and the Scottish Government will publish details of PACS following implementation of a new approach by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.\r\nThe Scottish Government has listened to the views of patients and patient interest groups regarding a replacement approach to the current individual patient treatment request arrangements to inform the new approach.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T17:20:45.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292341,"EventID":"S4W-19924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T17:20:45.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T12:50:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Medicines Consortium is taking regarding (a) improving the transparency of and (b) increasing patients' groups' involvement with the development of its processes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Medicines Consortium’s (SMC) Patient and Public Involvement Group (PAPIG) is responsible for ensuring that the patient/carer perspective is always taken into consideration by the SMC. Patient interest groups are able to collate comments from a number of patients and carers and provide these in the form of a submission of evidence to SMC. These submissions are an important part of the SMC’s assessment process and the SMC’s detailed advice document (DAD) for each medicine appraised includes a section to summarise the patient and public involvement.\r\nIn preparation for meeting in public from May 2014, the SMC invited patient interest groups who had made a submission for the medicines under consideration to observe proceedings for the first time at their meeting held on 4 February 2014.\r\nThe work that has been taken forward for the SMC to apply different approaches in the evaluation of medicines for use at end of life and to treat rare diseases was identified as a priority by the Health and Sport Committee. The patient and clinical engagement meetings under the new system will provide patient organisations with more opportunity than ever before to influence SMC decisions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T17:20:45.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292342,"EventID":"S4W-19926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T17:20:46.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T12:50:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Scottish Medicines Consortium is making on establishing a value-based assessment of medicines for the treatment of long-term conditions, and whether it plans to develop this approach further.\r\n","AnswerText":"The work that has been taken forward for the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to apply different approaches in the evaluation of medicines for use at end of life and to treat rare diseases was identified as a priority by the Health and Sport Committee.\r\nThe new approach is recognised as the first step in a wider process to determine Scotland’s requirement for a value based approach for assessment of all new medicines. The Scottish Government does plan to develop the value based approach further; however the successful implementation of SMC’s new approach must be the priority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T17:20:46.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292343,"EventID":"S4W-19927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T17:20:46.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T13:37:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Skills Development Scotland has given to the modern apprenticeship programme in each year, broken down by sector, and what the projected level is for (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T17:20:46.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292344,"EventID":"S4W-19928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-25T17:20:46.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T15:14:08.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13054 by Derek Mackay on 5 March 2013, how many planning appeals in the (a) energy, (b) retail, (c) commercial property, (d) environmental waste management and (e) hotel, leisure and recreation sectors ministers have considered since February 2013 and with what outcome.\r\n","AnswerText":"Planning appeal decisions in the period 14 February 2013 to 13 March 2014 are set out by sector in the following table:\r\n\r\nAppeals Decided\r\nNumber Allowed\r\nEnergy\r\n103\r\n41\r\nRetail\r\n11\r\n8\r\nCommercial Property\r\n20\r\n11\r\nEnvironmental Waste Management\r\n2\r\n1\r\nHotel, Leisure and Recreation\r\n19\r\n10\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-11T17:20:46.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292356,"EventID":"S4W-19944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T12:14:17.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:34:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the remit, scope and structure of the Wild Fisheries Review.\r\n","AnswerText":"I met with Andrew Thin, Chair of the Wild Fisheries Review, last week and I have given him the following remit, scope and structure:\r\nWild fisheries review\r\nRemit:\r\nTo consider from first principles the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s wild fisheries (salmon and freshwater), the management system and funding required to meet those challenges and deliver those opportunities.\r\nTo consider the balance of responsibility and accountability as regards the international commitments, obligations and domestic policy objectives associated with wild fisheries and their environment.\r\nTo set out how Scotland’s natural fish and fisheries resources should be sustainably managed, conserved and developed in the context of Scotland’s international commitments, obligations and domestic policy objectives in the best national interest and in a way that is underpinned by evidence.\r\nTo identify and map the essential components of a modern wild fisheries management system; one responsive to the changing and multi-factoral impacts and pressures on fish and fisheries.\r\nTo consider the information required to make and implement evidence-based management decisions.\r\nTo consider the skill set required to deliver any new management system.\r\n\r\nScope:\r\nSpecifically, the review and subsequent report will consider how:\r\nA strategic and joined up approach can be created in order to preserve, protect and develop Scotland’s fisheries in a sustainable manner in the best interest of Scotland as a whole;\r\nRelevant data and research should be collected and shared to inform management decisions and who should have the lead responsibility for data collection, storage and research commissioning;\r\nAll fisheries species focus and management can be achieved optimally;\r\nFisheries management should be funded in a way that is both transparent and accountable;\r\nTo manage non-compliance with wild fisheries legislation in a proportionate and consistent manner;\r\nThe sustainable management of salmon netting activity could be taken forward in the future;\r\nSome countries supporting a similar range of species to Scotland manage their wild fisheries and what lessons can Scotland learn from international perspectives;\r\nEvidenced based management decisions should be implemented to ensure compliance with national and international obligations and legislative accountability;\r\nAppropriate skill sets required for fisheries management are developed and provide opportunities for continuous professional development; \r\nTo create a better environment and increase the opportunity for all but especially young people to stimulate their interest in fishing and fisheries management;\r\nAppropriate interventions and actions, including broader policy, can overcome barriers, weaknesses or omissions in fostering productive working relationships between and across sectors.\r\nThe review may further develop any objectives to enable its aims to be delivered and to advise Scottish Ministers on any aspects related to management of wild fisheries that merits their attention.\r\n\r\nStructure:\r\nThe review will be conducted independently of Scottish Government by a panel comprising Andrew Thin (Chair), Jane Hope and Michelle Francis. It will be supported by a secretariat from the Scottish Government, and a technical advisory group drawn from Marine Scotland Science, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Institute of Fisheries Management. It is for the chair and panel to determine how the review is conducted, but it will be structured around delivery of the remit set out above.\r\n\r\nTiming and Timescale:\r\nThe review will begin in March 2014, and it is envisaged that it will take six months to complete with a final report delivered to me thereafter.\r\nI will consider any recommendations made and will consult on any subsequent proposals to implement a new management regime.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T12:14:17.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292357,"EventID":"S4O-02957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:02:57.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T11:35:44.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that environmental legislation and guidelines do not have a disproportionately negative impact on the species, homo sapiens.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:02:58.043","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292358,"EventID":"S4O-02958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:02:58.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:56:51.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the recommendations of the Scottish Dairy Review: \"Ambition 2025\".","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:02:58.713","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292359,"EventID":"S4O-02959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:02:59.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:03:51.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it considers Scotland's farmers are being disadvantaged by Scotland remaining part of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:02:59.2","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292360,"EventID":"S4O-02960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:02:59.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:55:32.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for the marine environment and marine industries are of the delay to the National Marine Plan.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:02:59.48","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292361,"EventID":"S4O-02961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:02:59.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T23:36:17.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what benefits independence could bring to the forestry industry.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:02:59.79","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292362,"EventID":"S4O-02962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:00.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:03:51.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to help protect householders living near rivers from flooding.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:00.073","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292363,"EventID":"S4O-02963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:00.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:21:08.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to tackle air pollution in Glasgow.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:00.353","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292364,"EventID":"S4O-02964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:00.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:03:52.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities following the recent incidents of flooding.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:00.663","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292365,"EventID":"S4O-02966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:00.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:03:52.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local authorities with a high proportion of tenement housing to improve recycling in those areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:00.947","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292366,"EventID":"S4O-02968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:01.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:49:03.837","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward proposals regarding the regulation of taxis and private hires.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:01.243","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292367,"EventID":"S4O-02969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:01.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:13.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what specialist Police Scotland facilities are based in Fife.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:01.54","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292368,"EventID":"S4O-02970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:01.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:14.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has informed the Cabinet Secretary for Justice of the number of respondents to the consultation on public counter services.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:01.833","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292369,"EventID":"S4O-02971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:02.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:15.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the latest figures are for crimes involving the handling of offensive weapons.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:02.147","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292370,"EventID":"S4O-02972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:02.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:08:28.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the justice system works with ASSIST to support victims of domestic abuse.","AnswerText":"The prosecution of domestic abuse is a strategic priority of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).\r\nProsecutors recognise the need to work with specialist organisations to create a criminal justice system where victims get the help and services they need.\r\nASSIST is a valued partner of the police and COPFS. Police officers will refer victims of domestic abuse to ASSIST who will carry out a risk assessment of the victim and ensure that safety planning has been put in place. They will then provide a report to prosecutors containing additional information that may be beneficial to the case including information about risk posed to the victim and the victim’s views on special bail conditions and non-harassment orders where this information is available. ASSIST supports victim engagement throughout the court process. Prosecutors are in daily contact with workers from ASSIST in order to ensure that they have up to date information on the cases they deal with.\r\nI have visited ASSIST myself on a number of occasions, including last week, and I am always impressed by the excellent service they provide to victims, and their effective partnerships with all other agencies who are working tirelessly to tackle this most devastating of crimes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:02.46","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292371,"EventID":"S4O-02973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:02.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T09:38:25.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:02.787","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292372,"EventID":"S4O-02974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:03.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:55:46.073","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the implications for the justice system of the introduction of a requirement for local authorities to investigate allegations of harassment or unlawful eviction.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:03.1","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292373,"EventID":"S4O-02976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:03.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:17.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed abolition of honorary sheriffs will have on access to justice in rural and island areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:03.397","MeetingDate":"2014-03-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292374,"EventID":"S4O-02977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:03.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T14:15:57.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the procurement process and construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:03.723","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292375,"EventID":"S4O-02978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:04.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:53.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to the campaign for a Leith museum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:04.067","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292376,"EventID":"S4O-02979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:04.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:54.29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inquiry by the UK Parliament's Public Administration Select Committee on the impartiality of civil servants in relation to the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:04.55","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292377,"EventID":"S4O-02980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:04.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:55.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to meet elected representatives from France and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:04.94","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292378,"EventID":"S4O-02981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:05.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:55.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent further closures of the A83 because of landslips.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:05.563","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292379,"EventID":"S4O-02982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:05.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:56.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:05.89","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292380,"EventID":"S4O-02984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:06.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:57.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing the transmission and access charges to the grid for marine and islands renewable energy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:06.203","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292381,"EventID":"S4O-02985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:06.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:58.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its review of the guidance on the administration of the Educational Maintenance Allowance.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:06.517","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292382,"EventID":"S4O-02986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:03:06.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-24T12:04:58.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government on defence in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:03:06.89","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292389,"EventID":"S4W-19934","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:56.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T09:43:41.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time is to see a specialist for people who present symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not available centrally. Waiting times information for a first outpatient consultation is collected at specialty level only. Latest figures shows that on 31 December 2013, 95.3% of patients on the waiting list for a first outpatient consultation had waited less than the 12 weeks waiting time standard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:56.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292390,"EventID":"S4W-19935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:57.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T09:43:41.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Health and Sport Committee’s Report on Inquiry into the Regulation of Care for Older People, when a review of National Care Standards will take place.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been undertaking exploratory work with a wide range of stakeholders to inform the review of the National Care Standards and will launch a formal consultation in the next few weeks from March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:57.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292391,"EventID":"S4W-19936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:57.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:10:26.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the level of uptake is of free eye tests, broken down by age group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the total number of free NHS eye examinations carried out by high-street optometrists is published by Information Services Division and can be found at the following link:\r\nNumbers of primary and supplementary eye examinations for years ending 31 March 2007 to 31 March 2013: \r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Eye-Care/Publications/2013-08-27/ophthalmic_table_C_august13.xls?98183841\r\nInformation on the level of uptake of the free NHS eye examination broken down by age group is not held.\r\nSource: Information Services Division\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:57.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292392,"EventID":"S4W-19937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:57.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:10:26.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging the uptake of free eye tests.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have maintained our commitment to the free NHS eye examination introduced on 1 April 2006 delivering universally free comprehensive community based eye care services for everyone in Scotland.\r\nThere has been a continued increase in the number of NHS funded eye examinations carried out since its introduction. The number of free eye examinations has increased from 1.573 million in 2007 to 1.927 million in 2013, an increase of 22.5%. GPs are now referring 33% more patients annually for NHS funded eye examinations than in 2007.\r\nWe continue to invest in the free NHS eye examination through our partner organisations. Each year £1 million of funding is provided to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to support the knowledge and skills of community optometrists in providing care to their NHS patients. We have also previously made funding available to optometry practices to purchase state of the art testing and screening equipment to facilitate the new examinations. This is ensuring that optometrists can provide an improved level of care.\r\nA patient information leaflet Your guide to free NHS eye examinations in Scotland is available for display in optometrists, GP practices, and pharmacies.\r\nSource: Information Services Division\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:57.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292393,"EventID":"S4W-19938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:58.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:10:26.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of independence, what plans it has to align Scotland with EU standards under directives 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC to (a) improve eyesight testing standards for drivers and (b) legislate so that professional eye testing is carried out at the time of taking a driving test.","AnswerText":"This would be a matter for a future Scottish Government as and when elected.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:58.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292394,"EventID":"S4W-19940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:58.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:10:26.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents are caused by poor vision and how such accidents are recorded.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012 there were 12 cases where it was considered that drivers with uncorrected defective eyesight had contributed to injury road accidents. Information on contributory factors is collected by the police as part of the GB wide ‘STATS 19’ accident data collection. It should be noted that they reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of reporting the accident and are based on the information which was available at that time, and have not been revised in the light of any subsequent extensive investigation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:58.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292395,"EventID":"S4W-19941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:58.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T10:10:26.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how decisions are taken on the use of messaging on motorway gantry signs and what plans it has to use such messaging to encourage drivers to have regular eye tests.\r\n","AnswerText":"Variable message signs are used by the Scottish Government to manage the trunk road network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents. That is their primary use. Only when there are no emergencies or incidents to report, the signs are used to warn drivers of events that may cause delays in the future (e.g. road works or major events), provide reliable journey time information and to also promote background messages that support road safety, network operation and other related campaigns.\r\nThe background messages have been developed in consultation with a number of key stakeholders and we try to apply them with a degree of intelligence. For example, if a route has a high motorcycle accident rate during the summer, we will display relevant road safety messages on that route during that period. If traffic queues on a route every morning, we will display car sharing or public transport messages on that route during the morning peak.\r\nWe believe our network of 205 variable message signs is an important asset, which should be fully utilised to influence driver behaviour and promote a safer and more efficient transport network. We constantly look for opportunities to improve the effectiveness of our background messages and will look to introduce a message to stress the importance of regular eye tests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:58.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292396,"EventID":"S4W-19942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:58.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:20:58.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its financial review of kinship care.\r\n","AnswerText":"We expect to announce the findings shortly and I would be happy to write to the member to keep her informed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:58.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292397,"EventID":"S4W-19943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:59.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:20:58.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the revised capital costs associated with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"These costs will be provided to the Finance Committee at the very earliest opportunity and I have given a commitment to the Convener of the Finance Committee that I will give evidence on those costs once they are available.\r\nSubject to agreement of the final cost estimates, the Scottish Government is committed to funding additional costs of the extension of early learning and childcare provisions. This will be new money to add into the local government settlement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:59.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292398,"EventID":"S4W-19945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:59.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:57:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the physical ill health criteria are for excusal from jury service.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no statutory criteria for excusal from jury service on the grounds of ill health. This is a matter for the Sheriff Clerk’s discretion.\r\nFurther information on excusal from jury service is available from the Scottish Court Service’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/scs---court-users/guide_to_jury_service_in_the_court_of_session.pdf?sfvrsn=2 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:59.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292399,"EventID":"S4W-19946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:59.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T11:57:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms there are for people to apply to be permanently excused from jury service because of (a) chronic and (b) incurable physical ill health.\r\n","AnswerText":"The categories of persons automatically disqualified or excused from jury service are set out in schedule 1 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980. These categories do not include those suffering from chronic and/or incurable physical ill health.\r\nPersons who are unable to carry out jury service because of illness of any nature may apply for excusal, at the time they are requested to carry out such service, to the Sheriff Clerk, who has discretion in these matters. Further information on excusal from jury service is available from the Scottish Court Service’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/scs---court-users/guide_to_jury_service_in_the_court_of_session.pdf?sfvrsn=2 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:44:59.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292400,"EventID":"S4W-19947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T13:44:59.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T12:25:53.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19755 by Keith Brown on 26 February 2014, whether it will provide the information requested.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2014 to S4W-19755 and on 6 November 2013 and 3 October 2013 to S4W-17786 and S4W-17356. I have no further information to provide at this time. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T13:45:00.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292407,"EventID":"S4W-19952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:07:58.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:23:45.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations are subject to continuous review through on-going engagement with stakeholders.\r\nThe regulations were last reviewed and updated through the Water Environment (Control Activities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations in 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:07:58.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292408,"EventID":"S4W-19953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:07:58.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:29:34.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the 17:26 train from Edinburgh to Dunblane has been reduced to two carriages in each of the last three years, and how many times this has led to the operator being fined.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table outlines the number of times the 17:26 train from Edinburgh to Dunblane service has been reduced to two carriages: \r\nFinancial Year\r\nInstances where capacity has reduced (three to two carriages)\r\n2011-12\r\n7\r\n2012-13\r\n7\r\n2013-14 (to February 2014)\r\n4\r\nOn each of these eighteen occasions (in total) the operator was fined, under the short-formation incentive procedures of the current franchise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:07:58.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292409,"EventID":"S4W-19954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:07:59.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:29:34.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the 07:20 train from Dunblane to Edinburgh has been reduced to three carriages in each of the last three years, and how many times this has led to the operator being fined.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table outlines the number of times the 07:20 train from Dunblane to Edinburgh service has been reduced to either three or two carriages:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nInstances where capacity has reduced (four to three carriages)\r\nInstances where capacity has reduced (four to two carriages)\r\n2011-12\r\n48\r\n16\r\n2012-13\r\n28\r\n10\r\n2013-14 (to February 2014)\r\n19\r\n2\r\nOn each of these occasions (one hundred and twenty three in total) the operator was fined, under the short-formation incentive procedures of the current franchise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:07:59.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292410,"EventID":"S4W-19955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:07:59.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:30:12.827","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the report by PricewaterhouseCoopers into whether there had been sufficient learning at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde from child major incident reviews and also concerns relating to NHS Ayrshire and Arran in this regard, whether it will invite Health Improvement Scotland to undertake similar reviews in all NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no plans at this stage to invite Healthcare Improvement Scotland to undertake a national review of child major incident reviews.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:07:59.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292411,"EventID":"S4W-19956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:08:00.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:30:46.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what savings it anticipates in the medicines budget in each of the next five years as a result of (a) the introduction of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement in January 2014 and (b) branded products coming out of patent and becoming available as generic products.","AnswerText":"The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) came into force on 1 January 2014. The scheme was agreed by the Department of Health in England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Devolved administrations requested inclusion in the negotiations but were refused.\r\nThe PPRS in place from 1 January 2014 operates differently from the previous scheme. The key aspect for the Scottish Government is ensuring that the mechanism in the scheme agreed by the UK Government and ABPI provides a fair return for Scotland. Discussions are ongoing between the four nations and have not yet concluded.\r\nIt is not possible to estimate with certainty the level of savings which may be achieved as generic versions become available for branded drugs whose period of patent protection is expected to expire. This is because it is not known in advance how many generic manufacturers will choose to offer versions of the drugs in question, the prices at which such drugs will be offered, or what other contingent market impact there may be. Over the last 10 years there has been a shift away from developing new medicines for primary care and towards those for treating rare conditions and cancer. This means that from 2013-14 until 2017-18 and beyond there are far fewer primary care medicines with patent protection due to expire.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:08:00.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292412,"EventID":"S4W-19957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:08:00.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:30:46.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the rare diseases fund will be affected by the new processes for Scottish Medicines Consortium approval of orphan and ultra-orphan medicines.","AnswerText":"As part of work ongoing between Scottish Government and NHSScotland on the financial implications of the change in approach being adopted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) consideration is being given as to how the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund will best support the anticipated increase in medicines accepted by the SMC.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:08:00.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292413,"EventID":"S4W-19958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-26T17:08:00.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:30:46.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage uplift is for each NHS board based on the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee distribution.","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula target shares for 2013-14 and 2014-15 and the year-on-year change (based on the current health board boundaries), alongside the proportionate increase in the actual board funding allocation.\r\nNote that the uplift to the actual allocations depends on the overall increase in funding and on the distance between a board's target share and its actual share in the base year (referred to as the 'parity position'). Typically a board whose actual allocation share is less than its target share will have a higher rate of uplift than a board whose actual allocation share is higher than its target share.\r\nTable: Health board NRAC target shares for 2013-14 and 2014-15 and the year-on-year proportionate change in the target shares and in actual board allocations.\r\nHealth Board\r\nTarget Shares\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nChange: per cent\r\nActual Allocation: uplift 2013-14 to 2014-15, per cent\r\nAyrshire & Arran\r\n7.36%\r\n7.50%\r\n1.9%\r\n2.60%\r\nBorders\r\n2.10%\r\n2.11%\r\n0.9%\r\n2.50%\r\nDumfries & Galloway\r\n3.00%\r\n3.01%\r\n0.5%\r\n2.50%\r\nFife\r\n6.90%\r\n6.79%\r\n-1.6%\r\n3.30%\r\nForth Valley\r\n5.51%\r\n5.45%\r\n-1.1%\r\n3.60%\r\nGrampian\r\n9.68%\r\n9.77%\r\n0.9%\r\n4.00%\r\nGreater Glasgow & Clyde\r\n24.01%\r\n24.17%\r\n0.7%\r\n2.60%\r\nHighland\r\n6.36%\r\n6.49%\r\n2.1%\r\n3.00%\r\nLanarkshire\r\n10.88%\r\n10.94%\r\n0.6%\r\n2.90%\r\nLothian\r\n14.86%\r\n14.36%\r\n-3.3%\r\n4.10%\r\nOrkney\r\n0.43%\r\n0.49%\r\n12.5%\r\n4.50%\r\nShetland\r\n0.46%\r\n0.48%\r\n5.2%\r\n2.60%\r\nTayside\r\n7.84%\r\n7.73%\r\n-1.4%\r\n2.50%\r\nWestern Isles\r\n0.62%\r\n0.70%\r\n12.2%\r\n2.60%\r\nNote that the development of the target shares between 2013-14 and 2014-15 is affected by the revisions to the formula following the recommendations of the working group which reviewed the morbidity and life circumstances adjustment for the Mental Health and Learning Difficulties programme; the revisions to the formula following the recommendations of the working group on remote and rural issues, and; the revisions to the National Records of Scotland population estimates following the census undertaken in 2011.\r\nFurther details of the formula changes and the effects on target shares can be found on the website of the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation at:\r\nhttp://www.tagra.scot.nhs.uk/subgroups.html \r\nFurther information on the NRAC target shares can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Resource-Allocation-Formula/resource-allocation-latest.asp \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-12T17:08:00.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292415,"EventID":"S4W-19929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:33.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T17:05:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to introduce Arabic language courses in the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is up to schools and local authorities to decide which language courses to offer their pupils. This will be based on a variety of considerations including the availability of qualified teachers; demand for the language; routes for progression and the availability of qualifications and learning resources. As one of the main languages of the world, we would hope that in due course Arabic might be offered in some schools. The government has made an ambitious languages commitment to create the conditions over two parliaments to enable all young people to learn two languages in addition to their mother tongue. We are working in partnership with local authorities and stakeholders to enable learning of the first additional language to start from primary one with a second additional language to be offered by all schools from primary five.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:33.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292416,"EventID":"S4W-19930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:34.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T17:05:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to introduce Arabic language courses at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level (a) 4, (b) 5, (c) 6 and (d) 7.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:34.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292417,"EventID":"S4W-19932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:34.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T17:05:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what new qualifications the SQA is planning to introduce at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level (a) 4, (b) 5, (c) 6 and (d) 7 and has introduced in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:34.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292418,"EventID":"S4W-19933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:34.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-25T17:05:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what SQA language courses are available, broken down by the number studying each subject.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Qualification Authority provides a range of language qualifications to suit the diverse needs of candidates.\r\nCourses of study include units, a Languages for Life and Work Award at Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) 3 and 4 and national courses. Beyond these, many other learners study languages but not to a language qualification. The qualifications available broken down by the number studying each subject are contained within two tables:\r\nTable 1 shows the number studying for each language qualification in 2012-13.\r\nTable 2 shows the entries in 2013 for the units which make up the Languages for Life and Work Award (the incorporation of units into an award is new in 2013).\r\nThe award includes a Language for Work Purposes unit and a Languages for Life unit. These two units can be taken in one or two of the following languages: Cantonese, French, Gaelic (Learners), German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Urdu at either SCQF level 3 or 4.\r\nIn addition 25 students in 2012-13 studied for the Languages Baccalaureate.\r\nTable 1: Studying a language by level 2013 post-appeal (in publicly funded centres)\r\nAn asterix denotes fewer than five entries. Classical Greek is also available; however, there are no entries in publicly funded centres.\r\nSubject/\r\nLevel\r\nAccess 2\r\nAccess\r\n3\r\nStandard\r\nGrade\r\nIntermediate\r\n1\r\nIntermediate\r\n2\r\nHigher\r\nAdvanced\r\nHigher\r\nTotal\r\nFrench\r\n18\r\n989\r\n20,525\r\n1,824\r\n3,758\r\n3,691\r\n522\r\n31,327\r\nSpanish\r\n31\r\n718\r\n3,575\r\n927\r\n1,701\r\n1,327\r\n171\r\n8,450\r\nGerman\r\n-\r\n170\r\n4,182\r\n335\r\n802\r\n890\r\n91\r\n6,470\r\nItalian\r\n-\r\n43\r\n206\r\n41\r\n118\r\n199\r\n10\r\n617\r\nCantonese\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n11\r\nMandarin\r\n-\r\n60\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n60\r\nMandarin \r\nSimplified\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n69\r\n32\r\n26\r\n10\r\n137\r\nMandarin\r\nTraditional\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n*\r\n7\r\n*\r\n16\r\nRussian\r\n-\r\n*\r\n-\r\n17\r\n*\r\n22\r\n-\r\n49\r\nUrdu\r\n-\r\n-\r\n102\r\n-\r\n-\r\n107\r\n-\r\n209\r\nLatin\r\n-\r\n-\r\n164\r\n5\r\n11\r\n97\r\n9\r\n286\r\nGaelic\r\nLearners\r\n-\r\n9\r\n309\r\n14\r\n37\r\n105\r\n21\r\n495\r\nGaidhlig\r\n-\r\n*\r\n196\r\n*\r\n30\r\n114\r\n19\r\n368\r\nTable 2: The entries in 2013 for the units which make up the Languages for Life and Work Award (in all centres). The incorporation of units into an award is new in 2013. The certification of the award is not tied to the annual diet of examinations for national courses.\r\nLanguage\r\n\r\nUnit\r\nSCQF level\r\nEntries\r\nFrench\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n184\r\nFrench\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n4\r\n804\r\nFrench\r\nfor Life\r\n3\r\n206\r\nFrench\r\nfor Life\r\n4\r\n534\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal French\r\n1,728\r\nGaelic\r\nGaelic (Learners) for Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n13\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal Gaelic\r\n13\r\nGerman\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n93\r\nGerman\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n4\r\n20\r\nGerman\r\nfor Life\r\n3\r\n23\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal German\r\n136\r\nItalian\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n4\r\n*\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal Italian\r\n*\r\nMandarin\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n23\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal Mandarin\r\n23\r\nSpanish\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n169\r\nSpanish\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n4\r\n149\r\nSpanish\r\nfor Life\r\n3\r\n82\r\nSpanish\r\nFor Life\r\n4\r\n60\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal Spanish\r\n460\r\nUrdu\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n3\r\n8\r\nUrdu\r\nfor Work Purposes\r\n4\r\n29\r\nUrdu\r\nfor Life\r\n3\r\n8\r\nUrdu\r\nfor Life\r\n4\r\n29\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal Urdu\r\n74\r\nThis information was provided by SQA in January 2014. The units are available in all 10 languages but the table shows which languages were studied in 2013. An asterix denotes fewer than five entries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:34.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292419,"EventID":"S4W-19948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:35.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T13:04:31.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure the integrity of fish processed and sold in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"In August 2013, I wrote to all the key organisations that support businesses in the supply and processing of fishery products, to re-iterate that their labelling practises must be clear and accurate, in order to maintain consumer confidence and to protect the reputation of the industry as a whole.\r\nSince then, the recently published Scottish Seafood Partnership action plan includes an action to develop measures to ensure that product authenticity and traceability can be verified throughout the supply chain. This will be one of the issues discussed when the Food Standards Agency Scotland shortly meets, at my request, representatives of the sea fish industry to discuss what further measures should be taken to ensure that consumers can be confident of the authenticity of the fish that they purchase.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:35.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292420,"EventID":"S4W-19949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:35.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T13:04:31.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what excludes fish processing companies from being eligible for state aid; on what criteria a business is categorised as eligible for state aid, and how such a categorisation can be changed.","AnswerText":"The European Commission’s guidance on state aid stipulates that companies of any size can benefit from de minimis aid of up to 30,000 euros over a three year period.\r\nSmall and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from state aid under the block exemption. SMEs are categorised as independent companies that have fewer than 250 employees, and an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euros, or an annual balance sheet not exceeding 43 million euros.\r\nThe Scottish Government is lobbying the European Commission to change the categorisation, through the current consultation on state aid.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:35.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292421,"EventID":"S4W-19960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:35.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T16:27:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that some mobile phone service providers do not permit calls to the police 101 number from pay-as-you-go services, and whether Police Scotland will raise this matter with the service providers.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland has an established process in place to record any problems with the 101 system. This, together with further checks carried out by Police Scotland, show that there is no evidence of any connection problems with pay as you go mobile phones. \r\nAs always, in an emergency people should continue to use the free 999 number.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:35.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292422,"EventID":"S4W-19961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:36.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T08:54:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings Transport Scotland has had with ScotRail to discuss services during the Commonwealth Games; when these took place, and who attended.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland met with ScotRail to discuss services during the Commonwealth Games on the following occasions:\r\n30 May 2013\r\n14 June 2013\r\n4 July 2013\r\n9 August 2013\r\n25 September 2013\r\n7 October 2013\r\n24 October 2013\r\n8 November 2013\r\n22 November 2013\r\n17 January 2014\r\n28 February 2014\r\nThe meetings were only attended by Transport Scotland and First ScotRail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:36.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292423,"EventID":"S4W-19962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:36.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T08:54:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding Transport Scotland has given ScotRail to operate services during the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland and ScotRail are close to agreeing a contract to manage the overall funding package for the provision of additional services and extra carriages required during the games fortnight. Any relevant additional funding will be provided by Transport Scotland once this is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:36.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292424,"EventID":"S4W-19963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T14:06:36.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T08:54:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has asked ScotRail not to award bonus payments if the service delivered to meet the demands of the Commonwealth Games is successfully delivered and, if so, for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"As industrial relations are a matter for ScotRail and the unions, Transport Scotland has not made any representations to ScotRail with regard to bonus payments or remuneration in relation to delivering rail services for the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T14:06:36.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292438,"EventID":"S4W-19964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:49.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T13:14:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15727 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, when the report will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"The report into the breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe was published on 7 March 2014 and is available on the Transport Scotland website by following the link: \r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/subsidised/northern-isles-ferry-services\r\nThe report covers the search for a replacement vessel, contingency measures, communications, financial impact and lessons learned.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:49.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292439,"EventID":"S4W-19965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:50.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T13:14:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15728 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, what the final cost was of the vessel breaking down, and how much of this will be met by (a) the public sector and (b) Serco NorthLink.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19964 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:50.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292440,"EventID":"S4W-19966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:50.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T13:14:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was to the public sector of the first year of the 2012-18 Serco NorthLink contract to the Northern Isles.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government paid a grant of £37,556,777.39 subject to any final adjustment, to Serco Northlink Ferries Ltd in respect of the first contract year of the 2012-18 Northern Isles Ferry Services, Public Service Contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:50.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292441,"EventID":"S4W-19967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:50.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T13:14:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Serco NorthLink regarding procedures in the event of a vessel breaking down on its Northern Isles' services.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland regularly meets with Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd to discuss a range of operational issues in connection with the service Serco NorthLink ferries Ltd provide under the Public Service Contract with Scottish Ministers. These discussions include procedures in the event of a vessel breakdown.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:50.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292442,"EventID":"S4W-19968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:50.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T14:27:53.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from (a) Serco NorthLink's and (b) Transport Scotland’s response to the breakdown of MV Hamnavoe in April 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question SW4-19964 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:50.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292443,"EventID":"S4W-19969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-27T16:52:51.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T16:02:09.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vaccines in the current childhood vaccination schedule are manufactured using cell culture technology.\r\n","AnswerText":"The vaccines in the current childhood vaccination schedule which are manufactured using cell culture technology are limited to those which are live vaccines, or derived from live viral vaccine sources. These are listed below, organised by the age at which children receive each vaccine.\r\n2 month:\r\nRotavirus vaccine (Rotarix® - GSK): The rotavirus virus is produced in Vero cells.\r\nDTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel® - Sanofi Pasteur MSD): The polio virus is produced in Vero cells.\r\n3 month\r\nRotavirus vaccine (Rotarix® - GSK) – as above.\r\nDTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel® - Sanofi Pasteur MSD) – as above.\r\n4 month:\r\nDTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel® - Sanofi Pasteur MSD) – as above.\r\n12/13 months:\r\nMMR vaccine (Priorix® - GSK): The measles and mumps viruses are produced in chick embryo cells; the rubella virus is produced in human diploid (MRC-5) cells. \r\nOr MMRVAXPRO – Sanofi Pasteur MSD: The measles and mumps viruses are produced in chick embryo cells; the rubella virus is produced in WI-38 human diploid lung fibroblasts.\r\n3 years 4 months:\r\nDTap/IPV (Repevax® - Sanofi Pasteur MSD) or dTap/IPV (infanrix®IPV – GSK): In both cases the polio virus is produced in Vero cells.\r\nMMR vaccine (Priorix® - GSK) or MMRVAXPRO – Sanofi Pasteur MSD): as above.\r\n12-18 years:\r\nTd/IPV (Revaxis®  - Sanofi Pasteur MSD): The polio virus is produced in Vero cells.\r\nSeasonal influenza vaccine (6 months – 18 years)\r\nLive attenuated intranasal Vaccine (Fluenz® - GSK): the influenza vaccine is produced in Vero cells.\r\nThis list does not include HPV, as for HPV vaccine (Gardasil® - Sanofi Pasteur MSD) the L1 protein in the form of virus-like particles is produced in yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CANADE 3C-5 (Strain 1895)) by recombinant DNA technology.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-13T16:52:51.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292456,"EventID":"S4W-19970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-07T15:31:03.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T11:39:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many mental health officers are employed in each local authority and what each officer's average caseload is.","AnswerText":"The most recent information on the number of mental health officers (MHOs) employed in each local authority was published by the Scottish Social Services Council on 29 May 2013 in its Mental Health Officers Report 2012. The report is available online at: http://data.sssc.uk.com/data-publications/23-mental-health-officers-reports/69-2012-mental-health-officers-report. Information on each MHO’s average caseload in not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292457,"EventID":"S4W-19971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T13:39:47.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T12:15:40.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce high risk screening for type 2 diabetes.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans to introduce high risk screening for type 2 diabetes. \r\nThe Scottish Government takes its advice on screening programmes from the National Screening Committee (NSC). The current advice from the NSC is that screening for type 2 diabetes is not recommended.\r\nThe NSC regularly reviews its policies and is currently undertaking a review of its policy on diabetes. A consultation on the current review is due to end on 24 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T13:39:47.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292461,"EventID":"S4W-19972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T15:40:53.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T13:35:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much each regional college chair has been paid in (a) fees and (b) expenses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Regional college chairs were appointed on 4 March 2013. As chairs took up office on this day, no fees or expenses have as yet been paid to them in this capacity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T15:40:53.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292462,"EventID":"S4W-19973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T15:40:54.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T13:35:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it took to ensure that it followed each of the seven principles set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life when appointing the regional college chairs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The regional college and regional board chair appointments were regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, and all aspects of this process were followed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T15:40:54.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292463,"EventID":"S4W-19974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T15:40:54.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T13:35:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to the regional college chairs on their participation in public political debate.\r\n","AnswerText":"It has been communicated to all regional college and board chairs that they, like all public appointments, must (i) operate in line with the nine principles set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life; (ii) accept their appointment on the basis that they may be removed from office if the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the acceptance or holding of any other office, role, position or interest means that it is not appropriate for them to hold office; (iii) disclose any political activity as part of formally accepting their appointment. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T15:40:54.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292464,"EventID":"S4W-19975","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T15:40:54.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T14:28:37.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Council of Economic Advisers’ report on the provision of childcare will be published.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18943 on 14 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T15:40:54.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292465,"EventID":"S4W-19976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-02-28T15:40:55.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:00:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19659 by Roseanna Cunningham on 27 February 2014, what discussions the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs had with members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Board (SFRS) regarding the decision not to hold a public consultation on the closure of fire control rooms following the programme of engagement carried out by the SFRS Board on this issue.","AnswerText":"I meet regularly with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to discuss a range of current issues. My last meeting with the SFRS Chair and Chief Fire Officer was on 11 March 2014.\r\nDecisions on the allocation of SFRS resources, including the number and location of control rooms, are matters for the SFRS Board.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-14T15:40:55.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292470,"EventID":"S4T-00612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:46.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T10:30:06.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Glasgow Airport Strategic Transport Network Study will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:46.347","MeetingDate":"2014-03-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292471,"EventID":"S4T-00619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:49.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T11:56:53.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any further discussion with COSLA on the local government finance settlement allocations for 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:49.903","MeetingDate":"2014-03-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292472,"EventID":"S4F-01924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:21.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T15:26:26.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:21.857","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292473,"EventID":"S4F-01925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:22.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-27T16:30:44.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:22.98","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292474,"EventID":"S4F-01927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:24.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T09:45:42.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:24.54","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292475,"EventID":"S4F-01928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:25.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T10:18:07.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the calls from Transform Scotland to upgrade the rail network.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:25.257","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292476,"EventID":"S4F-01938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:30.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T11:43:23.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the waiting time standard of 98% of patients being seen and admitted, transferred or discharged from accident and emergency departments within four hours was last met across the whole country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:30.7","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292477,"EventID":"S4F-01940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T12:45:31.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T11:48:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to encourage more women to start their own businesses.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:31.31","MeetingDate":"2014-03-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292478,"EventID":"S4W-19977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:14.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:39:41.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if an independent Scotland did not achieve a currency union with the rest of the UK, whether it would pay Scotland's share of the UK debt and, if so, what the timescale for repayment would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain Sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK.\r\nThe first report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group in February 2013 set out the range of viable currency and monetary models for a country of Scotland’s size and economic strength, and concluded that a formal sterling area is the best option for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the event of Scottish independence. This position was re-stated following their recent meeting on 6 March 2014.\r\nScotland's Future set out that upon independence Scotland will accept a fair share of the existing UK debt. The amount of the debt that we accept will be subject to negotiations. We will also be entitled to a fair share of UK assets. \r\nUnder any realistic scenario, Scotland’s projected share of the UK debt as a percentage of Scotland’s GDP will be less than the debt of the rest of the UK expressed in the same terms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:14.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292479,"EventID":"S4W-19978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:15.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:39:41.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the initial debt of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"An independent Scotland’s share of the UK national debt, and our share of UK national assets, including the Bank of England, would be part of a negotiated settlement between Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nScotland’s Future sets out two possible scenarios for Scotland’s share of UK national debt: a population share, and a share based on Scotland’s historic contribution made to the UK’s public finances.\r\nScotland’s Future shows that under either option, Scotland would have a lower debt to GDP ratio than the UK as a whole upon independence in 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:15.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292480,"EventID":"S4W-19979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:15.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:39:41.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what options it has considered regarding the division of state-owned assets in an independent Scotland using a form of so-called sterlingisation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19977 on 12 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:15.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292481,"EventID":"S4W-19980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:16.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:39:41.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it would take to close the gender gap in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s white paper for independence, Scotland’s Future, sets out in detail how we would go about addressing the gender gap in Scotland if we had the powers available to us to do so. This includes: \r\nIntroducing a transformational change to our childcare system;\r\nProgressing our work to ensure that women make up at least 40 per cent of the members of company and public boards, backed by legislation if necessary;\r\nConsulting on views about whether quotas that ensure a minimum of 40 per cent of women’s representation should be introduced, and if so should they be extended to corporate boards and third sector organisations. The consultation will commence in April 2014;\r\nThe establishment of a fair work commission with a remit to ensure that the minimum wage rises at least in line with inflation; and a convention on employment and labour relations to examine issues such as how to extend the living wage; \r\n\tSeeking to support and improve, not undermine our system of social security.\r\nAs well as these significant new interventions that would now be open to us, we would continue our existing policies of ensuring that public sector pay is fair and non-discriminatory and that all public bodies covered by this policy review their pay systems annually.\r\nWe would also continue our commitment to existing work to tackle occupational segregation, one of the causes of the pay gap, via our ministerial expert Strategic Group on Women and Work, and our funding of organisations such as the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, Close the Gap and the Scottish Women’s Convention.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:16.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292482,"EventID":"S4W-19982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:16.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T15:52:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what statutory requirements there are on local authorities for the maintenance of its school estate buildings that are included in merger or closure plans.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 17 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a statutory duty on local authorities to maintain their school buildings. This applies to school buildings which are included in merger or closure plans whilst still in use.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:16.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292483,"EventID":"S4W-19987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:16.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T09:37:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprenticeships have (a) started and (b) been completed in each of the last three years and what percentage of people taking part are disabled.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:16.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292484,"EventID":"S4W-19988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:17:17.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T09:37:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled people the additional £500,000 announced for employer recruitment incentives in August 2013 will assist and how long the funding will be available.","AnswerText":"The aim is to support 1,000 targeted young people, through the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) employer recruitment incentive (ERI) over the three year funding programme ending in 2015.\r\nFrom 1 April 2013 to 27 December 2013, 224 individuals were supported through the targeted ERI. We are unable to disaggregate those supported.\r\nHowever, making available an additional £500,000 and extending eligibility to include disabled young people will mean that employers are more likely to consider employing a young person with additional support needs to join their workforce. This additional funding was made available during 2013-14 and 2014-15, should SDS require it.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:17:17.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292497,"EventID":"S4W-19990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T14:52:03.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T14:42:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made on the development of the Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland and the proposed bringing together of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland since both topics were debated in the chamber on 10 September 2013.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce today that I am publishing Our Place in Time, the first ever strategy for Scotland’s historic environment. This also coincides with the publication of the Historic Environment Scotland Bill. The Bill is available on the Scottish Parliament website from today.\r\nThe strategy sets out the future direction and ambitions for Scotland’s historic environment - a vision which can be shared by everyone across Scotland. The development of the strategy follows a long period of intensive stakeholder discussion and engagement. I would like to thank all participants for their energy, expertise and enthusiasm which has allowed us to develop this ground-breaking approach. For the first time, Scotland will have an overarching strategy for the whole of our historic environment which will deliver real public benefits. It provides a high level framework for all parts of the sector and beyond to work together to deliver positive outcomes for Scotland’s historic environment.\r\nThe strategy also sets the context for the establishment of Historic Environment Scotland by bringing Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland together. Historic Environment Scotland will take a lead role in delivering the new strategy, with a strong emphasis on its enabling role and its ability to lead effective partnerships with organisations across the sector. The Bill will bring together the existing functions of the two organisations and place them in statute, to sustain the skills and professional expertise of both bodies for the long term. If the Bill is successful in receiving the approval of Parliament and Royal Assent, the body will take up its responsibilities in 2015.\r\nToday marks an important step towards meeting our ambition to ensure that our heritage is collectively celebrated, valued, nurtured and supported across the public, private and third sectors. It is an exciting and important time for the protection and promotion of the historic environment and I am pleased to again restate this government’s commitment to that end.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T14:52:03.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292498,"EventID":"S4W-19983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T16:57:04.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T16:20:52.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether it considers that no teacher should be required to use materials that actively promote a particular view of marriage.","AnswerText":"All teachers in Scotland are expected to adhere to the General Teaching Council of Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct, which sets out the key principles and values for registered teachers in Scotland. In particular, Part 5 on equality and diversity emphasises the need for teachers to be non-judgmental, and to recognise their status as role models within the school.\r\nIf any teacher, or indeed any child or young person, is asked to do something to which they fundamentally object in any aspect of the curriculum, the Scottish Government would expect there to be appropriate mechanisms for such concerns to be raised and dealt with locally. Where teachers raise religious or belief concerns about teaching aspects of relationships, sexual health and parenthood education, local authorities may wish to take account of the guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on religion or belief in the workplace:\r\nwww.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/guidance-for-employers/religion-or-belief-new-guidance-february-2013/ \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T16:57:05.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292499,"EventID":"S4W-19984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T16:57:06.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T16:20:52.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether teachers and pupils are free to openly and clearly express any disagreement with same-sex marriage in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T16:57:06.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292500,"EventID":"S4W-19985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T16:57:06.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T16:20:52.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on whether teachers who disagree with same-sex marriage should be pressurised to promote same-sex marriage in the classroom.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T16:57:06.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292501,"EventID":"S4W-19986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-03T16:57:06.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-28T16:20:52.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether it considers that no teacher has a duty to promote or endorse a particular view of marriage nor will have under any revised guidance in the future.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-17T16:57:06.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292511,"EventID":"S4W-19993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T13:27:52.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T12:09:11.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the procedures are for informing patients about the closure of their GP surgery.\r\n","AnswerText":"Patient registration arrangements are local contractual matters between NHS boards and GP Practices. Where a GP Practice is closing, it is the statutory duty of NHS boards to communicate with patients about this.\r\nIn practice, this role will usually be carried out by the Practitioner Services Division within NHS National Services Scotland, acting on the boards’ behalf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T13:27:52.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292512,"EventID":"S4W-19994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T13:27:53.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T12:09:11.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place in local communities to provide support for vulnerable patients who find it difficult to access their GP surgery.","AnswerText":"Under the legal framework for service provision, NHS boards are responsible for ensuring the provision of primary medical services for their areas. In discharging these statutory obligations health boards are required to ensure that care provided to vulnerable people by GPs is consistent with their contractual requirements and the General Medical Council’s Good medical practice.\r\nUnder the quality and outcomes framework or enhanced services elements of the GP contract, boards may also have specific pathways identified detailing care of the vulnerable, and these would be monitored as part of the contract review process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T13:27:53.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292513,"EventID":"S4W-19995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T13:27:53.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T12:09:11.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS takes to ensure that all patients have easy access to a GP surgery in their area.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19994 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T13:27:53.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292519,"EventID":"S4W-19992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:13.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T11:07:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13476 by Keith Brown on 19 March 2013,  whether it now plans to extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include other community transport services and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include additional categories of community transport services at this time.\r\nThe scheme was designed for commercial bus services. Community transport is very different, involving an estimated 900 vehicles, of which around a third are buses or minibuses and around two thirds are cars. These provide a diverse range of services, many of which are very unlike conventional bus services.\r\nAgainst this background, we agree with the conclusions of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s report on Community transport 2013, that there are a number of logistical and administrative difficulties which make including all community transport services in the scheme problematic. Cost is an important consideration. Age Scotland have estimated the additional cost to the scheme at around £11.2 million a year, though there are considerable uncertainties over this figure and the cost of extension would probably be higher, especially as this figure is based on existing fares and levels of usage. Other issues include the need for equipment, such as ticket machines, required to participate in the scheme and the possible need for multiple levels of reimbursement, since it has been suggested that community transport operators would require reimbursement at higher rates than commercial bus operators.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:13.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292520,"EventID":"S4W-19996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:13.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T15:16:17.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations in the report by the charity, Bliss, It’s not a game: the very real costs of having a premature or sick baby.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Bliss report contains a number of recommendations on reserved issues such as extending maternity leave and advice for employers which are, therefore, a matter for the UK Government. Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework, published on 5 March 2013, sets out the requirements for the provision of high quality dedicated family friendly facilities appropriate for parents and families of babies in neonatal care.\r\nWe expect boards to determine how to meet those requirements as they work towards full implementation of the framework over a five to 10 year timescale.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:13.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292521,"EventID":"S4W-19997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:13.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T15:25:38.01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance sportcotland provides to help ensure that there is an adequate provision of full-size shinty pitches.\r\n","AnswerText":"sportscotland, the national agency for sport, has over the past five years invested £272,410 on the development of shinty pitches in the Highlands and Argyll and Bute areas and discussions are on-going with a number of clubs with regard to further shinty pitch developments.\r\nsportscotland works closely with the Camanachd Association and has offered its support for the development of a pitches strategy. It has also highlighted the funding opportunities available to any club to apply to upgrade or build new facilities as required. At a local level, sportscotland continues to have strategic discussions with local authorities about facilities development. Sport specific needs are part of those discussions to ensure any development, where relevant, will realise the potential for the sport of shinty as well as other sports.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:13.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292522,"EventID":"S4W-19998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:14.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T15:36:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill will have on ensuring an integrated approach to the handling of complaints.","AnswerText":"Integration joint boards will be required by the regulations underpinning the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill to set out their complaints procedures for integrated services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:14.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292523,"EventID":"S4W-19999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:14.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T16:22:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many university students have been subject to academic sanctions in pursuit of debts in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:14.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292524,"EventID":"S4W-20000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:15.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T16:22:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with any university the issue of students being subject to academic sanctions in pursuit of debts.","AnswerText":"The issue has not been discussed with individual institutions or Universities Scotland in the recent past. We intend to discuss the findings of the Office of Fair Trading’s report, and implications for the higher education sector, with Universities Scotland and NUS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:15.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292525,"EventID":"S4W-20001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-04T17:14:15.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T16:22:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in light of concerns outlined in the Office of Fair Trading report, Universities’ Terms and Conditions, that many universities use academic sanctions in pursuit of debts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes publication of the report by the Office of Fair Trading, and would expect all higher education institutions in Scotland to consider its findings. We intend to discuss the findings in the report, and implications for the higher education sector, with Universities Scotland and NUS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-18T17:14:15.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292539,"EventID":"S4O-02987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:21.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:49.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:21.563","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292540,"EventID":"S4O-02988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:22.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T10:30:54.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards have an appropriate policy to ensure the safe disposal of used needles.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:22.157","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292541,"EventID":"S4O-02989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:22.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:50.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote equality.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:22.423","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292542,"EventID":"S4O-02990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:22.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T11:58:43.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bed days were lost due to delayed discharges in the NHS Borders area during the last three quarters of 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:22.703","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292543,"EventID":"S4O-02991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:55:54.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on complementary medicines and therapies and on supporting NHS boards in their use.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:23.017","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292544,"EventID":"S4O-02992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:23.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:51.99","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to NHS boards regarding the provision of adequate public transport to and from their facilities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:23.42","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292545,"EventID":"S4O-02993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:23.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T16:52:09.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for which cancers waiting times targets are not being met.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:23.873","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292546,"EventID":"S4O-02994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:24.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:52.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the widening availability and increased marketing of e-cigarettes.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:24.187","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292547,"EventID":"S4O-02995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:24.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:53.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHS boards regarding recruitment of consultants for remote northern and island hospitals.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:24.437","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292548,"EventID":"S4O-02996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:24.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:53.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:24.763","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292549,"EventID":"S4O-02997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:25.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:54.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Blood and Transplant about cross-border transplantation of organs in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:25.17","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292550,"EventID":"S4O-02998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:25.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:54.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in the last year to assess and address the incidence of plagiocephaly.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:25.45","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292551,"EventID":"S4O-02999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:25.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:54.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on operations and procedures in the private sector in each of the last three years. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:25.76","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292552,"EventID":"S4O-03000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:26.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T10:59:40.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community-led healthy behaviour change projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:26.09","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292553,"EventID":"S4O-03001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:26.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:55.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whole-time equivalent staff are employed by the NHS.\r\n \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:26.34","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292554,"EventID":"S4O-03002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:26.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:01:55.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a difference in mortality and readmission rates in hospitals at the weekend compared to weekdays.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:26.62","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292555,"EventID":"S4O-03003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:26.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T11:22:21.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for informing patients about the closure of their local GP surgery.\r\n","AnswerText":"Patient registration arrangements are local contractual matters between NHS boards and GP practices. Where a GP practice is closing, it is the statutory duty of NHS boards to communicate with patients about this. \r\nNormally, acting on the health boards’ behalf, the practitioner services division within NHS National Services Scotland, will provide whatever assistance is needed in finding a patient a new GP practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:26.977","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292556,"EventID":"S4O-03004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:27.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:40:04.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde  to discuss healthcare issues relating to Clydebank and Milngavie.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers and government officials regularly meet with representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss matters of importance to local people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:27.29","MeetingDate":"2014-03-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292557,"EventID":"S4O-03007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:27.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T08:36:58.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:27.603","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292558,"EventID":"S4O-03008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:28.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:12.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the upgrade of Glasgow Queen Street station.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:28.227","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292559,"EventID":"S4O-03009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:28.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:12.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support rail travel in the South Scotland region.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:28.617","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292560,"EventID":"S4O-03010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:29.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T08:49:23.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost e-commerce.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:29.193","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292561,"EventID":"S4O-03011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:29.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:13.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland Food and Drink's new export plan will support Scottish produce abroad.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:29.63","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292562,"EventID":"S4O-03012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:30.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:13.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available for homeowners and council tenants when structural defects are identified in their homes.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:30.083","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292563,"EventID":"S4O-03013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:30.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:14.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment by the European Commissioner for Education that any attempt to treat Scottish and non-Scottish students differently could be regarded as \"a covert form of discrimination on grounds of nationality\".","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:30.893","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292564,"EventID":"S4O-03014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:31.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T10:39:34.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what special measures are being put in place to allow families from the north and north east of Scotland to attend the Scottish League Cup Final in Glasgow on 16 March 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:31.86","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292565,"EventID":"S4O-03015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:32.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T15:49:23.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the economic benefits of independence. ","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:32.453","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292566,"EventID":"S4O-03016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:37:32.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T12:02:15.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the availability of flood insurance for homes and businesses in areas that have experienced flooding.","AnswerText":"I spoke to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 27 February 2014 about a number of issues relating to flood insurance in Scotland. In particular, I passed on concerns that had been raised with me by David MacDonald of Stonehaven Flood Action Group and a number of MSPs, about the continued availability of flood insurance, particularly in areas such as Stonehaven that had experienced flooding in the recent past and where many policies were coming up for renewal.\r\nI was assured by the ABI that, while work to develop the new flood re-insurance scheme continues, ABI members will voluntarily meet their commitments to their existing customers under the old statement of principles agreement. The ABI said they would be happy to look into local cases to establish where ABI members were not abiding by that voluntary agreement. The ABI also suggested that residents struggling to get insurance contact the British Insurance Brokers Association through their website, which can help to identify a range of brokers who can quote for flood insurance, whether as a stand-alone policy or as part of a bundled, household policy.\r\nTo that end, I have asked the Scottish Flood Forum to let the Scottish Government know of the details of any such cases which have been brought to their attention, and we will take them up with the ABI. However, clearly MSPs can play an important role in supplying such cases to the Scottish Flood Forum on behalf of constituents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:37:32.923","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292573,"EventID":"S4W-19959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:48:08.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-02-26T15:31:38.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage reduction in the number of junior doctors it plans in foundation year (a) 1 and (b) 2.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no planned reductions in foundation year 1 or foundation year 2 doctors\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:48:08.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292574,"EventID":"S4W-20002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:48:09.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T19:24:02.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) administrative staff support it gives to the Judicial Complaints Reviewer.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government pays the Judicial Complaints Reviewer a daily fee together with office and travel expenses. Funding has also been provided for larger expenditure such as the cost of setting up a website and costs of obtaining independent legal advice. The Judicial Complaints Reviewer does not have any direct administrative staff support. However, she is able to obtain support from the Scottish Government, for example to print copies of her annual report and up-load documents onto her website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:48:09.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292575,"EventID":"S4W-20019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T13:48:09.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T11:38:12.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its plan to abolish the married couples' tax allowance if Scotland becomes independent would impact on couples who qualify for the allowance as a result of at least one partner being born before 6 April 1935.","AnswerText":"In Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government set out its intention to end the married couple’s transferable tax allowance, which the UK Government plans to introduce from 2015. The proposed married couple’s transferable tax allowance will benefit a limited number of married couples and will effectively discriminate against many families. This government would reinvest the resources in the expansion of childcare provision.\r\nThe Scottish Government has no plans to end the married couple’s allowance which is available to married couples and civil partners with at least one spouse born before 6 April 1935.\r\nScotland’s Future explains that Scotland will inherit the prevailing UK tax code at the point of independence, including tax rates, reliefs and allowances, and this will remain in place until changes are made by future Scottish governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T13:48:09.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292576,"EventID":"S4W-20003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T15:41:30.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-04T20:22:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it encourages people to visit the Parliament by bicycle and what arrangements are in place for people wanting to pass through security with folding bikes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Parliament actively encourages the use of bicycles as a healthy means of transport when visiting the Scottish Parliament. Cycle racks are conveniently situated close to the Parliament, with two racks directly in front of the Parliament public entrance at Horse Wynd and further facilities are available at Dynamic Earth for use by visitors to the Parliament.\r\n \r\nWe are unable to allow visitors to bring bicycles into the building for security reasons, coupled with the difficulty of screening bicycles at the public entrance. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T15:41:30.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"David Stewart","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292577,"EventID":"S4W-20004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:38.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and publish a list of the stakeholders that it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland, and, if it is unable to do so, what the reason is for this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by discussions and interactions with a range of stakeholders on a wide scope of policy, not all of which were directly related to the publication itself, or a specifically referenced policy. Consequently, information was not recorded in the format requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:38.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292578,"EventID":"S4W-20005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:39.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it holds a list of the stakeholders that it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:39.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292579,"EventID":"S4W-20006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:40.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether the stakeholders that it consulted regarding developing its policy for a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland have been (a) given copies of the resultant policy and (b) formally thanked by ministers or officials for their contribution.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of external stakeholders and copies of that publication have been widely distributed, including to a range of stakeholders and the wider public.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:40.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292580,"EventID":"S4W-20007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:40.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether ministers have asked officials to delete records of the names of the stakeholders that it consulted regarding developing its policy for a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland and, if so, for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"No.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:40.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292581,"EventID":"S4W-20008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:41.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm what discussions it has had with Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 regarding the continuation of commercial broadcast licences in an independent Scotland and, if it is unable to do so, what the reason is for this.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:41.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292582,"EventID":"S4W-20009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:41.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether ministers have asked officials to delete records of the meetings that it has had with representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 regarding media policy in an independent Scotland and, if so, for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"No.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:41.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292583,"EventID":"S4W-20010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:42.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will publish the names of the representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 whom it consulted regarding media policy in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:42.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292584,"EventID":"S4W-20011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:42.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, on how many occasions in an answer to a parliamentary question it has chosen not to publish a requested list of the (a) people and (b) organisations that it has consulted regarding an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:42.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292585,"EventID":"S4W-20012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:43.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm which meetings with stakeholders with whom it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of the white paper on independence were attended by ministers, and for what reason it did not address this issue in the answers provided.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:43.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292586,"EventID":"S4W-20013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:43.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether the meetings with stakeholders whom it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator were entered into the relevant ministerial diary on each occasion.\r\n","AnswerText":"All planned ministerial meetings are recorded in the relevant ministerial diary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:43.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292587,"EventID":"S4W-20014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:44.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19567 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and publish the names of the BBC representatives whom it consulted on broadcasting policy prior to the publication of its white paper on independence, and what consultation it has had with the (a) director, BBC Scotland and (b) director general on (i) this and (ii) wider broadcasting matters.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the BBC, including from time to time the director, BBC Scotland and the director general, on a range of matters.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:44.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292588,"EventID":"S4W-20015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:44.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T09:46:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19566 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2014, on how many occasions ministers have been advised of officials’ contacts with stakeholders in preparing the policy on a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are apprised of officials’ contacts with stakeholders as appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:44.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292589,"EventID":"S4W-20020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:45.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T13:04:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people aged (a) 60 to 64, (b) 65 to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) over 85 were resident in (i) local authority and (ii) private care homes in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"Figures showing the number of long stay residents in local authority, NHS and private sector care homes, for the last five years and broken down by age band and local authority has been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s information centre, SPICe (Bib number 55715).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:45.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292590,"EventID":"S4W-20021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:45.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T14:44:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) compromise agreements and (b) mutually-agreed resignation payments each NHS board has made or signed in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"Records are not held by boards for the period requested and are not complete for the years before 2009-10. The following table shows the numbers of agreements from 2007-08 based on the records available. Mutually agreed resignation payments are not recorded in Scotland and the table shows the number of severance or redundancy agreements reached by Boards.\r\n\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14 (to date)\r\nTotal\r\nNumber of settlement/compromise agreements\r\n19\r\n36\r\n48\r\n46\r\n56\r\n64\r\n49\r\n318\r\nNumber of severance or redundancy payments\r\n59\r\n30\r\n147\r\n266\r\n444\r\n208\r\n78\r\n1,232\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:45.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292591,"EventID":"S4W-20023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:45.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T16:21:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many and which GP surgeries in each NHS board are operating full patient lists.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is only one GP surgery, the Knightswood Medical Practice within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, that is classified as having a ‘full’ patient list at present, and its patient list will re-open on 1 May 2014.\r\nI also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19244 on 29 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:45.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292592,"EventID":"S4W-20024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:46.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T16:26:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Post Office Ltd regarding the future of the post office network in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"As the white paper, Scotland’s Future makes clear, independence will allow post office services to focus on what is best for the communities and businesses across Scotland. The Scottish Government is in contact with a range of stakeholders, including Post Office Ltd, about the future of the post office network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:46.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292593,"EventID":"S4W-20025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-05T17:02:46.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T16:26:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the post office network would operate in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"As the white paper, Scotland’s Future makes clear, independence will allow post office services to focus on what is best for the communities and businesses across Scotland. On independence, Scotland will inherit our share of the state-owned Post Office Ltd, which provides a range of services through crown offices and sub-postmasters. The Scottish Government is in contact with a range of stakeholders over how the post office network would operate in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-19T17:02:46.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292612,"EventID":"S4W-19989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:12.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T10:43:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S4W-19550, S4W-19551, S4W-19557, S4W-19559 and S4W-19560 by Alasdair Allan on 28 February 2014, what involvement ministers have had in approving the SQA’s new exam appeals system.","AnswerText":"Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996, responsibility for setting and assessing qualifications in Scotland lies with the Scottish Qualifications Authority. As such, ministers were not involved in the design of the new results services which was the result of extensive consultation, with wide-spread agreement that new arrangements should be put in place to better serve the interests of both candidates and teachers.\r\nMinisters were consulted on the timetable for the introduction of the new system and approved this in November 2011 following due consideration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:12.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292613,"EventID":"S4W-19991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:14.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-03T15:39:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the updated Pupil census 2013 supplementary data, which suggests an apparent disparity across local authorities in identifying pupils with additional support needs, and whether it considers that there should be a more consistent approach across local authorities toward this.","AnswerText":"Prior to 2010, only pupils with co-ordinated support plans, individualised educational programmes or who were attending a special school were recorded as having additional support needs. However, in 2010 this was extended to include anyone receiving additional support, regardless of whether it was under a formal plan. This has led to a large increase in the number of pupils recorded with additional support needs since 2010.\r\nIt is important to note that the pupil census figures relate to information recorded on school's management information system and may not reflect the 'non quantifiable' support provided to pupils in schools by classroom and support staff, or support provided which is not recorded within the management information system.\r\nThe Scottish Government has committed to considering recording practices and the data collected on children and young people with additional support needs. This will ensure adequate information to support implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. The advisory group for additional support for learning will, in April 2014, consider the issue of data collection and the guidance which supports it, and reporting on outcomes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:14.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292614,"EventID":"S4W-20016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:14.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T11:24:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which healthcare (a) professional and (b) negotiating bodies the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has met to discuss Prescription for Excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have not as yet met with healthcare or pharmacy professional or negotiating bodies, but plan to do so in the near future.\r\nMeetings have however taken place at official level with representatives of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (Scotland), the General Pharmaceutical Council, Community Pharmacy Scotland, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:14.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292615,"EventID":"S4W-20017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:15.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T11:24:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which pharmacy (a) professional and (b) negotiating bodies the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has met to discuss Prescription for Excellence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20016 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:15.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292616,"EventID":"S4W-20018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:15.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T11:24:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) governance structure and (b) implementation groups required for the delivery of Prescription for Excellence have been formed.","AnswerText":"Work is progressing on the establishment of the governance structure and the various working groups that will be central to the effective implementation of the vision and action plan set out in Prescription for Excellence.\r\nThe Scottish Government will provide details in due course of the national governance group, the supporting implementation workstreams and next steps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:15.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292617,"EventID":"S4W-20026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:16.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T17:11:05.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make compensatory planting compulsory for landowners who remove woodland to make room for wind turbines.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government already requires compensatory planting as set out in the Control of Woodland Removal policy which was published in February 2009. The policy makes clear the circumstances under which compensatory planting will be required if woodland is permanently removed. The policy is published at: www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandremoval.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:16.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292618,"EventID":"S4W-20027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:17.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T17:11:05.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry Commission compensatory planting is done on a like-for-like basis, replanting the same species that was felled.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s Control of Woodland Removal policy guides compensatory planting proposals. Compensatory planting can be undertaken on appropriate sites anywhere in Scotland. Local forestry and woodland strategies will provide guidance on the type and scale of woodland appropriate in each area, therefore like for like planting cannot be guaranteed.\r\nCompensatory planting proposals are expected to consider the economic, as well as the environmental and social values of the forest proposed for removal, so that an assessment can be made on whether the replanting proposals adequately compensate for the negative impact of woodland removal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:17.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292619,"EventID":"S4W-20028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:17.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-05T17:11:05.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much woodland is being planted by the private sector supported by Scottish Government grants in order to meet its target of 10,000 hectares of new woodland per year.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to planting a further 100,000 hectares of new woodland over the period from 2012-22.\r\nFrom the period 2011-12 to 2012-13, 18,200 hectares of new private sector woodland were planted using forestry grants under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). This data is published by the Forestry Commission in ’Forestry Statistics’ at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics).\r\nCurrent approvals under the current SRDP for woodland planting in 2013-14 and 2014-15 now total around 17,000 hectares. A further 2,000 hectares has already been identified for 2015-16. This level of private sector woodland creation will be supplemented by planting on the national forest estate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:17.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292620,"EventID":"S4W-20029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:18.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on bringing forward proposals to reform local government finance in the current parliamentary session.\r\n","AnswerText":"This Government has an existing commitment to consult with others to develop options for a fairer and more progressive local tax, based on ability to pay, later in this Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:18.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292621,"EventID":"S4W-20030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:18.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the council tax freeze will remain in place for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has fully funded the council tax freeze since 2008-09 and is committed to doing so for the lifetime of this Parliament, helping all of Scotland’s council tax payers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:18.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292622,"EventID":"S4W-20031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:18.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average increase will be for each council tax band when the council tax freeze ends.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to fully funding the council tax freeze for the lifetime of this Parliament. We have also made a commitment to consult with others to develop options for a fairer and more progressive local tax, based on ability to pay, later in this Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:18.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292623,"EventID":"S4W-20032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:19.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has contributed to funding the council tax freeze, broken down by year. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided an additional £70 million each year since 2008-09 to compensate local authorities for the council tax freeze and is committed to do so for the lifetime of this Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:19.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292624,"EventID":"S4W-20033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:19.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving has been in each council tax band as a result of the council tax freeze, broken down by year.\r\n","AnswerText":"The average saving in each council tax band as a result of the council tax freeze is set out in the following table. The average Band D household has cumulatively saved almost £680 between 2008-14 and will save around £1200 in the lifetime of this Parliament: \r\nAverage annual impact of the council tax freeze by council tax band\r\n \r\nCouncil tax band\r\nBand A\r\nBand B\r\nBand C\r\nBand D\r\nBand E\r\nBand F\r\nBand G\r\nBand H\r\n2008-09\r\n£12\r\n£18\r\n£24\r\n£31\r\n£40\r\n£49\r\n£58\r\n£69\r\n2009-10\r\n£24\r\n£36\r\n£49\r\n£62\r\n£81\r\n£99\r\n£118\r\n£139\r\n2010-11\r\n£36\r\n£55\r\n£75\r\n£94\r\n£123\r\n£152\r\n£179\r\n£212\r\n2011-12\r\n£49\r\n£76\r\n£98\r\n£129\r\n£167\r\n£204\r\n£248\r\n£296\r\n2012-13\r\n£62\r\n£97\r\n£128\r\n£163\r\n£213\r\n£261\r\n£309\r\n£369\r\n2013-14\r\n£75\r\n£118\r\n£157\r\n£199\r\n£259\r\n£318\r\n£376\r\n£450\r\nTotal\r\n£258\r\n£400\r\n£531\r\n£678\r\n£883\r\n£1,083\r\n£1,288\r\n£1,535\r\nWhile all of Scotland’s council tax payers have benefited from the freeze, those in the lowest 10 per cent of income deciles benefit the most as a proportion of their net household income, as shown in the following table.\r\nAverage annual impact of the council tax freeze by income decile\r\n% of net household income \r\n \r\nIncome decile\r\nBottom 10%\r\nDecile 2\r\nDecile 3\r\nDecile 4\r\nDecile 5\r\n2008-09\r\n0.20%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n2009-10\r\n0.30%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n2010-11\r\n0.50%\r\n0.30%\r\n0.30%\r\n0.40%\r\n0.40%\r\n2011-12\r\n0.80%\r\n0.50%\r\n0.50%\r\n0.50%\r\n0.50%\r\n2012-13\r\n0.80%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.60%\r\n2013-14\r\n1.00%\r\n0.70%\r\n0.80%\r\n0.70%\r\n0.80%\r\n \r\nDecile 6\r\nDecile 7\r\nDecile 8\r\nDecile 9\r\nTop 10%\r\n2008-09\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n0.10%\r\n2009-10\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.20%\r\n0.10%\r\n2010-11\r\n0.40%\r\n0.30%\r\n0.30%\r\n0.30%\r\n0.20%\r\n2011-12\r\n0.50%\r\n0.50%\r\n0.40%\r\n0.40%\r\n0.30%\r\n2012-13\r\n0.60%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.50%\r\n0.30%\r\n2013-14\r\n0.80%\r\n0.70%\r\n0.70%\r\n0.60%\r\n0.40%\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:19.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292625,"EventID":"S4W-20034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:19.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T09:39:31.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the council tax freeze to be sustainable.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has fully funded the council tax freeze since 2008-09 and is committed to do so for the lifetime of this Parliament, helping all of Scotland’s council tax payers. The cumulative cost of the council tax freeze over the whole period 2008-16 equates to only around 1% of the cumulative Scottish budget over the same period.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:19.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292626,"EventID":"S4W-20035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:19.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T10:29:36.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce pulse oximetry screening for all newborns to detect heart conditions early.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce pulse oximetry screening for all newborns to detect heart conditions early.\r\nThe Scottish Government takes its advice on screening policy from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). The most recent review of screening for congenital heart defects (CHDs) from July 2013, did not recommend introduction of routine pulse oximetry screening.\r\nThe NSC keeps its policies under regular review and is currently undertaking a review of screening policy for CHDs. That review is expected to conclude in March 2014, after which it will be considered by the NSC.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:19.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292627,"EventID":"S4W-20038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:20.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:07:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for a GP appointment in each NHS board in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally, as the appropriate performance measures for GP access, the Health Efficiency Access Treatment standard are measured by the GP patient experience survey, which was last published on 29 May 2012 and can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Performance/scotPerforms/partnerstories/NHSScotlandperformance/GPAccessStandard.\r\nMeasures for the standard include: proportion of positive responses for 48 hour access to an appropriate healthcare professional; and the proportion of positive responses for booking an appointment with a GP more than 48 hours in advance. For both measures the standard is 90% \r\nThe Scottish Health and Care Experience Survey 2013-14 takes place every two years, was sent out in November 2013 and is the successor to the GP patient experience survey. This is the third time that the survey has taken place and it provides valuable information on areas for improvement covering both NHS and local social care services. Given its relevance to a wide range of services, it is sponsored by a number of partners including NHS Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA). The results will be published later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:20.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292628,"EventID":"S4W-20039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:20.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:07:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been removed from GP practice lists in each NHS board in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The latest information and historical information on the numbers of patients removed from GP practice lists in each year from 1999 to 2013 is shown in the following tables.\r\nPatients removed from GP practice lists 1 at the request of a GP; by NHS Board \r\nTable 1 (1999-2006)\r\n\r\n\r\nNumber of patients removed 2\r\nYear ended 31 March 4\r\n1999\r\n2000\r\n2001\r\n2002\r\n2003\r\n2004\r\n2005\r\n2006\r\nArgyll and Clyde\r\n318\r\n312\r\n238\r\n381\r\n332\r\n265\r\n275\r\n81\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n404\r\n374\r\n352\r\n475\r\n519\r\n434\r\n483\r\n393\r\nBorders\r\n7\r\n8\r\n8\r\n9\r\n10\r\n17\r\n15\r\n7\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\nn/a\r\n39\r\n25\r\n28\r\n34\r\n46\r\n26\r\n41\r\nFife \r\nn/a\r\n81\r\n90\r\n128\r\n103\r\n120\r\n134\r\n125\r\nForth Valley \r\n201\r\n133\r\n138\r\n167\r\n198\r\n206\r\n192\r\n205\r\nGrampian\r\n180\r\n209\r\n248\r\n268\r\n307\r\n357\r\n238\r\n196\r\nGreater Glasgow\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\nn/a\r\n1 330\r\n1 458\r\nn/a\r\n779\r\n672\r\nHighland \r\n84\r\n33\r\n30\r\n37\r\n25\r\n34\r\n26\r\n23\r\nLanarkshire\r\n703\r\nn/a\r\n420\r\n692\r\n701\r\n767\r\n622\r\n514\r\nLothian 3\r\n745\r\n658\r\n493\r\n462\r\n410\r\n558\r\n360\r\n335\r\nOrkney\r\n4\r\n1\r\n5\r\n1\r\n2\r\n13\r\n7\r\n1\r\nShetland \r\n2\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n413\r\n147\r\n211\r\n204\r\n181\r\n238\r\n186\r\n153\r\nWestern Isles\r\n3\r\n-\r\n1\r\n2\r\n-\r\n5\r\n-\r\n1\r\nTable 2 (2007-2013): Patients removed from GP practice lists 1 at the request of a GP; by NHS Board\r\n \r\n \r\nNumber of patients removed 2\r\nYear ended 31 March 4\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n366\r\n379\r\n540\r\n419\r\n340\r\n583\r\n603\r\nBorders\r\n2\r\n6\r\n3\r\n4\r\n11\r\n3\r\n10\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n40\r\n27\r\n26\r\n33\r\n25\r\n22\r\n16\r\nFife \r\n129\r\n121\r\n107\r\n137\r\n154\r\n120\r\n140\r\nForth Valley \r\n167\r\n195\r\n192\r\n232\r\n195\r\n134\r\n189\r\nGrampian 5\r\n239\r\n123\r\n204\r\n232\r\n104\r\n262\r\nn/a\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n831\r\n795\r\n859\r\n961\r\n1 063\r\n786\r\n938\r\nHighland 5\r\n27\r\n40\r\n39\r\n22\r\n23\r\n52\r\nn/a\r\nLanarkshire \r\n506\r\n525\r\n603\r\n534\r\n401\r\n482\r\n530\r\nLothian 3\r\n279\r\n322\r\n311\r\n380\r\n357\r\n374\r\n463\r\nOrkney 5\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nn/a\r\nShetland 5\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\nn/a\r\nTayside 5\r\n107\r\n106\r\n158\r\n152\r\n83\r\n202\r\nn/a\r\nWestern Isles\r\n1\r\n4\r\n4\r\n2\r\n2\r\n3\r\n3\r\n1. Patients removed at the request of a GP, excluding those removed as a result of death, emigration or change of address\r\n2. Number of patients removed during the financial year.  Where a patient has been removed more than once during the year, he/she has been counted only once in this table.\r\n3. Prior to 2001, NHS Lothian data include removals as a result of change of address.  \r\n4. Comprises new NHS board configuration, Argyll and Clyde health board no longer applicable\r\n5. Patients removed from GP practice lists for NHS Boards covered by Practitioner Services Aberdeen is not available for 2013\r\nn/a The number of patients removed from GP practice lists are not available.\r\nOnly the actual number of individuals removed were collected for these NHS boards at that time (Refer to note 2).\r\nSource: ISD Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland. Ref: IR2014-00471\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:20.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292629,"EventID":"S4W-20040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:20.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:18:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £20 million allocated to the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund has been spent; which medicines have been funded, and by how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects that the £21.7 million of funding provided through the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund (RCMF) from 1 March 2013 will be utilised by 31 March 2014. I have committed to continuing the RCMF until at least April 2016. Therefore a further sum of up to £20 million will be available in both 2014-15 and 2015-16.\r\nFor the current financial year, the fund covers costs of medicines provided though group or individual patient treatment requests for medicines that could potentially be considered by the Scottish Medicines Consortium under their new approach for end of life, orphan and ultra-orphan medicines that has been set out to the Health and Sport Committee. \r\nIt is important to note that patients access treatment provided by NHSScotland rather than any particular funding stream.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:20.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292630,"EventID":"S4W-20041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:21.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:45:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19658 by Keith Brown on 20 February 2014, whether the length of the A9 proposed for dualling between Kincraig and Dalraddy will be considered for green bridges, given the wildlife present in the area.\r\n","AnswerText":"A full environmental impact assessment has been carried out as part of the Kincraig scheme including habitat surveys. No requirement for a green bridge was identified through that work. The safety of species crossing the road will be enhanced through the provision of upgraded underpasses and dry culverts as part of the scheme, in keeping with the sensitive surrounding landscape.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:21.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292631,"EventID":"S4W-20042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:22.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have received dialysis (i) at home and (ii) in hospital in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The number of patients in Scotland receiving renal replacement therapy for established renal failure is small and so data are provided in amalgamated age ranges that are consistent with the Scottish Renal Registry annual publication, that is, under 20s and over 20s.\r\nTable 1: Number of prevalent patients, age range on hospital haemodialysis by age group in Scotland as at 31st December in each year.\r\nNHS\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nBoard\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n146\r\n-\r\n157\r\n-\r\n145\r\n-\r\n147\r\n-\r\nBorders\r\n50\r\n-\r\n52\r\n-\r\n49\r\n-\r\n41\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n50\r\n-\r\n53\r\n-\r\n49\r\n-\r\n51\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n134\r\n2\r\n134\r\n2\r\n152\r\n1\r\n158\r\n-\r\nForth Valley\r\n111\r\n-\r\n119\r\n2\r\n111\r\n3\r\n105\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n188\r\n-\r\n190\r\n1\r\n201\r\n2\r\n218\r\n1\r\nGreater Glasgow  and Clyde\r\n438\r\n6\r\n439\r\n3\r\n455\r\n2\r\n447\r\n3\r\nHighland \r\n99\r\n1\r\n88\r\n-\r\n86\r\n1\r\n79\r\n-\r\nLanarkshire\r\n186\r\n1\r\n198\r\n1\r\n184\r\n1\r\n205\r\n2\r\nLothian\r\n219\r\n2\r\n214\r\n1\r\n205\r\n2\r\n223\r\n-\r\nOrkney\r\n7\r\n-\r\n9\r\n-\r\n7\r\n-\r\n6\r\n-\r\nShetland\r\n3\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\n3\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n164\r\n-\r\n169\r\n-\r\n177\r\n-\r\n169\r\n-\r\nWestern Isles\r\n8\r\n-\r\n11\r\n-\r\n8\r\n-\r\n6\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n1803\r\n12\r\n1837\r\n10\r\n1833\r\n12\r\n1858\r\n6\r\nSource: ISD Scotland. Scottish Renal Registry, 2013\r\nTable 2: Number of prevalent patients, age range on home haemodialysis by age group in Scotland as at 31st December in each year. \r\nNHS\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nBoard\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n7\r\n-\r\n7\r\n-\r\n8\r\n-\r\n9\r\n-\r\nBorders\r\n3\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nForth Valley\r\n8\r\n-\r\n8\r\n-\r\n7\r\n-\r\n7\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n6\r\n-\r\n5\r\n-\r\n3\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\nGreater Glasgow  and Clyde\r\n16\r\n-\r\n16\r\n-\r\n20\r\n-\r\n19\r\n-\r\nHighland \r\n4\r\n-\r\n3\r\n-\r\n6\r\n-\r\n9\r\n-\r\nLanarkshire\r\n2\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\n5\r\n-\r\n6\r\n-\r\nLothian\r\n5\r\n-\r\n5\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\nOrkney\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nShetland\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nWestern Isles\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n52\r\n-\r\n49\r\n-\r\n55\r\n-\r\n62\r\n-\r\nSource: ISD Scotland.  Scottish Renal Registry, 2013\r\nTable 3: Number of prevalent patients, age range on home peritoneal dialysis by age group in Scotland as at 31st December in each year. \r\nNHS\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nBoard\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nOver 20 years\r\nUnder 20 years\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n39\r\n1\r\n43\r\n1\r\n47\r\n3\r\n40\r\n2\r\nBorders\r\n6\r\n1\r\n7\r\n1\r\n6\r\n1\r\n4\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n14\r\n-\r\n8\r\n-\r\n13\r\n-\r\n16\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n29\r\n-\r\n29\r\n-\r\n30\r\n-\r\n21\r\n-\r\nForth Valley\r\n8\r\n3\r\n7\r\n2\r\n6\r\n2\r\n5\r\n1\r\nGrampian\r\n30\r\n3\r\n34\r\n2\r\n22\r\n3\r\n24\r\n3\r\nGreater Glasgow  and Clyde\r\n37\r\n2\r\n35\r\n2\r\n34\r\n1\r\n34\r\n1\r\nHighland \r\n27\r\n-\r\n27\r\n-\r\n24\r\n1\r\n23\r\n1\r\nLanarkshire\r\n14\r\n1\r\n12\r\n1\r\n11\r\n-\r\n11\r\n1\r\nLothian\r\n56\r\n1\r\n46\r\n1\r\n34\r\n2\r\n34\r\n1\r\nOrkney\r\n3\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n1\r\n2\r\n1\r\nShetland\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n24\r\n-\r\n20\r\n1\r\n20\r\n-\r\n18\r\n-\r\nWestern Isles\r\n2\r\n-\r\n4\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n289\r\n13\r\n273\r\n11\r\n250\r\n14\r\n233\r\n11\r\nSource: ISD Scotland. Scottish Renal Registry, 2013\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:22.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292632,"EventID":"S4W-20044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:23.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many babies have required neonatal care in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the available figures for babies requiring neonatal care in last four years. Figures for 2013 are not yet available:\r\nNHS Health Board\r\nThe number of babies requiring neonatal care\r\n\r\nYear ending 31 March at\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n364\r\n386\r\n424\r\n411\r\nBorders\r\n125\r\n121\r\n116\r\n118\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n180\r\n146\r\n169\r\n129\r\nFife\r\n54\r\n70\r\n243\r\n395\r\nForth Valley\r\n284\r\n272\r\n267\r\n301\r\nGrampian \r\n789\r\n631\r\n647\r\n709\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1334\r\n1354\r\n1065\r\n1770\r\nHighland\r\n367\r\n424\r\n358\r\n395\r\nLanarkshire\r\n730\r\n895\r\n848\r\n1039\r\nLothian\r\n872\r\n792\r\n770\r\n895\r\nTayside\r\n378\r\n396\r\n376\r\n424\r\nIslands*\r\n49\r\n57\r\n39\r\n37\r\nUnknown\r\n12\r\n16\r\n17\r\n29\r\nTotal\t\r\n5538\r\n5560\r\n5339\r\n6652\r\nSource: Scottish Birth Record (SBR)**\r\n* Totals for Island boards reflect Special Care neonatal services only \r\n**Data for the Scottish Birth Records is collected in different ways in the various hospitals in Scotland. Some enter data directly onto the system and for others the data may be collected onto a separate system and transferred electronically to the SBR. Some units only collect minimal data on healthy babies and this is reflected in the high levels of data for which ‘Level of Care’ is labelled as ‘Missing/Unknown’. Further investigation of the data by birth weight, including linkage to SMR02 (Scottish Morbidity Records) data to obtain more complete information, suggests that the majority of such births were of normal birthweight (2500-5999g) and therefore less likely to have required extra care. However, as with the publication of any new type of information, there are likely to be concerns about completeness and accuracy particularly in the earlier years presented here.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:23.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292633,"EventID":"S4W-20045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:23.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many neonatal beds there were in each NHS board in each of the last four years.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the current provision of neonatal cots by NHS board in Scotland. Figures for the provision of cots for the past four years were not provided by all boards.\r\nNHS health board\r\nNeonatal care cots\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n20\r\nBorders\r\n8\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n13\r\nFife\r\n20\r\nForth Valley\r\n21\r\nGrampian \r\n38\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n92\r\nHighland\r\n11\r\nLanarkshire\r\n35\r\nLothian*\r\n37\r\nOrkney\r\nNeonatal services not provided by board\r\nShetland\r\nNeonatal services not provided by board\r\nTayside\r\n21\r\nWestern Isles\r\nNeonatal services not provided by board\r\n* Does not include figures for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:23.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292634,"EventID":"S4W-20046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:23.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average occupancy rate has been for each specialist neonatal unit in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:24.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292635,"EventID":"S4W-20047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:24.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors specialise in neonatal care, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Information regarding (a) nurses who specialise in neonatal care can be found in the following table.\r\nInformation regarding (b) doctors who specialise in neonatal care is not held centrally. \r\nNeonatal care\r\nNumber of nurses (headcount)\r\nNumber of nurses (whole time equivalent)\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n23\r\n18.7\r\nNHS Borders\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n13\r\n9.2\r\nNHS Fife\r\n42\r\n35.7\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n16\r\n12.9\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n106\r\n88.4\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n71\r\n62.7\r\nNHS Highland\r\n22\r\n16.5\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n79\r\n68.3\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n151\r\n132.0\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n40\r\n36.0\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n-\r\n-\r\nScotland Total\r\n563\r\n480.4\r\nSource: ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:24.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292636,"EventID":"S4W-20048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:24.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people aged (a) under five, (b) five to 18 and (c) over 18 have had teeth extracted in the (i) NHS general and (ii) hospital dental service setting in each of the last four years.","AnswerText":"Table 1 shows the number of patients with a least one tooth extracted in the NHS general dental services; by age of patient and for financial years 2009-10 to 2012-13 inclusive.\r\nTable 1:\r\nAge of patient\r\nFinancial year\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n0-4\r\n573\r\n616\r\n702\r\n619\r\n5-18\r\n54,151\r\n52,736\r\n52,566\r\n49,974\r\n19+\r\n241,305\r\n246,868\r\n255,585\r\n260,236\r\nTotal number of patients\r\n295,936\r\n300,143\r\n308,750\r\n310,771\r\nSource: ISD Scotland, MIDAS (Management Information & Dental Accounting System)\r\n\r\nTable 2 shows the number of patients receiving a dental extraction in NHS hospitals; by age of patient and for financial years 2009-10 to 2012-13 inclusive.\r\nTable 2:\r\nAge of patient\r\nFinancial Year\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n0-4\r\n        1,978 \r\n        1,904 \r\n        2,018 \r\n        1,858 \r\n5-18\r\n        6,388 \r\n        6,048 \r\n        6,260 \r\n        5,844 \r\n19+\r\n        3,339 \r\n        3,126 \r\n        3,670 \r\n        3,616 \r\nTotal\r\n11,703\r\n11,075\r\n11,946\r\n11,315\r\nSource: ISD SMR01 database-inpatient/day case discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:24.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292637,"EventID":"S4W-20049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:25.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many teeth have been extracted in the (a) NHS general and (b) hospital dental service setting in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"NHS general dental services\r\nTable 1 shows the number of teeth extracted in NHS general dental services by NHS board for financial years 2009-10 to 2012-13 inclusive.\r\nTable 1:\r\nNHS board of treatment\r\nFinancial year\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n   43,290\r\n   45,226\r\n   44,590\r\n   46,535\r\nBorders\r\n    8,931\r\n    9,452\r\n   10,146\r\n   11,172\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n   12,389\r\n   14,768\r\n   18,757\r\n   15,647\r\nFife\r\n   36,846\r\n   36,918\r\n   38,675\r\n   38,024\r\nForth Valley\r\n   28,800\r\n   29,853\r\n   32,626\r\n   31,065\r\nGrampian\r\n   32,714\r\n   36,426\r\n   40,101\r\n   46,433\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n  145,140\r\n  142,810\r\n  141,797\r\n  138,516\r\nHighland\r\n   24,250\r\n   27,232\r\n   27,623\r\n   28,970\r\nLanarkshire\r\n   63,836\r\n   63,702\r\n   62,556\r\n   60,726\r\nLothian\r\n   78,468\r\n   77,818\r\n   78,037\r\n   77,699\r\nOrkney\r\n    1,356\r\n    1,477\r\n    1,900\r\n    1,990\r\nShetland\r\n    1,656\r\n    1,871\r\n    1,666\r\n    1,825\r\nTayside\r\n   38,668\r\n   41,236\r\n   43,729\r\n   42,162\r\nWestern Isles\r\n    2,341\r\n    2,266\r\n    2,698\r\n    2,810\r\nSource: ISD Scotland, MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System)\r\nHospital dental service\r\nInformation on the number of teeth extracted during operations carried out in the Hospital dental service is not held centrally.\r\nHowever, table 2 shows the number of dental extractions (removal of one or more teeth) carried out in NHS hospitals by NHS board of treatment and financial years 2009-10 to 2012-13.\r\nTable 2:\r\nNHS board of treatment\r\nFinancial Year\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nGolden Jubilee National Hospital\r\n3 \r\n5 \r\n1 \r\n0 \r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n1,102 \r\n1,182 \r\n1,090 \r\n1,120 \r\nNHS Borders\r\n239 \r\n184 \r\n213 \r\n185 \r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n789 \r\n578 \r\n550 \r\n516 \r\nNHS Fife\r\n375 \r\n238 \r\n280 \r\n273 \r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n239 \r\n202 \r\n231 \r\n219 \r\nNHS Grampian\r\n609 \r\n666 \r\n1,399 \r\n1,170 \r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n3,265 \r\n3,083 \r\n3,391 \r\n3,201 \r\nNHS Highland\r\n797 \r\n793 \r\n721 \r\n674 \r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n1,400 \r\n1,225 \r\n1,328 \r\n1,333 \r\nNHS Lothian\r\n1,737 \r\n1,664 \r\n1,646 \r\n1,408 \r\nNHS Orkney\r\n77 \r\n70 \r\n88 \r\n80 \r\nNHS Shetland\r\n129 \r\n145 \r\n116 \r\n84 \r\nNHS Tayside\r\n1,024 \r\n1,097 \r\n999 \r\n1,151 \r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n26 \r\n37 \r\n37 \r\n36 \r\nNon-NHS Provider\r\n7 \r\n2 \r\n9 \r\n40 \r\nSource: ISD SMR01 database-inpatient/day case discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:25.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292638,"EventID":"S4W-20050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T14:04:25.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T11:54:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) women and (b) men aged (i) 16 to 34, (ii) 35 to 54 and (iii) 55 and over are estimated to have no natural teeth.","AnswerText":"Information on how many (a) women and (b) men aged (i) 16 to 34, (ii) 35 to 54 and (iii) 55 and over are estimated to have no natural teeth is not held centrally.\r\nHowever, statistics on dental health are available from the Scottish Health Survey which show the proportions of men and women in 2012 estimated to have no natural teeth. This information is summarised in table 1 and is based on a sample of people from each of these particular age groups.\r\nTable 1:\r\nProportion of men and women aged (i) 16 to 34 (ii) 35 to 54 and (iii) 55 and over estimated to have no natural teeth (2012)\r\n\r\nPatient Age\r\nPatient Gender\r\n16-34 years\r\n35-54 years\r\n55 and over\r\nMale\r\n1%\r\n2%\r\n23%\r\nFemale\r\n0%\r\n2%\r\n29%\r\nSource: Scottish Health Survey\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T14:04:25.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292639,"EventID":"S4W-20052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:38.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T14:34:31.32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19909 by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 March 2014, for what reasons it did not propose the abolition of honorary sheriffs in its consultation on the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill and how many respondents to the consultation called for their abolition.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposals in the draft Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill consulted upon in 2013 included restricting the civil competence of the honorary sheriff to that of the new summary sheriff.\r\nThe Scottish Government has listened to the representations it has received on its proposals in relation to honorary sheriffs and amended its proposals accordingly.\r\nThere were several negative comments from stakeholders responding to the consultation. In particular, there were comments that the appointment process for honorary sheriffs was not considered transparent, that honorary sheriffs may not be suitably qualified to deal with family law cases, and that the post of honorary sheriff should not be elevated to a statutory judicial office. One consultee said that no person should be allowed to sit as a sheriff in civil cases involving child welfare and domestic abuse unless they had 10 years legal qualification (i.e. this would preclude honorary sheriffs from doing so). Another body said that some of its members thought that honorary sheriffs had no place in our system and that the proposals should be reconsidered.\r\nThe Scottish Government will not abolish honorary sheriffs until alternative arrangements including summary sheriffs and technology are in place.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:38.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292640,"EventID":"S4W-20053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:38.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T14:29:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what independent regulatory mechanisms the NHS has and what its position is on establishing new mechanisms.\r\n","AnswerText":"Audit Scotland provides the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission with the services they need to check that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively. On this basis Audit Scotland is a public sector ‘regulator’ which includes responsibility for NHSScotland. As part of their role, Audit Scotland carry out or manage the annual audit reports for NHSScotland as well as national reports, impact reports and Section 22 reports where appropriate.\r\nThrough Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), NHSScotland already has a robust scrutiny and inspection process, which is driving improvements in patient care. HIS, in carrying out their inspections, are independent of the NHS boards they scrutinise. HIS are required by law to carry out their scrutiny and inspection activity in line with a plan agreed with Scottish Ministers. However in reporting their findings they do so impartially and independently. \r\nThere are no plans at present to introduce new regulatory mechanisms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:38.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292641,"EventID":"S4W-20055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:39.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T14:29:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the role and remit is of Health Improvement Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The role of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is to further improvement in the quality of healthcare provided by NHSScotland and independent healthcare services. They support healthcare providers to deliver high quality, evidence-based, safe, effective and person-centred care; and to scrutinise those services to provide public assurance about the quality and safety of that care.\r\nHIS also carries out a programme of inspections to provide assurance that the care of older people in acute hospitals is of a high standard. HIS are also responsible for the inspection and regulation of all independent healthcare services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:39.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292642,"EventID":"S4W-20056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:39.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T14:29:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an independent healthcare regulator and, if not, what consideration it has given to establishing one.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20053 on 17 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:39.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292643,"EventID":"S4W-20058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:39.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T14:29:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to correct the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 17 December 2013 (Official Report, c. 25823), that Health Improvement Scotland \"is  an independent regulator\".\r\n","AnswerText":"Healthcare Improvement Scotland is independent from the NHS boards and independent healthcare services which it inspects.\r\nNo action has been taken to amend the official report in respect of the comments made by me on 17 December 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:39.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292644,"EventID":"S4W-20059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:40.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:03:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a separate currency for an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK.\r\nThe first report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group in February 2013 set out the range of viable currency and monetary models for a country of Scotland’s size and economic strength, and concluded that a formal sterling area is the best option for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the event of Scottish independence. This position was re-stated following their recent meeting on 6 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:40.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292645,"EventID":"S4W-20060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:40.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:03:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many currency options it has considered for an independent Scotland, broken down by the (a) ability of the currency to create fiscal independence and (b) cost of implementation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20059 on 12 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:40.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292646,"EventID":"S4W-20061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:40.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:03:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a second parliamentary chamber in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"On page 572 of Scotland’s Future: your guide to an independent Scotland (available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348) the Scottish Government states: ‘The current Scottish Government proposes that, from the date of independence, the Scottish Parliament will keep its current single chamber structure. This is similar to other comparable states which also have single chamber parliaments, such as New Zealand, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:40.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292647,"EventID":"S4W-20062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:40.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:03:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a parliamentary framework in an independent Scotland and what its position is on a bicameral parliament.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20061 on 18 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:40.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292648,"EventID":"S4W-20063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:41.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:03:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a second parliamentary chamber would enhance or constrain the parliamentary process in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20061 on 18 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:41.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292649,"EventID":"S4W-20064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:41.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T15:28:19.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national marine plan.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Statement of Public Participation (SPP), required by Schedule 1 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Schedule 6 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which is published on the Scottish Government’s website sets out the timetable currently anticipated.\r\nThe timetable needs to reflect the consultation and engagement required to develop a national marine plan which best achieves the balance of protecting and enhancing our marine environment, alongside growing our existing and emerging marine industries. This was highlighted in the answer to question S4O-02960 on 5 March 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/OfficialReport.aspx\r\nShould there be a requirement for the timetable to change in order to allow for this, the SPP will be reviewed, revised and republished as required by the 2009 and 2010 Acts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:41.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292650,"EventID":"S4W-20065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-06T16:36:41.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T16:12:08.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has achieved the 2012 greenhouse gas emissions target.\r\n","AnswerText":"An official statistics publication providing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions data for 2012 will be released in June 2014. These data will allow the level of the net Scottish emissions account to be calculated and determine whether the 2012 greenhouse gas emissions target has been met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-20T16:36:41.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292659,"EventID":"S4W-20066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-07T13:45:49.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-06T16:56:09.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to deliver the Health and Work Service on behalf of the UK Government.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has agreed in principle with the UK Government that the proposed Health and Work Service will be delivered in Scotland through the NHS. This will take advantage of the reasonably well developed occupational health infrastructure that already exists in NHSScotland.\r\nThis will avoid the service being delivered in Scotland for profit through the private sector as is the proposition for the Health and Work Service in England and Wales.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-21T13:45:49.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292660,"EventID":"S4W-20067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-07T13:45:50.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T10:48:25.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19901 by Keith Brown on 6 March 2014, whether section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 requires that the power to make a special road scheme is exercised by means of a statutory instrument.","AnswerText":"Section 143(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 requires the power to make or confirm a special roads scheme under section 7 of that Act to be exercised by statutory instrument.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-21T13:45:50.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292671,"EventID":"S4W-20068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T14:04:23.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T15:50:19.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers there were in Grampian Police in each quarter between the first quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2013.","AnswerText":"The number of police officers in Grampian Police in each quarter between the first quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2013 can be found in table 2 of the Scottish Government’s publication titled Police Officer Quarterly Strength Statistics Scotland, 31 March 2013 at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0042/00423648.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T14:04:24.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292672,"EventID":"S4W-20069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T14:04:24.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T15:50:19.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers there have been in Aberdeen City in each quarter since the second quarter of 2013.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government now publishes national police officer numbers. Sub-national police officer numbers are not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\nPolice Scotland published sub-national police officer numbers as at 31 December 2014, on the 4 March 2014; they can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/\r\nThis was the first publication of sub-national police officer numbers since 31 March 2013. These statistics include the number of dedicated local police officers deployed in Aberdeen City division, the number of regionally deployed police officers in North region along with the number of nationally deployed police officers available to provide support whenever and wherever Aberdeen City division require.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T14:04:24.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292673,"EventID":"S4W-20070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T13:48:45.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T15:50:19.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers there have been in Aberdeenshire and Moray in each quarter since the second quarter of 2013.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government now publishes national police officer numbers. Sub-national police officer numbers are not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\nPolice Scotland published sub-national police officer numbers as at 31 December 2013, on the 4 March 2014; they can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/\r\nThis was the first publication of sub-national police officer numbers since 31 March 2013. These statistics include the number of dedicated local police officers deployed in Aberdeenshire and Moray division, the number of regionally deployed police officers in North region along with the number of nationally deployed police officers available to provide support whenever and wherever Aberdeenshire and Moray division require.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T13:48:45.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292674,"EventID":"S4W-20071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T13:49:41.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T09:55:37.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all operational police stations.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland has provided the following list of operational police buildings, used for the deployment of police officers across Scotland:\r\nProperty name\r\nBuilding name or building number\r\nStreet\r\nTown\r\nMaddiston Police Office\r\n \r\nMain Road\r\nMaddiston\r\nFalkirk Police Office\r\n \r\nWest Bridge Street\r\nFalkirk\r\nBainsford Police Office\r\n32\r\nBrodie Street\r\nBainsford\r\nBoness Police Office\r\n \r\nCommissioner Street\r\nBo'ness\r\nGrangemouth Police Office\r\n \r\nBo'Ness Road\r\nGrangemouth\r\nDrymen Police Office\r\n1\r\nStirling Road\r\nDrymen\r\nBannockburn Police Office\r\n70\r\nQuakerfield\r\nBannockburn\r\nPolice Headquarters\r\nRandolphfield\r\nSt Ninans Road\r\nStirling\r\nAlloa Police Office\r\n6\r\nMar Place\r\nAlloa\r\nTullibody Police Office\r\n73\r\nMenstrie Road\r\nTullibody\r\nTillicoultry Police Office\r\n \r\nMoss Road-Hub(No charge)\r\nTillicoultry\r\nBridge of Allan Police Office\r\n \r\nHenderson Street\r\nBridge of Allan\r\nAberfoyle Police Office\r\n \r\nMain Street-Fire station\r\nAberfoyle\r\nDunblane Police Office\r\n \r\nPerth Road\r\nDunblane\r\nCallander Police Office\r\n \r\nSouth Church Street\r\nCallander\r\nLochearnhead Police Office\r\n \r\nA85\r\nLochearnhead\r\nCrainlarich Police Office\r\n \r\nA85\r\nCrainlarich\r\nCamelon Police Office\r\n354\r\nMain Street\r\nCamelon\r\nBalfron Police Office\r\n \r\nBuchanan Street\r\nBalfron\r\nKillin Police Office\r\n \r\nMain Street\r\nKillin\r\nLarbert\r\n\r\nCentral Boulevard\r\nLarbert\r\nLangholm Town Hall\r\nTown Hall\r\nMarket Place\r\nLangholm\r\nMachars Police Office\r\n \r\nSt John Street\r\nWhithorn\r\nKirkcudbright Police Office\r\n87\r\nHigh Street\r\nKirkcudbright\r\nStranraer Police Office\r\n \r\nPort Rodie\r\nStranraer\r\nDalbeattie Police Office\r\n \r\nCraignair Street\r\nDalbeattie\r\nCastle Douglas Police Office\r\n39\r\nAcademy Street\r\nCastle Douglas\r\nNewton Stewart Police Office\r\n \r\nArthur Street\r\nNewton Stewart\r\nAnnan Police Office\r\n33\r\nHigh Street\r\nAnnan\r\nGretna Police Office\r\n \r\nGlasgow Road\r\nGretna\r\nDumfries Police Office\r\n62\r\nLoreburn Street\r\nDumfries\r\nPolice Headquarters\r\n \r\nCornwall Mount\r\nDumfries\r\nDalry Police Office\r\nMotte House\r\nAyr Road\r\nDalry\r\nLockerbie Police Office\r\n \r\nMains Street\r\nLockerbie\r\nThornhill Police Office\r\n \r\nManse Road\r\nThornhill\r\nMoffat Police Office\r\n \r\nHigh Street\r\nMoffat\r\nSanquhar Police Office\r\n \r\nGlasgow Road\r\nSanquhar\r\nEast Neuk & Largo Police Station\r\n \r\nMarch Crecent\r\nAnstruther\r\nHowe of Fife Police Station\r\n16/18\r\nLow Road\r\nAuchtermuchty\r\nBurntisland Police Station\r\n60\r\nHigh Street\r\nBurntisland\r\nCardenden Police Station\r\n90\r\nCardenden Street\r\nCardenden\r\nCowdenbeath Police Station\r\nBrunton House\r\nHigh Street\r\nCowdenbeath\r\nCupar Police Station\r\nCounty Buildings\r\nSt Catherine Street\r\nCupar\r\nDalgety Bay Police Station\r\n \r\nRegents Way\r\nDalgety Bay\r\nDumfermline Police Station\r\n \r\nHolyrood Place\r\nDunfermline\r\nPolice Headquarters (Force Executive)\r\n \r\nDetroit Road\r\nGlenrothes\r\nGlenrothes Police Station\r\n \r\nNapier Road\r\nGlenrothes\r\nKincardine Police Station\r\n29\r\nHigh Street\r\nKincardine\r\nKirkaldy Police Station\r\n \r\nSt Brycedale Avenue\r\nKirkcaldy\r\nBenarty Community Centre\r\n \r\nHill Road\r\nBallingry\r\nLevenmouth Police Station\r\n \r\nSea Road\r\nMehil\r\nTay Coast Police Station\r\n42\r\nSt Fort Road\r\nNewport On Tay\r\nOakley Police Station\r\n38\r\nStation Road\r\nOakley\r\nRosyth Police Station\r\n \r\nCrossroads Place\r\nRosyth\r\nSt Andrews Police Station\r\n \r\nPipeland Road\r\nSt Andrews\r\nAberdeen Airport Office\r\n \r\nAberdeen Airport, Dyce\r\nAberdeen\r\nAberdeen Hospital Office\r\n \r\nAberdeen Royal Infirmary\r\nAberdeen\r\nAboyne Police Office\r\n \r\nCharlestown Road\r\nAboyne\r\nAlford Police Office\r\n \r\nBalfour Road\r\nAlford\r\nBallater Police Office\r\n30/32\r\nDeebank Road\r\nBallater\r\nBanchory Police Office\r\n \r\nHigh Street \r\nBanchory\r\nBanff Police Office\r\n19\r\n High Shore\r\nBanff\r\nBraemar Police Office\r\n \r\nBalnellan Road\r\nBraemar\r\nBucksburn Police Office\r\n \r\nInverurie Road\r\nAberdeen\r\nCove Library Office\r\n \r\nCove\r\nAberdeen\r\nCruden Bay Police Office\r\n \r\nGolf Road\r\nCruden Bay\r\nDanestone Police Office\r\n \r\nFairview Street, Danestone\r\nAberdeen\r\nDyce Police Office\r\nDyce Primary\r\nGordon Terrace\r\nAberdeen\r\nEllon Police Office\r\n \r\nBridge Street\r\nEllon\r\nFochabe","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T13:49:41.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292675,"EventID":"S4W-20072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T13:50:10.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T09:55:37.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all police stations with public counters.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland has published a document detailing Police Station Public Counter Opening Hours across Scotland from 3 March 2014. The document is available on the Police Scotland website, by following the link at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/public-counters-traffic-wardens-review/public-counters/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T13:50:10.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292676,"EventID":"S4W-20073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T13:50:28.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T09:55:37.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which police (a) stations and (b) public counters have closed down in each year since 2007 and on what date.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. This question relates to data pertaining to the eight legacy forces, and is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T13:50:28.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292684,"EventID":"S4T-00629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:48:14.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T11:43:14.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that those who require social care services receive appropriate assistance.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:48:14.16","MeetingDate":"2014-03-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292685,"EventID":"S4T-00631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:48:14.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T11:51:34.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent breakdown of mackerel quota talks, what steps it is taking to support fishermen.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:48:14.94","MeetingDate":"2014-03-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292686,"EventID":"S4F-01945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:35.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T12:21:09.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:35.787","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292687,"EventID":"S4F-01947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:36.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-07T16:39:29.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:36.347","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292688,"EventID":"S4F-01949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:37.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T09:27:15.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:37.503","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292689,"EventID":"S4F-01951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:38.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T09:41:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Child Poverty Action Group's finding that up to 100,000 children in Scotland could be pushed into poverty by 2020 as a result of the UK Government’s austerity measures.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:38.593","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292690,"EventID":"S4F-01955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:39.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T10:12:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will take account of the findings of the Lloyds Bank Affordable Cities Review when allocating housing investment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:39.483","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292691,"EventID":"S4F-01956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T12:47:39.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T10:42:09.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that antisocial behaviour orders are not breached.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T12:47:39.843","MeetingDate":"2014-03-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292692,"EventID":"S4W-20075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T14:29:35.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T14:18:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the recent visit by the Minister for External Affairs and International Development to Malawi and Zambia.\r\n","AnswerText":"I visited Malawi and Zambia from 21 to 28 January 2014.There were a number of strategic aims to my visit:\r\nFirstly, in Malawi and Zambia, I represented Scotland to welcome the arrival of the Queen’s Baton, and accompanied it on its journey to Zambia.\r\nSecondly, of course, both countries are priority countries under the Scottish Government’s International Development Policy. The Scottish Government therefore partners in funding projects, through Scottish based organisations, under both its International Development Fund and its Climate Justice Fund, which are helping to improve peoples’ lives.\r\nTherefore, in Malawi, a key purpose of my visit was to deepen the close relationship between Scotland and Malawi, including renewing ties with the Government of Malawi; further, in recognition of the very strong civil society links that exist between Scotland and Malawi, to meet with civil society groups, in particular those organisations in Malawi which partner in implementing Scottish Government funded projects. \r\nIn relation to my visit to Zambia, this was the first visit by a Scottish Government Minister, with the aim of developing a closer relationship with the Zambian Government. There was a strong recognition of Scotland’s historic relationship with Zambia and that this is important to us. Building stronger links with Zambia, will allow us to work together in areas of mutual interest such as climate change.\r\nIn terms of my programme: I arrived in Malawi on 21 January 2014. On 22 January 2014 I started my official programme by visiting St Michael and All Angel’s Church in Blantyre, the site of the first Scottish Mission, where I was warmly welcomed by the Blantyre Synod, and the Likhabula Children’s and the Churches Ladies choir. I then laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Grave in the graveyard attached to the Church, to commemorate the centenary of the start of WWI.\r\nLater in the morning, I took part in a round table business discussion on creating a business and investment friendly environment in Malawi, and business opportunities and challenges for Scottish investment in Malawi. This meeting, which was chaired by Dr Justin Malewezi, former Vice President of Malawi, followed on from the Investment Conversation which President Banda chaired in Edinburgh in March 2013. This series of meetings reflects the on-going interest of both governments, to move beyond aid only and to support increased trade and investment to Malawi as part of development.\r\nIn the afternoon I attended an energy symposium hosted by the Scottish Government funded Malawi Renewable Energy Acceleration Programme (MREAP) at the Blantyre Polytechnic, where I was welcomed by Prof Kululanga, the Principal and Prof Saka, the Vice Chancellor. The energy symposium event brought together the whole range of renewable energy projects currently or previously funded by the Scottish Government International Development Fund, as well as climate justice projects funded from its ground breaking Climate Justice Fund. During my address to symposium attendees, I announced the extension of the MREAP project for one year, taking it to March 2015, which was warmly welcomed as evidence of the Scottish Government’s commitment in the area of renewables. During the symposium I also commissioned a recently funded solar power project in the locality, along with the grant holding partners Scottish Malawi Foundation/Eqnon.\r\nAt the close of the symposium, I then visited the Scottish Government funded Renew’N’Able Malawi project’s solar kiosk at Bvumbwe, a rural village outside Blantyre. Only 9% of Malawians currently have electricity. I was therefore able to see first-hand for myself the transformational changes for those living in off-grid villages that such renewable energy initiatives can make. \r\nIn the evening I had dinner with Mr Matthews Mtumbuka, the Chair of the Malawi Scotland Partnership, the sister organisation to the Scotland Malawi Partnership, both of which are funded through th","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T14:29:35.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292698,"EventID":"S4W-20080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T16:06:35.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T15:56:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the distribution of and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since its launch in November, demand for Scotland’s Future – Your guide to an independent Scotland has exceeded 100,000 copies.\r\n Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland has been available to order at no cost to individuals in hard copy or digital formats since its launch. Latest available figures confirm that 114,441 copies of the white paper have been ordered, 57,708 in digital format, and 56,733 as a hard copy.\r\nTo meet this demand, production, printing and distribution costs to date are:\r\nScotland’s Future -Your guide to an independent Scotland\r\nCosts\r\nProduction\r\n£75,000\r\nPrint\r\n£350,000\r\nDistribution\r\n£375,000\r\nTotal\r\n£800,000\r\n Final costs for printing and distribution will not be available until final demand is known.\r\n A 44 page summary of Scotland’s Future has also been produced and has been translated into 14 languages, versions for people who are deaf or blind as well as an easy read publication for people with learning disabilities. The cost to date for this is £60,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T16:06:35.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292699,"EventID":"S4W-20079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T17:09:18.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T15:42:47.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is no mention of Scottish Water in the white paper on independence.","AnswerText":"Policy in relation to the operation of the water industry in Scotland, including Scottish Water, is already a devolved matter. The governance arrangements for Scottish Water are therefore not directly affected by the result of the referendum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T17:09:18.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292700,"EventID":"S4W-20081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T17:09:18.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T16:08:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were or have been excluded for being in possession of (i) a weapon, (ii) alcohol and (iii) illegal drugs at school in (A) 2012-13 and (B) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"Although information on pupils excluded from school is collected by the Scottish Government, specific information on pupils excluded for possession of weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs at school is not collected. Information on exclusions, by the reasons for exclusion we collect, is published in table 17 of a supplementary dataset to the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No 4: 2013 Edition publication. A link to this dataset, which on the Scottish Government website is as follows:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/exclusiondatasets/exclusionsdataset2013\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T17:09:18.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292701,"EventID":"S4W-20084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-10T17:09:18.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T16:09:53.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the additional £700 million of tax revenues referred to in its report, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.","AnswerText":"As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, the increase in the tax revenues by £700 million that could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate would be expected to come from a range of different tax revenue streams.\r\nAs highlighted in the paper, as individuals move into employment, or increase the hours they work, they would pay more tax through income tax and national insurance. In addition, as individuals’ incomes increase and their spending rises, receipts from indirect taxes such as VAT, fuel duty and excise duties would also be expected to rise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-24T17:09:18.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292712,"EventID":"S4W-20085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T13:47:44.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T09:54:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the capability of each local authority’s snow clearing equipment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is responsible for the trunk road network. Individual local authorities are responsible for setting policies that are relevant to local conditions on their own road network. This includes identifying appropriate winter maintenance requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T13:47:44.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292713,"EventID":"S4W-20086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T13:47:45.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T09:54:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Tayside Contracts and (b) Perth and Kinross Council regarding the capability of its snow clearing equipment.\r\n","AnswerText":"During adverse weather conditions, the Scottish Government works with local authorities to ensure our roads remain safe, efficient and effective.\r\nResponder agencies across Scotland have robust contingency plans in place to ensure that they can cope with the effects of severe weather. The Scottish Government provides a framework for effective multi-agency regional resilience partnerships including all local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T13:47:45.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292722,"EventID":"S4W-20112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:02.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:12:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its updated guidance on instrumental music services and what (a) consultation it has carried out and (b) meetings it has had with regard to this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The government subgroup taking forward the revision of the guidance on instrumental music services is made up of: the Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS), the Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME), the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and Education Scotland.\r\nThe group is aiming to conclude its work by December 2014. The group met in January 2014 and plans to meet again in March 2014 before producing a first draft by the end of June 2014 and a final draft by December 2014.\r\nThe subgroup consulted with HITS managers and associate members at the HITS conference in January 2014 and there will be further consultation with all member organisations involved in the Instrumental Music Implementation group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:02.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292723,"EventID":"S4W-20115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:03.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:12:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its updated instrumental music service guidelines will ensure that traditional Scottish instruments are available in each local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"Most schools offer a range of instrumental music tuition and as with Curriculum for Excellence, the detail of which instruments are taught and how instrumental tuition is delivered is decided by local authorities and schools. These decisions are based on a range of considerations and take account of resource limitations, local traditions, demand and the availability of specialist instrumental music instructors.\r\nWe welcome the wide range of instrumental music tuition that local authorities provide and believe that music plays a vitally important role in education, helping shape our sense of personal, social and cultural identity as well as providing significant cognitive, societal and economic benefits to Scotland as a nation and its people. \r\nThe government subgroup currently revising the instrumental music service guidelines is aiming to conclude its work by December 2014. These guidelines will not specify which instruments should be taught by local authorities’ instrumental music services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:03.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292724,"EventID":"S4W-20116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:03.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:43:13.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £450,000 budgeted for the white paper on independence public information campaign has been spent.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want to ensure the people of Scotland can access the information they need to make an informed choice on 18 September 2014. I confirmed a budget for the public information campaign of up to £450,000 on 26 November 2013.\r\nI will update parliament on spend against this budget when expenditure for 2013-14 is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:03.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292725,"EventID":"S4W-20117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:04.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:43:13.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent to date on public question and answer events relating to the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want to make sure that the public are as well informed as possible about the content of Scotland’s Future and the huge opportunities offered by independence. To facilitate this, the Scottish Government has organised a full programme of public engagement events.\r\nThis programme is ongoing and I will update parliament on costs when expenditure for 2013-14 is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:04.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292726,"EventID":"S4W-20118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:04.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:43:13.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many copies of the white paper on independence have been distributed in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) internationally. \r\n","AnswerText":"As at 11 March 2014, 55147 hard copies of Scotland’s Future had been distributed. The following table provides a breakdown of the locations of this distribution:\r\nLocation\r\nTotal\r\nScotland\r\n52216\r\nEngland\r\n2658\r\nNorthern Ireland\r\n108\r\nWales\r\n136\r\nInternational \r\n29\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:04.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292727,"EventID":"S4W-20119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:05.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T14:57:28.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice that it has received on the suitability of using the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon route, in light of the incident involving the vessel at the Dunoon linkspan on 11 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Advice received from David MacBrayne Ltd on the use of the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon route has recently been published on Transport Scotland’s website in response to a freedom of information request. The information can be accessed by following the attached link:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/subsidised/gourock-dunoon \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:05.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292728,"EventID":"S4W-20120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:05.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:32:27.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many privacy impact assessments it has published since it adopted the identity management and privacy principles, and what the titles, subjects and publication dates were.","AnswerText":"Five privacy impact assessments have been published on the Scottish Government website since the identity management and privacy principles were published in December 2010. Details are:\r\nChildren and Young People (Scotland) Bill\r\nSubject: Rights and provision of services and support for children and families\r\nPublished: 19 November 2013\r\nAquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill\r\nSubject: Fish farming and shellfish farming\r\nPublished: November 13 2012\r\nScottish Care Homes Census\r\nSubject: Proposed inclusion of resident identifiable data to the Scottish Care Home Census\r\nPublished: 31 August 2012\r\nSocial Care, Housing Support & Health Data Bill\r\nSubject: Linking social care, housing support & health data for statistics \r\nPublished: 05 April 2012\r\nMaternity Care Experience Survey data\r\nSubject: Sharing of maternity care experience survey data with the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit\r\nPublished: 14 February 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:05.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292729,"EventID":"S4W-20121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:05.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:32:27.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many changes have been made to policy or legislation as a result of carrying out a privacy impact assessment.","AnswerText":"Privacy impact assessments are used in the Scottish Government to identify and manage privacy risks of new projects and policies, often as part of the normal project and risk management process. No formal record is automatically kept linking changes to policy or legislation back to a specific privacy impact assessment. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:05.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292730,"EventID":"S4W-20122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:06.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:32:27.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how a digital bill of rights would impact on devolved areas of responsibility and what its position is on this matter.","AnswerText":"A digital bill of rights is not being considered actively at the present time. Under the Scotland Act 1998, however, there is a specific duty on Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament to act in accordance with the rights set out in the European Convention of Human Rights, including the right under article 8 to respect for private and family life, which applies to the internet as elsewhere.\r\nA world class digital Scotland requires people to be confident and comfortable in the use of the internet. In this regard, the Scottish Government notes the recent call by Sir Tim Berners-Lee for a digital bill of rights and will continue to monitor the development of thinking about such a bill.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:06.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292731,"EventID":"S4W-20123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:06.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:42:45.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19430 by Alex Neil on 19 February 2014, when it expects a decision to be made on the future of the fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"On 6 March 2014 the Department for Work and Pensions announced their intention to continue with the closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) by the end of June 2015.\r\nTo date, we have not received formal notification and further information, including a revised financial settlement. This will be considered along with the analysis of the recent Scottish Government ILF consultation. This will form the decision of Scottish Ministers on the ILF and an announcement will be made in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:06.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292732,"EventID":"S4W-20124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-11T17:13:07.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:56:04.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of students attending colleges with no prior qualifications has decreased since 2007-08.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) asks colleges for data on the qualifications of students on entry to college. It advises, however, that data returns are incomplete and that it is not therefore possible to establish accurately the trend and the reasons for it. The SFC is currently exploring ways in which to improve these data.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-25T17:13:07.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292751,"EventID":"S4W-20087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:10.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible impact on police services, whether it has discussed with the Scottish Police Federation (a) what the federation's views are on the findings of and (b) whether the federation plans to set up an inquiry similar to the independent review of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which was chaired by Sir David Normington.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not discussed the Police Federation independent review with the Scottish Police Federation. The operation and structure of the Scottish Police Federation, beyond what is laid out in the Police Federation (Scotland) Regulations 2013, is a matter for Scottish Police Federation to consider.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:10.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292752,"EventID":"S4W-20089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:11.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Federation is legally bound to (a) act in the public interest and (b) not carry out professional misconduct and, if not, whether it is considering introducing such legislation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The statutory remit of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), as set out in the Police Act 1996, is the welfare and efficiency of police officers and the Scottish Government has no plans to change this. Any SPF member who is a constable is subject to the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2013 that set out the circumstances under which misconduct proceedings may be brought. The conduct of any member of the SPF, whose actions damage the reputation and standing of the SPF, can be considered under internal rules made by the SPF.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:11.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292753,"EventID":"S4W-20092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:11.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when protections will be put in place to protect NHS whistleblowers.","AnswerText":"Robust protections for NHSScotland whistleblowers are already in place.\r\nEach health board has a whistleblowing policy based on the national model Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN Policy, published in December 2011. This encourages and supports staff to raise any concerns they may have about practices in the NHS, and sets out minimum requirements for local policies, including the protection afforded under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to those employees and ex-employees who raise a genuine whistleblowing concern.\r\nAdditionally, in April 2013, the Scottish Government introduced the NHSScotland confidential alert line. This service, run by an independent whistleblowing charity, provides a safe space where staff, who feel they may be victimised as a result of whistleblowing, can raise concerns about patient safety and malpractice and, where appropriate, have these concerns passed to the health board or appropriate regulatory body on their behalf.\r\nThis service is currently being reviewed and an announcement on the future of the service will be made shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:11.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292754,"EventID":"S4W-20093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:11.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) other public sector workers and (b) Police Scotland employees will be afforded the same protections in relation to whistleblowing as NHS staff.","AnswerText":"The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998 amended the Employment Rights Act 1996 and gives all workers who raise genuine whistleblowing concerns protection from detriment by any act or any deliberate failure to act by their employer.\r\nThere are robust protections for whistleblowers in NHSScotland. The Scottish Government and NHSScotland continue to work together to make sure that staff are protected when raising concerns.\r\nIt is for individual public bodies, as employers, to develop appropriate policies to support whistleblowing and to enhance existing legal protections afforded to their staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:11.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292755,"EventID":"S4W-20094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:12.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that any public sector worker's correct reporting of inappropriate conduct by their employer should be protected in the same way that NHS whistleblowers are to be protected.","AnswerText":"The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 amended the Employment Rights Act 1996 and gives all workers who raise genuine whistleblowing concerns protection from detriment by any act or any deliberate failure to act by their employer.\r\nThere are robust protections for whistleblowers in NHSScotland. The Scottish Government and NHSScotland continue to work together to make sure that staff are protected when raising concerns.\r\nIt is for individual public bodies, as employers, to develop appropriate policies to support whistleblowing and to enhance existing legal protections afforded to their staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:12.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292756,"EventID":"S4W-20095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:12.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether police officers charged with alleged misconduct under the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2013 have the right to a fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal as per Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. ","AnswerText":"The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2013 are only one part of a broader system for the determination of cases of alleged misconduct by constables. This includes access to independent police appeals tribunals and the ordinary courts in appropriate circumstances. The Scottish Government considers that this system ensures constables’ rights under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights are safeguarded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:12.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292757,"EventID":"S4W-20096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:12.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T11:42:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the fairness of allowing police misconduct hearings to be carried out in-house without the scrutiny of an independent court and whether it considers that this is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.","AnswerText":"The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2013 are only one part of a broader system for the determination of cases of alleged misconduct by constables. This includes access to independent police appeals tribunals and the ordinary courts in appropriate circumstances. The Scottish Government considers that this system ensures constables’ rights under the European Convention on Human Rights are safeguarded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:12.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292758,"EventID":"S4W-20102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:13.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:31:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a national service delivery model for anticoagulation international normalised ratio (INR) testing in line with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh consensus statement, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 129 and the Scottish patient safety programme on improving warfarin safety and optimising warfarin management.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no plans to introduce a national service delivery model.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:13.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292759,"EventID":"S4W-20103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:14.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:31:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase the number of patients self-testing/self-managing international normalised ratio (INR) testing as part of a stroke prevention programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no current plans to increase the number of patients self testing/self managing as part of a stroke prevention programme. Individual clinicians working with people on anticoagulants will decide on a case by case basis on the most appropriate approach in line with current evidence which can be found at: http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/129/index.html \r\nand: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/technologies_and_medicines/shtg_-_evidence_notes/evidence_note_50.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:14.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292760,"EventID":"S4W-20104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:14.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:31:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake a review and analysis of the uptake of patient international normalised ratio (INR) self-testing/self-management in comparison with rates in England and other European countries and identify any barriers to Scottish patients managing their own condition.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to review and analyse the uptake international normalised ratio self-testing/self-management in comparison with rates in England and other European countries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:14.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292761,"EventID":"S4W-20126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:15.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T16:13:28.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19663 by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014, when initial warning letters were issued by the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20127 on 21 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:15.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292762,"EventID":"S4W-20127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:15.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T16:13:28.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-17494 and S4W-17495 by Alex Neil on 11 October 2013, whether and, if so, what new factor has led to the delay in publishing the inquiry report given that the warning letter process was noted at that time.","AnswerText":"The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry is an independent inquiry. The procedure and the conduct of an inquiry, including the timing of the report, is determined by the inquiry’s chairperson in accordance with his or her duties under the Inquiries Act 2005. For further information please contact the secretary of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry team at: information@valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:15.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292763,"EventID":"S4W-20128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:16.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T17:30:59.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S4W-17786, S4W-19755 and S4W-19947 on 11 October 2013, 26 February 2014 and 11 March 2014 respectively and in light of the answer to S4W-17768, which stated that \"the Deputy First Minister has indicated that she intends to reach a conclusion on the way forward by the end of the year\", whether a conclusion was reached by then and, if so, when this will be communicated and, if not, what the reason is for the delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19947 on 11 March 2014, to S4W-19755 on 26 February 2014, to S4W-17786 on 6 November 2013 and to S4W-17356 on 3 October 2013. I have no further information to provide at this time. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nI note that “S4W-17768” is a clerical mistake.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:16.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292764,"EventID":"S4W-20129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:16.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T18:25:30.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether reprints of the white paper on independence will be updated to reflect the most recently published financial figures.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published.\r\nOn 28 May 2014, the Scottish Government published its Outlook for Scotland’s Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence report. This builds on the analysis in the white paper and its central conclusion that Scotland is a wealthy country that will start life as an independent nation with great economic prospects. The report is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00451336.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:16.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292765,"EventID":"S4W-20130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:17.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T18:25:30.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government from which directorate budget the costs associated with the white paper on independence are being met.\r\n","AnswerText":"Costs associated with the white paper are being met from the Strategic Communications budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:17.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292766,"EventID":"S4W-20131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:17.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T09:10:12.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of the decision to deploy the MV Coruisk on the Gourock to Dunoon route, the Deputy First Minister or Transport Scotland issued instructions to Argyll Ferries regarding the timetable and duration of crossings.","AnswerText":"Under the terms of the contract between Scottish Ministers and Argyll Ferries Limited, Transport Scotland issued a contract variation notice to Argyll Ferries Limited on 17 December 2013. This contract variation notice covered the operational period of the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon route over winter 2013-14. This contract variation included departure times for the MV Coruisk from Gourock and Dunoon.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:17.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292767,"EventID":"S4W-20141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:17.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:03:48.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage the creation or reestablishment of networked primary care practices previously known as local healthcare cooperatives as recommended by the Royal College of General Practitioners.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18621 on 12 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:17.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":true},{"UniqueID":292768,"EventID":"S4W-20142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:18.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:03:48.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many quality and outcomes framework data sets GP practices will need to manually enter into the Calculating Quality Reporting Service until they can be automated by the General Practice Extraction Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not operate the General Practice Extraction Service, which is used only in England. \r\nAll clinical extracts are run automatically from the GP clinical systems, with only the standard non clinical data entry requiring manual entry. This is the same process which has operated since 2004.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:18.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":true},{"UniqueID":292769,"EventID":"S4W-20143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:18.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:04:27.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of free eye tests has been in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost of free NHS eye examinations in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:\r\n2008-09\r\n£million\r\n2009-10\r\n£million\r\n2010-11\r\n£million\r\n2011-12\r\n£million\r\n2012-13\r\n£million\r\n63.307\r\n66.992\r\n66.291\r\n70.728\r\n70.794\r\n\r\nSource: \r\n2008-09 to 2011-12 inclusive: Scottish Financial Returns accompanying NHS board audited financial statements.\r\n2012-13: Period 13 NHS board monthly financial returns (April 2013). \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:18.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292770,"EventID":"S4W-20144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:19.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:04:27.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the cost effectiveness of repeated free eye tests for (a) different age groups, (b) people with a risk factor and (c) people with normal vision.","AnswerText":"The NHS eye examination introduced on 1 April 2006 is available free of charge to all people in Scotland. This new examination is tailored to meet the needs of the patient, taking into account their history and symptoms, allowing the patient to receive an appropriate health assessment of their whole visual system, and allowing for early diagnosis of potential sight threatening disease.\r\nNo analysis of the cost effectiveness of repeat eye examinations has been undertaken by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:19.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292771,"EventID":"S4W-20145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:19.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:04:27.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued on the assessment and management of the psychological consequences for patients who have been treated in intensive care units.\r\n","AnswerText":"No national guidance has been issued in Scotland on the assessment and management of the psychological consequences for patients who have been treated in intensive care units. However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline 83 deals with rehabilitation after critical illness and does offer recommendations for assessment and screening.\r\nIn addition the University of Edinburgh and NHS Tayside have carried out research engaging with patients and families to improve the critical illness journey protocol. This work recognises that patients recovering from critical illness can experience a range of psychosocial consequences. Based on the emerging research evidence, the University of Edinburgh in association with NHS Lothian are producing an evidence-based patient and family focused website which will provide information, support and online access to healthcare professionals during the recovery process. They will also pilot a counselling service.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:19.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292772,"EventID":"S4W-20146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:19.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:05:44.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of the use of the NHS whistleblowers’ helpline, and whether this give details of the (a) sectors that the calls came from and (b) action taken.\r\n","AnswerText":"The interim evaluation of the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line, which gives details of the sectors that the calls came from, and action taken by Public Concern at Work, the independent whistleblowing charity contracted to run the one year pilot project, will be published shortly.\r\nThis service is currently being reviewed and an announcement on the future of the service will also be made shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:19.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292773,"EventID":"S4W-20148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:20.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:32:08.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the virulent porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) does not infect the country’s pig population.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has legislation in place to regulate the importation of animals and animal products and prevent the introduction into Scotland of animal pathogens, including the new variant of the virulent porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV). To the Scottish Government’s knowledge, the new PEDV has not been found to date anywhere in the European Union.\r\nThe Scottish Government monitors the international situation, has surveillance in place to detect the pathogen if it enters the country and has funded veterinary organisations to raise awareness of the condition among Scottish pig producers and veterinarians and promote measures to reduce the risk of infection.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:20.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292774,"EventID":"S4W-20149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:20.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:32:08.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it is giving to (a) animal feed manufacturers, (b) animal nutritionists and (c) vets regarding the identification and isolation of feed products on farms labelled as containing spray-dried porcine plasma.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published the Guidance Note on feed controls in the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations in June 2013.\r\nThe note includes a section with guidance on the handling of blood products, including spray-dried porcine plasma, and can be obtained from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), who produced the document on behalf of the Scottish Government. They are also publically available in AHVLA’s website.\r\nAdditional specific information for business handling blood products, including dried porcine plasma, is available from AHVLA’s website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:20.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292775,"EventID":"S4W-20150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:20.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:34:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19254 by Keith Brown on 3 February 2014, what meetings and other measures have been arranged by Transport Scotland to consult the wider community in Langholm about proposals for a 20 mph limit trial on the A7.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is meeting the local authority on 1 April 2014 and will engage with the wider community shortly afterwards through meetings and other appropriate consultations. The form and timings of these consultations will be clarified after our discussion with the local authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:20.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292776,"EventID":"S4W-20151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T13:42:21.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:34:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which community groups have been contacted by Transport Scotland in connection with (a) the consultation on a 20 mph speed trial on the A7 in Langholm and (b) the statutory consultation in respect of the speed limit order required to promote any change in the speed limit.","AnswerText":"As yet no community groups have been contacted by Transport Scotland in connection with the 20 mph speed limit pilot consultation or the statutory consultation.\r\nTransport Scotland is meeting the local authority on 1 April 2014 and will engage with the wider community shortly afterwards through meetings and other appropriate consultations. The form and timings of these consultations will be clarified after our discussion with the local authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T13:42:21.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292777,"EventID":"S4O-03017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:31.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:03:23.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what so-called red lines an independent Scotland would set when negotiating membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:31.553","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292778,"EventID":"S4O-03019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:31.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:28:30.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what European funding streams are available to help safeguard the cultural heritage of communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:31.973","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292779,"EventID":"S4O-03020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:32.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T16:58:39.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Enterprise regarding the establishment of a film studio in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:32.443","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292780,"EventID":"S4O-03021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:33.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:17:18.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the College of Piping and the wider traditional music sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:33.473","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292781,"EventID":"S4O-03022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:33.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:03:40.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the impact of the Syrian conflict on the Scottish Government's external affairs strategy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:33.83","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292782,"EventID":"S4O-03023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:34.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T09:30:06.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Californian State Government and Governor regarding how to ensure a lasting legacy from the Homecoming Scotland 2014 event, the John Muir Festival.   \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:34.207","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292783,"EventID":"S4O-03024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:34.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:34:15.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote young people’s interests and talents in culture and the arts.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:34.58","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292784,"EventID":"S4O-03025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:34.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:03:41.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what international treaties it expects an independent Scotland would sign.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following a vote for independence, Scotland will declare and notify its intention to assume responsibility for the UK’s multilateral and bilateral treaties, where it is in Scotland’s interest to do so, as mentioned in the white paper. The Scottish Government expects that other parties to these treaties will welcome Scotland’s intention to sign up to, and continue, these obligations.\r\nIt will be for the government of the day to negotiate on the possibilities of Scotland becoming party to additional treaties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:35","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292785,"EventID":"S4O-03026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:35.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:11:10.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports orchestral music and what it considers the cultural and artistic benefits are of this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that orchestral music can bring real cultural and artistic benefits to communities across Scotland and we are ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to deliver cultural opportunities whilst promoting cultural excellence.\r\nThe Scottish Government directly funds the national companies, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. We also fund Sistema Scotland and Creative Scotland funds a wide range of projects and organisations, including the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:35.377","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292786,"EventID":"S4O-03027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:35.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:07.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many units have been completed under the National Housing Trust.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:35.86","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292787,"EventID":"S4O-03028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:36.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T16:47:39.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support improved transport links between Glasgow Airport and Glasgow city centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:36.717","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292788,"EventID":"S4O-03029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:38.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:11:42.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support strategic infrastructure developments in the Aberdeen city region. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:38.51","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292789,"EventID":"S4O-03030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:39.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:56:01.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Fife have received support from the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme since 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:39.917","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292790,"EventID":"S4O-03031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:40.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:09.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Welfare Fund supports vulnerable families in Glasgow and across the country.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:40.587","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292791,"EventID":"S4O-03032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:41.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:09.753","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many housing association newbuilds were completed in Dumfries and Galloway in 2013.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:41.507","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292792,"EventID":"S4O-03033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:42.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:32:25.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it considers that housing can make to tackling poverty.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:42.567","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292793,"EventID":"S4O-03034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:44.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:42:26.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what speed restrictions have been introduced on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line since 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"The completed Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line was transferred to Network Rail in 2008. Since that time Network Rail has been responsible for maintenance including the introduction of speed restrictions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:44.22","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292794,"EventID":"S4O-03035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:45.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:10.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether South Lanarkshire Council has asked it for assistance in dealing with vacant commercial and industrial sites in East Kilbride.","AnswerText":"Ministers and officials regularly meet local authorities across Scotland to discuss a range of issues, including local economic development, as do our enterprise agencies. \r\nOfficials from Scottish Enterprise and South Lanarkshire Council have held a number of meetings over recent months with site owners, agents and potential developers of key sites within East Kilbride to identify site specific opportunities to attract potential new developments and tenants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:45.093","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292795,"EventID":"S4O-03036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:46.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:28:50.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to regulate very short-term private housing lets.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has already taken action to strengthen the regulation of short term private lets. It made regulations in March 2011 that gave local authorities the power to serve an antisocial behaviour notice on landlords where an occupant or visitor to a house let by the landlord engages in antisocial behaviour.\r\nWe have no further plans for regulation in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:46.14","MeetingDate":"2014-03-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292796,"EventID":"S4O-03037","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:46.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:20.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to encourage people with transferable skills to work in the energy sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:46.747","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292797,"EventID":"S4O-03038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:47.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T15:34:22.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will meet its targets for literacy and numeracy in Fife schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:47.293","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292798,"EventID":"S4O-03039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:47.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:22:37.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Fife and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:47.887","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292799,"EventID":"S4O-03040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:48.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:21.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the maximum desirable school roll size.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:48.527","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292800,"EventID":"S4O-03041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:48.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:21.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministerial engagements regularly coincide with Yes campaign events.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:48.823","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292801,"EventID":"S4O-03042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:49.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:29:07.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will focus more on \"enhancing\" rather than \"protecting\" certain characteristics in marine protected areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:49.43","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292802,"EventID":"S4O-03043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:49.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T11:43:38.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Co-operative Group regarding the potential sale of agricultural assets.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:49.93","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292803,"EventID":"S4O-03044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:50.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:22.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in reviewing the operation of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:50.553","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292804,"EventID":"S4O-03045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:51.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:23.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with South Ayrshire Council on the recently published Accounts Commission report, Targeted Best Value audit work 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities must use resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value. While the South Ayrshire Best Value report says that there have been some signs of improvement, it finds that serious concerns remain and identifies a number of significant shortcomings that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.\r\nI normally write to the council leader when a best value report is published, and I did so in the case of South Ayrshire. In that letter I said that the council now needs to deliver real change, and ensure that this is sustained and produces better outcomes for the people of South Ayrshire. I will be taking a close interest in the council’s progress, and in the further report which the Controller of Audit has been asked to prepare by the end of the year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:51.163","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292805,"EventID":"S4O-03046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T14:44:52.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-10T12:04:23.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Aberdeen City Council and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers and officials frequently have discussions with all Scottish local authorities, including the City of Aberdeen Council, about a wide range of issues of importance to local communities and the people of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T14:44:52.067","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292817,"EventID":"S4W-20097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:04:58.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T12:46:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to local authorities in support of the Pathways process for looked after children.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to an approach which focusses public service attention on prevention rather than cure. Our approach encourages greater use of evidence to prioritise and deliver performance improvements, and empowers and develops people across public services to make full use of the assets, skills and knowledge they have in order to achieve better outcomes.\r\nThe Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will extend throughcare and aftercare support up to age 26 years and, from April 2015, young people will be entitled to continuing care up to the age of 21 years. Approximately £9 million a year will be added to local authority funding for these provisions.\r\nOverall, in 2013-14, the Scottish Government is providing local authorities with total funding of £10.3 billion. This will increase to over £10.6 billion in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. The vast majority of this funding, including funding in support of the Pathways process for looked after children, is provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:04:58.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292818,"EventID":"S4W-20098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:04:59.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T12:46:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have received funding in support of the Pathways process for looked after children.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20097 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:04:59.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292819,"EventID":"S4W-20099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:04:59.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T12:46:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many schools are involved in the Pathways process for looked after children.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not keep statistics on how many schools are involved in the Pathways process for looked after children.\r\nThe Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill defines who will be corporate parents, including schools and their duties in respect of looked after children and care leavers. Guidance on corporate parenting will be written after consultation with stakeholders and interested parties. Moreover, the Scottish Government continues to fund Who Cares? Scotland to provide corporate parenting training to local authorities and elected members.\r\nLocal authorities will be responsible for preparing and publishing a plan for how they propose to exercise their corporate parenting responsibilities. This should include how school and other agencies will work together to meet the interests of the young people in their care including support through a young person’s pathways journey.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:04:59.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292820,"EventID":"S4W-20100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:04:59.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T12:46:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which schools in North Lanarkshire are involved in the Pathways process for looked after children.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not keep statistics on the number of schools in North Lanarkshire involved in the Pathways process for looked after children.\r\nThe Supporting Young People Leaving Care in Scotland Regulations and Guidance 2003 sets out local authorities responsibilities in respect of looked after children leaving care and states that social work departments and education should work together to meet the interests of young people. All schools who have a corporate parenting responsibility for looked after children leaving care could be involved in the Pathways process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:04:59.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292821,"EventID":"S4W-20101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:00.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T12:46:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to schools that are taking part in the Pathways process for looked after children.","AnswerText":"Support for schools taking part in the Pathways process comes from local authorities and local authorities will have their own guidelines on inter-agency working in order to achieve the best outcomes for looked after children.\r\nCurrently the Supporting Young People leaving Care Regulations and Guidance on\r\nServices for Young People Ceasing to be Looked After by Local Authorities 2003, sets out detailed and comprehensive support to local authorities in exercising their duties to support young people leaving care. It states that social work and education departments should work together to ensure that young people who are looked after achieve their maximum potential within the education system.\r\nThe Children and Young People Bill defines corporate parents and their duties. As corporate parents, schools with a responsibility for looked after young people, must assess the needs of the children and young people and collaborate with other services when safeguarding or promoting the wellbeing of children and young people in their care.\r\nGuidance on corporate parenting for local authorities, including schools, will be written after consultation with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties. In the meantime, the Scottish Government continues to fund Who Cares? Scotland to deliver a programme of corporate parenting training across local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:00.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292822,"EventID":"S4W-20132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:00.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many employees are working on the CalMac IT improvement projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:00.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292823,"EventID":"S4W-20133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:00.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many information systems contractors rather than CalMac employees have been employed to facilitate the CalMac IT improvement projects and at what cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:00.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292824,"EventID":"S4W-20134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:01.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) Transport Scotland and (b) CalMac budget is for CalMac IT improvement projects and how much has been spent to date.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:01.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292825,"EventID":"S4W-20135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:01.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many IT projects Transport Scotland and CalMac are undertaking and when they are due to be completed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:01.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292826,"EventID":"S4W-20136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:01.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what wireless internet systems CalMac is investing in and whether it will (a) use the Scottish wide area network being delivered by Capita and BT fibre broadband or (b) establish its own network delivered via radio masts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) Group is undertaking a commercial technology transformation programme focussed on network connectivity, digital customer services and data management. This will improve DML’s customer experience, make it easier for customers to engage with DML, and improve ways of working within the business by enabling better internal communications. The programme is fully aligned to Scotland's national digital strategy as well as enabling community sustainability. The programme is also aligned to Transport Scotland's smart and integrated ticketing strategy.\r\nProcurement is being undertaken in line with procurement best practice governance and in the accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012. The tendering is being led by the DML’s internal procurement team.\r\nThe technology transformation programme covers a number of dependent projects which will deliver through 2014 and 2015. Where appropriate, and in line with best practice, DML will bring in short-term external contractor resource to supply specialist skills. The level of this resource will vary throughout the contract life cycles. All projects are sponsored by a member of the David MacBrayne Ltd Group's management team and include appropriate subject matter experts from the business.\r\nWhen DML started their procurement in January 2013, the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN), led by the Scottish Government contract had not been awarded due to a delay caused by a legal challenge by BT. The court case was resolved to a point where the contract was awarded in February 2014. The expectations of the SWAN team were that only the lead partners would be able to contract before 2015. However, due to the nature of DML’s requirements and geographical spread, SWAN would need to make use of the Next Generation Broadband project infrastructure which is due to be completed at the end of 2016 in the Highlands and Island and 2017 for the rest of Scotland. Therefore the earliest opportunity for DML to roll out a SWAN service would be likely to be 2017, so the SWAN roll-out plans do not fit with DML’s timetable. However, DML’s network will be standards based which allow them to interface with SWAN in the future and the DML supplier contract will allow for this.\r\nAs DML are currently engaged in the procurement phase of the main projects it would not be appropriate to comment on potential suppliers or technologies. The anticipated level of investment is currently commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:01.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292827,"EventID":"S4W-20137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:02.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how reliable the technologies are that Transport Scotland and CalMac are using in the CalMac IT improvement projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:02.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292828,"EventID":"S4W-20138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:02.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what organisation is responsible for procurement for CalMac IT projects.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:02.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292829,"EventID":"S4W-20139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:02.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the bidding process was conducted to select an organisation to carry out the CalMac IT improvement projects, and what the rationale was for that process.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:02.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292830,"EventID":"S4W-20140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:03.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T10:46:55.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what organisations have been invited to consult on the CalMac IT improvement projects.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:03.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292831,"EventID":"S4W-20152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:03.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T13:45:20.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to implement online appointment booking services for (a) GP surgeries and (b) hospitals across the country. \r\n","AnswerText":"Online appointment booking is a feature of the Scottish Government’s eHealth strategy and, through their local eHealth delivery plans, health boards are rolling out these services at a rate that suits local business process and technical capability. Many GP practices now provide online appointment booking, but the service is not yet common in hospitals as it is more complex to integrate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:03.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292832,"EventID":"S4W-20153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:03.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T13:45:20.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what data protection issues arise from online appointment booking services for (a) GP surgeries and (b) hospitals.\r\n","AnswerText":"GP surgeries and hospitals are bound by a legislative and regulatory framework to protect people’s information, which includes the Data Protection Act 1998, duties of care and confidentiality and guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s office and regulatory bodies such as the General Medical Council and British Medical Association. Part of this includes being open and transparent with people on how their information will be fairly processed and handled in a safe and secure manner. These considerations are applied to the handling of all information (paper or electronic) including offering online booking of appointments as a service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:03.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292833,"EventID":"S4W-20154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:04.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T13:45:20.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the benefits are of online appointment booking services for (a) GP surgeries and (b) hospitals.\r\n","AnswerText":"The benefits of providing online booking of appointments include providing people with an additional service channel, both during and outside office hours; helping reduce the rate of ‘did not attends’ and reducing the number of telephone calls handled. This has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the service and release time for staff to focus on other priority work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:04.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292834,"EventID":"S4W-20155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:04.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T15:20:11.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for dualling the A9 in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17 and what the timetable is for completion.\r\n","AnswerText":"The A9 dualling budget for 2014-15 is £7.2 million and for 2015-16 is £17.8 million. The budget for 2016-17 and beyond will be subject to spending review. It is planned to complete the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:04.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292835,"EventID":"S4W-20156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:04.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T15:20:11.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) budget and (b) timeframe is for completion of improvements to the (i) Highland Main Line and (ii) Inverness to Aberdeen line.\r\n","AnswerText":"Phase 1 of the Aberdeen to Inverness line improvements, which includes the new stations at Dalcross and Kintore and phase 2 of improvements on the Highland Main Line are fully funded within the Office of Rail Regulations (ORR) overall regulatory determination for Control Period 5 (2014-19) and will be delivered by Network Rail by March 2019.\r\nFuture phases of the Highland Main Line project will be delivered in subsequent control periods to 2025 and future phases of Aberdeen to Inverness by 2030. Associated funding requirements will be determined by the ORR.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:04.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292836,"EventID":"S4W-20157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:05.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T15:20:11.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on electrification of the (a) Inverness to Aberdeen and (b) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh railway lines.\r\n","AnswerText":"We recognise that there have been decades of underinvestment in Scotland’s transport infrastructure, as was recently confirmed by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. This Scottish Government has invested over £9.5 billion in transport since 2007, and is committed to a further £5 billion investment programme in rail infrastructure and services between 2014 and 2019. This includes an estimated £200 million rolling programme of investment in network electrification beyond that committed as part of Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.\r\nThis Government recognises the economic and environmental benefits of electrifying our rail network. We are working with the rail industry to develop a strategy and identify our priorities for future phases of electrification beyond the current committed schemes identified in Control Period 5 (2014-19).\r\nAll non-electrified routes will be considered as part of the strategy to determine the optimal way forward for electrifying the rest of the network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:05.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292837,"EventID":"S4W-20158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:05.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T15:20:11.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will dovetail rail and road improvements before the commencement of the construction to dual the A9.\r\n","AnswerText":"Improving the connection between Perth and Inverness will be by both an upgrade to the Highland Main Line and dualling of the A9. Both projects promote sustainable economic growth by better connecting Inverness and the Highlands with the Central Belt. Both the A9 Dualling Programme and the Highland Mainline are programmed to be completed by 2025.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:05.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292838,"EventID":"S4W-20159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:05.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T15:20:11.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that there will be traffic congestion associated with construction works to dual the A9 and, if so, whether it will lead to increased rail traffic in the Highlands.\r\n","AnswerText":"Measures will be put in place in the contracts to ensure disruption during construction is minimised as far as is possible. Two way traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak times and agreed key events in order to keep the disruption to a minimum at those times. At this stage in the project's development it is too early to determine what impact, if any, the construction works are likely to have on rail traffic.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:05.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292839,"EventID":"S4W-20161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:05.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:06:54.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many events relating to Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland ministers have attended since January 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the referendum with the public. This programme includes meetings of the Scottish Cabinet, speeches and public meetings. At 1 April 2014 Scottish Ministers had attended 23 events across Scotland.\r\nIn addition to the Government’s programme of activity, a wide range of other organisations have held events attended by ministers at which Scotland’s Future and the independence referendum have been discussed and debated.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:05.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292840,"EventID":"S4W-20162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:06.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:06:54.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on events relating to Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want to make sure that the public are as well informed as possible about the content of Scotland’s Future and the huge opportunities offered by independence. To facilitate this, the Scottish Government has organised a full programme of public engagement events.\r\nThis programme is ongoing and I will update parliament on costs when expenditure for 2013-14 is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:06.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292841,"EventID":"S4W-20163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:07.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:07:02.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a HEAT target for drug treatment to ensure that patients complete their treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a HEAT target for drug treatment to monitor the extent to which patients are completing treatment. \r\nThe Scottish Government’s focus going forward is to ensure people receive high quality treatment and support services. In order to support this we are developing a quality improvement framework, to be delivered through Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, as part of the third phase of delivery of The Road to Recovery and as our response to the Opioid Replacement Therapies report published in August 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:07.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292842,"EventID":"S4W-20164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-12T17:05:07.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:07:02.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the HEAT target for stroke will be achieved.\r\n","AnswerText":"The stroke admission HEAT target began on 1 April 2011 and expired on 31 March 2013. As with all HEAT targets there was a clearly defined deadline date for delivery of 31 March 2013; after this point the target is considered to be expired. Access to stroke unit care improved during the two years of the HEAT target. By March 2013 five health boards had achieved the target, with others showing improvement. The HEAT target data is in the public domain and can be accessed via the following link: \r\nhttp://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/Downloads/2013_report/SSCA_2013_National_Report_tables_and_charts.xls\r\nThroughout 2013-14, admission to the stroke unit has continued to be monitored as one of the Scottish stroke care standards, implemented in January 2013, which shows a continuing trend in improvement. Current performance against the stroke admission standard will be published in the 2014 Scottish stroke care audit (SSCA) national report in July 2014 which will be available at: www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk\r\nFor 2014-15, a stroke care bundle approach has been adopted, which aims to build on the improvement work already underway in boards, delivering high quality care, safe and effective treatment for people admitted with stroke. The bundle is based on the Scottish stroke care standards, and has been included in boards’ local delivery plans for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-26T17:05:07.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292857,"EventID":"S4W-20167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:23:57.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:29:06.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will rank NHS boards on their use of clinical IT systems.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no plans to rank NHS boards on their use of clinical IT systems. The Scottish Government’s focus is on outcomes. A robust procedure is in place whereby NHS boards report their progress against locally agreed delivery plans that are aligned to the national eHealth strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:23:58.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292858,"EventID":"S4W-20168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:23:59.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:29:06.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when all clinicians will have access to clinical portals and Scottish Care Information laboratory results (a) from all NHS boards and (b) across managed care networks.\r\n","AnswerText":"Clinicians in NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Lothian, NHS Tayside and NHS Golden Jubilee are already using clinical portals. NHS Ayrshire and Arran are piloting a clinical portal and expect it to go live later in 2014.\r\nAll other territorial boards are actively working on clinical portal solutions. NHS Grampian are currently developing their patient management system (PMS) Trakcare system to use as a clinical portal. NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland will also adopt this approach as part of their planned PMS implementation through a planned shared service arrangement with NHS Grampian. NHS Highland implemented their PMS Trakcare system at the beginning of March and will consider their clinical portal solution once that is embedded. NHS Western Isles are in the process of implementing their clinical portal solution and expect to be live by August 2014.\r\nAll clinicians have access to laboratory results in their own board’s Scottish Care Information (SCI) store. Where there are established clinical pathways, boards have agreements in place which allow access to each other’s SCI stores and access laboratory results that way. Access to SCI store by clinicians working in managed care networks (MCNs) is underpinned by these agreements. When new requirements for inter-board access are raised, including MCNs, new agreements and arrangements are put in place.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:23:59.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292859,"EventID":"S4W-20169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:23:59.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-12T16:49:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what use it has made of the research document that it commissioned, Mitigating Transport's Climate Change Impact in Scotland: Assessment of Policy Options, and whether it will commission updated research.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Mitigating Transport's Climate Change Impact in Scotland (MTCCI) Report was a cornerstone of the transport analysis contained in the Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-2022, the Second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2) publication. RPP2 also stated the Government's intention to continue to support and evaluate ongoing projects as well as commission and undertake additional research to support the development of options for consideration as part of RPP3.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:23:59.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292860,"EventID":"S4W-20170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:00.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:38:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on freshwater pearl mussel and salmon numbers of additional demand for water from the River Spey for housing developments in the Aviemore area.\r\n","AnswerText":"Any abstraction from the water environment requires an authorisation from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. The water abstraction licence currently held by Scottish Water for the public water supply at Aviemore includes a water abstraction figure which has a capacity growth of 4000+ population equivalent. During the determination process for the licence, SEPA assessed the risk posed by the Scottish Water application to the water environment, including any potential effect on salmon and freshwater pearl mussels, and it was concluded that the activity would not have a significant adverse impact.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:00.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292861,"EventID":"S4W-20171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:01.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the usage of novel oral anticoagulants by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant for the financial year 2012-13 is shown in table 1. This table includes community dispensing only.\r\nTable 1. Percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral coagaulant, by NHS board, 2012-13\r\nPrescribing Health Board\r\nPercentage of Population\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n0.01%\r\nNHS Borders\r\n0.07%\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n0.04%\r\nNHS Fife\r\n0.06%\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n0.05%\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n0.04%\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n0.03%\r\nNHS Highland\r\n0.15%\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n0.01%\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n0.02%\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n0.05%\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n0.02%\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n0.17%\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n0.15%\r\nSources: ISD Scotland, PIS (prescribing data); NRS Website (population data)\r\nRef: IR2014-00517.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:01.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292862,"EventID":"S4W-20172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:01.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the usage of novel oral anticoagulants is as a percentage of the population, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant for the financial year 2012-13 is shown in table 1. This table includes community dispensing only.\r\nTable 1. Percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral coagaulant, by NHS board, 2012-13\r\nPrescribing Health Board\r\nPercentage of Population\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n0.01%\r\nNHS Borders\r\n0.07%\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n0.04%\r\nNHS Fife\r\n0.06%\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n0.05%\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n0.04%\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n0.03%\r\nNHS Highland\r\n0.15%\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n0.01%\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n0.02%\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n0.05%\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n0.02%\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n0.17%\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n0.15%\r\nSources: ISD Scotland, PIS (prescribing data); NRS Website (population data)\r\nRef: IR2014-00517.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:01.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292863,"EventID":"S4W-20173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:02.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the use of novel oral anticoagulants as a percentage of population compares with EU countries similar in population size to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The percentage of the Scottish population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant in the financial year 2012-13 is 0.05%.\r\nInformation on dispensing of these drugs in other EU countries is not held centrally.\r\nSources: ISD Scotland, PIS (prescribing data); NRS Website (population data) \r\nRef: IR2014-00518.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:02.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292864,"EventID":"S4W-20174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:02.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what services each NHS board has put in place to support the use of novel oral anticoagulants.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information on the services each board has put in place is not held centrally. The service configurations chosen across acute and primary provision are entirely operational matters for the territorial health board and Scottish Ministers do not direct or intervene in these local arrangements. These local guidelines will reflect Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 129 Antithrombotics: indications and management published in June 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:02.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292865,"EventID":"S4W-20175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:03.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines and protocols each NHS board has put in place regarding the use of novel oral anticoagulants.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information on the protocols and guidelines each board has put in place are not held centrally. These are matters for each territorial health board, and Scottish Ministers do not direct or intervene in these local arrangements. These local protocals guidelines will reflect Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 129 Antithrombotics: indications and management published in June 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:03.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292866,"EventID":"S4W-20176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:03.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what local incentives each NHS board has put in place to support warfarin clinics.\r\n","AnswerText":"Comprehensive information on each board is not held centrally. Eight boards are participating in the ‘Warfarin bundle’ element of the Primary care patient safety programme, which supports safer medicines practice. More broadly the service configurations chosen across acute and primary provision are entirely operational matters for the territorial health board and Scottish Ministers do not direct or intervene in these local arrangements. These local guidelines will reflect Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 129 Antithrombotics: indications and management published in June 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:03.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292867,"EventID":"S4W-20177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:03.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke is not currently available centrally.\r\nInformation on the estimated prevalence of all types of stroke and transient ischaemic attack is published on Information Services Division’s website under the general practice topic area;\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/General-Practice/Publications/2013-09-24/QOF_Scot_201213_Boards_all_prevalence.xls.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:03.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292868,"EventID":"S4W-20178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T14:24:04.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T11:42:00.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures each NHS board has put in place to reduce the incidence of haemorrhagic stroke.\r\n","AnswerText":"Primary prevention of stroke including haemorrhagic stroke can best be achieved through a healthy lifestyle: a healthy diet, regular exercise, drinking sensibly and not smoking.\r\nThe Scottish Government has developed a range of policies aimed at supporting people to live healthier lives, recognising that early intervention and better lifestyle choices can have very positive effects on health.\r\nAdvice on healthy lifestyle choices should be embedded into every aspect of healthcare provision as part of routine contact with patients.\r\nAll boards are expected to follow the guidance set out in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 108: Management of patients with stroke or TIA: assessment, investigation, immediate management and secondary care and prevention. The guideline provides evidence based best practice recommendations for the management and care of people with stroke, including haemorrhagic stroke. \r\nThe Scottish Stroke Care Standards (updated in January 2013) followed the publication of the SIGN guideline, and note the importance of starting secondary prevention early in avoiding further strokes. Current performance against the standards will be published in the 2014 Scottish Stroke Care Audit National Report in July 2014, which will be available at: www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T14:24:04.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292873,"EventID":"S4W-20107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:39.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:41:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a national service delivery model for anticoagulation international normalisation ratio (INR) testing. ","AnswerText":"There are no plans to introduce a national service delivery model.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:39.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292874,"EventID":"S4W-20108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:39.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:41:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2020 Vision objectives that “the person should be at the centre of all decisions” and “people [should be able to] get back into their home or community environment as soon as appropriate”, how it will support warfarin patients who want to self-test or self-manage their international normalisation ratio (INR) testing so that they can maintain their condition without the need for frequent or inconvenient hospital or GP visits.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s ambition for NHS Scotland is for a safe, effective and person centred care which enables people to live well at home or in a homely setting. The decision on which drug to take, and if that is warfarin, how best to manage international normalisation ratio testing, should be taken on a case by case basis jointly by people, with their clinicians in line with current evidence which can be found at: http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/129/index.html  and: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/technologies_and_medicines/shtg_-_evidence_notes/evidence_note_50.aspx. They may or may not opt for self testing \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:39.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292875,"EventID":"S4W-20110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:39.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:41:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that patients receiving paediatric care at hospital who self-test or self-manage their international normalisation ratio (INR) testing and who receive warfarin are supported when moving to adult anticoagulation services regardless of where they live.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local protocols for the delivery of models of anticoagulation management vary across Scotland, but are in line with Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 129 Antithrombotics: indications and management published in June 2013. At transition from paediatric care into adult services, ongoing warfarin management (including self testing) would be agreed as part of the overall plan of healthcare.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:39.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292876,"EventID":"S4W-20111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:40.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-11T13:41:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment on anticoagulation monitoring in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 129 that \"self monitoring and self dosing is safe and effective and can be considered for some patients\"; whether it plans to implement the recommendations in the guideline and, if so, what action it will take to identify and overcome any barriers to its implementation by GPs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects health boards and clinicians to take account of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 129 Antithrombotics: indications and management (published in June 2013) recommendations, when effective practice in the management of clinical conditions requiring anticoagulation therapy are being developed and delivered. This includes considering self monitoring, which may be considered for some patients, specifically ‘remote and rural residents or for frequent travellers’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:40.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292877,"EventID":"S4W-20180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:40.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T15:00:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what communication the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with the (a) Department of Health or (b) Secretary of State for Health regarding the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's review of the vaccine for meningitis B.","AnswerText":"I am delighted that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has identified the importance of introducing a vaccine against meningitis B and recommended a vaccination programme for infants. This disease can be devastating for children and their families and I am very keen that we take the necessary steps to tackle its effects. We will be working to ensure that this vaccine can be introduced as quickly as possible into Scotland’s routine childhood immunisation schedule. My officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the Department of Health on a range of immunisation matters including progress on the JCVI recommendation on the meningitis B vaccine.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:40.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292878,"EventID":"S4W-20181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:40.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T15:00:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received representations from clinicians regarding the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's pending decision on the vaccine for meningitis B and, if so, whether he has responded.","AnswerText":"I have not directly received any representations from clinicians regarding the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's pending decision on the vaccine for meningitis B. However, the Meningitis Research Foundation provided me with a copy of a letter from Dr Simon Nadel to the Secretary of State for Health on 13 January 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:40.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292879,"EventID":"S4W-20182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:41.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T15:00:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work to ensure that the meningitis B vaccine is made available to all children across the country.","AnswerText":"The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a meningitis B vaccination programme for infants. I am delighted that the JCVI has identified the importance of introducing this vaccine against meningitis B. This disease can be devastating for children and their families and I am very keen that we take the necessary steps to tackle its effects. We will be working to ensure that this vaccine can be introduced as quickly as possible into Scotland’s routine childhood immunisation schedule.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:41.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292880,"EventID":"S4W-20184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-13T16:42:41.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T15:18:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many and which GP surgeries in each NHS board have operated full patient lists in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nI also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19244 on 29 January 2014 and S4W–20023 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-27T16:42:41.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292896,"EventID":"S4W-20185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:27.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T16:55:59.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial engagements were hosted by the First Minister at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago in 2012.  \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:29.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292897,"EventID":"S4W-20186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:29.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T16:55:59.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the First Minister and the Scottish Government delegation spent entertaining guests at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago in 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19516 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:29.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292898,"EventID":"S4W-20187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:30.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T09:38:21.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the days-at-sea restrictions, what support it will provide to the skippers of the west coast nephrops fleet who want to purchase updated or new vessels. \r\n","AnswerText":"EU state aid rules strictly limit the amount of government aid which can be provided to fishing vessels to a relatively small “de minimis” amount. Additionally the reformed Common Fisheries Policy does not permit aid to be provided towards the purchase or construction of fishing vessels.\r\nThe only exception to this position is the ability to assist young fishers to enter the sector. This was an important issue for Scotland during the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund negotiations, and one that I pressed strongly for inclusion in the final agreement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:30.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292899,"EventID":"S4W-20188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:30.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T10:26:14.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the projected demand for coal is from Scotland’s power stations for each of the next 10 years, and what percentage of this will be sourced indigenously.\r\n","AnswerText":"Longannet is Scotland’s only coal power station and consumed 4.1 million tonnes of coal in 2012 and 4.3million tonnes in 2013.\r\nLongannet obtained 47% of its coal from Scottish suppliers in 2012. Due to the disruption in supply caused by the liquidation of Scottish Coal and ATH, the percentage of coal from Scottish suppliers dropped to around 15% in 2013.\r\nScottish Power has a number of long-standing coal-supply agreements in place with suppliers who operate opencast mines in Fife, Lothian’s, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.\r\nThe exact details of those agreements and quantum of coal supplies are commercial matters between Scottish Power and its suppliers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:30.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292900,"EventID":"S4W-20189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:31.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T10:26:14.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, other than those associated with opencast coal, what types of developments use bonds to secure funding for long-term (a) environmental maintenance, (b) decommissioning, (c) restoration, (d) aftercare and (e) other work.\r\n","AnswerText":"Any development may be associated with a financial bond to secure funding for maintenance, decommissioning, restoration, aftercare or other work and this is normally a matter for the planning authority. Financial guarantees including bonds are typical in the minerals, waste and renewables sectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:31.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292901,"EventID":"S4W-20190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:31.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T10:26:14.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the experience of the opencast coal industry, what its position is on the risks associated with other types of development using bonds to secure funding for long-term (a) environmental maintenance, (b) decommissioning, (c) restoration, (d) aftercare and (e) other work, and what assessment it (i) has made or (ii) plans of these risks.\r\n","AnswerText":"Bonds are but one form of a financial guarantee set out in Scottish Planning Policy in relation to renewables, minerals and surface coal mining designed to safeguard against a range of matters including the routine security against the risk of actions not being undertaken, default on undertakings set out in planning conditions or insolvency.\r\nFinance can also be secured by industry guarantee schemes, insurance policies, ring-fenced cash accounts or parent company guarantees.\r\nThe matter of restoration bonds has been discussed with planning authorities and parliamentarians represented on the Scottish Opencast Coal Task Force. A sub group to the task force: the Restoration Bonds Working Group is well established and its work will be taken forward by task force working parties to consider the suite of financial instruments and models available to suit the sequential phases of a development from preparatory works through to restoration and aftercare.\r\nTo address the situation experienced in the coal sector the Scottish Government’s recent consultation, Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation invited views on revisions to planning policy and advice including Planning Advice Note 64: Reclamation of Surface Mineral Workings. Responses received are currently being analysed. The output of the consultation will be considered by the task force; the principles of which may inform consideration in developments other than opencast coal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:31.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292902,"EventID":"S4W-20191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:31.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T10:26:14.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which opencast mines ministers were made aware of before they were granted planning consent for restoration, and which of these (a) were called in by ministers and (b) are predicted to have a shortfall in funding to deliver restoration.\r\n","AnswerText":"Applications for opencast coal developments are determined by the relevant planning authority as part of the normal planning process. Scottish Ministers are notified of opencast coal mines where development consisting of works connected with the extraction of coal by opencast methods, and other minerals extracted in association with works to extract opencast coal, where the site boundary falls within 500 metres from the edge of an existing community or sensitive establishment.\r\nSince 1997 Scottish Ministers have been notified of some 46 applications for extraction of coal by opencast methods or related applications; of these a total of 20 have been notified since 2007.\r\nTwo such applications were ‘called in’ by Scottish Ministers in 2000: Boglea and Cameron Farms, Greengairs North Lanarkshire, and Heatherywood near Thornton, Fife. Both called-in cases were granted planning permission.\r\nRegarding appeals, since 1997 the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals reporters have been involved in five appeal decisions on open cast coal applications: one of these in 2008 the others between 1997 and 2003. All appeals were upheld.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:31.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292903,"EventID":"S4W-20195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:32.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T12:45:14.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police support staff there were in (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority on 28 February 2014, also broken down by policing division.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold data on police support staff by each local division, or hold breakdowns between police support staff employed by Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Police Scotland. This is a matter for Police Scotland and the SPA.\r\nThe Scottish Government continues to collect the total number of police support staff working within the SPA and Police Scotland each quarter but do not hold numbers as at 28 February 2014. The latest published total number of police support staff, as at 31 January 2014, is available in the HR Paper to be presented at the 26 March 2014 SPA board meeting, available at:\r\nhttp://www.spa.police.uk/meetings-events/board-meetings/194964/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:32.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292904,"EventID":"S4W-20196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:32.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T12:45:14.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) frontline and (b) support staff there were in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on 28 February (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government collated staffing information on the eight Scottish Fire and Rescue Services as of 31 March each year. Staffing information for 2013 was published in Table 3 (headcount) and Table 4 (FTE) of the Fire and Rescue Service Statistics Scotland 2012-13 publication (published 22 August 2013):\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/08/3869/0\r\nStaff numbers are broken down by role, of which there are three broad groupings: operational, control room and support staff.\r\nStaffing data on the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for 2013-14 has not yet been collected. The data will be published later in 2014 in the Fire and Rescue Service Statistics 2013-14 publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:32.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292905,"EventID":"S4W-20197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-14T15:49:32.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T13:11:17.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts have been put out to tender in each year since 2010-11 by each of its (a) directorates and (b) non-departmental public bodies and who the successful bidder was, also broken down by the (i) purpose, (ii) value, (iii) duration and (iv) number of people employed by the contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested relating to the Scottish Government is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available.\r\nA copy will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 55744).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-28T15:49:32.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292906,"EventID":"S4T-00635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:46:46.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T10:30:34.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the resignation of the head of the curriculum for excellence ahead of the first sitting of the new national exams.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:46:46.25","MeetingDate":"2014-03-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292907,"EventID":"S4T-00642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:46:48.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:52:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Ministry of Defence is seeking to increase the level of liquid waste that it discharges into the Clyde at Faslane naval dockyard.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:46:48.217","MeetingDate":"2014-03-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292908,"EventID":"S4F-01973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:54.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T10:07:40.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:54.113","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292910,"EventID":"S4F-01977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:55.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:10:27.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:55.313","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292911,"EventID":"S4F-01979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:55.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:10:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the 2014 UK Budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:55.843","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292912,"EventID":"S4F-01981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:56.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:39:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the cost of an independent Scotland’s welfare system and whether it would seek the co-operation of the UK Government in its implementation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:56.577","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292913,"EventID":"S4F-01984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:57.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:46:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will continue to provide free prescriptions.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:57.467","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292914,"EventID":"S4F-01968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T12:45:52.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T09:39:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to tackle human trafficking.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T12:45:52.723","MeetingDate":"2014-03-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292915,"EventID":"S4W-20179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:39.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T13:44:11.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S4O-03007 by Fergus Ewing on 13 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28892), what the basis was for the assertion by the minister that “no contradiction exists” between the government’s climate and energy policies; whether the reported comment by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change in The Guardian on 9 October 2013 that “I accept that we can’t burn all the fossil fuels that there are, and that applies to Scotland as with every nation\" reflects the government’s position and, if so, how it will calculate the proportion of the country's fossil fuel sources that will remain unused.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish oil and gas strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s aim to maximise the recovery of oil and gas, which is responsible stewardship of a national resource.\r\nHowever, it is clear from our actions that we are equally committed to the transition to a low carbon economy. This is evidenced in our ambitious renewables targets, climate change targets and our draft Heat Generation Policy Statement, which will reduce our use of fossil fuels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:39.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292916,"EventID":"S4W-20192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:39.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T11:11:13.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the information at table 12 of Higher Education Student Support in Scotland, 2012-13 for students on sub-degree courses that year.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following tables show a breakdown of the information at table 12 of Higher Education Student Support in Scotland, 2012-13 for students on sub-degree courses that year.\r\nThe tables only show data on students undertaking full-time courses. This excludes a large number of sub-degree courses that are supported at part-time level.\r\nIn addition, it should be noted that the comparatively high level of support shown under “awards” for students from households with income over £40,000 is primarily due to the payment of Disabled Students’ Allowance, which is a non income-assessed grant.\r\n \r\nAny Support\r\n \r\nAwards\r\nSupported students\r\nNumber of students\r\nAverage amount (£)\r\n\r\nNumber of students\r\nAverage amount (£)\r\nTotal\r\n32,635\r\n4,650\r\n \r\n18,975\r\n1,805\r\n< £10k\r\n3,890\r\n6,080\r\n \r\n3,565\r\n2,320\r\n£10,000 - £19,999\r\n5,195\r\n5,765\r\n\r\n4,765\r\n2,350\r\n£20,000 - £29,999\r\n3,125\r\n4,850\r\n\r\n2,825\r\n1,595\r\n£30,000 - £39,999\r\n1,955\r\n4,045\r\n\r\n905\r\n515\r\n£40,000 - £49,999\r\n1,175\r\n3,490\r\n\r\n35\r\n1,275\r\n£50,000 - £59,999\r\n660\r\n2,665\r\n\r\n20\r\n2,370\r\n£60,000 - £69,999\r\n320\r\n2,220\r\n\r\n10\r\n1,115\r\n£70,000 - £79,999\r\n150\r\n2,025\r\n\r\n*\r\n*\r\n£80,000 - £99,998\r\n125\r\n2,230\r\n\r\n*\r\n*\r\n£99,999 and above\r\n70\r\n2,050\r\n \r\n*\r\n*\r\nIncome not declared/required\r\n7,995\r\n1,770\r\n \r\n640\r\n1,975\r\nExempt from parental/spousal contribution\r\n7,965\r\n6,725\r\n \r\n6,195\r\n1,350\r\n\r\n\r\nFees\r\n\r\nLoans\r\nSupported students\r\nNumber of students\r\nAverage amount (£)\r\n\r\nNumber of students\r\nAverage amount (£)\r\nTotal\r\n29,245\r\n1,285\r\n \r\n21,315\r\n3,715\r\n< £10k\r\n3,580\r\n1,285\r\n \r\n2,895\r\n3,705\r\n£10,000 - £19,999\r\n4,765\r\n1,285\r\n\r\n3,405\r\n3,695\r\n£20,000 - £29,999\r\n2,835\r\n1,285\r\n\r\n1,980\r\n3,495\r\n£30,000 - £39,999\r\n1,790\r\n1,280\r\n\r\n1,400\r\n3,625\r\n£40,000 - £49,999\r\n1,095\r\n1,280\r\n\r\n920\r\n2,840\r\n£50,000 - £59,999\r\n620\r\n1,300\r\n\r\n495\r\n1,815\r\n£60,000 - £69,999\r\n300\r\n1,265\r\n\r\n230\r\n1,220\r\n£70,000 - £79,999\r\n140\r\n1,245\r\n\r\n105\r\n1,010\r\n£80,000 - £99,998\r\n115\r\n1,265\r\n\r\n85\r\n875\r\n£99,999 and above\r\n70\r\n1,255\r\n \r\n50\r\n845\r\nIncome not declared/required\r\n7,505\r\n1,285\r\n \r\n2,505\r\n1,210\r\nExempt from parental/spousal contribution\r\n6,425\r\n1,285\r\n \r\n7,245\r\n5,085\r\nNotes: Cells marked as * are those which have been suppressed due to disclosure control rules (possibility to identify individuals).\r\nSource: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:39.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292917,"EventID":"S4W-20193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:40.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T11:11:13.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18330 by Michael Russell on 28 November 2013, as the budget assumed that the student population would be maintained at current levels, how much the Scottish Funding Council's subsequent announcement on 24 January 2014 that there will be 3,300 more places in 2014-15 will cost the Student Awards Agency For Scotland in the payment of additional (a) student support and (b) tuition fees.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is difficult to provide information on exact costs associated with providing up to 3,300 Scottish domiciled and EU students with support and free tuition in 2014-15.\r\nThis is due to the variety in individual household financial circumstances; eligibility for different parts of the student support package; and levels of study taken up. Funding of support and free tuition for all 3300 places will be accommodated within the limits published in the budget for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:40.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292918,"EventID":"S4W-20198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:40.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T13:10:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the document, Management of Patients on NHS Waiting Lists, will next be revised and whether it will ensure that the revised document makes specific reference to the management of cancer.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has recently amended the regulations in relation to the treatment time guarantee contained in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011. To take account of these changes we will be revising the current waiting time guidance which will cover the 12 weeks legal treatment time guarantee, the 18 weeks referral to treatment and the 12 weeks outpatient waiting times standards. This will be available by the end of June 2014.\r\nIn relation to the management of cancer waiting times, the existing guidance is also currently being updated.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:40.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292919,"EventID":"S4W-20199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:41.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reduced Show Racism the Red Card's grant from £120,000 to £40,000.\r\n","AnswerText":"The table below shows the Scottish Government funding provided to Show Racism the Red Card and Show Bigotry the Red Card for the financial years 2012-15:\r\n\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nShow Racism the Red Card\r\n£70,000\r\n£40,000\r\n£20,000\r\nShow Bigotry the Red Card\r\n£20,000\r\n£20,000\r\n£20,000\r\nTotal Scottish Government Funding\r\n£90,000\r\n£60,000\r\n£40,000\r\nPreviously in 2011-12 Show Racism the Red Card and Show Bigotry the Red Card received combined funding of £120,000.\r\nThe funding for the 2012-15 period was agreed with Show Racism the Red Card. It is essential that the Scottish Government ensures best value for money from the project funding it administers. The staggered reduction of funding was in line with Scottish Government policy on future sustainability of projects, encouraging partnerships, collaborative working and mainstreaming of such work to reduce dependency on Scottish Government funding and ensure the maximum impact of resources to deliver the best outcomes for our communities. Full feedback on the reasons for the level of funding awarded, were provided to Show Racism the Red Card at the time the decision was made in 2012.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:41.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292920,"EventID":"S4W-20200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:41.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on advertising the Scottish Welfare Fund; when the advertising took place, and what media were used.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government entered into a partnership with Bauer Media to promote the Scottish Welfare Fund to both people who may need to use the fund, and to others who work with people who may need to use it. This was a week of activity in November 2013 across the network's 11 stations which reached an average 1.2 million people living in Scotland. The cost was about 0.1% of the funding that we gave to local authorities to administer the Scottish Welfare Fund.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:41.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292921,"EventID":"S4W-20201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:42.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it had a communications strategy for the Scottish Welfare Fund and, if so, whether it will be published.","AnswerText":"We published our communication plan for the Scottish Welfare Fund on our webpages on 8 March 2013. It can be found from this link:\r\nhttp://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/socialfund/scottishwelfarefundcommsplan.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:42.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292922,"EventID":"S4W-20202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:42.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the appeals mechanism is for the Scottish Welfare Fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17591 on 29 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:42.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292923,"EventID":"S4W-20203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:43.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that not being able to seek a review of a decision when the Scottish Welfare Fund has been exhausted constitutes a reduction in the rights of claimants.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no such restriction. Guidance on the review arrangements for the Scottish Welfare Fund can be found in our guidance at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/scottishwelfarefund/scottishwelfarefuindguidance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:43.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292924,"EventID":"S4W-20204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:43.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has replicated the functions of the Social Security Commissioners for the Scottish Welfare Fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17593 on 29 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:43.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292925,"EventID":"S4W-20205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:44.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-16T10:29:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many changes it has made to the guidance on the Scottish Welfare Fund; what the changes were, and when they were made.","AnswerText":"Nicola Sturgeon wrote to the Convenor of the Welfare Reform Committee on 13 October 2013 to advise about changes to the official guidance for the Scottish Welfare Fund. You can find the letter from this link;\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Welfare_Reform_Committee/20131013_NS-MM_changes_to_SWF_guidance.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:44.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292926,"EventID":"S4W-20206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:45.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T09:49:56.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported statement by a Scottish Government source in The Daily Telegraph of 14 March 2014 concerning an independent Scotland’s security services that “we will take no lessons on this issue from a Westminster establishment whose security services produced the most flawed intelligence of recent times” (a) represents the Scottish Government's position and (b) reflects a change of policy from that in the white paper on independence that “the Scottish Government will work closely with the current UK security and intelligence agencies both to ensure that there is a seamless, secure transition and for the continuing security of both countries”.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government policy on security and intelligence in an independent Scotland is set out in Scotland's Future, Chapter 7, pages 261-267. It will be in the interests both of Scotland and the rest of the UK to work closely to ensure the security of both countries. The controls put in place over that work in Scotland will be wide-ranging and comprehensive, ensuring intelligence gathering is proper, legal, efficient and effective, in line with international principles for intelligence service oversight.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:45.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292927,"EventID":"S4W-20207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:45.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:43:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to close any (a) police custody centres or (b) courts during the Commonwealth Games to allow officers to be deployed on operational activities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not aware of any plans to close police custody centres or courts during the Commonwealth Games. However, the Sheriffs Principal and the Scottish Courts Service have agreed that for the duration of the Games there shall be no Sheriff and Jury or Sheriff Court trials, except those requiring no police witnesses, to free up officers at this time.\r\nAny decision to close police custody centres or courts would be an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland or the Scottish Courts Service respectively.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:45.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292928,"EventID":"S4W-20210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:45.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:43:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19646 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2014 and in light of events in Crimea, whether the event planned for 26 March 2014 will go ahead and, if so, what issues will be discussed and what representations the Scottish Government will make regarding events in Crimea.\r\n","AnswerText":"The annual Consular Corps dinner was held on 26 March 2014 and was attended by the professional group of the Consular Corps based in Scotland. In light of recent events in Ukraine, the invitation to the Consul General of Russia was rescinded.\r\nThe discussion focused on major events taking place in Scotland in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:45.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292929,"EventID":"S4W-20211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T14:36:46.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T11:43:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the announced £2.5 million in funding to four charities to tackle child poverty is as a result of an underspend in other areas and, if so, which areas and whether any such underspend will continue into (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"This funding does not come as a result of an underspend.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T14:36:46.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292946,"EventID":"S4W-20212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:02.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28810) whether it will publish the (a) mortality data and (b) analysis relating to the recent study referred to in the answer; whether the study was peer reviewed, and, if so, by whom.","AnswerText":"This data is publically available on the NHS NSS Freedom of Information page, direct link below:\r\nhttp://www.nhsnss.org/supplementary_pages/foi_detail.php?discref=482260\r\nThese are crude rates which have not been adjusted to take account of some of those factors known to affect the underlying risk of mortality. Also the data at specialty level is variable due to small denominators, particularly at the weekend. Therefore the assumption that mortality is higher for patients admitted at the weekend is not backed up by these statistics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:04.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292947,"EventID":"S4W-20213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:04.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28810), whether the cabinet secretary is aware of the study, Weekend admissions as an independent predictor of mortality: an analysis of Scottish hospital admissions, by Handel, Patel, Skingsley, Bramley, Sobieski and Ramagopalan and what his position is on its findings.","AnswerText":"The British Medical Journal (BMJ) study paper ‘Weekend admissions as an independent predictor of mortality BMJ 2012’ highlights a reduction in mortality over the course of the study, which ran from 1999 to 2009 with the cause for any apparent increase in mortality being an area of debate. Admissions over the weekend comprise a more unwell population of patients, some of whom suffer a higher rate of mortality regardless of other factors that may apply exclusively to the weekend. This study goes on to say ‘it is clearly critical to understand the precise cause of this excess mortality before measures can be put in place to mitigate the effect of weekend admissions on survival’.\r\nAs part of our drive to ensure that patients receive the same high quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a task force whose membership includes NHSScotland service providers, clinicians and partnership colleagues will meet for the first time in April 2014 to drive forward focused improvements in the services available out of hours, particularly at the weekend. We want to accelerate the pace of change, by targeting enhanced weekend and out of hours services support to the areas that will deliver the biggest benefits for patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:04.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292948,"EventID":"S4W-20215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:06.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28811) what evidence the cabinet secretary has to support the argument that \"the Scottish health service is the safest in the world as a result of the patient safety programme\".\r\n","AnswerText":"Independent support to this argument has been provided by Donald Berwick, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement who is quoted as saying \"The Scottish Patient Safety Programme, marks Scotland as a leader, second to no nation on earth, in its commitment to reducing harm to patients, dramatically and continually.\"\r\nWe have a range of data from the Scottish Patient Safety Programmes which supports progress in Acute Care, Primary Care, Mental Health and Maternity and Paediatrics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:06.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292949,"EventID":"S4W-20216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:07.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28811), what evidence the cabinet secretary has to support the argument that \"the [patient safety] programme is probably a major contributing factor to why the mortality rate at weekends is no higher than it is during the week\".","AnswerText":"The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is admired across the world in relation to its results with reliably implementing evidence based interventions. The SPSP is about delivering reliable, safe care for every patient, every time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since the acute SPSP was initiated in 2008, there has been a 12.5% reduction in hospital standardised mortality ratios since 2007.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:07.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292950,"EventID":"S4W-20217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:07.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28811), how it defines \"a systemic problem at weekends with mortality rates in Scottish hospitals\".","AnswerText":"A systemic problem can be defined as an intrinsic or series of problems affecting mortality in Scottish hospitals. Hospital standardised mortality ratios data currently submitted by NHS boards in Scotland does not indicate that this is the case but we will continue to monitor the situation. This will ensure our ambition of delivering safe and reliable care for every patient, every time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292951,"EventID":"S4W-20218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:08.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28811), what evidence it has other than the \"recent study\" mentioned in the answer to suggest that there is no such weekend effect in hospitals in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20212 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\nThe study referred to was analysis of official hospital standardised mortality ratios data submitted by NHS boards in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:08.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292952,"EventID":"S4W-20219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:09.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:17:41.237","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03002 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28811), what evidence the cabinet secretary has to support the claim that the \"Scottish health service is the safest in the world\".","AnswerText":"We have a range of data from the Scottish Patient Safety Programmes which supports progress in Acute Care, Primary Care, Mental Health and Maternity and Paediatrics.\r\nWe can also look to the views of international experts such as Prof Don Berwick, the man asked by UK PM David Cameron to help fix NHS England’s NHS who said \"The Scottish Patient Safety Programme, marks Scotland as a leader, second to no nation on earth, in its commitment to reducing harm to patients, dramatically and continually.\" \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:09.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292953,"EventID":"S4W-20220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:09.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:41:25.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became an independent country and did not enter into a formal currency union with the rest of the UK, what its plan B currency option would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:09.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292954,"EventID":"S4W-20221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:09.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:41:25.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became an independent country and did not enter into a formal currency union with the rest of the UK, what its plan C currency option would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:09.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292955,"EventID":"S4W-20222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:10.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:41:25.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became an independent country and did not enter into a formal currency union with the rest of the UK, what its plan D currency option would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:10.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292956,"EventID":"S4W-20223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:10.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:41:25.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became an independent country and did not enter into a formal currency union with the rest of the UK, what its plan E currency option would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:10.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292957,"EventID":"S4W-20224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:10.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T14:41:25.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became an independent country and did not enter into a formal currency union with the rest of the UK, what its plan F currency option would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:10.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292958,"EventID":"S4W-20225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-17T16:45:11.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T15:32:45.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff who have been made redundant by the NHS in each year May 2007 have been subsequently re-employed by the service on a (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contract basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collated centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-03-31T16:45:11.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292959,"EventID":"S4W-20226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:43.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T16:38:30.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the start date for the A96 dual-carriageway Inverness-Aberdeen project does not appear in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) compared with the previous update and whether this represents a change in phasing.","AnswerText":"There has been no change in the timetable for delivering the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen dualling programme. The dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen is to be completed by 2030 through a phased programme of schemes from 2017 onwards. The timetable in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) reflects the commitment in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011 to dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:43.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292960,"EventID":"S4W-20228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:43.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T16:38:30.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the upper estimate for the capital value of the Aberdeen-Inverness rail improvements project in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) has risen to £600 million compared with the previous update.","AnswerText":"Due to a typing error the upper estimate for the capital value for the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project was increased to £600 million, but should read as £500 million.\r\nThe Updated Programme Pipeline for January 2014, which was published on 17 March 2014, has since been amended with the correct figures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:44.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292961,"EventID":"S4W-20229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:44.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T16:38:30.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme does not appear in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014).\r\n","AnswerText":"Information relating to the Schools for the Future programme is included within the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Progress Report for 2013 which was published on 17 March 2013. Generic information relating to the schools programme was not included within the accompanying updated programme pipeline as details relating to the delivery of each individual school are now included within the updated project pipeline instead.\r\nIn addition, the progress report includes progress details on all those individual schools with a capital value of £20 million or more which are currently at outline business case or beyond, and refers within the foreword to those schools which became operational in 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:44.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292962,"EventID":"S4W-20230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:44.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T17:00:18.993","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many official visits ministers have made outwith Scotland in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information has now been published onto the Scottish Government Website and can be accessed through the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/travel/visitsoverseas\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:44.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292963,"EventID":"S4W-20231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:44.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T10:23:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to maintain the MV (a) Hrossey, (b) Hjaltland and (c) Hamnavoe in each year since 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"The annual grant figure paid in respect of the Northern Isles Ferry Service covers a range of items including vessel maintenance and is available in the Scottish Transport Statistics and be found by following the link below\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/analysis/statistics/publications/scottish-transport-statistics-previous-editions\r\nAny further breakdown of this information is considered to be commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:44.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292964,"EventID":"S4W-20232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:45.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T10:23:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to maintain the MV (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay in each year since 2002.\r\n","AnswerText":"The MV Helliar and the MV Hildesay have only operated on the Northern Isles ferry service since February 2010 and January 2011.\r\nUnder the current public service contract in respect of the Northern Isles ferry services, the operator time charters the MV Helliar and the MV Hildesay and therefore maintenance costs are the responsibility of the owner of the vessels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:45.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292965,"EventID":"S4W-20233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T13:36:45.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T10:23:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will establish the consultative forums for ferry service stakeholders on the Clyde and Hebrides network and whether these will (a) include (i) passenger groups, (ii) trade unions, (iii) ferry service operators, (iv) local politicians and (v) Transport Scotland and (b) discuss the future procurement of services.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently four Ferry User Groups in place across the Clyde and Hebrides network. These are the Clyde Ferry User Group, Argyll Ferry User Group, Lochaber, Small Isles and Skye Ferry User Group and the Hebrides Ferry User Group. Discussions between Transport Scotland, CalMac and Hitrans are on-going to discuss their scope. The Ferries Plan said that we would consider how best to include key transport professionals, academics and operators of ferry services as we deliver wider consultation mechanisms. As part of our arrangements for wider consultation, we have set up the Expert Ferry Group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T13:36:45.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292982,"EventID":"S4W-20237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T17:21:33.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T14:11:37.943","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 February 2014, Pound is best option for independent Scotland and rest of UK, what advice it received from the Fiscal Commission Working Group on the duration of a currency union.","AnswerText":"The first report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group and technical annex provided a detailed assessment of the currency options of an independent Scotland, and concluded that retaining sterling was in the economic interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK.\r\nParagraph 2.7, page 19, included the following recommendation:\r\n“Recommendation: the Scottish Government should refine the detail of the proposition set out for a macroeconomic framework which can operate from day one of independence and through any period of transition and indefinitely if required. The framework should ensure monetary and price stability, financial stability and fiscal sustainability.”\r\nThe full published report can be found via:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/02/3017.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T17:21:33.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292983,"EventID":"S4W-20238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T17:21:33.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T15:02:11.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers can access correspondence from MSPs to heads of NDPBs and arms-length organisations.","AnswerText":"There is no specific system relating to ministerial access to correspondence from MSPs to heads of non departmental public bodies and other arms-length organisations. If a request to access correspondence is made, this would be considered on a case by case basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T17:21:33.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292984,"EventID":"S4W-20239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T17:21:33.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T15:02:11.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that correspondence between heads of NDPBs and arms-length organisations and MSPs should be treated in confidence.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not have a specific policy on such correspondence. Each situation is addressed on a case by case basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T17:21:33.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292985,"EventID":"S4W-20240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T17:21:34.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T15:02:11.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what occasions it has requested from NDPBs or arms-length organisations copies of any (a) emails and (b) written correspondence sent by MSPs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not keep a specific record of such requests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T17:21:34.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292986,"EventID":"S4W-20241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-18T17:21:34.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T16:09:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) average, (b) longest and (c) shortest time has been taken to process an application for registration to the General Teaching Council for Scotland in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has been an independent body since April 2012. These, therefore, are matters for the GTCS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-01T17:21:34.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292987,"EventID":"S4O-03050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:11.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:45.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s proposal that overseas teachers wishing to work in Scotland could no longer be subject to a criminal record check.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:11.53","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292988,"EventID":"S4O-03051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:11.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:45.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Skills Development Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:11.95","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292989,"EventID":"S4O-03052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:12.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:45.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it encourages schools to teach pupils about the Scottish Enlightenment and its impact in Scotland and beyond.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:12.2","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292990,"EventID":"S4O-03053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:12.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:48:44.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many SQA academic appeals were submitted in 2013 and how many were upheld.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:12.62","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292991,"EventID":"S4O-03054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:13.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T10:33:39.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what share of the UK Research Councils' funding Scottish universities currently receive.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:13.073","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292992,"EventID":"S4O-03055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:13.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:46.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how schools are teaching about sectarianism.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:13.383","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292993,"EventID":"S4O-03056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:13.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:13:29.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of young women entering the workplace in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:13.62","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292994,"EventID":"S4O-03057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:13.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T09:00:21.467","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it does to promote the use of technology to assist teaching in schools.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:13.837","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292995,"EventID":"S4O-03058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:14.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:47.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to increase opportunities for disabled students to access further education.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:14.103","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292996,"EventID":"S4O-03059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:14.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:47.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding proposed strike action by the University and College Union.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:14.353","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292997,"EventID":"S4O-03060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:14.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:47.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when its policy on childcare in an independent Scotland will be completed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:14.587","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292998,"EventID":"S4O-03061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:14.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T09:26:08.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing in conjunction with local authorities to educate children about the identification, sourcing and preparation of healthy food.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:14.867","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":292999,"EventID":"S4O-03062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:15.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:48.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the appointed chairs of the regional college boards and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:15.147","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293000,"EventID":"S4O-03063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:15.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:38:26.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports mothers to return to education part-time.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:15.663","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293001,"EventID":"S4O-03064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:15.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:49.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have a youth employment strategy similar to the Edinburgh Guarantee.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:15.99","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293002,"EventID":"S4O-03065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:16.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:49.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it considers that its childcare plans for an independent Scotland would create a 6% rise in female employment.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:16.24","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293003,"EventID":"S4O-03066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:16.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T09:51:55.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought legal advice on the tuition fee proposals set out in its white paper on independence.","AnswerText":"The white paper is consistent with and informed by legal advice the government has received.\r\nIt is the long-standing practice of the Scottish and UK governments, as is recognised in their respective Ministerial Codes, not to disclose the fact or content of advice from the Law Officers other than in the most exceptional circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:16.457","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293004,"EventID":"S4O-03067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:16.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:50.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a full analysis of its childcare policy, including in an independent Scotland, will be included in the report by the Council of Economic Advisers.","AnswerText":"The Council of Economic Advisers considered the importance of improving childcare provision in Scotland at their meeting last August 2013. Their discussion was informed by a presentation by Professor Ailsa McKay on the economic and social importance of access to childcare.\r\nImproving access to childcare would reduce an important barrier to participation in the labour market faced by parents with young children. Increasing participation will have positive impacts on the Scottish economy and tax revenues. Only independence offers the opportunity to reinvest higher revenues back into expanding childcare provision, and instigate a truly transformational change to childcare policy in Scotland.\r\nThe analysis that informed the council’s deliberations will be reflected in the upcoming chair’s report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:16.817","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293005,"EventID":"S4O-03068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:17.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:50.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether students embarking on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in 2015-16 will be eligible for a living cost loan.","AnswerText":"Yes, all eligible students undertaking the Diploma in Legal Practice at Scottish higher education institutions in academic year 2015-16 will be able to access the postgraduate living costs loan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:17.037","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293006,"EventID":"S4O-03069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:17.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:02:50.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the University of the Highlands and Islands.","AnswerText":"Through the Scottish Funding Council, the Scottish Government is providing over £33 million to the University of the Highlands and Islands during the current academic year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:17.253","MeetingDate":"2014-03-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293007,"EventID":"S4O-03070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:17.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:20.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making to deal with the number of people expected to visit Scotland during the Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:17.723","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293008,"EventID":"S4O-03071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:18.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:21.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported underspend of discretionary housing payments by some local authorities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:18.05","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293009,"EventID":"S4O-03072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:18.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:21.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to improve public transport links to and from Renfrewshire.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:18.923","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293010,"EventID":"S4O-03073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:19.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:21.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the living wage.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:19.157","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293011,"EventID":"S4O-03074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:19.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:22.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of local planning decisions overturned on appeal by reporters acting on ministers' behalf.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:19.39","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293012,"EventID":"S4O-03075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:19.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T12:03:22.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it plans to provide for the development of winter sports.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:19.657","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293013,"EventID":"S4O-03076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:19.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:05:49.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS Grampian to address waiting times for treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:19.907","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293014,"EventID":"S4O-03078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:20.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:45:15.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the Review of Expenses and Funding of Civil Litigation In Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:20.357","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293015,"EventID":"S4O-03079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:29:20.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:19:01.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its recently completed and upcoming capital investment projects. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:29:20.64","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293016,"EventID":"S4W-20242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:53:44.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T16:34:13.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken to ensure that evidence that is not stored by either the police or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is properly safeguarded.\r\n","AnswerText":"The storage and handling of evidence with reference to alleged criminal offences are operational matters for Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Court Service or for other relevant specialist reporting agencies, such as local authority Trading Standards; the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Health & Safety Executive, HM Revenue and Customs etc. The appropriate safeguarding of evidence is the responsibility of each agency and the Scottish Government has no direct role on these matters.\r\nThe Crown Office guide for specialist reporting agencies includes advice about the importance of preserving evidence and the careful handling of relevant productions. The guide is available through the following link: www.copfs.gov.uk.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:53:45.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293017,"EventID":"S4W-20243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:53:45.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T16:34:13.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the contract for the police vehicle recovery service will be renewed; when the renewal process will be advertised, and whether this might be subject to delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the contract for the police vehicle recovery service are matters for the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:53:45.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293018,"EventID":"S4W-20245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:53:46.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T16:34:13.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19852 by Keith Brown on 3 March 2014, on what date the 2013 information will be published on the websites.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information in respect of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service is available on the CalMac website by following the following link:\r\nhttp://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate-calmac\r\nThe information in respect of Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd is available on the Serco NorthLink Ferries website by following the following link:\r\nhttp://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/other/publications/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:53:46.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293019,"EventID":"S4W-20246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T13:53:46.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T16:34:13.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the final cost to (a) the public sector and (b) Serco NorthLink of the breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe in April 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The report into the breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe was published by Transport Scotland on 7 March 2014 and includes details of costs incurred. Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd are in discussion with their insurers and updated information will be made available after those discussions have concluded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T13:53:46.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293035,"EventID":"S4W-20235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:27.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T13:42:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for non-emergency appointments at GP practices, also broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20038, on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:27.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293036,"EventID":"S4W-20236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:27.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T13:42:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices in each NHS board have patient lists that are closed to new registrations.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20023, on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:27.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293037,"EventID":"S4W-20247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:28.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:58:42.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the referral time targets are from GP to community psychiatric unit and which NHS boards (a) have met these targets in each of the last three years and (b) are meeting these targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no specific referral time target to community psychiatric units.\r\nIf a patient is referred for a psychological therapy, the HEAT target to deliver 18 weeks referral to treatment for psychological therapies from December 2014 applies. If a patient is referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the HEAT target to deliver 26 weeks referral to treatment for specialist CAMHS from March 2013, reducing to 18 weeks from December 2014, applies. The data for both these HEAT targets in each NHS board are published quarterly by Information Services Division Scotland (ISD). The latest publication for both took place on 25 February 2014 and can be found on the ISD website.\r\nThe 12 week treatment time guarantee ensures that patients who are receiving planned treatment provided on an inpatient or day case basis will not wait longer than 12 weeks from the date the treatment is agreed to the start of treatment. This will more commonly be applied in physical health settings, but can apply to some mental health treatments. The data from the 12 week treatment time guarantee is not broken down to show the type of treatment received.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:28.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293038,"EventID":"S4W-20250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:28.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T12:21:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the economic impact on Scotland of increasing the additional rate of income tax from 45p to 50p.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government's ability to adjust the income tax system is significantly constrained under the current devolution settlement. Even under the new income tax powers being introduced under the Scotland Act 2012, the Scottish Government would not be able to restore the 50% rate without also adding 5p to the basic and higher rates of tax. Such a change would significantly increase the tax burden faced by all Scottish households currently paying income tax, with the average person earning £21,600 a year having to pay over £500 more in income tax. Only independence will provide future Scottish Governments with the flexibility to adjust the tax system and broader policy levers to grow the Scottish economy and reduce inequality. \r\nHMRC estimate that a 1p increase in the additional rate would generate £135 million in 2016-17 across the UK as a whole. On this basis, a 5p increase in the additional rate in Scotland is estimated to generate around £30 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:28.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293039,"EventID":"S4W-20252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:28.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T14:23:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support exists for patients in Scotland equivalent to the Patient and Advice Liaison Service in England and how much funding has been allocated to it in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS), established as part of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, replaced the Independent Advice and Support Service (IASS) in Scotland. PASS, procured through a national contract with Citizen’s Advice Scotland, is delivered through the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland. The IASS costs and contract costs for PASS, agreed for three years from 1 April 2012, are as follows:\r\n\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nIASS\r\n£946,407\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPASS\r\n\r\n£1,192,753\r\n£1,147,011\r\n£1,181,276\r\nFurther information about PASS is available at: http://www.cas.org.uk/patientadvice. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:28.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293040,"EventID":"S4W-20253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:29.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T14:34:15.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in the Scottish broadcasting service of an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Page 318 of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland sets out how a Scottish broadcasting service would be established as a public service broadcaster in an independent Scotland, building initially on the staff and assets of BBC Scotland. It would begin when the BBC Charter expires at midnight on 31 December 2016. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is part of BBC Scotland under the BBC’s management structure and will become part of the Scottish Broadcasting Service and continue in operation after independence. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and its players are an important part of the critical mass that makes Glasgow such a leading venue for music, and indeed one of the first UNESCO Cities of Music.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:29.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293041,"EventID":"S4W-20255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:29.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:49:06.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the introduction of electronic death certification.","AnswerText":"NHS National Services Scotland’s Information Technology Division is currently working with the NHS and other partners to enable clinicians to complete Medical Certificates of Cause of Death electronically.\r\nIt is expected that this functionality will be available to General Practitioners from spring 2015, and rolled out to other parts of the NHS incrementally thereafter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:29.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293042,"EventID":"S4W-20258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:30.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:51:19.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support NHS Forth Valley in meeting its (a) four and (b) six week targets for lower endoscopy tests.","AnswerText":"NHS Forth Valley has advised that they have just recently recruited four new consultant gastroenterologist. These consultants will take up appointments during the next six months. Meantime to reduce the waiting time for patients they are being offered appointments at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital or in the private sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:30.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293043,"EventID":"S4W-20259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:30.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:51:19.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support NHS Fife in meeting its (a) four and (b) six week radiological diagnostic test targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Fife have advised that they have recently recruited five new locum radiologists with three having started with a further two due to start in the next few weeks. The board have also been undertaking additional sessions to reduce the waits for patients. These actions are aimed at delivering the six weeks waiting times standards for radiological tests in Fife as quickly as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:30.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293044,"EventID":"S4W-20260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:31.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:52:15.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the press release from the European Medicines Agency of 24 January 2014, Review of emergency contraceptives started, what steps it has taken to ensure that no woman weighing over 80kg is given an emergency contraceptive containing levonorgestrel and that women weighing over 75kg are warned of reduced efficacy and what guidance it has issued regarding alternative emergency contraception.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware of the review by the European Medicines Agency evaluating the impact of new data, and will take the necessary action upon the outcome of that review. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:31.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293045,"EventID":"S4W-20262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:31.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:53:37.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it has monitored and published data on hip fracture incidence since the publication of the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit Report 2008.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Orthopaedic Service Development Group decided that a further audit of the management of hip fracture care across Scotland should be undertaken for the period December 2012 to March 2013 and was published on 30 August 2013. The audit report can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.qihub.scot.nhs.uk/media/517649/audit%20of%20care%20pathways%20for%20hip%20fracture%20patients%20in%20scotland.pdf\r\nThis audit looked at the key interventions of the patient journey from emergency department to discharge from acute orthopaedic unit and on the standard of clinical care. This national audit of hip fracture was the most comprehensive undertaken. The reports shows that 92% of patients who were considered medically fit for theatre underwent surgery within 48 hours of admission. It is anticipated that another audit will be undertaken during 2015-16.\r\nThe Scottish Government expect NHS boards to be monitoring performance against this waiting time standard locally to ensure continuing delivery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:31.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293046,"EventID":"S4W-20263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:32.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:53:37.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many hip fractures have been recorded by each NHS board in each of the last five years, also expressed per 10,000 of population over 65.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of stays for hip fracture and the rate of stays for hip fracture per 10,000 population for patients aged over 65 is presented in the following two tables.\r\nTable 1: Number of hospital stays for all ages with a diagnosis of hip fracture by patient's health board of residence for the years 2008-09 to 2012-13.\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n586\r\n596\r\n620\r\n593\r\n534\r\nBorders\r\n154\r\n155\r\n177\r\n201\r\n188\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n245\r\n259\r\n275\r\n265\r\n226\r\nFife\r\n480\r\n482\r\n496\r\n523\r\n498\r\nForth Valley\r\n373\r\n396\r\n359\r\n364\r\n412\r\nGrampian\r\n700\r\n776\r\n780\r\n711\r\n727\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1,760\r\n1,670\r\n1,679\r\n1,798\r\n1,699\r\nHighland\r\n457\r\n541\r\n521\r\n470\r\n515\r\nLanarkshire\r\n765\r\n775\r\n728\r\n705\r\n698\r\nLothian\r\n1,027\r\n1,092\r\n1,082\r\n1,022\r\n1,095\r\nOrkney\r\n27\r\n27\r\n18\r\n29\r\n25\r\nShetland\r\n26\r\n32\r\n19\r\n26\r\n26\r\nTayside\r\n634\r\n643\r\n626\r\n581\r\n655\r\nWestern Isles\r\n22\r\n37\r\n38\r\n52\r\n55\r\nNon-Scottish Residents\r\n106\r\n81\r\n101\r\n94\r\n107\r\nScotland\r\n7,362\r\n7,562\r\n7,519\r\n7,434\r\n7,460\r\nSource: SMR01, ISD Scotland\r\n\r\nTable 2: Rate of hospital stays with a diagnosis of hip fracture per 10,000 population for patients aged over 65 by patient's health board of residence for the years 2008-09 to 2012-13:\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n81.2\r\n81.3\r\n81.6\r\n78.8\r\n68.5\r\nBorders\r\n67.4\r\n61.8\r\n69.4\r\n78.9\r\n77.5\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n74.6\r\n76.8\r\n79.2\r\n75.3\r\n63.0\r\nFife\r\n74.1\r\n75.1\r\n71.4\r\n77.4\r\n70.2\r\nForth Valley\r\n75.9\r\n77.0\r\n70.0\r\n68.5\r\n76.9\r\nGrampian\r\n76.9\r\n82.5\r\n82.5\r\n72.0\r\n74.0\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n86.6\r\n78.7\r\n79.7\r\n87.2\r\n80.9\r\nHighland\r\n76.2\r\n86.7\r\n78.0\r\n70.9\r\n74.6\r\nLanarkshire\r\n76.2\r\n80.0\r\n74.7\r\n69.4\r\n68.2\r\nLothian\r\n81.8\r\n83.0\r\n82.2\r\n76.8\r\n83.1\r\nOrkney\r\n69.1\r\n58.7\r\n46.2\r\n70.1\r\n53.7\r\nShetland\r\n66.5\r\n84.4\r\n45.9\r\n67.4\r\n63.0\r\nTayside\r\n83.5\r\n78.9\r\n78.0\r\n70.4\r\n78.9\r\nWestern Isles\r\n39.4\r\n64.4\r\n64.7\r\n76.5\r\n89.1\r\nScotland\r\n79.6\r\n79.6\r\n77.9\r\n76.5\r\n75.7\r\nSources: SMR01, ISD Scotland; National Records of Scotland mid-year population estimates\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:32.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293047,"EventID":"S4W-20264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:32.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:53:37.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether every NHS board has a fracture liaison service.","AnswerText":"Following a fragility (low trauma) fracture, clinical guidelines recommend fracture risk assessment is undertaken and, where indicated, treatment to reduce risk is offered. All mainland NHS boards have a system in place to case-find and provide risk assessment and intervention. In the majority of boards, a fracture liaison service is the preferred system, although there is local variation in how the services operate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:32.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293048,"EventID":"S4W-20265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:33.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:53:37.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether every NHS board offers assessment of bone density to patients with an impact fracture.","AnswerText":"Where patients are identified, through a fracture liaison service or alternative local arrangement, as requiring a bone density assessment, such an assessment will be offered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:33.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293049,"EventID":"S4W-20266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-19T16:49:33.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:53:37.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to NHS boards on ensuring equality of access to all second line preventative medicines for people identified as being at risk of osteoporotic fracture.","AnswerText":"Patients at risk of osteoporosis should be treated according to current clinical guidelines.\r\nThe Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is updating its guideline on the management of Osteoporosis to incorporate the significant advances in the management of this condition, including the arrival of new treatments. The revised SIGN guideline is expected to be published this summer. Current SIGN guidelines can be found at:\r\nhttp://sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/71/index.html\r\nThe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance (CG146) in August 2012 on assessing the risk of fragility fracture in osteoporosis:\r\nhttp://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/osteoporosis\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-02T16:49:33.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293059,"EventID":"S4W-20281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T12:30:02.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T11:43:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress made in relation to its International Development Small Grants Programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce that funding amounting to a total of £431,279 will be provided to the 11 projects from our Small Grants Programme 2014-15 for projects to commence in April 2014.\r\nTotal amount of funding\r\nType of Grant\r\nTotal Recommendation\r\nProject\r\n£397,316\r\nFeasibility\r\n£23,963\r\nCapacity Building\r\n£10,000\r\nTOTAL\r\n£431,279\r\nProjects by country and grant type\r\nCountry\r\nProject\r\nFeasibility\r\nCapacity Building\r\nTotal\r\nMalawi\r\n4\r\n1\r\n1\r\n6\r\nBangladesh\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\nIndia (Orissa)\r\n2\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2\r\nTanzania\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\n2\r\nTotal\r\n7\r\n3\r\n1\r\n11\r\nThe Small Grants Programme attracted 29 applications on 29 November 2013. \r\nTwo applications were received after the published deadline and were therefore not considered. A further seven applications were rejected as outwith our eligibility criteria, and therefore were not part of the full assessment process. The remaining 20 applications were fully assessed, nine of which did not meet our assessment criteria and were therefore not awarded funding.\r\nProject Grants\r\nOrganisation\r\nCountry\r\nAward detail\r\nTotal\r\nCharity Education International\r\nBangladesh\r\nFor the English teaching project at Uttar Bangla College\r\n£59,940\r\nCerebral Palsy Africa\r\nMalawi\r\nFor the training of special needs teachers in Malawi\r\n£52,452\r\nChildren's Medical Care Malawi\r\nMalawi\r\nFor the ETAT training programme for 900 newly qualified Malawian nurses and clinicians\r\n£60,000\r\nMalawi Fruits\r\n\r\nMalawi\r\nFor the Paprika project, supporting subsistence farmers in Northern Malawi to develop a cash crop for the benefit of their families\r\n£60,000\r\nOrskov Foundation\r\n\r\nMalawi\r\nFor the Food Forest project to provide greater food security, nutritional diversity, a source of income and a means to increase resilience to climate change amongst rural Malawians\r\n£50,874\r\nGaia Education\r\n\r\nOrissa (India)\r\nFor integrated Ecovillage Design Education and Transition Towns training to build the capacity of indigenous people in Laxmipur Block of Koraput District to increase food security, build cohesion and address climate change. \r\n£55,000\r\nSustainable Com Energy Network (Scene)\r\nOrissa (India)\r\nTo build a resilient and technical infrastructure for community renewable energy in Orissa, India \r\n£59,050\r\nTotal Project Grants\r\n\r\n\r\n£397,316\r\nFeasibility Grants\r\nOrganisation\r\nCountry\r\nAward Detail\r\nAmount\r\nThe Balmore Trust\r\nMalawi\r\nFor the development, testing, and scoping of the manufacture of a rice threshing machine.\r\n£10,000\r\nThe Big First Aid Project\r\nTanzania\r\nTo design and test a mobile phone based emergency response system, which will provide rural community members with lifesaving information following an accident or injury.\r\n£6,213\r\nYes Tanzania\r\nTanzania\r\nTo design and pilot a programme using sport to deliver health education to young people.\r\n£7,750\r\nTotal Feasibility Study Grants\r\n\r\n\r\n£23,963\r\nCapacity Building Grants\r\nOrganisation\r\nCountry\r\nAward Detail\r\nAmount\r\nMamie Martin Fund\r\nMalawi\r\nFor fundraising and marketing in Scotland, and organisational strategy and development, and monitoring and evaluation in Malawi, including an impact report.\r\n£10,000\r\nTotal Capacity Building Grants\r\n\r\n\r\n£10,000\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T12:30:03.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293060,"EventID":"S4W-20256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:21.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:50:02.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) median and (b) longest waiting time has been in each of the last five quarters when the six-week waiting time target for receiving one of the eight key diagnostic tests was not met, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available centrally. The national dataset for the eight key diagnostic tests is based on aggregate level returns from each board. Median or longest waits cannot be derived from the information in aggregate return.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:21.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293061,"EventID":"S4W-20257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:22.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:50:02.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many non-medical (a) endoscopists, (b) colonoscopists and (c) cystoscopists there are in each NHS board, also expressed per 100,000 of population.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not centrally held.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:22.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293062,"EventID":"S4W-20269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:22.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what caused the (a) damage to and (b) failure of the crankshaft on the starboard main engine of the MV Hamnavoe on 25 April 2013.","AnswerText":"The report into the breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe published on 7 March 2013 indicated that the damage and failure of the crankshaft was unforeseen and was not as a consequence of any action taken by Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:22.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293063,"EventID":"S4W-20270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:23.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Serco NorthLink’s (a) insurance claims and (b) negotiations with the engine manufacturer regarding the breakdown and repair of the MV Hamnavoe between April and May 2013 to be completed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20246 on 27 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:23.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293064,"EventID":"S4W-20271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:23.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what minimum legal standards apply to the maintenance regime for vessels working on Scottish ferry routes.","AnswerText":"The minimum regulatory standards for vessels are set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. This includes international safety management standards which include regulatory requirements for a detailed maintenance system to be in place for each vessel.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:23.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293065,"EventID":"S4W-20272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:24.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent comparison has been made between the maintenance standards for vessels working on the (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebridean ferry routes.","AnswerText":"There has been no comparison made between the maintenance standards for vessels working on the Northern Isles ferry services or the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. Both require to comply with the minimum regulatory standards for vessels, set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. This includes international safety management standards which include regulatory requirements for a detailed maintenance system to be in place for each vessel.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:24.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293066,"EventID":"S4W-20273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:24.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what costs Scrabster Harbour Trust incurred in making alterations to accommodate MV Helliar berthing in Scrabster between April and May 2013.","AnswerText":"The costs were a matter between Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd and Scrabster Harbour Trust and would have been subject to settlement through the operator’s insurers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:24.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293067,"EventID":"S4W-20274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:24.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its experience of vessel breakdowns on Scottish ferry routes, what steps it is taking to develop constructive relationships with shipbrokers and what assurances it has received that Serco NorthLink will undertake to develop such relationships.\r\n","AnswerText":"Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd and CalMac already have very constructive relationships with shipbrokers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:24.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293068,"EventID":"S4W-20275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:24.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:56:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from Serco NorthLink that it will introduce measures to improve its communications strategy, in relation to dealing with vessel failure, with (a) island communities, (b) passengers, (c) trade unions and (d) businesses; what those measures will be, and when they will be introduced.\r\n","AnswerText":"Serco Northlink Ferries Ltd consistently review their communications strategy and provide regular updates to Transport Scotland.\r\nThe daily and key recipient briefings introduced during the Hamnavoe service interruption have been captured in the contract business interruption processes. These were further reviewed after the Hamnavoe returned to service and categorised by sector, for instance tourism/freight/hotelier/operator. They are regularly reviewed and updated by the operator to ensure all key contact details remain current. \r\nResilience planning is discussed by the operator at both the Orkney emergency group committee and Caithness transport forum meetings which are attended by both NorthLink’s customer care manager and freight manager. The operator attends Zetrans on a quarterly basis and likewise meets both trade unions and business stakeholders from both the passenger and freight sectors on a regular basis. Its most recent public forum held on the Hamnavoe on Thursday 6 February 2014 was attended by over 80 representatives of Orkney businesses and local interest groups.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:24.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293069,"EventID":"S4W-20276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:25.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T15:58:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed closure of the upper level tunnel at Glasgow Queen Street station will coincide with work being carried out at the Winchburgh tunnel.\r\n","AnswerText":"The initial assessment is that disruption will be less overall if the works at the two tunnels are done at separate times. This is to do with the resilience of the overall network and the wider performance impacts. The rail industry is still working to arrive at a solution that minimises disruption.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:25.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293070,"EventID":"S4W-20280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:25.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T16:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill in relation to ensuring an integrated approach to the handling of complaints.\r\n","AnswerText":"Integration joint boards will be required by the regulations underpinning the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act to set out their complaints procedures for integrated services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:25.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293071,"EventID":"S4W-20282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:25.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T13:26:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason agricultural producers have received a letter from the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate intimating a re-examination of every agricultural unit's land classified as rough grazing.","AnswerText":"Scotland will be implementing a new type of area-based payment known as the basic payment scheme (BPS) in 2015, which you will be aware I have been consulting with the industry on; and one aspect is whether this will be based on historical land types, so it could be important that all land is categorised accurately.\r\nMy officials therefore took the opportunity in the 2014 IACS claim packs, which issues to all known claimants of the current single farm payment scheme, to remind farmers and crofters how the different types of grass that are found in Scotland should be categorised, and they did this to improve the accuracy of the data submitted by including a guidance note on categorising grazing land. This will hopefully aid the smooth transition of entitlement allocation under the BPS, should historical land type be chosen, when farmers and crofters submit their application for this support in 2015 and beyond.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:25.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293072,"EventID":"S4O-03047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:44.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T13:58:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it is taking to prevent illegal access to the Parliament's website and other data sources, such as members' email accounts.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:44.057","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293073,"EventID":"S4O-03048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:45.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-13T15:33:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to making greater use of open-source software.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293074,"EventID":"S4O-03049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:46.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-14T09:48:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with energy suppliers regarding the efficiency of the energy bill payment process for constituency and regional offices.","AnswerText":"It is a matter for individual Members to determine their preferred payment method with their chosen energy supplier and the SPCB has not held any discussions with suppliers in that regard. The Members’ Expenses Scheme allows a range of methods to reimburse Members for the costs they incur in running their local offices:\r\n\r\nMembers may pay their energy supplier directly and submit a claim to the Allowances Office for reimbursement.\r\nBACS payments can be made by the Allowances Office directly to the energy supplier on behalf of the Member, on receipt of actual authorised invoices. \r\nWhere Members have negotiated set monthly payment amounts, regular BACS payments can be made directly to the energy supplier, with a final reconciliation of payments made and charges due at the end of each year.\r\nWhere Members have set up a direct debit to the energy supplier from their own bank account, arrangements can be made to pay a set monthly amount to the Member in advance of the direct debit payment coming from their own bank account with final reconciliation of payments made and charges due at the end of the payment year.","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Liam McArthur","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293075,"EventID":"S4O-03080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:45.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-17T16:41:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many knives have been removed from visitors to the Parliament in each year since 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:45.757","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293076,"EventID":"S4O-03081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:46.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-18T13:51:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what facilities are available for the showing of documentary films.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293077,"EventID":"S4O-03082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:48.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T09:24:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to promote access to parliamentary proceedings for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293078,"EventID":"S4O-03083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:48.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T10:48:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to the future capacity needs of the Parliament in the event that it exercises significant additional powers.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293079,"EventID":"S4O-03085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T14:14:48.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T11:50:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of a member of the public recently accessing the Parliament's roof, whether it plans to implement extra security measures.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T14:14:48.86","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293101,"EventID":"S4W-20283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:32.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:27:24.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that cross-border co-operation between Scottish and UK justice and law enforcement agencies will be as effective in an independent Scotland as it is currently.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. The existing independence of Scotland’s legal and justice systems ensures a strong starting point. Scotland already has its own police service, Police Scotland, and there are well-established arrangements to ensure effective cross-border co-operation between them and law enforcement agencies in the rest of the UK.\r\nIt will be in the shared interests of all parties to ensure that these practical arrangements continue following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:32.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293102,"EventID":"S4W-20284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:32.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:27:24.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how cross-border arrests will operate in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are well established arrangements for effective cross-border co-operation between Police Scotland and forces in the rest of the UK, including procedures for cross-border arrests. These reciprocal arrangements operate effectively and ensure public safety. In an independent Scotland, the Scottish Government would seek to maintain current arrangements for cross-border policing in order to ensure the continuation of flexible and effective policing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:32.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293103,"EventID":"S4W-20285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:32.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:27:24.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that procedures for cross-border arrests will be as effective and efficient in an independent Scotland as they are currently.","AnswerText":"There are well established arrangements to ensure effective cross-border co-operation between Police Scotland and forces in the rest of the UK, including procedures for cross-border arrests. These reciprocal arrangements operate effectively and ensure public safety. In an independent Scotland, the Scottish Government would seek to maintain current cross-border arrangements in order to ensure the continuation of flexible and effective policing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:32.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293104,"EventID":"S4W-20286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:32.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) emergency, (b) specialist and (c) neonatal ambulance units the Scottish Ambulance Service has and in which NHS board areas they are deployed, also broken down by model of vehicle.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally in the format requested. However, the following table sets out the types and numbers of road ambulances across the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) fleet, broken down by SAS operating division:\r\nType of Vehicle\r\nNorth\r\nEast Central\r\nSouth East\r\nSouth West\r\nWest Central\r\nTotal\r\nPatient Transport Service Vehicle\r\n73\r\n111\r\n76\r\n124\r\n123\r\n507\r\nAccident and Emergency Unit\r\n88\r\n62\r\n52\r\n79\r\n83\r\n364\r\nParamedic Response Unit\r\n7\r\n13\r\n5\r\n10\r\n19\r\n54\r\nMid/Urgent tier ambulances\r\n1\r\n8\r\n6\r\n0\r\n13\r\n28\r\nMotorbike\r\n1\r\n0\r\n3\r\n0\r\n4\r\n8\r\nNeonatal / specialist unit\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n3\r\n6\r\nTotal\r\n171\r\n195\r\n143\r\n213\r\n245\r\n967\r\n*information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service\r\nAcross this fleet, there are 19 Accident and Emergency Units, 117 Patient Transport Vehicles, and 28 mid/urgent tier ambulances that have bariatric capabilities. In addition, the National Risk and Resilience Division operates 66 vehicles across the country, including those utilised by the Special Operations Response Teams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:32.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293105,"EventID":"S4W-20290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:33.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been flown back from holiday to attend court in each of the last three years; how many of these cases were subsequently adjourned, and at what cost, broken down by sheriffdom.\r\n","AnswerText":"The estimated cost of providing this information is over £1880. This is calculated on the basis that the information would require to be manually extracted from claims. Therefore the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. \r\nWhile the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service make every effort to accommodate witnesses, there are occasions when trials, particularly in the High Court, require to be scheduled for dates that do cause inconvenience for some of the witnesses. However, Crown witnesses will only be flown back from holiday to give evidence at a trial when this is absolutely necessary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:33.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293106,"EventID":"S4W-20291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:33.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19235 by Kenny MacAskill on 3 February 2014, how much Police Scotland and its legacy forces have spent on healthcare practitioners in each year since 2007, broken down by policing division/legacy force.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide a financial breakdown of costs solely associated with monies spent on healthcare practitioners by legacy policing divisions or forces, due to the manner in which data were held by Police Scotland and legacy forces.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:33.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293107,"EventID":"S4W-20292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:33.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19236 by Kenny MacAskill on 3 February 2014, how much of the £665,700 has been spent; how many rooms will be upgraded in each policing division; when the project will be completed, and whether it will be within budget.","AnswerText":"Police Scotland are continuing to work with health boards to put in place appropriate facilities for the provision of enhanced healthcare and forensic medical services. The position with regard to the number of rooms to be upgraded is still developing but a risk based approach is being taken and the current priority is the upgrade of facilities in the west of Scotland and Fife. It is not possible to confirm how much of the £665,700 has been spent because invoices for completed works have not yet been processed. The full upgrade project is expected to be completed by April 2015; it will not be known until that time whether the work will be delivered within budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:33.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293108,"EventID":"S4W-20293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:34.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police custody suites are in operation in each policing division, broken down by (a) number of cells, (b) gender of detainees and (c) number of observation cells; whether there are plans to upgrade the cell capacity of any suite and, if so, (i) which suites and (ii) by how many cells.","AnswerText":"There are currently 42 primary custody suites across the Police Scotland estate. Since the launch of the single police service on 1 April 2013, all prisoner management arrangements from the eight legacy forces became the national responsibility of Police Scotland’s Custody Division. The custody division provides a single command structure which delivers a professional and consistent model throughout Scotland to support local policing. These new arrangements are helping to optimise capacity and meet demand across the Police Scotland estate, overcoming the previously restrictive force and divisional boundaries. Given flexibility of these new arrangements, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of details of male/female cell capacity or the number of observation cells by police division. Any plans to upgrade cell capacity, is an operational matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:34.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293109,"EventID":"S4W-20294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:34.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many contingency police custody suites there are in each policing division and how many (a) cells and (b) observation cells each has.","AnswerText":"Police Scotland’s Custody Division has 53 secondary custody suites and 7 contingency suites across Scotland. Since the launch of the single police service on 1 April 2013, all prisoner management arrangements from the eight legacy forces became the national responsibility of Police Scotland’s Custody Division. The custody division provides a single command structure which delivers a professional and consistent model throughout Scotland, which supports local policing. Given the flexibility of these new arrangements, it is not possible to provide a breakdown by each police division.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:34.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293110,"EventID":"S4W-20295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:34.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19700 by Margaret Burgess on 10 March 2014, what steps it is taking to publicise the (a) New Supply Shared Equity Scheme, (b) New Supply Shared Equity Scheme with Developers and (c) Open Market Shared Equity Scheme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has procured the services of five registered social landlords who administer the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme throughout Scotland. The scheme is being promoted to first time buyers through local authorities, advice agencies, local financial advisors, and estate agents. Registered social landlords are currently promoting the scheme on the radio in some areas and in some local newspapers.\r\nFor New Supply Shared Equity Scheme, it is the responsibility of the developing registered social landlord to promote available homes to prospective buyers.\r\nFor New Supply Shared Equity with Developers, it is the responsibility of the home builder approved to participate in the scheme to promote its developments to prospective buyers.\r\nThe Scottish Government provides information for buyers on all three schemes at: www.scotland.gov.uk/LIFT.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:34.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293111,"EventID":"S4W-20296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:35.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:31:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many properties in each local authority area are unoccupied.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of unoccupied properties in each local authority area based on the number of dwellings on the council tax valuation list that are entitled to a discount or increase for being long term empty or an exemption for being unoccupied.\r\nAs at 2 September 2013\r\nLocal Authority\r\nDwellings Entitled to a Discount or Increase due to being Long Term Empty1\r\nDwellings with an Exemption for being Unoccupied2\r\nScotland\r\n27,327\r\n45,720\r\nAberdeen City\r\n369\r\n1,380\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n2,392\r\n1,740\r\nAngus\r\n847\r\n1,198\r\nArgyll & Bute\r\n1,422\r\n963\r\nClackmannanshire3\r\n0\r\n421\r\nDumfries & Galloway\r\n1,009\r\n1,411\r\nDundee City\r\n520\r\n1,765\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n618\r\n864\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n118\r\n445\r\nEast Lothian\r\n413\r\n490\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n44\r\n374\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n2,471\r\n2,198\r\nEilean Siar\r\n88\r\n600\r\nFalkirk\r\n536\r\n990\r\nFife\r\n1,831\r\n2,689\r\nGlasgow\r\n2,702\r\n10,035\r\nHighland\r\n1,322\r\n1,940\r\nInverclyde\r\n592\r\n1,224\r\nMidlothian\r\n413\r\n444\r\nMoray\r\n1,035\r\n961\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n1,379\r\n1,103\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n914\r\n1,632\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n186\r\n422\r\nPerth & Kinross\r\n845\r\n1,233\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n1,150\r\n1,543\r\nScottish Borders\r\n1,379\r\n1,447\r\nShetland Islands\r\n378\r\n239\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n492\r\n826\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n666\r\n2,578\r\nStirling\r\n401\r\n690\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n361\r\n1,236\r\nWest Lothian\r\n434\r\n639\r\n1. Long term empty properties are properties liable for council tax, which have generally been empty for six months or more.\r\n2. Unoccupied exemptions are properties which are empty and exempt from paying council tax. \r\n3. Clackmannanshire Council is unable to separately identify long term empty properties from those that are second homes, and therefore a long term empty figure has not been provided.\r\nSource: Council Tax Base 2013 statistical return provided by councils to the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:35.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293112,"EventID":"S4W-20297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:35.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many remand admissions there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) prison and (d) young offenders institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe information requested is shown in the following table.\r\nRemand receptions by gender, age and establishment: 2007 to 2011\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\nTotal\r\n22,389 \r\n22,737 \r\n20,827 \r\n20,397 \r\n21,847 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFemale\r\n2,162 \r\n2,265 \r\n1,935 \r\n1,790 \r\n2,022 \r\nMale\r\n20,227 \r\n20,472 \r\n18,892 \r\n18,607 \r\n19,825 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnder 21\r\n5,765 \r\n5,574 \r\n4,697 \r\n4,354 \r\n4,225 \r\n21 and over\r\n16,624 \r\n17,163 \r\n16,130 \r\n16,043 \r\n17,622 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAberdeen\r\n1,051 \r\n1,155 \r\n1,009 \r\n1,006 \r\n928 \r\nAddiewell\r\n0 \r\n0 \r\n1,572 \r\n1,724 \r\n1,583 \r\nBarlinnie\r\n5,976 \r\n6,246 \r\n5,647 \r\n5,628 \r\n6,544 \r\nCornton Vale\r\n1,736 \r\n1,843 \r\n1,621 \r\n1,412 \r\n1,667 \r\nDumfries\r\n633 \r\n631 \r\n441 \r\n431 \r\n411 \r\nEdinburgh\r\n2,966 \r\n3,102 \r\n3,161 \r\n3,429 \r\n3,016 \r\nGlenochil\r\n21 \r\n31 \r\n62 \r\n48 \r\n47 \r\nGreenock\r\n1,729 \r\n1,616 \r\n1,256 \r\n1,021 \r\n1,010 \r\nInverness\r\n1,114 \r\n1,071 \r\n849 \r\n829 \r\n927 \r\nKilmarnock\r\n1,183 \r\n1,208 \r\n962 \r\n916 \r\n976 \r\nLow Moss\r\n23 \r\n0 \r\n0 \r\n0 \r\n0 \r\nPerth\r\n3,202 \r\n3,018 \r\n2,200 \r\n1,911 \r\n2,094 \r\nPeterhead\r\n5 \r\n2 \r\n6 \r\n6 \r\n7 \r\nShotts\r\n16 \r\n14 \r\n13 \r\n10 \r\n3 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYoung offender institution\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCornton Vale\r\n322 \r\n332 \r\n295 \r\n349 \r\n298 \r\nPolmont\r\n2,405 \r\n2,458 \r\n1,730 \r\n1,675 \r\n2,330 \r\nSource: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services. Data are derived from the Scottish Prison Service management infomation system.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Receptions are not equivalent to persons received. If a person is remanded to custody and is subsequently put on remand for a different case or while serving a custodial sentence, this constitutes a further reception. \r\n2. Figures exclude a small number of records with missing information.\r\n3. Figures for 2012 onward are not yet available due to on-going technical difficulties with the Scottish Government prisons statistical system. \r\n4. Data presented here are drawn from an administrative IT system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, they are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. While the figures shown have been checked as far as practicable, they should be regarded as approximate and not necessarily accurate to the last whole number shown in the tables. They are also updated and quality assured on an on-going basis, and the figures shown here may therefore differ slightly from those published previously.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:35.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293113,"EventID":"S4W-20298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:35.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest number of days spent by prisoners on remand has been in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nInformation on time spent on remand by age is shown in the following table. The data are not held in a way which allows the systematic identification of the prison where the remand period was spent as prisoners may be transferred between establishments. The majority of under 21 year olds on remand will be held in young offender institutions: information from the Scottish Prison Service management information system shows that on 21 March 2014, 126 out of the 137 untried under 21 year olds were in a young offenders institution.\r\nAverage and maximum time spent on remand for liberated prisoners by age (days): 2007 to 2011\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\nAverage\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnder 21\r\n36\r\n37\r\n36\r\n34\r\n35\r\n21 and over\r\n35\r\n38\r\n38\r\n37\r\n37\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMaximum\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnder 21\r\n646\r\n531\r\n365\r\n307\r\n283\r\n21 and over\r\n967\r\n568\r\n730\r\n504\r\n449\r\nSource: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services. Data are derived from the SPS management information system.\r\n1. Nearly 90% of cases involve remand periods of three months or less. However, some particularly complex cases may result in relatively long periods on remand.  \r\n2. Figures for 2012 onward are not yet available due to on-going technical difficulties with the Scottish Government prisons statistical system. \r\n3. Data presented here are drawn from an administrative IT system. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, they are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. While the figures shown have been checked as far as practicable, they should be regarded as approximate and not necessarily accurate to the last whole number shown in the tables. They are also updated and quality assured on an on-going basis, and the figures shown here may therefore differ slightly from those published previously.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:35.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293114,"EventID":"S4W-20299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:35.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people on remand in each year since 2007 was subsequently found (a) guilty, (b) not guilty and (c) not proven, and how many were given a (i) custodial sentence, (ii) custodial sentence that was less than the period spent on remand and (iii) non-custodial sentence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tracking the progression from remand to the point of sentencing is not always straightforward as individuals may move between custodial remand and bail at different points in the judicial process for a variety of reasons, such as appeals against the decision to remand in custody and time bars on the period an accused may spend remanded in custody.\r\nIn addition, it is not uncommon for an accused to be prosecuted in a number of different cases that are running concurrently, albeit at different stages, through the criminal justice system. This makes it inherently difficult to identify the specific outcome of a period on remand, both in terms of sentence type as one offender may be subject to different disposals, and in terms of sentence length as charges may be rolled up at sentencing stage.\r\nThe outcome of cases involving a period on remand is not routinely available as information on remand prisoners and outcomes of court cases is held on two separate administrative systems. The Scottish Prison Service system does not have information on the outcome of cases which do not result in a custodial sentence, and the Scottish Court Service system does not retain information on the use of remand.\r\nThe Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services carried out a research exercise linking prisons and courts data held by the Scottish Government to assess the outcomes of those remanded in custody during a given period. About two-thirds of records could be matched, and taking into account the above issues, the study suggested that about 60% of remand cases which could be matched to courts data resulted in a custodial sentence. A further fifth got a community sentence, while fines and acquittals accounted for most of the remaining cases (about 15% in total). However, the proportion of cases identified as resulting in a custodial conviction is likely to be an overestimate as it was more difficult to identify the outcome of remand cases which were not immediately followed by a custodial conviction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:35.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293115,"EventID":"S4W-20300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:36.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been assaulted in prison while (a) on remand and (b) serving their sentence in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) prison and (iii) young offenders institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe following tables illustrate the total number of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults broken down by establishment and gender. These include serious, minor and non-injury assaults; a descriptor for each category is appended below. The data includes all incidents recorded on the Scottish Prison Service prisoner records system up to and including 26 March 2014.\r\nUnfortunately, it is not possible without manually interrogating every entry listed to identify whether the prisoner was on remand or a convicted prisoner at the time of the assault.\r\nPrisoner Assaults\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\n2009\r\n2008\r\n2007\r\nHMP Aberdeen\r\n1\r\n19\r\n26\r\n18\r\n25\r\n30\r\n51\r\n20\r\nHMP Addiewell\r\n0\r\n21\r\n37\r\n43\r\n59\r\n83\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Barlinnie\r\n14\r\n43\r\n45\r\n66\r\n67\r\n79\r\n67\r\n63\r\nHMP and YOI Cornton Vale\r\n5\r\n15\r\n23\r\n67\r\n53\r\n50\r\n47\r\n38\r\nHMP Dumfries\r\n1\r\n12\r\n18\r\n33\r\n20\r\n26\r\n18\r\n34\r\nHMP Edinburgh\r\n10\r\n45\r\n59\r\n79\r\n74\r\n89\r\n83\r\n67\r\nHMP Glenochil\r\n8\r\n26\r\n22\r\n40\r\n38\r\n25\r\n34\r\n20\r\nHMP and YOI Grampian\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Greenock\r\n3\r\n14\r\n13\r\n20\r\n9\r\n22\r\n34\r\n24\r\nHMP Inverness\r\n1\r\n18\r\n11\r\n14\r\n10\r\n13\r\n20\r\n19\r\nHMP Kilmarnock\r\n8\r\n36\r\n60\r\n74\r\n39\r\n41\r\n68\r\n53\r\nHMP Low Moss\r\n7\r\n52\r\n44\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n12\r\nSPS Open Estate\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\n3\r\n0\r\n2\r\n1\r\nHMP Perth\r\n8\r\n61\r\n49\r\n61\r\n48\r\n54\r\n67\r\n59\r\nHMP Peterhead\r\n0\r\n7\r\n7\r\n2\r\n14\r\n10\r\n13\r\n16\r\nHMYOI Polmont\r\n43\r\n197\r\n120\r\n167\r\n166\r\n161\r\n130\r\n145\r\nHMP Shotts\r\n10\r\n18\r\n21\r\n13\r\n17\r\n19\r\n11\r\n11\r\nTotals\r\n120\r\n586\r\n555\r\n699\r\n642\r\n702\r\n645\r\n582\r\n\r\nMale Prisoner Assaults\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\n2009\r\n2008\r\n2007\r\nHMP Aberdeen\r\n1\r\n19\r\n26\r\n18\r\n25\r\n30\r\n51\r\n20\r\nHMP Addiewell\r\n0\r\n21\r\n37\r\n43\r\n59\r\n83\r\n0 \r\n 0\r\nHMP Barlinnie\r\n14\r\n43\r\n45\r\n66\r\n67\r\n79\r\n67\r\n63\r\nHMP and YOI Cornton Vale\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Dumfries\r\n1\r\n12\r\n18\r\n33\r\n20\r\n26\r\n18\r\n34\r\nHMP Edinburgh\r\n8\r\n42\r\n54\r\n73\r\n74\r\n89\r\n83\r\n67\r\nHMP Glenochil\r\n8\r\n26\r\n22\r\n40\r\n38\r\n25\r\n34\r\n20\r\nHMP and YOI Grampian\r\n1\r\n 0\r\n0 \r\n 0\r\n0 \r\n 0\r\n0 \r\n0 \r\nHMP Greenock\r\n3\r\n14\r\n12\r\n18\r\n6\r\n20\r\n34\r\n24\r\nHMP Inverness\r\n1\r\n18\r\n11\r\n14\r\n10\r\n13\r\n19\r\n19\r\nHMP Kilmarnock\r\n8\r\n36\r\n60\r\n74\r\n39\r\n41\r\n68\r\n53\r\nHMP Low Moss\r\n7\r\n52\r\n44\r\n0 \r\n 0\r\n0 \r\n 0\r\n12\r\nSPS Open Estate\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\n3\r\n0\r\n2\r\n1\r\nHMP Perth\r\n8\r\n61\r\n49\r\n61\r\n48\r\n54\r\n67\r\n59\r\nHMP Peterhead\r\n0 \r\n7\r\n7\r\n2\r\n14\r\n10\r\n13\r\n16\r\nHMYOI Polmont\r\n43\r\n191\r\n120\r\n167\r\n166\r\n161\r\n130\r\n145\r\nHMP Shotts\r\n10\r\n18\r\n21\r\n13\r\n17\r\n19\r\n11\r\n11\r\nTotals\r\n113\r\n562\r\n526\r\n630\r\n586\r\n650\r\n597\r\n544\r\n\r\nFemale Prisoner Assaults\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\n2009\r\n2008\r\n2007\r\nHMP Aberdeen\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Addiewell\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Barlinnie\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP & YOI Cornton Vale\r\n5\r\n15\r\n23\r\n67\r\n53\r\n50\r\n47\r\n38\r\nHMP Dumfries\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Edinburgh\r\n2\r\n3\r\n5\r\n6\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Glenochil\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP & YOI Grampian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Greenock\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n3\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Inverness\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\nHMP Kilmarnock\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Low Moss\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSPS Open Estate\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Perth\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Peterhead\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMYOI Polmont\r\n0\r\n6\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nHMP Shotts\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nTotals\r\n7\r\n24\r\n29\r\n69\r\n56\r\n52\r\n48\r\n38\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:36.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293116,"EventID":"S4W-20301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:36.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any (a) prisons or (b) young offenders institutions where remand and sentenced prisoners mix and whether this is against prison rules.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nIn most establishments where there are untried prisoners they are maintained in separate areas with separate regimes. However, on occasion due, for example, to population fluctuations, people held on remand may be co-located with convicted prisoners. \r\nThe Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 20011 Rule 16 states that governors must, so far as reasonably practicable, keep untried prisoners apart from other categories of prisoners for those in custody.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:36.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293117,"EventID":"S4W-20302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:36.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to people held on remand who are subsequently acquitted.\r\n","AnswerText":"Support is not automatically offered to persons on remand who are subsequently acquitted. \r\nVarious kinds of support may be available in individual cases. For example, individuals may be involved in an ongoing social work programme. They may also liaise with criminal justice social work to, for example, request access to a telephone to seek contact with their family.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:36.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293118,"EventID":"S4W-20303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:36.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many young people have been admitted to secure care accommodation in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) gender, (b) age and (c) institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information requested at (a) and (b) is given in table number 5.2 of The Children’s Social Work Statistics 2012-13, published by the Scottish Government in 2014. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe) (Bib number 55746).\r\nThe information is not broken down by institution to protect the anonymity of the young people. However, the number of beds in each secure unit can be found in table number 3.1 of the same publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:36.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293119,"EventID":"S4W-20304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:37.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions a resident has absconded from secure care accommodation in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:37.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293120,"EventID":"S4W-20305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:37.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many young people in secure care accommodation have (a) committed and (b) attempted suicide in each year since 2007, and what information it has on how many were (i) considered at risk of attempting suicide and (ii) receiving treatment for mental health problems, broken down by (A) institution and (B) gender.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:37.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293121,"EventID":"S4W-20306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-20T17:07:37.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T15:12:46.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what factors it considers have contributed to the current low crime figures.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s continued delivery of 1,000 extra police officers has contributed to the almost 40-year low in recorded crime.\r\nThe available international research suggests that a wide range of social, demographic, technological, economic and environmental drivers influence crime levels, as do policy and practice. Analysis of Scottish crime data suggests that each of these factors is likely to have played a part in the fall in crime, although no research currently exists that definitively proves the relative strength of each of these influences.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-03T17:07:37.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293127,"EventID":"S4W-20277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T16:08:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many plastic surgeons the NHS has employed in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested on the number of plastic surgeons the NHS has employed in each of the last four years broken down by NHS Board is provided in the following table.\r\nHeadcount of plastic surgeons employed by the NHS in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board\r\n \r\nSep 101\r\nMar 11\r\nJun 11\r\nSep 111\r\nDec 11\r\nMar 12\r\nJun 12\r\nSep 121\r\nDec 12\r\nMar 13\r\nJun 13\r\nSep 131\r\nDec 13\r\nScotland\r\n107\r\n103\r\n100\r\n103\r\n103\r\n100\r\n101\r\n92\r\n94\r\n94\r\n94\r\n92\r\n101\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Borders\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Fife\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n16\r\n14\r\n14\r\n12\r\n13\r\n14\r\n14\r\n11\r\n12\r\n11\r\n12\r\n15\r\n14\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n35\r\n34\r\n34\r\n36\r\n39\r\n39\r\n38\r\n32\r\n35\r\n40\r\n38\r\n39\r\n35\r\nNHS Highland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n35\r\n32\r\n29\r\n33\r\n29\r\n29\r\n27\r\n24\r\n22\r\n22\r\n21\r\n16\r\n27\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n21\r\n23\r\n23\r\n22\r\n22\r\n18\r\n22\r\n25\r\n25\r\n21\r\n23\r\n22\r\n25\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nNational Bodies and Special Health Boards\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:15.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293128,"EventID":"S4W-20278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:15.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T16:08:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards provide plastic surgery procedures and in which hospitals.","AnswerText":"Plastic surgery centres of expertise are located within NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside.\r\nPlastic surgery services are concentrated in these four NHS board areas, with \r\nin-patient services centred in the following hospitals:\r\nNHS Board\r\nNHS Hospital\r\nNHS Grampian\r\nAberdeen Royal Infirmary\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\nGlasgow Royal Infirmary\r\n\r\nRoyal Hospital for Sick Children \r\nNHS Lothian\r\nSt John’s Hospital\r\n\r\nRoyal Hospital for Sick Children\r\nNHS Tayside\r\nNinewells Hospital\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:15.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293129,"EventID":"S4W-20279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:15.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-19T16:08:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government where NHS boards that do not provide plastic surgery procedures refer patients requiring such procedures.","AnswerText":"Plastic surgery procedures are currently undertaken by consultant plastic surgeons in NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside. NHS boards that do not provide this type of procedure will refer patients to one of these centres of expertise for in-patient care.\r\nIn addition, out-patient consultations and treatments, including minor day surgery, are also provided by plastic surgery consultants at outreach clinics located in other health board areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:15.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293130,"EventID":"S4W-20307","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:16.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T10:19:55.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ministers exercise a form of road regulation when a special road scheme prescribes types of traffic that may, or may not, use a route.\r\n","AnswerText":"Where a special road scheme has prescribed the classes of traffic that may use that road, the road is regulated by section 17(1 ) and (4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which provides that the special road shall not be used by traffic of any other class and contravention of that provision is an offence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:16.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293131,"EventID":"S4W-20308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:16.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had about services for people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"Services for young people affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have improved in the last five years through our investment in specialist children’s services.\r\nOne element of this investment involved setting up a National Managed Clinical Network to address services in rheumatology including JIA. The Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network (SPARN,) has been set up to bring about improvements in services.\r\nThis has enabled SPARN supported clinics to be set up in all NHS board areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:16.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293132,"EventID":"S4W-20309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:16.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) quality and (b) geographical provision of health services for people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.","AnswerText":"Through the Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network (SPARN) we are improving both the quality and the geographical spread of health services for people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.\r\nSPARN supported clinics have been set up in all NHS board areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:16.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293133,"EventID":"S4W-20310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:16.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness of juvenile idiopathic arthritis among (a) GPs, (b) the general public, (c) school teachers and (d) school children.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Raising awareness of long term conditions including juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the responsibility of the each health board. The Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network provides information for patients and their families via a leaflet.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:16.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293134,"EventID":"S4W-20311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:17.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the provision of juvenile idiopathic arthritis services in each of the last 10 years, and how much it will spend in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided £32 million over three years from 2009 to deliver the National Delivery Plan for Specialist Children’s Services which includes rheumatology. From 2011-12, there has been a recurring investment of £19.5 million to continue this work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:17.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293135,"EventID":"S4W-20312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:17.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators are used to measure the quality of juvenile idiopathic arthritis services and how these are monitored.\r\n","AnswerText":"Improving services for people with juvenile idiopathic services has been part of the work of the Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network (SPARN) which was set up to improve quality and access to specialist rheumatology care.\r\nDuring 2014, SPARN will undertake an extensive review of the education sessions, protocols, guidelines and patient information which it has developed including through feedback from patients, their families and clinicians.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:17.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293136,"EventID":"S4W-20313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-21T13:47:17.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T13:12:29.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available to the families of people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"Provision of services for those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the responsibility of the individual health board.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-04T13:47:17.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293140,"EventID":"S4T-00646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:35.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T11:11:45.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the admission by the Chief Constable that some stop and searches are \"made up\".\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:35.103","MeetingDate":"2014-03-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293141,"EventID":"S4T-00648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:35.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T11:50:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report by Professor Leslie Young on a currency union with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:35.65","MeetingDate":"2014-03-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293142,"EventID":"S4W-20314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:02.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T15:51:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider amending the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 to increase the fixed penalty for fouling.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government ran a consultation on measures to promote responsible dog ownership, which closed on 31 March 2014. Along with a number of other issues such as microchipping and licensing, this consultation invited respondents’ to give their views on dog fouling and comment on any measures which might help to reduce the presence of dog fouling.\r\nOnce the responses to this consultation have been analysed, we will consider those views carefully before making decisions about next steps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293143,"EventID":"S4W-20315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:02.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T16:13:55.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the proposed network of marine protected areas achieves the UK level of biogeographical coherence.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the EU Wild Birds Directive (WBD) all member states are required to classify the most suitable territories, in number and size, as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The provisions relating to the creation of SPAs apply to all species listed in Annex 1 of the EU Wild Birds Directive which are resident within a member state’s territory, as well as regularly occurring migratory species.\r\nThe Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and other country nature conservation agencies, has undertaken an extensive programme of surveys of seabirds, seaduck, divers and grebes around the entire UK. This has enabled JNCC (in its UK coordination role), SNH and others to assess the full geographical range of those species for which SPA should be identified under the EU WBD. The application of the UK SPA selection guidelines, in particular guideline 2.2 (‘Species Range’), will ensure that wide geographical coverage of a species range is achieved.\r\nStage 1(4) of the UK SPA selection guidelines will be applied when application of Stages 1 (1)–(3) for a species does not identify an adequate suite of most suitable sites for conservation of that species, and enables expert judgement to be applied to select further potential SPAs as required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293144,"EventID":"S4W-20316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:03.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T16:13:55.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which species are being considered for inclusion in the proposed network of marine protected areas.\r\n","AnswerText":" I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20315 on 3 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293145,"EventID":"S4W-20317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:03.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T16:13:55.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use the stage 1(4) guideline set out in The UK SPA network: its scope and content to propose marine protected area status for nationally important populations of seabirds.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20315 on 3 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at; http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293146,"EventID":"S4W-20318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:03.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of renationalising the Royal Mail in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17347 on 10 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293147,"EventID":"S4W-20319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:03.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what timescale it has set for the renationalisation of the Royal Mail in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.","AnswerText":"Our approach to bringing the Royal Mail in Scotland back into public ownership will be considered in the light of circumstances at the point of independence, including the prevailing structure of the Royal Mail. It will require negotiation with the UK on Scotland's share of the government stake and establishing a new publicly-owned postal service in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293148,"EventID":"S4W-20320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:04.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government by what mechanism it will renationalise the Royal Mail in Scotland in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20319 on 1 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293149,"EventID":"S4W-20321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:04.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Royal Mail regarding its proposals to renationalise the company in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-17348 and S4W-17346 on 10 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293150,"EventID":"S4W-20322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:05.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the UK-wide universal service obligation would be maintained if it renationalised the Royal Mail in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will look to work with the remainder of the UK to ensure continuity of postal services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293151,"EventID":"S4W-20323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:05.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any additional cost to businesses in Scotland of a separate postal service in an independent Scotland and no UK-wide universal service obligation.","AnswerText":"On independence, stamp prices will be the same as they are at the time in the rest of the UK. A Scottish postal service in public ownership would not need to generate profits for shareholders and so should be in a better position to ensure that postal prices and deliveries meet Scotland's needs. This applies to sending post and parcels within Scotland, to the rest of the UK and to other countries.\r\nWe know that many people and businesses will continue to send post and parcels outside Scotland and it is our intention that postal charges to the rest of the UK will not be more expensive than charges to send post within Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293152,"EventID":"S4W-20324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T14:23:06.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:15:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the additional cost of running a separate postal service in an independent Scotland if it renationalised the Royal Mail.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20323 on 1 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293165,"EventID":"S4F-01987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:08.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-20T14:52:43.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:08.947","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293166,"EventID":"S4F-01989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:09.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-21T10:36:04.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:09.947","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293167,"EventID":"S4F-01992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:11.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:24:59.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:11.583","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293168,"EventID":"S4F-01993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:12.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:32:07.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government position is on BlackRock's warning to investors of the risks faced by an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:12.24","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293169,"EventID":"S4F-01996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:13.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T10:48:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how much money has been seized and reinvested across communities under the proceeds of crime legislation since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:13.097","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293170,"EventID":"S4F-02007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T12:55:16.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T11:57:54.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what role a constitutional convention would play in developing a written constitution in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-07T12:55:16.797","MeetingDate":"2014-03-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293171,"EventID":"S4W-20327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T16:43:16.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T14:49:38.663","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20084 by John Swinney on 20 March 2014, whether it will provide a breakdown by type of tax of the amounts adding up to the £700 million.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20084 on 20 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293172,"EventID":"S4W-20328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-24T16:43:17.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T15:06:35.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a (a) breakdown and (b) explanation of any payments made to Argyll Ferries Limited since July 2011 in addition to the contractually agreed payments for the provision of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.","AnswerText":"All payments made to Argyll Ferries Ltd since July 2011 are under the terms of their public services contract with the Scottish Ministers.\r\nArgyll Ferries Ltd annual accounts, which detail the subsidy payments received during each financial year, are published on the David MacBrayne Ltd website and they can be found at: http://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/reports/\r\nTransport Scotland publishes expenditure over £25,000 on a monthly basis on its website and these monthly reports include the grant payments made to Argyll Ferries Ltd. The reports can be found at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/expenditure/reports\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293184,"EventID":"S4W-20326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:28.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T14:38:07.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s comment on The Andrew Marr Show on 16 March 2014 that “the Fiscal Commission Working Group set out not just a plan B as you put it, but B, C, D, E and F”, whether it will identify each of the five alternative currency options.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293185,"EventID":"S4W-20329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:29.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T10:56:35.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many public meetings (a) there have been and (b) are planned on the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the referendum with the public. This programme includes meetings of the Scottish Cabinet, speeches and public meetings. At 1 April 2014 Scottish Ministers had attended 23 events across Scotland.\r\nScottish Ministers will continue to host public engagement events across Scotland in the coming months. These will be planned to cover a broad geographical spread to enable as many people as possible from all parts of the country to attend.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293186,"EventID":"S4W-20330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:29.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T10:56:35.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent hosting public meetings on the white paper on independence, also broken down by meeting.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want to make sure that the public are as well informed as possible about the content of Scotland’s Future and the huge opportunities offered by independence. To facilitate this, the Scottish Government has organised a full programme of public engagement events.\r\nThis programme is ongoing and I will update parliament on costs when expenditure for 2013-14 is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293187,"EventID":"S4W-20332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:30.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T10:56:35.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what types of activities and advertising related to the referendum other than public meetings it has carried out.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are undertaking a range of activity to ensure that people in Scotland can access the information they need to make an informed choice on 18 September. Public demand for Scotland’s Future has been high and on 11 March 2014, I confirmed that over 100,000 copies had been ordered in digital format and in hard copy. The Scottish Government’s public information activity included press and billboard advertisements, a postcard drop to all households in Scotland and social media activity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293188,"EventID":"S4W-20333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:30.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T10:56:35.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on activities and advertising relating to the referendum, broken down by type of activity and advertising.\r\n","AnswerText":"The £450,000 budget for public information activity that I announced in Parliament on November 26 2013 is being used to ensure that people in Scotland can access the information they need to make an informed choice on 18 September 2014. Details of spend within this budget for 2013-14 will be published when expenditure for this financial year is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293189,"EventID":"S4W-20334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:30.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T11:09:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19720 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 February 2014, on what day the summit will be held.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s Responsible Dog Ownership Summit was held in Edinburgh on Thursday 27 March 2014.\r\nThere were over 50 representatives in attendance from organisations including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Guide Dogs Scotland, the Dogs Trust, Police Scotland and local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293190,"EventID":"S4W-20335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:31.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T12:41:34.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the £450,000 that it has set aside for public information activity related to the white paper on independence has been allocated.\r\n","AnswerText":"The £450,000 budget for public information activity that I announced in Parliament on November 26, 2013 is being used to ensure that people in Scotland can access the information they need to make an informed choice on 18 September 2014. Details of spend within this budget for 2013-14 will be published when expenditure for this financial year is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293191,"EventID":"S4W-20336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:31.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T12:41:34.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it gathered email addresses for the purpose of contacting people about the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government contacted both stakeholders with an interest in the publication of Scotland’s Future and individuals who had responded to the consultation Your Scotland, Your Referendum and indicated that they would be content for the Scottish Government to contact them on issues relating to that subject. This process is in accordance with the data protection principles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293192,"EventID":"S4W-20337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T14:39:31.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T12:47:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average salary will be for nursing and midwifery staff at pay bands (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4, (e) 5, (f) 6 and (g) 7 in April (i) 2014; (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2016, and what information it has on how this compares with staff in England.\r\n","AnswerText":"In order to calculate average pay, information on the numbers of whole time equivalent staff in each pay band would be required. This is not yet available for the dates specified. However, from information available, it is possible to make direct comparisons at representative points on the Agenda for Change pay scales. Agenda for Change is the terms and conditions package which covers nurses.\r\nThe following table gives representative differences at the first, third and fifth pay point on each band from 1 April 2014.\r\nAgenda for Change – Comparison of Pay Points 2014\r\nBand 1 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\nTop Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£15,058\r\n£15,414\r\nEngland\r\n£14,294\r\n£15,013\r\nDifference\r\n£764*\r\n£401\r\n*The bottom pay point available in Scotland is higher because of \r\nthe application of the Scottish Living Wage\r\n \r\nBand 2 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£15,058\r\n£15,829\r\n£16,660\r\nEngland\r\n£14,294\r\n£15,432\r\n£16,271\r\nDifference\r\n£764*\r\n£397\r\n£389\r\n \r\nBand 3 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£16,660\r\n£17,803\r\n£18,654\r\nEngland\r\n£16,271\r\n£17,425\r\n£18,285\r\nDifference\r\n£389\r\n£378\r\n£369\r\n \r\nBand 4 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£19,202\r\n£20,300\r\n£21,477\r\nEngland\r\n£18,838\r\n£19,947\r\n£21,265\r\nDifference\r\n£364\r\n£353\r\n£212\r\n \r\nBand 5 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£21,602\r\n£23,132\r\n£25,047\r\nEngland\r\n£21,388\r\n£22,903\r\n£24,799\r\nDifference\r\n£214\r\n£229\r\n£248\r\n \r\n \r\nBand 6 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£26,041\r\n£28,180\r\n£30,057\r\nEngland\r\n£25,783\r\n£27,901\r\n£29,759\r\nDifference\r\n£258\r\n£279\r\n£298\r\n \r\nBand 7 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£31,072\r\n£33,227\r\n£35,891\r\nEngland\r\n£30,764\r\n£32,898\r\n£35,536\r\nDifference\r\n£308\r\n£329\r\n£355\r\n \r\nAs the pay policies announced in Scotland and England cover both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years, it is possible to use these as a basis for speculative figures for the financial year starting April 2015. Finalised arrangements for pay in the NHS from 1 April 2015 have not yet been put in place and decisions for the 2015-16 financial year will be taken as part of the annual pay cycle.\r\nAgenda for Change – Comparison of Pay Points 2015\r\n(Forecast Based on Announced Policy)\r\nBand 1 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\nTop Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£15,358\r\n£15,714\r\nEngland\r\n£14,294\r\n£15,013\r\nDifference\r\n£1,064*\r\n£701\r\n*The bottom pay point available in Scotland is higher because of\r\nthe application of the Scottish Living Wage\r\n \r\nBand 2 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£15,358\r\n£16,129\r\n£16,960\r\nEngland\r\n£14,294\r\n£15,432\r\n£16,271\r\nDifference\r\n£1,064*\r\n£697\r\n£689\r\n \r\nBand 3 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£16,960\r\n£18,103\r\n£18,954\r\nEngland\r\n£16,271\r\n£17,425\r\n£18,285\r\nDifference\r\n£689\r\n£678\r\n£669\r\n \r\nBand 4 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£19,502\r\n£20,600\r\n£21,692\r\nEngland\r\n£18,838\r\n£19,947\r\n£21,265\r\nDifference\r\n£664\r\n£653\r\n£427\r\n \r\nBand 5 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£21,818\r\n£23,363\r\n£25,298\r\nEngland\r\n£21,388\r\n£22,903\r\n£24,799\r\nDifference\r\n£430\r\n£460\r\n£499\r\n \r\nBand 6 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£26,302\r\n£28,462\r\n£30,357\r\nEngland\r\n£25,783\r\n£27,901\r\n£29,759\r\nDifference\r\n£519\r\n£561\r\n£598\r\n \r\n \r\nBand 7 \r\n1st Point on Scale\r\n3rd Point on Scale\r\n5th Point on Scale\r\nScotland\r\n£31,383\r\n£33,560\r\n£36,250\r\nEngland\r\n£30,764\r\n£32,898\r\n£35,536\r\nDifference\r\n£619\r\n£662\r\n£714\r\nPay policies beyond 2015-16 have not yet been announced. It is therefore not possible to provide figures for 1 April 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293210,"EventID":"S4W-20338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-25T16:47:39.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:02:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland was given sight of the Public Audit Committee's draft private report on its scrutiny of the Audit Scotland report, Police reform: Progress update 2013 and, if so, by whom.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are well established procedures for official engagement with parliamentary committees which have been followed. The Scottish Government is aware of the ongoing consideration of the report as set out in minutes of the Public Audit Committee's meetings on 19 and 26 March 2014. The Scottish Government gave evidence to the committee on 18 December 2013 and provided further correspondence and answered further queries from the Committee following the evidence session.\r\nI am also aware that the Scottish Police Authority wrote to the Public Audit Committee on 26 March 2014 following the publication of the board papers to update them on progress on a number of key strategic issues the committee had shown an interest in.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293215,"EventID":"S4W-20348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T12:04:04.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T11:52:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are being made for future censuses in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"National Records of Scotland (NRS) has today announced that it intends to focus on planning for a census in 2021 which will be primarily online, while offering alternative modes of completion where necessary. It also aims to make best use of technology and administrative data in its design, building on the online approach used successfully in the 2011 census.\r\nThis follows on from the Beyond 2011 programme of work in Scotland to review the options for providing population statistics. The review focused on two options: \r\nan online census option carried out every 10 years supplemented by the use of administrative data to produce annual population estimates in intervening years.\r\nan administrative data option using administrative data already held by government and annual surveys.\r\nThe decision to focus plans on a census in 2021 in Scotland was based on a variety of evidence, including results from research, stakeholder engagement, a user consultation and international experience. A final decision will be taken in 2016 on the basis of the business case.\r\nA programme of consultation and engagement will continue by NRS to understand user requirements and shape the design of the 2021 census. The findings from Beyond 2011 to date will be incorporated into the programme of work.\r\nFurther research will be carried out to enable greater use of administrative data and surveys in the future.\r\nFor further information please go to the new Census 2021 section on the NRS website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-03-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T12:04:04.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293216,"EventID":"S4W-20347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T13:46:01.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T10:01:41.1","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S4F-00845 by Alex Salmond on 13 September 2012 (Official Report, c.11415), in which the First Minister said that it was the Scottish Government's \"responsibility to put forward an estimate\" of the impact on climate change of its policy on air passenger duty, for what reason this estimate has not been made and, in light of the finding of the Committee on Climate Change’s report, Reducing emissions in Scotland: 2014 progress report, that, in 2011, emissions from international aviation and shipping were 2.5 MtCO2e, which represents an increase of 4% on the previous year, when it will publish this estimate.\r\n","AnswerText":"As part of the detailed consideration of reforms to the UK Government’s air passenger duty following independence or devolution of the tax to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government will conduct analysis on the environmental impact of proposals. That will be undertaken and the results made available in due course. We recognise the need to monitor the impact of activities on emissions as part of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293226,"EventID":"S4O-03086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:01.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:02.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill will provide opportunities for community ownership.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:01.607","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293227,"EventID":"S4O-03087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:01.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:03.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Ofgem’s announcement that it will delay the implementation of grid charging reforms.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:01.933","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293228,"EventID":"S4O-03088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:02.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T11:50:59.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how widely it estimates zero hours contracts are used.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:02.23","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293229,"EventID":"S4O-03090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:02.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T10:08:38.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met representatives of Aberdeen City Council and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:02.62","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293230,"EventID":"S4O-03091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:02.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T09:22:49.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the planned minimum wage rise recently announced by the UK Government. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:03.01","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293231,"EventID":"S4O-03092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:03.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T09:12:22.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which aspects of national sovereignty the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth would be prepared to cede in order to achieve a currency union with the rest of the UK, if Scotland decided to separate from the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:03.37","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293232,"EventID":"S4O-03093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:04.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T10:01:41.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the proposed bareboat tax on the oil and gas industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:04.257","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293233,"EventID":"S4O-03094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:04.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T16:12:55.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met members of the Aberdeen City Council administration and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:04.553","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293234,"EventID":"S4O-03095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:04.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T17:17:55.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with relevant stakeholders regarding access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:04.883","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293235,"EventID":"S4O-03096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:05.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:06.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of cost savings of using Revenue Scotland rather than HMRC for collecting and managing landfill tax and land and buildings transaction tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:05.193","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293236,"EventID":"S4O-03097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:05.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:06.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what considerations led it to propose a three pence cut in corporation tax below the prevailing rate in the remaining UK in the event of independence.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:05.473","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293237,"EventID":"S4O-03098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:06.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T22:32:54.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in taking forward the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:06.287","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293238,"EventID":"S4O-03099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:06.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T10:00:26.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what economic modelling the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has carried out on the childcare policies contained in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Improving access to childcare would reduce an important barrier to participation in the labour market faced by parents with young children, which would be expected to have positive impacts on the Scottish economy.\r\nThe Scottish Government has carried out economic modelling that showed that if Scotland’s female participation rate was to increase to Swedish levels, this would lead to an increase in output of £2.2 billion and a rise in government revenues of around £700 million in the long-run. The details of this modelling are provided in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic analysis paper, which was published in January 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:06.643","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293239,"EventID":"S4O-03100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:07.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T11:47:38.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the green deal supports the expansion of low carbon options in homes. \r\n","AnswerText":"The green deal and green deal finance enables householders to implement energy efficiency measures within their homes with little or no upfront cost. It facilitates the payment of those measures through energy bills and is therefore attached to the home and not the individual.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:07.317","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293240,"EventID":"S4O-03101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:07.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:08.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on businesses of a Scottish postal service in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"With independence, the regulation of mail in Scotland will give the Scottish Parliament powers to address the way the market functions and deliver fair prices for Scottish businesses.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:07.627","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293241,"EventID":"S4O-03102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:08.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:08.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact in Scotland will be of changes to private pensions announced in the 2014 UK Budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"Support for pensioners is long overdue and we will be carefully monitoring the impact of the changes announced in the 2014 Budget on pensioners in Scotland. Whilst the changes will introduce greater flexibility for people with private pensions, it is not yet clear whether they will benefit those who are struggling to save for their retirement. \r\nGiven the high concentration of life insurance and pensions services in the country, we will also be monitoring the impact on, and opportunities for, the Scottish financial services sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:08.05","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293242,"EventID":"S4O-03103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:09.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the continuing levying of air passenger duty is having on the Scottish tourist industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"Air passenger duty (APD) has a negative impact on our tourism industry by making travel to and from Scotland more expensive. A study by York Aviation in October 2012 found that by 2016, £210 million less per annum will be spent in Scotland by inbound visitors than if APD had not risen as it has since 2007.\r\nAs set out in Scotland’s Future, this Government would prioritise a 50 per cent reduction in APD within the first term of an independent Scottish Parliament with a view to eventual abolition of the tax when public finances allowed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:09.017","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293243,"EventID":"S4O-03104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:09.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:09.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many renewable energy supply chain jobs have been announced by ministers in person or by news release since May 2011, and how many of those jobs are now in place.","AnswerText":"Renewable energy supports at least 11,695 jobs in Scotland. The true figure, taking full account of jobs in areas such as civil engineering, is likely to be higher still.\r\nThe single greatest threat to Scotland realising the jobs and investment potential of its vast renewable resource is the uncertainty caused by the UK government’s electricity market reform process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:09.313","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293244,"EventID":"S4O-03105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:09.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T17:22:22.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth took to ensure that the white paper on independence contained full and transparent costings for its policy pledges.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland's Future was produced to the highest professional standards by Scottish Government civil servants, like all Government publications. Scotland’s Future was rigorously scrutinised within Government by economists, statisticians and finance officials, and is thoroughly referenced throughout.\r\nChapter 2 details our spending plans for the first year of an independent Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:09.64","MeetingDate":"2014-04-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293245,"EventID":"S4O-03106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:09.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:22.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the estimated 100,000 increase in the number of children living in poverty by 2020 would have on health inequalities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:09.92","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293246,"EventID":"S4O-03107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:10.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:22.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect communities from overprovision of student accommodation.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:10.187","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293247,"EventID":"S4O-03108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:10.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:35:01.593","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on communities of fixed-odds betting terminals.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:10.653","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293248,"EventID":"S4O-03109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:10.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:23.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details on how the industry led talent academy model to be developed as part of its planned £6.6 million investment in the Skills Investment Plan will support software engineering.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:10.933","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293249,"EventID":"S4O-03110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:11.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:23.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Transport Scotland regarding the development of rail freight.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:11.247","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293250,"EventID":"S4O-03111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:11.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T11:27:23.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on applications to the Community Links Programme for cycle infrastructure improvements.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:11.62","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293251,"EventID":"S4O-03113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:11.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T16:03:25.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions regarding school closures in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will be applied retroactively to schools that have recently been proposed for closure.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:11.963","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293252,"EventID":"S4O-03114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:12.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-24T12:02:24.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the bowel screening awareness campaign has been since it was launched in February 2013.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:12.387","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293253,"EventID":"S4O-03115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T14:59:12.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T11:54:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what input the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had to its programme to deal with asbestos in public and private workplaces.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-09T14:59:12.667","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293254,"EventID":"S4W-20339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:40.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of female prisoners are classified as high security.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service does not use the security classification system. Prisons are classified as requiring high, medium or low levels of supervision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293255,"EventID":"S4W-20340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:40.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the highest security category of prisoners at HMP Inverclyde will be and what proportion are expected to be classified as high security.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service operates a high, medium and low supervision system which governs the level of supervision and monitoring prisoners require. HMP and YOI Inverclyde will hold women prisoners of all supervision levels. There are currently around 18% of women prisoners classified as high supervision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293256,"EventID":"S4W-20342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:40.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which (a) international experts and (b) children and family groups the Scottish Prison Service has consulted regarding the design of HMP Inverclyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nThe HMP and YOI Inverclyde project design team have carried out extensive literature reviews and benchmarking exercises to ensure the facility is robustly designed to meet the needs of women. This included attendance at international events as well as a range of institutions both at home and abroad meeting with a range of experts.\r\nSACRO, Families Outside, Turning Point and Willow Project are an example of some of the children and family groups who have been involved during the development’s design phase.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293257,"EventID":"S4W-20343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:41.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place regarding public transport links to HMP Inverclyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nOve Arup and Partners Scotland Ltd were commissioned by the HMP and YOI Inverclyde project design team to produce a travel plan which details sustainable travel options for visitors and staff to the new prison and YOI. The travel plan includes for the provision of a travel plan co-ordinator who will be appointed in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293258,"EventID":"S4W-20344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:41.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place regarding healthcare services at HMP Inverclyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde health board are closely involved in the design phase of HMP and YOI Inverclyde development project. This partnership working will continue throughout the development lifecycle. \r\nPrimary care services will be provided at the new establishment to a standard equivalent to that available within the community. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293259,"EventID":"S4W-20345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:41.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision HMP Inverclyde will make for prisoners (a) who are pregnant and (b) with babies.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“HMP and YOI Inverclyde will provide a purpose built mother and baby unit which may also be used, as appropriate, and depending on individual need, for pregnant women who may also be accommodated in mainstream accommodation.\r\nAll pregnant women and those with babies will have their physical needs met by the NHS healthcare team, and their general management will be via a multidisciplinary team approach with named lead professionals. Each woman will also have a personal officer to co-ordinate her general care and support.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293260,"EventID":"S4W-20346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:41.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-25T16:55:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on accommodating (a) men and (b) young offenders at HMP Inverclyde if there is a reduction in the number of female prisoners.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“HMP and YOI Inverclyde is being purpose designed as Scotland’s national facility for women offenders. It will provide gender specific accommodation for women of all ages, including young offenders. There are no plans to accommodate male offenders at HMP and YOI Inverclyde.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293261,"EventID":"S4W-20349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:42.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on communities in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government about Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had specific discussions with the Home Office about the immigration and compliance teams that operate in Scotland. However, Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly communicate with the Home Office, and raise issues of concern to communities in Scotland through these communications, including discussions on the issue of immigration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293262,"EventID":"S4W-20352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:42.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many accusations about the use of excessive force by Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland have been received by (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and is a matter for Police Scotland and the Crown Office respectively.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293263,"EventID":"S4W-20354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:42.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides facilities to Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland and, if so, where these are located.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not provide facilities to Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams. Home Office immigration enforcement can request from Police Scotland, with 72 hours’ notice, use of custody facilities where these may be required for an operation. The location of these custody facilities is dependent upon where the operation is to take place. Home Office Immigration Enforcement utilise custody suites as directed by Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293264,"EventID":"S4W-20355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:42.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what liaison there is between the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The branch of Home Office immigration that deals with criminal matters is the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation team, which has responsibility for disrupting and dismantling organised criminal networks involved in organised immigration crime. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service liaises with the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation team on criminal matters.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293265,"EventID":"S4W-20356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:42.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate has authority to instruct Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams deal with civil matters of immigration law. The Lord Advocate is the head of the system of prosecution and investigation of sudden, suspicious, unexpected and unexplained deaths in Scotland. The Lord Advocate does not instruct Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams, which operate in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293266,"EventID":"S4W-20357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:43.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland can access the (a) staffing and (b) other resources of Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is joint working between Home Office immigration enforcement and the Border Policing Command within Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, the focus of which has been to protect vulnerable people and identify those foreign national offenders who are causing harm to communities. At present Police Scotland have one officer seconded to Home Office immigration enforcement. There is one Home Office immigration enforcement officer embedded within Specialist Crime Division and two officers embedded within key custody suites to ensure the appropriate checks on detainees are being carried out.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293267,"EventID":"S4W-20359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:43.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:32:49.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides funding to (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations in relation to the work of Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams that operate in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not provide specific funding to local authorities or third sector organisations in relation to the work of Home Office immigration compliance and enforcement teams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293268,"EventID":"S4W-20361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:43.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T12:41:14.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) statutory guidance, (b) regulations or (c) memoranda of understanding determine what (i) representative organisations and (ii) regulatory bodies of the medical and healthcare professions it must negotiate with over fees and regulations.\r\n","AnswerText":"The regulation of healthcare professionals is carried out by UK wide regulatory bodies which are independent of government. These bodies include the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Each regulator’s governing body determines the level of annual fees they charge for registration, but any proposed change in fees will be subject to public consultation. \r\nMinisters in all four countries have committed to working together to ensure a consistent approach to professional healthcare regulation across national boundaries. The legislation governing the majority of healthcare professional groups is reserved to the UK Parliament; however, responsibility for all new groups and new professional regulatory bodies regulated since the Scotland Act 1998 is devolved and also subject to the scrutiny of the Scottish Parliament.\r\nTherefore any change to healthcare regulation is subject to public consultation and scrutiny prior to consideration by the UK Parliament and also in the case of devolved legislation, the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293269,"EventID":"S4W-20362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:44.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T13:48:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any special adviser was given sight of the Public Audit Committee's draft private report on its scrutiny of the Audit Scotland report, Police reform: Progress update 2013 and, if so, by whom.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20338 on 28 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293270,"EventID":"S4W-20363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:44.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:13:23.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be interim funding to support improvements in the quality of life of people with dementia while the Life Changes Trust funding programme is developed.","AnswerText":"Funding to improve dementia services to help improve the quality of life for people with dementia and for the delivery of local dementia strategies continues to be drawn from the overall funds allocated to NHSScotland and local authorities by the Scottish Government.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government provides national funding to support delivery of the 2013-16 National Dementia Strategy and to help services meet the Standards of Care for Dementia and provide high-quality, safe and effective care, treatment and support. This includes funding to NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Social Services Council and Alzheimer Scotland to deliver the Promoting Excellence dementia skills and competencies framework to ensure all health and social services staff have the right skills and knowledge to support people with dementia. This includes supporting staff to deliver the Scottish Government’s national commitment to provide a minimum of a year’s worth of dedicated post-diagnostic support, coordinated by a named and trained link worker.\r\nNHS expenditure only on mental health (including dementia) in 2012-13 was £899 million. For dementia, this NHS spend will not include costs associated with treating people with dementia in hospital. Overall spend on dementia in health and social care is difficult to calculate given the diverse way dementia spend is made through social work and other budgets such as older people’s care, housing adaptations, telecare, palliative care, primary care and pharmacy. In addition, Change Fund money has been used across Scotland to improve and modernise community-based dementia services and resources to support better care, information and quality of life for people with dementia.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293271,"EventID":"S4W-20364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:44.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:25:33.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the £2.5 million it provided to Citizens Advice Scotland has been used to help people affected by welfare reform.\r\n","AnswerText":"The funds are being distributed to local Citizen’s Advice Bureaux across Scotland to enable them to increase their front line capacity to meet the growing demand for advice services in the face of the UK Government’s welfare reforms.\r\nWe recognise the key role of the third sector in dealing with the consequences of these reforms and we remain committed to working with them to mitigate the worst impacts for people in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293272,"EventID":"S4W-20365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:45.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:35:49.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted research into the health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes for (a) smokers and (b) passive smokers.\r\n","AnswerText":"E-cigarettes are a relatively new products so research on the long term health impacts is not currently available. While the Scottish Government has not commissioned its own research into the health risks of e-cigarettes, it will consider the publicly available evidence which underpinned the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency report The Regulation of Nicotine Containing Products: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/comms-ic/documents/websiteresources/con286834.pdf \r\nand the Tobacco Products Directive: \r\nhttp://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision/index_en.htm \r\nin considering future policy on e-cigarettes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293273,"EventID":"S4W-20366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:45.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:35:49.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward legislation on e-cigarettes.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02994 on 12 March 2014. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website and the Official Report can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9016\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293274,"EventID":"S4W-20367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:45.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:35:49.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken research into the uptake of the use of e-cigarettes by (a) ex-smokers, (b) people under 18 and (c) non-smokers.\r\n","AnswerText":"E-cigarettes are relatively new products so only limited research is available. While the Scottish Government has not commissioned its own research into the use of e-cigarettes, a question on the use of e-cigarettes by under 18s has been added for the first time to the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey. The 2013-2014 data will be available late 2014. More generally, new questions asking about the use of electronic cigarettes were added to the Scottish Health Survey in 2014 and the data will be available in September 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293275,"EventID":"S4W-20368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:46.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the statement in the Committee on Climate Change report, Reducing emissions in Scotland: 2014 progress report, that “going forward, the achievement of both annual emission targets and sectoral targets remains very challenging.”","AnswerText":"Scotland’s climate change targets are challenging, as they should be given the global impact of climate change. The Scottish Government welcome that the Committee on Climate Change recognise the nature of the challenge, but also that they praise Scotland’s progress and in a number of ‘key emitting sectors’ namely electricity and energy efficiency, where progress is ahead of that of the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293276,"EventID":"S4W-20369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:46.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of the Committee on Climate Change report, Reducing emissions in Scotland: 2014 progress report, it considers that it will meet its 2012 target for lowering emissions.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20065 on 19 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293277,"EventID":"S4W-20370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:46.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the statement in the Committee on Climate Change report, Reducing emissions in Scotland: 2014 progress report, that achieving the current legislated targets will be “difficult”; what its position is on the report’s view that the Scottish Government's options are to “adjust targets” or find “additional opportunities to reduce emissions that go beyond current and proposed policies\"; whether it remains its position that the Second Report on Proposals and Policies will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet yearly targets, and whether it will bring forward further policies and proposals due to failures to meet legislated targets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government notes the Committee's advice regarding the impact of revisions to the Scottish greenhouse gas inventory data for 2011 and subsequent years, and will closely examine both options identified to address the challenge this has created. We note, in respect of 2011, that the Committee stressed (p12) that:\r\n“It is important to note that the difference between estimated emissions and the target is less than the impact of the inventory revision. It can therefore be argued that the target was missed mainly because of the inventory revision.”\r\nThe Second Report on Proposals and Policies sets out how Scotland can deliver its statutory annual targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The longer term trend shows that emissions in Scotland are reducing and we remain confident Scotland is on a trajectory to achieve the ambitious 2020 target of a 42 per cent emissions reduction. In accordance with section 36 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Second Report on Proposals and Policies sets out how the Scottish Government plans to compensate for missing both the 2010 and 2011 emissions target.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293278,"EventID":"S4W-20372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:46.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19493 by Richard Lochhead on 27 February 2014, what research has been undertaken to determine whether the number of screening applications received since 2007 is an indication of (a) a low level of activity that breaches the regulations or (b) low awareness of farmers of the requirements of the regulations, and, if so, whether that research has been published.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) register, records the numbers of screening applications and the number of these which then require a full EIA under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. This data is collected from Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area offices. As yet, there has not been any research carried out to determine whether the numbers provided in the written answer to S4W-19493 are due to a low level of activity that breaches the regulations or are a result of farmer’s awareness of the regulations. However, we intend to begin a review later this year of the implementation of the regulations, including associated guidance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293279,"EventID":"S4W-20373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:47.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19493 by Richard Lochhead on 27 February 2014, what steps it has taken to determine the effectiveness of the environmental impact assessment guidance issued to farmers and Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff in ensuring that the purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 is met.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s network of Rural Payments and Inspection Division (RPID) area offices carefully consider the potential environmental effects of all applications for land change submitted by land managers, as required under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. RPID staff consult with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Scotland. Other bodies, such as local authorities, are consulted if appropriate. All decisions are recorded in a public register, available for public inspection, and an appeals process exists, with the appointment of an independent person as appropriate.\r\nWe believe this forms the basis for a robust and effective implementation framework. However we intend to begin a review later this year of the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, including associated guidance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293280,"EventID":"S4W-20374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:47.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T14:57:41.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19498 by Richard Lochhead on 27 February 2014, what the content is of the training that Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities area office staff receive regarding implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006; whether it includes practical guidance on how to identify uncultivated or semi-natural land, and who delivers it.\r\n","AnswerText":"Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate inspectors have relevant professional agricultural qualifications and their knowledge of land classification is complimented by local training delivered by experienced staff. The training covers the obligations the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 places on land managers, plant species indicative of uncultivated or semi-natural land and the Environmental Impact Assessment application process in general. In addition, due to the current overlap with cross compliance the annual cross compliance training highlights the activities land managers are not allowed to undertake without approval under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293281,"EventID":"S4W-20375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:47.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T15:44:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Museum of Scotland concerning its decision to end the payment of weekend working allowance for retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011.","AnswerText":"I discussed this issue with the National Museums’ Chair and Director in March 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293282,"EventID":"S4W-20376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:47.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T15:44:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed with the National Museum of Scotland that it is appropriate for retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011 not to be paid weekend working allowance.","AnswerText":"National Museums Scotland are compliant with the Scottish Government pay policy including delivering the Scottish Living Wage for its own employees. Decisions on the pay structure for the National Museums are an operational matter for the body itself, taking into account the affordability of such decisions and general practice in the sector in which the National Museums operates.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293283,"EventID":"S4W-20377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:48.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T15:44:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for the National Museum of Scotland to end the payment of the weekend working allowance to retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011 without discussion or consultation with the staff's trades unions.","AnswerText":"National Museums Scotland (NMS) advise that the weekend working allowance was not withdrawn from any staff at the National Museums. I am also advised that NMS discussed weekend working and a number of other issues with trade unions in 2010 in the context of the challenging funding outlook across the public sector. This was a decision for the body itself taking into account the affordability of the overall paybill and general practice in the culture and tourism sector across the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293284,"EventID":"S4W-20378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:48.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T15:44:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for retail and visitor services staff at the National Museum of Scotland doing the same job to have different terms and conditions.","AnswerText":"The terms and conditions of staff employed by the national museums are an operational matter for that body. I am advised by the national museums that retail staff and visitor services staff have different roles, job descriptions and person specifications. The terms and conditions of staff employed by National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd were agreed as being outside government pay policy by the government when the body was established in 1998.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293285,"EventID":"S4W-20379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-26T17:14:48.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T15:57:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who formed the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning’s delegation to the OECD education summit in New Zealand.","AnswerText":"The parameters of the delegation were set by OECD and Education International, the organisers of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession. The UK delegation comprised the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning; Ken Muir, Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland; Larry Flanagan, the General Secretary of the EIS; Darren Northcott, National Official for Education at NASUWT and Ian Mitchell, Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293301,"EventID":"S4W-20380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:24.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) plans or (b) has had recent discussions with the UK Government about future NHS pay bargaining processes.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS pay is set with reference to the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (for Agenda for Change staff) and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (for doctors and dentists). The Scottish Government values the advice of these UK bodies and would anticipate continuing to make use of either these or equivalent bodies going forward, although no specific discussions have taken place with the UK Government on this issue.\r\nWith regard to direct pay bargaining, Scotland already has highly developed NHS partnership arrangements. Any direct negotiation on pay is already taken forward through these structures and this will continue to be the case in the future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293302,"EventID":"S4W-20381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:25.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the NHS pay review body to continue its role in pay bargaining and in setting pay.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government values the independent advice of the NHS pay review body. We will take a view at the appropriate time as to whether to continue to access advice from the current body, or whether a Scottish specific body would best serve the needs of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293303,"EventID":"S4W-20382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:25.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) abolishing and (b) replacing the NHS pay review body.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government values the independent advice of the NHS pay review body. We will take a view at the appropriate time as to whether to continue to access advice from the current body, or whether a Scottish specific body would best serve the needs of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293304,"EventID":"S4W-20383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:26.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it would introduce pay bargaining bodies and mechanisms for (a) health and (b) social care workers in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS pay is set with reference to the recommendations of the NHS pay review body (for Agenda for Change staff) and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (for doctors and dentists). The Scottish Government values the advice of these UK bodies and would anticipate continuing to make use of either these or equivalent bodies going forward, although no specific discussions have taken place with the UK Government on this issue.\r\nWith regard to direct pay bargaining, Scotland already has highly developed NHS partnership arrangements. Any direct negotiation on pay is already taken forward through these structures and this will continue to be the case in the future.\r\nTerms and conditions for social care workers in Scotland are currently a matter for individual employers. We have no plans to change this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293305,"EventID":"S4W-20384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:26.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it would set up an organisation similar to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government values the independent advice of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body. We will take a view at the appropriate time as to whether to continue to access advice from the current body, or whether a Scottish specific body would best serve the needs of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293306,"EventID":"S4W-20385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:27.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that organisations established to help develop its integration in health and social care programme are advised of human resources issues. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has established two working groups to support partnerships in bringing together a workforce for integration. The first, the Workforce Development Strategic Group is looking at the culture, behaviour and language of the workforce and the second, the HR Working Group, is looking at the technical complexities of bringing a workforce together.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293307,"EventID":"S4W-20386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:27.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHS 24 senior management since 1 March 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"I meet with the chairs of all NHS boards on a monthly basis, this includes the chair of NHS 24, and Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with the NHS 24 senior management team about a range of matters.\r\nSpecific information about ministerial meetings and engagements is published periodically and can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293308,"EventID":"S4W-20387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:28.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what targets are set to measure the performance of NHS 24 and whether they are being met.","AnswerText":"As part of the Local Delivery Plan (LDP) process NHS 24 agree with the Scottish Government the annual performance levels they are expected to deliver. The 2013-14 LDP can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.nhs24.com/AboutUs/NHS24Board/Local-Delivery-Plan\r\nNHS boards are accountable for their performance to patients and the public, and to Scottish Ministers, and each year undertake a public annual review and publish an annual report. Information related to this, including the NHS 24 self-assessment document and the follow-up letter from the annual review can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.nhs24.com/AboutUs/NHS24Board/AnnualReview\r\nhttp://www.nhs24.com/AboutUs/NHS24Board/AnnualReport\r\nThis information demonstrates that NHS 24 have consistently achieved or exceeded almost all of their performance targets over recent years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293309,"EventID":"S4W-20388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:28.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the NHS 24 staff complement has been in each year since 2007, broken down by profession.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the NHS24 staff complement for each year since 2007, broken down by profession, is available from September 2007 to December 2013, on a quarterly basis from September 2010, at whole time equivalent (WTE) and headcount level. The information is shown in Table 1 (WTE) and Table 2 (headcount). \r\nTable 1 - Whole time equivalent of NHS 24 staff by profession September 2007 to December 2011:\r\n\r\nSep 07\r\nSep 08\r\nSep 09\r\nSep 10\r\nMar 11\r\nJun 11\r\nSep 11\r\nDec 11\r\nAll NHS 24 staff \r\n862.8\r\n837.3\r\n917.0\r\n890.6\r\n879.6\r\n906.0\r\n920.3\r\n942.9\r\nMedical (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n 4.3\r\n 4.2\r\n 3.5\r\n 2.9\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\nDental (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nMedical and dental support\r\n-\r\n 2.5\r\n 5.3\r\n 27.5\r\n 42.4\r\n 41.2\r\n 45.7\r\n 46.9\r\nNursing and midwifery\r\n 330.8\r\n 310.8\r\n 329.5\r\n 325.5\r\n 315.0\r\n 333.1\r\n 343.8\r\n 352.3\r\nAllied health professions\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n 0.3\r\n 0.3\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\nOther therapeutic services\r\n 9.7\r\n 14.7\r\n 12.4\r\n 13.5\r\n 12.8\r\n 29.6\r\n 31.1\r\n 30.6\r\nPersonal and social care\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n 17.2\r\n 16.8\r\n 15.4\r\nHealthcare science\r\n 25.4\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nEmergency services\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nAdministrative services\r\n 477.9\r\n 487.7\r\n 543.6\r\n 502.2\r\n 488.3\r\n 465.1\r\n 463.8\r\n 476.1\r\nSupport services\r\n 17.9\r\n 14.4\r\n 16.5\r\n 18.0\r\n 18.0\r\n 16.5\r\n 16.0\r\n 18.4\r\nUnallocated / not known\r\n 1.0\r\n 2.9\r\n 5.6\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS), ISD Scotland\r\nTable 1 (cont) - Whole time equivalent of NHS 24 staff by profession March 2012 to December 2013:\r\n \r\nMar 12\r\nJun 12\r\nSep 12\r\nDec 12\r\nMar 13\r\nJun 13\r\nSep 13\r\nDec 13\r\nAll NHS 24 staff \r\n947.3\r\n922.6\r\n936.1\r\n985.5\r\n1,035.4\r\n1,006.1\r\n975.9\r\n982.1\r\nMedical (HCHS)\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 2.0\r\nDental (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nMedical and dental support\r\n 45.2\r\n 44.3\r\n 44.7\r\n 44.5\r\n 42.6\r\n 43.7\r\n 41.6\r\n 41.4\r\nNursing and midwifery\r\n 349.3\r\n 335.8\r\n 325.5\r\n 333.1\r\n 331.4\r\n 320.5\r\n 307.9\r\n 298.8\r\nAllied health professions\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\n 1.2\r\nOther therapeutic services\r\n 32.2\r\n 32.7\r\n 31.3\r\n 29.5\r\n 30.5\r\n 30.9\r\n 30.5\r\n 28.1\r\nPersonal and social care\r\n 15.4\r\n 14.2\r\n 16.2\r\n 18.0\r\n 17.4\r\n 15.8\r\n 17.1\r\n 15.7\r\nHealthcare science\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nEmergency services\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nAdministrative services\r\n 478.2\r\n 466.5\r\n 487.8\r\n 533.0\r\n 586.1\r\n 568.7\r\n 551.6\r\n 570.1\r\nSupport services\r\n 23.7\r\n 24.7\r\n 25.4\r\n 22.7\r\n 22.7\r\n 21.7\r\n 22.5\r\n 23.2\r\nUnallocated / not known\r\n-\r\n 1.0\r\n 2.0\r\n 1.5\r\n 1.5\r\n 1.5\r\n 1.5\r\n 1.5\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS), ISD Scotland\r\n\r\nTable 2 - Headcount of NHS 24 staff by profession September 2007 to December 2011\r\n \r\nSep 07\r\nSep 08\r\nSep 09\r\nSep 10\r\nMar 11\r\nJun 11\r\nSep 11\r\nDec 11\r\nAll NHS 24 staff \r\n1,260\r\n1,269\r\n1,418\r\n1,391\r\n1,367\r\n1,421\r\n1,452\r\n1,481\r\nMedical (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n5\r\n5\r\n4\r\n3\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\nDental (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nMedical and dental support\r\n-\r\n9\r\n16\r\n79\r\n105\r\n103\r\n108\r\n104\r\nNursing and midwifery\r\n501\r\n469\r\n516\r\n513\r\n493\r\n522\r\n542\r\n554\r\nAllied health professions\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\nOther therapeutic services\r\n21\r\n28\r\n27\r\n28\r\n25\r\n61\r\n69\r\n69\r\nPersonal and social care\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n24\r\n23\r\n21\r\nHealthcare science\r\n27\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nEmergency services\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nAdministrative services\r\n692\r\n738\r\n829\r\n745\r\n721\r\n691\r\n692\r\n712\r\nSupport services\r\n19\r\n16\r\n19\r\n21\r\n21\r\n19\r\n18\r\n20\r\nUnallocated / not known\r\n1\r\n4\r\n7\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS), ISD Scotland\r\n\r\nTable 2 (cont)-Headcount of NHS 24 staff by profession March 2012 to December 2013:\r\n \r\nMar 12\r\nJun 12\r\nSep 12\r\nDec 12\r\nMar 13\r\nJun 13\r\nSep 13\r\nDec 13\r\nAll NHS 24 staff \r\n1,487\r\n1,434\r\n1,435\r\n1,503\r\n1,564\r\n1,511\r\n1,447\r\n1,436\r\nMedical (HCHS)\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\nDental (HCHS)\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nMedical and dental support\r\n101\r\n97\r\n96\r\n94\r\n91\r\n94\r\n89\r\n88\r\nNursing and midwifery\r\n552\r\n522\r\n501\r\n509\r\n507\r\n485\r\n456\r\n438\r\nAllied health professions\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\nOther therapeutic s","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293310,"EventID":"S4W-20389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:29.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what average number of overtime hours NHS 24 staff have worked in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"NHS 24 have provided the following table which sets out the total overtime hours worked by NHS 24 staff in each year since 2007, and the monthly average for each year:\r\nYear\r\nTotal Annual Overtime Hours\r\nMonthly Average\r\n2007\r\n11,969\r\n997\r\n2008\r\n9,923\r\n827\r\n2009\r\n11,477*\r\n956\r\n2010\r\n1,887\r\n157\r\n2011\r\n4,145\r\n345\r\n2012\r\n4,977\r\n415\r\n2013\r\n2,251\r\n188\r\n* In 2009, NHS 24 were involved in the Scottish Government/NHS response to the H1N1 pandemic and operated the Scottish Flu Response Centre which required additional staffing resource.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293311,"EventID":"S4W-20390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:29.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many working hours have been lost to absence at NHS 24 in each year since 2007, broken down by reason.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293312,"EventID":"S4W-20391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:30.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what average time per call NHS 24 staff spend on calls with patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS 24 advises that the average talk time per patient is just over thirteen minutes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293313,"EventID":"S4W-20392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:30.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patient safety incidents NHS 24 has reported in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"Patient safety incidents can be generated from feedback from other parts of the healthcare system, patient feedback, complaint investigations or from staff completing adverse incident forms. NHS 24 has provided the following table which sets out the numbers of reported incidents in each year.\r\nReporting Year\r\nReported Incidents\r\n2007-08\r\n39\r\n2008-09\r\n43\r\n2009-10\r\n45\r\n2010-11\r\n46\r\n2011-12\r\n28\r\n2012-13\r\n21\r\n2013-14\r\n16\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293314,"EventID":"S4W-20393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:31.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much and what type of ongoing training staff at NHS 24 are expected to undertake.","AnswerText":"NHS 24 advise that all frontline staff are provided with a time allocation each month, which varies depending on individual needs, to complete personal development activities including call review and continuing professional development (CPD). Part of this time supports a blended learning approach in CPD delivery for frontline staff through mandatory clinical eLearning and eAssessment modules reflecting the service delivery profile of the organisation.\r\nThe current mandatory eLearning or eAssessment modules for nurses, team leaders, pharmacy advisors and clinical service managers are:\r\nAdult Support and Protection\r\nChest Pain\r\nChild Protection\r\nMeningitis\r\nRecognition of the Acutely ill Adult\r\nRecognition of the Acutely ill Child\r\n\r\nAll Call Handlers and Mental Health Nurses must complete:\r\nAdult Support and Protection\r\nChild Protection\r\n\r\nSuccessful completion of these core modules are a key component of the organisation’s patient safety and governance programmes. Updated versions of the modules are launched in April of every year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293315,"EventID":"S4W-20394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:31.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints patients have made regarding NHS 24 service provision in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"National annual statistics for NHS Complaints are published by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland. The 2012-13 statistics were published on 24 September 2013 and are available at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Quality-indicators/Publications/index.asp#1143.\r\nThis publication includes a specific table that sets out the NHS 24 complaints, by issue, since 2003-04.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293316,"EventID":"S4W-20395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:32.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints frontline NHS 24 staff have made against management in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The information sought is not available for the time period requested. However, NHS 24 advises that they have recorded such complaints as formal grievances since January 2010 and the numbers are set out in the following table.\r\nYear\r\nNumber\r\n2010\r\n3\r\n2011\r\n11\r\n2012\r\n22\r\n2013\r\n21\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293317,"EventID":"S4W-20396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:32.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS 24 has spent on IT systems in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for NHS 24, they have provided the following table which sets out their spend on IT systems in each financial year since 2007-08.\r\nYear\r\nSpend (£)\r\n2007-08\r\n10,108,643\r\n2008-09\r\n8,509,810\r\n2009-10\r\n10,959,379\r\n2010-11\r\n9,795,865\r\n2011-12\r\n11,092,127\r\n2012-13\r\n32,335,134\r\n2013-14\r\n19,086,655\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293318,"EventID":"S4W-20397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:32.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS 24 has shelved any new IT systems since 2007 and, if so, how much it had spent on their development.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for NHS 24, but they advise that no IT systems have been shelved.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293319,"EventID":"S4W-20398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:33.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what average number of hours NHS 24 staff work per day and how many breaks they are entitled to.","AnswerText":"NHS 24 staff are employed under the terms of the UK wide Agenda for Change agreement. Agenda for Change allows for all staff working more than 6 hours to be allowed an unpaid rest break during their shift, this is in line with the European Working Time Directive.\r\nNHS 24 advise that their staff will work a range of contracted hours and shifts to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and person centred care. The average number of hours worked across the service is 7.5 hours per day for full time staff and 6 hours per day for part time staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293320,"EventID":"S4W-20410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:33.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:17:34.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20069 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 March 2014, how many regionally deployed police officers in North Region are based in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government now publishes national police officer numbers. Sub-national police officer numbers are not held centrally by the Scottish Government. This is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\nPolice Scotland published sub-national police officer numbers as at 31 December 2013, on the 4 March 2014; they can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293321,"EventID":"S4W-20412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:34.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:17:34.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20069 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 March 2014, how many nationally deployed police officers are based in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government now publishes national police officer numbers. Sub-national police officer numbers are not held centrally by the Scottish Government. This is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\nPolice Scotland published sub-national police officer numbers as at 31 December 2013, on the 4 March 2014; they can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293322,"EventID":"S4W-20414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:34.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T17:39:41.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20229 by Michael Russell on 25 March 2014, for what reason the updated project pipeline was not published alongside the updated programme pipeline and progress report documents.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Progress Report for 2013, updated Programme Pipeline and updated Project Pipeline, were published simultaneously on the Scottish Government website on 17 March 2014, the first two via the publication page, and the third on the infrastructure investment page. All three publications can be found by way of the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/IIP\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293323,"EventID":"S4W-20415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:35.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T10:14:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people there are in each police control room broken down by (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff.","AnswerText":"This information is already in the public domain. It was published by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) for a public board meeting on 30 January 2014, and can be found on the SPA website at:\r\nhttp://www.spa.police.uk/news/2014/jan2014/207240/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293324,"EventID":"S4W-20416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:35.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T10:14:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many of Police Scotland’s civilian workforce are members of trade unions, broken down by trade union.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293325,"EventID":"S4W-20417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:36.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T10:14:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place should Police Scotland civilian staff vote to go on strike.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). However, the Civil Contingencies Act and regulations place several duties on Category 1 responders, such as Police Scotland. The Scottish Government’s ‘Preparing Scotland’ provides further guidance for organisations relating to civil contingencies and business resilience.\r\nWe are encouraged that the SPA and Police Scotland are committed to continuing dialogue with the unions and that the ballot on possible industrial action has been postponed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293326,"EventID":"S4W-20418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T14:09:36.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T11:57:39.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards provide family-based therapy for the treatment of eating disorders and what plans it has to boost this provision.","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally. \r\nThe Scottish Government recognises the importance of involving families and carers in the therapeutic process, particularly in the treatment of young people living with eating disorder.\r\nIn partnership with NHS Education for Scotland, we have published the ‘matrix’ guide to planning and delivering evidence-based psychological therapies within NHS boards in Scotland. This provides a summary of the information on the current evidence base for various therapeutic approaches, a template to aid in the identification of key gaps in service, and advice on governance issues. In respect of eating disorder, the matrix recognises there is evidence of benefit for manualised family therapy, for example, the Maudsley model. \r\nThe Scottish Government expects individual NHS boards to work with their partners to plan and deliver person centred, safe and effective services and treatments for eating disorder from the resources allocated to them by the Scottish Government. We will ensure faster access to evidence based psychological therapies through delivery of the 18 week referral to treatment target, effective from December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293357,"EventID":"S4W-20406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:36.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, what plans it has to vaccinate all (a) babies, (b) infants and (c) children with the Bexsero vaccine, and what steps it has already taken to implement such a programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is given independent advice by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory group who advise the four UK countries about all aspects of immunisation. The JCVI recently recommended a carefully planned immunisation programme for Meningitis B at 2, 4 and 12 months of age, as part of the primary infant immunisation schedule. The JCVI further advised that a targeted carriage study be undertaken in adolescents to assess the impact of the Bexsero vaccine on the acquisition of meningococcal carriage.\r\nI am delighted that the JCVI has identified the importance of introducing a vaccine against Meningitis B. This disease can be devastating for children and their families and I am very keen that we take the necessary steps to tackle its effects. I welcome the JCVI’s announcement, and officials will be working to ensure that the vaccine can be introduced as quickly as possible into Scotland’s routine childhood immunisation schedule. The first step will be for the Department for Health to begin the process of procuring the vaccine for the four UK countries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293358,"EventID":"S4W-20419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:37.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T13:56:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial car journeys have been to Yes Scotland meetings, broken down by (a) minister, (b) distance and (c) cost of journey.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are entitled to use government car service services for all journeys which have as their principal purpose the performance of their ministerial duties; this includes journeys to or from Government business.\r\nIn the period to 27 March 2014, there was one occasion where ministers attended ministerial events immediately prior to a Yes Scotland event. The details of this journey are as follows:\r\nThe Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities and the Minister for External Affairs and International Development: 16 January 2013 – Scottish Parliament - Glasgow\r\nWe do not break the costs down to individual journeys and therefore there are no costs directly associated with this journey.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293359,"EventID":"S4W-20420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:39.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T13:56:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dog wardens there have been in each local authority area in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 requires that every local authority appoints at least one authorised officer. An authorised officer is required to be skilled in the control of dogs and to have the capacity to instruct and advise others in matters relating to the control of dogs.\r\nI refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05956 on 8 March 2012 which provides information on the number of authorised officers appointed by each local authority as at 5 March 2012. The Scottish Government will shortly be seeking updated information from local authorities on the use of the 2010 Act, including the number authorised officers each local authority has. We will also be asking local authorities how many dog wardens they have.\r\nThe information on how many dog wardens there have been in each local authority area in each year since 1999 is not held centrally.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293360,"EventID":"S4W-20421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:39.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T13:56:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the police have spent on kennelling dogs in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293361,"EventID":"S4W-20426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:40.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:07:28.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be made available to each local authority in 2014-15 to place people with drug or alcohol problems in residential rehabilitation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on how much money will be made available to place people with drug or alcohol problems in residential rehabilitation in 2014-15 is not held centrally. It is for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to commission services to meet the needs of the local population.\r\nThe Scottish Government allocates funding to ADPs via NHS boards for alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and support services, which includes residential rehabilitation.\r\n2014-15 funding allocations for ADPs have not yet issued. However, indicative allocations for 2014-15 were shared with ADPs in their 2013-14 funding allocation letters issued in May 2013, and this information is provided in the following table.\r\nDecisions on spend to deliver local strategies should be made by ADPs. Under the national delivery framework for ADPs, NHS boards as well as being members of local partnerships have an additional role in receiving and accounting for Scottish Government funding for alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and support services on behalf of their local partners. These allocations represent the minimum amount that an ADP(s) will spend on these issues. All partners are free to supplement funds from their main budgets in order to meet the needs of the local population.\r\nNHS Board\r\nAlcohol\r\nDrugs\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n(£)\r\n(£)\r\n(£)\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n2,608,041\r\n1,815,923\r\n4,423,964\r\nBorders\r\n1,039,066\r\n315,141\r\n1,354,207\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n1,306,238\r\n685,622\r\n1,991,860\r\nFife\r\n2,559,878\r\n1,711,603\r\n4,271,481\r\nForth Valley\r\n2,195,629\r\n1,162,822\r\n3,358,451\r\nGrampian\r\n3,047,114\r\n2,723,191\r\n5,770,305\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n9,615,648\r\n9,930,619\r\n19,546,267\r\nHighland\r\n2,378,539\r\n1,276,822\r\n3,655,361\r\nLanarkshire\r\n3,715,353\r\n2,290,170\r\n6,005,523\r\nLothian\r\n5,837,979\r\n5,679,204\r\n11,517,184\r\nTayside\r\n2,916,119\r\n2,448,897\r\n5,365,016\r\nOrkney\r\n461,220\r\n106,500\r\n567,720\r\nShetland\r\n476,912\r\n129,477\r\n606,389\r\nWestern Isles\r\n541,392\r\n161,951\r\n703,343\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293362,"EventID":"S4W-20427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:41.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:07:28.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who will administer the money that will be made available to each local authority in 2014-15 to place people with drug or alcohol problems in residential rehabilitation.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20426 on 7 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293363,"EventID":"S4W-20428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:41.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:07:28.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much oversight the alcohol and drug partnerships have over the money used to place people with drug or alcohol problems in residential rehabilitation.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20426 on 7 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293364,"EventID":"S4W-20429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:42.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of private tutors and what was discussed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not met with any representatives of private tutors and has no plans to do so.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293365,"EventID":"S4W-20430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:42.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on the (a) prevalence and (b) uptake of private tutors.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect any data on the prevalence or uptake of private tutors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293366,"EventID":"S4W-20431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:44.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it, or any of its agencies, encourages the use of private tutors in the school education system.\r\n","AnswerText":"The use of private tutors is a decision entirely for parents to make and is a private arrangement between them and the individual organisation or tutor.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293367,"EventID":"S4W-20432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:44.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with representatives of (a) Kip McGrath, (b) Explore Learning, (c) Home Tuition Scotland, (d) Super Tutors Scotland and (e) First Tutors since May 2011, and what was discussed on each occasion.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not held any meetings with representatives of any of these organisations and has no plans to meet with them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293368,"EventID":"S4W-20433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:45.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the use of private tutors reinforces educational inequalities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is addressing educational inequalities through a wide range of policies and programmes including working more effectively with families who can most benefit from support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-10T17:31:45.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293369,"EventID":"S4W-20434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:45.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the reasons are for the reported rapid increase in the use of private tutors for schoolchildren.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect any data on the use of private tutors. The decision to use a tutor is entirely a decision for parents to make and is a private arrangement between them and the tutor.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293370,"EventID":"S4W-20435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:46.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:09:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the statement in the Holyrood Magazine of 19 March 2014 that \"hundreds more parents, concerned about the troubled implementation of new qualifications in Scotland, have turned to private tuition for their children at a cost of thousands of pounds per child\".","AnswerText":"We cannot comment on the report made in Holyrood Magazine; we have no evidence in relation to the assertion made in the article. The Scottish Government and its partners have provided unprecedented support for the introduction of the new qualifications.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293371,"EventID":"S4W-20436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:46.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:19:48.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19958 by Alex Neil on 12 March 2014, how much each NHS board (a) has been allocated in each of the last five years and (b) is expected to be allocated in 2014-15; how this compares with how much would have been allocated using the formula, and what each board’s expected total surplus or deficit against the formula is for the period 2009-10 to 2014-15.","AnswerText":"The NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula was first used to inform the allocation of health funds in 2009-10. When accepting the recommendations of the committee, the then Secretary for Health and Wellbeing noted that she placed “high importance on the need to avoid turbulence in NHS board funding and can confirm that no board will receive less funding than it does at present and any changes will be phased in over a number of years, as has been the practice under both the previous SHARE and Arbuthnott formulae.” For that reason, though the pattern of actual funding received by health boards is informed by the target shares derived using the NRAC formula, it is not identical to them.\r\nThe following tables set out information on actual allocations and target shares of NRAC-related funds for the years 2009-10 to 2013-14. Table 1 sets out the actual funds provided to health boards and Table 2 sets out the NRAC target shares.\r\nTable 1: NRAC-Related Health Board Actual Funding, 2009-10 to 2014-15, £m\r\nHealth Board\r\n09-10\r\n10-11\r\n11-12\r\n12-13\r\n13-14\r\n14-15*\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran \r\n557.2\r\n570.2\r\n573.7\r\n585.3\r\n601.7\r\n618.9\r\nNHS Borders \r\n162.2\r\n166.0\r\n167.1\r\n170.7\r\n175.4\r\n179.8\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway \r\n232.9\r\n238.3\r\n241.1\r\n245.8\r\n252.7\r\n\r\n259.7\r\nNHS Fife \r\n490.3\r\n502.9\r\n506.4\r\n520.8\r\n539.5\r\n557.3\r\nNHS Forth Valley \r\n383.9\r\n393.8\r\n402.1\r\n413.7\r\n429.4\r\n449.6\r\nNHS Grampian \r\n660.7\r\n678.5\r\n689.8\r\n711.7\r\n742.4\r\n773.3\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1,825.0\r\n1,871.4\r\n1,891.7\r\n1,933.5\r\n1,990.6\r\n\r\n2,047.2\r\nNHS Highland \r\n469.6\r\n480.6\r\n484.0\r\n495.4\r\n509.2\r\n525.2\r\nNHS Lanarkshire \r\n777.4\r\n798.4\r\n815.3\r\n836.5\r\n863.7\r\n890.3\r\nNHS Lothian \r\n987.1\r\n1,018.2\r\n1,053.3\r\n1,088.3\r\n1,136.6\r\n1,188.0\r\nNHS Orkney \r\n30.5\r\n31.3\r\n31.5\r\n32.8\r\n34.3\r\n35.8\r\nNHS Shetland \r\n35.9\r\n36.8\r\n36.6\r\n37.6\r\n38.7\r\n39.6\r\nNHS Tayside \r\n578.6\r\n592.9\r\n595.4\r\n608.3\r\n626.2\r\n645.0\r\nNHS Western Isles \r\n56.6\r\n58.1\r\n57.6\r\n59.1\r\n60.7\r\n62.2\r\nUnified Boards\r\n7,247.8\r\n7,437.4\r\n7,545.6\r\n7,739.5\r\n8,001.1\r\n8,271.9\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 2: NRAC Target Shares, 2009-10 to 2014-15, %\r\nHealth Board\r\n09-10\r\n10-11\r\n11-12\r\n12-13\r\n13-14\r\n14-15*\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n7.44%\r\n7.41%\r\n7.40%\r\n7.38%\r\n7.36%\r\n7.50%\r\nNHS Borders\r\n2.08%\r\n2.08%\r\n2.09%\r\n2.10%\r\n2.10%\r\n2.11%\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n3.02%\r\n3.01%\r\n3.01%\r\n3.01%\r\n3.00%\r\n\r\n3.01%\r\nNHS Fife\r\n6.88%\r\n6.89%\r\n6.87%\r\n6.89%\r\n6.90%\r\n6.79%\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n5.48%\r\n5.49%\r\n5.48%\r\n5.49%\r\n5.51%\r\n5.45%\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n9.45%\r\n9.48%\r\n9.60%\r\n9.63%\r\n9.68%\r\n9.77%\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n24.53%\r\n24.37%\r\n24.25%\r\n24.12%\r\n24.01%\r\n\r\n24.17%\r\nNHS Highland\r\n6.26%\r\n6.32%\r\n6.31%\r\n6.34%\r\n6.36%\r\n6.49%\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n11.01%\r\n10.99%\r\n10.95%\r\n10.95%\r\n10.88%\r\n10.94%\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n14.50%\r\n14.61%\r\n14.72%\r\n14.76%\r\n14.86%\r\n14.36%\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\n0.42%\r\n0.43%\r\n0.49%\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n0.44%\r\n0.45%\r\n0.45%\r\n0.45%\r\n0.46%\r\n0.48%\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n7.84%\r\n7.84%\r\n7.85%\r\n7.86%\r\n7.84%\r\n7.73%\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n0.63%\r\n0.63%\r\n0.61%\r\n0.61%\r\n0.62%\r\n0.70%\r\nUnified Boards\r\n100.00%\r\n100.00%\r\n100.00%\r\n100.00%\r\n100.00%\r\n100.00%\r\nNote: * the 2014-15 data is shown on the old health board boundaries, consistent with the rest of the data. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293372,"EventID":"S4W-20442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:47.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:43:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and on what date it expects the regulations to effect.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014 were introduced to Parliament on 3 April 2014. They will come into effect on 20 October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293373,"EventID":"S4W-20444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:47.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:53:08.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long on average each local authority in the Highlands and Islands region has taken to process a building warrant application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed; how many have taken over (a) one and (b) two months to process, and how these figures compare with the Scottish average.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. From 2005, local authorities’ verification performance has been measured under a balanced scorecard framework. This required them to have in place a customer charter that included measurable performance targets.\r\nBuilding on the previous approach, a revised performance framework for local authority verifiers was introduced in May 2012. The objectives include improving processing times, driving consistency, and enhancing the customer experience. The Scottish Government intends to publish a report in the autumn on the first full reporting year (April 2013 – March 2014) of the performance framework.\r\nLocal authority balanced scorecards from 2006-7 to 2012-13 can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/publa.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293374,"EventID":"S4W-20447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-27T17:31:48.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:53:08.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long on average each local authority in the Highlands and Islands region has taken to process a building warrant completion certificate application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed; how many have taken over (a) one and (b) two months to process, and how these figures compare with the Scottish average.  \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20444 on 10 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293375,"EventID":"S4W-20399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T09:21:06.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people under 65 have been diagnosed with dementia.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nProjected figures are approximations based on prevalence modelling only. Using the Eurocode prevalence model, there are approximately 3,000 people with dementia under 65 in Scotland, out of an approximate total of 86,000 cases of dementia.\r\nThe national dementia post-diagnostic HEAT target states that by 2015-16 all people diagnosed from April 2013, (including all people under 65 with the illness), will have a minimum of a year’s worth of dedicated post-diagnostic support, coordinated by a named link worker. The data collected centrally in connection with this target includes the age of the recipient of the service. This data will be available once it is of sufficient quality.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293376,"EventID":"S4W-20452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T09:21:29.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T10:39:23.29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation includes drive time to primary and secondary schools but not public transport times or availability.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20451 on 28 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293377,"EventID":"S4W-20400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:12.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for people with dementia and whether there is any support specifically for people under 65 with dementia.","AnswerText":"We know that of the 86,000 people currently living with dementia in Scotland, around 3,000 are under 65.\r\nLast year, Health Scotland published Younger people with dementia: living well with your diagnosis. Developed in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, it provides a range of insights and information from younger people with dementia and their family carers in their own words about what helps to live well with the diagnosis.\r\nThere are specific challenges for this group. Rarer forms of dementia are more common in under 65s and can be more difficult to diagnose.\r\nUnder 65s have different post-diagnostic support needs, in areas such as maintaining their community connections and accessing peer support.\r\nOur national post-diagnostic target, underpinned by a commitment that everyone diagnosed from 1 April 2013 will receive a minimum of a year’s worth of dedicated support, coordinated by a trained link worker and regardless of age, is based on Alzheimer Scotland’s 5 Pillar person centred support model and will help meet those needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293378,"EventID":"S4W-20401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:12.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help people under 65 who have dementia.","AnswerText":"We know that of the 86,000 people currently living with dementia in Scotland, around 3,000 are under 65.\r\nLast year, Health Scotland published Younger people with dementia: living well with your diagnosis. Developed in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, it provides a range of insights and information from younger people with dementia and their family carers in their own words about what helps to live well with the diagnosis.\r\nThere are specific challenges for this group. Rarer forms of dementia are more common in under 65s and can be more difficult to diagnose.\r\nUnder 65s have different post-diagnostic support needs, in areas such as maintaining their community connections and accessing peer support.\r\nOur national post-diagnostic target, underpinned by a commitment that everyone diagnosed from 1 April 2013 will receive a minimum of a year’s worth of dedicated support, coordinated by a trained link worker and regardless of age, is based on Alzheimer Scotland’s 5 Pillar person centred support model and will help meet those needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293379,"EventID":"S4W-20402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:12.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help people with early onset dementia who are too young to receive a care package.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland (2011) set out the minimum standard of care to which people with dementia, including early onset dementia, are entitled to. On-going national implementation of the Promoting Excellence dementia workforce skills and knowledge framework (2011) is supporting local services deliver those standards.\r\nUnder 65s have different post-diagnostic support needs in areas such as maintaining their community connections and accessing peer support. Our national post-diagnostic target, underpinned by a commitment that everyone diagnosed from 1 April 2013 will receive a minimum of a year’s worth of dedicated support, coordinated by a trained link worker and regardless of age, is based on Alzheimer Scotland’s 5 Pillar person centred support model and will help meet those needs.\r\nLast year, Health Scotland published Younger people with dementia: living well with your diagnosis. Developed in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, it provides a range of insights and information from younger people with dementia and their family carers in their own words about what helps to live well with the diagnosis.\r\nLocal authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess the needs of people and decide whether they should arrange any services and, if so, which services. Local authorities are expected to ensure that the resources available are used in the most effective way to meet individual care needs. Under Section 87(1A) of the 1968 Act, a local authority may charge for the adult non-residential, non-personal care it provides.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293380,"EventID":"S4W-20404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:13.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many home care clients are under 65 and have dementia.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293381,"EventID":"S4W-20405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:13.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-26T16:04:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people under 65 with dementia receive housing support.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293382,"EventID":"S4W-20450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:13.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T09:27:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what policy advisers it seeks advice from in relation to health and wellbeing and how much they are paid.","AnswerText":"The civil service are the primary source of health and wellbeing policy advice provided to Scottish Ministers. The costs of the Scottish Administration are published in the Scottish Government’s accounts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293383,"EventID":"S4W-20451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T13:57:14.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T10:39:23.29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation includes drive time to a range of services and facilities but not walking or cycling times.\r\n","AnswerText":"This response relates to S4W-20451 and S4W-20452 as they are specifically relating to individuals who experience deprivations in ‘access to services’.\r\nIndicators included in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) must fulfil a number of criteria that accurately reflect deprivations experienced by people and satisfy the conditions of an ‘official statistic’. These criteria include data being available at ‘datazone’ level for the entirety of Scotland and indicators being statistical correlated to other measures of deprivation in Scotland.\r\nThis domain was introduced in 2006 to address the perceived lack of access to services of individuals who live in rural areas. It is made up of several indicators, statistically correlated with other measures of deprivation, and includes journey times to the following amenities:\r\nGP surgeries; petrol stations, post office, primary and secondary schools and retail centres.\r\nJourney times to primary and secondary schools are only measured in drive times as there is no consistent timetable information across every datazone for school buses. The focus of SIMD is to measure deprivation, there is currently no consistent data available that statistically explains an individual’s experience of deprivation with walking and cycling times to local amenities.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293391,"EventID":"S4W-20453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-28T15:40:22.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T14:23:04.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on convenience store owners of the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our Tobacco Control Strategy, Creating a Tobacco Free Generation, sets out our ambition to reduce smoking prevalence rates to less than 5% by 2034. Plain packaging is one of a range of measures that will help us achieve that ambition.\r\nWe consulted on plain packaging in 2012, in partnership with the UK Government and devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales. We will continue to take account of retailers’ concerns as we develop legislation and move towards implementation of plain packaging.\r\nHowever, it is clear that our ambition for a tobacco free Scotland will mean less demand for tobacco products and fewer tobacco sales for all retailers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293396,"EventID":"S4W-20456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T14:01:15.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T16:15:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18425 by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 December 2013, whether it will provide the information broken down by people who have sought protection using the criminal courts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of people who have sought protection under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 using the criminal courts is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\nThe available information held by the Scottish Court Service is given in the following table:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNumber of Non-Harassment Orders Issued in Scotland during criminal proceedings \r\n2008-09\r\n33\r\n2009-10\r\n47\r\n2010-11\r\n49\r\n2011-12\r\n101\r\n2012-13\r\n183\r\nFigures relate to JP Courts, Sheriff Courts and High Courts.\r\nThe Scottish Court Service uses a live operational case management system for the processing of court business. The information held on the system is structured for these operational needs, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes. The information provided is based on the best information available from the case management system as at 3 April 2014.\r\nNon-harassment orders in criminal instances are at the request of the Procurator Fiscal Depute in court and at the presiding Sheriff's discretion. They may not be a final disposal and may only be on an interim basis.\r\nThis data relates to the total number of orders issued in Criminal Courts. The numbers are not directly comparable with those provided in the previous parliamentary question, which was based on the number of orders granted where this was the main crave within the writ.\r\nThe Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 amended provision relating to non-harassment orders granted following a conviction for a criminal offence involving harassment, to enable the court to take account of previous convictions, and to remove the requirement for there to have been a ‘course of conduct’ of harassment in such circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293397,"EventID":"S4W-20457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T14:01:16.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-30T08:40:56.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-01065 by Fergus Ewing on 31 May 2012 (Official Report, c. 9627), what subsequent discussions it has had with the partners of NorthConnect regarding the proposed interconnector between Scotland and Norway, and what impact the decision by SSE to pull out of the project will have on its deliverability.\r\n","AnswerText":"Increased interconnection is one of the aims of the Scottish Government’s electricity generation policy. Since the withdrawal of SSE in March 2013, the Scottish Government has had regular discussions with the remaining partners of NorthConnect and will continue to work with the project team. The consortium remains fully committed to the project, recently included in the European Commission’s projects of common interest list.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293398,"EventID":"S4W-20459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T14:01:16.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T12:05:38.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what planning guidelines it will use to regulate new house building on flood plains.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on planning and flooding. Current SPP, published in 2010, provides a risk framework and outlines an appropriate planning response to provide a basis for decision-making.\r\nSPP is currently under review. A revised SPP, which will retain a risk framework, is due to be published in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293409,"EventID":"S4T-00657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:52:40.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T11:32:10.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report by ISD Scotland into nursing vacancies.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:52:40.72","MeetingDate":"2014-04-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293410,"EventID":"S4T-00658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:52:41.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T11:35:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II report, what action it will take to meet the challenge of uncontrolled climate change.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:52:41.11","MeetingDate":"2014-04-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293411,"EventID":"S4T-00661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:52:42.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T11:52:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported comments by a UK Government minister that an independent Scotland could have a currency union with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:52:42.34","MeetingDate":"2014-04-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293412,"EventID":"S4F-02008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:21.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:24:36.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:21.567","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293413,"EventID":"S4F-02009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:21.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T15:24:54.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:21.923","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293414,"EventID":"S4F-02011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:22.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T09:29:03.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:22.627","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293415,"EventID":"S4F-02012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T10:20:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Trident nuclear weapons system being based in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:23.017","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293416,"EventID":"S4F-02015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:24.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T10:50:15.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Audit Commission report, An overview of local government in Scotland 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:24.5","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293417,"EventID":"S4F-02016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T12:53:24.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T10:52:52.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether Police Scotland has been subject to sufficient public accountability in its first year of operation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-14T12:53:24.903","MeetingDate":"2014-04-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293418,"EventID":"S4W-20460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T17:14:30.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T12:08:13.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its criteria are for determining whether a company is entitled to state aid; whether it adopts a so-called blanket approach in applying the criteria, and, if so, what steps are available to a company that wants to amend its classification.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government applies the criteria set by the European Commission for state aid eligibility. The main criteria are the beneficiary’s sector, size, and the activities being funded. It is therefore impossible to have a blanket approach in applying the criteria as every application for aid has to be assessed against these criteria. A company could only amend its classification if it changed its activities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293419,"EventID":"S4W-20461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T17:14:31.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T12:08:13.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to implement the commitment in the National Marine Plan to increase salmon production sustainably by 4% each year from 154,000 tonnes in 2010 to 210,000 tonnes by 2020.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully supportive of aquaculture and wild fisheries as reflected by the National Marine Plan. Both are key sectors underpinning sustainable economic growth that supports employment and economic wellbeing of many fragile rural communities across Scotland. The National Marine Plan outlines our commitment to support industry’s own targets to grow marine finfish (including farmed Atlantic salmon) production sustainably to 210,000 tonnes (164,380 T in 2012); and shellfish, particularly mussels, sustainably to 13,000 tonnes (6,525 T) with due regard to the marine environment by 2020.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s Ministerial Group for Sustainable Aquaculture (MGSA) supports this planned sustainable growth and includes representation from industry, wild fish interests, environment NGOs, COSLA, the enterprise network, Crown Estate and regulatory bodies. It has seven focused working groups (Science and research, containment, wellboats, interactions, farmed fish health and welfare, shellfish, and capacity), and updates are published on the Marine Scotland website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/MGSA. \r\nThe next meeting of the MGSA is on 19 May 2014.\r\nMGSA will seek to ensure the smooth implementation of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013, which further enhances the existing robust regulatory framework in place in Scotland to maintain pristine Scottish waters, on which both sectors depend. The Act and the work of the MGSA will identify actions that can be taken that are appropriate and will strike the right balance between growing the aquaculture sector and protecting the marine environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293420,"EventID":"S4W-20462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T17:14:31.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T12:37:30.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is accredited as a living wage employer.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is leading by example by ensuring all staff covered by our public sector pay policy, including the Scottish Government, are paid the Scottish living wage.\r\nThe Scottish Government is currently funding the Poverty Alliance to promote the Living Wage Foundation’s Employer Accreditation Scheme to increase the number of employers paying the living wage across all sectors in Scotland. A meeting has been arranged between the Scottish Government, the Poverty Alliance and the Living Wage Foundation in May 2014 to discuss the Scottish Government’s accreditation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293421,"EventID":"S4W-20467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-03-31T17:14:31.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T15:37:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication in 2012 of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report, Tapping all our Talents - Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: a strategy for Scotland, what progress has been made to encourage women to study STEM subjects and to improve the retention of women in STEM professions.","AnswerText":"Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, wrote to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in May 2013, setting out the progress made to encourage women to study STEM subjects and to improve the retention of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEM) professions. This requires a strategic approach as the issues apply across many sectors other than STEM alone. This strategic approach is guided by the Strategic Group for Women and Work, chaired by Angela Constance. Apart from addressing equality issues across sectors specific progress has been made in the STEM sector.\r\n£600,000 funding was announced for the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, securing delivery of their work to 2015. Their work has direct impact with individuals and organisations by addressing skills shortages, increasing the pool of qualified, skilled staff, raising awareness of the issues women face and increasing the profile of women in STEM careers.\r\nThe Scottish university sector has fully committed to increasing the diversity of the research workforce. Through outcome agreements with the Scottish Funding Council all the research intensive Scottish universities have agreed to seek awards under the Athena Swan charter, which recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in STEM in higher education.\r\nMembership of Athena SWAN by Scottish Higher Education Institutes has increased from 4 in 2010 to 14. Eight of the universities have already been awarded Bronze Awards. A further three departments have achieved silver awards and the University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry achieved a Gold Award, the second of only four schools in the UK to do this.\r\nAt the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012 the First Minister announced the CareerWise fund, which is a £250,000 fund to encourage girls and young women to consider careers in science, engineering and technology. \r\nCareerWise works in partnership with organisations to give female undergraduates and school pupils experience of working in the computer science, engineering and science sectors. CareerWise has secured over 40 paid student placements in a variety of organisations across Scotland this year alongside securing school placements for pupils across a number of schools and local authority areas.\r\n\r\nMake Young People Your Business is the Scottish Government’s campaign to persuade employers across Scotland of the business case for recruiting and growing young talent. During the week 7 to 14 March 2014 Ministerial engagement was around the theme of Make Young People Your Business in the Digital/ICT sector, with a particular focus on attracting more young women into the sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293445,"EventID":"S4W-20463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:15.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T14:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is participating in the national heart failure audit and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Heart disease remains a clinical priority for NHSScotland and the Scottish Government. There has been substantial investment and redesign in cardiology services which has contributed to NHSScotland reducing mortality rates from coronary heart disease by over 43% in the last 10 years.\r\nScotland is not participating in the national heart failure audit which is being carried out in England and Wales. The Scottish Government’s preferred approach to supporting improved care for patients with heart failure is to work with the Scottish Patient Safety Programme to encourage consistent delivery of the heart failure bundle across the whole of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293446,"EventID":"S4W-20464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:15.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T14:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the stated benefits of the national heart failure audit.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to providing the best quality care and treatment for people living with heart failure in Scotland. As with all aspects of heart disease we want services that address a person’s care needs on an individual basis.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s preferred approach to improving outcomes for people with heart failure is to work with the Scottish Patient Safety Programme to deliver the Heart Failure Bundle as part of a national programme of work being taken forward in relation to heart failure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293447,"EventID":"S4W-20465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:16.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T14:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the treatment and care of patients with heart failure.","AnswerText":"The Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan, emphasises the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling heart disease as a clinical priority for NHSScotland and specifically highlights the need for a greater strategic focus on improving the care of people with heart failure.\r\nThe Heart Failure Hub has been established as a subgroup of The National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease in order to take forward a national programme of work in relation to heart failure. The group brings together clinicians, managers, the voluntary sector and patients to ensure a co-ordinated approach to tackling the many challenges facing heart failure teams in NHS boards across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293448,"EventID":"S4W-20466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:16.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T14:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the (a) treatment, (b) care and (c) life expectancy of patients with heart failure in Scotland compares with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland has some of the best health service data in the world and on an annual basis produces information on a range of heart conditions in Scotland. There is evidence, that life expectancy for people with coronary heart disease, the main cause of heart failure, is increasing year on year in Scotland. Information is not collected centrally to allow directly comparable statistics on the life expectancy of patients with heart failure in the rest of the UK.\r\nRecent data suggests that the number of people surviving 30 days after hospital discharge with a diagnosis of heart failure is also increasing but there is scope for further improvement. The Scottish Government is prioritising quality improvement strategies for heart failure and will continue to work with the Scottish Patient Safety Programme to encourage reliable delivery of the heart failure bundle to advance the treatment, care and life expectancy of people living with heart failure across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293449,"EventID":"S4W-20469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:16.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T16:12:01.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many representations have been made by ministers to the UK Government on the issue of VAT on tourism since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since 2007, the Scottish Government has made four written representations to the UK Government pointing out that VAT rates in the UK are higher than in many European countries, placing the Scottish tourism and hospitality sectors at a clear competitive disadvantage. The 20 per cent rate of VAT on hotel accommodation in the UK is currently the third highest in the European Union with 24 Member States choosing to levy a lower rate.\r\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth raised the issue with the UK Chancellor on 9 March 2012.\r\nA further representation was made on 24 April 2012, specifically on the UK Government proposal to levy the full rate of VAT on the purchase of static caravans.\r\nFollowing an independent review of the snowsports sector within Scotland, which highlighted the competitive disadvantage of the 20% VAT rate on ski-lifts, the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism wrote to HM Treasury on 18 June 2012, and again on 11 September 2012. This sought to bring forward a reduction in the VAT rate from 01 April 2013 to 01 January 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293450,"EventID":"S4W-20470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:16.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T16:12:01.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations ministers made to the UK Government on the issue of VAT on tourism in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20469 on 14 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293451,"EventID":"S4W-20474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:17.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T16:12:01.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has regarding VAT rates on tourism in the event of independence and whether it has committed to reduce them.","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future points out that “With independence the Scottish Parliament will make decisions about all aspects of taxation. Independence will provide an opportunity to design a Scottish tax system based on specific circumstances, preferences and principles. Tax rates and allowances will be set by future governments in an independent Scotland.” - page 7. It will therefore be for all parties in Parliament to set out their plans for taxation in an independent Scotland ahead of the 2016 election.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293452,"EventID":"S4W-20476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:17.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T16:12:01.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken on the (a) benefits and (b) costs of reducing VAT on tourism in the event of Scotland becoming independent and whether it will publish it.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the Scottish Government publication “Scotland’s Economy: the case for independence (from May 2013) it was stated:\r\n“An independent Scotland could also choose to follow the example of many EU countries by adjusting the VAT rate to help tourism. The UK imposes one of the highest rates of VAT in Europe. 23 of the 27 EU countries currently offer some form of reduced VAT rate to their hospitality sectors. With the ability to adjust VAT rates, we could choose to follow suit.” (p. 25)\r\nThere has been research, at UK level, by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) using the UK Treasury taxation model. The BHA research “The Impact of Reduced VAT Rates on British Visitor Accommodation, Attractions and the Wider Economy: Report of Discussions with HM Treasury and Results of Dynamic Partial Equilibrium and Computable General Equilibrium Models” from December 2012 concludes that reduced VAT on tourism services represents “one of the most efficient means of generating GDP gains at low cost to the exchequer that I have seen with the GCE model.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293453,"EventID":"S4W-20477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:17.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-31T16:12:01.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has conducted on the costs of reducing VAT on tourism in the event of Scotland becoming independent and whether it will publish this.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20476 on 14 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nIn addition to this research the Scottish Government is already able to note a range of published research from around the EC VAT-regime.\r\nAs part of a suite of measures to support tourism in the Irish Government’s Jobs Initiative, a new temporarily reduced rate of VAT (9%) was introduced for tourism related goods and services between July 2011 and scheduled to end in December 2013. The Irish Minister for Finance introduced the VAT rate reduction specifically in order to boost tourism and stimulate employment in the sector. \r\nPrior to its introduction, the Irish Department of Finance estimated that the measure would cost €120 million in 2011 and €350 million in a full year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293454,"EventID":"S4W-20480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T13:43:18.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T11:43:03.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the overall megawatt capacity for (a) onshore and (b) offshore windfarms has been in each year since 2003.\r\n","AnswerText":"\r\n\r\nOnshore Windfarms Consented Capacity (MW)\r\nOnshore\r\nWindfarms\r\nConsented\r\nCumulative\r\nCapacity (MW)\r\nOffshore Windfarms\r\nConsented Capacity (MW)\r\nOffshore\r\nWindfarms\r\nConsented\r\nCumulative\r\nCapacity (MW)\r\n2003\r\nNo records held\r\nNo records held\r\n216\r\n216\r\n2004\r\nNo records held\r\nNo records held\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2005\r\nNo records held\r\nNo records held\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2006\r\nNo records held\r\nNo records held\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2007\r\n213\r\n213\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2008\r\n1316.5\r\n1529.5\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2009\r\n384.3\r\n1913.8\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2010\r\n459.3\r\n2373.1\r\n-\r\n216\r\n2011\r\n412.5\r\n2785.6\r\n6\r\n222\r\n2012\r\n744.6\r\n3530.2\r\n-\r\n222\r\n2013\r\n394.2\r\n3924.4\r\n7\r\n229\r\n2014\r\n174\r\n4098.4\r\n1866\r\n2095\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293455,"EventID":"S4W-20422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:16.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:03:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS addiction services have service level agreements in place with alcohol and drug partnerships.","AnswerText":"Information on how many NHS addiction services have service level agreements in place with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) is not held centrally. It is for ADPs to commission services to meet the needs of the local population and to ensure services are monitored.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293456,"EventID":"S4W-20423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:16.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:03:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that each NHS addiction service has an up-to-date service level agreement that is regularly monitored by the alcohol and drug partnership.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20422 on 23 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293457,"EventID":"S4W-20424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:17.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:03:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided to each alcohol and drug partnership for 2014-15.","AnswerText":"2014-15 funding allocations for alcohol and drug partnership (ADPs) have not yet been issued. However, indicative allocations for 2014-15 were shared with ADPs in their 2013-14 funding allocation letters issued in May 2013, and this information is provided in the following table.\r\nInformation about the percentage of the overall budget for ADPs that has been allocated for each ADP area for 2014-15 is not held centrally.\r\nUnder the national delivery framework for ADPs, NHS boards as well as being members of local partnerships have an additional role in receiving and accounting for Scottish Government funding for alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and support services on behalf of their local partners. These allocations represent the minimum amount that an ADP(s) will spend on these issues. All partners are free to supplement funds from their main budgets in order to meet the needs of the local population.\r\nIn NHS board areas where there is more than one ADP, the NHS board should agree with the partnerships how the funding should be distributed between ADPs within the board area:\r\nNHS Board\r\nAlcohol\r\nDrugs\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n(£)\r\n(£)\r\n(£)\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n2,680,041\r\n1,815,923\r\n4,495,964\r\nBorders\r\n1,039,066\r\n315,141\r\n1,354,207\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n1,306,238\r\n685,622\r\n1,991,860\r\nFife\r\n2,559,878\r\n1,711,603\r\n4,271,481\r\nForth Valley\r\n2,195,629\r\n1,162,822\r\n3,358,451\r\nGrampian\r\n3,047,114\r\n2,723,191\r\n5,770,305\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n9,615,648\r\n9,930,619\r\n19,546,267\r\nHighland\r\n2,378,539\r\n1,276,822\r\n3,655,361\r\nLanarkshire\r\n3,715,353\r\n2,290,170\r\n6,005,523\r\nLothian\r\n5,837,979\r\n5,679,204\r\n11,517,184\r\nTayside\r\n2,916,119\r\n2,448,897\r\n5,365,016\r\nOrkney\r\n461,220\r\n106,500\r\n567,720\r\nShetland\r\n476,912\r\n129,477\r\n606,389\r\nWestern Isles\r\n541,392\r\n161,951\r\n703,343\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293458,"EventID":"S4W-20425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:17.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:03:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the overall budget for alcohol and drug partnerships (ADP) has been allocated for each ADP area for 2014-15.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20424 on 24 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293459,"EventID":"S4W-20482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:17.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:40:22.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children in the Highland Council area have been given a (a) single agency and (b) multi-agency child’s plan prepared by their named person since the full implementation of the named person role in 2010.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Highland Council. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293460,"EventID":"S4W-20483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:18.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:49:25.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people manage their own self-directed support care package in each local authority area in West Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Number of clients with Direct Payments packages in Scotland, 2012-13\r\nLocal Authority\r\nNumber of clients\r\nAberdeen City\r\n225\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n287\r\nAngus\r\n25\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n142\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n39\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n280\r\nDundee City\r\n48\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n132\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n178\r\nEast Lothian\r\n162\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n188\r\nEdinburgh\r\n946\r\nEilean Siar\r\n27\r\nFalkirk\r\n60\r\nFife\r\n344\r\nGlasgow\r\n367\r\nHighland\r\n296\r\nInverclyde\r\n85\r\nMidlothian\r\n89\r\nMoray\r\n155\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n131\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n102\r\nOrkney\r\n53\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n90\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n42\r\nScottish Borders\r\n310\r\nShetland Islands\r\n29\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n79\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n236\r\nStirling\r\n95\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n64\r\nWest Lothian\r\n97\r\nScotland\r\n5,403\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293461,"EventID":"S4W-20484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:18.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the MV Coruisk was deployed on the Dunoon-Gourock route in light of advice from CalMac that it was not well suited to the route and there was no guarantee that it would provide a more reliable service.","AnswerText":"The Argyll Ferries Ltd (AFL) Gourock-Dunoon service suffered significant weather disruption during winter 2012-13 with a significant deterioration on the previous winter. Bad weather affected reliability during the winter season (November 2012 to March 2013) with only 86% of sailings taking place. March’s figure was down at 68%.\r\nA limited number of options to improve the resilience of the service in the winter 2013-14 were available. A search for short-term replacement vessels had been initiated early in 2012 but this had not resulted in any suitable vessels offering significant performance improvements being found. The only vessel within the wider CalMac fleet available for deployment on the service was the MV Coruisk.\r\nNicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister, announced to Parliament on 19 September 2013 her decision to deploy the MV Coruisk as an additional vessel to carry passengers on key peak sailings and to be on stand-by at other times.\r\nThe deployment at peak times ensured that key commuter services were strengthened and also addressed the concerns raised by AFL that the MV Coruisk would struggle to maintain the hourly return timetable. Keeping the deployment to two return sailings morning and evening gave confidence that any delays would not have significant knock-on effects to later services. This has proved to be the case.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293462,"EventID":"S4W-20485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:18.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to Argyll Ferries Limited was of deploying the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon route.","AnswerText":"The cost to Argyll Ferries Ltd of deploying the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon service this winter was £658,000. The net cost to Transport Scotland was £142,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293463,"EventID":"S4W-20486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:18.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many scheduled peak sailings from Monday to Saturday it anticipated for the MV Coruisk on the Dunoon-Gourock route; how many scheduled sailings took place and how many sailings were cancelled, (a) as a result of weather conditions, (b) for technical reasons or (c) due to unavailability of the shoreside infrastructure in Gourock.\r\n","AnswerText":"There were 479 scheduled peak sailings for the MV Coruisk with 444 of these scheduled sailings taking place. 32 scheduled sailings were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, one for technical reasons and two due to the unavailability of the Gourock pier.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293464,"EventID":"S4W-20487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:19.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the MV Coruisk was deployed on the Dunoon-Gourock route to cover for the MV Ali Cat or the MV Argyll Flyer when they were unable to operate due to weather conditions and on how many occasions the MV Coruisk was late.","AnswerText":"The MV Coruisk covered the route when the other 2 vessels were unable to sail on 133 occasions. The MV Coruisk was late on 224 occasions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293465,"EventID":"S4W-20488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:19.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many passengers travelled on the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon route.","AnswerText":"The MV Coruisk carried 9514 passengers during the period of her deployment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293466,"EventID":"S4W-20490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:19.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, while MV Coruisk was deployed on the Dunoon-Gourock route, how many scheduled sailings of the MV (a) Ali Cat and (b) Argyll Flyer were anticipated; how many were completed; how many were late, and how many were cancelled (i) due to weather conditions, (ii) for technical reasons and (iii) due to unavailability of the shoreside infrastructure in Gourock.\r\n","AnswerText":"During the period of the deployment of the MV Coruisk, the MV Ali Cat had 1894 scheduled sailings. 1733 of these scheduled sailings were completed and 109 were late. 159 scheduled sailings of the MV AliCat were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, none for technical reasons and two due to the unavailability of the Gourock pier.\r\nDuring the same period, the MV Argyll Flyer had 2982 scheduled sailings. 2725 of these scheduled sailings were completed and 117 were late. 239 scheduled sailings of the MV Argyll Flyer were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, 18 for technical reasons and none due to the unavailability of the shoreside infrastructure in Gourock.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293467,"EventID":"S4W-20491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:19.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T14:52:40.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the MV Coruisk will be deployed on the Gourock-Dunoon route in winter 2014-15 and on the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route.","AnswerText":"A trial of the MV Coruisk on the route had been proposed and the results of this winter’s deployment will provide good information to inform future decision making. The purpose of the deployment was to improve the resilience and reliability of the service this winter. This has been achieved. No decisions have been taken regarding the deployment of the MV Coruisk on the Gourock-Dunoon service next year. This will be the subject of further discussions with the operator, Argyll Ferries Ltd, and further analysis of the costs and benefits.\r\nThe deployment of vessels on the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route is an operational matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293468,"EventID":"S4W-20492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:20.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T15:38:01.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a draft of the letting agent code of practice before the stage 3 debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"Subject to the Scottish Parliament passing the Housing (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government has committed to working with stakeholders to develop a draft letting agent code of practice, and subsequently will consult publicly on that draft. The code of practice will be a statutory code setting out the standard of service that landlords and tenants can expect of letting agents. As such, the Scottish Government wishes to allow sufficient time to enable meaningful stakeholder engagement. The intention is for this engagement to begin later this year. The Scottish Government intends to give Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise the code before it is issued.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293469,"EventID":"S4W-20493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-01T17:24:20.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:09:41.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will be in a position to specify a minimum distance between unconventional gas operations and residential and water-protection areas and whether it will include below-ground operations.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is still considering revisions to the finalised Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) following public consultation. Following Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee scrutiny of National Planning Framework 3 and the accompanying SPP position statement, a number of the committee’s recommendations seek greater clarity on unconventional gas. I intend by June 2014 for the finalised SPP to make the Scottish Government intentions clear.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293492,"EventID":"S4W-20440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:00.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-27T14:28:21.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish hospitals have adopted a vital signs scoring system similar to that in Wales or the national early warning score system adopted in the Republic of Ireland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Patient Safety Programme places a focus on supporting NHS boards to test and implement evidence based interventions to improve outcomes for patients. Early warning scoring is a key intervention in the general ward work stream to improve reliable detection and escalation of deteriorating patients. Early warning scoring was identified as one of the 10 essentials of safety which sets an expectation that it will be delivered to all patients, in acute health care, who can benefit from it. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme continues building on this progress and working with NHS boards to further improve the reliable response to a raised early warning score to provide appropriate escalation and care planning for patients who deteriorate in acute hospitals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293493,"EventID":"S4W-20454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:00.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-03-28T14:35:08.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2011 to increase the number of people who register as organ donors and what further action it is planning.","AnswerText":"Since 2008, the Scottish Government has consistently run high profile media and advertising campaigns each year to raise awareness of organ donation and to encourage people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR). As a result a greater proportionate of Scottish residents have joined the ODR than in other parts of the UK. The progress in relation to increasing the numbers on the ODR since 2011, for Scotland and for the UK, is shown in the following table:\r\n\r\nNumber registered on ODR\r\nPercentage of Population on ODR\r\nScotland\r\n\r\n\r\n31 March 2011\r\n1,863,107\r\n36%\r\n31 March 2014\r\n2,110,881\r\n40%\r\nUK\r\n\r\n\r\n31 March 2011\r\n17,751,795\r\n29%\r\n31 March 2014\r\n20,243,306\r\n32%\r\nSource: NHS Blood and Transplant\r\nIn July 2013, the Scottish Government published A Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland 2013-2020. This plan sets out the ways in which we hope to improve donation and transplantation in Scotland, and includes 21 different recommendations for action against five priority areas. The plan builds on the very good progress made over the last five year period during which Scotland achieved a 74% increase in deceased organ donations as well as a 36% increase in transplants with deceased donor organs. The plan can be viewed in full on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/07/7461 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293494,"EventID":"S4W-20495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:00.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:21:45.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the recent Information Services Division figures showing that 218 consultant positions in hospitals are vacant, with 50 unfilled for more than six months.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is vital that we have the right number of staff in the right place at the right time to deliver the best possible patient care, and individual NHS boards are responsible for planning NHS Scotland’s workforce in accordance with that aim.\r\nInformation Services Division (ISD) Scotland reports NHS workforce statistics on a quarterly basis. The most recent statistics, referring to the period ending 31 December 2013, were published by ISD Scotland on 25 February 2014 and show consultant vacancies in Scotland running at 4.5% with 1.1% vacant for six months or more.\r\nThis is a low vacancy rate which allows NHS boards positive, flexible opportunities to help develop new roles and skill sets for NHS Scotland’s medical workforce.\r\nIt should be noted that the NHS establishment of consultants has increased from 3,896.9 whole time equivalent (wte) as at September 2006 to 4,823.9 wte as at December 2013, an increase of 927.0 wte or 23.8%.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293495,"EventID":"S4W-20496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:01.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:21:45.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the ratio  in the hospital consultant contract is for the time spent on direct clinical care compared with supporting professional activities; whether it plans to review the contract in this regard; what information it has on how the ratio compares with that for England, and what its position is on any difference between the Scottish and English figures.\r\n","AnswerText":"Appointments to consultant posts in Scotland are generally based on nine programmed activities of direct clinical care and one programmed activity for supporting professional activity, which will include continuous professional development appropriate for annual appraisal and five yearly revalidation.\r\nIndividual job plans which are subject to agreement between the individual and their manager allow for amendment to the balance between these different forms of activity so in practice the balance varies and is dependent on the service to be delivered to patients as well as the needs of the employer and the individual consultant.\r\nThis practice is consistent with the basic 2004 consultant contract which makes provision for a full-time consultant to have 7.5 programmed activities of direct clinical care and 2.5 programmed activities of supporting professional activities unless agreed otherwise. The contract allows flexibility to agree a different balance of activities where this is in the interests of the doctor and of the service. The contract covers the UK so there is no difference in the ratio set out in consultant terms and conditions between Scotland and England.\r\nCurrently there are no plans to review the consultant contract in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293496,"EventID":"S4W-20498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:01.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:21:45.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the hospital consultant contract sets higher requirements for established consultants in terms of supporting professional activities than that set for new consultants and, if so, whether it will examine what impact this has on staff (a) morale, (b) recruitment and (c) retention.\r\n","AnswerText":"No. The consultant contract does not set higher requirements for established consultants in terms of supporting professional activities than that set for new consultants. However, as stated in the reply to S4W-20496 on 30 April 2014, it does allow flexibility to agree a different balance of activities where this in the interests of the service and of the doctor.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293497,"EventID":"S4W-20499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:01.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, for what reasons the component revenue streams of the £700 million from different taxes were not identified in the answer.","AnswerText":"The answer to S4W-20327 refers to a previously answered question S4W-20084 on 20 March 2014, which provided information on how different tax revenue streams could be affected by an increase in female participation rate in Scotland to match Sweden’s. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293498,"EventID":"S4W-20500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:01.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, what estimate it has of the contribution to the £700 million from increases in receipts from (a) income tax, (b) national insurance, (c) VAT, (d) fuel duty, (e) excise duties and (f) other taxes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government estimates that the revenues from the specific taxes identified in the question would increase if Scotland’s female participation rate was to match Sweden’s. The total increase in all revenues would be expected to amount to £700 million in the long-term. Further detail is provided in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper which can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00441783.pdf. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293499,"EventID":"S4W-20501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:02.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, how it calculated the figure of £700 million. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government modelled the impacts of increased female participation using a Computable General Equilibrium model of the Scottish economy. As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, the increase in the tax revenues by £700 million that could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate would be expected to come from a range of different tax revenue streams. As highlighted in the paper, as individuals move into employment, or increase the hours they work, they would pay more tax through income tax and national insurance. In addition, as individuals’ incomes increase and their spending rises, receipts from indirect taxes such as VAT, fuel duty and excise duties would also be expected to rise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293500,"EventID":"S4W-20502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:02.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether ministers have seen the component amounts from the different tax revenue streams that make up the figure of £700 million. \r\n","AnswerText":"As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, the increase in the tax revenues by £700 million that could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate would be expected to come from a range of different tax revenue streams. Further detail is contained in the paper on pages 4-6.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293501,"EventID":"S4W-20503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:02.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a list of its estimates of the component tax revenue streams that contribute to the £700 million. \r\n","AnswerText":"The information on the component tax revenue streams that contribute to the £700 million is available in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper published in January 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293502,"EventID":"S4W-20504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:02.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, on how many previous occasions since 2011 it has referred members to their original question when it has been asked for further details.","AnswerText":"The information on the number of all parliamentary questions answered by Scottish Ministers since 2011, where the members were referred to the original answer is not held centrally. A parliamentary questions search can be performed by following the following link: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293503,"EventID":"S4W-20505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:03.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether its officials have access to a breakdown of the amounts raised by the component tax revenue streams that make up the £700 million.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20502 on 24 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293504,"EventID":"S4W-20506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:03.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether it had modelled changes to the rates of the component taxes when it produced the total figure of £700 million. \r\n","AnswerText":"As outlined in the answer to question S4W-20501 on 24 April 2014, the £700 million is the estimated increase in revenues that could arise if Scotland matched Swedish female participation rate. All tax rates are held constant.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293505,"EventID":"S4W-20507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:03.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether the Council of Economic Advisers has been asked to consider the component revenue streams of the £700 million to ensure that the basis for the calculations is robust.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Council of Economic Advisers considered the economic and social importance of improving childcare provision in Scotland at their meeting on 30 August 2013. The council’s discussion was informed by a presentation by the late Professor Ailsa McKay on the economic and social importance of access to childcare. The minutes of this discussion are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Meetings/30-08-2013\r\nThe council also received an update on childcare at their meeting on 7 March 2014. Minutes of this meeting will be published online in due course.\r\nThe analysis informing the council’s deliberations will be reflected in the Annual Chair’s Report of the Council of Economic Advisers. It is anticipated that the chair’s report will be published in spring 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293506,"EventID":"S4W-20508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:03.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether it is aware of any external economist who has identified the component revenue streams that make up the £700 million.                                                                                        ","AnswerText":"The £700 million figure referred to in the question is an output of the Scottish Government’s in-house modelling of the impacts of increased female participation. The Computable General Equilibrium model that was used for this modelling work was developed by the well-respected Fraser of Allander Institute at University of Strathclyde who are among the leading experts in this field of economic modelling.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293507,"EventID":"S4W-20509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:04.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-01T16:43:42.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20327 by John Swinney on 1 April 2014, whether it will set out the figures underlying the assertion that “the vast majority of any higher tax revenues following any expansion in economic activity flow to Westminster” which was stated in the paper, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the current constitutional framework the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament only have limited control over fiscal policy. The Scottish Parliament is only responsible for around 8 per cent of taxes raised in Scotland when including a geographical share of North Sea revenues. With the new tax powers of the Scotland Act 2012 this figure will only increase to around 16 per cent.\r\nUnder the Scotland Act, if revenues in Scotland were to increase by 1 per cent across the four main taxes and spending on key benefit to fall by 1 per cent, only 12 per cent of the total net gain in revenues would be retained by the Scottish Government. More detail is available on pages 6 and 7 of Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293508,"EventID":"S4W-20510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:04.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what studies it has conducted into (a) cases of and (b) the impact of assisted suicide in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not conducted any specific studies into the cases of and the impact of assisted suicide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293509,"EventID":"S4W-20511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:04.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for assisted suicide there have been in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no crime of assisted suicide in Scotland. A case of assisted suicide would be reported to the Procurator Fiscal as a deliberate killing of another and thus dealt with under the law of Scotland relating to homicide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293510,"EventID":"S4W-20512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:04.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has had with the (a) UK Department of Justice and (b) Director of Public Prosecutions regarding (i) assisted suicide and (ii) guidance for prosecution of cases of assisted suicide since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no crime of assisted suicide in Scotland. A case of assisted suicide would be reported to the Procurator Fiscal by the police and dealt with under the law of Scotland, in relation to homicide.\r\nCrown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service officials had discussions in 2009-10 with Crown Prosecution Service officials about the Director of Public Prosecution's guidelines on assisted suicide prior to its publication, to underline the different legal backgrounds between Scotland and England and Wales and ensure there were no issues relating to jurisdiction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293511,"EventID":"S4W-20513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:05.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ask the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to update its guidance on prosecutions for assisted suicide.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no crime of assisted suicide in Scotland. A case of assisted suicide would be reported to the Procurator Fiscal by the Police and dealt with under the law of Scotland relating to homicide. As for all offences, general guidance is provided in the Prosecution Code which is published on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293512,"EventID":"S4W-20514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:05.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) British Medical Association and (b) General Medical Council regarding assisted suicide since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has met with the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council several times to discuss a variety of topics. There have been no specific meetings to discuss assisted suicide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293513,"EventID":"S4W-20515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:05.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T09:50:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of assisted suicide procurators fiscal have considered in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no crime of assisted suicide in Scotland. A case of assisted suicide would be reported to the Procurator Fiscal as a deliberate killing of another and thus dealt with under the law of Scotland relating to homicide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293514,"EventID":"S4W-20518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:05.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T10:53:19.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20146 by Alex Neil on 25 March 2014, for what reason the interim evaluation of the alert line was not published until 26 March 2014, and what information it has on how satisfied users of the service have been.\r\n","AnswerText":"The interim evaluation helped inform our consideration of the pilot and future options for the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line service. It was published alongside the announcement of the enhanced continued service, which it helped inform.\r\nPublic Concern at Work (PCaW), the independent whistleblowing charity contracted to run the alert line pilot and provide evaluation, has expertise in advising on whistleblowing across different sectors in the UK. They are clear that, in their experience, it is not helpful to seek feedback from clients until there has been a reasonable time lapse. This allows cases, where appropriate, to be investigated and hopefully concluded and allows people time to consolidate their thoughts and emotions leading to more measured and constructive feedback on users satisfaction of the service. PCaW is currently undertaking this exercise where contact details are available and clients are willing to provide this feedback.\r\nIt is important to continue to recognise and respect the confidential nature of this service, however, a mechanism to record feedback from users of the service, where possible, is included as a requirement in tenders for provision of the enhanced continued service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293515,"EventID":"S4W-20519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:06.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:17:07.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29618) that “we would like Scotland to be known as a nation that promotes peace and leaves a positive influence on the global stage”, whether it will provide a list of the countries that it believes an independent Scotland would not permit military or security exports to; what its position is on whether Yemen should be included on this list, and what Scotland-based companies currently export such items to these countries.\r\n","AnswerText":"‘Scotland’s Future’ details that under the government’s plans, an independent Scotland’s foreign, security and defence policies would be grounded in a clear framework that includes a commitment to participate in rules-based international co-operation and that Scotland would be an active member of multilateral institutions.\r\nAs an independent member of the EU, Scotland would abide by the provisions of the EU Common Position on arms export controls adopted in 2008. Applications for export licences for items on the EU Common Military list would be assessed on a case by case basis in line with the criteria set out in Article 2 of the Common Position. This includes the denial of an export license for any application which is inconsistent with the international obligations of member states and their commitments to enforce United Nations, European Union and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe arms embargoes.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not hold information on companies which apply to the UK Government for an export control licence. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293516,"EventID":"S4W-20522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:06.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:17:07.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29658) that “the UK Government that [Tavish Scott] supports … sold defence equipment to Saddam Hussein and then illegally invaded Iraq”, whether it is aware of any changes in the political administration of the UK Government since arms were last exported by the UK to Iraq.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whatever its political make-up, it remains the case that it is the UK Government, which makes decisions for Scotland on whether to trade arms with or go to war with another country. As we made clear in Scotland’s Future, with independence, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament would assume responsibility for these decisions, allowing these institutions to develop an approach to defence which truly represents the will of Scotland’s people and will enact a policy of do no harm.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293517,"EventID":"S4W-20523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:06.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:17:07.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the tweet by Humza Yousaf on 19 January 2014 that “we look towards the Swedish model of policy coherence, where civil society provides the barometer in conjunction with government”, whether an independent Scotland would permit military and security exports to the same list of countries permitted by Sweden.\r\n","AnswerText":"Sweden is a leader in Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and legislated in 2002 to give all government policy areas a remit to formulate and implement policy in a way that takes account of effects on developing countries and strengthens Sweden’s contribution to equitable and sustainable global development.\r\nOn 1 June 2012 the Swedish Government appointed a parliamentary committee to review export controls on military equipment. The committee is due to report by 15 December 2014.\r\nAs stated in ‘Scotland’s Future’ the Scottish Government is committed to delivering a coherent approach to international development across Scottish Government policies through the ‘Do No Harm’ proposition. Sweden offers one model to be considered in deciding how an independent Scotland might achieve this but decisions as to how PCD is delivered in specific policy areas would be for the government of an independent Scotland to decide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293518,"EventID":"S4W-20524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:07.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:24:55.373","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the adjusted budgeted grant figures for the remaining years of the Argyll Ferries Ltd public services obligation (PSO), including the costs associated with the deployment of the MV Coruisk, the replacement bus service and any other anticipated payments made in relation to the terms of the PSO.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Please see the following information relating to the remaining three years of the Argyll Ferries Ltd public service contract:\r\nContract year\r\n(July-June)\r\nGrant \r\n(£)’000\r\nFuel Cost (£)’000\r\n2014-15\r\n2,160\r\ntbc\r\n2015-16\r\n2,174\r\ntbc\r\n2016-17\r\n2,237\r\ntbc\r\nThis updates information provided in reply to parliamentary question S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293519,"EventID":"S4W-20532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:07.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:12:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a report following its consultation on promoting responsible dog ownership.\r\n","AnswerText":"The consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures’ closed on 31 March 2014 with in excess of 2,000 responses received. All responses will be analysed and thoroughly considered and it is expected that an analysis report will be published during summer 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-16T14:07:07.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293520,"EventID":"S4W-20533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:07.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:12:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data on sexually transmitted infections broken down by NHS Board is publically available from Health Protection Scotland. Information on genital herpes simplex, genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be found in the following published documents: http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/pdf2013/1334.pdf (2003 to 2012) and: http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/pdf2009/0912.pdf (1998 to 2008). \r\nData on infectious syphilis is not currently routinely published. The requested information is provided in the following table: \r\nNumber of cases of infectious syphilis by NHS Board of diagnosis and treatment, Scotland 2000-2012**\r\nNHS Board\r\n2000\r\n2001\r\n2002\r\n2003\r\n2004\r\n2005\r\n2006\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nBorders\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n7\r\n10\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nFife\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n8\r\n9\r\n16\r\n11\r\n6\r\n*\r\n6\r\n5\r\n8\r\nForth Valley\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n15\r\n6\r\n8\r\n*\r\nGrampian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n6\r\n8\r\n8\r\n22\r\n17\r\n19\r\n13\r\n10\r\n8\r\n6\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n*\r\n9\r\n27\r\n44\r\n78\r\n71\r\n100\r\n112\r\n101\r\n57\r\n38\r\n61\r\n70\r\nHighland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n7\r\n*\r\n*\r\n*\r\nLanarkshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n8\r\n9\r\n13\r\n18\r\n17\r\n7\r\n*\r\n15\r\n17\r\nLothian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n15\r\n85\r\n101\r\n77\r\n82\r\n80\r\n79\r\n79\r\n78\r\n89\r\nTayside\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n12\r\n5\r\n8\r\n20\r\n6\r\n*\r\n8\r\n7\r\nNot known\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n*\r\n0\r\n*\r\n*\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nScotland\r\n*\r\n13\r\n43\r\n76\r\n198\r\n218\r\n238\r\n255\r\n260\r\n190\r\n154\r\n188\r\n206\r\n* Where there is deemed to be a risk of deductive disclosure, some small numbers (usually those below five) within this table have been suppressed. It may also be necessary to suppress some cells greater than five in order to prevent the calculation of said small numbers.\r\n**Syphilis Infections are recorded through SRH/GUM services, as a result diagnosis from Island boards will be recorded as part of the mainland board they are referred to. \r\nSource: Health Protection Scotland - April 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293521,"EventID":"S4W-20534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T14:07:07.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:12:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from the sale of school buildings in each in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The ownership of school buildings in Scotland lies with the local authorities. The Scottish Government does not own school buildings, therefore, it does not hold any information relating to the sale of school buildings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293534,"EventID":"S4W-20531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:02.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T12:33:18.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place a copy of the alternative route certificate for the A87 Skye crossing in the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre (SPICe).\r\n","AnswerText":"A certificate of this nature is not required. A certificate is required when another reasonably convenient route is available or will be built.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293535,"EventID":"S4W-20535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:04.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would deal with the reported issue of (a) capital flight from and (b) lack of reinvestment of Scottish wealth in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. With a geographic share of North Sea oil and gas output, Scotland would have the 14th highest levels of GDP per capita in the OECD in 2012, ranked four places above the UK. Standard and Poor’s have stated that even excluding North Sea output an independent Scotland would qualify for their highest economic assessment.\r\nScotland is already an attractive place to invest, and would continue to be an important destination for investment as an independent nation. Analysis published by the Scottish Government shows that Scottish Gross National Income per capita was higher than the UK average in 2010 and that the majority of Scottish GDP is retained in Scotland. The experimental statistics can be found via:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00438352.pdf.\r\nThe Fiscal Commission Working Group have proposed, a well-designed and robust macroeconomic framework which is workable from day one of independence to ensure a stable and resilient economy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293536,"EventID":"S4W-20536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:04.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the current amount of (a) public and (b) private funding for research in Scotland that is from (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK.","AnswerText":"Funding for research invested in Scotland’s higher education institutions is drawn from a range of sources in the public, private and charitable sectors. \r\nIn 2012-13 (most recent figures available), the Scottish Funding Council invested £330 million in research activity in Scotland. Research Councils UK invested a further £242 million in Scottish institutions in the same year.\r\nFunding in 2012-13 from other UK public bodies, including those based in Scotland, amounted to £102 million. It is estimated that UK private funders and charities, including those based in Scotland, invested a further £168 million.\r\nWith the exception of the public funding awarded by the Scottish Funding Council and Research Councils UK, it is not possible to disaggregate exact amounts awarded to Scottish higher education institutions by bodies based in Scotland, from investment by those bodies based in the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293537,"EventID":"S4W-20537","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:04.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there would be a change in research and development funding available in an independent Scotland and, if so, how it will affect the science and engineering industries.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future highlights that investment in research and development (R&D) activity is a key component of supporting innovation and economic performance. In an independent Scotland there will therefore be a strong focus on innovation and R&D for the benefit of the whole Scottish economy, including the science and engineering sectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293538,"EventID":"S4W-20538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:04.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would help small businesses cope with any additional transaction and administrative costs in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Within the devolved powers currently available, the Scottish Government is pursuing a range of actions to support sustainable economic growth and higher quality jobs, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme.\r\nWith independence, future Scottish governments can build on these policies to enable Scotland’s businesses to reach their full potential. With responsibility for the full range of policy levers, the government of an independent Scotland will be able to create a more supportive, competitive and dynamic business environment for all businesses, large and small.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293539,"EventID":"S4W-20539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:05.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) long-term and (b) short-term impact on the economy has been of any previous loss of short-term construction work.\r\n","AnswerText":"The construction sector in Scotland and the UK has been impacted heavily by the economic downturn. However, the most recent figures show that during 2013, the construction sector in Scotland grew by 1.0%.\r\nIt is widely recognised that supporting capital investment during challenging economic conditions is essential as it provides a timely boost to activity and jobs in the construction sector whilst helping to retain vital skills and expertise. It also creates a legacy of assets, such as schools and transport infrastructure, which can have long-lasting economic benefits.\r\nThis is why we accelerated capital investment at the height of the economic downturn. It is also why we plan to support investment of more than £8 billion in 2014-15 and 2015-16 through our traditional capital budget, the Non Profit Distributing (NPD) pipeline, rail investment through Network Rail’s Regulatory Asset Base, and allocating some resource funding to capital assets.\r\nIn addition, we have announced a further £1 billion worth of infrastructure investment by extending the current NPD programme through to 2019-20. Additional investment will build on the success of the current programme and will provide the construction sector with a future pipeline of work.\r\nThe importance attached to capital investment and the recognition of its vital role in supporting the construction sector and the wider economy is in contrast to the approach of the UK Government which has cut Scotland’s capital budget by 26 per cent in real terms between 2010-11 and 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293540,"EventID":"S4W-20540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:05.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the idea of an \"oil for debt swap\".\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, the apportionment of the UK national debt will be negotiated and agreed as part of the overall settlement on assets and liabilities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293541,"EventID":"S4W-20541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:05.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much access it has to (a) monetary and (b) fiscal policy and how much it would have in an independent Scotland in a formal currency union with the rest of the UK.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no involvement in monetary policy which is formally reserved to the UK Government. The Bank of England sets monetary policy for the UK as a whole and is operationally independent from government.\r\nPost-independence, the Bank of England would remain operationally independent and be accountable to both Scotland and the rest of the UK through a shareholder agreement under our proposals. Monetary policy would be set according to the economic conditions across the entire sterling area.\r\nUnder the current constitutional framework the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament only have limited control over fiscal policy. The Scottish budget is set by UK Government and key expenditures such as welfare, defence, and energy are controlled outside Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish Parliament is only responsible for around 8 per cent of taxes raised in Scotland when including a geographical share of North Sea revenues. With the new tax powers of the Scotland Act 2012 this figure will only increase to around 16 per cent.\r\nWith independence, Scotland will have full control over fiscal policy, with full powers on taxes, spending and borrowing, along with the other economic policy levers needed to grow the economy and create a fairer society.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293542,"EventID":"S4W-20542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:05.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending on adult learning and how much of that is spent on adult literacy and development.","AnswerText":"The Education Scotland Community Learning and Development Policy and Improvement Team aims to support the work and outcomes identified in the Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships: Community Learning and Development. Of the £693,000 funding available in 2013-14 for Scotland’s Strategic Funding Partnerships, £578,500 was awarded to those with an adult learning/adult literacy focus. With the same aim, of the £427,424 funding available for 2013-14 for Small Grants, £111,207 was awarded to projects which had an adult learning/adult literacy element to the work as outlined in the projects’ applications.\r\nImproving literacy for all is a key aim of the Scottish Government’s Literacy Action Plan and is therefore a goal that all national bodies, local authorities and their partners should be committed to. No additional discrete funding has been allocated through the Literacy Action Plan as this should be an outcome that is embedded throughout wider policy development and delivery, from the early years through to adulthood.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293543,"EventID":"S4W-20543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:06.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends annually on adult literacy.","AnswerText":"The Education Scotland Community Learning and Development Policy and Improvement Team aims to support the work and outcomes identified in the Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships: Community Learning and Development. Of the £693,000 funding available in 2013-14 for Scotland’s Strategic Funding Partnerships, £578,500 was awarded to those with an adult learning/adult literacy focus. With the same aim, of the £427,424 funding available for 2013-14 for small grants, £111,207 was awarded to projects which had an adult learning/adult literacy element to the work as outlined in the projects’ applications.\r\nImproving literacy for all is a key aim of the Scottish Government’s Literacy Action Plan and is therefore a goal that all national bodies, local authorities and their partners should be committed to. No additional discrete funding has been allocated through the Literacy Action Plan, as this should be an outcome that is embedded throughout wider policy development and delivery, from the early years through to adulthood.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293544,"EventID":"S4W-20544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:06.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what access adults have to lifelong learning and whether it is limited by ability to pay.","AnswerText":"A wide range of learning opportunities are available for those looking to enter training or education. For example, for those who want to gain employment or improve skills, colleges offer a wide range of provision. Local authority community-based adult learning programmes and those available through the third sector and private learning providers provide further opportunities.\r\nCollege students studying full-time courses are eligible for free tuition and are supported by record levels of student support, of over £102 million this academic year. This is part of a commitment of over £500 million for colleges, allowing them to maintain the number of full-time equivalent student places. And students progressing from HNC/Ds to 2nd/3rd year of university are now exempt from council tax.\r\nIn addition to free tuition and improved support for part time study, the higher education student support package will provide a minimum income of £7,500 from 2014-15 for those with a household income of  less than £17,000 per annum. Each university also operates a discretionary fund supported by investment from the Scottish Government.\r\nIndividual Learning Accounts are a demand-led source of funding, providing up to £200 per year towards the cost of learning. They are targeted at low paid, low skilled and unemployed individuals. The funding can be used towards a wide range of courses and supports individuals to improve their skills, gain qualifications and be better placed to get into or stay in employment.\r\nIn 2013, I established and chaired a National Strategic Forum for adult learning. This forum has worked with partners, including Scotland’s Learning Partnership, to develop a collective and current statement of Ambition for Adult Learning in Scotland, which reflects the best of national and international thinking on adult learning. The statement will be launched on 21 May 2014 during Adult Learners’ Week.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293545,"EventID":"S4W-20545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:06.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been in the last five years in terms of (a) enrolment in and (b) funding of adult learning.\r\n","AnswerText":"College students studying full-time courses are eligible for free tuition and are supported by record levels of student support, of over £102 million this academic year. This is part of a commitment of over £500 million for colleges, allowing them to maintain the number of full-time equivalent student places. And students progressing from HNC/Ds to 2nd/3rd year of university are now exempt from council tax. \r\nIn addition to free tuition and improved support for part time study, the higher education student support package will provide a minimum income of £7,500 from 2014-15 for those with a household income of less than £17,000 per annum. Each university also operates a discretionary fund supported by investment from the Scottish Government. \r\nThe number of Scottish students attending Scottish universities is increasing. Between 2012-13 and 2013-14, there was a 2% increase in the numbers of students starting a course. Further, recent figures from March 2014 confirm that the proportion of entrants to higher education from the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland rose to 15.8% in 2012-13, a record level.\r\nIndividual learning accounts are a demand-led source of funding, providing up to £200 per year towards the cost of learning. They are targeted at low paid, low skilled and unemployed individuals. The funding can be used towards a wide range of courses and supports individuals to improve their skills, gain qualifications and be better placed to get into or stay in employment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293546,"EventID":"S4W-20546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:06.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many places are available in colleges for students with learning difficulties.","AnswerText":"The latest figures make clear that in 2012-13, 22% of all learning hours delivered were to students with a disclosed disability or requiring additional learning support; a 3 percentage point increase on the 2006-07 proportion of 19%.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293547,"EventID":"S4W-20547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:07.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the reported reduction in local authority spending on adult literacy and numeracy. ","AnswerText":"Under the Concordat, the Scottish Government establishes the overall direction and desired outcomes for policies but does not manage local service delivery. Each individual local authority is responsible for what it spends on adult literacy and numeracy, based on its evaluation of local needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293548,"EventID":"S4W-20548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:07.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to sign the International Adult Learners’ Charter.","AnswerText":"The International Adult Learners Charter, 2009 was produced by Scotland’s Learning Partnership on behalf of the Global Learners network.\r\nIn 2013 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning established and chaired a National Strategic Forum for Adult Learning. This forum has worked with partners, including Scotland’s Learning Partnership, to develop a collective and current statement of Ambition for Adult Learning in Scotland, which reflects the best of national and international thinking on adult learning. There are therefore no plans to sign the International Charter. The statement will be launched on 21 May 2014 during Adult Learners’ Week.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293549,"EventID":"S4W-20549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:07.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle the reported decreasing number of adult learners.","AnswerText":"A wide range of learning opportunities remain available for those looking to enter training or education. For example, for those who want to gain employment or improve skills, colleges offer a wide range of provision. Local authority community-based adult learning programmes and those available through the third sector and private learning providers provide further opportunities.\r\nOur funding for both 2013-14 and 2014-15 includes an additional £6.6 mililon for part-time places favoured by women and older learners.\r\nThe number of Scottish students attending Scottish universities is increasing. Between 2012-13 and 2013-14, there was a 2% increase in the numbers of students starting a course. To ensure that universities draw students from more disadvantaged backgrounds, they are being asked to describe how they can widen access in outcome agreements with the Scottish Funding Council.\r\nIndividual Learning Accounts are a demand-led source of funding, providing up to £200 per year towards the cost of learning. They are targeted at low paid, low skilled and unemployed individuals. The funding can be used towards a wide range of courses and supports individuals to improve their skills, gain qualifications and be better placed to get into or stay in employment.\r\nIn 2013, I established and chaired a National Strategic Forum for Adult Learning. This forum has worked with partners, including Scotland’s Learning Partnership, to develop a collective and current statement of Ambition for Adult Learning in Scotland, which reflects the best of national and international thinking onaAdult learning. The statement will be launched on 21 May 2014 during Adult Learners’ Week.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293550,"EventID":"S4W-20550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:07.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T13:50:09.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for disadvantaged adults who want to further their education.\r\n","AnswerText":"College students studying full-time courses are eligible for free tuition and are supported by record levels of student support, of over £102 million this academic year. This is part of a commitment of over £500 million for colleges, allowing them to maintain the number of full-time equivalent student places. Students progressing from HNC/Ds to 2nd/3rd year of university are now exempt from council tax. \r\nIn addition to free tuition and improved support for part time study, the higher education student support package will provide a minimum income of £7,500 from 2014-15 for those with a household income of less than £17,000 per annum. Each university also operates a discretionary fund supported by investment from the Scottish Government. \r\nIndividual learning accounts are a demand-led source of funding, providing up to £200 per year towards the cost of learning. They are targeted at low paid, low skilled and unemployed individuals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293551,"EventID":"S4W-20551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:07.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T14:44:24.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to tenants in the private rented sector who live in damp homes, and what information it has on how many private lets are damp.\r\n","AnswerText":"Private landlords have a statutory duty to ensure that the homes they let are wind and watertight and in all other respects reasonably fit for human habitation. From 1 May 2013 landlords are required to provide new tenants with a tenant information pack, which will improve knowledge of the respective rights and responsibilities among tenants and landlords in the private rented sector. Any tenant who is concerned that their landlord has not carried out work that is needed to keep their home in a good condition can apply to the private rented housing panel, who have powers to enforce landlords’ duties.\r\nThe current Housing Bill includes measures to protect the most vulnerable tenants by allowing local authorities to apply to the private rented housing panel on their behalf. In line with our commitment in the Sustainable Housing Strategy, the Scottish Government has also recently published proposals for a forum to consider development of a common cross-tenure housing condition standard.\r\nInformation on damp is collected within the Scottish House Conditions Survey. Latest available results from 2012 showed that 7% or 19,000 dwellings nationally in the private rented sector had some presence of damp, which can range from a small damp patch in one room to prevalence throughout a dwelling. This compares to 4% or 90,000 dwellings nationally across all tenures.\r\nThe Scottish House Condition Survey further indicated that in 2012, around 1% of dwellings in the private rented sector (3,000 dwellings) would fail the tolerable standard due to damp. This compares to 1% or 18,000 dwellings nationally across all tenures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293552,"EventID":"S4W-20552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:08.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T14:44:24.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many properties in the private sector have been given a gas safety check in the last five years, and whether it plans to ensure that such properties are subject to annual checks.\r\n","AnswerText":"If a house has a supply of gas, private landlords must ensure that annual gas safety inspections are carried out. The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of inspections. Any private sector tenant who is concerned that their landlord has not carried out work that is needed to keep their home in a good condition can apply to the private rented housing panel, who have powers to enforce landlords’ duties. The current Housing Bill includes measures to protect the most vulnerable tenants by allowing local authorities to apply to the private rented housing panel on their behalf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293553,"EventID":"S4W-20553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:08.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T14:44:24.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what protection is available to tenants in the private rented sector in cases in which (a) landlords and (b) letting agents do not repair substandard properties.\r\n","AnswerText":"Private landlords are required by section 14 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to carry out any repairs needed to ensure that private rented homes meet the statutory repairing standard, though they may delegate work to their letting agents. Any tenant who is concerned that their landlord has not carried out work that is needed to keep their home in a good condition can apply to the private rented housing panel, who have powers to enforce landlords’ duties. The current Housing Bill includes measures to protect the most vulnerable tenants by allowing local authorities to apply to the private rented housing panel on their behalf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293554,"EventID":"S4W-20554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:08.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T14:44:24.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that tenants in the private rented sector are not in danger from carbon monoxide poisoning.\r\n","AnswerText":"Private landlords have a statutory duty to ensure that any facilities for heating in the homes they let and any appliances they provide to tenants must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order. Any tenant who is concerned that their landlord has not carried out work that is needed to keep their home in a good condition can apply to the private rented housing panel, who have powers to enforce landlords’ duties. From 1 October 2013, Scottish building regulations also require carbon monoxide detectors to be fitted when a new or replacement gas, oil or solid fuel boilers or other fixed heating appliances are installed in a dwelling irrespective of tenure.\r\nI announced at the stage 1 debate of the current Housing Bill that I intend to bring forward an amendment for a regulation making power to make changes to the repairing standard for private landlords that will provide an appropriate and proportionate mechanism to address safety concerns such as over the provision of carbon monoxide monitors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293555,"EventID":"S4W-20555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:09.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:13:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government's changes to private pensions and whether it will mirror these provisions in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"As stated in Scotland’s Future, helping people to save for a better retirement is a key focus for this government in an independent Scotland and we have set out a range of measures to address current levels of under-saving.??\r\nWhilst we agree in principle with the greater flexibility introduced by the UK Government’s changes, much of the detail is still to be worked through and we await the outcome of its consultation on Freedom and choice in pensions.???\r\nOn independence, the body of law governing private pensions, including legislation implementing the changes announced in the 2014 Budget, will continue to apply in Scotland until amended, replaced or repealed by the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293556,"EventID":"S4W-20556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:09.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:13:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported criticisms by demographers, whether it considers it appropriate to use a dependency ratio to calculate pensions that includes counting children.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s paper Pensions in an Independent Scotland and white paper Scotland’s Future, did not use dependency ratios to calculate pension costs. Instead, they explained, in some detail, the most relevant demographic challenge for affordability of state pensions in Scotland: lower projected growth in the working age population relative to the UK.\r\nRecent studies from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research have concluded that demographic differences would have an insubstantial effect on pensions affordability between the rest of the UK and an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293557,"EventID":"S4W-20557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:10.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:13:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comment by David Davidson of Spence and Partners and ICAS that, in order to match current UK dependency ratios by 2066, Scotland requires the immigration of one million working people.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland faces lower projected percentage growth in the working age population than the UK (4% in Scotland, 12% in the UK over the period 2012-2037) and this affects the respective dependency ratios referenced by David Davidson.\r\nHowever, detailed analysis by David Comerford (Stirling University) has concluded that only “relatively modest” increases in net migration would be required to eliminate the difference between Scotland and the UK.\r\nFurther, an independent Scotland would address long run pensions affordability by a broad approach to sustainable economic growth, through increasing productivity and labour participation in Scotland, as well as boosting the working age population.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293558,"EventID":"S4W-20558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:10.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:41:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Town Centre Action Plan takes into consideration the apportionment of community burdens for properties being converted from commercial to residential use.\r\n","AnswerText":"Neither the Town Centre Action Plan nor the subsequent Town Centre Housing Fund make reference to community burdens.\r\nPart 2 of The Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 contains provisions on community burdens. These obligations are typically set out in the individual conveyance or a deed of conditions. \r\nIt is possible to make an application or appeal an application to The Lands Tribunal for Scotland for the variation or discharge of a community burden: http://www.lands-tribunal-scotland.org.uk/about.html.\r\nIn addition section 20 of The Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 allows for the termination of a real burden if it is at least 100 hundred years old: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/9/section/20\".\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293559,"EventID":"S4W-20559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:11.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:45:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has suspended the affordable warmth scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The affordable warmth scheme was temporarily put on hold in March 2014. This is because energy companies are facing uncertainty over the way in which surplus actions under the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation will be treated whilst the UK Government is consulting on proposed changes to the Energy Company Obligation. The Scottish Government is working to clarify the position with each energy company, but expects to re-open the scheme in May 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293560,"EventID":"S4W-20560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:11.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:45:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are affected by the decision to suspend the affordable warmth scheme.","AnswerText":"At the time of temporarily putting on hold the affordable warmth scheme, there were 181 customers who were waiting for a referral. Those customers have all been contacted by Home Energy Scotland and advised that the scheme has been put on hold. Those customers have also been given advice on any other schemes for which they may be eligible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293561,"EventID":"S4W-20561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:12.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:45:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding was provided by the energy company obligation in 2013-14 for the affordable warmth scheme; how many people received support, and how this compares with the expected (a) funding amount and (b) number of people assisted.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not have access to the funding allocated by energy companies to the affordable warmth scheme nor any targets set by the companies for funding or number of people assisted. In 2013-14, the Energy Saving Trust made 8,139 referrals to the three energy companies participating in the affordable warmth scheme and, of these, 2,177 households have so far received an installation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293562,"EventID":"S4W-20562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:12.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:45:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what will happen to those people who are waiting for assistance from the affordable warmth scheme, in light of the scheme being suspended.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20560 on 29 April 2014. People who have already been referred to energy companies for an installation under the affordable warmth scheme are not affected. People whose referral was in preparation when the scheme was paused have been contacted by Home Energy Scotland.\r\nPeople calling Home Energy Scotland since the scheme has been paused, and who may be eligible for assistance, can leave their details with Home Energy Scotland. Home Energy Scotland will keep in touch with them and will let them know of any developments on the affordable warmth scheme or of any other assistance from which they may benefit.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293563,"EventID":"S4W-20563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:13.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:45:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to resume the affordable warmth scheme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is clarifying with obligated energy companies what they are willing to offer under the affordable warmth scheme in light of the changes the UK Government proposes to make to the Energy Company Obligation. We hope to re-open the Scheme to referrals in May 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293564,"EventID":"S4W-20564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:13.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:50:16.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made since May 2013 regarding multi-year funding for the third sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are working closely with COSLA and the third sector to develop a shared understanding of the position in relation to long term funding to third sector organisations, and to move the issue forward. To this end a number of very positive meetings have taken place between senior officers from COSLA, local authorities, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), third sector partners, and involving Scottish Government officials.\r\nI chaired a meeting of partners on 18 March 2014, at which a jointly developed outline of an approach to taking forward the work was discussed. Subsequently at the COSLA Resources and Capacity Executive Group on 19 March, SCVO and other third sector colleagues joined the executive group for a discussion on joint working on an early intervention and preventative approach through means such as co-production of services. The group endorsed COSLA officers to continue to work in conjunction with the third sector and Scottish Government, to develop a proposal that would be presented at a future executive group meeting.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293565,"EventID":"S4W-20565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:13.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:50:16.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve multi-year funding for the third sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20564 on 28 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293566,"EventID":"S4W-20566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-02T17:07:14.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:53:00.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available to assist with (a) the treatment of and (b) research into sickle cell disorder in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) organisation and (ii) amount.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Funding for the treatment of sickle cell disease in each year since 2007\r\nInformation about the funding provided for the treatment of sickle cell disease is not held centrally. Funding for haematology services which treat people with sickle cell disease is provided through general NHS board allocations.\r\nSince April 2011, funding of £50k per annum has been provided by the National Specialist and Screening Services Directorate of NHS National Services Scotland to support the Scottish Paediatric and Adult Haemoglobinopathy (SPAH) Managed Clinical Network (MCN). This national MCN includes sickle cell disease in the scope of its work.\r\nMore information on SPAH can be obtained at: www.spah.scot.nhs.uk.\r\n(b) Funding for research into sickle cell disease in each year since 2007.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office has not funded any research into sickle cell disease during the period in question, however research proposals in the area of sickle cell disease would be welcomed and assessed using standard peer-review processes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293567,"EventID":"S4W-20593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T10:56:19.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:47:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18890 by Alex Neil on 8 January 2014, when it will make an announcement on the proposed way forward in relation to its consideration of no-fault compensation for patients who have been harmed as a result of clinical treatment.","AnswerText":"We are committed to ensuring that any patients harmed as a result of poor clinical treatment have access to redress in the form of compensation, where this is appropriate, without the need to go through lengthy court processes. We are today publishing our response to the public consultation on the recommendations of the review group chaired by Professor Sheila Mclean, which reaffirms our commitment to continue to work towards developing a system that is fair to patients and staff. \r\nWe will now be exploring the complexities of the scope, shape and development of a no-fault compensation scheme in Scotland. Importantly, consideration will also be given to how such a scheme could more effectively contribute to patient safety, learning and improvement and how it links with and supports safe disclosure of adverse events and aligns with the NHS complaints and claims procedure.\r\nWe will consult on draft proposals for the scheme once the further scoping work outlined above has been completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T10:56:19.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293583,"EventID":"S4W-20525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:57.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has introduced \"national indicators to specifically monitor progress in reducing health inequalities\" as recommended by Audit Scotland in its December 2012 report, Health inequalities in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Health inequalities are complex, long-term and influenced by a wide range of societal and individual factors. The Scottish Government already uses a breadth of indicators to monitor progress in reducing health inequalities. Rather than introducing new indicators, we are further developing the existing range so they can be used more effectively and give the fullest perspective possible on the levels of health inequality experienced in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:57.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293584,"EventID":"S4W-20526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:58.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has, along with NHS boards, \"reviewed the distribution of primary care services to ensure that needs associated with higher deprivation are adequately resourced\" as recommended by Audit Scotland in its December 2012 report, Health inequalities in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The agreement the Scottish Government has reached with the Scottish General Practitioner’s Committee for 2014-15, embeds into the contract support from each GP practice for health and social care integration, enabling every practice to make a contribution to local integration processes, locality planning and decision-making.\r\nIn addition for the first time this year, health boards were also required to complete a ‘strategic assessment of primary care’ as part of the annual local delivery plan process. This is an important step forward and gives real opportunity to place much needed focus and emphasis on primary care. Within health boards these assessments will inform the measurable resource shift necessary to innovate and strengthen primary care. The assessments will also assist the development of approaches to enable the Scottish Government to provide support to health boards in expanding the role of primary care, recognising that across Scotland health boards have different priorities, reflecting their geographic situation, current infrastructure and health needs and enable the development of collaborative ways of working to achieve an expanded role for primary care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:58.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293585,"EventID":"S4W-20527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:58.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the GP contract now includes measurable outcomes to monitor progress toward tackling health inequalities, as recommended by Audit Scotland in its December 2012 report, Health inequalities in Scotland, and, if so, what outcomes.","AnswerText":"The arrangements we agreed with the Scottish General Practitioner’s Committee for 2013-14 introduced a number of measures important for deprived areas, including anticipatory care and poly-pharmacy for those most at risk of hospital admission; importantly, this also paved  the way towards minimising the bureaucracy associated with the GP contract in Scotland whilst placing more freedom in the hands of GPs to exercise their clinical judgment in the provision of care for patients, rather than the constraints of a tick-box approach.\r\nThe Scottish Government through recognising the challenges in the national contract in relation to practices whose patients face the greatest inequalities have significantly altered the 2014-15 contract to free those practitioners up to devote more time to the complex problems that their patients face.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:58.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293586,"EventID":"S4W-20528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:59.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards now monitor the use of primary care, preventative and early detection services by people from more deprived areas, as recommended by Audit Scotland in its December 2012 report, Health inequalities in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Designing and commissioning services to meet the needs of the local population is vital. To this extent understanding patterns of need across different population groups is crucial. Much of the data from primary care, prevention and early detections services will be held locally and we encourage health boards and other local delivery partners to make the best use of these data.\r\nIt is for health boards to decide on how they monitor and make use of data on primary care, preventative and early detection services by people from deprived areas.\r\nHowever there are national data sets which can help boards. These include inpatient and outpatient hospitalisation data (through, for instance, SMR00, SMR01 and SMR04), available at health board and local authority by deprivation category, gender and age. Data on uptake of the national screening programmes are available for bowel screening it is published by The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation at health board level. Health and wellbeing profiles are available to health boards via the Scottish Public Health Observatory site.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:59.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293587,"EventID":"S4W-20529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:59.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure that the distribution of GPs across Scotland fully reflects levels of deprivation, as highlighted by Audit Scotland in its December 2012 report, Health inequalities in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"GP contractual arrangements now place much more emphasis on patient care being provided by the whole clinical team (GPs, nurses and other health professionals) and therefore the concept of average numbers of patients per GP is now less meaningful than may have been the case historically. Importantly too, practice demographics such as patient age, sex, deprivation and remoteness and rurality vary considerably across the country as does the clinical care needed to respond to these variations.\r\nScottish Government priority will be not so much to dictate where practices should be located, but to ensure that in reviewing the Scottish allocation formula and other contractual measures we give sufficient priority to resources for areas of deprivation. As part of the 2014-15 GP contract agreement a review of the current Scottish allocation formula/variability of funding will be taken forward over the next few years, including agreeing changes to the Scottish allocation formula to take better account of deprivation, towards the creation of a stable funding environment with a focus on: moving towards the 2020 vision and strengthening primary health care teams in and around GP practices; addressing issues relating to caring for elderly/ deprived/rural populations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:59.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293588,"EventID":"S4W-20530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:59.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T11:39:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it regularly collects information on the number of whole time equivalent GPs and practice nurses across the different levels of deprivation and, if so, whether it will publish this information.\r\n","AnswerText":"Most general practices in Scotland are independent contractors and they are not obliged to report whether their individual GP(s) work(s) full time or part time.\r\nThe Primary Care Workforce Survey 2013, a survey of Scottish general practices and GP out of hours services, published on 24 September 2013, provides a ‘snapshot’ of GPs, their designation, gender, age group, total weekly sessional commitment and an indication of whether they combined their ‘in hours’ responsibilities with any work during the out of hours period.\r\nThe survey is not based on all GPs in general practice, only those working in practices that responded to the survey (approximately 63% of practices responded in 2013). We are reliant on practices assisting us by completing the survey in order to help us collect comprehensive information. The “full time” or “part time” status is only in respect of the GPs’ commitments during the in-hours period and as at 31 January 2013, just over half (50.6%) of GPs in post had full time commitments during the in-hours period (where ‘full time’ was defined as a commitment of eight or more sessions per week). Any additional commitments during the out of hours period is not captured in these figures. Further information is available in the Official Statistics report and accompanying Excel tables published by the Information Services Division (ISD) of National Services Scotland at: \r\nwww.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/General-Practice/Workforce-and-Practice-Populations/Workforce/primary-care-workforce-survey-2013.asp. \r\nThis includes a breakdown of sessional commitments amongst GP partners as compared with other GP designations. The Workforce Survey Advisory Group (WSAG) report on the survey:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/10/9584 included a recommendation to repeat the survey every two years, with the next one proposed for late summer/early autumn 2015. The official response to the WSAG report can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/8695\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:59.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293589,"EventID":"S4W-20567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:43:59.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T15:55:02.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20307 by Keith Brown on 2 April 2014 and given the interpretation of \"prescribe\" in section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, whether a special road scheme under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is exercising powers of regulation in a way that the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 had not done.\r\n","AnswerText":"The definition of “prescribed” in section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 does not apply to section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 regulates, among other matters, the use of special roads authorised under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. “Special road” is defined in section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and section 17 of that Act is the primary regulating provision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:43:59.867","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293590,"EventID":"S4W-20568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:00.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:00:52.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the unadjusted median wait in days for (a) cataract, (b) tonsillectomy, (c) endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, (d) bypass surgery, (e) angiography, (f) varicose surgery, (g) hernia repair, (h) hip replacement and (i) knee replacement procedures in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales. \r\n","AnswerText":"The ONS report 'United Kingdom Health Statistics 2010' compares comparable figures waiting times for common procedures in 2005-06 to 2009-10. These common procedures include (a) cataract, (b) tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, (c) endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, (d) bypass surgery, (e) angiography, (f) varicose surgery, (g) hernia repair, (h) hip replacement and (i) knee replacement procedures.\r\nScottish Government commissioned an update to the statistics published in by ONS for data up to 2012-13 for Scotland, England and Wales. Statistics on the median waiting time for cataract, tonsillectomy, endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, bypass surgery, angiography, varicose surgery, hernia repair, hip replacement and knee replacement procedures in Scotland, England and Wales from 2005-06 to 2012-13 are presented in the following tables.\r\nWaiting times are not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of patient-induced or medical suspension.\r\nMedian waiting time in days (unadjusted) in Scotland, England and Wales from 2005-06 to 2012-13: \r\n\r\n\r\nCataract Surgery\r\nTonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy\r\nEndoscope of Upper Gastro Intestinal Tract\r\n2005-06\r\nScotland\r\n97\r\n93\r\n35\r\nEngland\r\n68\r\n101\r\n31\r\nWales\r\n69\r\n167\r\n33\r\n2006-07\r\nScotland\r\n69\r\n93\r\n34\r\nEngland\r\n69\r\n113\r\n27\r\nWales\r\n70\r\n189\r\n30\r\n2007-08\r\nScotland\r\n50\r\n79\r\n26\r\nEngland\r\n64\r\n78\r\n23\r\nWales\r\n76\r\n150\r\n29\r\n2008-09\r\nScotland\r\n45\r\n59\r\n23\r\nEngland\r\n56\r\n55\r\n21\r\nWales\r\n91\r\n110\r\n33\r\n2009-10\r\nScotland\r\n56\r\n54\r\n27\r\nEngland\r\n57\r\n57\r\n22\r\nWales\r\n88\r\n91\r\n34\r\n2010-11\r\nScotland\r\n58\r\n50\r\n26\r\nEngland\r\n57\r\n59\r\n23\r\nWales\r\n62\r\n82\r\n36\r\n2011-12\r\nScotland\r\n62\r\n49\r\n24\r\nEngland\r\n57\r\n62\r\n22\r\nWales\r\n73\r\n87\r\n36\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n56\r\n52\r\n20\r\nEngland\r\n59\r\n62\r\n22\r\nWales\r\n94\r\n87\r\n36\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBypass Surgery\r\nAngiography\r\nVaricose Surgery\r\n2005-06\r\nScotland\r\n47\r\n33\r\n141\r\nEngland\r\n65\r\n62\r\n134\r\nWales\r\n105\r\n71\r\n174\r\n2006-07\r\nScotland\r\n55\r\n34\r\n103\r\nEngland\r\n68\r\n55\r\n126\r\nWales\r\n107\r\n67\r\n217\r\n2007-08\r\nScotland\r\n48\r\n24\r\n90\r\nEngland\r\n65\r\n41\r\n88\r\nWales\r\n154\r\n48\r\n153\r\n2008-09\r\nScotland\r\n53\r\n20\r\n82\r\nEngland\r\n54\r\n28\r\n63\r\nWales\r\n106\r\n43\r\n113\r\n2009-10\r\nScotland\r\n37\r\n20\r\n68\r\nEngland\r\n45\r\n28\r\n65\r\nWales\r\n84\r\n37\r\n83\r\n2010-11\r\nScotland\r\n39\r\n21\r\n63\r\nEngland\r\n45\r\n31\r\n69\r\nWales\r\n119\r\n35\r\n79\r\n2011-12\r\nScotland\r\n36\r\n22\r\n68\r\nEngland\r\n53\r\n33\r\n67\r\nWales\r\n173\r\n42\r\n88\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n37\r\n26\r\n57\r\nEngland\r\n56\r\n34\r\n65\r\nWales\r\n135\r\n49\r\n92\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHernia Repair\r\nHip Replacement\r\nKnee Replacement\r\n2005-06\r\nScotland\r\n91\r\n156\r\n165\r\nEngland\r\n97\r\n158\r\n168\r\nWales\r\n107\r\n257\r\n297\r\n2006-07\r\nScotland\r\n79\r\n122\r\n125\r\nEngland\r\n96\r\n148\r\n155\r\nWales\r\n116\r\n219\r\n241\r\n2007-08\r\nScotland\r\n71\r\n99\r\n104\r\nEngland\r\n73\r\n107\r\n113\r\nWales\r\n98\r\n171\r\n180\r\n2008-09\r\nScotland\r\n67\r\n90\r\n91\r\nEngland\r\n54\r\n75\r\n77\r\nWales\r\n85\r\n119\r\n120\r\n2009-10\r\nScotland\r\n61\r\n78\r\n81\r\nEngland\r\n55\r\n77\r\n79\r\nWales\r\n80\r\n101\r\n105\r\n2010-11\r\nScotland\r\n58\r\n71\r\n72\r\nEngland\r\n58\r\n80\r\n83\r\nWales\r\n84\r\n156\r\n125\r\n2011-12\r\nScotland\r\n59\r\n73\r\n77\r\nEngland\r\n61\r\n82\r\n87\r\nWales\r\n94\r\n164\r\n187\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n54\r\n67\r\n68\r\nEngland\r\n59\r\n77\r\n82\r\nWales\r\n99\r\n170\r\n177\r\nSources: ISD Scotland, HES England, NHS Wales Informatics Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:00.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293591,"EventID":"S4W-20569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:00.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:00:52.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of qualified nurses there are in (a) Scotland and (b) England per head of population.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of qualified nurses in (a) Scotland and (b) England per head of population is as follows:\r\n(a) NHS Scotland employed 40,088.1 whole time equivalent (wte) qualified nurses as at 31st December 2013. The latest available mid-year population estimate for 2012 is 5,313,600 (General Register Office for Scotland). There are 7.5 qualified nurses per 1,000 population or 0.008 per head of population.\r\n(b) NHS England employed 290,520.7 wte qualified nurses as at 31 December 2013. The latest available mid-year population estimate for 2012 is 53,493,700 (Office of National Statistics). There are 5.4 qualified nurses per 1,000 population or 0.005 per head of population.\r\nScotland has 2.1 wte more qualified nurses per head of population than England. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:00.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293592,"EventID":"S4W-20570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:00.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:24:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland records all (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory stop and search incidents; what information about each incident is collected; whether it will publish details of the number of incidents, broken down by the (i) age, (ii) gender and (iii) ethnicity of the person stopped, and whether it will make such information publicly available on a regular basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your question and I have asked him to reply to you direct.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:00.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293593,"EventID":"S4W-20574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:01.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:30:48.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment in the white paper on independence to increasing the minimum wage \"at least in line with inflation\" refers to the consumer price index (CPI) or retail prices index (RPI).\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers would set up a Fair Work Commission and guarantee that the national minimum wage rises at least in line with the RPI after independence in order to protect the earnings of some of the lowest paid Scots.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:01.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293594,"EventID":"S4W-20575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:01.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:30:48.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment in the white paper on independence to increasing benefits and tax credits in line with inflation refers to the consumer price index (CPI) or retail prices index (RPI). \r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers would ensure that benefits and tax credits increase in line with inflation after independence to preserve their value in real terms and to avoid the poorest families falling further into poverty. Future Scottish Governments will be able to assess the most appropriate measure of inflation to apply in an independent Scotland in order to support these policy objectives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:01.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293595,"EventID":"S4W-20576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:01.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:39:03.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on the proposed Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill is due to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament before the end of this parliamentary year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:01.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293596,"EventID":"S4W-20577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:02.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:43:18.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20237 by John Swinney on 27 March 2014, for what reason the extract from the document cited does not provide advice on the duration of a currency union.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20237 on 27 March 2014, which detailed that paragraph 2.7, page 19, of the first report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group included the following recommendation:\r\n“Recommendation: the Scottish Government should refine the detail of the proposition set out for a macroeconomic framework which can operate from day one of independence and through any period of transition and indefinitely if required. The framework should ensure monetary and price stability, financial stability and fiscal sustainability.”\r\nThe full published report and technical annex can be found via:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/02/3017.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:02.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293597,"EventID":"S4W-20578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:02.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:43:18.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-20326 and S4W-19732 by John Swinney on 28 March 2014 and 28 February 2014 respectively, for what reason the document referred to does not identify five alternative currency options, and whether a document setting out these options exists.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-20326 on 28 March 2014 and S4W-19732 on 28 February 2014, which detailed the Fiscal Commission Working Groups assessment of the key currency options for an independent Scotland.\r\nThe full published report and technical annex can be found via:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/02/3017.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:02.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293598,"EventID":"S4W-20598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:02.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to take a gendered approach to its employability programmes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland, ensures that there is fair and open access to all our national training programmes, including modern apprenticeships. Government supported training programmes are delivered by a wide range of stakeholders such as local authorities, colleges, training providers and employers. They must all meet their statutory obligations and operate within the appropriate laws, such as The Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Relations Act 1999.\r\nThe recent interim report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce makes a number of recommendations relating to government supported training programmes, and I am currently considering these recommendations, with the final report due in early summer. An important stage in the second half of the Wood Commission will include a focus on equality issues, looking to make meaningful recommendations to improve employment outcomes in relation to gender, disability and ethnicity.\r\nWe will use the findings from this work to develop a way forward for government supported training programmes which will better meet our aims and ambitions for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:02.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293599,"EventID":"S4W-20599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:03.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average spend on apprenticeships is, broken down by gender.","AnswerText":"This data is not held centrally. I will ask the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:03.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293600,"EventID":"S4W-20600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:03.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle occupational segregation (a) in apprenticeships and (b) more generally.\r\n","AnswerText":"When the Scottish Government and the STUC held the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012, discussion covered a wide range of areas. Since that time, a ministerial strategic group on women and work has met regularly to consider actions underway and what more can be done at all levels to enable women to fulfil their potential in the labour market. While we know many issue still remain, progress is being made in a number of areas, including occupational segregation.\r\nWith over 69% of women in paid work today, in Scotland women are represented in every sector in the labour market and at every level. Women’s contribution to the economy through unpaid work must also be recognised. However, steps to tackle occupational segregation are a priority for the Strategic Group on Women and Work, which I chair and we are closely monitoring the actions on this which are being co-ordinated through a cross directorate group on occupational segregation.\r\nThe Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland (SDS), ensures that there is fair and open access to all our national training programmes, including modern apprenticeships. Training interventions are designed to help us address skills gaps across the economy in response to employer demand and learner preferences.\r\nThe Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme is a fully employed programme in Scotland and as a result recruitment decisions are in the hands of participating employers. There is therefore an important role for employers in terms of adapting their behaviour to attract and retain a balanced workforce. We agreed with the Equal Opportunities Committee recommendation that SDS should campaign to raise awareness of the MA programme with disadvantaged groups, and Scottish apprenticeship week in May 2014 will have equalities as a major focus.\r\nThe biggest impact in addressing the occupational choices of individuals comes through the provision of good careers advice, making young people aware of opportunities in any given sector and allowing them to undertake the appropriate qualifications and training to move into these opportunities.\r\nAchieving a balanced workforce which reflects Scottish society as a whole is a challenge for the labour market as a whole and is not specific to government supported training programmes. We appreciate, however, that we need to do more to ensure young people understand the nature and opportunities available across the labour market, and that employers recognise the economic and social value of a balanced workforce.\r\nThe recent interim report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce makes a number of recommendations relating to government supported training programmes, and I am currently considering these recommendations, with the final report due in early summer. An important stage in the second half of the Wood Commission will be a focus on equality issues, looking to make meaningful recommendations to improve employment outcomes in relation to gender, disability and ethnicity.\r\nWe will use the findings from this work to develop a way forward for government supported training programmes which will better meet our aims and ambitions for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:03.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293601,"EventID":"S4W-20601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:04.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many apprenticeships there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) gender and (b) occupation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland (SDS) publishes management information on government supported training programme, including modern apprenticeships on a quarterly basis.\r\nThe published data is broken down by gender, age, framework followed (which relates to the apprentice’s occupation) and local authority area.\r\nI attach a link to SDS published data:\r\nhttp://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/statistics/modern-apprenticeships/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:04.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293602,"EventID":"S4W-20602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:04.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how gender issues are mainstreamed in the Scottish Welfare Fund and related guidance.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) is intended to help vulnerable people across Scotland, regardless of gender.\r\nAn equality impact assessment (EQIA) on the differences between the Discretionary Social Fund and SWF was published in April 2013. It did not find any evidence to suggest that there would be a differential effect between men and women under the SWF.\r\nGender issues have been mainstreamed in guidance by ensuring that vulnerabilities which are more commonly experienced by women are taken in to consideration in the decision making process. \r\nFactors listed in the guidance as increasing a person’s vulnerability include: people fleeing domestic violence, looking after children for a relative or friend as a kinship carer, being a lone parent, being pregnant, recent childbirth or adopting a child and having responsibility as a main care giver. There are also several vulnerabilities listed relating to the presence of children which are intended to impact child poverty but will advantage women who are mothers.\r\nThe EQIA can be found at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/socialfund/FullEQIA.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:04.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293603,"EventID":"S4W-20603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:05.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects data on the Scottish Welfare Fund disaggregated by gender.\r\n","AnswerText":"For every application to the Scottish Welfare Fund, we ask for the gender of each person in the household, including the main applicant, their partner, children and any other person living with them. Whilst this question is completed for 94% of people overall, the gender of the main applicant is known in 99.98% of applications.\r\nFurther details of the information we collect can be found in the data monitoring specification. This is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/15257/1529/swf-dataspec.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:05.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293604,"EventID":"S4W-20604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:06.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided funding for gender sensitive advice and support services for women’s organisations dealing with welfare reform.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government contributed £5.1 million to the £7.45 million making advice work fund, the remainder being contributed by money advice services. Stream three of this funding was focussed on tackling barriers in accessing advice for priority groups, one being people experiencing domestic abuse and several of the projects focussed on advice for women.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:06.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293605,"EventID":"S4W-20605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:06.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Scottish Welfare Fund by (a) men and (b) women, and how many of these were successful.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of community care grants and crisis grants.\r\nThe table below shows the total number of community care grants and crisis grants decided between 1 April and 31 December 2013, broken down by the gender of the main applicant and whether the applications were successful or not.\r\n\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nTotal\r\nProportion Accepted\r\nCommunity Care Grants\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGender Not Recorded\r\n              2 \r\n              4 \r\n              6 \r\n\r\nMale\r\n       6,059 \r\n       9,848 \r\n      15,907 \r\n62%\r\nFemale\r\n       6,001 \r\n      12,506 \r\n      18,507 \r\n68%\r\nTotal\r\n      12,062 \r\n      22,358 \r\n      34,420 \r\n65%\r\n\r\n\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nTotal\r\nProportion Accepted\r\nCrisis Grants\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGender Not Recorded\r\n              8 \r\n              8 \r\n            16 \r\n\r\nMale\r\n      13,124 \r\n      29,197 \r\n      42,321 \r\n69%\r\nFemale\r\n       9,113 \r\n      24,531 \r\n      33,644 \r\n73%\r\nTotal\r\n      22,245 \r\n      53,736 \r\n      75,981 \r\n71%\r\nFor community care grants, 62% of males were successful and 68% of females were successful. For crisis grants, 69% of males were successful and 73% of females were successful.\r\nStatistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:06.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293606,"EventID":"S4W-20606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:07.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:09:00.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is to the economy of occupational segregation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Occupational segregation contributes to the gender pay gap, restricts women's employment opportunities and prevents them from achieving their fullest potential in the labour market.\r\nWe know that the causes are complex and include issues relating to gender stereotyping during education and career formation, inflexible work practices, and the under-valuing of roles and occupations associated with ‘women’s work’. \r\nTo translate these factors into a financial ‘bottom line’ is a challenge but one we are beginning to address, building on the work carried out by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) with the advice of the late Professor Ailsa MacKay, on the economic impact of transforming Scotland’s childcare in an independent Scotland. \r\nThe CEA will follow up that work with an analysis of further steps Scotland can take to maximise economic opportunities for women.\r\nWe have also funded The Fraser of Allander Institute, via our key partners Close the Gap, to look at the economic benefits, measured in gross value added to Scotland of removing barriers to women’s participation and progress in the labour market.\r\nThis will include estimating the loss of economic activity caused by barriers to women’s participation and progress in some sectors, detailed in the Scottish Government’s economic strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:07.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293607,"EventID":"S4W-20607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:07.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:15:48.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, when the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was established.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to a programme of activity to enhance the diversity of Scotland’s public boards and the Scottish Government staff body. To drive forward this agenda, the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was established on 9 December 2013. It is intended that the programme board will consider diversity in its widest sense but there will be a particular focus on women in the early part of the programme. Although not within its formal remit, the board will take a close interest in the outcome of the forthcoming consultation on the issue of women’s representation on boards, including the role of quotas.\r\nThe remit of the Programme Board is being addressed through three specific strands of work. These cover actions aimed at increasing the diversity of Public Boards and of Scottish Government staff and at influencing change in board representation in the wider public and private sectors. The three strands are:\r\nLeadership and Partnerships: The programme board aims to bring together interventions from across the Scottish Government to increase the representation of women and other under-represented groups on regulated public boards and within the Scottish Government. It will also seek to influence board compositions in organisations outside government through working in partnership.\r\nPractical Change: This is focusing on ministerially appointed, regulated public boards. These are the boards that Scottish Ministers have direct control over and reliable statistics with which to measure success. By implementing specific practical changes to systems and processes, we intend to make ministerial public appointments more diverse, aiming to be broadly reflective of the Scottish population by 2017.\r\nScottish Government Employees: The work being progressed under this strand is designed to enable the Scottish Government to become an exemplar employer and to ensure that as an organisation we are broadly reflective of the Scottish population by 2025.\r\nA programme of activity is currently being developed by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the programme board and stakeholders. Action plans and targets are still in the developmental phase. Connecting with users experiences and raising awareness amongst influencers will be key to the success of the programme. To help develop and support this, the programme board is considering setting up specific stakeholder advisory panels. The membership and remit of those panels will be decided by the programme board in the coming months.\r\n\r\nThe membership of the board is as follows:\r\nAlyson Stafford, Director-General Finance – Chair\r\nBarbara Allison, Director-General Governance and Communities\r\nSarah Davidson, Director for Human Resources and Organisational Development\r\nCatherine Dyer, Chief Executive Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service\r\nKenneth Hogg, Director for Local Government and Communities\r\nGraeme Dickson, Director-General Enterprise, Environment and Digital\r\nSandy Begbie, Non-executive Director\r\nAnnie Gunner Logan, Non-executive Director \r\nThe agenda and minutes of the programme board will be published online shortly. \r\nDiversity data has not been captured for the members of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board, therefore it is not known if any board members are disabled. However the board intends to ensure that the views of disabled people and staff are considered and taken account of through appropriate stakeholder engagement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:07.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293608,"EventID":"S4W-20608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:08.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:15:48.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what the membership is of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:08.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293609,"EventID":"S4W-20609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:08.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:15:48.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what the remit is of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:08.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293610,"EventID":"S4W-20610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:09.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:15:48.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether the (a) agenda and (b) minutes of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board will be published online.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:09.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293611,"EventID":"S4W-20611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:09.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:15:48.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether disabled people are represented on the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:09.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293612,"EventID":"S4W-20612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:10.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:20:17.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what events have been held to raise awareness and promote understanding of public appointments from (a) 2008 to 2011 and (b) 2012 to date and are planned for the future.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to raising awareness and promoting understanding of public appointments with all groups in Scottish society through conferences, meeting and other events.\r\nA comprehensive list of awareness events was not held centrally prior to 2013. However for the period 1 January to 31 December 2013, nine events were organised by the Scottish Governments Public Appointments Centre of Expertise (PACE). In addition we attended a further 20 events to raise awareness in the same period.\r\nFrom 1 January 2014 to date we have organised two events and attended three organised by other organisations The events attended varied greatly and included, awareness sessions for public body chairs and internal staff dealing with public appointments, outreach covering all of those groups under represented on Scotland’s boards and participation and representation at conferences.\r\nA list of the events organised by PACE in 2013 and 2014 are listed below:\r\n2013:\r\nScottish Housing Regulator; to encourage applications from homeless people and those who had experience of engaging with public and private rented accommodation sector.\r\nSeven awareness sessions for public body chairs and senior civil servants (Edinburgh) who sit on selection panels to promote improvements to the public appointment process and raise awareness of diversity on Scotland’s boards.\r\nThe Women on Board summit which was held to understand and identify the barriers to women in public life, attended by over 100 chairs of public boards, women of potential and critical friends.\r\n2014:\r\nAn open day to encourage applicants to apply for the Dumfries and Galloway Health board chair appointment.\r\nAn awareness session for public body chairs and senior civil service who sit on selection panels (Glasgow) to promote improvements to the public appointment process and raise awareness of diversity on Scotland’s boards. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:10.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293613,"EventID":"S4W-20613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:11.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:20:17.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, how many copies of the DVD on public appointments were ordered and when; what the total cost was and how many have been distributed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The initial costs of the DVD production including 1,000 copies was £2,705 in June 2009. Since then a further two reprints have been ordered of 200 copies each time costing £994.92. The total costs for DVDs production and reprint to date is £3,699.92. We have distributed approximately 1300 copies of the DVD to date through various awareness events organised by Scottish Government or through events we have been invited to attend.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:11.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293614,"EventID":"S4W-20614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:11.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:20:17.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what programme of activity is planned by the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:11.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293615,"EventID":"S4W-20615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:12.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:20:17.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board has produced targets and action plans to improve public appointments and, if so, whether these have been published.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:12.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293616,"EventID":"S4W-20616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:13.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:20:17.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it has established reference groups to support the work of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board to improve public appointments.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:13.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293617,"EventID":"S4W-20621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T14:44:13.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:25:08.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to control or eradicate North American signal crayfish in (a) Lochrutton and (b) the Lochfoot Burn in Dumfriesshire. \r\n","AnswerText":"I am advised by Scottish Natural Heritage that they have not yet identified an effective method for the eradication of North American signal crayfish in water bodies such as Lochrutton and the Lochfoot Burn, albeit this is an objective the Scottish Government is keen to pursue if at all possible.\r\nThe Fisheries Trusts and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are working together to raise awareness of appropriate biosecurity measures that water users can take to avoid spreading the species, and other freshwater invasive species, to other parts of the catchment or to other parts of Scotland. This includes launching a number of biosecurity campaigns across Dumfries and Galloway this spring and summer to raise awareness of invasive non-native species, including the Check Clean Dry and Be Plant Wise initiatives across the region. All campaigns are being co-ordinated by SEPA with support from a variety of partner organisations such as Police Scotland, the Galloway Fisheries Trust, the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust, the River Annan Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service, Solway Firth Partnership and Scottish Natural Heritage. These campaigns will be supported by the distribution of thousands of leaflets, identification guides, posters and signs across the region.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T14:44:13.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293625,"EventID":"S4W-20579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:50.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:44:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it based its suggested 6% increase in female participation on in the paper, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 6 percentage point increase in female participation referred to in the question is based on the gap between female participation in Scotland and Sweden, which has a range of policies designed to support parents into work including a universal entitlement to childcare from age 1. As outlined in the paper, closing this gap could lead to an increase in output by £2.2 billion and revenues by £700 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:50.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293626,"EventID":"S4W-20580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:50.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:44:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it carried out to calculate the suggested £700 million increase in tax revenue as a result of the childcare policies outlined in the white paper on independence.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government modelled the impacts of increased female participation using a detailed Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model of the Scottish economy. The model is used by the Scottish Government to model the impacts of economic shocks and changes in policy. Further detail on the framework is available in the Scottish Government report published on corporation tax modelling, which can be accessed by following the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00388940.pdf\r\nCGE models are widely used for dynamic policy modelling by many national governments and international organisations. The Scottish Government’s CGE model was built by a widely respected Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, who are considered to be among the leading experts in this field of economic modelling.\r\nAs outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, an increase in tax revenues by £700 million could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate. As highlighted in the paper, as individuals move into employment or increase the hours they work, they would pay more tax through income tax and national insurance. In addition, as income and spending rises, receipts from indirect taxes such as VAT, fuel duty and excise duties would also be expected to rise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:50.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293627,"EventID":"S4W-20581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:50.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:44:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it carried out to calculate the suggested £2.2 billion increase in economic output as a result of the childcare policies outlined in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government modelled the impacts of increased female participation using a Computable General Equilibrium model of the Scottish economy. As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, an increase in output by £2.2 billion could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate. Such an expansion is modelled to take place over a number of years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:50.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293628,"EventID":"S4W-20582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:51.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:44:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it means by “the analysis below illustrates the impact of a boost in female participation rates rather than a specific policy\" on page four of the paper, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The analysis published in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper highlights the potential effects on the Scottish economy of increasing female activity rates. It illustrates the impact of increasing the female participation rate by 2 percentage points and then of matching the rate observed in Norway and Sweden.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:51.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293629,"EventID":"S4W-20583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:51.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-02T16:44:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what labour market factors are different between Sweden and Scotland apart from childcare and whether these factors could impact on Scotland achieving a similar rate of female participation.","AnswerText":"Although there are some broadly comparable features in the Swedish and Scottish labour markets, it should be noted that female participation is affected by a range of matters and not just the nature of the labour market.\r\nHowever, we are clear that there is consistent and robust evidence across a range of international comparators that supports the argument for a significant link between affordable childcare and higher maternal employment rates.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:51.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293630,"EventID":"S4W-20617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:51.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:22:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will publish the formal evaluation that it has carried out of its different application and selection methods in public appointments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to understanding the experience of applicants for public appointments, and to using different application and selection methods to enhance the diversity of our public bodies.\r\nWe have fully supported and worked in collaboration with the Commission for Ethical Standards in Public life in Scotland on the content of the questionnaire about applicants experience in 2012 and 2013. This research has been published and can be found on the: Commission for Ethical Standards and Public Life in Scotland website. \r\nThe Scottish Government’s Public Appointments Centre of Expertise have used the applicant research to inform actions on our continuous improvement agenda. This includes a project on improving the applicant tracking system, making it simpler for applicants to apply online, improving the quality and availability of feedback offered to applicants and the use of social media to publicise appointments.\r\nWe will also use the research to understand more fully how applicants view different application and selection methods. No other formal evaluation has been carried out in addition to the 2012 and 2013 surveys. However the 2013 survey has shown significant improvements from 2012 in the views of applicants about almost all aspects of the process. This includes improvements in applicant experience of the application and selection processes. Applicants have also reported that they feel feedback and the overall experience has improved. There is still work to be done and we will use the research to inform our future improvement work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:51.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293631,"EventID":"S4W-20618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:52.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:22:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will publish the key findings of the research conducted in 2012 and 2013, and what changes have been made to the appointment process as a result.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20617 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at;\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:52.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293632,"EventID":"S4W-20619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:52.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:22:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether everybody who is engaged in the public appointments process has received diversity training.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Appointments Centre of Expertise are currently considering options on raising awareness of diversity issues by delivering training to selection panel members on unconscious bias. This is part of the on-going continuous improvement work currently underway as part of the programme of activity being developed by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board and stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:52.827","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293633,"EventID":"S4W-20620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:53.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:22:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19448 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested on whether it has measured the level of awareness of public bodies and the appointments process and, if so, what the result was and whether the 45% target was reached.\r\n","AnswerText":"Awareness raising work and its impact on increasing diversity on public boards is being considered as part of the programme of activity being developed by the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme board. Options for this will be considered in conjunction with specific stakeholder advisory panels as these are developed by the programme board.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:53.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293634,"EventID":"S4W-20622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:54.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:38:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the then administration instructed the Lord Advocate to raise with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council the issues raised in Report of the Expert Group on Financial and Other Support, which was published in 2003, and, if so, what the response from the committee was and what subsequent action was taken.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following the publication of the Report of the Expert Group on Financial and Other Support in March 2003, on 29 August 2003 the Secretary of State for Health and Health Ministers of the Devolved Administrations announced that a UK wide scheme would be set up to make ex gratia payments to certain persons who had been infected with the hepatitis C virus by NHS blood products provided certain conditions of eligibility were met and this scheme continues.\r\nThe report recommended that if the Westminster Government disputed the vires of what was being proposed by way of compensation for the people who had contracted hepatitis C from blood products, the Scottish Government should take immediate steps to have the issue referred to the Judicial Committee by the Lord Advocate. No such reference was made. With regard to the vires issue, in view of the fact that the scheme would involve continuing expenditure it was considered appropriate for Scottish Ministers to seek statutory powers. Scottish Ministers adopted the Skipton Fund under section 28 (Infection with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment etc) of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005:  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/13/contents.\r\nSection 28 of the 2005 Act provides for the Scottish Ministers to make a scheme for making payments to, or in respect of, persons who have been infected with the hepatitis C virus in certain circumstances. A scheme may include certain matters such as conditions for eligibility and the Scottish Ministers may make provision in the scheme for other persons to undertake functions or manage the scheme on their behalf.\r\nProvisions within Section 85B of the NHS Scotland Act 1978:\r\nhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/29/section/85B allow Scottish Ministers to introduce a scheme to make provision to meet losses and liabilities of certain health service bodies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:54.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293635,"EventID":"S4W-20625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:54.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T11:40:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on prescribing the medicinal cannabis compound, Sativex, and whether it plans to carry out research on its effectiveness in the treatment of people with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) fibromyalgia.\r\n","AnswerText":"The manufacturer of Sativex has not provided a submission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium. Therefore, Sativex is not currently recommended for use within the NHS in Scotland.\r\nThe Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. CSO responds primarily to requests for funding research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland. CSO is not currently funding any research projects regarding the potential medical use of cannabis. CSO would welcome research proposals in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:54.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293636,"EventID":"S4W-20628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:54.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many economically inactive women with dependent children aged from one to five there are.","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period from January 2013 to December 2013.\r\nIn 2013, there were an estimated 80,000 economically inactive women with dependent children aged from one to five.\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Estimates rounded to nearest thousand.\r\n2. Estimates exclude those who gave no response to this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:54.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293637,"EventID":"S4W-20629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:54.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost would be of the third phase of its childcare proposals as outlined in its white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"In Scotland’s Future we set out our plans for the first Parliament after independence. In our first budget after independence we will commit £100 million to extend 600 hours of childcare a year to nearly half of Scotland’s two year olds. By the end of the first Parliament these two years olds and all three and four year olds will be entitled to 1,140 hours of childcare a year, with a further investment of £600 million.\r\nBy providing access to both sides of the balance sheet, independence also provides the opportunity to reinvest higher revenues from improved economic activity back into expanding childcare provision.\r\nAs set out on page 195 of Scotland’s Future, we will undertake a review of our cost structure, based on international examples, to ensure that our future investment in early learning and childcare achieves the best possible outcomes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:55.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293638,"EventID":"S4W-20630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:55.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the analysis of the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) that the third phase of the childcare proposals as outlined in the white paper on independence would cost £1.2 billion.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has already committed to significant spend on childcare. Through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, we have committed more than a quarter of a billion pounds (£280m) to expand funded, quality childcare from 12.5 hours to almost 16 hours a week for three and four year olds and around 15% of two year olds from August 2014, rising to around 27% of 2 year olds from August 2015.\r\nIn addition, in Scotland’s Future we set out our plans for the first Parliament after independence. In our first budget after independence we will commit £100 million to extend 600 hours of childcare a year to nearly half of Scotland’s two year olds. By the end of the first Parliament these two years olds and all three and four year olds will be entitled to 1,140 hours of childcare a year, with a further investment of £600 million.\r\nThe SPICe figure of £1.2 billion to deliver our childcare policy in full is a high level estimate and is not based on a detailed assessment of the service model or detailed figures for costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:55.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293639,"EventID":"S4W-20631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:55.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional women would have to enter the labour market in order for Scotland to match the level in (a) Finland, (b) Norway and (c) Sweden, as outlined in its paper, Childcare and Labour Market Participation - Economic Analysis.\r\n","AnswerText":"As shown on page 4 of Childcare and Labour Market Participation - Economic Analysis, the number of females that are active in the labour market would have to increase by a) 35,000 for the female participation to rise by 2.0 percentage points (broadly in line with the rate in Finland and the Netherlands) b) 68,000 to match the rate in Norway c) 104,000 to match the rate in Sweden. \r\nThis refers to changes over the long-term, as the benefits of the proposed childcare policy are not constrained to economically inactive women with young children at a single point in time. Being able to stay within the labour market whilst their children are of nursery age, would mean that the outcomes would be improved for women when the children are grown up, compared to what would have happened had they taken time out of employment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:55.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293640,"EventID":"S4W-20632","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:55.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the possibility of women already in the labour market increasing their hours of work rather than an overall increase in labour market participation as a result of its proposals for childcare in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has assessed the evidence base setting out the links between childcare and female labour force participation. In a recent report from the European Commission, among mothers in the UK citing childcare as a barrier to working full-time, over 70% say it is because of the costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:55.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293641,"EventID":"S4W-20633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:56.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:28:22.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the analysis by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) on page 29 of its briefing, Early Learning and Childcare, that “given the increased supply of labour, the modelled results would be expected to show downward pressure on real average wages. This could have wider implications for the labour market and on incentives for women to enter the workplace”.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has laid out its position on childcare in Scotland’s Future and the subsequent Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, which contained economic analysis of increased female activity. Evidence shows that access to childcare is a barrier to participation for many parents with young children. Norway and Sweden have universal entitlements to childcare from age one and high female labour market activity rates. In the long-term, an increase in the female participation rate to Swedish levels would be expected to increase output by £2.2 billion and revenues by £700 million.\r\nThe policy’s key aim is to encourage current and future parents of young children to enter or stay in the labour market by effectively increasing their earnings net of childcare costs. The increase in employment that could result from this would have an expansionary effect and boost overall national income.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:56.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293643,"EventID":"S4W-20635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:56.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:11:31.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal road accidents there have been on the A82 between (a) Onich and Fort William, (b) Fort William and Spean Bridge, (c) Spean Bridge and Fort Augustus and (d) Fort Augustus and Inverness in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotland and this database is updated periodically, as data provided by the police is checked and verified. The following table shows the number of fatal accidents on the A82 between Onich and Inverness in each of the last five years.\r\nFatal accidents on the A82 by year\r\n\r\nOnich-\r\nFort William\r\nFort William-\r\nSpean Bridge\r\nSpean Bridge-\r\nFort Augustus\r\nFort Augustus-\r\nInverness\r\n2009\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2010\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n2011\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2012\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2013*\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\n*data is accurate to November 2013  \r\nThe figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere due to being extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:56.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293644,"EventID":"S4W-20639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:56.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:11:31.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents resulting in serious injury there have been on the A82 between (a) Onich and Fort William, (b) Fort William and Spean Bridge, (c) Spean Bridge and Fort Augustus and (d) Fort Augustus and Inverness in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotland and this database is updated periodically, as data provided by the police is checked and verified. The following table shows the number of serious accidents on the A82 between Onich and Inverness in each of the last five years.\r\nSerious accidents on the A82 by year\r\n\r\nOnich-\r\nFort William\r\nFort William-\r\nSpean Bridge\r\nSpean Bridge-\r\nFort Augustus\r\nFort Augustus-\r\nInverness\r\n2009\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n1\r\n2010\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n2011\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n3\r\n2012\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n5\r\n2013*\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n*data is accurate to November 2013\r\nThe figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere due to being extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:56.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293645,"EventID":"S4W-20643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:57.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:11:31.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last five years road design has been considered a contributory factor in accidents on the A82.","AnswerText":"The police record details of all personal injury accidents, including on the A82 trunk road, however road design is not recorded as a contributory factor.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:57.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293646,"EventID":"S4W-20644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:57.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:40:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) remit and (b) timescale is for its review of the childcare workforce; who is on the review panel, and whether it plans to publish minutes of its meetings.","AnswerText":"A terms of reference for the Independent Review of Early Years Workforce and Out of School Care Workforce Review, setting out the remit, will be published on the Scottish Government website shortly.\r\nA Core Reference Group of stakeholders will be established to support the chair, and the list of members will be included in the terms of reference. No meetings have been arranged at this stage. The minutes of any meetings which take place will be published.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:57.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293647,"EventID":"S4W-20645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:57.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:42:30.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients travelling by ambulance from Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy have been pronounced \"dead on arrival\" since accident and emergency services were moved from Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service advised that 1814 patients were transferred by ambulance from Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy between 1 January 2012 and 7 April 2014. Based on an interrogation of their local management data systems, including the information input by crews to the electronic patient record forms, there is no record of any patient being ‘dead on arrival’ at the receiving hospital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:57.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293648,"EventID":"S4W-20646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:57.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:42:30.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much moving accident and emergency services from Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy has cost the Scottish Ambulance Service in additional fuel.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service, the information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:57.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293649,"EventID":"S4W-20647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:58.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:42:30.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if a major disaster was to be declared in or around the Dunfermline area, what contingencies are in place to cope with any increased (a) pressure on the emergency services and (b) need for hospital admissions.\r\n","AnswerText":"Major Incidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and will inevitably lead to additional pressures on hospitals and the emergency services. Should a major incident be declared anywhere in Fife, NHS Fife and its emergency services partners have well-developed and tested response and contingency plans in place. Risk assessments are undertaken by the health board to ensure that it is sufficiently resilient, even with increased pressure, and capable of responding to a major incident whilst maintaining patient care.\r\nIn line with its duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, NHS Fife has major incident and business continuity plans in place to ensure that it can continue to provide expected levels of healthcare services in the event of any major disruptive incident.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:58.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293650,"EventID":"S4W-20648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:58.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:42:30.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) public meetings and (b) other public consultation took place regarding the proposal to move accident and emergency services from Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, and how many people participated.","AnswerText":"The relocation of Accident and Emergency services to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy was agreed in 2002, as part of NHS Fife’s Strategic Plan ‘Right For Fife. As part of the ‘Right for Fife’ process, an extensive public consultation exercise was undertaken. This included:\r\na) Twenty-seven large-scale public consultation meetings, held during the formal consultation period from Nov 2001 to Feb 2002. These were  organised in a variety of locations around Fife including Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Inverkeithing, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, St Andrews and Cupar.\r\nb)Other aspects of the public engagement process included:\r\nThe distribution of the ‘Right for Fife’ newsletter to 160,000 households in Fife in addition to patient and user groups, partner agencies, voluntary organisations, local groups, staff and professional groups, libraries, GP surgeries and local pharmacies. The newsletter was accessed over 22,000 times on the NHS Fife website;\r\nThe production of a full public consultation document and smaller summary version;\r\nA number of Open Space meetings (a public meeting where the public sets the agenda);\r\nCommunity focus groups (existing community groups such as mother and toddler groups who took the opportunity to discuss health issues with an external facilitator);\r\nHealth Panels (randomly selected to debate health issues);\r\nA number of additional public events;\r\nMultiple meetings with Community Councils and other Community organisations across Fife;\r\nA media campaign and various methods of advertising including local radio and a poster campaign, raising awareness of the public meetings, public consultation and opportunities available for the public to comment and have their views heard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:58.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293651,"EventID":"S4W-20650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:58.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:40:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its review of the childcare workforce will produce recommendations and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The review of Early Learning and Childcare Workforce and Out of School Care Workforce is an independent review. The chair has been tasked with producing a series of recommendations. These recommendations will be considered by ministers when the review is published.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:58.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293652,"EventID":"S4W-20651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:58.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:39:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision HMP Inverclyde will make for prisoners to receive private family visits from (a) children and (b) young relatives.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“As you will be aware, HMP and YOI Inverclyde is currently in design phase. The design team’s brief is to focus on activities and play facilities that are suitable for mother and child to enjoy together. The design team are working towards providing a comfortable, relaxed and family/child friendly environment, designed to enhance the overall visit experience and encourage the maintenance of links with family and friends.\r\nIt is our intention that both indoor and outdoor play areas will be provided for visits with small children. The outdoor visits garden will be accessible by all visitors and additional arrangements will also be made to provide suitable activity for older children, such as access to age appropriate reading material and other suitable activities. \r\nOnce operational, it is our intention that the visit room will be used outside normal visiting times for bonding and other child visits. These arrangements will reflect the good practices already in place at HMP and YOI Cornton Vale.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:58.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293653,"EventID":"S4W-20652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:59.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:40:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its review of the childcare workforce will consider the economics of childcare policy.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20644 on 2 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:59.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293654,"EventID":"S4W-20653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:59.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T15:40:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what editorial control ministers will exert on the report produced by the review of the childcare workforce.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20650 on 29 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:59.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293655,"EventID":"S4W-20657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T13:42:40.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:36:07.573","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students have enrolled for advanced higher qualifications at colleges in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Qualifications Authority provides data on candidates entered for Advanced Highers in Scotland. The latest available data for colleges is provided in Table 1.\r\nTable 1: Candidates entered for at least one Advanced Higher by Further Education Colleges\r\nYear\r\nCandidates\r\n2008-09\r\n116\r\n2009-10\r\n153\r\n2010-11\r\n208\r\n2011-12\r\n193\r\n2012-13\r\n170\r\nSource: Scottish Qualifications Authority\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T13:42:40.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293656,"EventID":"S4W-20658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T13:42:41.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:36:07.573","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether advanced higher qualifications will continue to be available at colleges.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for colleges to deliver a balanced curriculum that meets the needs of learners and employers in their region.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T13:42:41.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293657,"EventID":"S4W-20659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T13:42:41.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:36:07.573","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of the impact of reductions to college budgets on the provision of courses at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 1 to 7.\r\n","AnswerText":"For courses at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 1 to 7, the full-time equivalent (FTE) student places was 3% higher in 2012-13 than in 2006-07.\r\nIt is for colleges to deliver a balanced curriculum that meets the needs of learners and employers in their region.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T13:42:41.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293658,"EventID":"S4W-20661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T13:42:41.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-04T11:32:39.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adopt the Corran ferry crossing as part of the national trunk road system.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to include ferry crossings as part of the trunk road network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T13:42:41.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293670,"EventID":"S4W-20662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T15:57:48.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-04T14:41:22.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on the community and tourism, what action it is taking to support the continued operation of the petrol station on Jura.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the unique challenges that face Scotland’s island communities and is committed to maintaining a supportive business environment to enable them to take full advantage of the opportunities available, including the development of both existing and new businesses.\r\nHighlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), our economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands, has a strengthening communities remit, which recognises that social and economic development are complementary in achieving growth in remote and sparsely populated areas.\r\nThere are a number of unmanned petrol stations which operate across the Highlands and Islands. HIE has already given support to a number of rural petrol stations, including two on islands, to upgrade to allow automated dispensing of fuel whilst meeting regulations and standards. While consideration of support is an operational matter for HIE, with all projects considered on a case by case basis through its normal appraisal mechanisms, HIE will continue to engage with the community on Jura to consider what assistance might be available to support the continued operation of the island’s petrol station.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T15:57:48.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293671,"EventID":"S4W-20663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-04T15:57:49.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-04T14:41:22.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on communities and tourism, what its position is on the continued operation of unstaffed petrol stations on islands, and what support it provides if unmanned stations no longer comply with regulations.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20662 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-05T15:57:49.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293681,"EventID":"S4W-20584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:55.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will report to the Parliament the findings of the expert advice that it has sought on the proposed National Planning Framework 3.","AnswerText":"A range of expert academic and professional advice informing the preparation of National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy is either already in the public domain or is being given further consideration by the Scottish Government ahead of publication of both policies June 2014. The reporting arrangements and times for this work varies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293682,"EventID":"S4W-20585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:56.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a response to requests from stakeholders for clarity in relation to its policy on wild land in the proposed National Planning Framework 3.\r\n","AnswerText":"At the 18 March 2014 parliamentary debate on the Proposed National Planning Framework 3, it was confirmed that Scottish Planning Policy is the appropriate place to deal with wild land with a reference to the issue in the finalised National Planning Framework.\r\nThe finalised National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy to be published in June 2014, will clarify our position on wild land.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:56.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293683,"EventID":"S4W-20586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:56.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance on unconventional gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing.","AnswerText":"Proposals for unconventional gas extraction in Scotland will be studied on their merits. Each proposal will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes including the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on the regulation of shale gas and coal bed methane published December 2012.\r\nThere are no proposals which involve the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques in Scotland at this time. The Scottish Government will follow a rigorous, evidence-based approach in the development and deployment of this technology.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:56.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293684,"EventID":"S4W-20587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:56.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require carbon assessments to be carried out prior to consideration of proposals to develop on peatlands.","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) is currently under review, but the draft SPP, published for consultation in April 2013, proposed that where peat and other carbon rich soils are present, planning applicants should assess the likely effects of development on carbon dioxide emissions (paragraph 134). The finalised SPP is due for publication in June 2014.\r\nScottish Ministers already require a carbon assessment to be undertaken for wind farm proposals on peatland where these applications are with Scottish Ministers for determination.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:56.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293685,"EventID":"S4W-20588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:57.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its reasons for removal of projects from the proposed National Planning Framework 3.","AnswerText":"The National Planning Framework 3 Main Issues Report, published in April 2013, explained why national development status was no longer considered to be needed for several national developments identified in National Planning Framework 2 (NPF2). The NPF2 Monitoring Report, published in 2012, also provided an update on progress in delivering all of the national developments that were included in NPF2.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:57.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293686,"EventID":"S4W-20589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:57.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include clarity on surface access to Glasgow Airport in the final National Planning Framework 3 in order to influence investment decisions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s report on its consideration of the Proposed National Planning Framework 3 recognised the importance of good surface access systems for airports. We will consider all of the Parliament’s recommendations in finalising National Planning Framework 3.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:57.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293687,"EventID":"S4W-20590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:58.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that offshore windfarms are monitored to ensure that they do not result in greater than predicted impacts on the environment and to inform future plans and projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"Offshore wind farm consents issued by the Scottish Ministers contain stringent conditions which the developer must comply with. These conditions include requirements for the developer to monitor the impact on the likes of birds, marine mammals, fish and benthic communities. The Scottish Ministers will also form independent regional and strategic advisory groups (including importantly, but not exclusively, members from ornithological, fishing, fisheries and marine mammal organisations) for the purpose of advising ministers on research, monitoring and mitigation programmes. Consent conditions will require developers to contribute to these groups. An iterative sectoral plan review process ensures that the results of environmental assessments and monitoring of wind farms developments, alongside a programme of relevant scientific research, will inform future strategic plans for offshore wind in Scottish territorial waters.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:58.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293688,"EventID":"S4W-20591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:58.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) EU member states regarding the potential impact of offshore windfarms outwith Scottish waters on protected wildlife sites in Scotland, and what the reason is for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has ongoing discussions with the UK, European Commission and EU member states on marine issues, including renewables and protected wildlife sites. While the issue of windfarms outwith Scottish waters impacting protected sites in Scotland has not been specifically discussed, current evidence suggests that there are no significant impacts associated with this issue.\r\nHowever, to ensure the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process is comprehensive, regular discussions do occur on this issue between the respective statutory nature conservation bodies.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:58.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293689,"EventID":"S4W-20592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:59.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:00:32.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how, in making planning decisions, it has taken account of the potential cumulative impact of offshore wind developments in Scottish, UK and other European waters on protected wildlife sites, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"At the strategic plan level, a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a Habitats Regulations Appraisal of Marine Scotland’s forthcoming plans for offshore renewables, under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations as amended, have been undertaken and have considered the potential for cumulative impacts with plans and projects outwith Scotland on Scottish wildlife sites.\r\nThe need for a cumulative impact assessment is also laid down in the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU which requires that the impacts of a project be assessed ‘cumulatively’ with other projects. When assessing an offshore wind farm application and its cumulative impact on European protected wildlife sites, the Scottish Ministers, as the competent authority, must undertake an appropriate assessment. Within this assessment, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 require that the in-combination impacts (e.g. with other developments both inside and outside Scottish waters) are fully considered. Previous examples of appropriate assessments for consented offshore wind projects can be viewed on the Marine Scotland website.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:59.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293690,"EventID":"S4W-20664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:59.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-05T09:25:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long it has taken each local authority in the Forth Valley region to process a building warrant completion certificate application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed during that period; how many have taken (a) up to and (b) more than two months to process, and how these figures compare with the Scottish average.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. From 2005, local authorities’ verification performance has been measured under a balanced scorecard framework. This required them to have in place a customer charter that included measurable performance targets.\r\nBuilding on the previous approach, a revised performance framework for local authority verifiers was introduced in May 2012. The objectives include improving processing times, driving consistency, and enhancing the customer experience. The Scottish Government intends to publish a report in the early summer on the first full reporting year (April 2013 to March 2014) of the performance framework.\r\nLocal authority balanced scorecards from 2006-7 to 2012-13 can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/publa.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:59.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293691,"EventID":"S4W-20665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:52:59.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-05T09:25:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long it has taken on average for each local authority in the Forth Valley region to process a building warrant application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed during that period; how many have taken (a) up to and (b) more than two months to process, and how these figures compare with the Scottish average.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20664 on 6 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:59.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293692,"EventID":"S4W-20666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:00.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T09:01:35.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Oxford Economics report, The potential implications of independence for businesses in Scotland, whether it will reconsider its decision not to publish the cost of its policy on corporation tax for the first years of implementation.      \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has published detailed modelling of the potential impacts of corporation tax policy equivalent to a reduction in the headline rate by 3 percentage points.\r\nThe report which is available by following the link below, outlines the impact of such a policy in terms of boosting output, employment and government spending, amongst other variables, and, where appropriate, breaks them down by time period. The analysis indicates that the level of GDP in Scotland could increase by 1.4% and employment by 27,000 after 20 years.\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00388940.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293693,"EventID":"S4W-20667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:00.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T09:01:35.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the assessment in the Oxford Economics report, The potential implications of independence for businesses in Scotland, that its policy on corporation tax would take 10 to 15 years to pay for itself.  \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20666 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293694,"EventID":"S4W-20668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:00.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T09:01:35.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it provided to Oxford Economics to inform its report, The potential implications of independence for businesses in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government did not provide information to Oxford Economics to inform its recent report referred to in the question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.86","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293695,"EventID":"S4W-20669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:01.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T09:01:35.723","Title":"","ItemText":" To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the assumption in the Oxford Economics report, The potential implications of independence for businesses in Scotland, that the £250 million figure in its white paper on independence that was attributed to a simplified tax system, is the result of changes in the corporation tax system. ","AnswerText":"This government plans to design a simple and transparent tax system after independence. As set out on page 121 of Scotland’s Future, the government will work with Revenue Scotland to simplify the tax system to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce tax avoidance, with the aim of generating additional tax revenues of up to £250 million per year by the end of the first term of an independent Parliament.\r\nAs recognised in the Oxford Economics report, this commitment is separate to our plans to set out a timescale for reducing corporation tax in Scotland by up to 3 percentage points below the prevailing UK rate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:01.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293696,"EventID":"S4W-20670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:01.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T11:35:21.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of security staff needed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland is the lead agency for the delivery of safety and security at the Games. It is Police Scotland policy, supported by the Scottish Government, not to divulge any information which may benefit those who wish harm to the Commonwealth Games. This includes the number of personnel engaged in the safety and security operation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:01.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293697,"EventID":"S4W-20671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:02.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T11:35:21.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which security contractors have been appointed to the 2014 Commonwealth Games contract and what aspect of security each contractor will undertake.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following companies have been appointed to a framework for the purpose of providing security services: Allander Group; Controlled Event Solutions; Corps of Commissionaires Management Limited; Kingdom Security Limited; Securigroup Services Limited; Servoca Plc; Show and Event Security Limited; Sword Event Guard Limited; The Protector Group; Total Security Services; Vigilant Security; Wilson James.\r\nThe following companies have been appointed to a framework for the purpose of providing stewarding services: AP Security (APS) Limited; Garrion Security Services Limited; G4S Secure Solutions (UK) Limited; Protectevent; The Protector Group; Securigroup Services Limited; Show and Event Security Limited; Stadium Traffic Management Limited; Sword Event Guard Limited.\r\nMost of the above companies for security and stewarding services have now been awarded work orders.\r\nIn general, companies are undertaking essentially the same tasks at the various venues. Those companies involved in stewarding will work only at Commonwealth Games sporting venues. Their role essentially involves the safe ingress and egress of spectators, their continuing safety inside a venue and evacuation procedures.\r\nThose companies engaged in security will work at Commonwealth Games sporting venues but also at a range of other games venues, such as the athletes’ village or logistics depots. Their role is concerned with perimeter guarding and ancillary functions such as CCTV monitoring. At the athletes’ village, Wilson James will undertake pedestrian screening duties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:02.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293698,"EventID":"S4W-20672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:02.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T11:35:21.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government where security staff for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be housed during the games.\r\n","AnswerText":"Security and stewarding staff, who require accommodation, will be housed in various venues throughout west and central Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:02.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293699,"EventID":"S4W-20673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:03.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T11:35:21.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated for the accommodation costs of security staff at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"Final financial negotiations continue, however, current allocation is assessed at £896,000\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:03.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293700,"EventID":"S4W-20674","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:03.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T12:25:13.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reference in the recent report, Skills Investment Plan For Scotland's ICT & Digital Technologies sector, which schools do not have any dedicated provision for teaching ICT and computing.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on schools’ provision for teaching ICT and computing is not held centrally. Responsibility for the recruitment and deployment of teachers lies with local authorities, taking into account their local contexts.\r\nIn line with the Skills Investment Plan, we recognise the value of ensuring young people have opportunities to develop their understanding and skills in computing and the use of ICT, and the important role of teachers and schools in achieving this.\r\nThrough the Teacher Workforce Planning Working Group we have taken initial steps to increase student teacher intakes to ‘priority subjects’, which present challenges in teacher recruitment, and will be working with the teacher education universities to pursue this further. The ministerial guidance to the Scottish Funding Council on ‘priority subjects’ seeks to more than double the number of computing Postgraduate Diploma in Education students within the three academic years to 2016-17, from an intake of 17 per annum to 42.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:03.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293701,"EventID":"S4W-20675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-07T13:53:03.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T12:40:49.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision there is for the integration of Roma children in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"Equality is part of the aspiration and ambition which we have for Scotland. We want a society that is fair and just, in which all can participate, flourish and benefit, where we respect and value diversity. We are committed to ensuring that all the people of Scotland, regardless of their background, are able to fully participate in society.\r\nThe integration of Roma pupils in schools is the responsibility of local education authorities. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 local authorities have a duty to provide adequate and efficient provision of school education for all children residing in their local area. This duty does not distinguish between children and young people on the basis of their race, belief or religion or refugee status.\r\nThe Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004, (as amended), requires education authorities to identify, meet and keep under review the additional support needs of pupils for whose education they are responsible and to tailor provision according to their individual needs.\r\nThe broad and inclusive term \"additional support needs\" applies to children and young people who, for whatever reason, require additional support, long or short term, in order to help them make the most of their school education and to be included fully in their learning, English as an additional language has been identified as a potential additional support need specifically within the Act's Code of Practice.\r\nThe Supporting Learners Framework also supports those working with children and young people to deliver the entitlement to support for all children and young people to enable them to get the most of the opportunities which curriculum for excellence can deliver.\r\nEducation Scotland have a number of useful resources on their website including inclusive educational approaches for Scotland's travelling communities within the context of interrupted learning:\r\nhttp://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/publications/i/publication_tcm4651543.asp.  This national guidance was designed to facilitate good practice and enable children and young people with interrupted learning to enjoy and benefit from the opportunities afforded by curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:03.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293724,"EventID":"S4W-20684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T10:28:51.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T10:24:31.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2014-15.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have set the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland the financial targets of achieving:\r\n3% efficiency savings and an increase in the Registers of Scotland commercial income of 5%. In addition, the keeper has set the following service standards for her department:\r\nRegisters of Scotland Service Standards 2014-15\r\nWhere it is in the Keeper’s power, legally appropriate and not subject to an individual agreement with the applicant:\r\n1\r\nRecord new Land Register applications on the application record \r\nWithin 1 working day\r\n2\r\nProcess Automated Title to Land (ARTL) applications\r\nWithin 24 hours\r\n3\r\nProcess Chancery and Judicial Registers (CAJR) applications\r\nWithin 3 working days\r\n4\r\nProcess Crofting Register applications\r\nWithin 3 working days\r\n5\r\nProcess Sasines applications\r\nWithin 20 working days\r\n6\r\nRegister Dealings of Whole applications\r\n\r\nThose DWs that are dependent on prior or same date FRs and TPs will be delivered to their Service Standards. \r\nWithin 30 working days\r\n7\r\nRegister standard First Registration applications\r\n\r\nThose FRs that have had pre-work carried out.\r\nWithin 40 working days\r\n8\r\nRegister other First Registration applications\r\n\r\nThose FRs that have had no pre-work carried out. Those FRs that are dependent on TP applications will be delivered to their Service Standard.\r\nWithin 6 months\r\n9\r\nRegister Transfer of Part applications \r\nWithin 9 months\r\n10\r\nProcess all customer enquiries\r\nWithin 5 working days\r\n11\r\nIncrease our Public Service Quality Index rating from 72 to 74.\r\n12\r\nComplete 98.5% or more of registrations, over a 12 month rolling period, without corrective action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T10:28:51.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293725,"EventID":"S4W-20654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:11.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:14:51.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it plans to take in response to the illegal killing of birds of prey in addition to its consultation on the powers of the Scottish SPCA.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government takes the view that the detection and prosecution of offenders is the best response to the illegal killing of birds of prey. To that end we will continue to work with Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to build and strengthen the enforcement effort in this area of the law. We will also work with other members of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime to raise awareness of the serious consequences of wildlife crime and the damaging effects on Scotland’s reputation, environment and economy.\r\nWe aim to work with government and law enforcement partners to explore further options to detect and remove from the environment the dangerous poisons used to kill native wildlife. Officials are exploring options to build on an existing private sector chargeable pesticides disposal scheme (‘Project RCD’).\r\nAdditional measures to protect raptors were announced in July 2013:\r\nScottish Natural Heritage to restrict the use of general licences where they judge raptor persecution has taken place (there is now an enabling paragraph in the new General Licence for 2014).\r\nA review of penalties for wildlife crime offences, which will report before the end of 2014.\r\nA commitment from the Lord Advocate to encourage the full range of investigative techniques by the police against raptor crime.\r\nThe Scottish Government will continue to seek the full implementation and effectiveness of these measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:11.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293726,"EventID":"S4W-20655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:12.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:14:51.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's comment in his letter to the chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates dated 26 February 2014 that \"despite all our efforts, there remains an element of sporting managers and owners who continue to flout the law and defy public opinion\", whether it will conduct a review of the licensing and other arrangements for regulating game bird shooting in other countries, with a view to implementing stronger management and regulation.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government announced a package of measures in July 2013. These were a review of the penalties for wildlife crime, a restriction on the use of general licences and encouragement for the police to use the full range of investigative techniques at their disposal to deal with wildlife crime. We also introduced the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act in 2012. The Scottish Government remains of the view that the measures have the capacity to help prevent, deter and detect wildlife crime. However, the measures must be given time to be fully implemented and for them to have an effect.\r\nNevertheless, we have been clear that if it becomes apparent that further measures are required we will take whatever action we consider necessary, including examining whether stronger management and regulation of game bird shooting is appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:12.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293727,"EventID":"S4W-20656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:12.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T16:14:51.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (b) Minister for Environment and Climate Change has had with the Chief Constable regarding resources and training for wildlife crime officers.","AnswerText":"There have been no discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Chief Constable regarding resources and training for wildlife crime officers.\r\nThe resources deployed and the training of wildlife crime officers are matters solely for the Chief Constable. It is not appropriate for Scottish Ministers to seek to intervene on operational policing matters.\r\nI can advise however that since Police Scotland came into being on 1 April 2013, there have been significant changes to the structure and training for wildlife crime officers. \r\nThe strategic lead for wildlife crime which sits in the Specialist Crime Division is held by the Assistant Chief Constable. A Detective Chief Superintendent holds the portfolio lead and the post provides essential direction and governance around strategic issues relating to Wildlife Crime prevention and investigation.\r\nA full time national Wildlife Crime Coordinator at Detective Sergeant level provides engagement with national issues relating to coordination, policy, performance and training, and supports the Detective Chief Superintendent.\r\nIn each of the 14 territorial divisions there are wildlife crime liaison officers who are supported by a Superintendent (or above). Wildlife crime officer posts can be either full or part-time and deal with crime prevention and investigation when required for operational policing issues. \r\nIt is important to highlight that the investigation of wildlife crime is not the exclusive preserve of dedicated staff, and a variety of investigative and intelligence resources and tactics are brought to bear on such matters, from local and national policing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:12.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293728,"EventID":"S4W-20676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:12.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T14:55:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20290 by Lesley Thomson on 2 April 2014, how many people have been flown back from holiday to attend court in the last financial year; how many of these cases were subsequently adjourned, and at what cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"The figures for the last financial year have not yet been cleared by audit. However, it is estimated that to provide the information would cost over £600. This has been calculated on the basis, that there were around 30,000 witness expense claims paid in 2012-13.\r\nA search was however carried out in all expense claims over £500 in 2012-13 and these were all examined manually. As a result, there was only one instance discovered, at a cost of £975, involving an essential witness in a High Court case being flown back from holiday. The trial proceeded and the witness gave evidence. Whilst we cannot verify this is the only instance, it does demonstrate that it is very rare that witnesses are flown home from holiday to give evidence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:12.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293729,"EventID":"S4W-20677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:13.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T14:55:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13410 by Kenny MacAskill on 15 March 2013, what progress has been made in establishing a sentencing council.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to establishing the Scottish sentencing council within the lifetime of this Parliament. We are working, in dialogue with senior judiciary, to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place with a view to the council being established before the end of this Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:13.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293730,"EventID":"S4W-20678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:13.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T14:55:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15853 by Frank Mulholland on 6 September 2013, how many people have been prosecuted for police assault since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following figures reflect the number of charges since 2007 of assaults committed against Police Officers, in terms of section 41(1)(a) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, section 89(1) of the Police Act 1996 and section 90(1) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, which have resulted in court proceedings being initiated by COPFS.\r\nThe figures relate to assaults on police officers as opposed to resisting, obstructing, molesting or hindering police officers:\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n5,650\r\n5,515\r\n4,937\r\n4,808\r\n5,429\r\n5,118\r\n5,186\r\nThe information has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal’s Service case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the Police and other reporting agencies. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:13.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293731,"EventID":"S4W-20679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:13.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T16:04:49.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the Falkirk Council area have received support from the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme since 2011, broken down by parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"Between January 2011 and December 2013 a total of 34 homes were purchased in the Falkirk Council area under the Open Market Shared Equity scheme. Information on the parliamentary constituency of these homes is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:13.86","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293732,"EventID":"S4W-20680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:14.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T16:04:49.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) housing association and (b) local authority new build homes were completed in the Falkirk Council area in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013, broken down by parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of housing association and local authority new build homes completed in Falkirk Council area in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Information on the parliamentary constituency in which these homes are located is not held centrally.\r\n\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nTotal\r\nHousing association\r\n82\r\n28\r\n10\r\n120\r\nLocal authority\r\n60\r\n24\r\n36\r\n120\r\nNote: Recent figures may be revised when future quarterly statistics releases are published.\r\nSource: Scottish Government Housing Statistics for Scotland quarterly update, March 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:14.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293733,"EventID":"S4W-20681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:14.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T16:11:08.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to encourage NHS boards to ensure that GPs reduce unnecessary waste of prescribed drugs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of reducing medicines wastage and all NHS boards have strategies in place to help improve the quality, clinical and cost effectiveness of prescribing. These include GP and pharmacist medicines reviews and reviews of repeat prescribing supported by local and national publicity campaigns.\r\nThe “Let’s Talk Medicine” campaign, which commenced 22 April 2014, is aimed at getting the public to think differently about the medicines prescribed to them by empowering and encouraging them to, for example, discuss with their GP the medicines they are taking, why they are taking them and whether they still need to take them; take more personal ownership for their medicines and health; be more thoughtful when ordering repeat prescriptions; and avoid medicines ‘stockpiling’.\r\nThrough the national prescribing programme, significant progress is being made in the development of the Scottish Therapeutics Utility. This computer software will assist general practices to identify areas of potential medicines waste within their repeat prescribing systems. The software is currently being piloted in four NHS boards, with rollout to all health board areas by the end of 2014 into 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:14.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293734,"EventID":"S4W-20682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:14.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-07T16:17:51.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of racial abuse there have been by people from the Roma community in each year since 2007, broken down by region.","AnswerText":"Although it is possible to identify Gypsy or traveller victims and complainers in the racist incidents data collection, this ethnic classification was not separately identifiable until 2009-10 when a more detailed 21 group classification was introduced. However, not all legacy police forces have been able to supply the data using this more detailed classification and we therefore do not have a complete Scottish figure for this ethnic group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:14.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293735,"EventID":"S4W-20683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:15.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T10:24:27.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the regulations on the implementation of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 to allow carers of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities to be both legal guardians and paid personal assistants.","AnswerText":"The Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 detail circumstances where a family member may provide support. There are two exceptions to this family members rule:\r\na) Where the local authority determines that either the family member or the direct payment user is under undue pressure to agree to a family member providing support and;\r\nb) Where the family member is a guardian, continuing attorney or welfare attorney with power to make decisions as regards the support to be provided through a direct payment\r\nThe second restriction was proposed during the consultation on the draft regulations.\r\nThere are no immediate plans to amend this set of regulations, however the Scottish Government, in partnership with organisations, is carrying out on-going monitoring and evaluation during the first year of implementation of the Self-directed Support legislation.\r\nAs part of this monitoring I have asked my officials to discuss this particular issue with PAMIS and Alzheimer Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:15.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293736,"EventID":"S4W-20685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T13:58:15.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T10:46:02.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Scottish Natural Heritage's revised guidance on the visual presentation of proposed windfarm developments to aid assessment of the likely impact on the landscape.","AnswerText":"No date has been set for the publication of revised guidance on visual representation of wind farms. Scottish Ministers recognise the importance of this guidance and stakeholders will be advised in due course of a publication date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:58:15.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293755,"EventID":"S4W-20686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-08T15:07:37.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T14:09:15.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Lands Tribunal for Scotland should have the authority to vary or extinguish servitudes contained in the dispositions of residential property.","AnswerText":"The Lands Tribunal for Scotland has a jurisdiction under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 to vary or discharge title conditions, including servitudes. Further information can be found on the Lands Tribunal’s website: \r\nhttp://www.lands-tribunal-scotland.org.uk/jurisdictions.html. The government does not plan any changes in this area but would be happy to consider representations on any particular points, which could be taken into account for any future legislation in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T15:07:37.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293756,"EventID":"S4W-20702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T11:17:53.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-09T10:33:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will ensure that translation facilities are available to members lodging motions that require this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The working language of the Parliament is English and, in this regard, under sections 4.1 of the Parliament’s Guidance on Motions and 1.6 of the SPCB Language Policy, if a member wishes a motion to be printed in the Business Bulletin in a language other than English, the member must provide the translation. Responsibility for the accuracy of the translation also remains with the member.\r\nThe SPCB is committed to ensuring that the work of the Parliament is open and accessible to all and this is reflected in its language policy:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/PublicInformationdocuments/Lang_Policy2013.pdf\r\nThe SPCB has also been extending the services available for members to enable them to communicate with constituents whose first language is not English. Since 2013, the Parliament has been involved in the Happy to Translate scheme, a national initiative developed to promote equal access to services by overcoming language barriers:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/help/65911.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T11:17:53.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Liz Smith","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293769,"EventID":"S4W-20687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:12.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with representatives of Portfolio Recovery Associates UK since 2011; who was present at each meeting, and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Portfolio Recovery Associates,Inc acquired the Kilmarnock based business of MacKenzie Hall Ltd in January 2012, accordingly no meetings took place in 2011.\r\nScottish Development International (SDI) met with PRA UK on 6 November 2012 at the company’s offices in Kilmarnock. In attendance at that meeting were Peter Fee, PRA UK - Financial Controller; and officials from SDI.\r\nThe meeting was a discussion about the acquisition of MacKenzie Hall Ltd by the Portfolio Group, what the group’s plans were for the Kilmarnock office and how Scottish Enterprise could potentially use Regional Selective Assistance to support significant job creation in Kilmarnock.\r\nOngoing written communication between PRA UK and Scottish Enterprise/Scottish Development International, has taken place to support the account managed relationship and to facilitate the development of funding to secure employment in Kilmarnock.\r\nOn 7 April 2014 the First Minister met with Steve Frederickson, Chairman, President and CEO and Donald Redmond ,Vice President, Government Relations (PRA) along with Lena Wilson, CEO Scottish Enterprise, Nathan Elia, Senior Vice President, SDI Americas and Mike McArthur, Vice President, SDI East Region to discuss PRA’s creation of 400 jobs in Kilmarnock, as announced by the First Minister as part of this year’s Scotland Week.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:12.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293770,"EventID":"S4W-20688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:13.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are on a debt arrangement scheme and what the (a) total and (b) median debt is.","AnswerText":"Statistics held at 31 March 2014, show that there were 13,166 debt payment programmes under the Debt Arrangement Scheme, the total debt included is £241.3 million with a median debt of £13,076.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:13.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293771,"EventID":"S4W-20689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:13.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people on debt arrangement schemes owe money to Portfolio Recovery Associates UK and what the total amount is.\r\n","AnswerText":"Statistics held by the Accountant in Bankruptcy show that 72 people who have a debt payment plan under the debt arrangement scheme owe money to Portfolio Recovery Associates UK Ltd. The total debt owed is £45,901.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:13.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293772,"EventID":"S4W-20690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:14.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Consumer Finance Association and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism met with representatives from the Consumer Finance Association (CFA) on 15 November 2013 as part of a series of roundtable meetings with stakeholders to discuss issues associated with pay day loans.\r\nThis was the third pay day loan stakeholder roundtable meeting. Other stakeholders present included Citizens Advice Scotland; StepChange Debt Charity; Money Advice Scotland; COSLA; the Association of British Credit Unions Limited and two representatives from pay day loan companies.\r\nThe matters discussed included an update on the actions taken by CFA members and other pay day loan companies to address the issues highlighted by the Office for Fair Trading Compliance Review, published in March 2013. The proposed Financial Conduct Authority regulatory framework which was being consulted on at the time was also discussed. The advice agencies reported on issues and trends highlighted through surveys and analysis of their clients in relation to the impact of pay day loans on their clients, both in terms of levels of debt and the practices of lenders.\r\nRussell Hamblin-Boone, chief executive of the CFA also attended the Tackling Pay Day Loan and Gambling summit on 23 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:14.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293773,"EventID":"S4W-20691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:14.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what direction it gives to Scottish Enterprise regarding its ethical and sustainable investment policies.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Enterprise (SE) aligns its investment policies to the Government Economic Strategy and to the guidance provided through its strategic guidance letter, which is issued on an annual basis.\r\nThe national performance framework highlights three key components of sustainable economic growth i.e. solidarity, cohesion and sustainability, which also informs SE’s approach.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:14.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293774,"EventID":"S4W-20692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:14.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its pension funds regarding investment in payday loan companies.","AnswerText":"The main Principal Civil Service Pension Schemes of which, most Scottish Government employees are members, are unfunded. There are no investments as you would find in a normal pension scheme.\r\nThe only exception to this is the partnership stakeholder pension which is a funded scheme currently provided by either Scottish Widows or Standard Life, however, the Scottish Government has no influence over which providers are used to run the stakeholder pensions or where funds are invested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:14.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293775,"EventID":"S4W-20693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:14.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total personal debt in Scotland; what percentage of that debt is attributed to payday lenders, and whether this represents a rising trend on previous years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Consumer credit is reserved to the UK Government and so the Scottish Government does not gather any statistical information in this area. However, The Office of National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's national statistical institute and publishes statistical information for Scotland in relation to household debt.\r\nThe most recent figures published in the ONS report ‘Wealth In Great Britain - The Burden of Household Debt in Great Britain’, reports that the average Scottish debt levels for 2008-10 was £6100. The third wave of this report is due to be published in May 2014. We do not hold any figures on the percentage of that debt attributed to payday loans, however, we do draw upon data and analysis provided by advice agencies and debt charities to inform and develop our policies.\r\nIn November 2013, StepChange Debt Charity published ‘Scotland in the Red’ which showed that the average debt of a StepChange client fell in the first six months of 2013, from £14,149 in 2012 to £13,939 in June 2013. The report found that over 10% of their client’s debt was owed to payday loan companies and almost 20% of StepChange clients had at least one payday loan in June 2013, a tenfold increase since 2010.\r\nThe Scottish Government takes the issue of debt very seriously and has used the powers currently available to us to address these issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:14.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293776,"EventID":"S4W-20694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:15.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what debt recovery agencies it, or its agencies, contracts; what the value is of each contract, and how much cash each has retrieved in the last year for which information is available.\r\n","AnswerText":"Morton Fraser and Harper MacLeod are the firms of solicitors who currently provide legal services for debt recovery under the Legal Services Framework Agreement. This framework agreement is available for use by the Scottish Government and its agencies. In the last financial year the fees paid to each firm, exclusive of VAT, are: Morton Fraser: £212,437; and Harper MacLeod: £2,258. We do not hold a central record of the cash retrieved in the last year for Morton Fraser. Harper MacLeod have recovered £13,086.04 in the last financial year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:15.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293777,"EventID":"S4W-20695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:15.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Debt Arrangement Scheme-approved money advisers there are in the (a) public and (b) private sector.","AnswerText":"We do not hold information on the total number of individual money advisers who meet the criteria to become a Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) approved money adviser.\r\nCurrently, 92 organisations are approved to act in the capacity of non-fee charging DAS approved money advisers and 32 organisations are approved to act in capacity of continuing money advisers (fee charging) DAS approved money advisers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:15.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293778,"EventID":"S4W-20696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:16.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether Portfolio Recovery Associates UK employs any Debt Arrangement Scheme-approved money advisers.\r\n","AnswerText":"Portfolio Recovery Associates UK does not employ any approved money advisers for the Debt Arrangement Scheme.\r\nRegulation 10 of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2011 does not allow persons providing debt collection services, or an employee of such a person to become an approved money adviser.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:16.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293779,"EventID":"S4W-20697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:16.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what companies and organisations the Accountant in Bankruptcy has contracted to administer bankruptcy services on its behalf since 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"On 1 April 2009, following a public procurement exercise, Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) appointed six providers to administer personal insolvency cases on her behalf.\r\nThe six firms were:\r\nKPMG\r\nWylie and Bisset LLP\r\nArmstrong Watson\r\nMMG Archbold (formerly Miller McIntyre and Gellatly)\r\nHastings & Co\r\nInvocas\r\nThe Insolvency Services Framework was introduced for a three year period with the option to extend for a further 12 month period. The AiB utilised the extension option resulting in the expiry of the contract on 31 March 2013. \r\nOn 1 April 2013, following a further procurement exercise, AiB appointed three providers for the supply of insolvency services for a period of two years with a further two optional one year extensions. The current providers are:\r\nWylie and Bisset LLP\r\nInsolvency Support Services (ISS)\r\nKPMG\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:16.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293780,"EventID":"S4W-20698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:16.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its £1.2 million grant to Portfolio Recovery Associates UK and what it will pay for.","AnswerText":"The administration of Regional Selective Assistance is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Scottish Enterprise to directly respond to you on this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:16.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293781,"EventID":"S4W-20699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:16.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any conditions are attached to its £1.2 million grant to Portfolio Recovery Associates UK.","AnswerText":"The administration of Regional Selective Assistance is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Scottish Enterprise to directly respond to you on this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:16.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293782,"EventID":"S4W-20700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:17.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-08T15:16:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) is discussing or (b) will provide any benefits (i) pecuniary or (ii) in kind as part of its £1.2 million grant to Portfolio Recovery Associates UK.","AnswerText":"The administration of Regional Selective Assistance is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Scottish Enterprise to directly respond to you on this question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:17.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293783,"EventID":"S4W-20701","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:17.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-09T09:33:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what power planning applicants have to instruct a government reporter's inquiry regarding what information is made public and the format in which it is produced.\r\n","AnswerText":"Hearings or inquiries take place in public and anyone is free to attend and to report on the evidence. Reporters from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA), who handle cases on behalf of Scottish Ministers, are responsible for the conduct of these sessions and will not place any restrictions on the reporting of a case. Planning appeals, unlike court proceedings, are held in local venues and there is no system for recording proceedings or providing an official transcript of the evidence.\r\nIn respect of recent inquiry and hearing sessions relating to appeals by Dart Energy, one of the parties involved in the appeals asked to be allowed to make an audio recording of the witnesses for Dart Energy. This was a private recording made to send to their own witnesses in Australia who were not able to attend the inquiry in person. The reporters have not been provided with a copy of the tapes, which are, it is understood, incomplete. An unofficial transcript of these tapes has been made but its accuracy is in dispute. The reporters determining this case will rely on their own notes of the evidence given. All inquiry documents are published to DPEA's own case website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:17.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293784,"EventID":"S4W-20703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-09T14:15:17.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-09T11:42:45.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of reported sexual assaults has resulted in a conviction in each year since 2007, broken down by region.","AnswerText":"The following table provides information on the number of sexual assaults recorded by the police for 2006-07 to 2012-13, by legacy police force area.\r\nSexual assaults recorded by the police, 2006-07 to 2012-13, by legacy police force area:\r\n\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nCentral\r\n244\r\n298\r\n203\r\n246\r\n230\r\n217\r\n162\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n73\r\n63\r\n73\r\n43\r\n40\r\n67\r\n44\r\nFife\r\n274\r\n353\r\n288\r\n378\r\n341\r\n284\r\n236\r\nGrampian\r\n415\r\n473\r\n389\r\n390\r\n445\r\n383\r\n352\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n610\r\n605\r\n617\r\n652\r\n499\r\n577\r\n540\r\nNorthern\r\n264\r\n221\r\n277\r\n170\r\n230\r\n137\r\n220\r\nStrathclyde\r\n1,255\r\n1,236\r\n1,248\r\n1,295\r\n1,216\r\n1,039\r\n1,251\r\nTayside\r\n317\r\n253\r\n202\r\n238\r\n219\r\n204\r\n203\r\nScotland\r\n3,452\r\n3,502\r\n3,297\r\n3,412\r\n3,220\r\n2,908\r\n3,008\r\nNote that the implementation of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 on 1 December 2010, will have an effect on the comparability of the breakdown of sexual offences over time. Comparisons of the statistics over time should therefore be treated with caution.\r\nClassification of crime, including sexual offences, is available from Note 8 of the Recorded Crime in Scotland 2012-13 publication:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0042/00427834.pdf \r\nInformation held centrally on recorded crime is based on an aggregated count of crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the police. Individual level crime data is not held centrally and it is not possible to track the outcome of individual crimes.\r\nThe number of convictions for sexual assault for 2006-07 to 2012-13, by legacy police force area is publicly available in Table 4a of the Criminal Proceedings additional datasets, which can be accessed via the following web link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Datasets/DatasetsCrimProc/crimprocpfa201213\r\nPlease note however that statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. In addition, a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-08T14:15:17.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293790,"EventID":"S4W-20594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:17.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:53:20.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the definition is of an \"exempt visitor\" for the purpose of receiving a free eye test as referred to in the publication, General Ophthalmic Services Statistics: Updates of existing pages - as at 31st March 2013, published on 27 August 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"An ‘exempt visitor’ is a person who is not ordinarily resident in the UK who is exempt from NHS charges under the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, as amended.\r\nFurther information on people who may not be charged for conditions (including eye conditions) that occur during a visit to the UK can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Services/Overseas-visitors\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:17.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293791,"EventID":"S4W-20595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:18.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:53:20.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether visitors from the rest of the UK are eligible for free eye tests if they are charged for such tests in their normal place of residence.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS eye examinations are free to all UK residents, irrespective of the place of residence, when provided in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:19.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293792,"EventID":"S4W-20596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:19.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:53:20.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the evidence base is for providing free eye tests (a) annually for age groups under 16 and over 60 and (b) every two years for the age group between 16 and 59 for people who do not qualify for a free supplementary eye test other than those who should have a repeat test because of personal or family conditions.","AnswerText":"Free NHS eye examinations are available annually, where required, for children aged under 16 and adults aged 60 and over.\r\nFor children rapid growth may require them to attend for eye examinations annually. Cases where it is particularly important for annual eye examinations in children include the detection and up to date correction of refractive error and early and regular intervention to reduce visual loss due to squints.\r\nFor adults the incidence of eye disease increases dramatically with age and with poor general health. Cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are common causes of visual loss in older people. Frequent refractive error changes, and the screening and monitoring of disease development and progression are vital to maintain optimal vision. Good vision does not rule out the possibility of sight threatening eye disease and regular eye examinations in older people are most important.\r\nLess frequent examinations may be recommended by the optometrist where the likelihood of ocular disease and refractive change is low.\r\nSupplementary eye examinations are available to all, free of charge, where required. Supplementary eye examinations are undertaken for a range of reasons including follow up or repeat tests or procedures to monitor an abnormality or suspect abnormality; referral refinement before deciding if a patient requires referral to secondary care; where a patient has a problem with their eyes before their next primary eye examination is due.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:19.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293793,"EventID":"S4W-20597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:19.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T10:53:20.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the additional number of people saved from (a) severely reduced sight and (b) blindness as a result of the introduction of free eye tests.","AnswerText":"No assessment has been undertaken by the Scottish Government on the impact that free NHS eye examinations have had on sight threatening conditions.\r\nThere are a number of factors which impact on sight and increase the incidence of blindness, including an ageing population and poor general health.\r\nThe free NHS eye examination is one in a number of changes in how we deliver eye care services, with the emphasis now being on the screening and monitoring of eye disease in community optometric practices. The introduction of the supplementary examination has further supported practitioners in the early detection of sight-threatening disease. Early detection of sight threatening problems and appropriate and timely referrals from the optometrist to the ophthalmologist are key.\r\nChanges to secondary care treatments, improvements to ophthalmic surgical techniques and increased patient care have also resulted in the ability to save the sight of more patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:19.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293794,"EventID":"S4W-20704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:20.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-10T09:44:20.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) 16 and (b) 17-year-olds have registered to vote in the referendum on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"National Records for Scotland (NRS) published their annual statistics on electoral registration in Scotland – Electoral Statistics for Scotland, 2014 on 1 May 2014. These can be accessed in full at:\r\nhttp://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/electoral-stats/10-march-2014/index.html \r\nThe NRS statistics show that 98,000 16 and 17 year olds had registered to vote by 10 March 2014. The deadline to register to vote in the referendum is 2 September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:20.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293795,"EventID":"S4W-20705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-10T15:22:20.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-09T15:50:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what events promoting the white paper on independence have taken place since November 2013, broken down by (a) parliamentary region and (b) minister and number of accompanying civil servants who attended.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the referendum with the public. This incorporates the Scotland’s Future launch event on 26 November 2013, the Stakeholder Event on 10 December 2013, and an ongoing programme of public Q&A events and public discussions following Cabinet meetings held outside Edinburgh.\r\nThe public Q&A events have been publicised on www.scotreferendum.com and information about these events, including on location and Cabinet Secretary who hosted, is in the public domain and can be accessed via the above link.\r\nIn addition, the following table sets out ministers who attended the launch event on 26 November 2013 and the Stakeholder Event on 10 December 2013. It also sets out non-Cabinet ministers who have attended the public Q&A events to date and all ministers who have attended the public discussions following the Cabinet meetings held outside Edinburgh to date.\r\nScotland’s Future Launch Event\r\nEvent Location\r\nParliamentary Region\r\nMinister\r\nGlasgow\r\nGlasgow\r\nFirst Minister\r\nDeputy First Minister\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nCabinet Secretary for Justice\r\nCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment\r\nCabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs\r\nMinister for External Affairs and International Development\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\n\r\n\r\nStakeholder Event\r\nEvent Location\r\nParliamentary Region\r\nMinister\r\nEdinburgh\r\nLothian\r\nFirst Minister\r\nDeputy First Minister\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment\r\nCabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\nMinister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs\r\nMinister for Parliamentary Business\r\n\r\n\r\nPublic Q&A Events\r\nEvent Location\r\nParliamentary Region\r\nMinister\r\nFalkirk\r\nCentral Scotland\r\nMinister for Public Health\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\n\r\nDunblane\r\nMid-Scotland and Fife\r\nMinister for Transport and Veterans\r\nDunfermline\r\nMid-Scotland and Fife\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\nMinister for Children and Young People\r\nMinister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages\r\nMontrose\r\nNorth East Scotland\r\nMinister for Local Government and Planning\r\nEyemouth\r\nSouth Scotland\r\nMinister for Environment and Climate Change\r\nBlairgowrie\r\nMid-Scotland and Fife\r\nMinister for Environment and Climate Change\r\nArran\r\nWest Scotland\r\nMinister for Local Government and Planning\r\nKirkcaldy\r\nMid-Scotland and Fife\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\n\r\nPublic Discussions following Cabinets outside Edinburgh\r\nEvent Location\r\nParliamentary region\r\nMinister\r\nBathgate\r\nLothian\r\nFirst Minister\r\nDeputy First Minister\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nCabinet Secretary for Justice\r\nCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment\r\nCabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs\r\nMinister for Public Health\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\nMinister for Parliamentary Business\r\n\r\nPortlethen\r\nNorth East Scotland\r\nFirst Minister\r\nDeputy First Minister\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nCabinet Secretary for Justice\r\nCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment\r\nCabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs\r\nCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing\r\nMinister for Youth Employment\r\nMinister for Parliamentary Business\r\nIrvine\r\nWest Scotland\r\nFirst Minister\r\nCabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Strategy\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\nCabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs\r\nCabinet Secretary for Health","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T15:22:20.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293806,"EventID":"S4W-20706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-11T14:04:34.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-10T14:03:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20162 by John Swinney on 9 April 2014, when it will publish its 2013-14 expenditure on public engagement events relating to its white paper on independence and whether this will include a breakdown of the costs of each event.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20162 on 9 April 2014. The Scottish Government will publish cost information on the public engagement programme when expenditure for 2013-14 is finalised.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T14:04:35.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293807,"EventID":"S4W-20708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-11T14:04:36.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-10T16:04:19.8","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland tackles the barriers that might prevent people from underrepresented groups from joining the force. ","AnswerText":"The recruitment of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\nPolice Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion of attractive, inclusive and responsible practices including exploring alternative, flexible recruitment options to build a more diverse workforce. Police Scotland also set out in its 2013 Equality and Diversity Report, that Police Scotland will continue its commitment to the principles of positive action in respect to recruitment, retention, progression and development in order to achieve an equitable work environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T14:04:36.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293808,"EventID":"S4W-20709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-11T14:04:36.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-11T12:07:08.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland encourages officers from underrepresented groups to remain in the force.\r\n","AnswerText":"The retention of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. \r\nPolice Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion of attractive, inclusive and responsible practices. Police Scotland also set out in its 2013 Equality and Diversity Report, that Police Scotland will continue its commitment to the principles of positive action in respect to recruitment, retention, progression and development in order to achieve an equitable work environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T14:04:36.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293809,"EventID":"S4W-20710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-11T14:04:37.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-11T12:07:08.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comments in The Scotsman on 11 April 2014 by the former chair of the Scottish Women's Development Forum that Police Scotland’s recruitment policy was \"unfair and discriminatory\" and that it \"has created additional barriers to some underrepresented groups joining the service as well as those applying for promotion\".\r\n","AnswerText":"The recruitment and promotion of police officers is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\nPolice Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion of attractive, inclusive and responsible practices including exploring alternative, flexible recruitment options to build a more diverse workforce. Police Scotland also set out in its 2013 Equality and Diversity Report, that Police Scotland will continue its commitment to the principles of positive action in respect to recruitment, retention, progression and development in order to achieve an equitable work environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T14:04:37.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293817,"EventID":"S4W-20713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:44.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T10:57:43.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people under 18 are awaiting an organ transplant and what the average waiting time is, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) by quoting BIB number 55835.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:44.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293818,"EventID":"S4W-20714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:45.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T10:57:43.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are awaiting an organ transplant in each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The information requested is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) by quoting BIB number 55835.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:45.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293819,"EventID":"S4W-20715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:45.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T10:57:43.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died in each NHS board area in each year since 2007 while awaiting an organ transplant.","AnswerText":"The information requested is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) by quoting BIB number 55835.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:45.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293820,"EventID":"S4W-20716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:45.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in relation to e-skills since the publication of Skills requirements for e-commerce and their provision in Scotland in 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland has recently published a Skills Investment Plan for the ICT and Digital Technologies Sector. This plan was developed in conjunction with a range of statutory and industry partners, including Scottish Enterprise, ScotlandIS, e-skills UK, Lockheed Martin, Skyscanner, JP Morgan, Smarter Grid Solutions and Amazon.\r\nThe plan focuses primarily on the ICT and digital technology skills that are required across the Scottish economy. These include computer science, software development, open source software development and web development. However along with some other areas, e-commerce has been identified a skills issue for the sector, particularly when it comes to upskilling the current workforce. This should be addressed by actions within the plan designed to recruit ICT and digital technology skills development advisers, map and promote online training interventions and establish an ICT and digital technology skills development fund for small and medium-sized enterprises. The action plan may also address e-commerce skills through other actions such as the use of graduate placements in businesses and the development of the industry-led talent academy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:45.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293821,"EventID":"S4W-20717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:45.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many courses focused on e-commerce there are in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cross-disciplinary nature of e-commerce means that the many courses in computing, business, marketing and web design will contribute to the skills pool supporting e-commerce. However the granularity of available data does not allow for the relevance of specific programmes contributing to e-commerce to be confirmed with any certainty. It is also not typical for e-commerce to be demanded by businesses, or supplied by educational institutions, as a standalone discipline. The number of privately run training courses is unknown at this time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:45.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293822,"EventID":"S4W-20718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:46.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03010 by John Swinney on 13 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 28895), whether it can provide a breakdown of the £31 billion e-commerce sales figure.\r\n","AnswerText":"The indicative estimate of Scottish e-commerce sales in 2010 by sector is as follows:\r\nSector\r\nScottish e-Commerce\r\nSales (£billion)\r\nManufacturing\r\n8.89\r\nUtilities\r\n1.87\r\nConstruction\r\n0.47\r\nWholesale\r\n11.95\r\nRetail\r\n1.46\r\nTransport and Storage\r\n2.86\r\nAccommodation and Food Services\r\n0.48\r\nInformation and Communication\r\n1.46\r\nOther Services\r\n1.57\r\nTOTAL\r\n31.01\r\nAround £8 billion of e-commerce sales were generated via websites. The remaining £23 billion was via other information and communication technologies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:46.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293823,"EventID":"S4W-20719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:46.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it (a) has done since 2011 and (b) plans to do on producing an e-commerce strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland was published on 3 March 2011 and sets out the ambition for Scotland to be at the forefront of the digital economy. This theme was taken up and developed with the publication of Scotland’s Digital Future – Supporting the Transition to a World-leading Digital Economy’ published in April 2013 which set out actions designed to ensure that all businesses in Scotland have the confidence, capability and skills to take full advantage of the benefits that the internet can bring.\r\nThis strategy recommended that Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies work collaboratively to deliver business support on digital issues and led to the formation of a business excellence partnership, backed by an additional £7 million of Scottish Government funding. Initial projects being progressed by the partnership include a new Digital Voucher Scheme, with e-commerce as an eligible theme and the Supplier Development Programme which is focused on supporting the use of e-procurement.\r\nThe Scottish Government has no current plans to produce a specific e-commerce strategy. However, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International and ScotlandIS developed and launched a two year e-Commerce Scotland Programme in October 2013, with a specific focus on international e-commerce. The first phase was completed in March 2014 and included a series of industry master-classes, sector leadership briefings, a competition to recognise Scottish e-commerce best practice and the inaugural e-Commerce Scotland Forum where over 220 delegates heard more about using e-commerce techniques to reach new export markets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:46.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293824,"EventID":"S4W-20721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:46.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value of e-commerce sales in Scotland was in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The indicative estimate of e-commerce sales in Scotland in 2010 was £31 billion. This estimate was derived from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Statistical Bulletin ‘E-commerce and ICT Activity 2010’ published in December 2011.\r\nScottish Enterprise intends to derive a Scottish estimate on a biennial basis using ONS data. The latest estimate will be produced in May/June 2014 and will be based on 2012 ONS data published in December 2013. No Scottish e-commerce sales estimates were produced for 2009 or 2011.\r\nThe Scottish Government, in collaboration with the enterprise and business support agencies, will undertake a comprehensive digital economy business survey in June 2014. This will include e-commerce questions to help capture both the proportion and value of Scottish online sales.\r\nIn addition, Scottish Enterprise has also recently introduced e-commerce into its quarterly survey of Account Managed Companies. This will capture the proportion of overall sales conducted electronically by Scotland’s growth companies allowing quarterly trend patterns to emerge.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:46.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293825,"EventID":"S4W-20726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:46.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what methodology it applies when estimating the value of e-commerce sales.","AnswerText":"A methodology for estimating the value of e-commerce sales in Scotland was developed by SQW Ltd, on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, during a commission entitled ‘Scottish e-Commerce Study’ in May 2012. This presented a number of challenges, including the absence of any official Scotland-level statistics on e-commerce and the lack of a universally accepted definition for the term ‘e-commerce.\r\nSQW adopted the Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition for e-commerce and used the UK e-commerce sales data in the ONS Statistical Bulletin ‘E-commerce and ICT Activity 2010’ (Dec 2011) as a basis for the Scottish estimate. In deriving the estimate, SQW applied the following methodology:\r\nUse 2010 ONS data capturing value of UK e-commerce sales by sector as basis for derivation.\r\nApply Scotland’s overall share of employment in each sector to estimate equivalent Scottish e-commerce sales.\r\nConsider an adjustment for Scotland’s relative position in e-commerce versus the UK average.\r\nAdjust sales estimates to account for e-commerce activity of firms with fewer than 10 employees (not included in the ONS data).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293826,"EventID":"S4W-20727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:47.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:39:26.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the 20 companies in Scotland with the largest e-commerce sales.","AnswerText":"The most commonly used definition is that developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and used by the Office for National Statistics. This defines an e-commerce transaction as ‘the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders’.\r\nThere is currently no available research that identifies the top 20 companies in Scotland by value of e-commerce sales using this definition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:47.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293827,"EventID":"S4W-20729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-14T15:20:47.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T14:05:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) COSLA regarding current council tax bands.","AnswerText":"No recent discussions have been held with local authorities or COSLA regarding current council tax bands.\r\nHowever, Scottish Ministers consider the current council tax system as a whole to be unfair and are committed to consulting with others to develop options for a fairer and more progressive local tax, based on ability to pay, later in this Parliament. All potential alternative proposals which meet this criteria will be considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T15:20:47.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293840,"EventID":"S4W-20731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-15T15:08:00.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T15:48:24.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers made/have made representations to the UK Government regarding VAT on tourism in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20469 on 14 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T15:08:01.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293841,"EventID":"S4W-20733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-15T15:08:01.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T15:48:24.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last made representations to the UK Government regarding VAT on tourism.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20469 on 14 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T15:08:01.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293842,"EventID":"S4W-20734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-15T15:08:02.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T15:48:24.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a commitment to reduce VAT rates on tourism in the event of independence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20474 on 14 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T15:08:02.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293844,"EventID":"S4W-20634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-03T17:03:56.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-03T13:33:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements have been made to allow the residents of Balornock and Barmulloch, whose homes are within the exclusion zone that will apply when the Red Road flats are demolished during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, to fully enjoy the opening ceremony.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-02T17:03:56.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293845,"EventID":"S4O-03136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:24.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:41.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its revised forecasts for oil and gas revenues.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:24.47","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293846,"EventID":"S4O-03137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:25.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:41.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it makes available to foodbanks, including the recently announced £1 million.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:25.67","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293847,"EventID":"S4O-03138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:26.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:21:29.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:26.17","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293848,"EventID":"S4O-03139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:28.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:43.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the chief executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:28.167","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293849,"EventID":"S4O-03140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:28.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:43.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what alternative services are available for premises not covered by the superfast broadband programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:28.713","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293850,"EventID":"S4O-03141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:29.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:45.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government where the reintroduction of the Levenmouth rail link ranks among its transport priorities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:29.167","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293851,"EventID":"S4O-03142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:30.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:46.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the operators of Edinburgh Airport about the number of weekend flights between 11.00 pm and 5.30 am.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:30.617","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293852,"EventID":"S4O-03143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:30.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:46.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that the number of college and university places offered to fee-paying foreign students does not limit the number offered to Scottish students.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:30.88","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293853,"EventID":"S4O-03144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:08:31.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:03:46.73","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK’s 4.2% share of energy from renewable sources that was published in a recent paper by Eurostat.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:08:31.163","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293854,"EventID":"S4O-03116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:02.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:20.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how complaints made by serving police personnel against their police forces prior to the formation of Police Scotland are being dealt with.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:02.543","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293855,"EventID":"S4O-03117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:04.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:21.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures Police Scotland is taking to ensure that women face no barriers in joining and staying in the police force.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:04.057","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293856,"EventID":"S4O-03119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:04.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:22.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported criticism of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:04.773","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293857,"EventID":"S4O-03120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:05.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:22.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested or committed to activities for children and young people in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency under the CashBack for Communities programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:05.18","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293858,"EventID":"S4O-03121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:07.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T12:47:23.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Trunk Road Patrol Group has performed since it was established.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:07.52","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293859,"EventID":"S4O-03122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:08.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:23.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 criminalises football supporters.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:08.223","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293860,"EventID":"S4O-03123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:08.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:24.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Police Scotland has made of the effectiveness of Operation RAC in tackling crime in Edinburgh.\r\n","AnswerText":"I welcome the significant success Operation RAC has had in tackling housebreaking since it launched December 2013.\r\nThanks to the targeted and coordinated approach of Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, housebreaking in Edinburgh is on the decline and detection rates have increased significantly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:08.47","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293861,"EventID":"S4O-03124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:08.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T11:37:15.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Law Society of Scotland and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs meets with the Law Society regularly. The last meeting was on 8 April 2014 when I met with the Law Society to discuss the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:08.72","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293862,"EventID":"S4O-03125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:09.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:25.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether raising the threshold for civil cases in the Court of Session from £5,000 to £150,000, as proposed in the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill, will harm access to justice.","AnswerText":"Lord Gill recommended in the Scottish Civil Courts Review that only the most complex and legally difficult cases should be heard in the Court of Session, whereas most routine litigation should be conducted in the sheriff court by sheriffs using enhanced case management powers.\r\nLord Gill restated his belief that £150,000 was the appropriate level to achieve this at his appearance at the Justice Committee on Tuesday, 22 April 2014.\r\nI agree with the Lord President and believe that this will ensure that the resources of the court are used efficiently and that the cost of litigation is reduced for all parties and the public purse, which will improve rather than harm access to justice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:09.86","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293863,"EventID":"S4O-03126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:10.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:07:41.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the  EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding Scotland’s additional coupled support entitlement.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:10.267","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293864,"EventID":"S4O-03127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:10.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:43:28.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise the annual greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:10.53","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293865,"EventID":"S4O-03128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:10.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:20:19.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes scientific research and innovation in agriculture.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:10.797","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293866,"EventID":"S4O-03129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:11.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:46.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to farmers adversely affected by severe flooding.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:11.03","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293867,"EventID":"S4O-03130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:11.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:47.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to mitigate the impact on Orkney of the move from a historic to an area basis for payments under the reformed common agricultural policy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:11.437","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293868,"EventID":"S4O-03131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:12.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:48.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the food and drink industries in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:12.683","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293869,"EventID":"S4O-03132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:12.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:40:11.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on crofting of the reintroduction of sea eagles.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:12.98","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293870,"EventID":"S4O-03133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:13.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:48.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls to allow the docking of tails of working dogs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:13.277","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293871,"EventID":"S4O-03134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:13.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T09:30:38.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward reaching its zero waste aspiration.\r\n","AnswerText":"The ambitious actions in the Zero Waste Plan and Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources strategy are transforming waste into an economic asset, improving the competitiveness of our economy and reducing the cost burden of waste on Scottish businesses.\r\nThe 2012 Waste (Scotland) Regulations continue to bringing about a transformation in recycling services to households and businesses, for example with over 1 million household now having access to a food waste collection service.\r\nWe are also one year into the new Resource Efficient Scotland service, with thousands of organisations across Scotland accessing this unique service that is driving down the cost of wasted energy, water and materials.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:13.573","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293872,"EventID":"S4O-03135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T14:09:13.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:02:49.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for developing new footpaths and walkways in the countryside.\r\n","AnswerText":"Potential support for footpaths is proposed under the next Scotland Rural Development Programme, but final decisions have yet to be made. Scottish Ministers will carefully consider all feedback received from the latest consultation which closed on 28 February 2014, before our proposals are finalised.\r\nThe Scottish Government also provides support through one-off projects funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, the two National Park Authorities and through the Sustrans’ Community Links programme. Furthermore, a number of ad hoc walk/cycle path projects to construct new path networks have been funded by contributions from the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Action Fund – Indeed I had the pleasure of opening one such project at the Tweed Valley Railway Path near Peebles in August 2013. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T14:09:13.883","MeetingDate":"2014-04-23T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293886,"EventID":"S4W-20711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:46:59.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-11T15:23:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many properties in each local authority area have been purchased under the mortgage to rent scheme.","AnswerText":"Since February 2003, there have been 2,375 properties purchased under the mortgage to rent scheme. \r\nFrom 2009, the mortgage to rent scheme was expanded to include mortgage to shared equity, becoming the Home Owner Support Fund. Table 1 illustrates the number of settled cases, by local authority, under the original scheme which ran from February 2003 until March 2009. Table 2 shows the number of settled cases by local authority, from April 2009 until present, as part of the Home Owner Support Fund.\r\n\r\nTable 1: settled cases under the original mortgage to rent scheme (February 2003 until March 2009).\r\n\r\n2003-04\r\n2004-05\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\nTotal\r\nAberdeen City\r\n2\r\n9\r\n11\r\n8\r\n2\r\n5\r\n37\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n2\r\n2\r\n5\r\n4\r\n3\r\n5\r\n21\r\nAngus\r\n1\r\n1\r\n2\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n5\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n4\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nComhairle nan Eilean Siar\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n3\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n2\r\n2\r\n6\r\n7\r\n9\r\n3\r\n29\r\nDundee City\r\n1\r\n1\r\n5\r\n11\r\n3\r\n2\r\n23\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n5\r\n3\r\n8\r\n18\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n1\r\n2\r\n7\r\n3\r\n4\r\n6\r\n23\r\nEast Lothian\r\n0\r\n2\r\n14\r\n11\r\n4\r\n14\r\n45\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n3\r\n4\r\n10\r\nCity of Edinburgh\r\n0\r\n5\r\n10\r\n12\r\n10\r\n13\r\n50\r\nFalkirk\r\n1\r\n1\r\n3\r\n2\r\n8\r\n7\r\n22\r\nFife\r\n9\r\n1\r\n6\r\n10\r\n14\r\n17\r\n57\r\nGlasgow City\r\n0\r\n4\r\n8\r\n18\r\n15\r\n27\r\n72\r\nHighland\r\n4\r\n3\r\n4\r\n4\r\n2\r\n3\r\n20\r\nInverclyde\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n4\r\nMidlothian\r\n0\r\n4\r\n7\r\n10\r\n13\r\n18\r\n52\r\nMoray\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n1\r\n0\r\n4\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n8\r\n13\r\n6\r\n11\r\n11\r\n13\r\n62\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n2\r\n14\r\n18\r\n14\r\n10\r\n10\r\n68\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n1\r\n2\r\n6\r\n3\r\n4\r\n2\r\n18\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n0\r\n3\r\n4\r\n3\r\n5\r\n7\r\n22\r\nScottish Borders\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n4\r\nShetland Islands\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n1\r\n4\r\n4\r\n4\r\n3\r\n8\r\n24\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n7\r\n13\r\n11\r\n3\r\n9\r\n30\r\n73\r\nStirling\r\n1\r\n3\r\n0\r\n3\r\n2\r\n4\r\n13\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n1\r\n2\r\n4\r\n2\r\n3\r\n6\r\n18\r\nWest Lothian\r\n2\r\n7\r\n6\r\n7\r\n18\r\n12\r\n52\r\nTotal\r\n48\r\n103\r\n152\r\n160\r\n163\r\n229\r\n855\r\n\r\nTable 2: Settled mortgage to rent cases, under the Home Owner Support Fund (April 2009 until present)\r\n\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nTotal\r\nAberdeen City\r\n3\r\n7\r\n4\r\n2\r\n0\r\n16\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n4\r\n3\r\n4\r\n1\r\n0\r\n12\r\nAngus\r\n4\r\n4\r\n2\r\n1\r\n1\r\n12\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n1\r\n4\r\nComhairle nan Eilean Siar\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n7\r\n10\r\n11\r\n11\r\n0\r\n39\r\nDundee City\r\n4\r\n2\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n7\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n1\r\n2\r\n4\r\n1\r\n0\r\n8\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n9\r\n15\r\n6\r\n2\r\n8\r\n40\r\nEast Lothian\r\n9\r\n13\r\n14\r\n24\r\n9\r\n69\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n4\r\n1\r\n4\r\n4\r\n1\r\n14\r\nCity of Edinburgh\r\n16\r\n15\r\n9\r\n6\r\n2\r\n48\r\nFalkirk\r\n8\r\n22\r\n32\r\n35\r\n27\r\n124\r\nFife\r\n24\r\n36\r\n16\r\n7\r\n4\r\n87\r\nGlasgow City\r\n26\r\n25\r\n27\r\n35\r\n23\r\n136\r\nHighland\r\n12\r\n15\r\n7\r\n5\r\n11\r\n50\r\nInverclyde\r\n3\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n6\r\nMidlothian\r\n20\r\n21\r\n16\r\n12\r\n14\r\n83\r\nMoray\r\n3\r\n4\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n8\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n14\r\n16\r\n19\r\n18\r\n11\r\n78\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n24\r\n26\r\n35\r\n23\r\n24\r\n132\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n7\r\n7\r\n9\r\n11\r\n4\r\n38\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n10\r\n10\r\n6\r\n7\r\n6\r\n39\r\nScottish Borders\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n3\r\nShetland Islands\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n12\r\n6\r\n5\r\n3\r\n7\r\n33\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n35\r\n31\r\n29\r\n25\r\n25\r\n145\r\nStirling\r\n10\r\n17\r\n9\r\n13\r\n11\r\n60\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n11\r\n6\r\n10\r\n5\r\n2\r\n34\r\nWest Lothian\r\n32\r\n52\r\n39\r\n33\r\n35\r\n191\r\nTotal\r\n314\r\n368\r\n322\r\n288\r\n228\r\n1520\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:46:59.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293887,"EventID":"S4W-20712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:00.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-11T15:23:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost is of implementing a co-ordinated support plan under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\nEducation authorities and other agencies have duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. An additional support need can arise for any reason and be of short or long term duration. Additional support may be required to overcome needs arising from learning environment; health or disability; family circumstances or social and emotional factors.\r\nFor children and young people who have complex or multiple needs which require significant support from education and another agency or agencies a co-ordinated support plan (CSP) may be required. The purpose of the CSP is to support co-ordinated planning to meet pupils' individual needs, consequently the cost of providing support through a co-ordinated support plan may vary significantly from pupil to pupil, depending on the individual’s needs.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:00.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293888,"EventID":"S4W-20735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:00.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T07:20:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will explain how it will \"boost economic returns\" to Scotland's islands, as per the statement by the First Minister reported in The Scotsman on 14 April 2014.","AnswerText":"Through the Islands Areas Ministerial Working Group, chaired by the Minister for Local Government and Planning, discussions continue with Orkney, Shetland and Eilean Siar councils on a range of issues important to island communities, including how to maximise opportunities to build economic resilience and increase sustainable job creation.\r\nBuilding on these discussions, a prospectus will be published over the summer outlining proposals for enhanced islands autonomy and highlighting opportunities under Scottish independence for our island communities. We have already committed to bringing forward a Bill for an Islands Act upon independence to implement the conclusions of this work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:00.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293889,"EventID":"S4W-20745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:00.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T15:59:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps Police Scotland is taking to ensure that its staff are aware of their responsibilities regarding the protection of protected species.","AnswerText":"The training of wildlife crime officers is a matter solely for the Chief Constable. It is not appropriate for Scottish Ministers to seek to intervene on operational policing matters.\r\nI can advise however that since Police Scotland came into being on 1 April 2013, there have been significant changes to the structure and training for wildlife crime officers. \r\nThe strategic lead for wildlife crime which sits in the Specialist Crime Division is held by the Assistant Chief Constable. A Detective Chief Superintendent holds the portfolio lead and the post provides essential direction and governance around strategic issues relating to wildlife crime prevention and investigation.\r\nA full time national Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator at Detective Sergeant level provides engagement with national issues relating to coordination, policy, performance and training, and supports the Detective Chief Superintendent.\r\nIn each of the 14 territorial divisions there are wildlife crime liaison officers who are supported by a Superintendent (or above). Wildlife crime officer posts can be either full or part-time and deal with crime prevention and investigation when required for operational policing issues.\r\nIt is important to highlight that the investigation of wildlife crime is not the exclusive preserve of dedicated staff, and a variety of investigative and intelligence resources and tactics are brought to bear on such matters, from local and national policing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:01.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293890,"EventID":"S4W-20746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:01.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T15:59:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will hold an inquiry into reports that Police Scotland told a member of the public that the poisoning of a peregrine falcon in the Leadhills area was not a police matter.","AnswerText":"Police Scotland is committed to investigating wildlife crime and have confirmed that on this occasion well established protocols and processes were adhered to in order to allow the bird to be recovered successfully. As a result of this, and the subsequent analysis carried out by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture identified that the bird had been poisoned, Police Scotland is now working in cooperation with both RSPB and National Wildlife Crime Unit to fully investigate this crime.\r\nIn any given case, police call handlers must consider the information they are given at the time of the call and not all reported incidents may be crimes. Police Scotland has also confirmed that no official complaint has been received from the reporter of the original incident.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:01.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293891,"EventID":"S4W-20747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:01.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T15:59:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to combat illegal raptor persecution in the Leadhills area.","AnswerText":"The Leadhills area has been identified as a poisoning ‘hotspot’ in the maps that are published annually by the Scottish Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime. There have also been incidents in the area involving illegal shooting of raptors.\r\nOperational policing and the targeting of enforcement activity in any specific area is a matter solely for Police Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish Government works closely with the police, conservation groups and landowners through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland. The PAW Scotland Raptor Group has established a short-life working group tasked with developing a clear message that raptor persecution must stop now. The message will have the explicit backing of all PAW partners and be aimed in particular at those areas where raptor persecution is most persistent.\r\nSee also my response to S4W-20748 on 12 May 2014 which sets out the additional steps being taken by the Scottish Government and partners to combat illegal raptor persecution.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:01.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293892,"EventID":"S4W-20748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:01.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T15:59:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is sufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of the new enforcement measures to tackle raptor persecution announced by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 1 July 2013.","AnswerText":"There is not yet sufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of the new measures announced on 1 July 2013. A report on the review of penalties is due by the end of the year and the changes to the general licences will be fully implemented by Scottish Natural Heritage over the next few months. The use by the police of the full range of investigative techniques in raptor persecution cases is an operational matter, however it is unlikely that results would be seen less than 12 months after the announcement of new measures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:01.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293893,"EventID":"S4W-20749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:02.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:41:03.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence was used to justify the selection of primary school children for the programme of flu vaccination during winter 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"In line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendations, a new childhood influenza vaccination programme was introduced in October 2013, which is being rolled out over the next few years on a phased basis. When fully implemented this will double the size of the existing seasonal influenza vaccination programme across Scotland from one million to almost two million doses administered annually, offering protection to those aged 2-17 years.\r\nA number of factors were taken into consideration when deciding how best to implement the expanded programme in Scotland. Key among these was the epidemiology of influenza in Scotland. Advice from Health Protection Scotland was that maximal public health benefit was anticipated through introducing the programme in the youngest age groups initially because they are most at risk and are least likely to have immunity to influenza. As such, the programme has been implemented among two and three year olds in the first instance.\r\nAt the same time, delivery of the expanded programme has been piloted in various primary schools throughout Scotland. This has enabled us to test a number of aspects of the programme among this cohort. In particular, no immunisation programmes are delivered currently in primary schools, and these pilots have helped shape proposed delivery mechanisms for the implementation of the programme in primary schools.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:02.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293894,"EventID":"S4W-20750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:02.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:41:03.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its plans to roll out the flu vaccination programme to all school age children in 2014, in light of new evidence provided by the Cochrane Collaboration on the effectiveness of Tamiflu.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Cochrane Collaboration has recently published updated data on the effectiveness of antivirals, including Tamiflu, against seasonal influenza. Antivirals are used for the treatment and post-exposure prevention of influenza, and should not be confused with seasonal influenza vaccines.\r\nAccordingly, the Cochrane Collaboration publication has no bearing whatsoever on the seasonal flu vaccination programme in Scotland and there are no plans to review it.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:02.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293895,"EventID":"S4W-20751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-16T15:47:02.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-16T10:41:03.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish new guidance for people eligible for the flu vaccine to help them to make an informed choice about whether to receive it.\r\n","AnswerText":"Each year the Scottish Government, with the support of the Scottish Immunisation Programme Communications Advisory Group, delivers a national marketing and awareness raising campaign to people eligible for free seasonal flu vaccination. This includes TV and radio adverts, leaflets and guidance for healthcare professionals.\r\nThis year, in addition to the seasonal flu campaign, the Scottish Government will raise awareness of the childhood flu vaccination programme to inform and educate parents, children, healthcare professionals and others about the programme, the live attenuated intranasal vaccine (Fluenz) and the benefits of extending the programme to children.\r\nVaccination is voluntary, and it is always our aim to ensure that people are able to make informed choices about whether or not to accept the offer of vaccination for themselves or those for whom they make decisions. The materials provided as part of the programme will help to support this process. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:47:02.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293899,"EventID":"S4W-20752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T14:14:27.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T10:53:42.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the maintenance needs of the school estate in each local authority area, also broken down by the number of schools where the need for repairs has been categorised as (a) urgent, (b) essential and (c) desirable.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this level of information. This information is held by individual education authorities as it is their statutory responsibility to maintain school buildings as outlined in Section 17 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T14:14:27.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293900,"EventID":"S4W-20754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T14:14:27.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T12:28:16.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether civil servants attending public engagement events relating to its white paper on independence receive guidance on how to deal with discussion concerning matters that would be subject to the outcome of the 2016 election in the event of a Yes vote.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the white paper with the public. The events present the public with the opportunity to ask Ministers any questions about Scotland’s Future including questions on Government policies following the 2016 election as set out in the white paper. In accordance with the Civil Service Code, civil servants will describe government policy and provide details of where the public can access further information on the content of government policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T14:14:27.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293901,"EventID":"S4W-20755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T14:14:28.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T12:28:16.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether limits are placed on the tasks that civil servants attending public engagement events relating to its white paper on independence can perform in order to prevent the use of public money for party political purposes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the referendum with the public. The purpose of the events is to allow members of the public to ask questions of Government Ministers. Civil servants attending each event have a clear role in either providing logistical support for the event or introducing Government Ministers. In any discussion they have with members of the public, civil servants will describe government policy and provide details of where the public can access further information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T14:14:28.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293902,"EventID":"S4W-20756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T14:14:28.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T12:28:16.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a civil servant attends each public engagement event relating to its white paper on independence with the task of ensuring that there is no discussion of matters that would be subject to the outcome of the 2016 election in the event of a Yes vote.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the white paper with the public. Civil servants attend each event to support Ministers in their role. The events present the public with the opportunity to ask Ministers any questions about Scotland’s Future including questions on Government policies following the 2016 election as set out in the white paper.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T14:14:28.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293903,"EventID":"S4W-20757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T14:14:28.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T13:11:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the non-profit distributing (NPD) model was developed and introduced as an alternative to the private finance initiative and what the first NPD-funded capital project was.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current NPD model with a simplified and standardised contract and recycling of returns to the public sector, was developed by the Scottish Futures Trust. The first NPD project in the current pipeline of investments to reach financial close was Inverness College on 29 April 2013.\r\nThe current model built on and enhanced an earlier NPD-type funded model, initially developed with support from the Scottish Government and the former Partnerships UK organisation. This earlier model was piloted by Argyll and Bute Council with a project for the construction of ten schools which reached financial close on \r\n9 September 2005.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T14:14:28.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293914,"EventID":"S4W-20758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:10:39.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T14:29:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients are receiving compulsory treatment under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally, however, it is published by the Mental Welfare Commission through their annual monitoring reports. The reports are available online at:\r\nhttp://www.mwcscot.org.uk/publications/statistical-monitoring-reports/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:10:40.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293915,"EventID":"S4W-20759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:10:40.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T14:29:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many suicides have been recorded in NHS mental health wards in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"All NHS boards’ mental health services carry out individual suicide reviews that examine the circumstances of suicides of patients under their care with the aim of making mental health services safer. Healthcare Improvement Scotland provides a unique resource through the Suicide Reporting and Learning System which analyses these reviews to promote learning and improvement strategies throughout Scotland. The primary aims of this process are to learn any lessons that help to improve services, to reduce risk and to improve the actual process of suicide reviews.\r\nIn-patient suicide data for Scotland\r\nThe following in-patient suicide data has been provided by Healthcare Improvement Scotland for the past five years from January 2009 to April 2014 based on reviews from NHS boards’ mental health services.\r\nTotal In-Patient Suicide Figures – Jan 2009 to April 2014\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n2014\r\nTotal\r\n16\r\n12\r\n18\r\n18\r\n23\r\n7\r\n94\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland has confidence in the completeness of reporting over the past two years but not the first three years of the current arrangements so comparisons of annual data should be made with caution.\r\nIn-patient suicides by health board\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland does not publish in-patient suicides by health board for the following reasons:\r\nThe numbers are very small and there is a high risk of the unintended disclosure of the identity of individuals, particularly in the smaller health boards. This would constitute a breach of confidentiality and the risk of great distress for the relatives of the people who have died.\r\nSuicide is a multi-faceted and multi-factorial phenomenon. Suicidal risk can be increased by mental illness, social circumstances, addictions, life events and many other factors. The nature of mental health services and the communities they serve vary greatly across Scotland. Publishing completed suicides by health board could lead to unjustified comparisons of health board performance in relation to what is a highly complex and sensitive subject.\r\nThe primary purpose of reviewing the circumstances of the suicides of people in contact with mental health services is to identify areas of improvement and to share learning that can help reduce the risk of suicide. This requires a culture of openness and sharing which is not well served by using suicide statistics as a mental health services performance indicator.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:10:40.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293916,"EventID":"S4W-20760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:10:40.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T14:29:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the standard review process is in cases of suspected suicide in NHS mental health wards; how many reviews have been carried out in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board, and whether these results are made publicly available.\r\n","AnswerText":"Review process:\r\nAcross mental health services in Scotland, suicide review policies have been gradually integrated into NHS board adverse event policies which are part of the wider adverse event management. All NHS boards categorise every adverse event to determine the level of review required. The categorisation is partly based on the level of harm caused by the incident. Suicide is usually considered a high-level category which will prompt a full review.\r\nAll NHS boards’ mental health services carry out individual suicide reviews that examine the circumstances of suicides of patients under their care with the aim of making mental health services safer. Healthcare Improvement Scotland provides a unique resource through the Suicide Reporting and Learning System which analyses these reviews to promote learning and improvement strategies throughout Scotland. The primary aims of this process are to learn any lessons that help to improve services, to reduce risk and to improve the actual process of suicide reviews.\r\nThe current Healthcare Improvement Scotland arrangements, for health boards to report their reviews of completed suicides of people in contact with mental health services in Scotland, dates from the end of 2008. Prior to this the only reporting requirement was to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland but their reporting criteria did not capture all completed suicides.\r\nIn-patient suicides by health board\r\nStatistics for suicides in NHS mental health wards are not available. Healthcare Improvement Scotland does not publish in-patient suicides by health board for the following reasons:\r\nThe numbers are very small and there is a high risk of the unintended disclosure of the identity of individuals, particularly in the smaller health boards. This would constitute a breach of confidentiality and the risk of great distress for the relatives of the people who have died.\r\nSuicide is a multi-faceted and multi-factorial phenomenon. Suicidal risk can be increased by mental illness, social circumstances, addictions, life events and many other factors. The nature of mental health services and the communities they serve vary greatly across Scotland. Publishing completed suicides by health board could lead to unjustified comparisons of health board performance in relation to what is a highly complex and sensitive subject.\r\nThe primary purpose of reviewing the circumstances of the suicides of people in contact with mental health services is to identify areas of improvement and to share learning that can help reduce the risk of suicide. This requires a culture of openness and sharing which is not well served by using suicide statistics as a mental health services performance indicator.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:10:40.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293919,"EventID":"S4F-02029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:06.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-14T12:56:09.903","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:07.077","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293920,"EventID":"S4F-02031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:07.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T09:46:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the gender equality gap. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:07.997","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293921,"EventID":"S4F-02033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:08.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T11:18:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s assessment is of labour market conditions in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:08.573","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293922,"EventID":"S4F-02035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:09.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T12:22:44.12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with Glasgow City Council concerning the future of the site of the Red Road flats following the demolition of the existing buildings.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:09.493","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293923,"EventID":"S4F-02036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:09.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T12:26:01.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:09.87","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293924,"EventID":"S4F-02040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-17T15:32:11.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T13:46:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what measures the Scottish Government is putting in place to tackle food poverty. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:32:11.35","MeetingDate":"2014-04-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293934,"EventID":"S4T-00667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T09:42:11.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-19T09:41:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the cause of the electricity power cut, which affected people in the north of Scotland on 17 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T09:42:11.37","MeetingDate":"2014-04-22T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293957,"EventID":"S4W-20737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:56.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, whether it will publish its letter to the UK Government of 24 April 2012 regarding VAT on the purchase of static caravans.\r\n","AnswerText":"The text of the letter to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, issued on 24 April 2012, is as follows\r\n“VAT ON STATIC CARAVANS - UK BUDGET 2012\r\nI wrote in March 2012, prior to the UK Budget, setting out suggestions on a range of issues which would help boost economic growth within Scotland.\r\nI highlighted that the existing disparity in VAT rates between the UK and many European countries continues to place our tourism and hospitality sectors at a clear competitive disadvantage. The 20% VAT on hospitality businesses in the UK is the second highest in the European Union.\r\nTourism is one of the priority sectors in the Scottish Government Economic Strategy. The sector contributes over £4.1 billion every year to the Scottish economy and is a major success story. Indeed despite the challenging economic environment, overnight visitors to Scotland rose by 9% in 2011, with visitors from within Great Britain increasing by 10% along with a 20% increase in domestic visitors spend.\r\nThe latest data from the 2011 VisitScotland Visitor Survey shows that UK residents were more likely to camp or stay in a caravan during their visit than overseas visitors. However, your proposal in the Budget to introduce VAT on static caravans from 1 October 2012, will inevitably increase the cost of purchasing or renting such units, as highlighted in HM Treasury's tax information and impact notes. Clearly, this will have a negative impact on what is a growing and successful part of the Scottish tourism industry.\r\nThe Scottish Government is determined to make the most of Scotland's fantastic assets and take full advantage of opportunities to drive up visitor numbers and spend. However the VAT increase on static caravans announced in your recent Budget will do precisely the opposite. It will damage a successful part of the tourism industry whilst yielding little additional tax revenue for the UK Government. Indeed it will increase VAT receipts by just 0.04% a year. I strongly urge you to reverse this damaging proposal at the earliest opportunity.\r\nI am copying this letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:56.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293958,"EventID":"S4W-20738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:56.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, whether its letter to the UK Government of 24 April 2012 regarding VAT on the purchase of static caravans also called for action on VAT on tourism more widely.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20737 on 6 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:56.487","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293959,"EventID":"S4W-20739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:56.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, whether it will publish its letter to the UK Government of (a) 18 June 2012 and (b) 11 September 2012 regarding VAT on ski-lifts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The text of the letter from the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism to the UK Chief Secretary to the Treasury, issued on 18 June 2012, is as follows:\r\n“I welcomed the UK Government's budget decision to reduce to 5% the VAT applied on cable operated transport systems, including ski lifts. When introduced, this reduction will bring our VAT rate into line with that applied elsewhere in the European Union and, in removing that competitive disadvantage, should bring a small, but much needed, boost to Scotland's five snows ports centres.\r\nI am, however, concerned by the proposed timing of the change, which we understand is not to be made until April 2013. I wonder if you could give some further thought to the timing, particularly whether the reduction could be introduced at the beginning of January 2013, very slightly earlier than is currently proposed.\r\nThe small change in timing will make a considerable difference to the centres whom I met recently to reflect on the last season and the challenges ahead of them. As you will understand, the centres see the reduction in VAT as key to releasing vital resources that they can invest in their future sustainability. All the centres have planned improvements which they hoped to fund with released resources, including upgrading machinery such as piste machines and gondola motors, replacing .lifts and building projects to house machinery. Without resources, they simply cannot afford to implement their plans. Unfortunately, the current timetable would mean that the reduction would not be made until after the end of the next snowsports season, with the centres not seeing any real benefits until 2014. Given the need for essential maintenance and the urgency in starting the process of upgrading and replacing ageing infrastructure at the centres, an earlier introduction is key to ensure the intended impact of the Chancellor's Budget decision comes into effect sooner rather than later.\r\nThere is one further aspect of the VAT decision which has been brought to my attention by the centres: the status of travelator lifts. The wording in the budget statement does not mention travelator lifts, which perform the same function of transporting skiers but in a safer manner, and clarification on their status. In respect of VAT would be greatly appreciated, not least since it is likely that travelators will progressively replace some of the smaller wire tows for safety reasons.\r\nI know that you recognise the substantial contribution that this iconic industry makes to the Scottish economy, generating around £30 million a year and supporting over 600 jobs, often in very fragile communities. Our natural resources, scenery and tourist infrastructure combine to make Scotland a first class destination for global snowsports. I hope that you will be able to review the timetable to make the small change necessary to support the sector's survival.\r\nI look forward to your response.”\r\nThe text of the letter from the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism to the UK Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, issued on 11 September 2012, is as follows:\r\n“I welcome your letter of 18 July 2012 setting out HM Treasury's position with regard to travelator lifts and the legislative timing of the rate of 5% VAT on cable-suspended passenger transport.\r\nYour advice on travelators was extremely helpful and, while this will obviously be disappointing to the one Scottish centre which operates this mechanism, it has certainly clarified the distinction between those transport systems which will benefit from the reduced rate and those which fall outwith the eligibility criteria.\r\nI know that Scotland's main economic development agencies, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, have responded to the ongoing HM Customs and Revenue consultation about the timing of the introduction of the reduced VAT rate. I am sure that there will be further responses, not least from the five snowsports centres for whom an early in","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:56.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293960,"EventID":"S4W-20740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:56.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, whether its letter to the UK Government of (a) 18 June 2012 and (b) 11 September 2012 regarding VAT on ski-lifts also called for action on VAT on tourism more widely.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20739 on 6 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at \r\nwww.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:57.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293961,"EventID":"S4W-20743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:57.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, whether it will publish the minute of the meeting on 9 March 2012 between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the Chancellor.","AnswerText":"There was no meeting with the UK Chancellor on 09 March 2012. The representations made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth on 9 March 2012 were made via the annual letter to the UK Chancellor setting out Scottish Government proposals for the UK Budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:57.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293962,"EventID":"S4W-20744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:57.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-15T11:28:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20469 by Fergus Ewing on 14 April 2014, what representations or proposals regarding VAT on tourism the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth made during the meeting with the Chancellor on 9 March 2012.","AnswerText":"There was no meeting with the UK Chancellor on 9 March 2012. The representations made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth on 9 March 2012 were made via the annual letter to the Chancellor setting out Scottish Government proposals for the UK Budget.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s representations were reflected in a news release issued on 12 March 2012, which is available using the url:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/03/budget12032012. Within that the following text from the letter, in respect of VAT, is:\r\n‘The disparity in VAT rates between the UK and many European countries puts our tourism and hospitality sectors at a competitive disadvantage. The majority of EU countries levy reduced rates of VAT on their hospitality and tourism sectors, but the UK does not and I would like the Chancellor to consider this further.’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:57.487","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293963,"EventID":"S4W-20761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:57.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T07:26:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason mobile homes in Scotland with permanent residents are in higher  council tax bands than those in England and Wales.","AnswerText":"Local taxation is a devolved matter and responsibility for the administration and collection of council tax in Scotland lies with Scottish local authorities. Council tax charges are derived from the levels of council tax set by local authorities and from the valuation bands in which dwellings are placed.\r\nResponsibility for placing properties in valuation bands for the purpose of council tax rests solely with the Scottish assessor for the area. The local assessor decides which valuation band should apply to each dwelling in the area, with valuations based on the amount which a dwelling might have reasonably been expected to realise in the open market if sold on 1 April 1991. The assessor is independent of both local and central government, therefore neither ministers nor government officials are able to comment on or intervene in individual cases.\r\nThe Scottish Government has fully funded the council tax freeze in Scotland since 2008-09 and is committed to do so for the lifetime of this Parliament, helping all of Scotland’s council tax payers, including those resident in mobile homes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:57.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293964,"EventID":"S4W-20764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:57.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:09:11.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for carrying out unregulated teeth whitening in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"An unregulated person carrying out tooth whitening is considered to be unlawfully holding themself out as practising, or being prepared to practise dentistry, contrary to sections 38 (1) and (2) of the Dentists Act 1984. This legislation is a reserved matter, however the General Dental Council has provided the following information.\r\n2014: five prosecutions, five convictions;\r\n2013: three prosecutions, three convictions;\r\n2012: two prosecutions, two convictions;\r\n2011: two prosecutions, two convictions.\r\nNo information is available prior to 2011.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:57.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293965,"EventID":"S4W-20765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:58.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:09:31.593","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bed days were occupied by patients categorised as code 9 in each of the five years to March 2014, also broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Information showing bed days occupied by patients categorised as code 9 is available on the Information Services Division website from April 2012 to December 2013 at Scotland and NHS board level. Information is only available from April 2012 as this was the first time this data was collected.\r\nThe information can be found in Table 1 at: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2014-02-25/BedDays_Occupied_Tables_To_December_2013.xls\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:58.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293966,"EventID":"S4W-20766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:58.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:10:25.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are registered with (a) community pharmacists and (b) GPs for (i) chronic prescribing and (ii) the minor ailments scheme, broken down by NHS board, and how it encourages people to register.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the number of current registrations for the Chronic Medication Service (CMS) and the Minor Ailment Service (MAS), broken down by NHS board. Eligible patients can register with the community pharmacy of their choice for each service. Registration arrangements for both services are pharmacist-based and -led.\r\nThe Scottish Government publishes leaflets giving details of both services. These leaflets are made available at GP surgeries and community pharmacies, and at Jobcentre Plus offices and Citizens Advice offices.\r\nHealth Board\r\nCMS Registrations\r\nMAS Registrations\r\nNHS AYRSHIRE and ARRAN\r\n33284\r\n82742\r\nNHS BORDERS\r\n8328\r\n19972\r\nNHS DUMFRIES and GALLOWAY\r\n11685\r\n22205\r\nNHS FIFE\r\n24926\r\n62861\r\nNHS FORTH VALLEY\r\n21850\r\n44772\r\nNHS GRAMPIAN\r\n37322\r\n78717\r\nNHS GREATER GLASGOW and CLYDE\r\n93566\r\n239219\r\nNHS HIGHLAND\r\n20507\r\n43944\r\nNHS LANARKSHIRE\r\n52813\r\n151625\r\nNHS LOTHIAN\r\n52806\r\n135327\r\nNHS ORKNEY\r\n550\r\n2985\r\nNHS SHETLAND\r\n616\r\n2846\r\nNHS TAYSIDE\r\n26232\r\n68875\r\nNHS WESTERN ISLES\r\n725\r\n768\r\nGrand Total\r\n385210\r\n956858\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:58.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293967,"EventID":"S4W-20769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:58.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:10:25.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether only people who were eligible for free prescriptions prior to the abolition of prescription charges can register for the minor ailments scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The eligibility criteria for the minor ailment service are the same as those which entitled people to free prescriptions before charges were abolished in April 2011.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:58.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293968,"EventID":"S4W-20770","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:59.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:10:25.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have registered for the minor ailments scheme since the abolition of prescription charges.\r\n","AnswerText":"Some 1,559,000 patients have been registered at some point for the minor ailment service since prescription charges were abolished in April 2011. The total number of current registrations is 956,858.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:59.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293969,"EventID":"S4W-20771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:59.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:10:25.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to administer the continuing limited eligibility registration process for the minor ailments scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The costs of administering the registration process for the minor ailment service is approximately £96,000 per annum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:29:59.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293970,"EventID":"S4W-20772","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:29:59.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:11:11.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the uptake of eye tests by people (a) with learning difficulties, (b) with impaired capacity, (c) from deprived households, (d) whose first language is not English and (e) from ethnic minority communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"In recognition of the additional needs of some groups optometrists can visit certain approved day centres to provide NHS eye examinations for patients who would have difficulty in obtaining services from practice premises because of their particular needs. The types of patients who could be seen include, those whose first language is not English who are new to the UK and require the service of an interpreter.\r\nOptometrists may also undertake domiciliary visits to patient’s homes or residential homes in order to provide NHS eye examinations where the patient cannot leave home unaccompanied because of their particular needs, such as people with dementia or other disability.\r\nGPs are also promoting optometrists as the first point of contact for eye related problems, with them now referring 33% more patients annually for NHS eye examinations than in 2007.\r\nA patient information leaflet Your guide to free NHS eye examinations in Scotland is also available for display in optometrists, GP practices, and pharmacies.\r\nFinally, training packages to support all optometrists in Scotland have been produced via the UK Directorate of Optometric Continuing Education and Training , supported by the Scottish Government. These include:\r\nMaking a Difference: Professional Eye Care for People with Learning Disability\r\nDementia and Optometry\r\nOptometry and Ethnicity\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:00.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293971,"EventID":"S4W-20773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:00.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:11:11.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial incentives in addition to universal fees it offers to optometrists to improve uptake of eye tests by people (a) with learning difficulties, (b) with impaired capacity, (c) from deprived households, (d) whose first language is not English and (e) from ethnic minority communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no financial incentives in addition to the present fees that optometrists may claim for carrying out free NHS eye examinations in their practices.\r\nFree NHS eye examinations are universal and available to the whole population which is reflected in the current fee structure.\r\nAlthough we don’t provide any additional incentives to optometrists in order to improve uptake of NHS eye examinations by such groups we do recognise the additional needs of some groups. For this reason optometrists can visit certain approved day centres to provide NHS eye examinations for patients who would have difficulty in obtaining services from practice premises because of their particular needs. The types of patients who could be seen include, those whose first language is not English who are new to the UK and require the service of an interpreter.\r\nIn addition, optometrists may undertake domiciliary visits to patient’s homes or residential homes in order to provide NHS eye examinations where the patient cannot leave home unaccompanied because of their particular needs, such as people with dementia or other disability. An additional fee is payable for undertaking domiciliary visits.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:00.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293972,"EventID":"S4W-20774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:00.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:11:11.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that falls coordinators in each NHS board encourage people at risk of falls to take an eye test.\r\n","AnswerText":"The importance of including vision assessment in a multifactorial approach to falls prevention is highlighted in two national documents produced by the National Falls Programme. Both documents aim to support the local development of co-ordinated, integrated and person centred falls prevention and management pathways:\r\nUp and About, Pathways for the prevention and management of falls and fragility fractures. Produced by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (2010)\r\nThe Prevention and Management of Falls in the Community: A Framework for Action for Scotland 2014-2015 (currently out for consultation, expected date for publication June 2014)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:00.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293973,"EventID":"S4W-20775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:01.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:11:11.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what managed care networks there are that deal with ophthalmic conditions.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for NHS boards to determine, based on local priorities and clinical need, the level of local ophthalmic service they provide in order to meet the needs of their population.\r\nThe Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP) was designated a national managed clinical network on 1 April 2014. VINCYP aims to bring together health, education and social care agencies to improve the care for visually impaired children and young people. The network has been commissioned by NHS National Services Scotland and an official launch is scheduled for 30 May 2014.\r\nThe Scottish Government has invested £2 million to implement the recommendations in the ‘See Hear; A Strategic Framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment’ published on 24 April 2014 and will work with service providers, service users and relevant voluntary and statutory agencies to achieve this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:01.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293974,"EventID":"S4W-20791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:01.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:15:59.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to (a) ensure and (b) monitor the delivery by midwives of (i) pertussis vaccine during pregnancy and (ii) MMR vaccine immediately after pregnancy.\r\n","AnswerText":"Midwives are recognised as a key group in promoting the benefits of pertussis vaccination and rubella screening.\r\nThe pertussis immunisation programme for pregnant women was introduced in October 2012 in response to a UK wide outbreak of pertussis. The programme aims to provide passive immunity to young infants in the first few weeks of life before they are old enough to start their immunisation schedule at eight weeks of age. Most pregnant women are vaccinated against pertussis in their GP practice.\r\nPrior to the introduction of the programme, training materials were produced by NHS Education for Scotland for registered healthcare professionals and midwives and a revised version will be issued in May this year.\r\nA leaflet explaining the benefits of vaccination is also provided to pregnant women by NHS Health Scotland.\r\nA point of delivery audit was undertaken in the main maternity units in Scotland in January 2013, which estimated that uptake of the vaccine was high at 78.1%. HPS is currently working on a mechanism to obtain regular uptake data via general practices for the routine monitoring of this programme. \r\nHPS monitors the incidence of pertussis and this includes collecting a dataset on all laboratory confirmed cases under one year of age, including whether the mother was vaccinated during pregnancy.\r\nThe number of laboratory confirmed cases in infants < 1 year, declined by over 85% from 140 cases in 2010 to 19 in 2013.\r\nMMR vaccine is offered to women immediately after pregnancy if they have been identified as not immune to rubella during screening tests in pregnancy. Screening for rubella antibodies is one of the routine tests offered to all pregnant women at their first appointment with their midwife at around two to three months pregnant. Information about Rubella immunity is also included in the pregnancy screening guide which is issued to every pregnant woman in Scotland.\r\nThe MMR vaccine is the only licensed rubella vaccine in the UK. It is a live vaccine and should not be given to pregnant women. So although screening for rubella immunity happens during pregnancy, MMR vaccine can only be given after delivery and offers protection for future pregnancies. \r\nRubella screening services are commissioned by each NHS board and at this time there is no national system where screening and vaccination are recorded. However, a number of initiatives have been developed to monitor pregnancy and newborn screening programmes at the local (NHS board) level.\r\nClinical standards for pregnancy and newborn screening were developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in 2005.\r\nNHS National Services Division (who commission screening services in Scotland) developed quality indicators for pregnancy and newborn screening in 2011. These indicators included an indicator for uptake of MMR in rubella susceptible women within five days after delivery. NHS boards provided preliminary data against these indicators in 2011-2012 but the data was not robust enough to be reported. \r\nNHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland published a series of indicators for pregnancy and newborn screening in 2013. There is no specific indicator for uptake of MMR. This can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/reproductive,_maternal__child/programme_resources/pns_indicators.aspx\r\nRubella screening for pregnant women is a routine and well established part of pregnancy and newborn screening.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:01.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293975,"EventID":"S4W-20792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:01.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:15:59.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether each of the four proposed trauma centres will have air ambulance access.","AnswerText":"Trauma is the leading cause of death for people under 40. Each year in Scotland, around 5000 people are seriously injured, with around 1100-1200 cases being defined as ‘major trauma’. The four specialist major trauma centres, which will be operational from 2016, will be located at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and the new Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.\r\nEdinburgh Royal Infirmary: A helicopter landing site is on the campus and a land ambulance then transfers patients from the landing site to the hospital building. The fixed wing air ambulance can land at Edinburgh airport and a land ambulance then transfers patients to the hospital. \r\nAberdeen Royal Infirmary: A helicopter landing site is adjacent to the A&E Department and a land ambulance then transfers patients from the landing site to the hospital building. The fixed wing air ambulance can land at Aberdeen airport and a land ambulance then transfers patients to the hospital. \r\nNinewells Hospital, Dundee: A helicopter landing site is adjacent to the A&E Department and a land ambulance then transfers patients from the landing site to the hospital building. The fixed wing air ambulance can land at Dundee airport or the base at RAF Leuchars and a land ambulance then transfers patients to the hospital.\r\nSouthern General, Glasgow: A helicopter landing site is currently adjacent to the hospital entrance and a land ambulance then transfers patients from the landing site to the hospital building. The fixed wing air ambulance can land at Glasgow airport and a land ambulance then transfers patients to the hospital. The design for the new Southern General includes provision for a rooftop helicopter landing pad.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:01.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293976,"EventID":"S4W-20793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:02.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:34:12.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial resources it is committing to improving air quality and how many civil servants are working on it.\r\n","AnswerText":"Improving air quality in Scotland is a cross cutting issue. Policy leadership is provided by the Environmental Quality Division, which works closely with other business areas across the Scottish Government, particularly transport, climate change, health, planning and renewable energy, to support work to promote Scotland’s air quality. This reflects that successful promotion of air quality improvements is generally achieved through mainstreaming its inclusion into other policy areas.\r\nThe Scottish Government also provides funding support to assist local authorities in undertaking their statutory air quality responsibilities. Currently we operate three specific funding schemes covering air quality monitoring and modelling (a total of £0.5 million available per year), vehicle emissions testing (£0.5 million) and air quality action planning (£1 million).\r\nOther funding initiatives also support air quality improvements, notably low emissions vehicles (£5 million in 2014-15), sustainable active travel (also £5 million in 2014-15) and the Scottish Green Bus Fund which provides funding to encourage the use of and purchase of low carbon emission buses. The Scottish Government provided operators with funding of £2.4 million in the last financial year (2013-14) thereby assisting the purchase of 32 new low carbon emission buses. Ministers will shortly announce further funding of £4.75 million for a further round of funding which could see another 40 or more new low carbon emission buses joining the Scottish fleet.\r\nIn the context of non-transport related funding, since 2005 Forestry Commission Scotland, through their Woods In and Around Towns Programme, has invested over £60 million in urban woodlands. This investment has supported the reintroduction of management to over 11,500 hectares of neglected urban woods, created 1,600 hectares of new urban woods, equivalent to the area of all the woodland in the city of Glasgow and delivered an extensive programme of outreach work to encourage people living in urban Scotland to use and enjoy their local woods. This investment complements that of local authorities and partners in woodland investment e.g. in respect of Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife which is specifically targeted at improving air quality in urban areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:02.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293977,"EventID":"S4W-20794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:02.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T11:37:21.313","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Cochrane Collaboration report on the effectiveness of the antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza.\r\n","AnswerText":"In collaboration with colleagues across the UK, we will consider all new relevant scientific evidence on the effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza. This will include the Cochrane Collaboration reviews published on 9 April 2014, which considered data from the initial trials of Tamiflu and Relenza, dating back to the late 1990s. It will also include evidence from other studies carried out since the medicines were licensed, which support the view that they can reduce severe outcomes such as intensive care admission or death. The results of this review will inform our next steps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:02.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293978,"EventID":"S4W-20795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:02.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T11:54:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) NHS and (b) NHS 24 staff are employed on so-called zero-hours contracts.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. NHS boards determine their requirement for any staff bank services and the use of this service therefore remains primarily a matter for NHS boards as employers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:03.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293979,"EventID":"S4W-20797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T13:30:03.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T11:54:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the NHS uses so-called zero-hours contracts.","AnswerText":"NHS Scotland use ‘as and when required’ contracts in staff bank services to great effect. These arrangements have the dual benefit of providing a safe and reliable temporary workforce who can help NHS Scotland respond to unexpected circumstances, and allowing those who require it, the flexibility to continue to work without a fixed commitment that other contractual arrangements could not provide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T13:30:03.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293980,"EventID":"S4W-20762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:05:58.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T09:32:26.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19996 by Alex Neil on 13 March 2014, what action NHS boards have taken to implement the recommendations set out in Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new local delivery plan format, focusing on the 12 priority areas for action in the Route map to the 2020 Vision for Health and Social Care, gives NHS boards the opportunity to set out the action they are taking to implement Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework. We continue to support the focus on performance across NHSScotland through the annual process of agreeing NHS board local delivery plans with improved monitoring and assessment of outcomes.\r\nConsiderable progress has already been made, with the vast majority of statements in Neonatal care in Scotland: A Quality Framework already being met. All neonatal units are working together with their NHS boards and neonatal managed clinical networks to achieve full implementation of the framework. The Scottish Government has been clear that the framework will need to be implemented over a 5 to 10 year timescale to allow boards and regions flexibility to suit the needs of their local population in combination with staffing and resources.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:05:58.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293981,"EventID":"S4W-20798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:05:59.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T14:58:29.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-17346 and S4W-20321 by John Swinney on 10 October 2013 and 1 April 2014 respectively, who the “range of stakeholders” are that it has met regarding the postal service in an independent Scotland; on what dates the meetings took place, and whether it will produce the (a) agendas and (b) minutes of these.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials held informal initial discussions with representatives from the Communication Workers Union on 28 August 2013, the National Federation of Subpostmasters on 7 October 2013 and 7 March 2014, and Post Office Ltd on 17 March 2014. Discussions focussed on current issues around post and post offices and the relevant content of the Scottish Government's White Paper ‘Scotland's Future’. No minutes were agreed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:05:59.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293982,"EventID":"S4W-20799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:05:59.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:06:34.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the updated Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03136 on 24 April 2014. The answer can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9116&mode=html#iob_82330.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:05:59.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293983,"EventID":"S4W-20800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:05:59.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:06:34.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the updated Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin will contain revised estimates of future North Sea tax revenues. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03136 on 24 April 2014. The answer can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9116&mode=html#iob_82330.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:06:00.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293984,"EventID":"S4W-20801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:06:00.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:06:34.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the second Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin did not contain revised estimates of future North Sea tax revenues. \r\n","AnswerText":"As stated in the first Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin in March 2013, the bulletins summarise ‘recent statistics and analysis of the Scottish oil and gas industry. The content of each bulletin therefore varies.\r\nThe first bulletin focused on production levels, remaining reserves and potential future revenues. The second bulletin focused on international activity of oil and gas companies and the value of oil and gas exports.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:06:00.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293985,"EventID":"S4W-20802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-22T17:06:00.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:06:34.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by John Swinney on 26 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 29404), when it will publish its financial projections for an independent Scotland and how many years the projections will cover. \r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland's Future provided analysis of the opening balance sheet for an independent Scotland in 2016-17. As announced in the parliamentary debate on the 26 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 29404), the Scottish Government will extend this analysis in the coming weeks to cover a number of years, building on the analysis in the white paper and its central conclusion that Scotland is a wealthy country that will start life as an independent nation with great economic prospects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-06T17:06:00.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293993,"EventID":"S4W-20776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:24.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:11:54.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to amend the guidance for the management of influenza pandemics, in light of the recent review by the Cochrane Collaboration on the effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20794 on 6 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:24.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293994,"EventID":"S4W-20778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:24.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:15:25.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to implement each of the recommendations set out in the 2011 report, A TB Action Plan for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published the first annual report of the TB Action Plan for Scotland in November 2013. The report sets out the progress made towards implementation of the action plan’s 42 recommendations and includes key recommendations following on from the action plan.\r\nThese include the development of a strategic monitoring framework to manage implementation and measure progress towards the achievement of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) target ‘To eliminate, by 2050, TB as a public health problem (incidence <1 per million population)’. A suite of key performance indicators has been developed to track progress with Scottish recommendations and this is in addition to annual reporting against ECDC indicators. To facilitate implementation a national multidisciplinary TB network has been set up and is chaired by an NHS board.\r\nThe report can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00437667.pdf. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:25.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293995,"EventID":"S4W-20804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:25.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:52:30.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S4W-20130 and S4W-20129, which received holding answers on 26 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Answers to these questions were provided on 9 June 2014. \r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:25.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293996,"EventID":"S4W-20810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:25.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T10:30:41.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that its BCG vaccination programme follows each of the guidelines set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.","AnswerText":"The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) undertook a review of the BCG vaccination programme in 2005 and recommended an improved targeted programme directed towards those most at risk of tuberculosis.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s TB Action Plan for Scotland, published in 2011, contains four recommendations in respect of BCG vaccination. One of these requires NHS boards to review BCG neonatal immunisation in their locality to re-examine current operational plans. In preparation for the 2013 annual report of the action plan, boards were asked to confirm their implementation status for each recommendation and thirteen reported that this had either been completed or that a review was underway. A further update on progress will be sought from boards in preparation for the 2014 annual report.\r\nIn addition, the action plan requires Health Protection Scotland to undertake a more detailed review of NHS Board BCG audit activities so that best practice can be shared across Scotland. The results of the review are awaited, but are expected to confirm that NHS boards are delivering the BCG vaccination programme in line with the recommendations set out by the JCVI and in line with the Green Book chapter publication. This can be accessed at:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/148511/Green-Book-Chapter-32-dh_128356.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:25.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293997,"EventID":"S4W-20811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:26.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T10:39:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward proposals to the Parliament to deal with dangerous dogs.","AnswerText":"The consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures' closed on 31 March 2014 with in excess of 2,000 responses received. The responses will be independently analysed and thoroughly considered and it is expected that an analysis report will be published during summer 2014.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government held a responsible dog ownership summit on 27 March 2014. This was an opportunity to bring together key stakeholders including representatives from local authorities, the police, prosecutors and animal welfare charities to discuss how the current laws and approach on dangerous and out of control dogs is operating and whether further measures are needed to improve public safety.\r\nThe Scottish Government will be informed by the views offered in response to both the consultation and at the summit as we consider next steps in relation to improving responsible dog ownership within our communities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:26.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293998,"EventID":"S4W-20812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:26.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T11:31:57.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which part of the NHS is responsible for decisions on the design of nurses' uniforms. \r\n","AnswerText":"Following a public consultation in 2008 the design of the NHSScotland national uniform was determined in partnership with NHSScotland boards, professional bodies, trade unions, staff focus groups and the Scottish Government. All boards are required to comply with the National Uniform Policy issued in December 2010 when providing staff with their appropriate national uniform. The National Uniform Policy is available at:\r\nhttp://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_42.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:26.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":293999,"EventID":"S4W-20813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:26.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T11:31:57.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on nurses and nurse practitioners having uniforms that are distinguishable from each other.\r\n","AnswerText":"The purpose of the NHSScotland national uniform is not intended to distinguish between nurse and nurse practitioners. The aim of the uniform policy is to provide clarity for patients and the public between registered nurses and clinical support staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:26.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294000,"EventID":"S4W-20814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:26.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T12:07:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with private care providers regarding the price of residential care.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and our partners have recently published the recommendations of the task force on the future of residential care for older people, which is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/02/1187.\r\nThe task force considered all aspects of residential care, including costs, in making its recommendations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:26.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294001,"EventID":"S4W-20815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T13:59:27.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T12:07:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average price of residential care is in each local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Care Home Census collects information on the weekly cost for self-funding residents in care homes for older people. This is published at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Previous-Publications/index.asp.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T13:59:27.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294009,"EventID":"S4O-03146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:24.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:35.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the performance of NHS Scotland compares with the NHS in other parts of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:24.547","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294010,"EventID":"S4O-03147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:24.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:35.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is raising awareness of multiple sclerosis.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:24.907","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294011,"EventID":"S4O-03148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:25.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:36.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in reducing the time it takes for people to see a hearing specialist.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:25.157","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294012,"EventID":"S4O-03149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:25.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:36.337","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to new research that shows there to be “no good evidence” that the Tamiflu vaccine reduces flu-related hospital admissions or the complications of influenza.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:25.39","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294013,"EventID":"S4O-03150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:25.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:36.663","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of automated external defibrillators in public places.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:25.733","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294014,"EventID":"S4O-03151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:26.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:36.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that dialysis services are accessible.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:26.153","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294015,"EventID":"S4O-03152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:26.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T10:31:59.8","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss dentistry.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:26.45","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294016,"EventID":"S4O-03153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:26.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:37.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address low life expectancy rates in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:26.67","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294017,"EventID":"S4O-03154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:26.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T11:38:14.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the NHS Lothian board.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:26.95","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294018,"EventID":"S4O-03156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:27.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T11:08:19.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Full Report on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:27.247","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294019,"EventID":"S4O-03157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:27.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:38.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss crewing in remote communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:27.463","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294020,"EventID":"S4O-03158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:27.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:39.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its consultation on the control of entry arrangements and dispensing GP practices.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:27.747","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294021,"EventID":"S4O-03159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:28.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:39.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how progress by NHS Lanarkshire in implementing Healthcare Improvement Scotland's recommendations on patient safety and quality of care is being monitored.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Chief Executive of NHSScotland has chaired a specially convened Oversight Group throughout this process, which also comprises senior Government officials, which will continue to monitor progress at key intervals this year.\r\nFurther meetings with NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government and the Governance and Improvement Support Team are scheduled to take place at the end of June and the end of September to review progress. The Governance and Improvement Support Team will be available as an on-going resource and support, meeting with board staff, as required.\r\nNHS Lanarkshire, like all boards, will also be subject to the normal annual accountability and review process, overseen by Ministers and Scottish Government officials.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:28.12","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294022,"EventID":"S4O-03160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:28.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:22:33.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to attract general practitioners to rural towns and villages.\r\n","AnswerText":"I can assure you that the Scottish Government recognises the current challenges in remote and rural practice and is committed to ensuring that all communities in Scotland receive high quality and sustainable health care services.\r\nThe Scottish Government continues to promote a range of initiatives to recruit and support GPs working in remote and rural areas. These include proposals for a specific programme of work to be taken forward by NHS Highland, to develop and test a range of innovative ways of delivering healthcare in rural areas of Scotland. This will involve exploring approaches to building sustainable health and care services with all key stakeholders including local communities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:28.433","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294023,"EventID":"S4O-03161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:28.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T12:01:42.943","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve patient transport on Skye and in the Highlands and Islands.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government remains committed to improving access to health and social care. We are providing funding to support two model pilots to explore new approaches to the provision and integration of health and social care transport. One of these is across the Highlands area.\r\nIn addition, local authorities are provided with resources for the support of community transport services through the local finance settlement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:28.667","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294024,"EventID":"S4O-03162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:29.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:40.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Ministers and government officials regularly meet with representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss matters of importance to local people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:29.057","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294025,"EventID":"S4O-03163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:29.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T16:08:19.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to meet the national outcome that people in Scotland live longer, healthier lives and whether it considers tackling loneliness to be crucial in meeting this outcome.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tackling loneliness is important. Evidence presented to the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities showed the positive effect a person’s connectedness and inclusion in their family and community can have. The task force highlighted the development of ‘social capital’ as one of its four priorities as demonstrated in the government funding of the Link Up programme run by Inspiring Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:29.29","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294026,"EventID":"S4O-03164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:29.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:40.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the NHS is doing to deal with the health impacts of a reported increase in use of new psychoactive substances.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tackling the damaging impact of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a priority for this government which is why we had our first Scottish Parliament debate on this issue in February 2014, during which the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs summarised the work that has been done to date and announced this government’s plans to work with partners in Scotland and the UK to combat their supply and use.\r\nIn terms of the NHS, this government has continued to support record funding for NHS boards to deliver frontline drugs services, including those aimed at supporting those affected by new psychoactive substances, £30.4 million in 2014-15, an increase of 20% since 2006. We have made clear that tackling NPS is a priority for delivering services with this funding.\r\nWe are also updating our data collection tools so that they provide more information about the prevalence, use and impact of NPS in Scotland (for example, updating school and population drug surveys and new systems for recording treatment data). Our new national integrated drug and alcohol system (DAISy), once developed, will also record data on NPS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:29.507","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294027,"EventID":"S4O-03165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:29.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Office for National Statistics, which shows that people living in Glasgow have the lowest life expectancy in the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities were presented with evidence that health and life expectancy in Scotland is increasing. Despite our best efforts though deeply ingrained health inequalities persist particularly in the West of Scotland.\r\nThe Office for National Statistics report reinforces the task force’s conclusion that this problem cannot be solved with health solutions alone. Health inequalities are caused by entrenched problems of social inequality.\r\nScottish Government is taking a long term approach through early intervention and prevention. However, we are concerned that this approach is being undermined by the UK Government’s cuts and welfare reforms. This government believes that only with independence can we create a fairer society where we can really get to the fundamental causes of Scotland’s ill health.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-04-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:29.773","MeetingDate":"2014-04-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294028,"EventID":"S4O-03166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:30.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:48.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider proposals to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in relation to the licensing of funfairs in light of the reported economic impact on showpeople.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:30.1","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294029,"EventID":"S4O-03167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:30.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:48.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact of the so-called bareboat tax on the North Sea oil and gas industry.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:30.32","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294030,"EventID":"S4O-03168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:30.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T11:54:00.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the long-term impact of the UK Government’s cap on welfare spending will be for older people in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:30.57","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294031,"EventID":"S4O-03169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:30.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:48.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local authorities that take on duties being given up by Police Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:30.803","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294032,"EventID":"S4O-03170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:31.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:36:35.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Police Scotland and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:31.053","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294033,"EventID":"S4O-03171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:31.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:49.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many tickets for the 2014 Commonwealth Games sportscotland will allocate to people involved in sports clubs across the country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:31.333","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294034,"EventID":"S4O-03172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:31.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:49.8","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve agricultural methods and yields.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:31.583","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294035,"EventID":"S4O-03173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:31.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-17T16:31:50.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers the actions of UK Government ministers at EU level are having on Scotland's farming and fishing industries.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:31.817","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294036,"EventID":"S4O-03174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:32.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T10:48:49.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place to allow the MV Loch Seaforth to berth should any problems arise with the newly fitted link-spans at the ports of Stornoway and UIlapool.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:32.037","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294037,"EventID":"S4O-03175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T14:42:32.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:23:10.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the appointment or re-appointment of the Judicial Complaints Reviewer.","AnswerText":"The current Judicial Complaints Reviewer, Moi Ali, informed me by letter dated 5 December 2013 that she does not wish to be reappointed when her term of office ends in August 2014. I am grateful to her for all the work that she has carried out in this role. I have asked my officials to begin the recruitment of a new Judicial Complaints Reviewer and this will commence shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T14:42:32.3","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294044,"EventID":"S4W-20777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:43.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T10:12:13.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of the Scottish Microbiology Forum's work to consider the centralisation of Scottish mycobacterial diagnostic services into a smaller number of laboratories.","AnswerText":"Published in 2011, the TB Action Plan for Scotland contains a recommendation for the Scottish Microbiology and Virology Network (SMVN, formerly the Scottish Microbiology Forum) to consider the centralisation of mycobacterial diagnostic services into a small number of laboratories with higher throughput and defined quality standards in laboratories in Scotland.\r\nThis has now been achieved. It has occurred through a natural evolution process and via facilitation by the work of the SMVN sub-group on mycobacterial services. All board TB laboratories in Scotland are accredited by Clinical Pathology Accreditation and have achieved external quality assurance results for TB culture and microscopy of 100% in 2012. In addition, Scottish TB laboratories have exceeded the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control target for 80% of all new pulmonary TB cases to be confirmed by culture.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:44.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294045,"EventID":"S4W-20805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:44.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:59:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to increase the availability of adult changing places since 2011.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the availability of changing places in buildings with public access. The Scottish Government’s new strategy for learning disability The keys to life recommends that 100 Changing Places be available by June 2015 and PAMIS has been commissioned to help make this happen. Since The Keys to life was published in June 2013 the number of changing places has increased from 85 to 92 in Scotland and there are a number waiting to be registered. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:44.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294046,"EventID":"S4W-20806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:44.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:59:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides subsidies to bodies looking to install adult changing places.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not provide such support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:44.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294047,"EventID":"S4W-20807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:45.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:59:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given consideration to making provision of adult changing places a requirement of large developments or transport hubs.","AnswerText":"There is a need for a national spread of changing places in public places in Scotland. Focusing on large developments is not the best way to achieve this. In the amended October 2013 Building Standards Technical Handbook – Non Domestic – Section 3.12, it acknowledges changing places as best practice and recommends a network of these facilities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:45.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294048,"EventID":"S4W-20808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:45.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:59:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of its agencies provide adult changing places.","AnswerText":"No Scottish Government agencies provide changing places. The aim is to develop a network of changing places in buildings which the public have routine access to. There is little benefit of changing places being located in office buildings where the public have no access.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:45.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294049,"EventID":"S4W-20809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:45.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-22T17:59:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to increase the provision of adult changing places in premises that it owns or operates.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not have any facilities that comply with the requirements of adult changing places in the premises that it owns or operates.\r\nThe need for this type of facility across the Scottish Government estate will be kept under review and any requirements identified will be considered as part of our programme of future works.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:45.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294050,"EventID":"S4W-20816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:46.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T13:20:25.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many foreign language assistants there have been in schools in each year since 2005.","AnswerText":"Since 2005 there has been a total of 1553 language assistants in Scottish schools. A breakdown of this figure is provided in the following table by each academic year since 2005. This number includes both local authority and independent schools.\r\nYear\r\nTotal\r\n2005-2006\r\n278\r\n2006-2007\r\n263\r\n2007-2008\r\n254\r\n2008-2009\r\n244\r\n2009-2010\r\n188\r\n2010-2011\r\n126\r\n2011-2012\r\n58\r\n2012-2013\r\n69\r\n2013-2014\r\n73\r\nTotal\r\n1553\r\nThe data for 2014-15 is not yet confirmed but initial indications suggest the number of language assistants will be around 100.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:46.067","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294051,"EventID":"S4W-20820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-23T16:42:46.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T14:16:22.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children or young people and (b) adults have been reported to procurators fiscal under section 105 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in each of the last three years, and how many were subsequently (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information relating to charges reported has been provided by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). There are many different forms of action that the Procurator Fiscal can take, including referral to the Children’s Reporter, Fiscal Fines, the imposition of Fiscal Work Orders and other alternatives to prosecution in court. The percentage of charges in which action was taken overall in relation to charges reported is: in 2010-11: 82%, 2011-12: 82% and 2012-13: 78%.\r\nTable 1. Number of charges reported1 to COPFS under Section 105 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, by age of accused.\r\n\r\nFinancial Year reported\r\nAge of accused\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n1. Under 18\r\n64\r\n57\r\n35\r\n2. 18 to 20\r\n149\r\n132\r\n74\r\n3. 21 and over\r\n162\r\n154\r\n144\r\nTotal\r\n375\r\n343\r\n253\r\n1. COPFS records the number of individual charges reported to it, not the numbers of cases containing a particular type of crime. A reported case can contain multiple charges of the same type against one or more offenders\r\n(i)(ii) Information in tables 2 and 3 relate to prosecutions and convictions and come from Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database.\r\nTable 2. People prosecuted for offences under section 105 of Licensing (Scotland) Act 20051, by age of accused\r\nAge of accused2\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n1. under 18\r\n1\r\n2\r\n1\r\n2. 18 to 20\r\n32\r\n25\r\n11\r\n3. 21 and over\r\n60\r\n39\r\n38\r\nTotal prosecuted3\r\n93\r\n66\r\n50\r\n\r\nTable 3. People convicted of offences under section 105 of Licensing (Scotland) Act 20051, by age of accused\r\nAge of accused2\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n1. under 18\r\n0\r\n2\r\n1\r\n2. 18 to 20\r\n30\r\n24\r\n11\r\n3. 21 and over\r\n59\r\n35\r\n38\r\nTotal convicted3\r\n89\r\n61\r\n50\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n2. The age of each person is calculated as at the date of sentence or acquittal. \r\n3. Court proceedings statistics are based on the year in which the person's case is disposed of. People are counted once for each occasion on which they are proceeded against. If a person is proceeded against more than once on the same day, each proceeding will be counted separately. Where a person is proceeded against for more than one crime or offence in a single proceeding, only the main charge is counted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-07T16:42:46.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294060,"EventID":"S4W-20821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:25.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T16:54:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Gypsy/Traveller sites have been set up in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect specific information on the number of Gypsy/Traveller sites set up each year since 1999. However from 1998 to 2009 the Scottish Government collected twice yearly data on the number of Gypsy/Traveller sites, their occupancy levels, and other related information. The following table shows the total number local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites in Scotland for each year from 1999 to 2009 (when the last count was carried out).\r\n\r\nYear\r\nTotal number of \r\nLocal Authority Gypsy/Traveller sites*\r\n1999\r\n\r\n35\r\n2000\r\n\r\n35\r\n2001\r\n\r\n35\r\n2002\r\n\r\n33\r\n2003\r\n\r\n34\r\n2004\r\n\r\n34\r\n2005\r\n\r\n33\r\n2006\r\n\r\n31\r\n2007\r\n\r\n32\r\n2008\r\n\r\n32\r\n2009\r\n\r\n31\r\n* Please note that local authority and Registered Social Landlord sites were counted together from 2007, and these numbers are those provided in the summer data collection for each year.\r\nWhile the information we hold gives a snapshot of the number of local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites each year, it does not provide figures on the number of new Gypsy/Traveller sites established by each local authority each year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:25.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294061,"EventID":"S4W-20822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:25.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T16:54:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many by-laws regarding camping in public places have been introduced in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority. \r\n","AnswerText":"Informal camping is a legitimate activity wherever statutory access rights apply, subject to responsible behaviour and any restrictions resulting from other legislation, including byelaws. Byelaws can also be used to restrict access rights in specific areas. This has happened in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park where the East Loch Lomond Camping Byelaws were introduced in 2011, and apply to areas on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. The Scottish Government is not aware of the introduction of any other byelaws regarding camping in public places.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:25.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294062,"EventID":"S4W-20823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:26.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T16:54:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides to local authorities regarding the setting up of Gypsy/Traveller sites.\r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent guidance on establishing Gypsy/Traveller sites is set out in the Guidance Notes on Site Provision for Travelling People, issued in 1997 by the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Scotland Travelling People. A copy of the guidance notes has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib number 55850.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:26.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294063,"EventID":"S4W-20824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:26.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T16:54:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Gypsy/Traveller sites it estimates are needed, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not estimate the number of Gypsy/Traveller sites to be provided by local authorities. However Scottish Planning Policy requires local authorities to consider the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers through their, Housing Needs and Demand Assessment (HNDA). A local authority should consider the results of their HNDA when preparing the development plan and local housing strategy for their area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:26.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294064,"EventID":"S4W-20825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:26.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in Scotland, whether it has made an assessment of the UK Government’s report on the gas leak from a platform in the Elgin-Franklin Field between March and May 2012, and what information it has on when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will make a decision on whether to take legal action.\r\n","AnswerText":"Although the regulation of health and safety is not a devolved matter, the Scottish Government were fully aware of the Elgin Gas Leak incident and co-operated with the UK government to minimise and monitor environmental impact and to plan for and assist in the response through Marine Scotland.\r\nReports from the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the incident have been submitted to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. A decision as to criminal proceedings will be taken following the conclusion of a full investigation, including consideration of those reports.\r\nAn offshore oil and gas industry with the highest standards of safety is vital to Scotland’s economic well-being. The Scottish Government will always work with all interested parties to ensure a rigorous and well-funded North Sea safety regime.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:26.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294065,"EventID":"S4W-20826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:26.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17189 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, what assessment it has made of how the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority’s recent review of the safety of helicopter operations will affect workers in the (a) offshore oil and gas and (b) helicopter industries.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) review will have a positive impact on the safety of offshore workers travelling to and from their place of work. With the oil and gas industry and the rest of the country we were shocked and saddened by the fatalities which have occurred and are determined that all appropriate lessons are learnt and implemented. We understand that some of the recommendations may be challenging for helicopter operators and are pleased that Oil and Gas UK and the CAA are having productive discussions on implementation of the review. The overall objective is to reduce the likelihood of accidents happening, and when accidents do occur to increase the likelihood of passengers and crew surviving. We would encourage everyone involved in this process to ensure that objective remains paramount.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:27.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294066,"EventID":"S4W-20827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:27.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason trade union representatives are not included in the membership of the Expert Ferry Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Membership of the Expert Ferry Group is on the basis of an individual’s knowledge and expertise rather than as a representative of a particular stakeholder group. Members of the Expert Ferry Group include key transport professionals, academics and operators of ferry services.\r\nThe work of the Expert Ferry Group will be in relation to strategic issues. It is open to members of the group to propose strategic issues for consideration by the group. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:27.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294067,"EventID":"S4W-20828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:27.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the interests of workers in the ferry industry are represented on the Expert Ferry Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20827 on 2 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:27.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294068,"EventID":"S4W-20829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:27.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent private operators from promoting their interests at the Expert Ferry Group, and whether members of the group can redact sections of official minutes of the group's meetings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Only one of the 10 members of the group is a private ferry operator. The other members cover a broad range of interests and are mostly drawn from the public or academic sectors.\r\nTransport Scotland provides secretariat support to the Expert Ferry Group and Transport Scotland prepare the minutes of the meeting of the group. Members of the group are asked to comment on and clear minutes prior to publication on the Transport Scotland website. Members cannot redact sections of the minutes of the group meetings.\r\nThe minutes are open and transparent and are published on the Transport Scotland website:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/expert-ferry-group\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:27.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294069,"EventID":"S4W-20830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:28.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the names of all former and current members of the Expert Ferry Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Details of the current members of the Expert Ferry Group can be found on the Transport Scotland website:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/expert-ferry-group\r\nProfessor Neil Kay was formerly a member of the Expert Ferry Group, however he resigned from the group in February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:28.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294070,"EventID":"S4W-20831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:28.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-23T17:24:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Expert Ferry Group has met; who attended the meetings, and whether it will publish the (a) draft and (b) final minutes of the meetings.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have now been two meetings of the Expert Ferry Group, with the next meeting scheduled for 14 May 2014. Minutes of each meeting, including details of who attended, are published on the Transport Scotland website:\r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/expert-ferry-group\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:28.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294071,"EventID":"S4W-20832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:28.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T09:53:28.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is its policy that all babies (a) in intensive care should be treated on a one-to-one basis and (b) requiring high dependency care should be treated on a one-to-two basis by a qualified in speciality neonatal nurse and, if so, what monitoring it undertakes to ensure that this policy is followed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework, published in 2013, states that all babies requiring intensive care should be cared for by staff who have completed accredited training in specialised neonatal care or who, while undertaking this training, are working under the supervision of a registered nurse who is qualified in specialty. A minimum of 1:1 staff-to-baby ratio will be provided at all times, although some babies may require a higher staff to baby ratio for a period of time.\r\nBabies requiring high dependency care will be cared for by staff who have completed accredited training in specialised neonatal care or who while undertaking this training are working under the supervision of a registered nurse who is qualified in specialty. A minimum of a 1:2 staff to baby ratio will be provided at all times although again some babies may also require a higher staff to baby ratio for a period of time.\r\nThese staffing ratios are in line with the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Service Standards for Hospitals Providing Neonatal Care (3rd edition, 2010).\r\nThe Scottish Government is fully committed to providing the people of Scotland with the NHS services which meet their needs and maintain high standards of care. While policies, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, it is for each NHS board to decide how best to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to meet the needs of their population. This includes how best to utilise funding and staff, taking account of national and local priorities, to meet local health needs and importantly provide high quality seamless care. We expect NHS boards to have robust processes in place to ensure the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care which is delivered by the right professional at the right time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:28.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294072,"EventID":"S4W-20834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:28.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T09:53:28.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is its policy that more than one nurse should always be assigned to a neonatal special care side room containing more than four babies and that registered nurses and non-registered clinical staff should always work under the direct supervision and responsibility of a qualified in speciality neonatal nurse and, if so, what monitoring it undertakes to ensure that this policy is followed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework, published in 2013, states that babies requiring special care should be cared for with a minimum of 1:4 staff to baby ratio at all times by either a registered nurse or non-registered staff with the appropriate competencies and skills, working under the supervision of a registered nurse, qualified in specialty. This staffing ratio is in line with the British Association of Perinatal Medicine Service Standards for Hospitals Providing Neonatal Care (3rd edition, 2010). \r\nThe Scottish Government is fully committed to providing the people of Scotland with the NHS services which meet their needs and maintain high standards of care. While policies, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, it is for each NHS board to decide how best to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to meet the needs of their population. This includes how best to utilise funding and staff, taking account of national and local priorities, to meet local health needs and importantly provide high quality seamless care. We expect NHS boards to have robust processes in place to ensure the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care which is delivered by the right professional at the right time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:28.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294073,"EventID":"S4W-20835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:29.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T09:53:28.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued regarding cases in which demand for neonatal intensive care facilities exceeds available resources.","AnswerText":"The Neonatal Care in Scotland: A Quality Framework, published in 2013, acknowledges that the transfer and admission of babies from other neonatal units’ networks may occur to deal with peaks of demand or requests for specialist care not available elsewhere.\r\nAll NHS board chief executives in Scotland have been asked to assure themselves that their neonatal units are staffed according to the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Service Standards for Hospitals Providing Neonatal Care (3rd edition, 2010) and that they are using the Scottish Government’s mandated neonatal workload and workforce planning tool twice daily to review dependency levels and staffing requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:29.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294074,"EventID":"S4W-20836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:29.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T09:56:41.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many fire-related fatalities there have been in residential premises in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government publishes long-term trend data on key fire statistics on an annual basis. The latest figures, containing trend data on the number of fatal casualties in primary fires by location for the financial years 1999-00 to 2012-13, were published as an additional dataset to the Fire Statistics Scotland 2012-13 publication (published 8 October 2013). The additional dataset can be found at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Datasets/FireStatCas .\r\nThe data provides the number of fire fatalities by building type. Whilst the recording category ‘residential premises’ does not exist within the Fire and Rescue Service’s Incident Recording System, the data reports the number of fatalities which occurred at ‘dwelling’ and ‘other building’ fires. These will include fire fatalities at residential premises. Whilst ‘dwelling’ fires are exclusively residential, ‘other building’ fires will include some fires at non-residential buildings. As such, it cannot be assumed that all fatalities in ‘other building’ fires occurred in residential premises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:29.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294075,"EventID":"S4W-20837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:29.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:17.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds regarding the membership of the Confederation of British Industry, broken down by (a) public bodies, (b) organisations receiving public funds and (c) other bodies.","AnswerText":"Five Scottish public bodies were members of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI): Visit Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. All resigned following the registration of the CBI as a permitted participant in the upcoming referendum.\r\nWhile Universities are not public bodies media reports suggest that Heriot-Watt, Highlands and Islands, Aberdeen, Glasgow Caledonian, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Strathclyde resigned their membership of the CBI. Media reports also indicate that The Law Society of Scotland, Aquamarine Power, the Balhousie Care Group and STV have also resigned. The BBC issued a statement confirming that it had suspended its membership during the registration period.\r\nThe CBI news release of 25 April 2014, which confirmed that it has asked the Electoral Commission to nullify its registration, also states that it has 190,000 members across the UK of which 1,200 are registered and operating in Scotland. No further information is held about the membership of the .\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:29.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294076,"EventID":"S4W-20838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:29.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20524 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, for what reason the costs for the Argyll Ferries Ltd public service contract have risen compared with the figures provided in response to question S4W-08559 in 2012.","AnswerText":"A number of revisions have been made to the financial base case of the contract with Argyll Ferries Ltd. These changes are all in accordance with the provisions of that contract:\r\nSPT have reduced the level of grant payable for the carriage of concessionary card holders.\r\nFunding was provided for training to meet the requirements of the EU regulation on maritime passenger rights.\r\nA bus replacement service has been introduced to improve the resilience of the service when it is affected by bad weather.\r\nThe MV Argyll Flyer has been made the lead vessel, again in order to improve the resilience of the service;\r\nPassenger numbers have fallen against the forecasts underpinning Argyll Ferries’ initial basecase.\r\nAdditional services have been provided on the Saturday of the Cowal Games.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:29.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294077,"EventID":"S4W-20839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:30.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20487 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, how many passengers the MV Coruisk carried on the 28 occasions.\r\n","AnswerText":"477.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:30.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294078,"EventID":"S4W-20840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:30.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the (a) costs to Argyll Ferries Ltd and (b) net costs to Transport Scotland of the MV Coruisk's deployment on the Gourock to Dunoon route.","AnswerText":"The cost of the MV Coruisk’s deployment on the Gourock to Dunoon route in winter 2013-14 was (a) £658,000 to Argyll Ferries Ltd and (b) £142,000 net costs to Transport Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:30.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294079,"EventID":"S4W-20841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:30.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the lay-up costs were of the MV Coruisk for the 2012-13 winter period.","AnswerText":"The lay-up costs for the MV Coruisk for the 2012-13 winter period, December 2012 to March 2013, were £379,000. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:30.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294080,"EventID":"S4W-20842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:31.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that the replacement bus service will continue to operate between Gourock and Dunoon using the Western Ferries service when the Argyll Ferries Ltd service is suspended for the remainder of the contract.","AnswerText":"The replacement bus service will continue to be provided by Argyll Ferries Ltd under their current contract with the Scottish Ministers for as long this is required for the maintenance of a resilient public service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:31.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294081,"EventID":"S4W-20843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:31.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:33:44.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) scheduled sailings, (b) sailings completed on schedule, (c) sailings cancelled due to weather conditions and (d) sailings cancelled due to technical issues there were on Scottish Government-subsidised ferry services between 19 December 2013 and 11 March 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Please see the information below for services subsidised by the Scottish Government through the Clyde and Hebrides, Northern Isles and Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Services contracts:\r\nscheduled sailings\r\n30,536\r\nsailings completed on schedule\r\n29,969\r\n\r\nSailings cancelled due to weather conditions\r\n2,249\r\nSailings cancelled due to technical issues\r\n177\r\nIn addition, 1,095 scheduled sailings were completed but were late and 46 scheduled sailings were cancelled for reasons other than weather conditions or technical issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:31.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294082,"EventID":"S4W-20844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T13:54:31.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T11:40:03.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20487 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, on how many of the 28 occasions that the MV Coruisk was used the MV Ali Cat and the MV Argyll Flyer were both unable to operate.","AnswerText":"28.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T13:54:31.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294083,"EventID":"S4W-20845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T16:45:42.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T14:17:44.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17748 by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 November 2013, whether it will publish the (a) monthly and (a) quarterly data collected by the local authorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data collected from local authorities on a monthly and quarterly basis is used to monitor HEEPS: ABS delivery by Scottish Government officials. This monitoring process provides assurances that projects are proceeding on the basis agreed between the Scottish Government and local authorities. In the event that projects run into difficulties, that funding can be quickly re-allocated between projects or across local authorities.\r\nGiven the flexible nature of HEEPS projects we do not publish monthly or quarterly progress data. In May 2013 we advised local authorities that HEEPS: ABS funding for 2013-14 did not need to be spent by local authorities until the end of September 2014, in line with standard financial practice with projects of this nature. This means that full details on what have been delivered via HEEPS: ABS funding will not be known until after the end of September 2014. The publication of final outcomes for 2013-14 will then follow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T16:45:43.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294084,"EventID":"S4W-20846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-24T16:45:44.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T14:17:44.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change its definition of fuel poverty.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no plans to change the definition of fuel poverty in Scotland. In its final report on the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty strategy, published in March 2014, the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum recommended “that the definition currently used in Scotland is still relevant, but that it needs to be reviewed and updated to reflect a more accurate assessment of the energy demands with in homes in a modern age.”\r\nResearch into the robustness of the assumptions underpinning the current definition of fuel poverty was commissioned by the Scottish Government on behalf of the Fuel Poverty Forum and members of the forum are currently considering the results of this research and will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers in due course. The four assumptions being considered are the heating regime, the definition of vulnerability, the treatment of under-occupancy and the definition of household income.\r\nThe forum led on the research and is responsible for the final report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-09T16:45:44.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294096,"EventID":"S4W-20849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:45.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:47:06.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Government staff costs for 2013-14 increased from £149.9 million at the time of the autumn budget revision to £164.8 million at the time of the spring budget revision and whether it will provide a breakdown of the increase.\r\n","AnswerText":"The majority of the increase in Scottish Government staff costs in the 2013-14 spring budget revision was offset by changes to other parts of the administration budget: £5.2 million of gross expenditure was offset by income, mainly funding for outward secondments; and £5.5 million reflected transfers from other level 3 budgets within the overall administration total. The net increase was therefore only £4.2 million, which relates to costs of activity taking place within the organisation funded from programme budgets as set out in the following table.\r\nPortfolio\r\nActivity\r\nFESG\r\nLocal government data collection\r\nIIC\r\nSupport for public sector data linkage framework\r\nCEA\r\nTransfer of Historic Scotland staff to core Scottish Government\r\nELL\r\nDelivery of the Early Years Change Programme and IT support costs for Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration\r\nHealth and Wellbeing\r\nRollout of Family Nurse Partnerships and Integration of Adult Health and Social Care, the development of the National Confidential Forum for adult survivors of in care abuse, analytical support for NHS programmes, work with NHS and delivery partners to improve standards of care and compassion for vulnerable adults and older people, integration of support for outcomes in children’s health\r\nJustice\r\nSupport for action to tackle sectarianism and IT support costs for public bodies in the Justice portfolio\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:45.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294097,"EventID":"S4W-20860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:46.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the modelling for its childcare policy in an independent Scotland does not differentiate between gender and, in light of women having both lower average pay and working fewer hours per week, whether if it will carry out further modelling based solely on the impact on women.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government modelled the impacts of increased female participation using a detailed Computable General Equilibrium model of the Scottish economy. CGE models are widely used for dynamic policy modelling by many national governments and international organisations.\r\nMany women work less hours and earn less than men precisely because of current or previous childcare commitments. This only reinforces the argument for the transformational change in the provision of childcare proposed in Scotland’s Future. When fully implemented, universal childcare entitlement would represent a fundamental change in the choices and opportunities women with young children face in the labour market, providing clear social and economic benefits. \r\nChanges in the labour market have the potential to happen relatively quickly. The latest available breakdown of the employment figures by the working pattern shows that over the year between October to December 2013, the number of women in full-time employment rose by 48,000 whilst part-time employment increased by 17,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:46.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294098,"EventID":"S4W-20861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:46.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) briefing 14/26, Early Learning and Childcare, that its proposal to provide 1,140 hours of childcare per year to all pre-school children in an independent Scotland would cost approximately £1.2 billion.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20630 on 2 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:46.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294099,"EventID":"S4W-20862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:46.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates its proposal to provide 1,140 hours of childcare per year to all pre-school children in an independent Scotland would cost, and when it last calculated this figure.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20629 on 2 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:46.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294100,"EventID":"S4W-20863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:46.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03099 by Angela Constance on 2 April 2014, as its paper, Childcare and female labour market participation, states that, to match Swedish participation rates, an additional 104,000 women would need to enter the workforce, how long it would take its proposed childcare policy to get this amount of additional women into employment, and, as only 64,000 women with young children are considered economically inactive, what further action would be required.\r\n","AnswerText":"Boosting childcare has the potential to transform the labour market in Scotland and to greatly increase the choices and opportunities available to current and future parents. While the immediate benefit of the policy will accrue to economically inactive parents, especially women, who currently have young children, the long-term policy impacts are not limited to this group.\r\nThe difference in male and female economic activity rates persists for parents whose children are over the age of five. There is a gender gap of over eight percentage points in the activity rates for parents with children aged 12 to 18. This is a consequence, in part, of the time that many women take out of the labour market due to childcare responsibilities and the widely acknowledged difficulties and lack of choice they often face in returning to work. By improving participation rates for women with children aged one to five, a transformational childcare policy could therefore over time increase participation rates among women with children of all ages.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:46.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294101,"EventID":"S4W-20864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:46.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many of the estimated 64,000 economically inactive women in Scotland with young children would like to work.\r\n","AnswerText":"Boosting childcare has the potential to transform the labour market in Scotland and to greatly increase the choices and opportunities available to current and future parents. While the immediate benefit of the policy will accrue to economically inactive parents, especially women, who currently have young children, the long-term policy impacts are not limited to this group. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20863 on 12 May 2014 for further detail. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. Summary results from the Annual Population Survey 2013 are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/05/4201\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:46.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294102,"EventID":"S4W-20866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:47.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much additional tax revenue would be raised in an independent Scotland if (a) 14,000 and (b) 64,000 economically inactive women with young children entered the workforce.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government publication ‘Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis’ estimated the impact on tax revenues of increases in female participation under three different scenarios:\r\nAn increase in two percentage points in female activity, equivalent to 35,000 of women becoming active in the labour market is estimated to increase annual tax revenues by £200 million in the long-term.\r\nMatching Norwegian female participation rate would be equivalent to 68,000 more economically active women. It is estimated that this could increase annual tax revenues by approximately £400 million in the long run.\r\nMatching the Swedish female participation rate, equivalent to an additional 104,000 economically active women, is estimated to raise £700 million in annual revenues in the long-term.\r\nThe full report is available from\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00441783.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:47.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294103,"EventID":"S4W-20868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:47.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T17:17:49.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03099 by Angela Constance on 2 April 2014, whether it has carried out economic modelling on providing 1,140 hours of childcare for (a) half of two-year-olds and all three and four-year-olds and (b) all children aged one to four, and, if so, whether it will publish this.\r\n","AnswerText":"By the end of the first Parliament, vulnerable two years olds and all three and four years olds will be entitled to 1,140 hours of childcare a year. In the longer term, the Scottish Government plans to provide 1,140 hours of childcare a year to all children from age one until they start school. Once fully operational, the Scottish Government estimates that around 240,000 children and 212,000 families will benefit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:47.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294104,"EventID":"S4W-20869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:47.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with officials from Aberdeen City Council in advance of the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014.","AnswerText":"Regular meetings have taken place between officials from Transport Scotland and Aberdeen City Council since April 2013 to discuss the Haudagain Improvement scheme which included the public exhibitions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:47.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294105,"EventID":"S4W-20870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:47.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the booking of the Lord Provost Henry E Rae Community Centre was made for the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014 and whether it was made by means of contact with Aberdeen City Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"Aberdeen City Council officials booked the community centre for the Haudagain exhibitions on behalf of Transport Scotland on 20 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:47.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294106,"EventID":"S4W-20871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:48.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any correspondence from members of Aberdeen City Council administration in relation to the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014.","AnswerText":"Aside from two local councillors accepting our invitation to attend the exhibition, no correspondence has been received from elected members of Aberdeen City Council in relation to the public exhibitions. \r\nRegular meetings have taken place between officials from Transport Scotland and Aberdeen City Council since April 2013 to discuss the Haudagain improvement scheme which included the public exhibitions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:48.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294107,"EventID":"S4W-20872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:48.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it received prior confirmation from Aberdeen City Council that council officials would attend the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Council officials had agreed to attend the public exhibitions to discuss the Middlefield regeneration programme and assisted in distributing posters and leaflets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:48.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294108,"EventID":"S4W-20873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:48.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when Aberdeen City Council advised it that council officials would not attend the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland were advised by telephone on 17 April 2014 that Aberdeen City Council officials would not attend the exhibitions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:48.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294109,"EventID":"S4W-20874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T13:52:48.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T09:12:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the notification that Aberdeen City Council officials would not attend the public exhibition of the Haudagain improvement proposals on 24-25 April 2014 was issued by a council official or an elected member.","AnswerText":"Notification was given by Aberdeen City Council officials.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T13:52:48.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294118,"EventID":"S4W-20876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-25T15:44:20.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T15:22:08.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government's proposed Infrastructure Bill, which is to include provision aimed at allowing companies to run shale gas pipelines under private land, will apply to Scotland and, if so, what the Scottish Government's position would be on legislative consent for devolved aspects.","AnswerText":"While the licensing of onshore oil and gas is generally a reserved matter for the UK Government, we understand that the Infrastructure Bill has not been yet been introduced to the UK Parliament. Therefore, the Scottish Government will not be able come to a definitive view on reserved or devolved aspects until we have had sight of the draft provisions contained therein.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-12T15:44:21.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294131,"EventID":"S4W-20854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:20.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £100,000 was reallocated from the finance, employment and sustainable growth portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:21.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294132,"EventID":"S4W-20855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:21.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £200,000 was reallocated from the investment and cities portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:21.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294133,"EventID":"S4W-20856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:22.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £400,000 was reallocated from the culture and external affairs portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:22.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294134,"EventID":"S4W-20857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:22.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £2.1 million was reallocated from the education and lifelong learning portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:22.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294135,"EventID":"S4W-20858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:22.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £1 million was reallocated from the health and wellbeing portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:22.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294136,"EventID":"S4W-20859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:22.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:54:11.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £400,000 was reallocated from the justice portfolio to the administration budget at the 2013-14 spring budget revision.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20849 on 12 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:22.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294137,"EventID":"S4W-20877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:22.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much its proposed Edinburgh-Glasgow high-speed rail line would cost to build, and whether it will provide details of the expected (a) capital and operating costs, (b) line capacity, (c) stations services would call at and (d) maximum speed of services.\r\n","AnswerText":"Costs for the proposed Edinburgh-Glasgow high-speed rail line are in development, as are the details of capacity and service specifications. It is clear, however, that the case for and the detail of a high speed line between Edinburgh and Glasgow is dependent upon how HS2 is extended to Scotland beyond the current end-points of Leeds and Manchester. I announced in November 2013 the joint study with the Department for Transport on bringing HS2 to Scotland. My officials are fully engaged in that work, which will report in autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:22.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294138,"EventID":"S4W-20878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:23.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, what tax reliefs it would need to abolish to raise the \"target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term\" set out on page xiii of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:23.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294139,"EventID":"S4W-20879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:23.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, other than the shares for rights scheme and married couple’s tax allowance, what tax reliefs it would streamline.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:23.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294140,"EventID":"S4W-20880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:23.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, what measures it would introduce to tackle tax avoidance, and how much additional revenue these would raise.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government plans to introduce a simple and transparent tax system after independence designed to minimise the opportunities for tax avoidance that have been exposed in the UK system, which mean that too many individual and corporate taxpayers do not pay their fair share of taxes. As set out on page 121 of Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, over the course of the first independent parliament, the Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland will work together to simplify the tax system to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce tax avoidance, with a target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term.\r\nThe Scottish Government is determined to act decisively on avoidance of devolved taxes. The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill which is currently before Parliament contains powers which will enable Revenue Scotland to take robust action to counteract tax avoidance, including the introduction of a general anti-avoidance rule for the devolved taxes. The Scottish Government will seek to replicate this approach in developing a Scottish tax system following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:23.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294141,"EventID":"S4W-20881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:23.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how it calculated the \"target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term\" set out on page xiii of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8681.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:23.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294142,"EventID":"S4W-20882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:24.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, at what rate it would set married couple's tax allowance; how many couples would benefit, and what the average annual benefit would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20019 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:24.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294143,"EventID":"S4W-20883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:24.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:55:04.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Scotland spends annually on international development, expressed as a proportion of the UK's spend.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK Government has published figures for both Scottish Government and UK Government official development assistance over the last two years. These show the Scottish Government’s spend as a proportion of the UK Government’s and are available at the attached link:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300084/Prov-ODA-GNI-2013a.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:24.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294144,"EventID":"S4W-20884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:24.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:58:41.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, how much it would cost to (a) set up and (b) operate annually its proposed (i) national regulatory authority for energy, (ii) fair work commission, (iii) financial regulator, (iv) independent fiscal commission, (v) energy fund, (vi)  motor services agency, (vii) pensions regulator, (viii) regulator for postal services, (ix) security and intelligence agency, (x) defence headquarters, (xi) asylum agency and (xii) borders and migration service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The transition to independence provides a significant opportunity to improve and invest in public service delivery in Scotland.\r\nScottish taxpayers already contribute to UK expenditure on reserved functions. The elected government of an independent Scotland will have control over all public expenditure in Scotland and will be able to take spending decisions which reflect the priorities, needs and wishes of the Scottish people.\r\nThe size of the one-off investment in systems and processes as a result of the transition to independence will be a small proportion of an independent Scotland’s total budget. Further information is available on page 345 of Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:24.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294145,"EventID":"S4W-20895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:24.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-25T16:58:41.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, how much it would cost Police Scotland to take on the functions currently carried out by the (a) British Transport Police, (b) Ministry of Defence Police and (c) Civil Nuclear Constabulary.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are ensuring that preparations are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition in the event of Scottish independence. Where appropriate this includes consideration of the transfer of functions to Scottish authorities.\r\nThe transition to independence provides a significant opportunity to improve and invest in public service delivery in Scotland.\r\nScottish taxpayers already contribute to UK expenditure on reserved functions. The elected government of an independent Scotland will have control over all public expenditure in Scotland and will be able to take spending decisions which reflect the priorities, needs and wishes of the Scottish people.\r\nFurther information is available on page 502 of Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:24.82","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294146,"EventID":"S4W-20897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:25.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T10:38:26.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s assertion that the case has been made for the abolition of corroboration, for what reason the review group led by Lord Bonomy cannot be allowed to consider this case as part of its review into safeguards against miscarriages of justice.","AnswerText":"Parliament approved the general principles of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, including the removal of the corroboration requirement, at the Bill’s Stage 1 on 27 February 2014.\r\nIn establishing Lord Bonomy’s review on additional safeguards, and in agreeing to the proposal by opposition parties to begin Stage 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill after Lord Bonomy reports, the Government acknowledged the legitimate concerns raised about how the Scottish criminal justice system will work without the requirement. Lord Bonomy’s work is specifically focused upon assessing what additional safeguards and changes to Scots criminal law and practice may be needed following abolition of the corroboration requirement. A review of the role of the requirement has already been carried out by Lord Carloway.\r\nThe government continues to regard abolition of the requirement as the essential removal of a barrier to justice for many victims of crime, especially offences committed in private.  It also considers that the experience of every other jurisdiction comparable to Scotland clearly demonstrates that a general requirement for corroboration is not an essential feature of a modern legal system.\r\nThe government considers that there is consequently no need to modify Lord Bonomy’s remit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:25.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294147,"EventID":"S4W-20898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:25.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T10:38:26.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the review group led by Lord Bonomy has enough time to consider the abolition of corroboration as it is due to report in April 2015.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20897 on 8 May 2014. As Lord Bonomy’s review will not be asked to consider the abolition of the general requirement for corroboration in Scots criminal law, the issue does not arise.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:25.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294148,"EventID":"S4W-20899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T13:44:25.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T10:38:26.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with the review group led by Lord Bonomy regarding the possibility of extending its remit to consider the case for abolition of corroboration, and what effect this would have on the group's timetable.\r\n","AnswerText":"No discussion has occurred. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20897 on 8 May 2014. \r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T13:44:25.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294149,"EventID":"S4T-00678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:42.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T11:27:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a recent study that indicates that the reduction in staffed hospital beds in Scotland is happening at one of the fastest rates in the developed world.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:42.793","MeetingDate":"2014-04-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294152,"EventID":"S4F-02047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:19.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T09:23:02.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:19.463","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294153,"EventID":"S4F-02050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:20.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T09:49:55.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government is having with the Scottish Qualifications Authority regarding the future funding of the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:20.773","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294154,"EventID":"S4F-02053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:21.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T10:47:33.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister, following the publication of the Mortonhall Investigation, how the Scottish Government plans to support parents and families affected.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:21.883","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294155,"EventID":"S4F-02065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:26.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T11:49:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what recent contact he has had with the UK Government regarding an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:26.64","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294167,"EventID":"S4W-20851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T16:52:25.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:39:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children and (b) adults have type (i) 1 and (ii) 2 diabetes, and how many new cases have been diagnosed in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Not all of the information requested in this question is held centrally.\r\nData on the number of new cases diagnosed in each of the last four years broken down by NHS board is published annually within the Scottish Diabetes Survey. The most recent report containing data from 2012 can be accessed at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx?catId=3\r\nInformation on the number of (a) children and (b) adults with type (a) 1 and type (b) 2 diabetes broken down by NHS board is not held centrally. However information on the total number of people (all ages combined) broken down by NHS board is available at the above link.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T16:52:25.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294168,"EventID":"S4W-20852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T16:52:26.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-24T16:39:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children and (b) adults with type (i) 1 and (ii) 2 diabetes have undergone amputation as a result of their condition in each of the last four years, also expressed per 1,000 of people with diabetes, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not centrally held in the format requested.\r\nInformation on the total number of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes per health board who have ever had a lower limb amputation is published annually within the Scottish Diabetes Survey.\r\nThe survey also contains data on the number of people with diabetes ever having had a major lower limb amputation broken down by year.\r\nThe most recent report containing data from 2012 can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx?catId=3 \r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T16:52:26.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294169,"EventID":"S4W-20900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T16:52:26.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T15:00:12.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of common agricultural policy funding distributed by each Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area office in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The quinquennial breakdown of common agricultural policy funding by each Rural Payment and Inspections Directorate area office is in the following tables that should be read in conjunction with the following explanatory comments.\r\n‘Highlands and Islands’ has been taken to mean all the parishes within the geographical boundary of the Highlands and Island constituency of The Scottish Parliament.\r\n“…the last five years…” has been taken to mean the most recent five years for which data is available, which for expenditure funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund ends in 2013 and for the European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development ends in 2014.\r\nThe level of common agricultural funding varies according to the source of funding. Direct payments are fully funded (100%) from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, whereas rural development funding from European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development involves a co-financing arrangement between the European Commission and The Scottish Government. \r\n\r\nExpenditure\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£2,063,169.21\r\n£1,802,368.31\r\n£1,855,164.60\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£222,607.24\r\n£388,042.11\r\n£430,569.73\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£502,255.74\r\n£388,044.12\r\n£430,570.74\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£2,788,032.19\r\n£2,578,454.54\r\n£2,716,305.07\r\nBenbecula\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,639,896.29\r\n£1,515,214.08\r\n£1,527,477.94\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£455,221.31\r\n£1,022,232.68\r\n£1,059,266.36\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£1,158,722.95\r\n£1,022,237.49\r\n£1,059,270.26\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£3,253,840.55\r\n£3,559,684.25\r\n£3,646,014.56\r\nElgin\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£18,063,327.39\r\n£17,204,533.09\r\n£17,311,371.24\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£1,103,243.45\r\n£2,645,876.56\r\n£3,538,701.20\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£2,490,612.38\r\n£2,645,879.56\r\n£3,525,669.20\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£21,657,183.22\r\n£22,496,289.21\r\n£24,375,741.64\r\nGolspie\r\nGuarantee/AGF Expenditure\r\n£3,967,209.79\r\n£3,702,052.99\r\n£3,779,045.82\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£767,597.75\r\n£1,932,651.34\r\n£2,687,240.30\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£1,536,572.25\r\n£1,932,655.44\r\n£2,687,262.75\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£6,271,379.79\r\n£7,567,359.77\r\n£9,153,548.87\r\nInverness\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£25,060,626.24\r\n£23,276,655.42\r\n£23,495,703.51\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£2,291,896.85\r\n£6,152,501.25\r\n£8,609,461.02\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£5,356,337.58\r\n£6,152,505.15\r\n£8,599,502.39\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£32,708,860.67\r\n£35,581,661.82\r\n£40,704,666.92\r\n\r\n\r\nExpenditure\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n2014\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,721,387.22\r\n£1,732,368.63\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£478,761.82\r\n£502,073.84\r\n£391,420.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£199,659.20\r\n£613,347.78\r\n£269,471.71\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£2,399,808.24\r\n£2,847,790.25\r\n£660,891.71\r\nBenbecula\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,420,383.51\r\n£1,469,167.64\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£1,388,205.34\r\n£1,156,853.41\r\n£1,310,413.17\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£590,014.03\r\n£1,170,505.27\r\n£758,250.87\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£3,398,602.88\r\n£3,796,526.32\r\n£2,068,664.04\r\nElgin\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£15,690,614.10\r\n£15,913,391.21\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£4,145,248.69\r\n£2,794,445.02\r\n£2,566,943.22\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£1,807,926.71\r\n£3,137,246.76\r\n£1,592,933.23\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£21,643,789.50\r\n£21,845,082.99\r\n£4,159,876.45\r\nGolspie\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£3,524,511.25\r\n£3,644,130.10\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£3,684,964.20\r\n£2,904,844.68\r\n£1,640,380.22\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£1,567,106.33\r\n£2,700,581.79\r\n£982,269.39\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£8,776,581.78\r\n£9,249,556.57\r\n£2,622,649.61\r\n\r\nInverness\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£21,815,178.06\r\n£22,366,296.63\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£12,469,740.86\r\n£7,252,320.14\r\n£6,611,627.31\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£5,308,494.41\r\n£7,594,175.49\r\n£3,973,554.82\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£39,593,413.33\r\n£37,212,792.26\r\n£10,585,182.13\r\n\r\n\r\nExpenditure\r\nTotal of all\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£9,174,457.97\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£2,413,474.74\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£2,403,349","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T16:52:26.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294170,"EventID":"S4W-20901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T16:52:26.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T15:00:12.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid in grants and subsidies by each Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area office in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decennial breakdown of grants and subsidies by each Rural Payment and Inspection Directorate Area office is in the following tables that should be read in conjunction with the following explanatory comments.\r\n‘Highlands and Islands’ has been taken to mean all the parishes within the geographical boundary of the Highlands and Island constituency of The Scottish Parliament.\r\n“…the last ten years…” has been taken to mean the most recent ten years for which data is available, which for expenditure funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) ends in 2013 and for the European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development ends in 2014.\r\nThe level of common agricultural funding varies according to the source of funding. Direct payments are fully funded (100%) from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, whereas rural development funding from European Fund for Agricultural Rural Development involves a co-financing arrangement between the European Commission and the Scottish Government. \r\n \r\nExpenditure\r\n2004\r\n2005\r\n2006\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,370,231.00\r\n£1,481,530.56\r\n£1,859,773.98\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£368,322.48\r\n£368,818.63\r\n£386,994.30\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£1,738,553.48\r\n£1,850,349.19\r\n£2,246,768.28\r\nBenbecula\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,862,677.68\r\n£1,757,336.77\r\n£1,942,579.97\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£780,164.82\r\n£815,113.60\r\n£864,213.11\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£2,642,842.50\r\n£2,572,450.37\r\n£2,806,793.08\r\nElgin\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£14,981,505.62\r\n£14,667,546.72\r\n£16,495,743.03\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n £0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£2,054,527.69\r\n£2,116,751.16\r\n£2,094,400.46\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£17,036,033.31\r\n£16,784,297.88\r\n£18,590,143.49\r\nGolspie\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£2,993,685.82\r\n£3,012,125.61\r\n£3,417,501.65\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£962,177.34\r\n£964,031.73\r\n£941,617.43\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£3,955,863.16\r\n£3,976,157.34\r\n£4,359,119.08\r\nInverness\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£22,246,370.62\r\n£22,447,628.83\r\n£22,691,919.25\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n£0.00\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£4,496,049.58\r\n£4,644,027.16\r\n£4,539,380.39\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£26,742,420.20\r\n£27,091,655.99\r\n£27,231,299.64\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nExpenditure\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,645,971.24\r\n£2,146,400.73\r\n£2,063,169.21\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£212,911.00\r\n£186,916.08\r\n£222,607.24\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£358,792.26\r\n£524,118.75\r\n£502,255.74\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£2,217,674.50\r\n£2,857,435.56\r\n£2,788,032.19\r\n\r\nBenbecula\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,275,542.82\r\n£1,362,057.41\r\n£1,639,896.29\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£756,478.00\r\n£359,490.23\r\n£455,221.31\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£673,273.36\r\n£1,024,315.75\r\n£1,158,722.95\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£2,705,294.18\r\n£2,745,863.39\r\n£3,253,840.55\r\n\r\nElgin\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£16,046,554.58\r\n£17,035,396.30\r\n£18,063,327.39\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£1,507,602.00\r\n£902,183.93\r\n£1,103,243.45\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£2,187,085.57\r\n£2,558,709.60\r\n£2,490,612.38\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£19,741,242.15\r\n£20,496,289.83\r\n£21,657,183.22\r\n\r\nGolspie\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£3,164,370.91\r\n£3,919,893.17\r\n£3,967,209.79\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£609,635.00\r\n£470,291.57\r\n£767,597.75\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£880,821.18\r\n£1,331,970.52\r\n£1,536,572.25\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£4,654,827.09\r\n£5,722,155.26\r\n£6,271,379.79\r\n\r\nInverness\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£20,577,658.86\r\n£23,917,311.58\r\n£25,060,626.24\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£2,861,167.00\r\n£1,912,781.34\r\n£2,291,896.85\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£3,824,473.32\r\n£5,400,339.63\r\n£5,356,337.58\r\n\r\nTOTALS\r\n£27,263,299.18\r\n£31,230,432.55\r\n£32,708,860.67\r\n\r\n\r\nExpenditure\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n\r\nAyr\r\nGuarantee/EAGF Expenditure\r\n£1,802,368.31\r\n£1,855,164.60\r\n£1,721,387.22\r\n\r\nGuidance/rural Development Expenditure\r\n£388,042.11\r\n£430,569.73\r\n£478,761.82\r\n\r\nDomestic\r\n£388,044.12\r\n£430,570.74\r\n£199,659.20\r\n\r","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T16:52:26.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294171,"EventID":"S4W-20902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T16:52:26.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T15:00:12.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate has carried out forecasting in the last five years on potential changes to local area grant and subsidy distribution from each local area office in the Highlands and Islands.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate is not responsible for economic analysis. A specialised division of the Scottish Government, Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) handles this work.\r\nRESAS, in conjunction with The James Hutton Institute, undertook a scenario analysis in April 2013 that identified examples of the outcomes of using region and budget combinations to define payment rates for the Basic Payment Scheme in Scotland from 2015. The resultant paper sets out summary results from all of the scenarios that were modelled for the regionalisation of the Basic Payment Scheme in Scotland. There are 30 in total, and each is comprised of: a different way of defining regions; a given number of regions; and a different way of allocating regional budgets. Subsequent analysis has examined preferred scenarios alongside other aspects of the reform including the reduced budget, coupled payments and redistributive payments.\r\nThe impact of the various scenarios are shown separately for ‘Highland’, ‘Elieanan an Iar’, ‘Orkney’ and ‘Shetland’. The analysis can be accessed using the following links: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/CAP/regulations/Meetings-2013/Future-CAP-Scenarios-Analysis-Summaries; \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/CAP/regulations\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T16:52:26.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294172,"EventID":"S4W-20904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:12.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T17:05:53.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-06481 by John Swinney on 17 April 2012, whether it remains committed to introducing a local income tax or whether it is now considering other options to replace the council tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"This Government is committed to consult with others to develop options for a fairer and more progressive local tax, based on the ability to pay, later in this Parliament. All potential alternative proposals that meet the criteria will be considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:12.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294173,"EventID":"S4W-20905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:12.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T17:05:53.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-06481 by John Swinney on 17 April 2012, whom it has consulted regarding a fairer local tax and what potential alternative approaches to the council tax it has considered.\r\n","AnswerText":"This government is committed to consult with others to develop options for a fairer and more progressive local tax later in this Parliament. All potential alternative approaches that met this criteria will be considered as this work is progressed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:12.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294174,"EventID":"S4W-20906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:13.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T09:30:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when all three Clyde Marine Protected Areas will be designated and whether they will exclude dredgers and trawlers to protect vulnerable habitats and white fish nursery grounds.","AnswerText":"We aim to make decisions in summer 2014 on which of the 33 possible Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) included in the 2013 consultation should be designated. The 33 possible MPAs include three in the Clyde.\r\nThe management of MPAs will be informed by the conservation objectives for each site and recommendations from our scientific advisers on how to protect the features for which the MPAs are designated. The draft management options that were published as part of the public consultation provided further information on a range of possible protection measures for the three Clyde MPA proposals. These measures are being refined and developed by Marine Scotland in discussion with marine users and other interests. \r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:13.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294175,"EventID":"S4W-20907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:13.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T10:36:01.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Grampian patients have (a) been offered and (b) received treatment from NHS boards outwith Scotland in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"Information is not available centrally on how many NHS Grampian residents have been offered treatment outwith NHS Grampian or on how many NHS Grampian residents received treatment outwith Scotland.\r\nInformation, although limited is however available on NHS Grampian patients who had elective treatments in other health board areas within Scotland over the last five years to the end of 2013 and the number of patients who had elective treatment within NHS Grampian for the same period is shown in the following table.\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013p\r\nPatients treated in other Health Board areas\r\n971\r\n1,178\r\n1,354\r\n1,501\r\n1,418\r\nPatients treated within NHS Grampian\r\n41,448\r\n42,248\r\n47,426\r\n47,300\r\n49,290\r\nSource: ISD Scotland acute hospital records SMR01\r\np 2013 figures provisional and the data is for booked patients only \r\nThe number of patients having elective treatment in NHS Grampian increased by 7,802 between 2009 and 2013. The number of Grampian patients having elective treatment in other NHS boards in Scotland is under 3% and this includes patients going for highly specialised treatment to Glasgow and Edinburgh.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:13.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294176,"EventID":"S4W-20908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:13.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T10:36:01.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction workers were employed in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013.","AnswerText":"The preferred source for employment estimates by industry at local authority level is the Business Register Employment Survey. The latest available data are for 2012.\r\nIn 2012, there were 5,600 people working in the construction sector in Aberdeen City and 8,800 in Aberdeenshire.\r\nThese data are rounded to the nearest hundred. Estimates include all employee jobs within VAT/PAYE registered enterprises, and also working owners of VAT/PAYE registered enterprises. \r\nNote that there are construction jobs out-with registered enterprises, in the smallest enterprises that are not registered for VAT/PAYE (so called “unregistered” enterprises). The latest data from Businesses in Scotland 2013, show that 21% of all construction employment in Scotland is in unregistered enterprises, these ‘unregistered’ jobs would include, for example, self-employed plumbers, electricians, joiners etc. Estimates of employment in unregistered construction enterprises are not available by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:13.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294177,"EventID":"S4W-20909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:14.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T10:36:01.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction companies were registered in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in 2013.","AnswerText":"The latest official statistics for enterprises operating in Scotland by local authority are available from the Scottish Government Businesses in Scotland 2013 publication. The publication shows that:\r\nAs at March 2013, there were 650 registered enterprises in the construction sector in Aberdeen City and 1,405 in Aberdeenshire.\r\nThese data are taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register and are rounded to the nearest five. Data refer to VAT/PAYE registered enterprises only. Unregistered enterprises, sole traders and partnerships who are not registered for PAYE or VAT, are not included.\r\nNote that the majority of construction enterprises are not registered for VAT/PAYE. The latest data from Businesses in Scotland 2013, show that 64% of all construction enterprises operating in Scotland are not VAT/PAYE registered (so called ‘unregistered’ enterprises). These ‘unregistered’ enterprises would include, for example, self-employed plumbers, electricians, joiners etc. Data on unregistered construction enterprises are not available by local authority area.\r\nAlthough unregistered construction enterprises are significant in number, data from Businesses in Scotland 2013 show that unregistered construction enterprises only account for 8% of total construction turnover generated in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:14.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294178,"EventID":"S4W-20910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:14.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T10:36:01.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many inpatient beds there were in NHS Grampian in 2012-13.","AnswerText":"There were 2,365 average available staffed beds for all specialties in NHS Grampian in 2012-13.\r\nThe number of available staffed beds by NHS board is routinely published by Information Services Division and is available on the beds section of their website: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Hospital-Care/Beds/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:14.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294179,"EventID":"S4W-20911","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:14.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T10:36:01.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding per capita it provides to NHS Grampian and how this compares with other NHS boards.","AnswerText":"This information is publically available on the Information Services Division Scotland website in the ‘NHS Costs’ section. The most up to date figures relate to the financial period 2012-13 and are provided in the following table:\r\nNHS Board\r\nNet Operating Expenditure per Head\r\nNet Capital Expenditure per Head\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1,887\r\n33\r\nBorders\r\n1,803\r\n56\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n1,945\r\n67\r\nFife\r\n1,745\r\n36\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,775\r\n11\r\nGrampian\r\n1,550\r\n95\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1,985\r\n263\r\nHighland\r\n1,943\r\n42\r\nLanarkshire\r\n1,748\r\n21\r\nLothian\r\n1,649\r\n41\r\nOrkney\r\n2,185\r\n24\r\nShetland\r\n2,261\r\n52\r\nTayside\r\n1,909\r\n224\r\nWestern Isles\r\n2,763\r\n61\r\nNHS Scotland\r\n2,050\r\n114\r\nIt should be noted that spend per capita does not take into account variation in relative need which is what the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee formula does. The primary reason for the difference between the per capita expenditure and the weighted per capita expenditure is relative need.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:14.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294180,"EventID":"S4W-20912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:14.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T12:36:15.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact on the fishing industry in (a) Scotland and (b) the north east of an independent Scotland not agreeing a common approach to fishing rights with other nations.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland is one of Europe’s most prominent fishing nations and is at the heart of many complex and delicate international fishing agreements. It is therefore in the interests of the other member states that Scotland has a smooth transition to independent membership of Europe and agreement to common approaches such as fishing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:14.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294181,"EventID":"S4W-20913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:15.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T12:36:15.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it sought or received before the First Minister made his comments on fishing policy in his speech in Bruges on 28 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The First Minister was simply explaining why it was in the interests of other member states that Scotland has a smooth transition to becoming an independent member state of Europe given the significant contribution Scotland makes to existing agreements involving many EU and non-EU nations. The current arrangements and agreements are dependent on Scotland's membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:15.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294182,"EventID":"S4W-20914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:15.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T12:36:15.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it sought from representatives of the fishing industry in (a) Scotland and (b) the north east before the First Minister made his comments on fishing policy in his speech in Bruges on 28 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The government engages regularly with the fishing industry on a wide range of issues. Engagement with the fishing industry on the benefits of independence continues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:15.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294183,"EventID":"S4W-20915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:15.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T12:36:15.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what cost assessment it has made of implementing a policy of not allowing foreign fishing vessels access to Scottish waters in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s policy proposes Scotland's continuing membership of the EU following independence and therefore the scenario referred to in the question will not arise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:15.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294184,"EventID":"S4W-20916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T13:54:16.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T12:36:15.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would implement a policy of not allowing foreign fishing vessels access to Scottish waters in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20915 on 24 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T13:54:16.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294194,"EventID":"S4W-20917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:45.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve nail cutting services for older people with diabetes.\r\n","AnswerText":"Everyone diagnosed with diabetes should be screened/assessed using the traffic light foot risk stratification and triage system, which identifies and defines those patients who are at risk of developing a foot problem due to their diabetes. This system aids in identifying those who can and can’t self-manage their foot care, including nail cutting.\r\nThose who can self-manage will be given advice on how best to look after their feet. Those who are at risk or unable to self-manage should receive a suitable level of podiatric care and advice as part of their management/treatment plan.\r\nThis system ensures that valuable podiatry resources are used more effectively by focussing on giving the best possible appropriate care, to those who need it.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:45.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294195,"EventID":"S4W-20918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:45.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are diagnosed as having type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the total number of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Scotland is set out in the following table: \r\nNumber of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in each NHS board in 2012\r\nNHS Board\r\nType 1\r\nType 2\r\nTotal\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n2,212\r\n18,799\r\n21,073\r\nBorders\r\n626\r\n5,160\r\n5,831\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n889\r\n7,528\r\n8,484\r\nFife\r\n1,986\r\n17,030\r\n19,097\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,648\r\n13,091\r\n14,850\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n6,366\r\n52,236\r\n59,121\r\nGrampian\r\n3,129\r\n22,037\r\n25,275\r\nHighlands\r\n1,793\r\n13,190\r\n15,130\r\nLanarkshire\r\n3,585\r\n26,527\r\n30,299\r\nLothian\r\n4,282\r\n30,735\r\n35,288\r\nOrkney\r\n119\r\n877\r\n996\r\nShetland\r\n128\r\n881\r\n1,024\r\nTayside\r\n1,901\r\n18,806\r\n20,843\r\nWestern Isles\r\n185\r\n1,070\r\n1,259\r\nTotal\r\n28,849\r\n227,967\r\n258,570\r\nInformation on the number of people with diabetes is published annually within the Scottish Diabetes Survey. The most recent report containing data from 2012 can be accessed at: http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx?catId=3\r\nThe next report is due to be published later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:45.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294196,"EventID":"S4W-20919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:45.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are estimated to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, broken down by NHS board, and what strategy it has in place for dealing with this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Estimates of undiagnosed diabetes in Scotland were included in the 2011 Scottish Diabetes Survey based on data from 2010. These estimates were based on the Association of Public Health Observatories prevalence model and are attached in the following table.\r\nEstimated number of people with undiagnosed diabetes in each NHS board in 2010:\r\nHealth board\r\nEstimated Number of undiagnosed diabetes cases (2010)\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n3,234\r\nBorders\r\n1,168\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n2,316\r\nFife\r\n2,556\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,933\r\nGrampian\r\n4,507\r\nGreater Glasgow\r\n11,007\r\nHighland\r\n5,929\r\nLanarkshire\r\n4,470\r\nLothian\r\n7,586\r\nOrkney\r\n264\r\nShetland\r\n416\r\nTayside\r\n3,528\r\nWestern Isles\r\n698\r\nSCOTLAND\r\n48,844\r\nThe Scottish Diabetes Group are currently considering the most appropriate approach for identifying people who have undiagnosed diabetes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:45.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294197,"EventID":"S4W-20920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:46.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of Flybe and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are in regular contact with FlyBe, most recently in relation to its new Inverness to London City service. The First Minister was scheduled to meet Saad Hammad, Chief Executive of Flybe, on 13 March 2014 to discuss Flybe’s operations in Scotland. This meeting was postponed at Flybe’s request and an alternative date is being identified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:46.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294198,"EventID":"S4W-20921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:46.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop new (a) land and (b) marine national parks.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s National Parks are two of Scotland’s greatest assets. The Scottish Government fully recognises the valuable contribution that they make to our tourism industry and wider Scottish economy, and the vital role that our National Park Authorities play in managing the parks, in supporting sustainable rural development, in promoting and enhancing the visitor experience, and ensuring that the parks stunning landscapes and special qualities are conserved and enhanced for future generations.\r\nWhile the success of our national parks is unquestioned, we believe it would be wrong at this time to raise expectations regarding the designation of others, particularly at a time of significant real terms reduction in both resource and capital funding available to the Scottish Government. While we would not rule out a further designation at a future stage, this would only be appropriate if there was a clear view expressed as to what model of new national park is being proposed; what its objectives were; whether a robust business case demonstrating its financial sustainability was demonstrated; and clear evidence of community and local authority support was made. As there are no current proposals which meet these tests, the Scottish Government has no current plans to designate further national parks in Scotland. Instead, we believe it is essential to continue to focus support on our two existing parks, to continue to deliver excellence in the visitor experience and to maximise the contribution they make to meeting local and national objectives, and in support of the statutory aims agreed by the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:46.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294199,"EventID":"S4W-20922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:46.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the development of new hill tracks.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of tracks for rural businesses and the need to balance this with impact on the environment and visual amenity.\r\nCurrently tracks for agricultural or forestry uses can be constructed without the need for a full planning application, provided they meet certain strict criteria. Additionally, if an Environmental Impact Assessment is required then a full planning application is also required. Tracks for any other purposes always require a full planning application.\r\nFollowing a consultation on permitted development rights in 2012, the Scottish Government is keeping the current arrangements under review and considering whether they are fit for purpose.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with Scottish Natural Heritage and landowners to promote good practice in the design and construction of tracks.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:46.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294200,"EventID":"S4W-20924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:46.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:18:39.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards did not meet the 2013-14 target for the provision of insulin pumps for (a) children and (b) adults.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Grampian, NHS Highlands and NHS Lanarkshire did not meet the ministerial commitment to ensure 25% of under 18s with type 1 diabetes are on an insulin pump by March 2014.\r\nOur insulin pump improvement team will continue to support these boards to meet the commitment in the shortest possible, clinically safe timescale.\r\nThe adult ministerial commitment deadline is March 2015 and boards are working hard to ensure that this rightly ambitious commitment is met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:46.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294201,"EventID":"S4W-20925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:47.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:30:29.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-02927 by Derek Mackay on 26 February 2014 (Official Report, c. 28179), when in the current parliamentary session it plans to produce a consultation on replacement of the council tax.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will consult with others to produce a fairer local tax based on ability to pay later in this Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:47.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294202,"EventID":"S4W-20926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-29T17:02:47.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T15:30:29.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S4T-00474 by John Swinney on 8 October 2013 (Official Report, c. 23382), whether it plans to open up discussion on local taxation beyond local income tax.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20904 on 8 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-14T17:02:47.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294215,"EventID":"S4O-03176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:48.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:18.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it and its agencies are doing to promote Perth as one of Scotland’s cities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:49.467","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294216,"EventID":"S4O-03177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:49.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T16:48:25.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of CalMac and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:49.74","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294217,"EventID":"S4O-03178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:50.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T11:43:52.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its cities strategy will support public bodies in the Aberdeen city region that find it hard to recruit and retain staff because of the high cost of living relative to the rest of the country.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:50.493","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294218,"EventID":"S4O-03179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:51.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:20.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities has had with the Minister for Environment and Climate Change regarding the long-term impact of flooding on the infrastructure.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:51.023","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294219,"EventID":"S4O-03180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:51.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:20.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for Prestwick airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:51.31","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294220,"EventID":"S4O-03181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:51.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T11:54:31.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans Scottish Water has to promote the use of its assets for the generation of renewable energy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:51.597","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294221,"EventID":"S4O-03182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:51.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:21.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how much would have been saved if the PPP/PFI projects carried out during the previous administration had been funded through the non-profit distribution model.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:51.823","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294222,"EventID":"S4O-03183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:52.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:21.32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract and encourage more boats to make use of the River Clyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the value of the River Clyde to a wide range of commercial, business and leisure users and would welcome any initiative which encourages the growth and expansion of industry, tourism and transport services based around the use of the estuary.\r\nThis year, as part of the celebrations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, VisitScotland, through Homecoming Scotland, is supporting The Homecoming Muster and The Commonwealth Flotilla. More than 250 vessels and crews have applied to take part in this spectacular opportunity to sail up the Clyde to the centre of Glasgow as part of the celebrations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:52.17","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294223,"EventID":"S4O-03184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:52.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:21.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that First Group provides an acceptable level of bus services in the Glasgow Provan constituency.","AnswerText":"The level of bus services provided by First Glasgow is primarily a commercial matter between the company and its customers, although Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has powers to support services to meet social needs where the commercial market is not doing so.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:52.453","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294224,"EventID":"S4O-03185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:52.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:21.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to increased recourse to foodbanks.\r\n","AnswerText":"First of all, we recognise that there is a problem. The Trussell Trust reports that there is a fivefold increase in people who use foodbanks, compared with the previous year and we know from the report that we published in December 2013 that benefit changes and delays are a major cause of this increase. \r\nIt is simply unacceptable that so many people should have to rely on emergency food provision in our rich country.\r\nThe Scottish Government announced £1 million for an emergency food action plan to help combat food poverty. This includes £500,000 for a new Emergency Food Aid Grant Fund.\r\nWe will, as a government, continue to help the most vulnerable where we can but it is only with the full powers of independence that we can build a fairer welfare system and properly tackle complex issues such as food poverty.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:52.757","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294225,"EventID":"S4O-03186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:52.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T11:39:49.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it receives from British embassies to help promote major events such as Homecoming Scotland 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:52.977","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294226,"EventID":"S4O-03187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:53.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T09:30:13.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what health-related programmes it is supporting in Malawi.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:53.263","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294227,"EventID":"S4O-03188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:53.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:39.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many naval vessels it considers would be required to enforce a ban on EU fishing fleets in Scottish waters if proposals for an independent Scotland's membership of the EU were not accepted.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:53.66","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294228,"EventID":"S4O-03189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:53.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T15:42:10.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent remarks by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs regarding an independent Scotland’s entry into the EU.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:53.97","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294229,"EventID":"S4O-03190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:54.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:39.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in deciding its international development expenditure, it takes into account how developing countries balance meeting the needs and interests of business with those of people living in poverty.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:54.223","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294230,"EventID":"S4O-03191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:54.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T10:16:32.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received advice from the European Commission that, if Scotland separates from the UK, it would need to apply to the EU as a new member state rather than assuming continuing membership.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:54.47","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294231,"EventID":"S4O-03192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:55.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T17:16:57.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its international development programme supports young people wanting to carry out voluntary work overseas.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:55.12","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294232,"EventID":"S4O-03193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:55.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:40.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to visit Poland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:55.417","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294233,"EventID":"S4O-03194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:55.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:41.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs last met Historic Scotland and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"I met Historic Scotland officials at Stirling Castle on 1 May 2014 as they finalised preparations for the Wallace, Bruce and Scotland’s contested crown exhibition. I discussed the significance of 700 year-old letters relating to William Wallace and Robert the Bruce being exhibited together for the first time. The exhibition is being run by National Records of Scotland with support from Historic Scotland and is on display at Stirling Castle from 3 May 2014 until 1 June. 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:55.653","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294234,"EventID":"S4O-03195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:55.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T14:36:20.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of the Roma community in Glasgow regarding financial support for cultural celebrations such as International Roma Day.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no discussions with representatives of the Roma community in Glasgow regarding financial support for cultural celebrations such as International Roma Day.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government does provide funding to a number of projects which support the Roma community in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:55.9","MeetingDate":"2014-05-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294235,"EventID":"S4O-03196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:56.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T11:02:16.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will approve the Falkirk Council Development Plan Scheme 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:56.143","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294236,"EventID":"S4O-03197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:56.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T09:43:23.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers that Police Scotland has had on policing in Dumfries and Galloway.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:56.377","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294237,"EventID":"S4O-03198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:57.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T09:32:24.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sports, Equalities and Pensioners' Rights has had regarding the provision of late night or overnight commuter rail services during the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:57.063","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294238,"EventID":"S4O-03199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:57.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:52.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement the recommendations of Lord Cullen's Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:57.357","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294239,"EventID":"S4O-03200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:57.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T11:00:53.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the issues associated with opencast mines in South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:57.683","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294240,"EventID":"S4O-03201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:57.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:52.707","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that all staff working on government contracts are paid at least the living wage.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:57.943","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294241,"EventID":"S4O-03202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:58.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:52.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that, at a recent EU environment council meeting, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs breached an agreement to raise Scotland’s position on genetically modified crops.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:58.187","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294242,"EventID":"S4O-03203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:58.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T08:53:22.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in reducing the financing of repeat prescriptions.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:58.53","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294243,"EventID":"S4O-03204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:58.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:53.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legacy it expects the Commonwealth Games to have in Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"In Edinburgh:\r\nLocal businesses are benefitting: 19 have won Games-related contracts and there have been 52 modern apprentice starts through the Legacy 2014 Employer Recruitment Incentive scheme\r\n12 projects have been awarded funding totalling over £632,000 through the Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund: complementing the six Community Sports Hubs operating across the city\r\nBIG 2014 Communities programme has awarded over £250,000 to 160 local community projects \r\nThe Sports Relief Home & Away Programme has supported four local projects covering issues from mental health to support for the elderly.\r\nThis is a small selection of legacy activity taking place in the capital. I would encourage Mr Biagi, and other members, to visit the Legacy 2014 website where there is an interactive map detailing legacy activity across the country.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:58.78","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294244,"EventID":"S4O-03205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T15:11:59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T12:05:53.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of independence are for the oil and gas industry. \r\n","AnswerText":"Unlike successive UK Governments, an independent Scotland will provide industry with the necessary fiscal and regulatory stability and predictability for it to innovate and thrive in a globally competitive environment. With independence, Scotland would have the opportunity to put in place a regulatory and fiscal framework which supports and incentivises exploration and production and provides long term stability and certainty for the industry. More than half the value of North Sea oil remains, up to 24 billion barrels with a potential wholesale value of up to £1.5 trillion. We must not let Westminster continue to squander the remainder of this hugely valuable resource.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T15:11:59.01","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294258,"EventID":"S4W-20903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:03.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T16:35:46.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20531 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, whether this constitutes official confirmation that there is no reasonably convenient alternative route that has no ferry or toll.\r\n","AnswerText":"No.S4W-20531 confirmed that an alternative route certificate was not required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:04.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294259,"EventID":"S4W-20927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:04.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T16:37:05.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20040 by Alex Neil on 17 March 2014, whether it will provide a breakdown by medicine of the £21.7 million Rare Conditions Medicines Fund expenditure.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to publish expenditure on individual medicines.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:04.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294260,"EventID":"S4W-20928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:04.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T16:37:05.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when guidance will be issued to NHS boards to update the current Guidance to Further Strengthen the Safe and Effective Use of New Medicines across the NHS in Scotland, as issued in Chief Medical Officer's letter CMO (2012) 1, and associated guidance, including the timescale and implementation of Scottish Medicines Consortium advice at a local level.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is reviewing the existing guidance. It is planned that further advice on expectations of the role of Area and Drug Therapeutic Committees will be issued later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:04.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294261,"EventID":"S4W-20929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:05.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T16:43:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps rural villages can take to be included in community payback initiatives.","AnswerText":"Those resident in, or representing rural villages, can contact their local authority direct, or the relevant prescribed person in their local authority area, to request inclusion in community payback initiatives.\r\nSection 227ZL(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 requires local authorities to consult, on an annual basis, with prescribed persons about unpaid work and other activities undertaken by offenders subject to a community payback order in the local authority’s area. The persons and classes of person are prescribed in the Community Payback Orders (Prescribed Persons for Consultation) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/1).\r\nIn most cases local authorities consult widely and beyond the minimum of the prescribed persons and the ‘Community Payback Order – Scottish Government Summary of Local Authority Annual Reports 2012-13’ provides further detail on the types of consultation activities undertaken.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:05.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294262,"EventID":"S4W-20930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:05.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-29T16:55:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) males and (b) females have been detained in hospital under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 or Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 by means of (i) an assessment order, (ii) a compulsion order, (iii) a compulsory treatment order, (iv) an emergency detention certificate, (v) a hospital direction, (vi) an interim compulsion order, (vii) an interim compulsory treatment order, (viii) a compulsion order with restriction order, (ix) a short-term detention certificate, (x) a transfer for treatment direction or (xi) a treatment order, in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The Mental Welfare Commission publish statistics of number of civil and forensic mental health orders in their annual monitoring reports. The reports are available online at: http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/publications/statistical-monitoring-reports/\r\nThis information is not broken down by gender.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:05.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294263,"EventID":"S4W-20931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:05.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:41:19.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the figures in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic pain services in Scotland: Where are we now?, which suggest that the average waiting time in NHS Grampian for specialist chronic pain treatment is 21 weeks longer than the national average. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the Healthcare Improvement Scotland ‘Chronic pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?’ report as an important benchmark for the improvement of chronic pain services.\r\nIt is vital that all those seeking to improve chronic pain services have a clear picture of the nature and extent of service provision, including the waiting times experienced by patients. This helps to point to those issues which the Service Improvement Groups should direct their energies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:05.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294264,"EventID":"S4W-20932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:05.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:41:19.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to NHS Grampian to help address the average waiting time for specialist chronic pain treatment, and whether it plans to provide additional support.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our consultation report published on 28 April 2014 sets out our response to the recent consultation on the ‘Future Provision of Specialist Residential Services in Scotland’ as well as setting out our position on progressing improvements in the provision of local chronic pain services. The report is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/04/7669.\r\nAll NHS boards are committed to delivering improvements in chronic pain services. The Scottish Government has provided funding of up to £50k per year for two years to support the establishment chronic pain Service Improvement Groups / Managed Clinical Networks (SIGs/MCNs) to lead improvement work through the implementation of the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain.\r\nImplementation of the model is overseen by the National Chronic Pain Steering Group which is supported by Scottish Government funding. NHS boards are required to include chronic pain service improvement in their Local Delivery Plans for 2014. The Scottish Government will monitor progress through the NHS board annual review process. Furthermore the Scottish Government has recently appointed a new National Co-ordinator and National Clinical Lead, who, working with the new National Steering Group Chair, provides advice and support to SIGs/MCNs. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:05.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294265,"EventID":"S4W-20933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:06.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:41:19.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Grampian regarding the average waiting time for specialist chronic pain treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20932 on 13 May 2014 which sets out the Scottish Governments support for chronic pain services. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic pain services in Scotland: Where are we now? noted that staffing vacancies within the chronic pain service in NHS Grampian during the period of data collection had impacted on service delivery. NHS Grampian has taken steps to address this and recruit to the vacant posts which will lead to a reduction in waiting times and improved services for patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:06.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294266,"EventID":"S4W-20935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:06.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:54:19.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Orkney regarding renewable technologies in the design of the new Balfour Hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new Balfour Hospital project is at an early stage. Scottish Government officials are currently reviewing the outline business case for the project.\r\nGuidance sets out that all new healthcare buildings, where the capital cost is more than £2 million, are to obtain a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Model ‘Excellent’ rating or equivalent ‘target score’. The ‘excellent’ scoring emphasises the minimising of energy demand and consumption in buildings, and includes a mandatory assessment of renewables for each project.\r\nAs such, officials have discussed with NHS Orkney the potential for use of renewable energy technologies in the new hospital as part of their work in reviewing the business case, and they will continue to engage with the board as the project progresses with development of the procurement strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:06.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294267,"EventID":"S4W-20936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:06.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:54:19.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding the potential for renewables technologies in the design of the new Balfour hospital planned for Kirkwall in Orkney.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new Balfour Hospital project is at an early stage. \r\nNHS Orkney will ensure that the new hospital meets the requirement that all new healthcare buildings, where the capital cost is more than £2 million, are to obtain a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Model ‘Excellent’ rating or equivalent ‘target score’. The ‘excellent’ scoring emphasises the minimising of energy demand and consumption in buildings, and includes a mandatory assessment of renewables for each project.\r\nNHS Orkney are keen to fully explore the potential benefits of renewables technologies for the new hospital and plan to undertake a full options appraisal exercise to fully consider the potential benefits of renewables technologies for the new hospital, and which technologies might best realise the benefits. The Scottish Government supports this approach.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:06.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294268,"EventID":"S4W-20937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:06.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:54:19.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what incentives it provides to encourage the use of renewable energy technologies when developing (a) hospitals and (b) other major public buildings.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy technologies when developing hospitals and other major public buildings through a number of channels.\r\nSpecifically for developing new health facilities within NHS Scotland, NHS boards are encouraged to fully consider a range of sustainability issues, including carbon emissions, through the application of green energy including renewable sources. This issue is assessed as part of the NHS Scotland Design Assessment Process and the consideration of business cases within the Scottish Government's Health and Social Care Directorates.\r\nMore generally, Resource Efficient Scotland is a Scottish Government programme delivered by Zero Waste Scotland which offers a wide range of advice and support on renewable technologies including the implementation of decentralised renewable energy solutions. This service is available to public bodies. Further information can be found at: http://www.resourceefficientscotland.com/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:06.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294269,"EventID":"S4W-20938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:07.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:52:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can take to prohibit the sale of drug-taking paraphernalia from retail premises.\r\n","AnswerText":"The classification of drugs and supply of drug paraphernalia is a reserved matter.\r\nThe Scottish Government recently hosted a summit on enforcement methods to tackle the emergence of new psychoactive substances (so-called ‘legal highs), building on the learning from the summit held last year. Representatives from the Home Office, Trading Standards, police, health, and community organisations attended with the aim of creating a shared understanding of how new psychoactive substances are affecting people across Scotland; the approaches that could be used to tackle the supply of these drugs and; actions to take against those involved in the production and sale of these substances.\r\nThe information gathered from discussions at this conference will inform the Scottish Government’s response to the Home Office review of legislative options to address the emergence of these new drugs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:07.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294270,"EventID":"S4W-20939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:07.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T12:52:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a conviction for the sale of drug-taking paraphernalia in Yorkshire and a decision by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service not to pursue a case in Angus, for what reasons such prosecutions are not being brought in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decision for raising criminal proceedings in Scotland in any case is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). In any case there has to be a sufficiency of evidence in law available before consideration of raising proceedings can be made, and this is taken only after a full and careful consideration of all the available evidence and applicable law.\r\nSection 9A(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits the supply or offer of supply of articles that may be used or adapted to be used in the administration by any person of a controlled drug to himself or another, believing that the article is to be used in the unlawful administration of the controlled drug. COPFS have recorded three instances where people have been successfully prosecuted under section 9A(1).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:07.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294271,"EventID":"S4W-20940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-30T16:53:07.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T15:17:32.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20338 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 April 2014, what the established procedures are for its official engagement with Parliamentary committees; which of these procedures it followed in the case of the Public Audit Committee’s draft private report on its scrutiny of the Audit Scotland report, Police reform: Progress update 2013, and whether, by following the established procedures, (a) it and (b) Police Scotland had sight of the draft report.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government has followed the agreed ‘Protocol between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government in relation to the handling of Committee business’ in its dealings with the Public Audit Committee.\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Parliamentaryprocedureandguidance/Protocol_between_the_Scottish_Parliament_and_the_Scottish_Government_version_Oct_2009.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-15T16:53:07.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294272,"EventID":"S4W-20941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:03.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"An additional £2 million has been made available over two years for the implementation of the Sensory Impairment Strategy which was launched on 24 April 2014.\r\nImplementation will be led by local partnerships and driven by local partnership leads with support from Scottish Government officials.\r\nOutcome measures will be agreed to allow measurement and reporting of improvement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:03.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294273,"EventID":"S4W-20942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:04.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the implementation of See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20941 on 8 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:04.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294274,"EventID":"S4W-20943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:04.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the implementation of See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"£2 million over two years has been allocated to the implementation of the Sensory Impairment Strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:04.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294275,"EventID":"S4W-20944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:05.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has mapped (a) NHS board, (b) local authority and (c) third sector service provision for people with sensory impairments.","AnswerText":"One of the recommendations of the Sensory Impairment Strategy is that local partnerships should audit service patterns on sensory impairment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:05.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294276,"EventID":"S4W-20945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:05.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the prevalence is of people with (a) hearing loss, (b) sight loss and (c) deafblindness and what the prevalence is in ethnic minority communities, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This information is not currently held at local authority level.\r\nI also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20941 on 8 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:05.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294277,"EventID":"S4W-20946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:06.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme is now available for every newborn child.","AnswerText":"Yes, the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme is offered to all newborns in Scotland and has been since April 2005.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:06.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294278,"EventID":"S4W-20947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:06.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:03:41.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for implementation of See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Funding is available to support the implementation of the strategy over the next two years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:06.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294279,"EventID":"S4W-20948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:07.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:32:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support victims of defective polypropylene mesh medical devices.\r\n","AnswerText":"An expert working group, chaired by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, has been set up to address the issues affecting women who have undergone transvaginal mesh surgery. The group is developing:\r\nA revised patient information and consent booklet that will then go into use in NHSScotland, to be given to women considering undergoing a vaginal mesh tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence.\r\nNew care pathways for those women who decide to go ahead with a mesh procedure and for those who have suffered complications.\r\nA strengthened process for adverse incident reporting.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:07.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294280,"EventID":"S4W-20949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:07.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:32:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to notify patients with polypropylene mesh medical devices of any potential risk to health.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to directly notify patients.\r\nThe Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer wrote to all NHS boards and Medical Directors on 10 April 2013, 11 July 2013 and 20 December 2013 regarding the investigation and management of patients being treated for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, including the management of patients with vaginal mesh and tape products.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:07.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294281,"EventID":"S4W-20955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:08.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T17:43:58.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20802 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how many years the financial projections will cover.\r\n","AnswerText":"As announced in the parliamentary debate on the 26 March 2014 (Official Report, c. 29404), the Scottish Government will extend this analysis in the coming weeks to cover a number of years, building on the analysis in the white paper and its central conclusion that Scotland is a wealthy country that will start life as an independent nation with great economic prospects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:08.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294282,"EventID":"S4W-20956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:08.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate the lack of services for children with chronic pain outlined in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the challenge of providing specialist chronic pain services for children and young people. All of the Service Improvement Groups/Managed Clinical Networks were asked to consider the needs of children and young people when establishing their local groups and where services are not available locally how they link to those provided in the larger centres. A dedicated sub-group of the National Chronic Pain Steering Group has been established to consider the needs of children and young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:08.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294283,"EventID":"S4W-20957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:08.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all NHS boards have set out plans to tackle staff shortages at chronic pain clinics as noted in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?.","AnswerText":"The Healthcare Improvement Scotland ‘Chronic pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?’ report noted that there were some staff vacancies during the period of the data collection which may have had an impact on service delivery at the time of reporting. At the date of publication (28 April 2014) a number of these vacancies had been filled.\r\nStaff vacancies are an on-going consideration for NHS boards across all services and well established processes are in place to ensure that identified vacancies are filled. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:08.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294284,"EventID":"S4W-20958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:09.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards' plans to improve chronic pain services will be made public.","AnswerText":"The supporting information published alongside Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s ‘Chronic pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?’ report, which is available at:\r\nhttp://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/long_term_conditions/chronic_pain/where_are_we_now.aspx, notes that all of the chronic pain Service Improvement Groups/Managed Clinical Networks will make plans publicly available on their local pages of the new national chronic pain website from April 2014. The website can be accessed via: www.chronicpainscotland.org\r\nNHS boards are required to include chronic pain service improvement in their local delivery plans for 2014. The Scottish Government will monitor progress through the NHS board annual review process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:09.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294285,"EventID":"S4W-20959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:09.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action each NHS board is taking to reduce waiting times of up to two years for some specialist services, as highlighted in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20932 on 13 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:09.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294286,"EventID":"S4W-20960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:10.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS board is not providing additional funding for an increase in staff and other resources for chronic pain clinics in the current financial year.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the levels of funding for each NHS board chronic pain service is not held centrally. Scottish Ministers have made it clear that we expect chronic pain services to be the delivered through existing funding provided to boards in their annual allocations. The detailed planning and delivery of services is a matter for individual NHS boards taking account of their resident populations and assessment of needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:10.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294287,"EventID":"S4W-20961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:10.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T19:36:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help people with chronic pain to remain in employment, in light of the findings in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?, that 77% of new patients were of working age but only 33.3% were still in jobs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Healthcare Improvement Scotland ‘Chronic pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?’ report provides boards with a range of information to assist in the planning and delivery of services including information on the demographics of those accessing chronic pain services.\r\nThe musculoskeletal model and associated quality improvement work being rolled out nationally is designed to help people access early self-management support or appropriate intervention to facilitate early recovery and return to work. There is an evidence base that this early intervention prevents loss of function and will help to reduce the number of those suffering from chronic pain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:10.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294288,"EventID":"S4W-20963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:11.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T12:25:11.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18953 by Keith Brown on 6 January 2014, when it expects to determine the dates for the electrification of the East Kilbride railway line.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, along with industry, is developing its rail electrification strategy to determine future phases of electrification. As yet, there is no publication date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:11.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294289,"EventID":"S4W-20964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:11.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T12:54:46.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what priority it gives to the electrification of the East Kilbride railway line.","AnswerText":"Priorities for future electrification, following the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High, will be determined in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:11.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294290,"EventID":"S4W-20965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:11.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:30:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what issues arise from the import of smolts to Shetland waters from Norway.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whilst Norway is a country of overall lower fish health status than the UK, it has approved zones and compartments which are of equivalent or higher status than the UK. Smolts from these areas can be legally imported into the UK, as was the case with the recent import from Norway to Shetland.\r\nThe importation of smolts from Norway was carried out in compliance with the legislative requirements. The smolts were certified as free from the listed diseases viral haemorrhagic septicemia, infectious haematopoietic necrosis, infectious salmon anaemia, gyrodactylus salaris and bacterial kidney disease.\r\nWhile there is no statutory requirement to quarantine legally imported smolts from Norway into the UK, the industry’s Code of Good Practice does stipulate this as a requirement. The Scottish Government strongly encourages compliance with the Code which is overseen by the Code of Good Practice Management Group. The deliberate non-compliance with the Code resulting from the import of live fish without quarantine was, therefore, particularly disappointing. \r\nThe Scottish Government notes that, as a consequence of Hjatland Seafarms refusal to comply with the requirements of the Code in respect of quarantine of imported smolts, Hjatland Seafarms have been expelled from the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) by the membership of the SSPO.\r\nThe Scottish Government is now considering whether there are any broader, future implications arising from the import of smolts to Shetland from Norway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:11.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294291,"EventID":"S4W-20966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:12.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:30:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the quote by Greig Seafood Hjaltland that the freshwater smolts imported from its partners in Norway to Shetland waters have \"the same health status or even better than the Scottish fish\".\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20965 on 20 May 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:12.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294292,"EventID":"S4W-20967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:12.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:30:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the consequences are of importing smolts from Norway into Shetland waters without quarantine.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20965 on 20 May 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:12.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294293,"EventID":"S4W-20968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T15:39:12.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:30:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture of importing smolts to Shetland waters from Norway.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20965 on 20 May 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T15:39:12.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294318,"EventID":"S4F-02048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:20.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T09:33:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the economic benefits of the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:20.103","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294319,"EventID":"S4F-02051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-04-28T12:37:21.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-28T09:54:47.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on media reports that \"hospital beds in Scotland are disappearing at a faster rate than in almost any country in the western world\".\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-13T12:37:21.04","MeetingDate":"2014-05-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294322,"EventID":"S4F-02068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:24.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:40:22.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:24.36","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294323,"EventID":"S4F-02071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:26.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:41:15.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported 162% increase since 2004 in the cost of providing free personal care, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that local authority social work budgets can meet demand.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:26.56","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294324,"EventID":"S4F-02072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:27.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T13:48:15.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:27.497","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294325,"EventID":"S4F-02074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:28.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T15:06:43.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:28.76","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294326,"EventID":"S4F-02076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:30.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T15:37:58.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the increase in Scotland’s population. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:30.473","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294327,"EventID":"S4F-02077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T16:43:30.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T15:39:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the minimum pricing plan for alcohol being referred to the EU Court of Justice.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T16:43:30.71","MeetingDate":"2014-05-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294331,"EventID":"S4W-20969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T17:25:59.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T14:08:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02758 by Alasdair Allan on 8 January 2014 (Official Report, c. 26226)  on what date the update to Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School through Ill-health will be published, and whether it will consult on the revised document.\r\n","AnswerText":"The intention is to publish the revised Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School through Ill-health shortly.\r\nThe revision has been developed in partnership with a stakeholder group which includes representatives from ADES, COSLA, NHS Scotland, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, Action for Sick Children Scotland, the National Parent Forum of Scotland and Education Scotland.\r\nWhile it is not the intention to consult formally, the representatives from the stakeholder group will have a further opportunity to comment on the draft guidance ahead of its publication and agree the date for publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T17:25:59.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294332,"EventID":"S4W-20970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T17:25:59.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T14:08:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02758 by Alasdair Allan on 8 January 2014 (Official Report, c. 26226), on what dates the stakeholder group reviewing Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School through Ill-health has met; when it will next meet, and when the review will be completed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The stakeholder group involved in the review of the Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School through Ill-health has met on seven occasions in total, on 28 March 2012, 1 February 2013, 11 April 2013, 13 June 2013, 21 August 2013, 24 October 2013 and 6 December 2013.\r\nWhile there are no plans to re-convene the stakeholder group, the representatives will have a further opportunity to comment on the draft guidance ahead of its publication and agree the date for publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T17:25:59.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294333,"EventID":"S4W-20971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-01T17:25:59.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T16:06:26.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date Lord Bonomy's review group on corroboration first met or will first meet.\r\n","AnswerText":"The first meeting of Lord Bonomy’s Reference Group was on 7 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-16T17:25:59.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294334,"EventID":"S4W-20987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T12:05:51.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T11:58:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help develop a vaccine for squirrel pox virus.\r\n","AnswerText":"Further to a ministerial meeting in May 2013 with MSPs from the South of Scotland and relevant stakeholders, it was agreed that it was vital to ensure that the work of the Moredun Research Institute to develop a vaccine to protect red squirrels from squirrel pox virus was able to continue until an application by the Moredun to secure funding through the EU Life + programme has been completed. In order to help fill the funding gap, the Scottish Government is providing a total of £40,000 over the next two years. I also wrote on 31 May 2013, to my counterparts in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and have secured additional commitments that, when taken together with the sum committed from the Scottish Government, amount to 50% of the budget required to continue trialling the vaccine over the next two years. The Red Squirrel Survival Trust has offered to fund the remaining balance in order to ensure the work is undertaken.\r\nThis research will enable development work on a squirrel pox virus vaccine to make further progress and it is to be hoped, will lead to the solution to one of the most serious threats to the long term survival of the much loved, red squirrel throughout the British Isles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T12:05:52.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294347,"EventID":"S4W-20972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:53.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T17:11:24.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19516 by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014, how much money the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago billed the First Minister for his four-night stay, and how much of this was reimbursed by the First Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost of the former First Minister’s accommodation, business room hire, state occupancy tax and city occupancy tax was £3756.32. This information has previously been provided in answer to freedom of information requests, by the Scottish Government. There was no reimbursement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:53.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294348,"EventID":"S4W-20973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:54.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-01T17:11:24.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19516 by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2014, whether the First Minister reimbursed any of his expenses incurred on the Chicago trip that were originally paid for by public money and, if so, how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"The former First Minister travelled to Chicago on official business, as such costs were borne by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:54.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294349,"EventID":"S4W-20974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:54.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the attainment gap for deaf learners set out in the National Deaf Children’s Society Scotland's report, Close the Gap, and whether it will commit to closing that gap.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people with additional support needs, including those who are deaf, are provided with the support they need to reach their full potential.\r\nTo support this commitment, the Scottish Government is involved in a number of measures and programmes, these include:\r\nThe Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended, which places a duty on education authorities to identify, meet and keep under review the additional support needs of all their pupils and to tailor provision according to their individual needs. The Act also provides parents with the right to be involved in decision making. To ensure this happens, the Act introduced a range of mechanisms for dealing with disagreements, including mediation and independent adjudication.\r\nThe Scottish Government has funded a number of organisations to ensure that parents get the help and support they need. These include Enquire and the Govan Law Centre’s Education Law Unit. Also, under the Act, each education authority must have a named contact who will be responsible for providing information and advice on the local arrangements for children and young people with additional support needs.\r\nThe Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Sensory Centre to provide high-quality continuous professional learning and development to teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments, including those with hearing impairments.\r\nSkills Development Scotland, along with the Deaf Children’s Society and Donaldson’s school, have developed A Template for Success for supporting young people with hearing impairments to move into positive and sustained destinations. All 32 Scottish local authorities have been encouraged to use A Template for Success.\r\nWe are seeking to raise attainment for every child and close the inequity gap through our key implementation programmes for children and young people - including the Early Years Framework, Getting it right for every child, Curriculum for Excellence and Opportunities for All - which set out what needs to be done to support a child's/young person's successful learning journey from early years, through school and post-16 learning - including university and college - and on into positive destinations. We are also working to ensure that teachers and school leaders have the right skills and experience in the right numbers to deliver improved outcomes for all children and young people, including those who are most disadvantaged. We have developed a range of integrated policies and programmes to help realise our ambition of making Scotland the best place to go to school.\r\nWe will continue to work with stakeholders to identify innovative solutions to further improve the educational system. We know the reasons for the attainment gap are complex and require partnership working over a range of related policy areas in order to make progress in this vital area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:54.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294350,"EventID":"S4W-20976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:54.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures and programmes it (a) has supported in each year from 2007 and (b) supports that address the education difficulties experienced by deaf pupils.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20974 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:54.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294351,"EventID":"S4W-20977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:54.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the potential (a) 15% decrease in the number of teachers of deaf pupils and (b) 23% decrease in the number of qualified teachers of deaf pupils over the last two years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government conducts an annual teacher workforce planning exercise, in consultation and discussion with all relevant stakeholders, to ensure that teacher supply and demand are kept broadly balanced at an all-Scotland level.\r\nIt is for local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers in the schools under their management, with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge necessary to enable those teachers to undertake the teaching duties allocated to them. In the case of teachers who are employed to wholly or mainly teach pupils with a hearing impairment, a visual impairment or both a hearing and visual impairment it is a requirement that they have an additional appropriate qualification to teach such pupils. Alternatively, it is acceptable that they are in the process of obtaining such a qualification providing they do so within five years.\r\nThe Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Sensory Centre, Scotland’s main provider of specialist continuous professional learning and development training, and qualifications for teachers of pupils with sensory impairments, to:\r\nProvide high quality continuous professional learning and development (CPLD) training. The Centre consults with all levels of professionals, including non-specialist mainstream teachers and teachers of the deaf, to identify the CPLD requirements needed to achieve the Scottish Government’s outcomes for all children and young people; and\r\nExtend its role in supporting specialist teachers to enhance their critical knowledge and understanding of issues relating to their work in supporting classroom teachers and the children and young people themselves.\r\nIt is for local authorities to ensure that their teachers of deaf pupils have or are in the process of obtaining appropriate qualifications.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:54.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294352,"EventID":"S4W-20978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:55.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to review education provision for deaf learners to ensure that it is achieving the best possible outcomes.","AnswerText":"In November 2010, Education Scotland published the Review of the Additional Support for Learning Act: Adding Benefits for Learners which noted that children with sensory impairments continue to have their additional support needs identified and addressed at an early stage through well-established partnership working between health and education and through the implementation of early intervention strategies. \r\nAs part of its core objectives, the Scottish Sensory Centre continues to inform the Scottish Government about the types of effective educational provision offered to children and young people with hearing impairments in Scotland. These findings help to inform current and future Scottish Government policy development.\r\nThe Scottish Government will also meet with the National Deaf Children’s Society to discuss the findings from their Close the Gap report, published on 30 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:55.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294353,"EventID":"S4W-20979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:55.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which provisions of its See Hear framework will work to close the attainment gap between deaf children and children with no additional support requirements.\r\n","AnswerText":"The See Hear sensory impairment strategy aims generally to achieve the seamless provision of assessment, care and support to children and adults with a sensory impairment.\r\nAccording to the strategy, children and adults with a sensory impairment should expect the same access to education, employment, healthcare, social care and leisure as everyone else and, in addition, children and young people with a sensory impairment should expect appropriate and timely intervention in the early years and for as long as is required.\r\nImplementation of the strategy will be led by local partnerships and driven by local partnership leads with support from Scottish Government officials.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:55.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294354,"EventID":"S4W-20980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:55.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in each year from 2007 on programmes that target or contribute to the reduction of the attainment gap between deaf children and children with no additional support requirements, also broken down by programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"2006-07\r\n \r\nScottish Sensory Centre – Core grant - £201,310\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - British Sign Language glossary - £25,375\r\n2007-08\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - £215,550\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Development of Early Support journal: Developmental journal for babies and children with visual impairment - £3,000\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society to undertake a scoping study to record the current state of linguistic access for deaf pupils and students - £10,000\r\n2008-09\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £219,861\r\n2009-10\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £219,861\r\n2010-11\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £200,074\r\n2011-12\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £150,000\r\n2012-13\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £150,000\r\n2013-14\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £150,000\r\n2014-15\r\nScottish Sensory Centre - Core grant - £150,000\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:55.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294355,"EventID":"S4W-20981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:55.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will conclude its work assessing the implications of the strategic review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs (Doran Review).\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government issued a response to the Doran Review report, ‘The Right Help at the Right Time in the Right Place’, in November 2012. The Doran Review provided 21 recommendations in total. The Scottish Government accepted 16 in full, 3 in part and 2 were deemed outwith the Scottish Government’s capacity to deliver.\r\nRecommendations 7, 17-18 (in part) and 19-21 will be delivered through the Strategic Commissioning Project. A project board and five workstreams have been established to support delivery of this project by 2017.\r\nRecommendations 1-6 and 8-16 are part of a broader work plan and will be delivered before the conclusion of the strategic commissioning project in 2017.\r\nFurther information can be found on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/DoranReview \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:55.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294356,"EventID":"S4W-20982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:56.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue further guidance in relation to deaf children and young people in line with recommendation 7 of the See Hear framework published in April 2014 and what opportunity there will be for public engagement on this guidance.\r\n","AnswerText":"Publication of statutory guidance is scheduled for spring/summer 2015. A formal consultation exercise will be undertaken in the early part of 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:56.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294357,"EventID":"S4W-20984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:56.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will \"scope out the range of formal and informal training opportunities around sensory impairment awareness\" as suggested in recommendation 2 of the See Hear framework published in April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will, in the first instance, engage with NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council to scope out formal and informal training opportunities around sensory impairment awareness.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:56.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294358,"EventID":"S4W-20985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:56.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T10:51:10.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be made available to local authorities to pursue the local partnerships by means of which the See Hear framework will be implemented.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to Jackie Baillie’s question S4W-20941 on 8 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:56.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294359,"EventID":"S4W-20986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T14:15:56.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T11:23:44.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of the flood improvement schemes proposed in each local authority area in 2013-14 it (a) approved and (b) rejected, broken down by the (i) cost of and (ii) timescale for setting up the scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"A joint COSLA/Scottish Government panel was established to evaluate the seven flood protection scheme applications received. The two successful applications are set out in the following table.\r\nCouncil\r\nScheme\r\nCost £\r\nConstruction Timescale\r\nScottish Borders\r\nSelkirk\r\n31,767,058\r\nOct 2014 – Dec 2016\r\nAngus\r\nBrechin\r\n16,383,000\r\nNov 2014 - Mar 2016\r\n\r\nThe five unsuccessful applications are set out in the following table.\r\nCouncil\r\nScheme\r\nCost £\r\nConstruction Timescale\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\nWhitesands\r\n12,201,665\r\nJul 2015 - Dec 2016\r\nDundee\r\nDundee Central Waterfront Broughty Ferry\r\n 1,620,999\r\n\r\n 1,649,377\r\nAug 2014 - Dec 2016\r\n\r\nJun 2014 – Mar 2015\r\nEdinburgh City\r\nWater of Leith\r\n35,400,400\r\nNov 2014 - Dec 2016\r\nInverclyde\r\nInverclyde\r\n 3,156,684\r\nMay 2014 - Mar 2016\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\nAlmondbank\r\n14,745,877\r\nOct 2014 - Apr 2016\r\nTwo of the unsuccessful schemes are the subject of an ongoing appeal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T14:15:56.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294360,"EventID":"S4W-20988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-02T16:06:32.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T14:55:56.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to stop online auction sites allowing the sale of illegal, toxic pesticides and what representations it has made to the UK Government on this matter.","AnswerText":"It is an offence under UK pesticide legislation to sell online pesticides that do not have a valid UK authorisation or permit. Scottish Ministers, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities enforce this requirement in Scotland.\r\nInspectors have a range of tools at their disposal to secure compliance with the law and to ensure a proportionate response to criminal offences. For example, inspectors may offer sellers of pesticides information and advice, both face to face and in writing.\r\nThe inspector may also warn the pesticide seller that they are failing to comply with the law, and where appropriate may serve formal notices to require improvement or prohibit activities. Additionally, where there is sufficient evidence, and it is in the public interest to do so, those found supplying or using an unauthorised product may be prosecuted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-19T16:06:32.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294371,"EventID":"S4T-00686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T09:42:41.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T08:52:38.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the National Review of Asthma Deaths, which suggests that some deaths from the condition arise because of complacency among both medical staff and patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T09:42:41.04","MeetingDate":"2014-05-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294389,"EventID":"S4W-20950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:53.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:48:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the US Food and Drug Administration's announcement that mesh implants should be reclassified as \"high risk\", whether it will reclassify mesh implants and suspend their use pending an investigation of how many women are affected.\r\n","AnswerText":"Regulation of medical devices, including implants, is a reserved matter dealt with by the UK Government.\r\nI have written to both the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Commission asking that they urgently consider the US Food and Drug Administration’s proposed reclassification of surgical mesh for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. \r\nThe European Commission is seeking further research and expert opinion. I have asked for assurance that it will act quickly once the research is available to reclassify these devices if the evidence points to that requirement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:53.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294390,"EventID":"S4W-20951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:53.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:48:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many women in Scotland have been implanted with the Johnson & Johnson Ethicon TVT-O implant.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:53.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294391,"EventID":"S4W-20952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:53.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:48:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps the NHS has taken to contact each of the women implanted with the Johnson & Johnson Ethicon TVT-O implant to advise them that the implant is defective and investigate whether their health has been affected.","AnswerText":"Any woman who is worried, or is experiencing adverse side effects, should contact their surgeon or GP for advice.\r\nAn expert group is developing a revised patient information and consent leaflet that will go into use in NHSScotland and new care pathways for those women who decide to go ahead with a mesh procedure and for those who have suffered complications.\r\nThe Chief Medical Officer wrote to all GPs, through Medical Directors, on 11 July 2013 and 20 December 2013 regarding the investigation and management of patients being treated for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, including the management of patients with vaginal mesh and tape products. The Scottish Government will be writing again to Medical Directors once the expert group has concluded its work developing the documents and new care pathways.\r\nThe Scottish Government will write to NHS Inform following the publication of these documents. NHS Inform provides a health information service and is able to respond to enquiries regarding transvaginal mesh surgery. They can be contacted online at www.nhsinform.co.uk or by using their helpline number: 0800224488.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:53.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294392,"EventID":"S4W-20953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:53.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:48:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has written to GPs informing them of the potential adverse effects associated with mesh implants.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Chief Medical Officer wrote to all GPs, through Medical Directors, on 11 July 2013 and 20 December 2013 regarding the investigation and management of patients being treated for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, including the management of patients with vaginal mesh and tape products.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:53.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294393,"EventID":"S4W-20954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:54.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-04-30T16:48:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to set up a helpline to assist women who have been given a defective Johnson & Johnson Ethicon TVT-O implant.","AnswerText":"NHS Inform provides a health information service which is able to respond to enquiries regarding transvaginal mesh surgery. They can be contacted online or by telephone.\r\nThe Scottish Government will write to NHS Inform following publication of the patient information booklet, currently being developed by the expert working group set up to address the issues affecting women who have undergone transvaginal mesh surgery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:54.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294394,"EventID":"S4W-20991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:54.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people (a) have participated in and (b) are expected to complete the NHS programme, Life Begins at 40; what evaluation it has made of it, and what feedback has been received from (i) GPs, (ii) patients and (iii) other programme users.\r\n","AnswerText":"Between September 2011 and March 2013 a total of 10,902 new users accessed the Life Begins at 40 website.\r\nAn evaluation was carried out by Ipsos MORI between August 2011 and February 2012. This showed that only 8% of those invited to access the service chose to do so. Fewer than half (48%) of those who logged on between February and June 2011 completed each section of the online questionnaire.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:54.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294395,"EventID":"S4W-20992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:54.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent by the NHS programme, Life Begins at 40, and where any unspent money will be reallocated. ","AnswerText":"The budget allocation to NHS 24 for the delivery of the Life Begins at 40 programme was £670,000 between October 2010 and December 2012.\r\nIn 2014-15, part of the budget has been allocated to redeveloping the website to provide a more accessible service targeted at working age people in collaboration with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives. This is expected to go live in 2015. Additional funding has been provided to programmes providing targeted support for people in communities with high levels of inequalities in health.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:54.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294396,"EventID":"S4W-20993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:54.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on delivering the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to introduce “health checks and individual health plans for all men and women when they reach the age of 40 with the aim to extend this initiative to Scots reaching retirement age.”\r\n","AnswerText":"This Government believes in preventative action on health.\r\nWe are targeting scarce resources on those most at risk. We have introduced Anticipatory Care Plans through the GP contract and have launched the Links Worker pilot programme in selected Deep End Primary Care practices to support those with complex and multiple needs.\r\nWork is being taken forward by NHS 24 and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to develop a web-based resource that will be targeted at people of working age providing advice on health and wellbeing as well as on returning to work from sickness absence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:54.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294397,"EventID":"S4W-20994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has decided to discontinue the NHS programme, Life Begins at 40 and, if so, who made this decision; when it was taken, and for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Life Begins at 40 programme was discontinued at the end of March 2013. The decision was taken by me in January 2013 on the basis of advice on the conclusions from the evaluation of the programme that showed low levels of uptake and completion, and no evidence of benefits to health.\r\nThe Life Begins at 40 website is included in a scoping exercise to develop a web-based resource for working age people that will provide a range of advice for employees, employers and GPs on health and wellbeing in the workplace and on managing and returning to work from sickness absence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:55.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294398,"EventID":"S4W-20995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of the country’s poorest communities use the NHS programme, Keep Well, and what progress it has made on delivering the 2011 SNP manifesto commitment to extend the programme “to cover all of Scotland’s poorest communities by 2012.”\r\n","AnswerText":"The Keep Well health checks are targeted at all people aged 40-64 living in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) one and two which are the most deprived communities of Scotland.\r\nAn audit carried out by NHS Health Scotland showed that nearly 85 per cent of health checks in 2012-13 were delivered to individuals who live in SIMD one and two.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:55.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294399,"EventID":"S4W-20996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the health of people aged 40 and above.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is taking forward a wide range of policies to improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Scotland, improving healthy life expectancy.\r\nMany of our initiatives aim to improve the health of all, such as the promotion of physical activity. Others are targeted at specific groups. Older people, particularly those 40 years or older will benefit from our Detect Cancer Early and Bowel Cancer Screening programmes.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with NHS24 and NHS Health Scotland to develop a new, web-based source of information for people of working age. This advice will include details of how to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace as well as return-to-work advice. The new web-based service is expected to launch next year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:55.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294400,"EventID":"S4W-20997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:03:51.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the NHS programme, Keep Well, and how many people have participated in it.\r\n","AnswerText":"The mainstreaming process for Keep Well began in 2011. Between March 2011 and March 2014 128,240 checks have been delivered to people living in the most deprived communities in Scotland.\r\nThe budget allocation to NHS boards for the delivery of the Keep Well programme between March 2011 and April 2014 was £33.4 million.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:55.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294401,"EventID":"S4W-20998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:55.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T10:43:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many sheep inspections (a) have taken place and (b) are planned during the current lambing season, broken down by Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area office, as reported in The Scottish Farmer on 18 April 2014.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate have carried out two sheep and goat identification and traceability inspections during the traditional Scottish lambing season, one in the Ayr and one in the Perth area office commands.\r\nThe inspections were carried out at the request of European Commission audit officials.\r\nThere are no further inspections planned during the 2014 traditional Scottish lambing season.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:55.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294402,"EventID":"S4W-20999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:56.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:03:52.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of David MacBrayne Limited's bid to operate ferry services between the Swedish mainland and Gotland, and whether permission to make the bid was granted at ministerial level.","AnswerText":"The cost of bidding for this and any future contracts will be met from David MacBrayne Ltd’s own reserves and any financial returns that may have accrued from these contracts would have been reinvested in the company. It is considered that these costs are commercially sensitive.\r\nThe bid had the full backing of Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:56.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294403,"EventID":"S4W-21001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:56.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:27:13.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the delay in the publication of the final report of the Expert Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform; when it will publish the report, and whether this will allow sufficient time for the Parliament to scrutinise it.\r\n","AnswerText":"The publication of the final report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare has not been delayed. The Group were asked to report to Ministers in spring 2014 and they are sticking to that timescale. Taking into account printing and publishing timescales, I expect that it will be published in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:56.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294404,"EventID":"S4W-21004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:57.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:30:02.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Welfare Fund will be ringfenced.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund guidance sets out the ringfencing arrangements for the Fund. The Scottish Welfare Fund guidance can be found on the Scottish Government website at: \r\nhttp://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/scottishwelfarefund/scottishwelfarefuindguidance. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:57.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294405,"EventID":"S4W-21005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:57.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:30:02.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill will be introduced.\r\n","AnswerText":"I wrote to the Welfare Reform Committee on 2 May 2014 to advise them of our intention to introduce the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill in June 2014. A copy of the letter is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Welfare_Reform_Committee/20140502_MB-MM_Scottish_Welfare_Fund.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:57.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294406,"EventID":"S4W-21006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:57.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:30:02.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what further mechanisms there are, other than through local authorities, that allow for second tier reviews of claims to the Scottish Welfare Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17591 on 29 October 2013. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:57.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294407,"EventID":"S4W-21007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:58.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:33:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the recommendations made by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum in its 2014 report, Review of the Scottish Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has now considered and accepted all of the recommendations made in the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s 2014 report, Review of the Scottish Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy. A letter was sent to the Forum on 16 May 2014 which set out the Scottish Government’s response to each of the recommendations made. This response has been published on the Scottish Government's website: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/warmhomes/fuelpoverty/ScottishFuelPovertyForum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:58.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294408,"EventID":"S4W-21008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:58.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:33:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households have been affected by fuel poverty since the publication of the Scottish House Condition Survey 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not available.\r\nFigures on the number of people affected by fuel poverty take into account energy efficiency improvements to dwellings and changes in the incomes of Scottish households. This information is collected in the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS). The most recent official statistics are for 2012, published at the end of 2013. Figures for 2013 will be published in the SHCS Key Findings Report 2013, in December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:58.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294409,"EventID":"S4W-21009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:59.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:33:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access for fuel poor households in rural areas to the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government funding for the Home Energy Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) is distributed across all local authorities in Scotland. For 2014-15, £42 million of the £60 million available for HEEPS: ABS is allocated on the basis of need, which takes into account levels of fuel poverty and reflects the different types of properties within rural areas. This ensures that funding is directed to those areas most in need of assistance, including our rural areas.\r\n£14.4 million, 34% of the allocated HEEPS: ABS funding for 2014-15, has been distributed to local authorities in rural areas. This year’s funding will support delivery in off-gas grid areas by providing specific funding to be used to deliver heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households who meet the affordable warmth eligibility criteria in off-gas grid properties.\r\nIn addition, from April 2014, eligibility for the Energy Assistance Scheme takes precedence over the Affordable Warmth Scheme, helping to address a lack of service for off-gas grid households.\r\nWe are also lobbying the UK Government to amend the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to ensure fairer delivery for rural and remote areas in Scotland. I have written to the UK Government flagging up concerns over the slow delivery of the ECO to rural and remote areas. Following extensive engagement with our stakeholders, the Scottish Government recently responded to the UK Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the ECO. We welcomed the UK Government’s proposals to widen eligibility and include additional incentives for delivery in areas that are off the mains gas grid. However, we remain concerned that this may not go far enough and have called for additional support for rural areas to be applied across all targets within the ECO.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:59.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294410,"EventID":"S4W-21010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:52:59.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:33:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist fuel poor households in harder to treat properties.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government strongly disagrees with the UK Government’s proposed reduction of support for hard to treat properties. We have written to the UK Government flagging up concerns over this switch of focus which will undermine investment in energy efficiency, jobs in the insulation industry and progress in tackling fuel poverty and climate change.\r\nIn Scotland’s Future, we set out how, given the powers of independence, we would remove the cost of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Warm Homes Discount from household energy bills providing year on year savings while maintaining investment in energy efficiency. With our existing powers, we are taking action through our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) to mitigate the impact of these changes as far as possible.\r\nFollowing extensive engagement with our stakeholders the Scottish Government recently responded to the UK Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the ECO. We raised the importance of this issue and requested that the impacts are mitigated as much as possible and that the UK Government’s final plans following consultation address this. We also gave councils greater flexibility on our HEEPS: ABS (Area Based Schemes), including increasing the maximum grant available, to ensure they could continue to deliver more expensive measures to hard to treat properties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:52:59.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294411,"EventID":"S4W-21011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:33:36.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of the delivery of the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"With regard to the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS), local authorities complete quarterly reports on activity which will cover work completed in the previous months, works started on site and works committed but not yet started. This will include an analysis of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) for committed and completed homes. Local authorities will also provide details of the measures completed to homes which will be cross-referenced to the data Ofgem provides on ECO delivery in Scotland. \r\nWith regard to the HEEPS: Affordable Warmth Scheme, participating energy suppliers provide a performance scorecard to the Scottish Government on a monthly basis which forms the basis for monthly discussion of delivery, quality and service issues. Similarly, with regard to the HEEPS: Energy Assistance Scheme, Scottish Gas provides a performance scorecard to the Scottish Government on a monthly basis which forms the basis for monthly discussion of delivery, quality and service issues. Additionally, data from invoices for installations completed under the Energy Assistance Scheme allow a fuller report to be compiled for each financial year.\r\nWe intend to publish a monitoring report on all the HEEPS schemes later in the year, subject to receiving satisfactory performance data from councils and utility companies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:53:00.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294412,"EventID":"S4W-21012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:36:18.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many excess winter deaths there were in each year from 2007-08 to 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The seasonal increase in the mortality in the winter is the difference between the number of deaths in the four 'winter' months (December to March) and the average number of deaths in the preceding four months (August to November) and following four months (April to July).\r\nSeasonal increase in mortality in the winter; 2006-07 to 2012-13:\r\n \r\nSeasonal increase\r\nin mortality\r\n(Dec to Mar)\r\n2006-07\r\n2,750\r\n2007-08\r\n2,180\r\n2008-09\r\n3,510\r\n2009-10\r\n2,760\r\n2010-11\r\n2,450\r\n2011-12\r\n1,420\r\n2012-13\r\n2,000\r\nSource: GRO\r\nFigures are rounded to the nearest 10.\r\n2012-13 is provisional.\r\n\r\nThe seasonal increase in mortality has been calculated for every winter since 1951-52. The long-term trend over the last 60 years or so has clearly been downward and Scotland is in line with the EU average in terms of excess winter mortality. \r\nThe General Register Office for Scotland publish an annual report on winter mortality in Scotland. The 2012-13 report is available via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/winter-mortality/2012-2013/winter-mortality-2012-13.pdf\r\nThe 2013-14 report, which will include mortality in the winter 2013-14, will be published in autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:53:00.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294413,"EventID":"S4W-21013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:00.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:36:18.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken research on the relationship between health, fuel poverty and excess winter deaths.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not undertaken research specifically into this. However, this is an area we are keen to explore further. We are developing firm links with health colleagues and this has already assisted in establishing contact with the Deep End practices through the Link Worker programme.\r\nWe are also seeking to secure replacement NHS representation on the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to inform our discussions around the health and fuel poverty links. We will continue to work with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum and consider any recommendations they may make around this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:53:00.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294414,"EventID":"S4W-21014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T13:53:01.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:36:18.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken research on changes to the definition of fuel poverty and, if so, whether it will publish that research.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to change the definition of fuel poverty in Scotland.\r\nIn its final report on the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty strategy, published in March 2014, the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum recommended, “that the definition currently used in Scotland is still relevant, but that it needs to be reviewed and updated to reflect a more accurate assessment of the energy demands with in homes in a modern age.”\r\nResearch into the robustness of the assumptions underpinning the current definition of fuel poverty was commissioned by the Scottish Government on behalf of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. Members of the Forum are currently considering the results of this research and will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers in due course.\r\nThe Forum led on the research and is responsible for the final report and its publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T13:53:01.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294415,"EventID":"S4W-21016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:06.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T12:41:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16416 by Alasdair Allan on 31 July 2013, how the Autism Toolbox is being promoted (a) in schools and (b) to teachers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Autism Toolbox website was launched on 29 April 2014 at Grangemouth High School, by the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages. The delegates included teachers, educational support staff and pupils.\r\nScottish Autism has used part of its funding to produce the Autism Toolbox website to promote it in (a) schools and (b) to teachers, including:\r\nContacting all education authorities with the offer of awareness sessions about the Autism Toolbox website. Sessions have already taken place in nine authorities and have reached over 1,000 delegates, including teachers and educational support staff.\r\nAn awareness session about the website at the Scottish Learning Festival in September 2013. There will be an information stand at this year’s festival.\r\nA learning community has been set up on Glow. A Glow meet about the Autism Toolbox website took place on 1 May 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:06.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294416,"EventID":"S4W-21017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:06.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T12:41:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16416 by Alasdair Allan on 31 July 2013, whether it encourages education authorities to provide autism awareness training for teachers and educational support staff as part of their continuous professional development.\r\n","AnswerText":"To help teachers and educational support staff meet the needs of pupils with autism, the Scottish Government funded Scottish Autism to produce the Autism Toolbox website. This online national tool will encourage best practice for all education staff in schools to support pupils with autism. The Toolbox website will also provide a forum for continually updating and disseminating good practice.\r\nIn addition, Scottish Autism have contacted all education authorities with the offer of awareness sessions about the Autism Toolbox website. Sessions have already taken place in nine authorities and have reached over 1,000 delegates, including teachers and educational support staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:06.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294417,"EventID":"S4W-21018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:07.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T12:41:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18830 by Michael Matheson on 7 January 2014, which local authorities have published an autism strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"Published local autism action plans are available from the following web link: http://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk/news/.\r\nLocal authorities have also been encouraged to publish them on their own websites.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:07.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294418,"EventID":"S4W-21019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:07.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T12:41:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on which local authorities have not started to develop an autism strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"All local authorities have started to develop autism strategies/action plans. Local authorities are in different stages, most are either finalised or drafted with some still in development.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:07.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294419,"EventID":"S4W-21020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:07.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T13:50:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is confident of the accuracy of the waiting times figures for NHS boards in the Health Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).\r\nHIS advise that they are confident that they had a robust approach to collating and verifying the data published on 28 April 2014 within their report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\nHIS further advise that this involved all NHS boards initially providing the data, being in regular dialogue with HIS about their data as the report was being prepared over the period October 2013 to February 2014 and providing formal verification of data accuracy. All NHS boards were sent a copy of the draft report and given four weeks to examine their data prior to publication. All NHS boards provided verification of the accuracy of the data they provided.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:07.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294420,"EventID":"S4W-21021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:08.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T13:50:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been notified by NHS Forth Valley that the correct figure for waiting times for pain psychology are 124 weeks, and not 64, as previously stated in the Health Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain in Scotland: Where are we now?","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).\r\nI am advised that HIS have published a correction to the report and the local report compendium. This can be accessed via the HIS website:\r\nhttp://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/long_term_conditions/chronic_pain/where_are_we_now.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:08.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294421,"EventID":"S4W-21022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:08.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T13:50:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been notified by NHS Lanarkshire that the correct figures for waiting times for nursing are 24 to 28 weeks, and not two weeks as stated in the Health Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).\r\nHIS advise they were made aware that there was an error in the data submitted by NHS Lanarkshire to them subsequent to the publication of the report, relating to the waiting time for second appointment at the nurse clinic. NHS Lanarkshire confirmed that the time between an original assessment and/or treatment and a second (follow up) appointment at a nurse led clinic is 24 to 28 weeks (mean 26 weeks). In this context it is important to note that this service follows up patients previously seen by the pain consultant to ensure their intervention has been successful and in most clinical conditions they report, a six month period would be one that would be needed to assess this. Patients are fully involved in determining this pathway and are aware of the purpose of the clinic visit.\r\nHIS will amend the data on their website to reflect this correction by NHS Lanarkshire.\r\nHIS also confirm that this amendment does not in any way impact on the conclusions and/or recommendations made in the report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:08.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294422,"EventID":"S4W-21023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:08.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T13:50:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review for accuracy the data provided by NHS boards for the Health Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now? \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21020 on 14 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:09.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294423,"EventID":"S4W-21024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:09.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T14:13:37.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many road traffic collisions there were in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of injury road traffic accidents in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The figures for 2013 are still being processed and those in the table are only for the period from January to September 2013. Provisional figures for the whole of 2013 will be published in Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland on 25 June 2014.\r\n\r\nAberdeen City\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013*\r\n2012\r\n2013*\r\nFatal\r\n7\r\n4\r\n16\r\n14\r\nSerious\r\n94\r\n72\r\n170\r\n96\r\nSlight\r\n284\r\n186\r\n350\r\n252\r\nAll accidents\r\n385\r\n262\r\n536\r\n362\r\n* Figures for 2013 are provisional and cover January to September\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:09.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294424,"EventID":"S4W-21025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:09.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T14:13:37.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) fatal and (b) serious road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles there were in North East Scotland  in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of fatal and serious road traffic accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in the legacy Grampian police force area. The figures for 2013 are still being processed and those in the table are only for the period from January to September 2013. Provisional figures for the whole of 2013 will be published in Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland on 25 June 2014.\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013*\r\nFatal\r\n5\r\n2\r\nSerious\r\n14\r\n11\r\n* Figures for 2013 are provisional and cover January to September\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:09.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294425,"EventID":"S4W-21026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:09.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T14:13:37.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many new business start-ups there were in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"New business start-ups are measured using new business VAT/PAYE registration figures. In 2012, there were 1,285 new business start-ups in the Aberdeen City local authority area and 1,205 new business start-ups in the Aberdeenshire local authority area. Estimates of start-ups for 2013 are expected to be published by the Office for National Statistics in November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:09.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294426,"EventID":"S4W-21027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:10.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T14:13:37.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the cost of private-rented accommodation in Aberdeen.\r\n","AnswerText":"Rent Service Scotland collects market information on a representative sample of private sector rents by Broad Rental Market Areas. Information on the 30th percentile of private sector rents, by bedroom size, is published on the Scottish Government website, alongside corresponding information on Local Housing Allowance rates.\r\n30th percentile figures, derived from 12 months of letting information up to the end of September 2013 are available for the Aberdeen and Shire Broad Rental Market Area at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/tenants/Local-Housing-Allowance/figures \r\n30th percentile figures, derived from 12 months of letting information up to the end of September 2012 are available for the Aberdeen and Shire Broad Rental Market Area at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/tenants/money/localhousingallowance/Figures-1/2013 \r\nLocal and Planning authorities are required to examine local rent levels as part of their Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDAs) which are then appraised by the Scottish Government. Information about the price of private rents in Aberdeen is available in the Aberdeen City and Shire HNDA (2010) and the 2011 HNDA update. Links are as follows.\r\n2010 HNDA:\r\nhttp://www.aberdeencityandshire-sdpa.gov.uk/AboutUs/HNDA.asp \r\n2011 HNDA update:\r\nhttp://www.aberdeencityandshire-sdpa.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=898&sID=38 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:10.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294427,"EventID":"S4W-21028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:10.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T14:13:37.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of eligible people in the NHS Grampian area who have taken part in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme in the latest three years available (up to 31 October 2012) is provided in the table. Data up to 31 October 2013 will be available when the annual bowel screening Key Performance Indicators Report is published at the end of August 2014.\r\nThe number of eligible people taking part in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, 2010-20121:\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n2010 \r\n2011\r\n20121\r\nMales\r\n23,249 \r\n25,449 \r\n20,937 \r\nFemales\r\n26,520 \r\n29,052 \r\n23,385 \r\nTotal\r\n49,769 \r\n54,501 \r\n44,322 \r\nOnly includes data up to 31 October 2012.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:10.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294428,"EventID":"S4W-21029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:10.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:08:43.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much was provided by the (a) UK Government and (b) Scottish Government when responsibility was devolved for (i) the Scottish Welfare Fund, (ii) information and advice provision on recent welfare changes and (iii) the council tax reduction scheme.","AnswerText":"(i) The UK Government provided £23.8 million for 2013-14 and 2014-15 to the Scottish Government for the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF).\r\nScottish Ministers decided to use the full allocation from the UK Government to provide local welfare assistance and provided an additional £9.2 million of funding for both of these years. The total funding available for the SWF in each of these years is £33 million.\r\nThe UK Government also transferred funding for administration costs of just over \r\n£5 million in 2013-14, falling to just over £4.6 million in 2014-15, while the Scottish Government has again provided additional funding to match the previous £5 million total.\r\nSet-up costs in the region of £2 million were transferred from the UK Government in 2013-14 for the SWF.\r\n(ii) Responsibility for information and advice provision rests with both the UK and the Scottish Government. There has been not been any transfer of responsibility in this regard in relation to the recent welfare changes.\r\n(iii) The programme budget transfer from the UK Government was £328 million for 2013-14 and £320 million for 2014-15. The Scottish Government provided an additional £23 million in both 2013-14 and 2014-15 to assist with mitigating the \r\n10% funding gap local authorities faced.\r\n- The Scottish Government provided a one-off sum of £4.156 million to local authorities in 2013-14 for the set-up costs of the new Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme.\r\n- The UK Government's funding for local authorities' administrative costs for 2013-14 (details can be found at: \r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226452/s5-2012.pdf) was maintained as a single subsidy for both Housing Benefit and CTR, but was partially disaggregated for CTR only cases from 2014-15 with a transfer of £7.05 million to the Scottish Government. The UK Government continues to provide funding towards local authorities’ administration costs, but this is provided direct to local authorities and it is not possible to disaggregate to identify CTR separately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:10.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294429,"EventID":"S4W-21030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:11.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:08:43.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the (a) UK Government and (b) Scottish Government will provide for the Independent Living Fund.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is awaiting the settlement details from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in regards the devolved settlement. The DWP have committed to providing funding in lieu of existing users. The Scottish Government fully intends to pass on this resource to existing users, subject to adequate resources being devolved on a continuing basis.\r\nAs the Deputy First Minister announced on the 11 April 2014, the Scottish Government will provide new funding of £5.5 million to establish a national system and open up the Scottish Independent Living Fund to new users.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:11.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294430,"EventID":"S4W-21031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:11.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:08:43.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Independent Living Fund will be transferred to the Scottish Government; who will administer it, and on what criteria.","AnswerText":"The Department for Work and Pensions have taken the decision to close the Independent Living Fund from June 2015. Therefore there is no transfer. The Scottish Government will establish a Scottish Independent Living Fund (SILF) from the 1 July 2015. Discussions on the administration of the SILF and criteria will begin soon with our partners in the third and statutory sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:11.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294431,"EventID":"S4W-21033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:12.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:08:43.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people receive support from the Independent Living Fund, broken down by local authority, and how many new applicants can be accommodated when responsibility transfers to the Scottish Government.","AnswerText":"The Independent Living Fund (ILF) is administered through the Independent Living Fund, a non-departmental public body of the Department for Work and Pensions. Therefore the Scottish Government does not hold the figures requested. However the information can be found at the ILF website:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/301888/user-profiles-0314.pdf\r\nThe Scottish Government will provide new funding of £5.5 million to the newly established Scottish Independent Living Fund to open the fund to new members. We will work with disabled people and groups representing disabled people, to develop the process of the new arrangements. Based on this, eligibility criteria will be developed. Therefore we cannot say how many people will utilise this funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:12.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294432,"EventID":"S4W-21035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:12.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:10:34.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the funding that it has allocated for advice services set up following recent welfare changes will support (a) existing services and (b) the development of new projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in the Scottish Budget 2013-14, the Scottish Government will invest £7 million in each of the three years from 2013-14 to 2015-16 in a range of welfare reform mitigation measures such as for advice and support services. The most recent announcement on 24 April 2014 is for the Tackling Money Worries Programme which is to be administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). \r\nThe Scottish Government has approved that SLAB can spend up to £2.4 million on new projects focussing on supporting the outcomes of the revised Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland by connecting low income families with children to debt advice and to help them manage their money better at times where they are more vulnerable to debt.\r\nThe application period for the programme opened on 6 May 2014 and will close on \r\n15 June 2014 after which SLAB will assess the proposals submitted. Once the bids have been assessed and applicants notified the list of successful projects will be published on the SLAB website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:12.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294433,"EventID":"S4W-21036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:13.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:15:49.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been distributed by the Scottish Welfare Fund, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.\r\nFor Community Care Grants, £14.3 million was distributed between 1 April 2013 and 31 December 2013. Information on the distribution by local authority is published in Table 15 at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf/AprilDec2013.\r\nFor Crisis Grants, £3.7 million was distributed between 1 April 2013 and 31 December 2013. Information on the distribution by local authority is published in Table 16 of the publication.\r\nStatistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:13.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294434,"EventID":"S4W-21037","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:13.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:15:49.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund have been (a) approved and (b) rejected, broken down by (i) gender of the applicant and (ii) local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.\r\nThe number of applications that were accepted and rejected by gender was previously answered in S4W-20605 on 2 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe following tables show the number of applications which were accepted and rejected by gender of the main applicant and by local authority. Tables are provided separately for Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.\r\nTable 1: Community Care Grant Decisions by Gender of Main Applicant and Local Authority.\r\nGender of Main Applicant\r\n\r\nNot Recorded\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\nAll\r\n\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nAberdeen City\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n145 \r\n180 \r\n        115 \r\n205 \r\n260 \r\n390 \r\nAberdeenshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n150 \r\n  65 \r\n        125 \r\n  85 \r\n270 \r\n150 \r\nAngus\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n160 \r\n120 \r\n        200 \r\n165 \r\n360 \r\n285 \r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  75 \r\n125 \r\n85 \r\n150 \r\n160 \r\n275 \r\nClackmannanshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  70 \r\n  90 \r\n55 \r\n115 \r\n125 \r\n205 \r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n380 \r\n235 \r\n        390 \r\n270 \r\n770 \r\n505 \r\nDundee City\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n485 \r\n560 \r\n        480 \r\n645 \r\n965 \r\n       1,205 \r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n215 \r\n300 \r\n        175 \r\n305 \r\n390 \r\n605 \r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  40 \r\n  50 \r\n35 \r\n  85 \r\n  75 \r\n135 \r\nEast Lothian\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  40 \r\n115 \r\n40 \r\n140 \r\n  75 \r\n250 \r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  15 \r\n  50 \r\n30 \r\n  55 \r\n  45 \r\n105 \r\nEdinburgh\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n495 \r\n865 \r\n        405 \r\n       1,010 \r\n900 \r\n       1,875 \r\nEilean Siar\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n    5 \r\n  15 \r\n10 \r\n  20 \r\n  15 \r\n  35 \r\nFalkirk\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n305 \r\n285 \r\n        265 \r\n385 \r\n570 \r\n670 \r\nFife\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n260 \r\n405 \r\n        225 \r\n580 \r\n485 \r\n985 \r\nGlasgow City\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n840 \r\n2,280 \r\n        865 \r\n       2,835 \r\n       1,710 \r\n       5,115 \r\nHighland\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n105 \r\n180 \r\n        115 \r\n195 \r\n220 \r\n380 \r\nInverclyde\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n160 \r\n255 \r\n        190 \r\n330 \r\n350 \r\n580 \r\nMidlothian\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  80 \r\n125 \r\n        125 \r\n175 \r\n210 \r\n300 \r\nMoray\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  75 \r\n135 \r\n95 \r\n155 \r\n175 \r\n290 \r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n230 \r\n285 \r\n        275 \r\n280 \r\n500 \r\n565 \r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n290 \r\n430 \r\n        280 \r\n565 \r\n570 \r\n       1,000 \r\nOrkney\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  10 \r\n  20 \r\n10 \r\n  20 \r\n  20 \r\n  40 \r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  55 \r\n150 \r\n55 \r\n185 \r\n110 \r\n335 \r\nRenfrewshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n225 \r\n405 \r\n        205 \r\n490 \r\n430 \r\n895 \r\nScottish Borders\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n155 \r\n145 \r\n        145 \r\n165 \r\n300 \r\n310 \r\nShetland\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  10 \r\n  10 \r\n  5 \r\n  10 \r\n  15 \r\n  25 \r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  75 \r\n190 \r\n65 \r\n215 \r\n140 \r\n405 \r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n365 \r\n845 \r\n        300 \r\n       1,330 \r\n665 \r\n       2,170 \r\nStirling\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n  50 \r\n160 \r\n50 \r\n165 \r\n100 \r\n325 \r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n340 \r\n415 \r\n        340 \r\n710 \r\n680 \r\n       1,125 \r\nWest Lothian\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n155 \r\n355 \r\n        240 \r\n475 \r\n400 \r\n830 \r\nScotland\r\n -   \r\n  5 \r\n      6,060 \r\n       9,850 \r\n      6,000 \r\n      12,505 \r\n      12,060 \r\n      22,360 \r\nNote: All figures have been rounded to the nearest five applications.\r\n\r\nTable 2: Crisis Grant Decisions by Gender of Main Applicant and Local Authority.\r\nGender of Main Applicant\r\n\r\nNot Recorded\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\nAll\r\n\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nAberdeen City\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n       1,015 \r\n       1,585 \r\n        530 \r\n       1,105 \r\n       1,545 \r\n       2,690 \r\nAberdeenshire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n310 \r\n600 \r\n        190 \r\n435 \r\n500 \r\n       1,035 \r\nAngus\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n595 \r\n650 \r\n        385 \r\n565 \r\n980 \r\n       1,215 \r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n180 \r\n470 \r\n        130 \r\n345 \r\n310 \r\n820 \r\nClackmannan-shire\r\n -   \r\n -   \r\n195 \r\n240 \r\n    ","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:13.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294435,"EventID":"S4W-21038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:13.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:15:49.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on advertising the Scottish Welfare Fund; what methods of advertising have been used, and with what frequency.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20200 on 31 March 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:13.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294436,"EventID":"S4W-21039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:14.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:15:49.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund there have been because of benefit sanctions and how many have been (a) approved and (b) rejected.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.\r\nThe table below shows how many applications contained someone on a sanctioned benefit during the period 1 April to 31 December 2013.\r\nFor Community Care Grants, 31 applications in total contained someone who had been sanctioned. Of these 31, 12 applications were successful in receiving a Community Care Grant.\r\nFor Crisis Grants, 400 applications in total contained someone who had been sanctioned. Of these 400, 165 applications were successful in receiving a Crisis Grant.\r\n \r\nRejected\r\nAccepted\r\nTotal\r\nCommunity Care Grants\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nNot Sanctioned\r\n12,043 \r\n22,346 \r\n34,389 \r\nSanctioned\r\n19 \r\n12 \r\n31 \r\nTotal\r\n12,062 \r\n22,358 \r\n34,420 \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nCrisis Grants\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nNot Sanctioned\r\n22,010 \r\n53,571 \r\n75,581 \r\nSanctioned\r\n235 \r\n165 \r\n400 \r\nTotal\r\n22,245 \r\n53,736 \r\n75,981 \r\nThe Scottish Welfare Fund guidance regarding sanctions changed in April 2014. The data in the above analysis pre-dates this change.\r\nStatistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:14.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294437,"EventID":"S4W-21040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:14.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:15:49.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the expected demand is for support from the Scottish Welfare Fund in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16, and how this has been calculated.\r\n","AnswerText":"Funding levels for the Scottish Welfare Fund are based on historical spend by the Department for Work and Pensions. The budget for 2014-15 is detailed in the Supporting Document to the Budget (Scotland) Bill 2014-15 which was approved by Parliament on 5 February 2014. The planned budget for 2015-16 will be published in the Draft Budget 2015-16 in the autumn.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:14.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294438,"EventID":"S4W-21041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:15.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:39:21.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage the implementation of recommendations made by Stonewall Scotland in its report, Your Services Your Say. LGB&T People's Experiences of Public Services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently engaging with national LGBT organisations, including Stonewall Scotland, to develop a strategic action plan for LGBT equality with targeted actions for specific areas of the Scottish Government to address issues of inequality for LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:15.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294439,"EventID":"S4W-21042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:15.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:39:21.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to improve the experience of public services by LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided funding of almost £300,000 to Stonewall Scotland between 2012-15 to work with public bodies who request support to improve the services they deliver to LGBT people.\r\nThe Scottish Government is currently engaging with national LGBT organisations, including Stonewall Scotland, to develop a strategic action plan for LGBT equality with targeted actions for specific areas of the Scottish Government to address issues of inequality for LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:15.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294440,"EventID":"S4W-21043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:16.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to be given the authority to lift the cap on discretionary housing payments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to the Deputy First Minister on 2 May 2014 to offer to provide Scottish Ministers with a power to set the statutory cap on discretionary housing payments in Scotland using section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998. The Scottish Government has accepted this offer. At their meeting on 8 May 2014, the Deputy First Minister and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland agreed to prioritise the progress of the section 63 order. The order will need to be agreed by both the Scottish and UK Governments before it is laid before both Houses of the Westminster Parliament and the Scottish Parliament. It will then go before the Privy Council. The Deputy First Minister will update the Scottish Parliament once a timescale has been agreed with the Scotland Office.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:16.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294441,"EventID":"S4W-21044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:16.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that local authorities should now be making full discretionary housing payments to people affected by the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes, the Scottish Government expects everyone affected by the bedroom tax who applies for a discretionary housing payment to be awarded one.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:16.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294442,"EventID":"S4W-21045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:17.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for local authorities to contact people affected by the so-called bedroom tax in order to make discretionary housing payments.\r\n","AnswerText":"Communication with social tenants about their rent or housing benefit is the responsibility of local authorities and housing associations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:17.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294443,"EventID":"S4W-21047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:17.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be allocated to mitigate the so-called bedroom tax, broken down by local authority, and what formula will be used to calculate this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is allocating £35 million in 2014-15 to mitigate the impact of the bedroom tax in Scotland. This is in addition to the £15 million funding for discretionary housing payments made available by the Department for Work and Pensions. The breakdown by local authority of the initial £20 million from the Scottish Government is described in Local Government Finance Circular 2014 No 2, available on the Scottish Government website:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203.  \r\nThe breakdown of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions is contained in their Housing Benefit Circulars HB S1/2014 and HB S2/2014. \r\nThe remaining £15 million of Scottish Government funding will be allocated to the 20 local authorities that still have insufficient funds to fully mitigate the bedroom tax. The distribution will be agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:17.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294444,"EventID":"S4W-21048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-06T17:12:18.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T15:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to cancel debt that has arisen because of the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no capacity to provide funding over and above the £55 million provided in the years 2013-15. The lifting of the cap on funding for discretionary housing payments (DHPs) will create additional flexibility for local authorities to supplement their DHP funds to meet any additional local priorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-20T17:12:18.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294464,"EventID":"S4O-03206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:17.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:58.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the attainment gap between children from the poorest and wealthiest homes.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:18.123","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294465,"EventID":"S4O-03207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:18.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:58.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether teachers and school nurses have the appropriate skills to notice the early signs of mental health problems in primary and secondary school pupils.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:18.717","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294466,"EventID":"S4O-03208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:18.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:58.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with local authorities about the increase in pupils in primary and secondary schools with additional support needs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:18.933","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294467,"EventID":"S4O-03209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:19.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T11:26:36.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland's universities will benefit from the EU's €80 billion Horizon 2020 programme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:19.17","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294468,"EventID":"S4O-03210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:19.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:59.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward ensuring that speech and language therapy are available in Gaelic medium schools.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:19.403","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294469,"EventID":"S4O-03211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:19.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:59.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what investment it plans to improve the learning experience in its university estate.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:19.653","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294470,"EventID":"S4O-03212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:19.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:02:59.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in support for the use of the Scots language in the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:19.887","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294471,"EventID":"S4O-03213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:20.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:37:20.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how universities could progress in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:20.15","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294472,"EventID":"S4O-03214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:20.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:19:19.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there are enough supply teachers available for rural schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:20.417","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294473,"EventID":"S4O-03215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:20.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T11:59:35.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people returning to education, training or employment who have very young children.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:20.683","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294474,"EventID":"S4O-03216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:20.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:01.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of what impact the reported decreasing levels of numeracy in schools will have on the uptake of so-called STEM subjects in further and higher education.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:20.947","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294475,"EventID":"S4O-03217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:21.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:01.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a programme in schools for monitoring children’s weight.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:21.18","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294476,"EventID":"S4O-03218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:21.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T17:06:39.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland's universities will continue to benefit from research funding from outside the country in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:21.43","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294477,"EventID":"S4O-03219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:21.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:02.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the benefits to Scotland’s education sector are of being part of the EU.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:21.68","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294478,"EventID":"S4O-03220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:22.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:42:42.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding the Erasmus+ programme, which supports young people into lifelong learning. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:22.197","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294479,"EventID":"S4O-03221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:22.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T10:36:23.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Professor Paul Boyle’s view that Research Councils UK ”strongly support” an independent Scotland remaining part of the network.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:22.413","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294480,"EventID":"S4O-03222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:22.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T10:22:57.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the educational attainment gap between children from different social backgrounds.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:22.663","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294481,"EventID":"S4O-03223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:22.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:52:25.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the latest publication of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, what action it will take to ensure that numeracy levels improve across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:22.88","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294482,"EventID":"S4O-03224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:23.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:04.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support places on courses at FE colleges.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have committed to a funding floor of £522 million this year, rising to £526 million in 2015-16. This very substantial funding supports our key commitment to maintain the number of full-time equivalent student places at college.\r\nEarlier this year, we announced an extra 3,500 places over the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years, funded by a combination of European Social Fund and existing Scottish Funding Council FE resource funds.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:23.117","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294483,"EventID":"S4O-03225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:23.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:04.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, which suggests that there were statistically significantly lower levels of numerical attainment at both P4 and P7 in 2013 compared with 2011.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to my earlier answer to Iain Gray. We announced a range of measures to ensure a clear focus on numeracy across Scotland’s schools.\r\nIn addition to the extra £1 million funding over three years committed to the local authority numeracy hubs programme, Education Scotland are building a range of further activities and resources into the support they provide to local authorities, teachers and schools on numeracy. This includes further professional learning resources for teachers based on the survey findings.\r\nWe are also incorporating a specific numeracy strand into our ground-breaking work on Pathfinder schools and building a specific focus on numeracy into the forthcoming Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development review of Curriculum for Excellence.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:23.35","MeetingDate":"2014-05-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294484,"EventID":"S4O-03226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:23.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:44.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the condition of the road network in the Highlands and Islands. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:23.6","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294485,"EventID":"S4O-03227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:23.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:44.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHS boards regarding the operation of private finance initiative contracts.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:23.833","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294486,"EventID":"S4O-03228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:24.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:44.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to resolve the environmental issues arising from the abandonment of opencast coal sites in East Ayrshire.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:24.067","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294487,"EventID":"S4O-03229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:24.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:44.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have adapted the loop equipment that they provide to people with hearing loss since the introduction of digital televisions and radios.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:24.317","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294488,"EventID":"S4O-03230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:24.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T11:46:39.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to NHS boards on prescribing blood glucose test strips.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:24.537","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294489,"EventID":"S4O-03231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:24.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:45.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is being provided to deliver ophthalmology services in Shetland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:24.77","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294490,"EventID":"S4O-03232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:25.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T08:25:22.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward meeting accident and emergency waiting times targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:25.033","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294491,"EventID":"S4O-03233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:25.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T11:21:18.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cataract operations the NHS performs each year.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:25.47","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294492,"EventID":"S4O-03234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:25.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-02T12:03:47.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the payment of the state pension in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:25.707","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294493,"EventID":"S4O-03235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T12:32:25.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T10:41:37.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported confirmation from the Minister of State for Pensions that pensions would be maintained if there was a Yes vote in the independence referendum.","AnswerText":"I welcome the comments of the UK Minister of State for Pensions. This is a clear confirmation that, following a vote for independence, the state pension will continue to be paid as it is now, on time and in full, and that all entitlements built up by individuals will be protected.\r\nThese comments reaffirm the view given in an earlier letter sent by the Department for Work and Pensions, confirming that pensions would be continue to be paid as now in an independent Scotland.\r\nNone of this should be surprising considering that social protection spending, which covers welfare and pensions spending, has been consistently more affordable in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T12:32:25.923","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294494,"EventID":"S4W-21049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:19.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T19:40:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent on dermatology waiting list initiative clinics in the last two years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on waiting list initiatives is not routinely collected nationally for any specialty, including dermatology patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:19.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294495,"EventID":"S4W-21050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:20.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T17:52:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what historic buildings it (a) owns and (b) is responsible for maintaining under guardianship agreements in the West Scotland region.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and associated public bodies either own, lease or maintain under a guardianship agreement, a number of properties in the West Scotland region and these can be broken down into two broad categories: properties in care – managed by Historic Scotland; and heritable property otherwise owned/occupied by Scottish Government (including public bodies). \r\nProperties in care – managed by Historic Scotland:\r\nHistoric Scotland currently cares for 345 ancient monuments on behalf of Scottish Ministers. They are referred to collectively as the Properties in Care and have been taken into state care due to their historical, archaeological, architectural or cultural significance or interest. There are 17 such Properties in Care in West Scotland region.\r\nProperties in Care are held either by guardianship (by far the majority), ownership (around a fifth of the estate), or a small number by lease or other agreements. Guardianship gives Ministers powers to manage the property and requires them to comply with a range of obligations, rights and constraints arising principally from the legislation or from the terms of the specific deed of guardianship or leasehold. \r\nName of Property in Care\r\nOwnership/guardianship/lease\r\nAntonine Wall, Bar Hill, rampart, ditch, fort and Military Way\r\nOwnership\r\nCastle Semple Collegiate Church\r\nOwnership\r\nDumbarton Castle\r\nOwnership\r\nKilwinning Abbey\r\nOwnership\r\nBearsden Station, Roman bath-house \r\nOwnership\r\nAuchengallon, cairn \r\nGuardianship\r\nBarochan Cross\r\nGuardianship\r\nCarn Ban, chambered cairn, Arran\r\nGuardianship\r\nKilpatrick, dun, enclosure, hut circles, cairn and field system 1km\r\nGuardianship\r\nLochranza Castle, Arran\r\nGuardianship \r\nMoss Farm, Machrie Moor, stone circles, cairns, hut-circles\r\nGuardianship\r\nMoss Farm, cairn \r\nGuardianship \r\nNewark Castle\r\nGuardianship \r\nSkelmorlie Aisle and Largs Old Parish Church\r\nGuardianship \r\nTorr a'Chaisteal, dun, Arran\r\nGuardianship \r\nTorrylin, chambered long cairn \r\nGuardianship \r\nAntonine Wall, N of Whitehill Avenue, Hillhead, Kirkintilloch\r\nGuardianship \r\n\r\nOther Heritable Property owned or occupied by Scottish Government (including public bodies):\r\nThere are no properties owned or occupied by the core Scottish Government in this Region. \r\nThe following table includes property owned or occupied by public bodies. Where known, whether or not each is listed is noted. A comprehensive list has been provided, in recognition that some of these properties may be regarded locally as of historical interest even though they are not listed buildings or Properties in Care. \r\nProperty\r\nProperty Centre/NDPB\r\nOwned or Leased\r\nListed Building?\r\nDate built\r\nAIB Office, 1 Pennyburn Road Kilwinning, KA13 6SA\r\nAIB\r\nLeased\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nUnit 6, 12 Rivergate Centre, KA12 8EH\r\nSDS\r\nLeased\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nRivergate House, KA12 8EH\r\nSCRA\r\nLeased\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nBrodick Vic, The Pier, Isle of Arran, KA27 8AU \r\nVisit Scotland\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nFC Arran Office, Auchrannie Road, Isle of Arran, KA27 8BZ\r\nForestry Commission\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nScottish National Water Sport Centre, Isle of Cumbrae, KA28 0HQ\r\nSport Scotland\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nNational Sports Centre Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW \r\nSport Scotland\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\n1/3 Brisbane Street, Greenock, PA16 8LH\r\nSCRA\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nSheriff Court House, 1 Nelson Street, Greenock, PA15 1TR\r\nSCS\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\n1st Floor, 112 West Blackhall Street, PA15 1XR\r\nSDS\r\nLeased\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nVictory Court, Arlsburn Maritime, Greenock, PA15 4RT\r\nCrown Office And Procurator Fiscal\r\nLeased\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nTourist Information Centre (TIC) Helensburgh, The Pier, Helensburgh, G84 7NY\r\nVisit Scotland\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nTIC Tarbet, Arrochar, G83 7DE\r\nVisit Scotland\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nThe Loch Lomond Park Centre, Alexandria, G83 8PA\r\nLoch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Authority\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nDumbarton Church Court, 55 Church Court, Dumbarton, G82 1SU\r\nSCRA\r\nOwned\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\nDumbarton Sheriff Court House, Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QR\r","AnswerDate":"2014-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:20.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294496,"EventID":"S4W-21052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:20.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T17:50:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02994 on 12 March 2014. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9016\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:20.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294497,"EventID":"S4W-21053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:20.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-06T17:50:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it  plans to amend the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 to cover e-cigarettes.\r\n","AnswerText":"I welcome the draft European Tobacco Products Directive, which was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 14 March 2014. This sets out a number of measures for the regulation of electronic cigarettes, such as subjecting non-medical devices to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco products. Member states will have to implement the provisions by May 2016. We are also committed to considering what additional measures may be required in Scotland to further protect public health, such as restricting age of sale for electronic cigarettes.\r\nThere are currently no plans to amend the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 to cover e-cigarettes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:20.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294498,"EventID":"S4W-21054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:21.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:09:52.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) who and (b) what companies the (i) First Minister and (ii) Deputy First Minister met/has met at least twice (A) since 1 May 2013 and (B) between 1 May 2012 and 30 April 2013.","AnswerText":"All ministerial engagements are proactively published on the Scottish Government Website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:21.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294499,"EventID":"S4W-21056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:21.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T09:19:07.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how athletes and their families were informed that a \"Scotland House facility\" offered them a home from home during the 2012 London Olympics and how many attended as visitors.\r\n","AnswerText":"Sportscotland worked directly with the British Olympic Association on inviting athletes and their families to Scotland House during the 2012 London Olympics.\r\nMore than 3,000 visitors came to Scotland House. Further information on Scotland House can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/Sport/MajorEvents/Glasgow-2014/London2012.\r\nFor the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Scotland House will provide a safe and relaxed environment for Team Scotland athletes and their families. Athletes will be notified of this facility through Commonwealth Games Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:21.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294500,"EventID":"S4W-21057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:21.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T10:32:04.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence has been used to support the vaccination of primary school children with the nasally ingested Fluenz drug.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine Fluenz should be the vaccine of choice for the childhood flu immunisation programme. Arrangements are in place to offer alternative authorised vaccines for the small number of children who are unable to receive the Fluenz vaccine.\r\nThe new childhood vaccination programme was introduced in October 2013, and will be rolled out over the next few years on a phased basis, offering protection to those aged 2-17. Advice from Health Protection Scotland was that maximal public health benefit was anticipated through introducing the programme in the youngest age groups initially and progressively rolling the programme out to older children over coming seasons. The rationale for this choice reflects the maximal risk from influenza and its complications arising in the youngest children. It additionally takes into account the maximal anticipated impact on lowering transmission of influenza in the community by vaccination of the youngest children and as a consequence indirectly protecting other unvaccinated children and adults.\r\nVaccination is voluntary, and it is always our aim to ensure that people are able to make informed choices about whether or not to accept the offer of vaccination for themselves or those for whom they make decisions. The Scottish Government will raise awareness of the childhood flu vaccination programme to inform and educate parents, children, healthcare professionals and others about the programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:21.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294501,"EventID":"S4W-21058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:22.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T12:08:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the electrification of the railway line to Dunblane to include the line to Perth.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government plans to invest £5 billion between 2014 and 2019 to improve rail infrastructure and services. Network Rail will also oversee the development of a rolling programme of electrification at 100km of track per year upon the completion of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme. Priorities for future electrification, following the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High, will be determined in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:22.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294502,"EventID":"S4W-21059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:22.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T12:08:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many schools use portable cabins as classrooms, broken down by (a) school, (b) local authority and (c) number of classrooms.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this level of information. The information is held by individual education authorities as it is their statutory responsibility to provide and maintain school buildings as outlined in Section 17 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:22.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294503,"EventID":"S4W-21060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T13:46:22.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T12:08:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many private meetings (a) cabinet secretaries and (b) ministers have had with newspaper editors in each year since 2007, broken down by newspaper.","AnswerText":"All meetings between the First Minister and newspaper editors between 2007 and March 2014 are listed on the Scottish Government website. Also listed are all meetings between Cabinet Secretaries/Ministers and newspaper editors between 2007 and August 2012:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/proprietors-editors-execs\r\nMeetings between Cabinet Secretaries/Ministers and newspaper editors subsequent to August 2012 are included within their ministerial engagements which are proactively published on the Scottish Government website:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngagements\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T13:46:22.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294517,"EventID":"S4W-21061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T16:46:14.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T14:14:19.467","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to permitted development rights on battlefields.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is already taking steps to ensure planning authorities protect, conserve and where appropriate seek to enhance, the key landscape characteristics and special qualities of sites on the current inventory of historic battlefields which includes Culloden.\r\nLast year we consulted on proposals as part of our draft planning policy to reflect recent legislation around the protection and management of battlefields and we will publish the finalised policy in June 2014. We will also amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 to remove the current permitted development rights from agricultural and forestry buildings to ensure that planning applications are required for any new buildings on designated battlefields.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T16:46:14.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294518,"EventID":"S4W-21063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-07T16:46:14.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T16:17:28.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Yes Scotland meetings each cabinet secretary has spoken at since 1 May 2013.","AnswerText":"This is not a matter for the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-21T16:46:14.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294546,"EventID":"S4W-21064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:47.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-07T16:44:18.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02081 by Michael Matheson on 8 May 2013 (Official Report, c.19500), what the level of uptake has been for the shingles vaccine.\r\n","AnswerText":"The shingles immunisation programme was introduced to the Scottish immunisation programme from 1 September 2013. Uptake rates for the 2013-14 programme, which runs to the end of August 2014, will be published in November 2014 on the Information Services Division website at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:49.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294547,"EventID":"S4W-21065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:49.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T08:36:52.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the basis was for the First Minister's assertion on 28 April 2014 that, if an independent Scotland did not assume EU membership, it could lead to “the fishing fleets of 12 countries being denied any access to Scottish waters and as a result, their access to Norwegian waters, which is also dependent on Scottih access\"; what advice the First Minister received prior to making this comment, and from whom.\r\n","AnswerText":"The First Minister made very clear that given Scotland’s prominent and central role in European fisheries it is in the interests of the other member states that Scotland has a smooth transition to independent membership of Europe. He also made the point that if Scotland is not in Europe then it’s not part of the Common Fisheries Policy so all of the existing international agreements that are in place would collapse in light of Scotland being the second biggest contributor to those delicate arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:49.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294548,"EventID":"S4W-21066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:49.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T12:05:28.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15721 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, how many training roles Serco NorthLink offered to new ratings in 2013-14 as a result of its work with Orkney College and how many new ratings the company plans to train in 2014-15.","AnswerText":"In the summer season 2013, Serco NorthLink recruited six new entrant ratings into the industry. Five were from Orkney and one from Aberdeen. In 2014 Serco Northlink recruited 14 new entrant ratings from the North-East: 11 from Orkney, one from Shetland and two from the Aberdeen area.\r\nAs part of this recruitment exercise a range of mandatory training is undertaken, elements of which are delivered in conjunction with Orkney College.\r\nThe Operations Director and HR Manager from Serco NorthLink are due to visit both Orkney and Banff Colleges in the immediate future to further enhance and develop local relationships in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:49.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294549,"EventID":"S4W-21067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:50.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:06:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its consultation on National Care Standards and whether this will include an option for an obligation to offer provision of arts and creativity as part of the regular care of older people.\r\n","AnswerText":"As I set out in my parliamentary statement on 8 May 2014, the Scottish Government will publish a consultation on the review of National Care Standards in the next few weeks. The consultation will seek views on taking a human rights based approach to developing new standards, giving people who use services greater opportunities to choose and personalise their care and support according to their needs and particular interests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:50.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294550,"EventID":"S4W-21068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:50.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:30:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the present EU fishing quota allocation regime for the UK would be the basis of allocations to an independent Scotland, decided by the rest of the UK and Scotland, or whether there would be one allocation for the rest of the UK and one for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"With regard to quota allocation within an independent Scotland, there is no difference between the current situation and that pertaining under independence, given that these aspects of fisheries management are already devolved and subject to whichever decisions current or future Scottish administrations may wish to make in this area.\r\nWe expect the allocation of quota from the EU to Member States, which is on the basis of relative stability in line with EU arrangements, to remain the same and we will negotiate our share with the UK within this overall allocation. In these talks Scotland would be negotiating from a position of strength given the importance and value of our waters and the level of our fishing activity, ensuring Scotland’s interests lay at the heart of any agreement on the division of shares.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:50.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294551,"EventID":"S4W-21069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:50.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:30:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what access an independent Scotland's fishing vessels would have to the waters of  EU member states or other coastal states.","AnswerText":"We expect member states to welcome Scotland’s continuing EU membership, and under the existing rules of the Common Fisheries Policy we would expect no change to the access opportunities our vessels currently enjoy to the waters of EU member states or other coastal states, and vice versa\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:50.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294552,"EventID":"S4W-21070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:50.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:30:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements would be made for ownership of the seabed if Scotland became independent.","AnswerText":"Virtually all of the seabed out to 12 nautical miles and Sovereign rights of the UK in the seabed and its resources (excluding hydrocarbons) beyond 12 nautical miles form part of the Crown Estate which is currently administered by the Crown Estate Commissioners. Scottish Ministers have a long standing policy of seeking control of the Crown Estate in Scotland. In our view the timescales for introducing new arrangements can be rapid, through for example the removal of the reservations in the Scotland Act 1998 relating to the management of the Crown Estate, but the timing for this amendment of the Scotland Act would be subject to negotiation with the UK Government.\r\nOn independence the Crown Estate will still be Crown property. How that property is managed will change. We are committed to the introduction of a leasing system for offshore renewables following independence to replace the functions of the Crown Estate Commissioners for Scotland’s waters. Our current framework for considering licence applications for offshore renewables developments involves consultation and consideration of a range of issues including the potential impacts on other users of the sea and it would be a major improvement if Scottish Ministers had the responsibility for leasing decisions for renewables and other uses of the seabed currently administered by the Crown Estate Commissioners\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:50.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294553,"EventID":"S4W-21071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:51.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:30:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what weight would be given to fishing during EU entry negotiations for an independent Scotland and what it estimates the risk to be of a worse-than-now settlement.","AnswerText":"These negotiations will be about continuation of membership, not new entry.\r\nNotwithstanding this, we will give fisheries the priority they rightfully deserve as a key component of Scotland’s economic, social and cultural identity. This administration will never use our fisheries as a bargaining chip to be traded away in negotiations. Our fishermen have had enough of that under numerous Westminster Governments down the decades. This Government will always champion the interests of Scotland’s fishing industry, in stark contrast to previous UK administrations who are on record as describing Scotland’s fishing industry as ‘expendable’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:51.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294554,"EventID":"S4W-21072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:51.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T13:30:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, what expansion of personnel it estimates would be required to establish and run a separate directorate to deal with fisheries, and how quickly this could be in place.","AnswerText":"While the future number of civil servants working in Scotland will be dependent on a number of factors, including decisions to be taken by the Scottish Government on the overall design and delivery of Scottish policies and services, appropriate resource allocation will be required and delivered between 18 September 2014 and independence day on 24 March 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:51.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294555,"EventID":"S4W-21073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:51.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:01:12.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing's letter to the Public Audit Committee dated October 2013, Managing early departures from the Scottish Public Sector, what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding the use of compromise/settlement agreements and confidentiality clauses.","AnswerText":"Since October, the Scottish Government has prepared and consulted on revised guidance on settlement agreements for public bodies, including health boards. This includes guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses. The guidance is currently being finalised and will be made available publicly when it is completed. Notwithstanding that, public bodies have been required, since 1 April 2014, to consult the Scottish Government on any proposal to enter into a settlement agreement.\r\nI announced on 27 February 2014 that I expected there to be a presumption against the use of any confidentiality clauses in NHSScotland settlement agreements unless there are clear and transparent reasons for inclusion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:51.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294556,"EventID":"S4W-21074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:51.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:01:12.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many compromise/settlement agreements it has been consulted on since the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing's new procedures were set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual in October 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been consulted on one agreement since the requirement to consult was introduced on 1 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:52.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294557,"EventID":"S4W-21075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:52.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:01:12.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many finalised settlement agreements it has been notified of since the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing's new procedures were set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual in October 2013 and what costs were involved.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been informed of no finalised settlement agreements since the requirement to consult was introduced on 1 April 2014. We have undertaken to report annually to Parliament on settlement agreements reached.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:52.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294558,"EventID":"S4W-21076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:52.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:06:20.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason money seized under the proceeds of crime legislation has been allocated to support the budget of (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority, and how much will be allocated in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government wrote to the Scottish Police Authority on 13 March 2014 to confirm that they were content for budgetary planning purposes for policing to include estimates of anticipated receipts from the proceeds of crime within revenue budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16.\r\nThe Scottish Government has not currently allocated any money seized under the proceeds of crime legislation to support the budget of Police Scotland or the Scottish Police Authority in 2014-15 or 2015-16.\r\nThe criteria for allocation of money seized under proceeds of crime legislation were agreed by the Serious Organised Crime Task Force and are; (1) additional funding for CashBack for Communities; (2) funding to Police Scotland and the Crown Office for enhanced recovery of Proceeds of Crime Act receipts; and (3) other projects, which may include community projects. \r\nThe Task Force agreed that, should additional proceeds of crime funding become available, it will advise Scottish Ministers on the options of how to allocate the money; options may include proposals from Police Scotland and other stakeholders for community-based projects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:52.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294559,"EventID":"S4W-21082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-08T16:39:52.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T16:12:01.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on bulk purchasing flu vaccines in the last five years and how much it has saved by entering into joint-procurement contracts with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"A new childhood influenza vaccination programme was introduced in October 2013, which is being rolled out over the next few years on a phased basis, offering protection to those aged 2-17 years. The new nasal vaccine being used for the childhood programme is purchased centrally by Public Health England under a UK contract for all four countries including Scotland. The contract price is confidential.\r\nThe Scottish Government spend on the new immunisation programmes in 2013-14 was around £10 million (this includes vaccine and central costs such as surveillance, lab costs etc.). This will rise to around £16 million in 2014-15. This incorporates costs of the rotavirus, shingles and childhood flu programmes.\r\nSeasonal flu vaccines are purchased in Scotland by community pharmacies on behalf of individual GP practices and this has been the case for many years, including the last five years.\r\nHowever, this winter, the Scottish Government will be purchasing centrally all injectable flu vaccines required for children. Those vaccines are for the small number of children for whom the live attenuated vaccine is not suitable. Community pharmacies will still purchase adult flu vaccines on behalf of GP practices. The Scottish Government also buys a small contingency stock of vaccines centrally each year. The cost of this is around £150,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-22T16:39:52.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294575,"EventID":"S4W-21077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:01.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:40:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to suspend the use of transvaginal mesh implants.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:01.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294576,"EventID":"S4W-21078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:03.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:40:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reclassify transvaginal mesh implants to heightened risk status.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:03.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294577,"EventID":"S4W-21079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:03.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:40:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to suspend the use of transvaginal mesh implants to treat stress urinary incontinence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:03.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294578,"EventID":"S4W-21080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:03.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:40:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is monitoring legal cases in the USA and elsewhere about the use of transvaginal mesh implants.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware of legal cases in the USA regarding the use of transvaginal mesh implants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:03.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294579,"EventID":"S4W-21081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:03.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T15:40:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to suspend the use of all transvaginal mesh implants until further research into the safety and efficacy of these procedures is carried out.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:04.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294580,"EventID":"S4W-21083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:04.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T13:47:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what methods have been used to advertise the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.","AnswerText":"The tendering process for the publishing, print, design and associated services framework was advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland tendering portal and also advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:04.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294581,"EventID":"S4W-21084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:04.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T13:47:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014 could be delivered by a single company and, if so, what information it has on how many Scotland-based companies could do so.\r\n","AnswerText":"Services for publishing, print and design will not be delivered by a single company because these services are included under a number of frameworks. Scottish Procurement advertised for a single supplier to deliver a fully managed service for publishing, print, design and associated services. This framework is required to meet the needs of both the Scottish Government and other organisations that have made an operational decision to manage their publishing, print and design services in this way. Organisations that do not require a fully managed service can use the print services framework, which has been advertised and will have up to 17 print suppliers, or the design services lot of the current marketing services framework which has five design suppliers. \r\nHistorically, the fully managed service has been provided by a single supplier with extensive use of sub-contractors. The current supplier, APS Group (Scotland) Ltd is a registered Scottish company, who have an office and business premises in Leith where they employ 91 staff. APS have put in place an extensive supply chain and have awarded business to 154 Scottish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the past four years. The previous supplier of a fully managed service for design, print, publishing and associated services was RR Donnelly who are also based in Edinburgh.\r\nOur past experience and recent market engagement suggests a number of potential providers are based in Scotland. In addition, as has been proven to date, the requirement lends itself to an extensive delivery strategy which enables Scottish based suppliers and SMEs to be awarded business through supply chain activity. The invitation to tender also made it clear that Scottish Procurement would consider single bids, consortia bids and the use of sub-contractors for delivery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:04.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294582,"EventID":"S4W-21085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:04.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T13:47:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014 is a new approach to such services and, if so, for what reason it was introduced.\r\n","AnswerText":"The approach to the delivery of such services has varied slightly in that the requirement now includes provision of promotional items, display materials and DVD duplication. The provision of a fully managed service for publishing, print, design and associated services has been contracted out to a single supplier, with significant use of sub-contractors, since 1994. The current framework is open to the central government sector including the core Scottish Government, Scottish Government agencies, non-departmental public bodies, health boards and other organisations funded through Scottish Ministers. The new framework will be open to all Scottish public sector bodies. Use of the framework is not mandated.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:04.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294583,"EventID":"S4W-21087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:05.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T13:47:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the economic impact on (a) communities and (b) Scotland-based businesses of the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Historical management information confirms that the strategy adopted for publishing, print, design and associated services allows for extensive supply chain activity through sub-contracting routes with a range of local economic impacts. The current supplier has awarded business to 154 Scottish small and medium enterprises over the past four years.\r\nAs is the case with the current framework, the new supplier will also be required to incorporate Community Benefits into their service delivery. Community Benefits achievements to date on the current framework have included apprenticeships and skills development (e.g. training) through the Tomorrow’s People initiative, and working closely to support local schools e.g. printing service and paper provision.\r\nContracting opportunities were also made available to suppliers through the print services framework which will include up to 17 print suppliers or the design services lot of the marketing services framework which was awarded to five suppliers in June 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:05.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294584,"EventID":"S4W-21088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:05.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T13:47:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that Scotland-based businesses can bid for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The publishing, print, design and associated services requirement was advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland portal, which is the main portal for contracting opportunities throughout Scotland. It is free for suppliers to register on the portal should they wish to be alerted to advertisements for contracting opportunities. The advertisement was also made available throughout the EU via an Official Journal of the European Union notice.\r\nOur stakeholder consultation exercise included the British Print Industry Federation (BPIF), who recognised that customers are increasingly requiring multi-media campaigns and internet-based communications rather than just print per se, and recommended the procurement model needed to reflect choice and flexibility to address certain, specific needs of individual end user organisations. BPIF also recommended that a supply base with broad service coverage, improved service quality, financial viability, and added value to end-users was required. The strategy to procure both a publishing, print, design and associated services and a print services framework has sought to act upon these recommendations. BPIF also confirmed they would be pleased to assist consortia of SMEs coming forward as potential suppliers by working with Scottish Procurement to provide a suitable template to enable this. The invitation to tender therefore made it clear that Scottish Procurement would consider consortia bids.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:05.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294585,"EventID":"S4W-21091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:05.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-11T12:48:49.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what mitigating measures the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is using to remove nonylphenols from rivers and the natural environment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is currently consulting on possible measures for reducing the impacts of toxic substances such as nonylphenol on the water environment. The consultation suggests possible measures such as end-of-pipe treatment by sustainable urban drainage systems for surface water run-off, and wastewater treatment for contaminated trade effluents (though these are potentially costly measures). The consultation also highlights the option of control of imported products containing this substance. As this is a reserved area this would be a matter for the UK Government until such time as Scotland obtains the legislative powers to introduce such controls.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:05.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294586,"EventID":"S4W-21092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:05.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T10:24:20.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the introduction of wifi on all CalMac vessels.\r\n","AnswerText":"CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) has made good progress in completing the procurement of a new wide area network which will include the connection of all CalMac vessels. A contract has been prepared and an award letter is expected to be issued very shortly.\r\nThe preferred supplier will begin work as soon as possible to deliver a wide and local area network at each of CalMac's locations and on all vessels. This involves over 80 locations spread throughout the west of Scotland and is expected to be delivered before the end of this year.\r\nPublic wifi is an integral part of CFL’s plans and should be available throughout the CalMac network this year. The first ports and vessels are expected to have public wifi by late summer 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:05.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294587,"EventID":"S4W-21093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:06.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T10:24:20.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the re-instatement of a passenger rail service between Grangemouth and Falkirk.\r\n","AnswerText":"A passenger rail station at Grangemouth was not raised during the consultation process for the 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which sets out the Scottish Government’s 29 transport investment priorities over the period to 2032. As the STPR forms the main basis for the specification of future transport spending until 2032, the Scottish Government has no current plans to re-instate a passenger service between Grangemouth and Falkirk.\r\nWe understand that Falkirk Council, in conjunction with the South East Scotland Transport Partnership, are updating an earlier feasibility study in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance on a potential new railway station at Grangemouth. The Scottish Ministers are willing to consider proposals for new services where there are clear benefits, subject to affordability and taking into account the potential negative effect on other passengers on the network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:06.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294588,"EventID":"S4W-21112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:06.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the statement by the First Minister in his speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 that the result of an independent Scotland failing to negotiate membership of the EU would see \"the fishing fleets of 12 countries being denied any access to Scottish waters and as a consequence, their access to Norwegian waters, which is also dependent on Scottish access\" represents Scottish Government policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"A scenario whereby the vessels of 12 non-Scottish nations would lose access to fishing opportunities in Scotland’s waters – the fourth largest and among the richest in the core waters of the EU – cannot be seriously entertained.\r\nThe First Minister made clear that we propose a practical common sense approach to EU membership, which means that there is no detriment – none whatsoever – to any other member of the European Union as a result of Scotland’s continuing membership. The First Minister did not put forward an alternative scenario but referred to the fact that the alternative of denying foreign vessels access to fishing opportunities in Scottish waters was both absurd and has no basis in EU law.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:06.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294589,"EventID":"S4W-21113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:06.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the First Minister had with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment prior to the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 regarding fishing fleets accessing Scottish waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not envisage a situation where Scotland is not part of the European Union.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:06.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294590,"EventID":"S4W-21114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:06.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it received prior to the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 regarding fishing fleets accessing Scottish waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20913 on 24 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:06.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294591,"EventID":"S4W-21115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:07.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment had with the fishing industry (a) prior to and (b) following the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 regarding fishing fleets accessing Scottish waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-20914 and S4W-21113 on 24 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:07.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294592,"EventID":"S4W-21116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:07.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the Norwegian Government prior to the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe on 28 April 2014 regarding the potential for Scotland to deny fishing fleets access to Scottish waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"None, as we do not envisage a situation where Scotland is not part of the European Union.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:07.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294593,"EventID":"S4W-21117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:07.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice it received prior to the First Minister's speech, Scotland's Place in Europe, on 28 April 2014 regarding denying fishing fleets access to Norwegian waters if an independent Scotland failed to negotiate membership of the EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20913 on 24 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:07.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294594,"EventID":"S4W-21118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:08.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of fish caught by Scottish fishermen outwith Scottish waters, broken down by (a) type of fish and (b) region.\r\n","AnswerText":"Landings by Scottish vessels, value, 2013\r\nWaters\r\nDemersal\r\nPelagic\r\nShellfish\r\nAll\r\nEU (non-Scottish)\r\n£15,844,958\r\n£10,022,195\r\n£22,858,197\r\n£48,725,349\r\nInternational\r\n£510,292\r\n£1,626,621\r\n£12,870\r\n£2,149,782\r\nNorway\r\n£11,120,026\r\n£5,264,861\r\n£9,894\r\n£16,394,781\r\nScottish\r\n£111,751,980\r\n£136,195,364\r\n£114,378,141\r\n£362,325,486\r\nTotal\r\n£139,227,256\r\n£153,109,040\r\n£137,259,102\r\n£429,595,398\r\nSource: Marine Scotland\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:08.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294595,"EventID":"S4W-21119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T14:29:08.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:15:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be of an independent Scotland denying foreign fishing fleets access to Scottish waters if it failed to negotiate membership of the EU on Scottish fleets that fish outwith Scottish waters.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not envisage a situation where Scotland is not part of the European Union. Were Scotland not in Europe then it would not be part of the Common Fisheries Policy and therefore all of the international agreements that are in place and built up over decades would collapse in light of Scotland being the second biggest contributor to those delicate arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T14:29:08.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294606,"EventID":"S4T-00691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:44.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T10:04:32.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in the Sunday Herald suggesting that the Labour administrations in the 1970s ignored advice about setting up a North Sea oil wealth fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:44.407","MeetingDate":"2014-05-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294607,"EventID":"S4T-00695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:45.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:08:52.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent reclassification of mesh implants as high risk in the United States, when mesh implants will be banned in the NHS in Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:45.433","MeetingDate":"2014-05-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294608,"EventID":"S4F-02084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:13.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-08T14:39:03.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:13.76","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294609,"EventID":"S4F-02087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:15.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T09:45:41.78","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:15.023","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294610,"EventID":"S4F-02089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:15.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T09:52:48.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister who took the decision not to proceed with the Scottish Business Development Bank and when.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:15.913","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294611,"EventID":"S4F-02090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:16.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T10:03:00.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the impact on Scotland will be of UK Government plans to raise the retirement age.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:16.163","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294612,"EventID":"S4F-02102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:20.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:19:30.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps Revenue Scotland would take to prevent tax avoidance practices in the event that Scotland had greater responsibility for taxation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:20.653","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294613,"EventID":"S4F-02096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T12:37:18.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T10:57:21.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to introduce a lower threshold than £150,000 for claims heard in the sheriff courts, following the recommendation in the Justice Committee’s report on the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T12:37:18.907","MeetingDate":"2014-05-15T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294614,"EventID":"S4W-21089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:44.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T16:35:02.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15301 by Margaret Burgess on 7 June 2013, whether the review of the effectiveness of the home report system has been carried out and, if so, whether it will publish its findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"The scheduled five year policy review of the Home Report began with a public consultation on 5 December 2013. This consultation, which formed the first stage of the review, closed on 27 February 2014. All responses have now been analysed and the report published on the Scottish Government website on 7 May 2014. The report can be found at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/05/2311.\r\nThe second stage of the review will involve a research study, tenders for which are currently being evaluated and a research company will shortly be appointed to take this study forward. The review is due to be completed by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:44.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294615,"EventID":"S4W-21090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:44.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-09T16:35:02.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints buyers have made each year about the home report system.\r\n","AnswerText":"These figures are not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\nLocal authorities’ trading standards departments are responsible for enforcing the Home Report legislation. In addition a buyer or seller may make a complaint about the content of a Home Report through the chartered surveyor firm’s complaints procedure and/or to the independent ombudsman service, Ombudsman Services: Property.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:44.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294616,"EventID":"S4W-21097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:45.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the suggestion in the report, Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Service: Feasibility Study of a Future Passenger and Vehicle Service with the Vehicle Portion being non-Subsidised, that vessels on the service should be at least 40 metres long in order to provide optimum weather reliability.\r\n","AnswerText":"The terms of reference for the report commissioned by the Scottish Government stated that: “the revenue and costs assumed for vehicle carrying should be for vessels optimal for the route in terms of design, manning levels, speed and vehicle and passenger capacity”.\r\nThe report states (paragraph 4.1.3) that: “this [vessel] specification required for the study needs to be proportionate to the task, i.e. we are not designing vessels but attempting to establish outline specifications and associated broad and typical costs”.\r\nThe outline specifications, including the proposed vessel dimensions, provided in the report provide a useful starting point for the development of detailed specifications for reliable vessels for the Gourock-Dunoon town centre service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:45.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294617,"EventID":"S4W-21098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:45.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether vessels on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry route must carry vehicles in order to be considered economically viable.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Gourock-Dunoon vehicle ferry feasibility study published in July 2013 found that a vehicle carrying service could be commercially viable if it received the same level of passenger subsidy as that estimated to be required for the provision of a passenger-only service using optimal vessels to deliver a high level of reliability.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:45.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294618,"EventID":"S4W-21100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:45.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Dunoon harbour breakwater and linkspan became operational; how much it cost to develop, and whether it has been used for the transport of vehicles.\r\n","AnswerText":"The contract for the Dunoon harbour breakwater and linkspan was completed on 24 March 2005 and these facilities were commissioned directly after that date.\r\nThe contract value was approximately £5.4 million.\r\nDunoon linkspan has never been used for the transport of vehicles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:45.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294619,"EventID":"S4W-21102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:45.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland will put out a tender for the contract for the new roll-on/roll-off vessels on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry route; whether the vessels will be expected to meet the specifications set out in the report, Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Service: Feasibility Study of a Future Passenger and Vehicle Service with the Vehicle Portion being non-Subsidised; how much the vessels will cost, and what its position is on whether they should be rented at full-market value in order to ensure that they do not breach EU rules.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s working assumption is that new build vessels are likely to be required for the route. Decisions on whether these vessels will be procured by the operator of the next competitively tendered contract, or by the Scottish Government through Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, have yet to be taken. Either way, vessels will have to meet specifications set out to deliver the policy objective of “a safe, reliable, frequent, commuter ferry service… able to operate reliably throughout the year in the weather and sea conditions experienced on the Firth of Clyde”. The outline specifications provided in the Gourock-Dunoon feasibility study report provide a useful starting point for the development of detailed specifications for reliable vessels.\r\nIt is too soon to say how much vessels will cost although the report of the Gourock-Dunoon feasibility study estimated £3 million per vessel for passenger-only ferries and £6 million per vessel for vehicle-passenger ships.\r\nThe observation of all applicable EU rules will be an important consideration when developing long-term solutions for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:45.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294620,"EventID":"S4W-21105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:46.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual public subsidy will be for vessels on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry route, and whether this will be offset by the enhanced berthing costs being paid to the local authorities responsible for the respective harbours.\r\n","AnswerText":"A subsidy will be provided for the provision of the contracted ferry service rather than for vessels. Vessel costs and harbour costs (berthing dues and pier dues) will form part of the overall operating costs. Each bidder for the ferry service contract will need to make their own forecast of the costs and revenues and their subsequent grant requirement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:46.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294621,"EventID":"S4W-21106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:46.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the ferry service for vehicle crossings on the Cowal peninsula-Inverclyde route is operated by a private monopoly; what the operator's gross profit margin is, and what its position is on the appropriateness of the size of the margin.\r\n","AnswerText":"The carriage of vehicles between the Cowal peninsula and Inverclyde is currently provided by a private company, Western Ferries, who operate services between terminals a short driving distance from the town centres of Gourock and Dunoon. Cowal is also connected by road although it is widely recognised that the ferry crossing is a more attractive option for many journeys.\r\nWestern Ferries’ annual accounts are publicly available from Companies House (www.companieshouse.gov.uk).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:46.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294622,"EventID":"S4W-21107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-12T17:02:46.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:56:54.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a ferry regulator; whether the regulator would have  the power to control ticket prices, and what impact a passenger-only service on Dunoon-Gourock route would have on these plans. \r\n","AnswerText":"As noted in the Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, we have no plans to establish an independent ferry regulator.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-28T17:02:46.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294632,"EventID":"S4W-21123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-13T13:45:34.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T13:37:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Review of Scottish Public Sector Procurement in Construction.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Government welcomes Robin Crawford and Ken Lewandowski’s excellent report which highlighted a number of areas where there is significant scope to improve the way in which the public sector and construction industry do business with each other. Importantly, the report challenges all parts of the public sector to make improvements, as well as industry itself.\r\nI firmly believe that we must work together to address the issues which the report has brought into focus. The Scottish Government, working with the Scottish Futures Trust, is developing a programme to deliver the report’s recommendations in partnership with other parts of the public sector and construction businesses as appropriate.\r\nI am asking the cross-sector Public Procurement Reform Board, which I chair with support from John McClelland, to oversee this new programme of work. For now, therefore, I do not intend to pursue the appointment of a Chief Construction Adviser. I am, however, happy to accept all of the other recommendations of the report, and shall ask the reform board, as part of its detailed planning, to identify and prioritise those actions which will have the greatest impact.\r\nThe implementation of the report’s recommendations will represent a major change programme across the public sector. I am committed to ensuring that the Scottish Government plays its full part in supporting this programme and I strongly encourage the leaders of other public bodies to proactively consider the report’s recommendations, to determine what they can do to develop capability in relation to construction procurement in order to ensure greater efficiency and deliver better outcomes for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-29T13:45:35.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294645,"EventID":"S4W-21120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-13T13:47:58.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T11:21:10.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19746 and S4W-19663 by Alex Neil on 3 and 4 March 2014 respectively, what recent discussions it has had with Lord Maclean regarding when the report of the inquiry will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"The inquiry has now received the last of the responses to warning letters, however, the report will not be finalised until the inquiry Chairman has considered each of the responses and made any necessary amendments to the report.\r\nAs it is for the inquiry Chairman to decide the timetable, as soon as this final stage has been reached the Chairman has undertaken to inform me of the timetable for publication and I will inform Parliament at the earliest opportunity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-29T13:47:59.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294646,"EventID":"S4W-21121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-13T13:48:00.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T11:21:10.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19746 by Alex Neil on 3 March 2014, whether it has completed its collation of the information that it holds on the costs of the inquiry and, if so, when it will publish this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information held on costs to date by the Scottish Government will be published shortly. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 55691).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-29T13:48:00.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294647,"EventID":"S4W-21122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-13T13:48:01.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T11:24:10.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its initial position was regarding concessionary travel access to the Edinburgh trams project for people living outwith the City of Edinburgh Council area and for what reason tram travel will no longer be covered by the national concessionary travel scheme for all travellers in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"In agreeing to provide substantial funding for the introduction of the Edinburgh trams project in 2007, the Scottish Government made clear that no further subsidy would be provided once the network was commissioned and that it was making no commitment at that time to include tram travel within the national concessionary travel scheme. This is consistent with the approach to other non-bus schemes such as the Glasgow Subway and Scottish rail travel.\r\nThe Scottish Government, through the national concessionary travel scheme funds Scotland-wide free bus travel for older and eligible disabled people. The scheme is based around free bus travel as it is the most widely available mode of transport in Scotland. Local authorities can if they wish, offer their resident cardholders concessionary transport schemes for modes other than bus. Any local authority that chooses to operate local concessionary transport schemes is responsible for the administration and funding of these schemes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-29T13:48:01.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294654,"EventID":"S4O-03236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:42:59.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:06:38.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it considers a Scottish pensioners' parliament could be established.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:00.783","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294655,"EventID":"S4O-03237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:01.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:34:55.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what further information it plans to publish on proposals for pensioners' rights in an independent Scotland before the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:01.923","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294656,"EventID":"S4O-03238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:02.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T09:20:25.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the position is of the cabinet secretary with responsibility for equalities on the implications for equalities of the findings of the Education Scotland report, Making Sense: Education for Children and Young People with Dyslexia.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:02.14","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294657,"EventID":"S4O-03239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:02.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:16:07.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how pensioners’ rights would be protected in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:02.39","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294658,"EventID":"S4O-03240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:02.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:06:39.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the number of tickets made available for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to people who live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:02.687","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294659,"EventID":"S4O-03241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:02.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T09:52:26.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what further research it plans to carry out on the relationship between the state pension and life expectancy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:02.92","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294660,"EventID":"S4O-03242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:03.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:06:39.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the opening of Pride House in Glasgow will have on LGBT people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:03.297","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294661,"EventID":"S4O-03243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:03.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T10:27:44.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent comments by the cabinet secretary with responsibility for pensioners' rights, what the retirement age for pension eligibility would be if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:03.547","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294662,"EventID":"S4O-03244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:04.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:06:41.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams are available to help the Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in addition to  the Violence Against Women Fund and the Rape Crisis Specific Fund. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre currently receive funding through both of these funding streams, which are fully committed until March 2015. However, I am aware that Rape Crisis Scotland has funded a consultant to work with the Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre to support them on a range of issues including their funding strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:04.327","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294663,"EventID":"S4O-03245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:04.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T10:58:14.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many sports clubs in Fife have received tickets for the Commonwealth Games. \r\n","AnswerText":"As part of the Scottish Government’s legacy ticket initiative, Sportscotland will be distributing at least 1,000 tickets to key individuals who have made a significant contribution to sports clubs. \r\nIt is not yet possible to say how many of these tickets will be allocated to individuals in Fife because the nomination process is currently still open and will close on Friday 23 May 2014.\r\nI will be happy to provide information on the clubs that have benefitted from the Scottish Government ticket initiative once the tickets have been allocated to successful nominees in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:04.653","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294664,"EventID":"S4O-03246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:04.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:09.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women with children under the age of 5 are seeking employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:04.933","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294665,"EventID":"S4O-03247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:05.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:10.133","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role early intervention has in tackling the long-term unemployment of women.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:05.183","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294666,"EventID":"S4O-03248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:05.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:17:45.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has set a target of 40% of women on the boards of companies in the event of independence.   \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:05.59","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294667,"EventID":"S4O-03249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:05.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T12:34:01.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of massive open online courses in improving the employment prospects of women and young people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:05.823","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294668,"EventID":"S4O-03250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:06.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:11.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on modern apprenticeships in engineering.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:06.197","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294669,"EventID":"S4O-03251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:06.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:01:58.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the level of gender segregation in certain industries.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:06.493","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294670,"EventID":"S4O-03252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:06.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:11.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop appropriate outcome-based measures to assess the long-term benefits of modern apprenticeships, as recommended by Audit Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:06.883","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294671,"EventID":"S4O-03253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:07.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T18:00:27.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which expressed concern at the under-representation of women and girls in so-called STEM apprenticeships in Scotland.","AnswerText":"This Government notes the concerns and recommendations from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Achieving a more balanced workforce across STEM employment is a challenge for the wider labour market and is not specific to the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme, but one that this Government is committed to improving.\r\nWe launched CareerWISE Scotland, with £250,000 funding, to encourage young women to consider careers in STEM subjects, including as MAs. CareerWISE has established a programme of paid student placement and will see STEM sector champions meeting girls at primary school age.\r\nWe also agreed with the aspirations of the interim report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce which included recommendations for increasing the number of STEM MAs. An important stage of the second half of this work is a focus on equality issues and we look forward to receiving these in the final report due in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:07.133","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294672,"EventID":"S4O-03254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:07.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:12.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action Skills Development Scotland is taking to encourage apprenticeships in traditional skills.\r\n","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland works with Sector Skills Councils and other partners, to promote the uptake of all apprenticeship frameworks through My World of Work and Our Skillsforce. This includes working with Historic Scotland to promote opportunities for apprenticeships in traditional skills.\r\nThis week during the fourth annual Scottish Apprenticeship Week Scottish Ministers, and indeed MSPs from across the Chamber, will take part in a range of activities and events across the country to promote the benefits that apprenticeships bring to individuals, employers and the economy.\r\nRight now Historic Scotland are promoting apprenticeships in traditional sectors, with a two day event taking place in St Andrew’s Square showcasing traditional building skills.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:07.413","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294673,"EventID":"S4O-03255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:07.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:35:49.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to young people from economically-deprived areas who want to apply to the Commonwealth Youth Fund and the Commonwealth Apprentice Initiative.\r\n","AnswerText":"These initiatives are funded by Glasgow City Council to help young people from that area into apprenticeships or other employment.\r\nAcross Scotland, Opportunities for All ensures that every 16 to 19 year old is guaranteed the offer of a place in training or education, while Activity Agreements provide a first-step for those furthest from the labour market, including access to a wide range of learning opportunities in the community and third sector. Within the Glasgow City Council area this will include referral to these initiatives where appropriate.\r\nThrough our own £5 million Legacy 2014: Young Persons’ Fund, we will support 2,500 young people to help them progress toward and into employment, education or training. To date, over 1,600 young people have been supported into an apprenticeship or volunteering opportunity though our Legacy 2014 Employer Recruitment Incentive and Scotland’s Best initiative.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:07.773","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294674,"EventID":"S4O-03256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:08.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:49.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what updates it receives from NHS Lothian regarding the operation of the key terms of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's private finance initiative contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:08.18","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294675,"EventID":"S4O-03258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:08.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:50.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any further investigation into whether an over reliance on wind turbines as a source of electricity played a role in the grid failure on 16 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:08.49","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294676,"EventID":"S4O-03259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:08.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:50.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created in Scotland in the last 10 years as a result of inward investment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:08.773","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294677,"EventID":"S4O-03260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:09.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T11:37:04.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve the care of older patients in the Lothian region.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:09.02","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294678,"EventID":"S4O-03261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:09.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T09:25:25.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to support householders and businesses whose properties were damaged by flooding in January 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:09.257","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294679,"EventID":"S4O-03262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:09.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T09:28:46.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would attract overseas students to study in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:09.613","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294680,"EventID":"S4O-03263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:09.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:52.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on improvements to the motorway network in Central Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:09.91","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294681,"EventID":"S4O-03264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:10.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T12:07:52.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding support Creative Scotland has provided to organisations in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley in the last year.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:10.207","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294682,"EventID":"S4O-03265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:43:10.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T09:16:49.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the implementation of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) Act 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:43:10.457","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294683,"EventID":"S4W-21094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:32.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:45:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the implementing regulations for the discards ban affecting the Scottish fishing industry will be published and whether they will be subject to public consultation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Common Fisheries Policy (EU Regulation 1380/2013), published on 11 December 2013, describes the landing obligation and how it will be implemented through regionalisation. The Scottish Government is working with Member States in regional groups to develop discard plans, which will detail the scope of the landing obligation and any derogations or exemptions from it. The discard plans for the pelagic landing obligation are expected to be agreed by the end of June 2014 and will then be submitted to the European Commission to be implemented by the Commission as a delegated act, and therefore open for comments by the European Parliament. It is expected that this delegated act will be published by the end of 2014. Discard plans for the demersal landing obligation are expected to be submitted to the Commission in the summer of 2015 and again in 2018, ahead of the final phase of implementation.\r\nThe regional groups are currently consulting on the implementation of the pelagic discard ban with the relevant Advisory Councils (comprising representatives from the fishing industry and from non-governmental organisations), as stipulated in Article 18(2) of the Common Fisheries Policy. In addition, Marine Scotland is engaging with Scottish stakeholders on the development of the discard plans through the Scottish Discards Steering Group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:33.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294684,"EventID":"S4W-21095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:33.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:45:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether specific officials in area Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate offices have been allocated responsibility to scrutinise and inspect Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) 1:2500 maps on a field by field basis so as to assess the permanent grassland classification.","AnswerText":"The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate’s professional and technical staff carry out all IACS inspections. In order to minimise the impact on farmers, the Rural Payment and Inspections Directorate’s policy is to undertake ‘whole farm’ reviews rather than to undertake separate types of inspections for any particular land use. Inspectors in the Rural Payments and Inspections Division, therefore, could be said to be ‘multi-functional’ i.e. they carry out inspections on farms, for various schemes implemented by the Rural Payment and Inspections Directorate, meeting the minimum inspection levels laid down by EU regulations. The regulations for the Common Agricultural Policy schemes are very detailed and specific. The on-the-spot controls, however, do include the verification of land claimed by farmers (and delineated on maps supplied by them) as to the eligibility for the support schemes applied for.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:33.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294685,"EventID":"S4W-21096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:34.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-12T11:45:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the risk assessment carried out in relation to the implementation of the electronic identification (EID) of sheep.","AnswerText":"The Veterinary Risk Assessment which is being carried out by our Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks into the non-EID tagging of home bred replacement animals is in the final stages of being completed. A meeting will be held with the representatives of the National Sheep Association Scotland and National Farmers Union Scotland in early June 2014 to discuss the findings. Once finalised and agreed it will be published on the Scottish Government website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:34.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294686,"EventID":"S4W-21124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:34.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:33:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19628 by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.","AnswerText":"Lord Penrose, Chairman of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products (The Penrose Inquiry) wrote to me on the 26 February 2014 updating me on the inquiry’s progress.\r\nThe Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and it is for the Chairman to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.\r\nThe inquiry is currently in the process of issuing warning letters arising from the final report and the Chairman has agreed to provide me with another progress report at the end of May 2014.\r\nThe most recent information relating to the report can be found on the inquiry’s website at: http://www.penroseinquiry.org.uk/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:34.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294687,"EventID":"S4W-21125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:34.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:34:42.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government as the current Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is due to expire in 2015, when it will update or renew the framework and whether it will continue its focus on hepatitis C.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with NHS boards, local authorities, third sector partners and other key stakeholders to produce an updated Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework to be published in 2015 once the existing framework period comes to an end.\r\nThe refreshed framework will continue to incorporate sexual health, HIV and viral hepatitis and will maintain the focus on the five high level outcomes contained within the current framework.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:34.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294688,"EventID":"S4W-21127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:35.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:34:42.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to ensure that people with the hepatitis C virus continue to be treated.","AnswerText":"As a result of the Hepatitis C Action Plan and, subsequently, the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework the numbers of people being initiated onto treatment for hepatitis C in Scotland has increased significantly in recent years. A total of 1,052 individuals were newly initiated onto treatment in 2012-13. This compares with only 468 treatment initiations in 2007-08.\r\nThe diagnoses and treatment of hepatitis C infections continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government, as reflected in the high level priorities within the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:35.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294689,"EventID":"S4W-21128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:35.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:34:42.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what efforts are being made to ensure that new treatments are made available to patients with the hepatitis C virus.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Advisory Committee, which is chaired by myself, has established a subgroup to look at hepatitis C treatment and therapies in light of the rapidly developing treatment landscape. The subgroup, which is chaired by Professor David Goldberg from Health Protection Scotland, will report back to the National Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Advisory Committee at the end of 2014. The group will set out principles and priorities for the use of Government funding under the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in relation to hepatitis C therapies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:35.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294690,"EventID":"S4W-21129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:35.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:34:42.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help support the development of new hepatitis C treatments.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is supportive of the development of new treatments for a wide range of health conditions. The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) funds high quality research, including clinical trials, of relevance to the health and well-being of the people of Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish Government is currently funding the ViaDUCT study researching whether vitamin D supplementation can improve hepatitis C cure rates. The CSO welcomes any new research proposals linked to the development of novel treatments for hepatitis C. These would be evaluated according to standard peer-review processes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:35.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294691,"EventID":"S4W-21130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:35.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T17:35:15.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported call by the Solicitor General for the law on domestic abuse to be strengthened, what steps it will take to look at introducing a new domestic abuse offence into criminal law; what the timetable will be, and what discussions it has had with stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for Scottish Ministers and for Scotland’s justice system. In addition to increased investment in initiatives to tackle domestic abuse, we took swift action in 2010 to close a loophole in the criminal law to ensure cases of domestic abuse could continue to be dealt with under a new threatening or abusive behaviour criminal offence.\r\nWe are giving the proposals for a specific domestic abuse offence, and a separate domestic abuse aggravator, careful consideration. This will include engaging with justice agencies and key stakeholders, including Scottish Women’s Aid and ASSIST, to hear their views and these discussions will inform consideration of next steps. This forms part of our wider work to address the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls and other forms of threat and violence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:35.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294692,"EventID":"S4W-21133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:36.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T18:07:52.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00695 by Michael Matheson on 13 May 2014 (Official Report, c.30814), when it sent the request to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for a meeting; when it expects the meeting will take place, and who will attend.\r\n","AnswerText":"An informal meeting with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has already taken place on 7 May 2014 and a more formal, larger meeting is being organised and will be attended by officials from the Health and Social Care Directorate in the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:36.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294693,"EventID":"S4W-21134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:36.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T18:07:52.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00695 by Michael Matheson on 13 May 2014 (Official Report, c.30814), when the working group was established; what its membership is, and who selected the members.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government established the short life working group in December 2013.\r\nMembership of the short life working group includes:\r\nFour Scottish Government staff, three clinical staff and one providing secretariat support;\r\nTwo patient representatives;\r\nFive NHS clinical and research staff;\r\nOne NHS healthcare planner (member selected by NHSScotland); and\r\nTwo other patient representatives who have been consulted separately regarding the patient information and consent leaflet (selected by the clinical staff on the Group).\r\nExcept where noted, members were selected by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frances Elliot.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:36.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294694,"EventID":"S4W-21135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:36.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T18:07:52.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00695 by Michael Matheson on 13 May 2014 (Official Report, c.30814), what funding (a) has been and (b) will be made available for the removal of surgical mesh implants for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.\r\n","AnswerText":"There has been no specific funding made available to NHS boards to fund the removal of surgical mesh implants for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. It is for individual boards to carry out this type of surgery from within existing budgets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:36.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294695,"EventID":"S4W-21136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:36.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T21:27:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultations it has held with employees of Caledonian MacBrayne ahead of the tendering of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract and whether it plans to consult employees after the tender documents are published.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has had previous engagement on ferries matters with the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the relevant trades unions, representing the employees of David MacBrayne Limited, and would expect that engagement to continue in future.\r\nThe Scottish Government has not yet consulted with them on the future tendering of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, but intend to do so in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:36.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294696,"EventID":"S4W-21137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:37.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T21:27:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultations Caledonian MacBrayne has held with its employees ahead of the tendering of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract and whether it plans to consult employees after the tender documents are published.","AnswerText":"CalMac will engage with its staff as appropriate throughout the bid submission process. This is already underway through established internal communications channels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:37.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294697,"EventID":"S4W-21138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:37.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-13T21:27:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what Caledonian MacBrayne's expenditure on external consultants has been in each year since 2009 and for which projects.","AnswerText":"Expenditure on consultancy is published on the David MacBrayne Ltd website in accordance with the requirements of the Public Sector Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.\r\nhttp://www.david-macbrayne.co.uk/reports/ \r\nAny further breakdown of this information is considered commercially sensitive.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:37.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294698,"EventID":"S4W-21142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:37.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T12:18:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available in each year since 1999 under the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme commenced in 2009. The first round of funding was paid in 2010-11. The Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme is taken forward through a phased development. All 32 local authorities have been offered funding for at least one project through the programme. Not all local authorities have received funding yet, as their projects are yet to begin.\r\nThe detail of the funding made available in each year through the programme, broken down by local authority, is as follows:\r\nLocal Authority\r\n2010-11\r\n(£)\r\n2011-12\r\n(£)\r\n2012-13\r\n(£)\r\n2013-14\r\n(£)\r\n2014-15 \r\n(£)\r\n(As of end April 14)\r\nAberdeen City\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2,124,509\r\n\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n\r\n\r\n7,308,550\r\n17,568,289\r\n\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n4,335,585\r\n\r\nDundee\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5,138,110\r\n680,000\r\nE. Ayrshire\r\n450,000\r\n2,444,720\r\n800,655\r\n\r\n\r\nE. Dunbartonshire\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1,209,007\r\n\r\nEast Lothian\r\n61,231\r\n2,214,606\r\n2,632,644\r\n\r\n\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n506,568\r\n5,500,000\r\n10,918,198\r\n489,018\r\n\r\nFalkirk\r\n665,000\r\n1,973,088\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFife\r\n725,000\r\n\r\n18,085,647\r\n391,586\r\n\r\nGlasgow\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5,996,023\r\n\r\nInverclyde\r\n259,023\r\n\r\n3,242,000\r\n1,513,106\r\n\r\nMidlothian\r\n858,358\r\n5,275,204\r\n14,576,620\r\n\r\n\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n190,865\r\n\r\n2,276,048\r\n\r\n\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n\r\n\r\n555,709\r\n4,505,653\r\n\r\nShetland \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n322,366\r\n\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n\r\n\r\n2,403,473\r\n\r\n\r\nStirling\r\n\r\n\r\n1,883,324\r\n\r\n\r\nW. Dunbartonshire\r\n163,643\r\n\r\n8,917,130\r\n1,527,533\r\n\r\nWestern Isles\r\n141,845\r\n2,235,180\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWest Lothian\r\n2,000,000\r\n357,203\r\n\r\n502,790\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:37.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294699,"EventID":"S4W-21143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T13:53:38.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T12:18:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) primary and (b) schools that will need to be replaced over the next 10 years, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"An annual rating of all schools is provided to the Scottish Government by local authorities and each school is categorised by condition and suitability as ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’, ‘poor’, or ‘bad’. This information is published each year as part of the Scottish School Estate Statistics publication. This can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/schoolestatestats\r\nLocal authorities regularly develop and update capital investment programmes for their schools estates. This information is held by individual local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T13:53:38.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294709,"EventID":"S4W-21139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:54.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T12:06:44.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Road Traffic Act 1960 has been repealed in whole or in part and, if so, by what Act, and when the repeal provision came into force.","AnswerText":"Information regarding the status of the Road Traffic Act 1960 is in the public domain and can be obtained through the National Archives website at:\r\nwww.legislation.gov.uk\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:54.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294710,"EventID":"S4W-21140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:54.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T12:06:44.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20567 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, whether a special road scheme raised under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is itself a legislative instrument when it prescribes a route to be a special road and the types of traffic that may or may not use that route.\r\n","AnswerText":"A scheme made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is a Scottish statutory instrument and is subordinate legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:54.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294711,"EventID":"S4W-21141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:55.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T12:06:44.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20903 by Keith Brown on 12 May 2014, for what reasons an alternative route certificate was not required.","AnswerText":"No existing road was included in the A87 Skye crossing, therefore there was no alternative route and a certificate was not required.\r\nA certificate would only be produced in certain circumstances. Firstly, the special road scheme for the A87 Skye crossing would have to include not just the new road to be constructed but also incorporate part of an existing trunk or local road into the route.\r\nSecondly, if part of an existing road was included in the line of the special road, the toll order would need to authorise the charging of tolls over that existing road or part of it.\r\nIf both of these circumstances occurred, the toll order would have to be subject to special Parliamentary procedure before it was made, unless there was another reasonably convenient route free of toll that was available or was going to be provided and the Secretary of State certified accordingly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:55.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294712,"EventID":"S4W-21145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:55.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T13:35:35.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many injuries have been sustained by (a) staff and (b) prisoners at Low Moss prison since it was opened.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The following table provides the total number of recorded injuries on staff and prisoners since HM Prison Low Moss became operational on 12 March 2012 to 19 May 2014.\r\n\r\nTotals\r\nStaff \r\n89\r\nPrisoners\r\n143\r\nTotal\r\n232\r\nNinety-one of these injuries were a result of accidents.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:55.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294713,"EventID":"S4W-21146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:55.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T13:35:35.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents have been recorded at (a) Low Moss and (b) Grampian prison since it was opened.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Incidents within Scottish prisons are assessed into three categories:\r\nCategory 1: Incidents that are minor in nature and managed within normal arrangements.\r\nCategory 2: Incidents that present more complex challenges and require distinct management and decision-making arrangements to be put in place, but still at local level.\r\nCategory 3: Most serious, complex and high incidents that require national management and oversight and potentially, the deployment of resources from other parts of the organisation and/or support that requires national co-ordination.\r\nHM Prison Low Moss opened in March 2012 (2011-12). There were seven category 1 incidents during its first full year of operation in 2012-13, followed by one category 2 incident in 2013-14. There are no incidents to report in 2014-15 at HM Prison Low Moss.\r\nHM Prison and Young Offenders Institute Grampian opened in March 2014. Since opening, there have been two category 1 incidents, three category 2 incidents and one category 3 incident.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:55.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294714,"EventID":"S4W-21147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:56.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T13:35:35.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many injuries have been sustained by (a) staff and (b) prisoners at Grampian prison since it was opened.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The following table provides the total number of recorded injuries on staff and prisoners since HM Prison and Young Offenders Institute Grampian became operational on 3 March 2014 to 19 May 2014.\r\n\r\nTotals\r\nStaff \r\n7\r\nPrisoners \r\n13\r\nTotal\r\n20\r\n\r\nEight of these injuries were a result of accidents.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:56.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294715,"EventID":"S4W-21148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:56.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T13:35:35.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the management of incidents of disorder in the design of (a) Low Moss and (b) Grampian prison and what conclusions were reached.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The evolution of design and general operational principles for HM Prisons Low Moss and Grampian was led by a dedicated group, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) New Prisons Team. This group of highly experienced prison managers worked with SPS colleagues in the Estates team and specialist architects to develop custodial environments which are safe for both prisoners and staff in normal operation; and which facilitate appropriate incident management during times of unrest.\r\nThe prisons are built to design standards that both meet statutory regulations and support the delivery of operational requirements, including the maintenance of custody and order.\r\nEvolving design ideas were tested with field based colleagues and discussed with trades union representatives. Specialists with policy/training responsibility for incident management were also closely consulted and prior to the opening of both prisons, significant incident management training including simulated incidents took place.\r\nIt is a common feature of all prisons that they maintain a local response capability of staff trained to deal with disorder over a range of scenarios and have plans, regularly reviewed, to deal with such eventualities. These take into account individual prison geography.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:56.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294716,"EventID":"S4W-21149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:56.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T15:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates (a) Transport Scotland and (b) Caledonian MacBrayne will spend on the tendering process, including design of the tender documents, for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.","AnswerText":"The anticipated spend by Transport Scotland on the tendering process, including design of the tender documents by Transport Scotland for the future Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, from 2016 onwards, has not yet been estimated.\r\nThe anticipated spend by David MacBrayne Limited on their bid for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract is considered to be commercially sensitive by David MacBrayne Limited.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:56.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294717,"EventID":"S4W-21150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:56.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T15:17:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Caledonian MacBrayne employees will work on preparing the company's bid for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.","AnswerText":"This is a commercial matter for David MacBrayne Limited.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:56.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294718,"EventID":"S4W-21151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-14T16:40:57.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T15:58:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the use of glue traps for catching rodents.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently has no plans to ban glue traps for catching rodents although we do plan to review aspects of policy in relation to animal traps in the near future, consulting with the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland Legislation, Regulation and Guidance sub-group and other relevant stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-05-30T16:40:57.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294719,"EventID":"S4W-21155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:43.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T16:59:38.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to relocate Inverness Sheriff Court from Inverness Castle to a purpose-built facility and, if so, what budget will be set aside for this.\r\n","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:44.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294720,"EventID":"S4W-21157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:44.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T08:36:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated each year to the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative.\r\n","AnswerText":"£289,809 was allocated to Healthcare Improvement Scotland to implement the Collaborative in 2012-13, with £175,000 allocated by the Scottish Government and £114,809 by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.\r\n£518,082 was allocated to Healthcare Improvement Scotland to implement the Collaborative in 2013-14, with £482,843 allocated by the Scottish Government and £35,239 by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.\r\nThe allocation to Healthcare Improvement Scotland for 2014-15 has yet to be agreed, but is likely to be similar to the 2013-14 allocation.\r\nFurther allocations have been made to NHS boards to support their participation in the person-centred portfolio, including the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative. Allocations have also been made to NHS Education for Scotland for a national training and workforce development plan to support the portfolio, and to the Health and Social Care Alliance for the People Powered Health and Wellbeing programme, which brings third sector expertise to the implementation of the Collaborative.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:44.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294721,"EventID":"S4W-21158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:44.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T08:36:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the aims are of the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative and how its success will be measured.\r\n","AnswerText":"The aims of the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative are as follows: \r\nRaise the profile of person-centred approaches to care across Scotland including staff health and wellbeing.\r\nDevelop and test a range of evidence-based interventions and approaches designed to improve person-centred care.\r\nFocus on what can be done now to improve services.\r\nProvide reliable opportunities to personalise support for every person all of the time.\r\nEncourage sharing of ideas and approaches between people who use services and people who provide them.\r\nPromote the use of approaches for obtaining feedback from people who use services.\r\nUse feedback from people who use services to drive improvement.\r\nProvide a framework to measure improvement.\r\nParticipating staff from across NHS Scotland will be able to demonstrate how they have introduced new approaches to health and care and how they are using feedback from people to identify and implement improvements to care. The Scottish Care Experience Survey Programme will also be a measure of change and improvement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:44.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294722,"EventID":"S4W-21159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:45.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T08:36:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the money allocated to the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative has been spent.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012-13, the money allocated to Healthcare Improvement Scotland to implement the Collaborative was split between pay costs of £128,555, providing four whole-time members of staff, and non-pay costs of  £161,254, which provided for:\r\nDevelopment of the Care Experience survey tool and Patient Opinion subscription\r\nNational Learning Session 1 and additional meeting costs \r\nTravel and subsistence including Island NHS Board travel costs to learning session.\r\nIn 2013-2014 the money allocated to Healthcare Improvement Scotland to implement the Collaborative was split between pay costs of £187,689 providing four members of staff, and non-pay costs of £328,712 providing:\r\nCare Experience survey tool support and development, Patient Opinion subscription and programme evaluation \r\nNation Learning Sessions 2 and 3 and additional meetings costs \r\nTravel and subsistence including Island NHS Board travel costs to learning sessions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:45.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294723,"EventID":"S4W-21160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:46.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T10:41:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices in each NHS board have not met the target of ensuring that people contacting the surgery who require access to an appropriate health professional receive this within two working days, and how it monitors this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The performance measure is monitored through results of an access survey, which directly measures patients’ experience of getting access to their General Practice, within 48 hours, on the basis of clinical need. The percentages shown are calculated from the results of national surveys of GP practice patients and reflect the views of randomly sampled patients who responded to the survey in each year. They are not based on an evaluation of all appointment records/all patients in each practice.\r\nLatest available figures, published in May 2012, show that 92.6% of patients were offered the opportunity to see or speak to a doctor or nurse within 48 hours – above our target of 90%. 85% of patients were able to see or speak to a doctor or nurse within two working days, 8% were offered an appointment, but the person they wanted to see was not available or the time was not convenient and 7% were unable to get access.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:46.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294724,"EventID":"S4W-21162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:46.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T10:41:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19244 and S4W-20023 by Alex Neil on 29 January 2014 and 13 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide an update on how many GP practices in each NHS board area (a) are not registering any new patients, (b) have closed their patient lists and (c) have open patient lists but are not routinely accepting new patients.","AnswerText":"Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 2004 General Medical Service Regulations sets out the requirements that GP Practices and Health Boards must follow in managing patient lists, including closure of patients lists.\r\nBoards should find ways to either support the practice to once again take on patients or to agree a formal, usually time limited, closure, informing other local practices in the area. This safeguards patient access and allows the Board to monitor the situation more fully and to take any further appropriate action.\r\nNHS Boards have provided the following information.\r\nNHS Board\r\nNot Registering New Patients\r\nClosed Patient Lists\r\nOpen Lists But Not Routinely Accepting New Patients\r\nAyrshire & Arran\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nBorders\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries & Galloway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nFife\r\n0\r\n0\r\n11\r\nForth Valley\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\nGrampian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3\r\nGreater Glasgow & Clyde\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\nHighland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nLanarkshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nLothian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n16\r\nOrkney\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nTayside\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nWestern Isles\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:46.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294725,"EventID":"S4W-21163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T14:02:46.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T11:44:17.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Ministerial Strategic Group on Women and Work was formed; when it has met, and what its remit is.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Strategic Group on Women and Work was formed following the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012. The first meeting was on 27 March 2013 with subsequent meetings held on 26 June 2013, 30 October 2013, 26 February 2014, and 7 May 2014.\r\nThe remit of the group is to:\r\nAgree the range of actions and recommendations from the Women’s Employment Summit;\r\nAgree priorities across each commission and the timescales for action and by whom;\r\nAdvise on actions to further address the challenges raised, in particular how those outwith the Government could support change, e.g. employers, the third sector, communities and education and training sector;\r\nMonitor implementation of the agreed plans, reviewing progress and challenging inaction;\r\nAgree the content of Ministerial reports to Parliament on progress; and\r\nThe group will meet 3 or 4 times a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T14:02:46.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294739,"EventID":"S4W-21165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:22.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of its getting it right for every child approach on the educational outcomes of children from economically disadvantaged households.","AnswerText":"The independent evaluation report by Edinburgh University in 2009 into the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) Highland Pathfinder (2006-9) showed improved outcomes for a majority of children, all of whom had complex needs.\r\nThere has been no specific assessment of the impact of the GIRFEC approach on educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged households.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:22.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294740,"EventID":"S4W-21166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:22.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of the evidence from education initiatives contained in its 2011 Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland of what works for children from economically disadvantaged households before producing Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland: Our Approach 2014-2017.  ","AnswerText":"During 2013 and early 2014 the Scottish Government developed a strategic approach with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty and a full range of stakeholders across Scotland. A number of areas were identified as priorities for future work across a variety of policy areas, including education. There were also widespread calls for more robust reporting of the range of activity contributing to tackling child poverty in Scotland and of the impact of this activity. The refreshed Child Poverty Strategy reflects the importance of these areas to our approach and describes the approach to reporting on relevant activity in the coming years.\r\nThe Government is currently developing, with the Ministerial Advisory Group, a measurement framework which will include indicators of relative attainment. This will be reported on annually, the first occasion being as part of the 2014 Annual Report, which will be published in summer 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:22.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294741,"EventID":"S4W-21167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:22.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the educational impact of (a) Achieving our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland, (b) The Early Years Framework and (c) Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequality on the educational outcomes of pupils from economically disadvantaged households.","AnswerText":"Achieving our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland, The Early Years Framework and Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequality did not in themselves set out to make an impact on the educational outcomes of pupils from economically disadvantaged households. They seek to highlight the potential for education initiatives to improve the wider outcomes of all children and young people, including those from disadvantaged households.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:22.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294742,"EventID":"S4W-21168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:23.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the curriculum for excellence on the educational outcomes of children living in poverty.","AnswerText":"There are a range of measures through which the impact of the Curriculum for Excellence on the educational outcomes for all children, including those living in poverty, can be assessed. These include the annual Scottish Qualifications Authority exam results and leaver destination data, the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, and the triennial Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reports. The 2012 PISA study of fifteen year olds showed that Scotland has begun to make progress on reducing the attainment gap.\r\nThrough the inspection process, Education Scotland examines the nature and context of each school and considers its pupils' needs. Each inspection is supported by information on the social background and attainment of pupils using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and linked to comparator schools. Through this they have identified schools and authorities that appear to successfully tackle poverty pressures and they share the information with other schools in similar situations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:23.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294743,"EventID":"S4W-21169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:23.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing assessment is in place to monitor the impact of the curriculum for excellence on the educational outcomes of pupils from economically disadvantaged households.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21168 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:23.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294744,"EventID":"S4W-21170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:23.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence there is that measures in the curriculum for excellence are helping to reduce the attainment gap of pupils from economically disadvantaged households in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21168 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:23.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294745,"EventID":"S4W-21171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:24.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what systematic monitoring and evaluation of national policies it carries out to assess the contribution that they make to closing the attainment gap of pupils from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.","AnswerText":"Education Scotland’s Corporate Plan 2013-16 sets out actions which aim to bring a step change in the quality and equity of Scottish education. The strategic objectives and commitment for action over the next three years are focussed on the areas which will have a positive impact on all our learners, including the key educational goal of eradicating inequity in educational outcomes. Under each strategic objective Education Scotland have set out a range of sources of evidence which will be used to judge success. The first annual report will be produced later this year and the corporate plan gives a commitment to publishing a review and summary report by the end of 2016.\r\nFurthermore, the Scottish Government has asked the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which aims to help improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world, to carry out a review of the curriculum in 2015, alongside the Royal Society of Edinburgh Education Committee, to ensure the new curriculum is making a positive impact for all our children and young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:24.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294746,"EventID":"S4W-21172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:24.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Improving Performance to Raise Attainment policy group.","AnswerText":"The ‘Improving Performance to Raise Attainment policy group’ (now known as the Raising Attainment and Governance Unit) is an internal policy unit within the Scottish Government Learning Directorate.\r\nThe Scottish Government are taking forward a number of activities to support raising attainment and closing the inequity gap including: the implementation of Teaching Scotland’s Future; establishing a Scottish College for Educational Leadership; encouraging collaboration and continuous self-improvement through our Self-Improving Schools Partnership Programme (led by Education Scotland); the Pathfinder Schools programme; the establishment of literacy and numeracy hubs across Scotland to facilitate sharing of best practice; funding for the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre; and the development of ‘Insight’ which will help local authorities and secondary schools to analyse strengths and areas for improvement. We are also providing accessible information for parents and carers through a refreshed Parentzone website and are working with schools and the third sector to explore effective links and share ideas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:24.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294747,"EventID":"S4W-21173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:24.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T12:58:44.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what routine assessment is made of the impact on pupils from economically disadvantaged households during the (a) conception, (b) design and (c) evaluation of (i) national and (ii) local education projects.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its partners at national and local level share a strong commitment to improving the educational outcomes for all children and young people, including those from economically disadvantaged households. This shared commitment influences the conception, design and evaluation of education projects at national and local level, though the precise means by which the impact is assessed will vary from project to project, depending on individual circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:24.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294748,"EventID":"S4W-21174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:24.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:12:03.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20958 by Michael Matheson on 12 May 2014, whether any plans were available from April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"All NHS boards are required to include chronic pain in their Local Delivery Plans for 2014-15 and should ensure that these are published on their local websites by the end of June 2014. The NHSScotland 2020 Local Delivery Plan guidance is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/4395.\r\nAs advised in my response to the earlier question (S4W-20958) to which the member refers, the local chronic pain Service Improvement Groups/Managed Clinical Networks have also made a commitment to publish plans on their relevant page of the national chronic pain website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:24.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294749,"EventID":"S4W-21175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:25.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:12:03.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20958 by Michael Matheson on 12 May 2014, whether it considers the requirement for a member’s login to be a barrier to public and patient access.\r\n","AnswerText":"The only incidence where a member login is required is for those who have permission to update the website, which is otherwise fully accessible to all.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:25.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294750,"EventID":"S4W-21176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:25.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:12:03.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of its directorates contribute to the answers by the Minister for Public Health to parliamentary questions on chronic pain.\r\n","AnswerText":"Dependent on the issues raised as parliamentary questions arise, the policy directorate(s) contribution is determined on a case by case basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:25.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294751,"EventID":"S4W-21177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:26.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:12:03.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?, that shortages in staffing complements in chronic pain clinics are not caused by vacancies but by understaffing and under resourcing by NHS boards.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain recommends a multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of care and treatment for people with chronic pain. As part of the data collection exercise carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), boards were asked to provide information on current staffing in line with the specialities recommended within the model. The findings of the HIS report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?, note that in some board areas not all of the recommended specialities were provided within a dedicated pain team.\r\nWhile the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare in Scotland, it is for each NHS board to decide how best to deliver those services to meet the needs of the population. This includes how best to utilise funding and staff, taking account of national and local priorities to meet local health needs.\r\nIt is essential that clear care pathways are in place to ensure that people with chronic pain receive all elements of the care they need. \r\nAll NHS boards are required to include chronic pain improvement within their Local Delivery Plans for 2014. Progress will be monitored by the Scottish Government through the Annual Review process. The HIS report provides a benchmark from which boards can measure improvement and boards should take cognisance of the findings and its recommendations in the planning and delivery of services for people living with chronic pain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:26.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294752,"EventID":"S4W-21178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:26.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:12:03.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20957 by Michael Matheson on 12 May 2014, whether all NHS boards have submitted plans to deal with the staff and resource shortages, beyond vacancies, in chronic pain clinics as identified in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21177 on 28 May 2014 which sets out the Scottish Government position on staffing for chronic pain services. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:26.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294753,"EventID":"S4W-21179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:27.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:45:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no national or NHS board data gathered on the number of people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.\r\nInformation has been gathered by National Services Scotland through the Practice Team Information programme which can provide estimates of the conditions recorded as the focus of a GP consultation. However, estimates from this programme for conditions where incident rates are known to be small are considered to be unreliable and are therefore not published.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:27.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294754,"EventID":"S4W-21180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:27.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:45:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for the commissioning of NHS highly-specialised services.","AnswerText":"In Scotland highly specialised health services are commissioned through the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland. Highly specialised services needed by residents of Scotland are provided in Scotland or England and in very rare cases, abroad.\r\nApplications for designation to become a nationally commissioned service in Scotland are considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) which is currently chaired by the chair of the NHS board chief executive group and which comprises representatives of each territorial NHS board in Scotland.\r\nNSSC’s decisions are informed through a robust advisory structure, co-ordinated by the National Professional Patient and Public Reference Group which draws on expertise from existing professional, patient and public groups.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:27.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294755,"EventID":"S4W-21181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:27.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T13:45:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the (a) quality of the services available and (b) equity of access to appropriate clinical specialists for people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Clinical genetic services and diagnostic genetic testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are available through the regional genetic centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. There is equitable access to these services, and they are quality assured and monitored nationally.\r\nTreatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in children resident in Scotland is commissioned nationally by the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland, from the three UK specialist centres for specialist paediatric liver disease in London, Birmingham and Leeds; and for adults from the Royal Free Hospital in London. These are all recognised as the specialist centres for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. There is equitable access to these services, which are funded nationally and they are quality assured through the NSD specialist commissioning team.\r\nInformation on Scottish access to these services by NHS board is not held centrally as the total number of referrals for treatment each year is less than 10 and the numbers for individual boards is two or less.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:27.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294756,"EventID":"S4W-21182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:27.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:21:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on GP dispensing practices; whether this reflects a change in policy, and, if so, when the policy was changed and for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that GP dispensing practices play an essential role in the dispensing and supply of medicines to patients in remote and rural areas who do not have access to a community pharmacy.\r\nFollowing our review and consultation earlier this year on the control of entry arrangements and dispensing GP practices, we have laid amended regulations before Parliament, coming into force by the summer recess (2014). These amendments will introduce a revised regulatory framework which we believe will best meet the needs of local communities throughout Scotland. The amended regulations will introduce additional tests to be considered by NHS boards when applications to open a pharmacy are made in areas where patients have their prescribed medicines supplied by a GP dispensing practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:27.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294757,"EventID":"S4W-21183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:28.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:21:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards can guarantee that there is always an out-of-hours GP available on call.\r\n","AnswerText":"From 1 April 2004, the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 placed a duty on the 14 territorial NHS boards to provide ‘primary medical services’ for everyone living in the NHS board area. These are the services GP practices provide to patients registered with them.\r\nDuring the out-of-hours periods NHS boards generally provide these services for their populations at out-of-hours centres (often co-located with accident and emergency departments) or, where the patient is so unwell that they cannot travel or there are other factors which may prevent them from travelling, by arranging for a home visit by a doctor or other member of the clinical team. These services are GP led and delivered directly by NHS boards who are expected to determine the appropriate configuration and staffing mix (which will typically include nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals working in support of GPs) to meet the needs of their patients.\r\nThese services play a vital role in caring for communities, and we understand the challenges these services can face, particularly in relation to the availability of GPs. That’s why our £50 million unscheduled care action plan includes out-of-hours primary medical care alongside every element of unscheduled care in Scotland. As part of this, we expect all NHS boards to work with their local medical committees and other partners to ensure they are delivering GP out-of-hours services that are safe, effective, sustainable and meet the needs of their local communities.\r\nIf, due to exceptional circumstances, any NHS board found they had no GPs available during an out-of-hours period, it would be expected that service continuity plans would be implemented so that patient care would continue to be provided by an appropriate alternative clinician. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:28.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294758,"EventID":"S4W-21184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:28.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:29:46.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of recent research carried out by YouGov and Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center regarding the prevalence and rate of use of e-cigarettes, whether it will consider commissioning research into their effects.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans for the Scottish Government to commission its own research into the effects of e-cigarettes.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government will consider the publicly available evidence which underpinned the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency report, The Regulation of Nicotine Containing Products\r\n(http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/comms-ic/documents/websiteresources/con286834.pdf), the Tobacco Products Directive\r\n(http://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision/index_en.htm)\r\nand any emerging evidence in considering future policy on e-cigarettes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:28.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294759,"EventID":"S4W-21185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:28.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:29:46.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update its (a) advice and (b) guidelines on the use of e-cigarettes in its buildings.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to update existing guidance material.\r\nWhile electronic cigarettes are not covered by the ban on smoking within enclosed spaces, individual organisations may still put in place policies to restrict their use.\r\nIt is the decision of the Scottish Government that our workforce smoking policy also applies to electronic cigarettes. This means the use of electronic cigarettes is not permitted within Scottish Government buildings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:28.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294760,"EventID":"S4W-21186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:28.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:39:15.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to commission a highly-specialised service for people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21181 on 2 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:28.893","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294761,"EventID":"S4W-21187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:29.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:42:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times a request has been made by each prison in the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) estate seeking (a) authorisation and (b) an extension for an order to remove a prisoner from association with other inmates in accordance with section 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 in each of the last three years, broken down by gender; how many requests were (i) declined, and for what reason and (ii) authorised by (A) ministers, and (B) SPS officials, broken down by position.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Rule 95(1) is applied locally by Governors and it permits a prisoner to be removed from association for a period of up to 72 hours. Extensions to this period for up to one month require authorisation by a senior manager in the Scottish Prison Service Headquarters who exercises this power on behalf of Scottish Ministers.\r\nAny application of Rule 95(1) or its extension is recorded in the individual records of the prisoner concerned. Regrettably, this information is not readily accessible by the electronic prisoner records system. Consequently a manual search of every record would be required to provide the information you request.\r\nHowever, the prisoner records system does record the number of occasions when Rule 95(1) has been applied. These figures are as follows.\r\n\r\nMale\r\nFemale\r\n2011-12\r\n499\r\n44*\r\n2012-13\r\n1238\r\n130\r\n2013-14\r\n1785\r\n144**\r\n(*Rule 95 removal from association commenced on 1 November 2011 with the commencement of the Prisoners and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011.\r\n** The figures record the number of occasions that Rule 95 has been applied, so the same individual may be recorded on a number of occasions.)\r\nIn addition, where a prisoner has been removed from association for three months or more, their case must also be referred to the Prisoner Monitoring and Assurance Group which may provide advice on additional strategies which could be adopted to assist with the reintegration of the prisoner into the mainstream.\r\nThe Operations Directorate of the Scottish Prison Service also provides information to the Chief Executive on a bi-monthly basis detailing all prisoners removed from association for a period of three months or more.\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service regrets that the detail you request is not available. In light of this, work has been commissioned to bring forward an update to our prisoner records system.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:29.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294762,"EventID":"S4W-21188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:29.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:42:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times an order to remove a prisoner from association with other inmates in accordance with section 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 has been revoked by a governor on the advice of a registered medical practitioner in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) gender and (b) prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21187 on 29 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:29.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294763,"EventID":"S4W-21189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:29.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:42:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times a prisoner has made representations to a governor prior to being served with an order for removal from association with other inmates in accordance with section 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) gender and (b) prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The Scottish Prison Service does not record this information in the manner requested. When a prisoner makes representation this is recorded within their case management record, a copy of which is made available.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:29.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294764,"EventID":"S4W-21190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:29.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:42:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times ministers have received (a) notification, (b) details and (c) copies of representations made by a prisoner to assist with the consideration of whether to grant or extend an order to remove that prisoner from association with other inmates in accordance with section 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Ministers are not provided with notification, details or copies of representations made by a prisoner in consideration as whether to grant or extend an order to remove an offender from association with other offenders in accordance with Rule 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011.\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service, as an executive agency of the Scottish Government, exercises these statutory functions on behalf of Scottish Ministers in relation to Rule 95 of the Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011. In practical terms a senior manager of the Scottish Prison Service Operations Directorate is responsible for approving Rule 95(11) or (12) extension applications on behalf of Scottish Ministers.\r\nHowever, as Accountable Officer for the Scottish Prison Service, I am ultimately responsible for all aspects relating to operational effectiveness.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:29.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294765,"EventID":"S4W-21191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:30.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:17:26.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, how the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board will ensure that the views of disabled people and staff are considered.","AnswerText":"The scope of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board encompasses diversity in its wider sense, and this includes disabled people. However, the primary focus will be on women in the early part of the programme, with the learning from improving the gender balance of boards being used to increase participation of disabled people and those with other protected characteristics.\r\nThe Scottish Government works with a range of key partners to ensure that the views of disabled people and staff are heard. Our focus is on working across the Scottish Government to develop a disability delivery plan which will contribute to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and our Shared Vision on Independent Living. Within the Scottish Government we ensure that the views and opinions of all our minority groups of staff, including our disabled staff, are considered by consulting regularly with our Staff Diversity Networks and our Diversity Champions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:30.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294766,"EventID":"S4W-21192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:30.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:39:53.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the terms of reference for the (a) Project Liaison Committee and (b) Performance Review Committee referenced in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1998.\r\n","AnswerText":"The functions of the Project Liaison Committee are:\r\na) to provide a means for the joint review of all aspects of the performance of the agreement\r\nb) to provide a forum for joint strategic discussion considering actual and anticipated changes in the market and business of the board and the University, and possible variations of the agreement to reflect those changes or for the more efficient performance of this agreement.\r\nThe functions of the Performance Review Committee are:\r\na) to provide a means for the joint review of issues relating to all day to day aspects of the performance of the agreement\r\nb) to discuss and seek to agree the service performance score for each of the services pursuant to the performance monitoring procedures\r\nc) to review plans for programmed maintenance in the contract months following each meeting\r\nd) to agree in advance of each contract year the schedule of small works rates for that contract year\r\ne) to agree in advance of each contract year a schedule of rates and prices for any ad hoc parts of the services for which the service company is entitled to charge the board in terms of the relative service requirements\r\nd) to discuss and seek to agree the information contained in pro forma payment certificates as contemplated pursuant to clause 23.5(e) of the contract\r\nThese functions are set out in the project agreement, which is available on NHS Lothian’s website, at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\nDocumentation related to these committees, such as agendas and minutes, is held by NHS Lothian.\r\nThe management and monitoring of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh private finance initiative contracts is the responsibility of NHS Lothian. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with representatives of NHS Lothian to discuss capital planning, property, asset management and performance issues. Any significant issues relating to the contract are raised by this route.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:30.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294767,"EventID":"S4W-21193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:30.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:39:53.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the (a) dates, (b) times, (c) locations and (d) attendees of each meeting of the (i) Project Liaison Committee and (ii) Performance Review Committee referenced in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1998, for each year since its inception and what matters were discussed. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21192 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:30.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294768,"EventID":"S4W-21194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:30.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:39:53.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received copies of the (a) minutes and (b) agenda of each of the meetings of the (i) Project Liaison Committee and (ii) Performance Review Committee referenced in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1998, and, if so, whether it will place copies of these in SPICe.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21192 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:30.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294769,"EventID":"S4W-21195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:31.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:39:53.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what reporting mechanism is in place to ensure that it is appraised of the outcomes of the meetings of the (a) Project Liaison Committee and (b) Performance Review Committee referenced in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1998.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21192 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:31.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294770,"EventID":"S4W-21196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:31.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T15:39:53.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the membership of the (a) Project Liaison Committee and (b) Performance Review Committee referenced in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1988, for each year and whether it will publish the names of the committee members, their roles in NHS Lothian or its contractual partners and their remuneration.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21192 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:31.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294771,"EventID":"S4W-21197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:31.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T16:25:08.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20336 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 April 2014, what criteria it used to determine the stakeholders who had an interest in the white paper.\r\n","AnswerText":"Over 100,000 copies of Scotland’s Future have been requested since its publication and we continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that as many people as possible are able to engage in, and inform, the debate around Scotland’s future as we approach the referendum.\r\nBecause the content of Scotland’s Future is so wide-ranging and demand for information so high, it was appropriate to contact stakeholders engaged in every aspect of life in Scotland on launch day.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:31.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294772,"EventID":"S4W-21198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-15T16:49:31.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T16:25:54.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking as a result of the UK Government's requirement on landlords to check the immigration status of prospective tenants.\r\n","AnswerText":"Immigration is a reserved matter. However, these provisions, through their impact on private landlords and registered social landlords (RSLs), will have a significant impact on housing policy, which is devolved.\r\nThe Scottish Government has no evidence of difficulties with illegal migrants accessing rented accommodation from private landlords or RSLs. It believes that the provisions will place an unnecessary burden on private landlords and RSLs and, on several occasions, has made this point to the UK Government. It will continue to engage with the UK Government on this and to work with stakeholders in Scotland to ensure that their views on these provisions are made clear.\r\n Section 35(3) of the Immigration Act confers a power on the Secretary of State so that different commencement days may be appointed for different purposes or areas. The Scottish Government understands that the UK Government intends to pilot these provisions in an area in England before taking decisions about further implementation in 2015. I have asked the UK Government to ensure that the Scottish Government is given time to conduct a full consultation with housing and other relevant stakeholders before it implements the provisions in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-02T16:49:31.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294774,"EventID":"S4W-21152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:24.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T16:50:15.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it has made in tackling health inequalities since 2007.","AnswerText":"The Government has brought a clear focus on health inequalities signalled by the publication in 2008 of Equally Well, the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities and the subsequent reviews in 2010 and 2014 which are enhanced by the publication of annual indicators.\r\nTogether with the Early Years Framework and our poverty strategy Achieving Our Potential we have provided strategic direction and a clear set of principles to address the underlying causes of Scotland’s health and other inequalities.\r\nTo maintain a focus on reducing health inequalities last year we made it one of six areas for action set out in the Single Outcome Agreements with Community Planning Partnerships and to drive delivery we have agreed that the Health and Community Care Delivery Group will consider how best to implement that change.\r\nHowever our work is at a disadvantage as we lack the ability to use the full range of levers to promote good health and grow Scotland’s economy for the benefit of all.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:24.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294775,"EventID":"S4W-21153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:24.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T16:50:15.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to combat childhood obesity.","AnswerText":"The Government commitment to tackling obesity is set out in our Prevention of Obesity Route Map, one of a coherent group of policy frameworks and guidance which include, Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action; Better Eating, Better Learning – A New Context For School Food; Recipe for Success; and Giving Children and Young People a Sporting Chance that the Government has put in place and continues to update to support the necessary action across a broad front so Scotland’s children become more active and enjoy a healthy balanced diet.\r\nIn tackling this complex problem we have pursued a multifaceted approach including funding the NHS to carry out child healthy weight interventions, the continued regulation of school food environment, advice through the National Parenting Strategy, projects which teach both children and their families cooking skills, engagement with producers and retailers to promote healthy food options and food reformation. In encouraging physical activity we have invested in active schools programmes are developing 150 community sports hubs and supporting the minimum two hours of PE in schools. Together with the wider community action of promoting active travel and our Commonwealth Games legacy programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:24.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294776,"EventID":"S4W-21154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:25.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-14T16:50:15.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering lowering the age range for breast cancer screening.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not currently considering lowering the age range for breast cancer screening.\r\nCurrent evidence tells us that the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and that finding breast cancer is most effective using breast X-rays (mammograms) in women who have reached menopause.\r\nWomen below the age range for routine breast screening (50-70 years) are advised to check themselves regularly for changes to their breasts. This message was recently communicated through a Scottish Government social marketing campaign which encouraged women of all ages to stay breast aware and, should they notice any changes, to visit their GP in the first instance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:25.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294777,"EventID":"S4W-21204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:25.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:28:25.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20838 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, what the cost is of each of the revisions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost of the revisions is detailed in the following table:-\r\nRevision\r\nCost\r\nStrathclyde Passenger Transport have reduced the level of grant payable for the carriage of concessionary card holders\r\n£4,000.00\r\nFunding was provided for training to meet the requirements of the EU  regulation on maritime passenger rights \r\n£6,000.00\r\nA bus replacement service has been introduced to improve the resilience of the service when it is affected by bad weather\r\n£206,000.00\r\nThe MV Argyll Flyer has been made the lead vessel, again in order to improve resilience of the service\r\n£366,000.00\r\nPassenger numbers have fallen against the forecasts underpinning Argyll Ferries initial basecase\r\n£193,000.00\r\nAdditional services have been provided on Saturday of the Cowal Games\r\n£11,000.00\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:25.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294778,"EventID":"S4W-21205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:25.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:28:25.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the lay-up period of the MV Coruisk was in winter (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The lay-up period for 2012-13 was from 8 December 2012 until 27 March 2013. There was no lay-up period for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:25.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294779,"EventID":"S4W-21206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:25.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:28:25.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20840 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, whether the difference in costs arose because of the anticipated lay-up costs for the MV Coruisk had it not been deployed on the Gourock-Dunoon route.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost to Argyll Ferries (£658,000) of the deployment of the MV Coruisk includes a commercial charter fee from CalMac Ferries for a fully crewed vessel plus Argyll Ferries’ additional costs for fuel, berthing dues and ticketing staff.\r\nThe net cost to Transport Scotland is the difference between the cost to Argyll Ferries described above and the positive effect on the costs of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract of the charter fee for the MV Coruisk paid by Argyll Ferries to CalMac Ferries.\r\nThis explains the net cost to Transport Scotland to operate the MV Coruisk on Gourock-Dunoon of £142,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:25.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294780,"EventID":"S4W-21207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:26.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:28:25.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20840 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, whether it will provide a breakdown of the craft's deployment costs for (a) Argyll Ferries and (b) Transport Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21206 on 2 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\nA more detailed breakdown of costs is considered to be commercially sensitive.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:26.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294781,"EventID":"S4W-21208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:26.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:49:45.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost is of private rented accommodation, broken down by city.\r\n","AnswerText":"Rent Service Scotland collects market information on a representative sample of private sector rents by Broad Rental Market Areas, to meet the UK Government requirements related to Local Housing Allowance. This sample has not been designed to produce reliable rents broken down by individual cities. Information on the 30th percentile of private sector rents, by bedroom size, is published on the Scottish Government website, alongside corresponding information on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rates.\r\n30th percentile figures, derived from 12 months of letting information up to the end of September 2013 are available for each Broad Rental Market Area at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/tenants/Local-Housing-Allowance/figures  \r\nLocal and planning authorities are required to examine local rent levels as part of their Housing Need and Demand Assessments which are then appraised by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:26.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294782,"EventID":"S4W-21209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:26.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:49:45.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Aberdeenshire and (b) Aberdeen City in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The amount of Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding paid to individual registered social landlords was:\r\n\r\nHousing Association Grant (£ millions) – Aberdeenshire\r\nGrant Recipient\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15*\r\nAberdeenshire Council\r\n2.105\r\n0\r\n1.392\r\nCastlehill HA\r\n0.542\r\n0\r\n0\r\nCornerstone Community Care\r\n0.230\r\n0.073\r\n0\r\nGrampian HA\r\n0.937\r\n1.738\r\n0\r\nLangstane HA\r\n0.146\r\n0\r\n0\r\nTotal\r\n3.961\r\n1.812\r\n1.392\r\n*spend so far in 2014-15\r\n\r\nGrant Recipient\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15*\r\nAberdeen City Council\r\n0.848\r\n0.044\r\n0.555\r\nCastlehill HA\r\n0\r\n0.251\r\n0.178\r\nTenants 1st HA\r\n2.362\r\n3.114\r\n0\r\nGrampian HA\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0.862\r\nLangstane HA\r\n0.491\r\n0.627\r\n0\r\nTotal\r\n3.702\r\n4.037\r\n1.596\r\n* spend so far in 2014-15\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:26.787","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294783,"EventID":"S4W-21210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:27.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:49:45.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) academic and (b) non-academic (i) managerial and (ii) other staff are employed at North East Scotland College.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of staff employed in colleges and Universities is held by the Scottish Funding Council.\r\nThe latest information available is for 2012-13. It is not possible to provide the staff breakdown requested. Tables 1 and 2 contain headcount and full time equivalent information for teaching and non-teaching staff at Aberdeen and Banff and Buchan College; the two colleges that merged to form North East Scotland College in October 2013.\r\nTable 1: Aberdeen College: Headcount and full-time equivalent staff employed by staff group.\r\n \r\nStaff Group\r\n2012-13\r\nHeadcount\r\nTeaching\r\n256\r\nHeadcount\r\nNon-Teaching\r\n192\r\nFull-time equivalents\r\nTeaching\r\n200\r\nFull-time equivalents\r\nNon-Teaching\r\n157\r\nSource: Scottish Funding Council\r\nTable 2: Banff and Buchan College: Headcount and full-time equivalent staff employed by staff group.\r\n \r\nStaff Group\r\n2012-13\r\nHeadcount\r\nTeaching\r\n180\r\nHeadcount\r\nNon-Teaching\r\n97\r\nFull-time equivalents\r\nTeaching\r\n134\r\nFull-time equivalents\r\nNon-Teaching\r\n77\r\nSource: Scottish Funding Council\r\nNote: these figures are not comparable to those provided in answers to previous parliamentary questions on staffing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire due to a change in the methodology used by the Scottish Funding Council for its staffing survey, which was introduced in 2011-12.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:27.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294784,"EventID":"S4W-21211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:27.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T11:49:45.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the NHS Grampian area were (a) diagnosed with and (b)  discharged from hospital after treatment for malnutrition in 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"\r\n(a) The term ‘malnutrition’ can be used to mean a range of different conditions. The definition used here comprises a specific group of diagnoses which would be used to identify cases of protein/energy malnutrition (ICD-10 codes E40-E46 only). Therefore, the information presented is not comparable with figures which have been previously provided in relation to the number of patients discharged from hospital following a diagnosis of malnutrition, broadly defined.\r\nThe recording of a malnutrition diagnosis for these patients indicates that malnutrition was part of the reason for hospital admission and was diagnosed at some point before or during the hospital episode. Information is not available on whether the condition was fully resolved by the time the patient was discharged.\r\nThe provisional number of patients that were discharged from hospitals in the NHS Grampian area following a diagnosis of malnutrition in 2013 is shown in the following table:\r\nNumber of patients diagnosed with malnutrition in NHS Grampian\r\nYear\r\nCount\r\n2013p\r\n29\r\nSource: SMR01\r\np - provisional\r\np - Data submissions for NHS Grampian are over 95% complete to December 2013. The figures provided above have been marked provisional until all patient records held on Grampian’s new IT Patient Management System have been fully updated.\r\nDate: May 2014 \r\n(b) Data on procedures and treatments specific to malnutrition are not centrally held. There are no procedures or treatment explicitly used for malnutrition therefore these cases cannot be identified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:27.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294785,"EventID":"S4W-21212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-16T13:32:27.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T12:06:51.833","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20841 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, what the lay-up costs of the craft were in 2013-14, and what the reason is for any difference with the 2012-13 figure.\r\n","AnswerText":"The MV Coruisk was not in lay-up in 2013-14 as it was operating on the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route prior to moving to Gourock-Dunoon and therefore incurred no lay-up costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-03T13:32:27.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294794,"EventID":"S4W-21199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:12.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T17:21:29.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03227 by Alex Neil on 15 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31054), whether it will provide a breakdown by NHS board of the (a) £215 million paid in unitary charges and (b) £86 million paid in service charges for each of the 28 historical PFI agreements for each year of the contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"The unitary charges and service charges can be analysed between NHS boards as follows:\r\nNHS Board\r\nTotal Unitary Payments £m\r\nService Charge Element £m\r\nNHS Ayrshire & Arran\r\n4.9\r\n2.6\r\nNHS Dumfries & Galloway\r\n1.7\r\n1.5\r\nNHS Fife\r\n19.7\r\n4.0\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n38.6\r\n19.7\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde\r\n27.9\r\n5.4\r\nNHS Highland\r\n6.6\r\n3.8\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n50.2\r\n27.9\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n53.3\r\n19.1\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n12.3\r\n2.6\r\nTotal\r\n215.1\r\n86.6\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:12.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294795,"EventID":"S4W-21200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:12.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T17:21:29.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03227 by Alex Neil on 15 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31054), whether it will provide a breakdown by NHS board of the £1.3 million in annual savings for each of the 28 historical PFI agreements.","AnswerText":"All of the £1.3 million annual saving identified in 2013-14 relates to NHS Lothian’s contract for the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294796,"EventID":"S4W-21201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:13.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T17:21:29.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03227 by Alex Neil on 15 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31054), how much of the projected £26 million in savings from PFI contracts will come from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract. \r\n","AnswerText":"Of the estimated £26 million in savings achieved over the life of Private Finance Initiative contracts as a result of savings identified by the end of 2014-15, £20 million relates to NHS Lothian’s Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:13.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294797,"EventID":"S4W-21202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:13.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T17:21:29.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03227 by Alex Neil on 15 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31054), how much of the £1.3 million in annual savings from PFI contracts has come from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21200 on 29 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:13.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294798,"EventID":"S4W-21213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:13.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T17:03:21.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector employees are paid the living wage, broken down by (a) public body and (b) job role.","AnswerText":"Since 2011, this Government has ensured all staff within our responsibility have been paid a living wage. We are committed to supporting the Scottish Living Wage for the duration of this Parliament, a decisive long-term commitment to those on the lowest incomes.\r\nWhilst all public sector employees directly subject to our public sector pay policy (details available at www.scotland.gov.uk/publicsectorpay) are paid at least the living wage, there are just over 600 employees paid at the living wage rate. We are unable to provide the details by individual organisation. Due to the small numbers involved, there would be a risk of identifying individual employees.\r\nIn the white paper we have publicly stated our commitment for a sustainable and fairly rewarded employment with the living wage and minimum wage central to our employment policy.\r\nWe fully support the principles of the Scottish Living Wage campaign and recognise it aims to make a real difference to the people of Scotland, by encouraging employers to reward their staff fairly.\r\nTo help increase the number of employers paying the living wage across all sectors in Scotland, we are providing funding for the Poverty Alliance to promote take up of the living wage accreditation scheme in following the example we have set.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:13.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294799,"EventID":"S4W-21214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:14.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T09:54:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are on the board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway and when these will be filled.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no vacancies on the board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Philip Jones, the newly appointed chair of the board and four new non-executive directors: Laura Douglas; Gillian Stanyard; Robert Allan; and Penny Halliday begin their appointments on 2 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:14.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294800,"EventID":"S4W-21215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:14.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T09:54:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the new chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway will be appointed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Philip Jones, the new Chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway begins his term of appointment on 2 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:14.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294801,"EventID":"S4W-21216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:14.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:42:24.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it would seek to (a) establish a second chamber of the Parliament and (b) increase the number of MSPs in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future: your guide to an independent Scotland sets out the Scottish Government’s position on these issues at pages 572 and 619 respectively. Scotland’s future can be accessed online at:\r\nhttp://www.scotreferendum.com/reports/scotlands-future-your-guide-to-an-independent-scotland/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:14.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294802,"EventID":"S4W-21218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:14.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in relation to the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) was introduced from 1 April 2012 to incentivise councils to maximise their existing business rates income and growing their tax base by providing councils with the potential to retain 50 per cent of any increase in business rates income over and above agreed targets for 2012-13 and future years.\r\nThe jointly agreed BRIS guidance sets out clearly that either central or local government can request a change in the annual BRIS targets in the event of a material change in the predicted non-domestic rates income. The 2012-13 mid-year returns from local authorities identified that the loss from revaluation appeals was likely to be significantly lower than predicted and also indicated an increased cost of mandatory rates relief. The Scottish Government considered the net increase in income from these factors as very significant and proposed a revision to the 2012-13 BRIS targets. Without changing the targets councils would have stood to gain a significant windfall without either collecting or attracting new business rates income.\r\nCOSLA leaders took the decision in May 2013 that they did not want to consider the review of the 2012-13 BRIS targets until the final non-domestic rates audited figures for 2012-13 became available in March 2014. I made it clear at that time that until the 2012-13 targets had been agreed I would not be publishing any future years’ targets.\r\nCOSLA leaders reconsidered their position at their 25 April 2014 meeting, following receipt of the audited returns, but did not consider that a significant event had occurred and as a result they were unable to agree the revised 2012-13 targets.\r\nI have agreed to meet with COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill to discuss a possible joint review of the Scheme and the arrangements for taking that forward. This meeting has been arranged for 4 June 2014 and the outcome will help inform what action is required in relation to the 2012-13 targets, including any payments to councils, and a review of the future of BRIS to ensure lessons are learnt from the first year of operation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:14.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294803,"EventID":"S4W-21219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:15.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to make payments for 2012-13 under the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:15.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294804,"EventID":"S4W-21220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:15.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to set targets for 2013-14 under the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:15.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294805,"EventID":"S4W-21221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:15.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it decided not to set targets for the 2013-14 business rates incentivisation scheme during 2013-14.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:15.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294806,"EventID":"S4W-21222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:15.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the main (a) successes and (b) failures have been of the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:15.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294807,"EventID":"S4W-21223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:16.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to set targets for the 2014-15 business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:16.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294808,"EventID":"S4W-21224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:16.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T10:45:55.423","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it decided not to set targets for the 2014-15 business rates incentivisation scheme before the start of the financial year.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21218 on 28 May 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:16.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294809,"EventID":"S4W-21225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:16.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T13:11:50.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward delivering each of the action points in Play Strategy for Scotland: Our Action Plan.","AnswerText":"Progress is being made and a number of sector led, short-life Action Groups have been established to take forward priority activities. Progress is being monitored by the Play Strategy Implementation Group which is a multi-agency stakeholder group drawing its membership from health, the third sector, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and education.\r\nWe have recently awarded funding of £100k to a number of partners to help support implementation of the Action Plan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:16.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294810,"EventID":"S4W-21226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T14:08:16.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T13:14:46.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to develop play provision in the community.","AnswerText":"As part of the implementation of Scotland’s first national play strategy, the Scottish Government is working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other partners to develop and disseminate a guide for local authorities that will help to increase understanding of the importance of play.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T14:08:16.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294811,"EventID":"S4T-00700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:33.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T09:36:22.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of Police Scotland officers routinely carrying out duties while carrying firearms.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:33.923","MeetingDate":"2014-05-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294812,"EventID":"S4T-00701","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:34.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T09:48:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Sunday Times Rich List figures showing a 19% increase in the wealth of the 100 richest people in Scotland, what action it can take to narrow the gap between rich and poor people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:34.167","MeetingDate":"2014-05-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294813,"EventID":"S4F-02108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:10.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:08:14.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:10.713","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294814,"EventID":"S4F-02109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:11.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-15T14:34:24.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:11.357","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294815,"EventID":"S4F-02110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:11.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T12:31:00.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:11.63","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294816,"EventID":"S4F-02116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:14.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T11:04:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to promote the value of modern apprenticeships to employers and young people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:14.177","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294817,"EventID":"S4F-02117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:14.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T11:25:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how many houses have been built in the private and public sectors in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:14.407","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294818,"EventID":"S4F-02120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-19T12:45:15.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T11:38:32.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle racial intolerance and hate crime.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-04T12:45:15.157","MeetingDate":"2014-05-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294826,"EventID":"S4W-21203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T13:43:32.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-16T08:53:50.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the provision of bicycle storage space on ScotRail services affected by the (a) Commonwealth Games, (b) Ryder Cup and (c) Year of Homecoming.","AnswerText":"Within Scotland the issue of the appropriate allocation of space within a train is always challenging because rolling stock has to run on a variety of routes and cater for a diverse group of passengers with differing requirements. ScotRail will focus on allocating rolling stock with bicycle carrying capacity to routes where high demand is expected.\r\nSecure bicycle facilities are provided at all stations in Scotland and since the ScotRail franchise commenced in 2004, over 2,000 additional cycle parking spaces have been installed either funded by ScotRail or in partnership with other parties.\r\nThroughout 2014 additional and strengthened services are being provided on key routes for various high profile events across the country.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T13:43:33.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294827,"EventID":"S4W-21227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T13:43:33.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T10:39:46.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimated figure for GDP in 2016-17 was used in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; how it calculated this, and whether it will revisit it if oil and gas forecasts are revised.\r\n","AnswerText":"The analysis in Scotland’s Future assumed that Scottish GDP in 2016-17, including a geographical share of North Sea output, was between £170 billion and £175 billion in cash terms. This was estimated by separately projecting forward Scottish onshore and offshore GDP.\r\nUpdated projections of Scottish GDP were incorporated into the Scottish Government report ‘Outlook for Scotland’s public finances and the opportunities of independence’ to reflect the latest outturn figures for Scottish GDP, analysis in the May 2014 Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin and the improved economic outlook since the publication of Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T13:43:33.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294828,"EventID":"S4W-21230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T13:43:34.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T11:48:52.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all ScotRail services have sufficient bicycle storage space.","AnswerText":"The invitation to tender for the next ScotRail franchise from 2015 requires bidders to provide a plan and proposals on actions they will take to maintain and improve cycling facilities, both on train and at stations, to encourage active travel and enable greater integration between rail services and cycling. These plans should be innovative and balance the needs of passengers both with and without bicycles.\r\nBidders will make provision for additional cycle storage at a minimum rate of 500 spaces per annum. Locations should be selected on the basis of demand forecasts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T13:43:34.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294829,"EventID":"S4W-21231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T13:43:34.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T12:24:37.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20999 by Keith Brown on 19 May 2014, who owns the shares of David MacBrayne Limited and whether the owners are able to remove the retained reserves held by the company.","AnswerText":"The shares of David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) are owned 100% by the Scottish Ministers. Any decision to pay a dividend to the shareholder would be made by the DML board of directors with due regard to their fiduciary duties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T13:43:34.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294847,"EventID":"S4W-21232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:09.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T13:24:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what factors it took into account when determining that the funding for the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine, would be guaranteed for two years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Funding for Time To Shine was set aside in the 2010-11 budget for the implementation of the youth arts strategy from the Young Scots Fund and the detailed timing and planning of the delivery of the £5 million fund followed a long consultation with the Youth Arts Sector about the best uses of the fund and the projects it could support that would have the greatest impact on the sector across Scotland and deliver the greatest benefits for our young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:09.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294848,"EventID":"S4W-21233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:09.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T13:24:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the strategic objectives of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine, will integrate with the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The actions relating to Curriculum for Excellence are set out on page 17 of the strategy. The implementation of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine, is being carried out by Creative Scotland, our national body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries.\r\nI will ask their chief executive, Janet Archer, to write to the member with further details.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:09.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294849,"EventID":"S4W-21234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:10.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T13:24:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will establish the national mentoring programme of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine; how it will engage young people with this; how much will be spent on it, and when it will be launched.\r\n","AnswerText":"The implementation of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine, is being carried out by Creative Scotland, our national body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries. I will ask their Chief Executive, Janet Archer to write to the member with details of the implementation of the mentoring programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:10.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294850,"EventID":"S4W-21235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:10.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T13:24:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will establish the mechanism for direct financial support of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine; how it will engage young people with this; how much will be spent on it, and when it will be launched.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has allocated £5,000,000 from the Young Scots Fund to Creative Scotland to deliver Time to Shine, Scotland’s youth arts strategy. The first area of expenditure is the regional youth arts hubs, where Creative Scotland announced the nine successful bids of over £3,000,000 on 7 April 2014. I am awaiting further proposals and detailed plans for the use of the remainder of the funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:10.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294851,"EventID":"S4W-21236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:10.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T13:24:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will establish the youth employment initiative of the youth arts strategy, Time to Shine; how it will engage young people with this; how much will be spent on it, and when it will be launched.\r\n","AnswerText":"Time to Shine is being delivered by Creative Scotland, the national body which supports the development of the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.\r\nI am advised by Creative Scotland that under their initial plans, they have allocated £100,000 from the 2014-15 budget for a round of graduate internships in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and this will attract £66,000 worth of matching European Structural Funds.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:10.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294852,"EventID":"S4W-21238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:10.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:21:20.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recently-published research in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, which suggests a connection between increasing levels of childhood vaccination and (a) type 1 diabetes and (b) autism.\r\n","AnswerText":"The paper in the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine is authored by a private individual who has no wider organisational affiliation. The paper reviews a selection of previous publications, many of which are by the same author. The paper does not publish any new findings and does not present any new evidence.\r\nThe alleged associations between vaccination and autism and type 1 diabetes have been extensively researched through population studies, and there is no evidence linking vaccination to increases in type 1 diabetes or autism. The World Health Organisation’s Global Advisory Committee on vaccine safety supports this view.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:10.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294853,"EventID":"S4W-21239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:11.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:41:23.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what improvements to journey times on the Highland mainline between Perth and Inverness there will be in the next two years. \r\n","AnswerText":"Network Rail are currently working on timetable development for phase two of the Highland Main Line improvements project which will help to determine the infrastructure interventions necessary to support an hourly service and achieve the further average journey time reduction of around 10 minutes in both directions between Inverness and Edinburgh/Glasgow. They are expected to deliver the GRIP 3 Option Selection Report by summer 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:11.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294854,"EventID":"S4W-21240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:11.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:40:48.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the lack of funding for investment in the home care sector as noted in the report, Recommendations for the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has accepted in principle the main recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\nWe will continue to work with our partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other key partners to take forward the recommendation to develop a strategy for the long-term transformation of residential care, supported housing, co-housing and intermediate care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:11.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294855,"EventID":"S4W-21241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:11.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:40:48.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the cross-subsidy by self-funding residents to publicly funded residents in care homes, as noted in the report, Recommendations for the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has accepted in principle the main recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\nWe will continue to work with our partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other key partners to take forward the recommendation to develop a strategy for the long-term transformation of residential care, supported housing, co-housing and intermediate care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:11.953","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294856,"EventID":"S4W-21242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:12.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:40:48.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many families have been forced to sell homes in order to pay for care, as referenced in the report, Recommendations for the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:12.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294857,"EventID":"S4W-21243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:12.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:40:48.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the recommendation by the Task Force for the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland that \"work is undertaken to fully explore the opportunities and costs of amending the capital limits in a Scottish context.\"","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has accepted in principle the main recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\nWe will continue to work with our partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other key partners to take forward the recommendation to develop a strategy for the long-term transformation of residential care, supported housing, co-housing and intermediate care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:12.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294858,"EventID":"S4W-21244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:13.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:40:48.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in the report, Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland, that it should review free personal and nursing care contributions to more accurately reflect the costs of personal and nursing care in a residential setting.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has accepted in principle the main recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\nWe will continue to work with our partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other key partners to take forward the recommendation to develop a strategy for the long-term transformation of residential care, supported housing, co-housing and intermediate care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:13.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294859,"EventID":"S4W-21245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:13.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for (a) youth voluntary organisations and (b) charities in (i) sport, (ii) creative industries and (iii) music.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are a range of different funding avenues available to support youth voluntary organisations and charities. Individual funds and funders do not ring-fence amounts for particular types of applicants, and are more focussed on outcomes. As well as investing strategically through their work with a variety of partners, Creative Scotland and sportscotland administer funding programmes on behalf of Scottish Ministers which are available to charitable trusts, youth and voluntary organisations. Enterprising third sector organisations are able to apply to the Enterprise Ready Fund.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:13.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294860,"EventID":"S4W-21246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:13.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for youth (a) employment initiatives and (b) job creation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Budget Bill for financial year 2014-15 was published on 16 January 2014. The progress of the Bill and all relevant documents can be found on the: Budget (Scotland) (No.3) Bill page.\r\nScottish Government funding available for employment initiatives and job creation are contained within budget level 3: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/01/6802 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:13.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294861,"EventID":"S4W-21247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:13.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be provided to each NHS (a) hospital and (b) board that will establish a specialist trauma centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards are currently scoping the work required to enhance major trauma services across Scotland, including the resource implications.\r\nThe National Planning Forum and board of Chief Executives will identify any additional resources required as part of this work, and will keep Scottish Ministers appraised of their plans to ensure that the major trauma quality framework is implemented.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:13.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294862,"EventID":"S4W-21248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:14.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure the operational effectiveness of the new trauma centre at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and whether NHS Lothian will receive additional resources to help it ensure that all treatment time guarantees continue to be achieved.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21247 on 29 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\nImplementation of the major trauma quality framework will help NHSScotland (including NHS Lothian), to ensure definitive trauma care is provided across Scotland and importantly, better outcomes for people who experience major trauma.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:14.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294863,"EventID":"S4W-21249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:14.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the new specialist trauma centres on other trauma centres.","AnswerText":"Where possible, people who experience major trauma will be taken directly to one of the four enhanced specialist centres. This will ensure they are assessed and treated immediately by a specialist team with access to the wide range of specialist facilities and treatments needed.\r\nOther centres will continue to care for people with less serious injuries, such as fractures and minor head injuries, and may still deal with a very small number of major trauma cases, particularly where patients are unable to reach a major trauma unit within a reasonable time period.\r\nThe proposed model of care will ensure definitive trauma care is provided across Scotland and importantly, better outcomes for people who experience major trauma.\r\nA quality framework that will support the safe, effective and person centred delivery of major trauma care across Scotland has therefore been developed. NHS boards are currently scoping the work required to implement the framework.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:14.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294864,"EventID":"S4W-21250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:14.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:45:49.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff, other than bank staff, are employed on zero hours contracts.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20795 on 6 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:14.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294865,"EventID":"S4W-21251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:14.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:22:16.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the success of the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in (a) 2014 and (b) previous years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government acknowledges the success of All-Energy in helping to drive the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, and enhancing both Aberdeen and Scotland’s reputation as a global leader in renewable and low carbon energy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:14.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294866,"EventID":"S4W-21252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:15.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:22:16.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any funding has been provided by (a) it or (b) Scottish Enterprise to the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in (i) 2014 and (ii) previous years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its agencies are exhibitors at All-Energy. Other than exhibitor fees, at commercial rates, the Scottish Government and its agencies have not provided any funding for All-Energy in this or any other year. There are no plans to provide grant funding for the event in future years. \r\nThe location for All-Energy is a matter for the organisers and host venues. As such, the Scottish Government and its agencies have not been involved in the decision to move the event from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and have not discussed this matter with either the organisers or the relevant local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:15.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294867,"EventID":"S4W-21253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:15.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:22:16.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any funding will be provided by (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise to the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in future years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:15.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294868,"EventID":"S4W-21254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:15.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:22:16.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise has had with the organisers of the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference regarding their plans for future years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:15.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294869,"EventID":"S4W-21255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:15.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:22:16.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise has had with local authorities regarding their plans for the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in future years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:16.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294870,"EventID":"S4W-21257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:16.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:43:38.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the governor and other management at HMP Grampian regarding the recently-reported security breaches at the prison and, in light of these incidents, whether it will provide the prison with additional support.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\nGrampian prison was brought into operation on 3 March 2014 following a well-tested preparation approach. During both the pre-opening period and since, the local management team has been supported through normal line management arrangements and additionally, by way of both on-site and telephone support from senior staff from across the Service, including the Chief Executive of SPS. The Director General of Learning and Justice has also spent time on-site before and after the prison opened, in support of the local staff and managers.\r\nAppropriate levels of support will be maintained to ensure that the local team are able to bring the prison back to full operation in a planned and sustainable way.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:16.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294871,"EventID":"S4W-21258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-20T17:08:16.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T16:09:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities or NHS boards will have lead responsibility for freedom of information requests arising out of the joint integration of social care services.","AnswerText":"The changes in health and social care, including the creation of integration authorities, do not make any difference to how freedom of information requests are handled. As at present, both health boards and local authorities will continue to be responsible for answering freedom of information requests in relation to any information they hold. Where integration joint boards exist, they will also be responsible for answering any freedom of information requests in relation to any information they hold.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-05T17:08:16.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294872,"EventID":"S4W-21283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:49:02.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:51:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public information costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"When Scotland’s Future was published, I announced a budget of £450,000 to ensure the public were made aware of how to access information about the Scottish Government’s proposals for independence.\r\nOf this, £350,000 was spent in financial year 2013-14. The following table provides a breakdown of spend to date:\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nMedia including postcard production and delivery\r\n£222,785.75\r\nCreative and production fees\r\n£126,501.45\r\nTotal\r\n£349,287.20\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:49:02.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294873,"EventID":"S4W-21284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T12:09:41.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:51:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the costs of events associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scotland’s Future events programme began with the launch of this document on 26 November 2013 and includes a stakeholder event on 10 December 2013 and a programme of public Q&A events hosted across Scotland.\r\nThe following expenditure in relation to events associated with Scotland’s Future has been made in financial year 2013-14:\r\nInformation on the costs of the launch event was published on 18 December 2013 in response to Parliamentary Question S4W-18195. The text of this response is available from:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_ChamberDesk/WA20131218.pdf \r\nStakeholder Event 10 December 2013\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£10,380.00\r\nTransport\r\n£180.00\r\nProduction of name badges and banners (banners reused at subsequent events)\r\n£2,145.62\r\nTechnical Services – stage and AV costs\r\n£15,445.20\r\nTotal\r\n£28,150.82\r\n\r\nPublic Engagement Town Hall Events\r\nCosts associated with equipment used at all town hall events \r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nProduction\r\n£379.00\r\nEquipment\r\n£7,128.14\r\nTotal\r\n£7,507.14\r\n\r\nDingwall - 31 January 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services \r\n£241.00\r\nTechnical Services\r\n£540.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£540.12\r\nProduction \r\n£170.00\r\nTotal\r\n£1,491.12\r\n\r\nFalkirk - 11 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£587.50\r\nTotal\r\n£587.50\r\n\r\nStirling – 13 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£263.18\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£424.42\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£826.27\r\n\r\nDunblane - 17 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nTechnical Services\r\n£558.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£109.67\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£806.34\r\n\r\nCoatbridge - 17 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£151.00\r\nTechnical\r\n£313.20\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£246.76\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£849.63\r\n\r\nPaisley – 19 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services  \r\n£234.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£265.95\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£638.62\r\n\r\nDunfermline – 25 February 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£61.15\r\nTechnical services\r\n£547.20\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£842.98\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£1,590.00\r\n\r\nLochgilphead - 3 March 2014 \r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£49.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£219.34\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£398.06\r\n\r\n\r\nDundee – 3 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire and catering \r\n£494.60\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£622.37\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£1,246.69\r\n\r\nMontrose – 5 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£230.00\r\nTechnical services\r\n£583.20\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£191.92\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£1,134.84\r\n\r\nEyemouth – 5 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£246.76\r\nProduction \r\n£138.67\r\nTotal\r\n£385.43\r\n\r\nEast Kilbride – 17 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nTechnical services\r\n£219.00\r\nProduction \r\n£84.72\r\nTotal\r\n£303.72\r\n\r\nNewtongrange – 18 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue hire, catering and services\r\n£300.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£268.69\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£698.41\r\n\r\nGlasgow – 19 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£423.29\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£553.01\r\n\r\nAberdeen – 20 March 20 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£570.28\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£700.00\r\n\r\n\r\nBlairgowrie – 26 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nTechnical Services\r\n£433.80\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£315.85\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£879.37\r\n\r\nArran – 30 March 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nTechnical Services \r\n£836.64\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£141.47\r\nProduction \r\n£129.72\r\nTotal\r\n£1,107.83\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T12:09:41.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294874,"EventID":"S4O-03266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:13.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:31.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support employment across the oil and gas sector.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:14.993","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294875,"EventID":"S4O-03267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:15.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:08:21.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland’s comment that the white paper on independence “contained very little detail on tax”.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:15.617","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294876,"EventID":"S4O-03268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:15.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:31.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress it has made on planning reform.","AnswerText":"I am driving forward a comprehensive package of measures to improve the planning service. This includes our work on National Planning Framework 3 and the revised Scottish Planning Policy, to be published in June 2014, and supporting authorities embed continual improvement activities.\r\nA greater number of development plans are up to date and decision-making timescales for major applications are reducing. Through our consideration of the annual performance framework reports, it is clear that there is a wide range of on-going improvement activity being carried out.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:15.837","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294877,"EventID":"S4O-03270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:16.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:50:30.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the future growth of the economy lies in a highly skilled workforce and what steps it will take to attract businesses to Scotland that require a highly skilled workforce.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:16.133","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294878,"EventID":"S4O-03271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:16.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T16:45:25.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering to support turnout at local authority elections.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:16.367","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294879,"EventID":"S4O-03272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:16.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:32.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what experts it has consulted about the consequences of independence for interest rates.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:16.6","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294880,"EventID":"S4O-03273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:16.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T14:31:00.743","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to sustain employment in Caithness and north Sutherland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:16.897","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294881,"EventID":"S4O-03274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:17.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:49:25.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met representatives of local authorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:17.273","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294882,"EventID":"S4O-03275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:17.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:33.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle low pay.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:17.473","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294883,"EventID":"S4O-03276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:17.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:33.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a report of the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism's visit to the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:17.74","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294884,"EventID":"S4O-03277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:17.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T10:09:52.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the National Planning Framework 3 and the revised Scottish planning policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:17.973","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294885,"EventID":"S4O-03278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:18.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:57:02.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what benefit there will be from the Beatrice Field offshore windfarm development to coastal communities in Caithness, Sutherland and the inner Moray Firth. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:18.317","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294886,"EventID":"S4O-03279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:18.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T08:37:04.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions emerged from the recent payday lending summit. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:18.613","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294887,"EventID":"S4O-03280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:18.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T16:39:54.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to community planning partnerships.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:18.847","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294888,"EventID":"S4O-03281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:19.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:35.1","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use tax powers to tackle wealth inequalities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:19.097","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294889,"EventID":"S4O-03282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:19.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:35.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what would be the position of civil servants working for the UK Government in Scotland following a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:19.44","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294890,"EventID":"S4O-03283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:19.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:18:56.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the funding sources for social enterprises and what steps it is taking to support crowdfunding.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:19.737","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294891,"EventID":"S4O-03284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:19.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T11:52:40.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to increase the number of business start-ups in Glasgow. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:19.97","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294892,"EventID":"S4O-03285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:20.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:03:36.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to high streets in the Scottish Borders to promote local employment and economic growth.","AnswerText":"We published the Town Centre Action Plan on 7 November 2013. The plan recognises that Scotland’s town centres can be a central component of successful local economies. It sets out the appropriate conditions for recovery and offers a range of actions which might be tailored to meet both local circumstances and the needs of local communities.\r\nLocal authorities remain responsible for local economic development. The action plan is not an end in itself and successful delivery will require positive engagement from the wider public, private and third sectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:20.267","MeetingDate":"2014-05-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294893,"EventID":"S4O-03286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:20.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:51:33.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme is progressing.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:20.5","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294894,"EventID":"S4O-03287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:20.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:02:49.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include the six black guillemot sites, three sandeel sites and the Firth of Forth Banks Complex as part of the proposed marine protected areas to be designated in 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:20.783","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294895,"EventID":"S4O-03288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:15:38.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who sits on the working group on supporter involvement in football clubs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:21.017","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294896,"EventID":"S4O-03289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:21.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T15:58:05.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the four-hour target for accident and emergency treatment will be met at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:21.267","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294897,"EventID":"S4O-03290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:21.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:04:07.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reverse the projected population decline in Argyll and Bute.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:21.937","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294898,"EventID":"S4O-03291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:22.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:22:20.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to resolve issues causing duplicate registrations in the Management Information and Dental Accounting System so that overpayments do not occur in the future.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:22.247","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294899,"EventID":"S4O-03292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:22.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T11:18:55.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Police Scotland and what was discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:22.497","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294900,"EventID":"S4O-03293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:22.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:05:40.373","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when a new prison will be built in the Highlands to replace Porterfield prison in Inverness.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:22.84","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294901,"EventID":"S4O-03294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:23.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T16:52:12.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what priority it places on tackling racism and sectarianism, in light of the reduction in Show Racism the Red Card’s budget.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and promoting a multi-faith and multi-cultural society.\r\nThat is why we are providing £60 million of funding for a range of equality projects between 2012 and 2015, which is more than double the £28 million that the previous administration provided between 2004 and 2007. This funding includes more than £8 million that we are using to support 40 local and national organisations in their work to tackle racism and break down barriers to race equality.\r\nWe are also investing a total of £9 million to tackle sectarianism in 2012-15.\r\nFull feedback on the reasons for the levels of grant funding, which were appropriate for the outcomes to be delivered, was provided to Show Racism the Red Card at the time. From 2011 to 2015 Show Racism the Red Card and Show Bigotry the Red Card will receive £310k funding to deliver jointly agreed outcomes. As budgets are finite, any increase in funding for Show Racism the Red Card would mean less would be available for other organisations doing valuable work on race equality and sectarianism.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:23.387","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294902,"EventID":"S4O-03295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:15:23.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-19T12:04:08.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to support greater female employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has taken a range of actions within our powers to support greater female employment which include:-\r\nThe delivery of increased and more flexible early learning and childcare through the Children and Young People Act;\r\nAwarding £100,000 to Working Families in partnership with Parenting across Scotland, which will support a family friendly Scotland in employment; \r\nAwarding £250,000 to fund Careerwise to encourage girls and young women to consider careers in science, engineering and technology; and\r\nFunding Equate Scotland (£601,000 between 2012-15) to support recruitment, retention and success of women where they are significantly under-represented.\r\nThe Labour Force Survey for January to March 2014 shows that female employment rose by 38,000 to 1,238,000. At 69.4%, the employment rate in Scotland is higher than the UK rate of 67.7% and is the highest across the four nations, but we cannot be complacent.\r\nWith full powers in an independent Scotland, more action could be taken to address the barriers women continue to face in the labour market.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:15:23.98","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294912,"EventID":"S4W-21260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:00.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T08:21:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland was to leave the UK, how much it would cost it each year to arrange specialist cross-border healthcare.\r\n","AnswerText":"These costs are driven by activity which is not possible to forecast.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:00.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294913,"EventID":"S4W-21261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:01.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T08:21:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many ambulance journeys between Scotland and England there have been in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Detail on ambulance journeys undertaken between Scotland and England by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is set out in the following table. Information on journeys carried out by English ambulance services or independent ambulance services is not held centrally.\r\nSAS have provided the following tables and notes, their data systems do not hold the information in the format requested prior to 2006-07.\r\nYear\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\nAccident and Emergency Incidents (1)\r\n\r\n\r\n375\r\n\r\n\r\n515\r\n\r\n\r\n568\r\n\r\n\r\n665\r\nPatient Transport Journeys (2)\r\n\r\n2218\r\n\r\n2378\r\n\r\n2027\r\n\r\n1994\r\nAir Ambulance Service Journeys (3)\r\n\r\n\r\n143\r\n\r\n\r\n82\r\n\r\n\r\n116\r\n\r\n\r\n101\r\n\r\n\r\nYear\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nAccident and Emergency Incidents (1)\r\n\r\n\r\n659\r\n\r\n\r\n669\r\n\r\n\r\n686\r\n\r\n\r\n685\r\nPatient Transport Journeys (2)\r\n\r\n2431\r\n\r\n2156\r\n\r\n1879\r\n\r\n1609\r\nAir Ambulance Service Journeys (3)\r\n\r\n\r\n76\r\n\r\n\r\n61\r\n\r\n\r\n41\r\n\r\n\r\n71\r\nNotes\r\n(1) The numbers of A and E incidents include those that took place in Scotland but where the destination hospital was Carlisle Hospital, Freemans Hospital in Newcastle, or Berwick Infirmary. It also includes incidents where an SAS ambulance attended an incident that took place out-with Scotland.\r\n(2) Due to the way the information is held, the figures for patient transport journeys, includes a very small number of journeys to or from Wales. \r\n(3) The Air Ambulance figures include all journeys recorded specifically as being between Scotland and England (and vice versa). There is an estimated further 10 to 15 journeys per year which are not recorded in this format and are excluded from the numbers provided.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:01.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294914,"EventID":"S4W-21262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:01.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T08:21:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland was to leave the UK, what impact this would have on the budget of NHS National Services Division up to 2020.\r\n","AnswerText":"In Scotland highly specialised health services are commissioned through the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland.\r\nFunds are top sliced from NHS boards to provide a fund for the procurement of the highly specialised services needed by residents of Scotland from hospitals in Scotland, England and in very rare cases, abroad.\r\nThere will be no impact on the budget of NHS National Specialist Services and Screening Division following independence.\r\nAfter independence Scotland will maintain a very strong relationship with the other countries of the UK. Scotland will continue to work with other parts of the UK to provide services where this provides access to the highest quality of care and delivers the best outcomes. There are already effective cross-border working arrangements in place which will provide a strong foundation for continued cooperation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:01.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294915,"EventID":"S4W-21263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:02.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T08:21:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland was to leave the UK, whether it would continue to have access to the rare and imported pathogens lab at Porton Down and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"After independence Scotland will maintain a very strong relationship with the other UK countries, and existing co-operation arrangements in the area of public health will be maintained.\r\nEffective cross-border working arrangements are already in place for a range of specialist services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:02.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294916,"EventID":"S4W-21264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:02.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T08:21:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought regarding cross-border healthcare if Scotland was to leave the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division has confirmed that access to specialist healthcare in England will be unaffected following independence.\r\nAfter independence Scotland will maintain a very strong relationship with the other countries of the UK. Scotland will continue to work with other parts of the UK to provide services where this provides access to the highest quality of care and delivers the best outcomes. There are already effective cross-border working arrangements in place which will provide a strong foundation for continue cooperation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:02.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294917,"EventID":"S4W-21277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:02.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:03:42.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary court cases and (b) Justice of the Peace court cases has been dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict in each (i) year since 2007 and (ii) month since September 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the Justice Board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information is given in the following tables.\r\n(i)\r\nPercentage of summary criminal cases dealt with within 26 weeks (caution & charge to verdict)-financial years\r\n \r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n69%\r\n75%\r\n78%\r\n74%\r\n76%\r\n77%\r\n73%\r\nSheriff Court\r\n67%\r\n73%\r\n76%\r\n73%\r\n72%\r\n71%\r\n71%\r\n(ii) Percentage of summary criminal cases dealt with within 26 weeks (caution & charge to verdict) – by month from Sept 2013\r\n \r\nSep-13\r\nOct-13\r\nNov-13\r\nDec-13\r\nJan-14\r\nFeb-14\r\nMar-14\r\nApr-14\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n76%\r\n74%\r\n74%\r\n74%\r\n68%\r\n65%\r\n63%\r\n64%\r\nSheriff Court\r\n72%\r\n73%\r\n71%\r\n72%\r\n68%\r\n66%\r\n67%\r\n68%\r\n1. Data for Glasgow & Strathkelvin Stipendiary Court are included in the Justice of the Peace data. Justice of the Peace Courts replaced District Courts between March 2008 and February 2010.\r\nSource: COPFS Management Information\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:02.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294918,"EventID":"S4W-21278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:02.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:03:42.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average time from caution and charge to verdict has been for (a) sheriff summary court cases and (b) Justice of the Peace court cases in each (i) year since 2007 and (ii) month since September 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the Justice Board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information is given in the following tables.\r\n(i)\r\nAverage time taken (in days)  for summary criminal cases (caution & charge to verdict) –financial years\r\n \r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n171\r\n151\r\n139\r\n148\r\n148\r\n141\r\n153\r\n\r\nSheriff Court\r\n159\r\n135\r\n122\r\n131\r\n133\r\n138\r\n141\r\n\r\n(ii) \r\nAverage time taken (in days) for summary criminal cases (caution & charge to verdict)-by month from Sept 2013\r\n \r\nSep-13\r\nOct-13\r\nNov-13\r\nDec-13\r\nJan-14\r\nFeb-14\r\nMar-14\r\nApr-14\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n148\r\n152\r\n152\r\n154\r\n171\r\n177\r\n179\r\n177\r\nSheriff Court\r\n139\r\n136\r\n141\r\n139\r\n145\r\n153\r\n152\r\n147\r\n1. Data for Glasgow & Strathkelvin Stipendiary Court are included in the Justice of the Peace data. Justice of the Peace Courts replaced District Courts between March 2008 and February 2010.\r\nSource: COPFS Management Information\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:02.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294919,"EventID":"S4W-21279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:03.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:03:42.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of summary criminal cases in the (a) sheriff court and (b) Justice of the Peace court has been disposed of within 20 weeks from first calling to sentence in each (i) year since 2007 and (ii) month since September 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the Justice Board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information has been provided by the Scottish Court Service and is given in the following tables.\r\n(i)\r\nOf the Summary Accused persons disposed during the period, this percentage were disposed of within 20 weeks of 1st calling\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nSheriff Court - National\r\n76.5%\r\n80.0%\r\n75.4%\r\n69.2%\r\n69.0%\r\n65.5%\r\n63.6%\r\nJP Court - National\r\n79.6%\r\n89.6%\r\n91.2%\r\n86.8%\r\n86.1%\r\n86.9%\r\n86.2%\r\n (ii)\r\nOf the Summary Accused persons disposed during the period, this percentage were disposed of within 20 weeks of 1st calling\r\nSep-13\r\nOct-13\r\nNov-13\r\nDec-13\r\nJan-14\r\nFeb-14\r\nMar-14\r\nApr-14\r\nSheriff Court - National\r\n65.4%\r\n64.7%\r\n62.2%\r\n62.9%\r\n60.1%\r\n58.1%\r\n57.9%\r\n60.7%\r\nJP Court - National\r\n86.5%\r\n86.7%\r\n86.3%\r\n87.8%\r\n84.4%\r\n83.3%\r\n82.8%\r\n84.5%\r\n\r\nSource: SCS Management Information Reports\r\nThe Scottish Court Service uses a live operational case management system for the processing of court business. The information held on the system is structured for these operational needs, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes.\r\nThe information provided is based on the best information available from the case management system as at 15th May 2014.\r\nPlease note that data for JP Courts for the period 2007-08 to 2009-10 cannot be directly compared to 2010-11 onwards due to the unification of courts administration that occurred gradually by Sheriffdom between March 2008 and February 2010.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:03.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294920,"EventID":"S4W-21280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:03.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:22:52.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20992 by Alex Neil on 19 May 2014, how much will be spent in 2014-15 on redeveloping the website and how much has been reallocated from the Life Begins at 40 programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"Approximately £50-75k has been identified for developing a web-based service that will provide a more accessible service targeted at working age people in a collaboration between NHS24 and the Centre for Healthy Working Lives. This is expected to go live in 2015. The remainder of the £133k budget has been provided to programmes delivering targeted support for people in communities with high levels of inequalities in health.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:03.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294921,"EventID":"S4W-21281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:03.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:22:52.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20993 by Alex Neil on 19 May 2014, whether and, if so, when it decided not to deliver the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to introduce “health checks and individual health plans for all men and women when they reach the age of 40 with the aim to extend this initiative to Scots reaching retirement age.”\r\n","AnswerText":"Health checks for people reaching their 40th Birthday were introduced as a pilot in Grampian in May 2010 and rolled out across Scotland in February 2011. However, due to the poor level of take up and lack of evidence of improvements in health outcomes the programme was considered, on the basis of clinical advice, not to be delivering value for money and the programme was discontinued from the end of March 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:03.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294922,"EventID":"S4W-21282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T13:45:03.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T10:22:52.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20994 by Alex Neil on 19 May 2014, what resources are available to people who are not in a workplace who would previously have received a service from the Life Begins at 40 programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"Any individual with concerns about their health should, in the first instance, see their GP. There is a wide range of information and advice available on health and wellbeing from GP practices, community pharmacies and from websites such as NHS Inform and Take Life On.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T13:45:03.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294927,"EventID":"S4W-21285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:27.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:12:57.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) men and (b) women began a level (i) 2, (ii) 3, (iii) 4 and (iv) 5 modern apprenticeship in each year from 2011-12.","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland have only been publishing modern apprenticeship starts statistics by level and gender since 2012-13. Therefore this data is currently unavailable for 2011-12.\r\n\r\nModern Apprenticeship Starts\r\n2012-13\r\nFemale\r\nMale\r\nTotal\r\nlevel 2\r\n5,505\r\n5,276\r\n10,781\r\nlevel 3\r\n5,402\r\n8,937\r\n14,339\r\nlevel 4\r\n126\r\n370\r\n496\r\nlevel 5\r\n7\r\n68\r\n75\r\nSource: Skills Development Scotland \r\nhttp://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/statistics/modern-apprenticeships/\r\nFull year, 2013-14 data broken down by level and gender is due to be published by Skill Development Scotland on 17 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:27.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294928,"EventID":"S4W-21286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:27.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:12:57.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprenticeship starts there were in 2013-14 in each of the growth sectors outlined in The Government Economy Strategy.","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland is due to publish 2013-14 modern apprenticeship starts broken down by framework on 17 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:28.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294929,"EventID":"S4W-21287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:28.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:12:57.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the initial budget of the Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL) will be; how much of it has already been allocated to the SCEL; from which budget line the funding will come, and whether the SCEL is on track to be fully operational by August 2014.","AnswerText":"The Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL) is on track to be fully operational by August 2014 and has now been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Funding of up to £1.3 million from the Scottish Government’s teacher education programme line will be made available to SCEL during the financial year 2014-15. Discussions are ongoing between the Scottish Government and SCEL to determine outcomes and the detail of finance required. In addition, the chair of the board of directors will shortly be announced and the Chief Executive will be appointed later this summer along with a board of directors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:28.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294930,"EventID":"S4W-21300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:28.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of providing ICT systems in the Registers of Scotland has been in each year since 2007-08.\r\n","AnswerText":"The amounts spent on providing ICT systems in Registers of Scotland for the financial years since 2007-08 are shown in the following table.\r\nYear\r\nExpenditure\r\n2007-08\r\n£ 8.4 million \r\n2008-09\r\n£11.6 million\r\n2009-10\r\n£10.4 million \r\n2010-11\r\n£15.0 million \r\n2011-12\r\n£10.9 million \r\n2012-13\r\n£ 9.2 million\r\n2013-14\r\n£ 5.8 million\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:29.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294931,"EventID":"S4W-21301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:29.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the ICT systems are in place for the collection of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax from April 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The IT system for collection of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is currently in development. The system will take account of the final provisions of the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill once parliamentary scrutiny has concluded. System development is on track for tax collection to start from April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:29.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294932,"EventID":"S4W-21302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:29.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:56:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many severance packages in excess of £200,000 were given to Registers of Scotland staff in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"Over the last five years, four members of staff left Registers of Scotland on early retirement under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme rules in force at the time, where the total cost to Registers of Scotland was in excess of £200,000. The annual numbers were as follows:\r\n2009-10\r\n1\r\n2010-11\r\n3\r\n2011-12\r\n0\r\n2012-13\r\n0\r\n2013-14\r\n0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:29.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294933,"EventID":"S4W-21303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:30.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T15:14:34.68","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, had (a) spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process and (b) previously been looked after for a period, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application and had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process.\r\nTable A:\r\n\r\nFinancial Year of Application\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n2,940\r\n2,820\r\n2,640\r\n2,050\r\n1,515\r\nAberdeen City\r\n110\r\n90\r\n55\r\n50\r\n50\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n305\r\n310\r\n340\r\n275\r\n220\r\nAngus\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n110\r\n90\r\n45\r\n10\r\n5\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n85\r\n105\r\n125\r\n110\r\n75\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n110\r\n115\r\n90\r\n65\r\n70\r\nDundee City\r\n30\r\n10\r\n15\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n20\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n45\r\n50\r\n60\r\n30\r\n20\r\nEast Lothian\r\n140\r\n155\r\n160\r\n145\r\n85\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n35\r\n30\r\n25\r\n25\r\n20\r\nEdinburgh\r\n450\r\n420\r\n425\r\n425\r\n320\r\nEilean Siar\r\n20\r\n15\r\n15\r\n20\r\n10\r\nFalkirk\r\n210\r\n155\r\n135\r\n30\r\n5\r\nFife\r\n145\r\n220\r\n235\r\n235\r\n240\r\nGlasgow City\r\n45\r\n40\r\n125\r\n120\r\n75\r\nHighland\r\n315\r\n260\r\n225\r\n135\r\n70\r\nInverclyde\r\n30\r\n15\r\n30\r\n10\r\n0\r\nMidlothian\r\n45\r\n50\r\n40\r\n50\r\n35\r\nMoray\r\n130\r\n140\r\n110\r\n5\r\n0\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n10\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nOrkney\r\n10\r\n0\r\n5\r\n5\r\n5\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n120\r\n100\r\n45\r\n5\r\n0\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n65\r\n60\r\n20\r\n45\r\n35\r\nScottish Borders\r\n40\r\n30\r\n15\r\n10\r\n5\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n130\r\n165\r\n145\r\n135\r\n110\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n60\r\n45\r\n20\r\n15\r\n10\r\nStirling\r\n135\r\n140\r\n120\r\n50\r\n35\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n0\r\n5\r\n20\r\n35\r\n25\r\nWest Lothian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNote: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.\r\n\r\nTable B shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application and had been previously looked after.\r\nTable B:\r\n\r\nFinancial Year of Application\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n2,040\r\n1,955\r\n1,880\r\n1,535\r\n1,225\r\nAberdeen City\r\n95\r\n80\r\n85\r\n55\r\n50\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n85\r\n65\r\n80\r\n100\r\n85\r\nAngus\r\n35\r\n35\r\n50\r\n30\r\n20\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n55\r\n50\r\n50\r\n35\r\n30\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n35\r\n40\r\n40\r\n30\r\n25\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n95\r\n125\r\n100\r\n70\r\n60\r\nDundee City\r\n10\r\n10\r\n5\r\n5\r\n5\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n50\r\n70\r\n50\r\n45\r\n40\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n5\r\n5\r\n5\r\n0\r\n5\r\nEast Lothian\r\n35\r\n35\r\n30\r\n20\r\n15\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n10\r\n5\r\n5\r\n5\r\n10\r\nEdinburgh\r\n200\r\n185\r\n175\r\n170\r\n145\r\nEilean Siar\r\n10\r\n5\r\n5\r\n10\r\n5\r\nFalkirk\r\n90\r\n70\r\n110\r\n55\r\n50\r\nFife\r\n160\r\n135\r\n130\r\n95\r\n70\r\nGlasgow City\r\n255\r\n230\r\n225\r\n165\r\n105\r\nHighland\r\n135\r\n140\r\n115\r\n90\r\n45\r\nInverclyde\r\n20\r\n35\r\n25\r\n20\r\n15\r\nMidlothian\r\n35\r\n25\r\n25\r\n30\r\n15\r\nMoray\r\n30\r\n30\r\n35\r\n40\r\n30\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n90\r\n85\r\n40\r\n40\r\n20\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n80\r\n70\r\n80\r\n85\r\n70\r\nOrkney\r\n10\r\n5\r\n15\r\n10\r\n5\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n50\r\n55\r\n50\r\n40\r\n30\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n35\r\n55\r\n50\r\n50\r\n55\r\nScottish Borders\r\n35\r\n35\r\n40\r\n35\r\n40\r\nShetland\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n5\r\n5\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n50\r\n55\r\n35\r\n45\r\n40\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n70\r\n70\r\n55\r\n55\r\n50\r\nStirling\r\n55\r\n55\r\n35\r\n30\r\n10\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n60\r\n60\r\n55\r\n50\r\n50\r\nWest Lothian\r\n45\r\n35\r\n60\r\n35\r\n30\r\nNote: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.\r\nFurther information on Scottish Government homelessness statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:30.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294934,"EventID":"S4W-21305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-21T16:40:30.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T15:14:34.68","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people, in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at the time of application, who had previously been looked after for a period, had spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where:\r\nThe main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, the household had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process and a household member had been previously looked after.\r\nTable A:\r\n\r\nFinancial Year of Application\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nScotland\r\n455\r\n455\r\n405\r\n295\r\n220\r\nAberdeen City\r\n10\r\n15\r\n10\r\n5\r\n5\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n60\r\n50\r\n55\r\n55\r\n55\r\nAngus\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n25\r\n15\r\n10\r\n0\r\n0\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n10\r\n20\r\n20\r\n10\r\n15\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n25\r\n40\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\nDundee City\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEast Lothian\r\n10\r\n15\r\n15\r\n10\r\n10\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEdinburgh\r\n75\r\n70\r\n70\r\n65\r\n40\r\nEilean Siar\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\nFalkirk\r\n25\r\n20\r\n35\r\n5\r\n0\r\nFife\r\n30\r\n30\r\n20\r\n20\r\n25\r\nGlasgow City\r\n5\r\n10\r\n20\r\n10\r\n5\r\nHighland\r\n55\r\n50\r\n45\r\n25\r\n5\r\nInverclyde\r\n5\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\nMidlothian\r\n5\r\n5\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\nMoray\r\n15\r\n15\r\n20\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nOrkney\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n15\r\n15\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n5\r\n5\r\n5\r\n10\r\n15\r\nScottish Borders\r\n5\r\n5\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n30\r\n25\r\n20\r\n20\r\n20\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n10\r\n10\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\nStirling\r\n30\r\n35\r\n20\r\n10\r\n0\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n10\r\n5\r\nWest Lothian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nNote: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five applications for disclosure control. The table includes all applications, regardless of their subsequent homelessness assessment decision.\r\nFurther information on Scottish Government homelessness statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-06T16:40:30.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294935,"EventID":"S4W-21259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:57.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-20T16:37:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the previous programme ending in February 2014, when it will introduce a new water and sewerage charge exemption scheme for small third sector organisations, and whether it will increase the £4 million annual cap to protect these organisations from being financially prejudiced if other bodies join.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current exemption scheme ends on 31 March 2015. I want to make sure some of the inconsistencies inherent in the current scheme are removed, in particular, so that smaller charities, which are currently ineligible, can become exempt. I am giving consideration to a new scheme to be implemented from 1 April 2015. I expect to announce my decision before the end of July 2014 in the context of decisions that I will reach on the priorities for Scottish Water’s investment programme and the principles that will underpin customer charges for the next regulatory period 2015-21.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:57.633","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294936,"EventID":"S4W-21288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:58.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost per head of population of decommissioning North Sea oil infrastructure in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"Decommissioning North Sea infrastructure will require significant investment by the industry, and a contribution in the form of tax relief from the government – however, the overall cost should be viewed in the context of the vast reserves estimated to remain in the North Sea.\r\nMost estimates suggest that the total cost of decommissioning activity in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) could be between £30 billion and £40 billion (in today’s prices) over the lifetime of the UKCS production. However, it is estimated that up to 24 billion barrels of oil and gas are still to be recovered from the North Sea, with a potential wholesale value of up to £1.5 trillion. This means that, by value, over half the North Sea’s reserves remain which provides huge opportunities for both the industry and for Scotland.\r\nIn developing infrastructure and capability for successful decommissioning we will strengthen Scotland’s comparative advantage and position as world leader in this sector. If managed successfully, the North Sea oil and gas industry has the potential to become an international leader for decommissioning activity and expertise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:58.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294937,"EventID":"S4W-21289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:58.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of financing coal-related liabilities in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is not now and nor ever has been any specific budgetary provision for restoration of open cast coal sites.\r\nI established a cross-party taskforce to address the situation and also helped to create the Scottish Mines Restorations Trust, an independent charitable trust to assist local authorities in the restoration of these sites. Plans for the restoration of sites are a matter for agreement between the local authority and the operator. The councils are ‘calling’ the outstanding bonds to drive the programme of restoration forward; steady progress is being made in every council area affected and restoration is underway in Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire. Restoration takes time, the sites are complex and all parties are working together constructively to move sites forward on a case by case basis often producing fresh and innovative approaches to the restoration of sites. I wrote to the UK Government on 17 September 2013 and again on 20 November 2013 requesting that over £15 million royalties collected by the UK Coal Authority for coal produced in Scotland be made available now to help fund the restoration of legacy open cast sites across Scotland. No substantive reply has yet been received. We are continuing to pursue this line of enquiry with the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:58.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294938,"EventID":"S4W-21290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:58.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost per head of population of decommissioning the Hunterston B nuclear power plant in the event a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21293 on 9 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:58.867","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294939,"EventID":"S4W-21291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:59.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost per head of population of decommissioning the Torness nuclear power plant in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21293 on 9 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:59.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294940,"EventID":"S4W-21292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:59.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee jobs for the 5,000 workers in Scotland’s civil nuclear supply chain in the event a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"The strength of the civil nuclear supply chain in Scotland is underpinned by our world-class engineering expertise, notably at Doosan Babcock’s Renfrew operation and by the continuing pipeline of work that comes from Scotland’s two operating nuclear stations at Hunterston B and Torness and three non-operational sites at Dounreay, Hunterston A and Chapelcross.\r\nThe policy of the Scottish Government is clear; there will be no nuclear new capacity built in Scotland irrespective of the result of the referendum. But, subject to strict safety requirements being met, we would not oppose extending the operating life of Scotland’s existing nuclear stations in order to maintain security of supply over the next decade while the transition to renewables and cleaner thermal generation takes place.\r\nIn an independent Scotland the decommissioning costs of Scotland's three non-operational sites (Dounreay, Hunterston A and Chapelcross) will continue to be met from the public purse, which will continue to support the supply chain to these sites.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:59.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294941,"EventID":"S4W-21293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:59.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of replicating the Nuclear Liabilities Fund in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Nuclear Liabilities Fund is a Scottish registered company owned by the Nuclear Trust, which is a public trust under Scots law. The Nuclear Liabilities Fund holds investments for the purpose of providing funding to meet certain waste management costs and, in due course, the decommissioning liabilities of the eight nuclear power stations run by EdF Energy. The proportion of the assets that is held to provide for these costs for the two Scottish EdF sites, Torness and Hunterston B, would continue to be set aside for that purpose in the event of independence. It would be a matter for negotiation between the Scottish Government and the government of the rest of the UK what institutional arrangements would be put in place for the trust and fund following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:59.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294942,"EventID":"S4W-21294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:53:59.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of replicating the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in the event a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government's policy is that, in an independent Scotland, the decommissioning costs of Scotland's three non-operational civil nuclear sites (Dounreay, Hunterston A and Chapelcross) will continue to be met from the public purse. Following independence, the precise division of civil nuclear assets and liabilities will be subject to detailed negotiation between the Scottish and Westminster Governments, working together constructively in the best interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, as set out in the Edinburgh Agreement. These negotiations will include the future arrangements for the responsibilities and functions discharged by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The administrative costs of the authority are a small fraction of the overall costs of nuclear decommissioning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:53:59.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294943,"EventID":"S4W-21295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:00.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual cost of renewable energy subsidies per head of population in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"Linking production subsidies to population is a misleading comparison. Scotland’s share is related not to population size but to the huge amount of clean power produced here. Scottish renewable energy represents the most cost-effective means for the rest of the UK to meet its renewable energy commitments, consistently delivering between a third and two-fifths of the UK’s total renewable electricity generation, in return for around a quarter of the total subsidy. Moreover many major schemes, consented and proposed, which are or will be in receipt of subsidy or financial support are located elsewhere in the UK.\r\nAs set out in Scotland’s Future, retention of the single GB-wide market for electricity and gas, with customers throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK meeting costs on an equitable basis through their energy bills, will help deliver stable prices and energy security both north and south of the border.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:00.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294944,"EventID":"S4W-21296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:00.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T12:03:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to replicate the Green Investment Bank in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"The Green Investment Bank was established with funding from the Fossil Fuel Levy which was intended to support the development of renewables. We expect these funds to continue to be available across the UK to support renewables and green projects including in an independent Scotland.\r\nThe future remit and operational mandate of the Green Investment Bank within an independent Scotland would be subject to discussions with Whitehall.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:00.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294945,"EventID":"S4W-21306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:00.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T17:30:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to update police technology in each of the last three years, broken down by division.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information on the breakdown of funding provided to divisions for updating police technology. From 1 April 2013, the Scottish Police Authority has had overall responsibility for administering the budget for the Police Service of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:00.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294946,"EventID":"S4W-21307","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:00.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T09:37:45.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any funding has been provided by (a) it or (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise to the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in (i) 2014 and (ii) previous years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:00.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294947,"EventID":"S4W-21308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:01.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T09:37:45.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any funding will be provided by (a) it or (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise to the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in future years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:01.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294948,"EventID":"S4W-21309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:01.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T09:37:45.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions (a) it or (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has had with the organisers of the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference regarding its plans for future years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:01.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294949,"EventID":"S4W-21310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T12:54:01.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T09:37:45.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions (a) it or (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has had with local authorities regarding their plans for the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in future years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21252 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T12:54:01.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294953,"EventID":"S4W-21297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T16:34:54.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:28:34.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the National Steering Group on Chronic Pain will, as a matter of urgency, raise with NHS boards the staff shortages and significant waiting lists at chronic pain clinics that were identified in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-21177 on 28 May 2014, which advises that it is for each NHS board to decide how best to deliver those services to meet the needs of their population. This includes how to utilise funding and staff, taking account of national and local priorities, to meet local health needs. As such the recommendations within the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report relating to staffing and the provision of services are directed at NHS boards. All NHS boards Chief Executives were sent a copy of the report for their consideration.\r\nThe role of the National Chronic Pain Steering Group is to provide oversight and direction to support local Service Improvement Groups and Managed Clinical Networks in the implementation of the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain. We expect that implementation of the model will contribute to improved access and lead to reductions in waiting times. A key part of the programme will be working with primary care colleagues to improve the early stages of the patient journey and access to supported self-management to help to reduce chronicity and the need for more specialist input.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T16:34:54.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294954,"EventID":"S4W-21298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T16:34:55.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:28:34.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what priority local service improvement groups for chronic pain give to raising with their local NHS boards staff shortages and significant waiting lists for chronic pain services, which were identified in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Report, Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-21297 on 4 June 2014, which sets out the position regarding the role of NHS boards and that of the National Chronic Pain Steering Group in providing support to local Service Improvement Groups and Managed Clinical Networks in implementing the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T16:34:55.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294955,"EventID":"S4W-21299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T16:34:55.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T13:28:34.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action the National Steering Group on Chronic Pain will take to address (a) increased waiting lists, (b) staff shortages and (c) an underfunding of the services provided at chronic pain clinics, as identified in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report on Chronic Pain Services in Scotland: Where are we now?, and for what reasons these issues have arisen.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-21297 on 4 June 2014, which sets out the position regarding the role of NHS boards and that of the National Chronic Pain Steering Group in providing support to local Service Improvement Groups and Managed Clinical Networks in implementing the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T16:34:55.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294956,"EventID":"S4W-21311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T16:34:56.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T15:21:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what bodies are represented on the Northern Isles Ferries Consultative Forum; how membership was decided; on what dates and where it has met, and what was discussed.","AnswerText":"The following bodies are represented on the Northern Isles Ferries Consultative Forum:\r\nHITRANS, ZetTrans, Shetland Island Council, Orkney Island Council, Serco NorthLink Ferries, Pentland Ferries, John O’Groats Ferries, Aberdeen Harbour Board, Lerwick Port Authority, Scrabster Harbour Trust, Stromness and Kirkwall Harbours, VisitScotland and Transport Scotland.\r\nMembership of the forum was decided by Scottish Ministers. The forum has met twice, on 10 December 2013 and 21 May 2014. Ferries issues pertinent to the Northern Isles were discussed. Minutes of these meetings will be published by Transport Scotland, following formal agreement from forum members.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T16:34:56.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294957,"EventID":"S4W-21313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-22T16:34:56.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T15:21:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an expert panel has been established to consider strategic options regarding the future of the Northern Isles ferry service and, if so, who sits on the panel.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government regularly consults on the Northern Isles ferry services through a variety of groups including the recently established Northern Isles Ferry Services Consultative Forum. This forum has met twice and was established by Scottish Ministers following the MV Hamnavoe breakdown in 2013. This group allows for a consistent consultative mechanism with key stakeholders, including passenger ferry operators, harbour authorities, regional transport partnerships, tourist sector and the two local councils.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-09T16:34:56.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294961,"EventID":"S4T-00710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:37.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T10:00:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Devro and its workforce following the announcement of major job losses.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:37.167","MeetingDate":"2014-05-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294962,"EventID":"S4T-00712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:37.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-26T15:33:56.01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to the Glasgow School of Art following the fire at the weekend.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:37.713","MeetingDate":"2014-05-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294963,"EventID":"S4F-02125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:18.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T16:01:13.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:19.077","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294964,"EventID":"S4F-02126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:19.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T17:42:53.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:19.623","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294965,"EventID":"S4F-02128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:20.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-26T15:35:34.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the Royal Mail has called into question its ability to fulfil the universal service obligation and what the impact could be on rural communities. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:20.217","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294966,"EventID":"S4F-02132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:21.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T09:02:39.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:21.98","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294967,"EventID":"S4F-02133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:22.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T09:04:02.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recommendations in the Land Reform Review Group's final report, The Land of Scotland and the Common Good.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:22.76","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294968,"EventID":"S4F-02138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T09:50:24.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T09:31:37.31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the business rates incentivisation scheme will become operational.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T09:50:24.46","MeetingDate":"2014-05-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294969,"EventID":"S4W-21330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T11:43:03.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T11:34:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the development of plans for the rail system.\r\n","AnswerText":"I can confirm that after rigorous evaluation it is the intent to award the Caledonian Sleeper franchise to Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited. The London Stock Exchange was notified by the successful bidder prior to markets opening on 28 May 2014. The franchise will be of 15 years duration and will commence on 1 April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T11:43:03.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294985,"EventID":"S4W-21265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:49.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people would be needed to staff the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, and how long it would take to fully train them.\r\n","AnswerText":"As indicated in Scotland’s Future, the exact size of a security and intelligence agency will be determined by the risks and threats that Scotland face. In the early years we will make a significant level of investment in appropriately resourcing the agency.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:49.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294986,"EventID":"S4W-21267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:50.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what incentives it would provide to Scots personnel employed by each of the UK security agencies to join the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ensuring that Scotland is secure will be the primary responsibility of the Scottish Government, and the investment made in the agency, and our approach to recruitment and retention, will reflect that.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:50.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294987,"EventID":"S4W-21268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:50.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, would participate in the multilateral intelligence agreement between the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (the Five Eyes partnership) and, if not, what contingencies would be put in place to provide similar intelligence to that offered by the partnership.\r\n","AnswerText":"As indicated in Scotland’s Future, the security and intelligence agency would be required to work with partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure Scotland's national security.\r\nIt will be in the interests of the rest of the UK and other partners to work closely with Scotland on security matters, including the sharing of intelligence. The new security and intelligence agency will have the appropriate security arrangement necessary to give assurance to international partners that it can receive and handle intelligence safely and securely.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:50.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294988,"EventID":"S4W-21269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:50.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to (a) set up and (b) run the vetting service for the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The transition to independence provides a significant opportunity to improve and invest in public service delivery in Scotland.\r\nScottish taxpayers already contribute to UK expenditure on reserved functions. The elected government of an independent Scotland will have control over all public expenditure in Scotland and will be able to take spending decisions which reflect the priorities and needs of a Scottish security vetting service.\r\nThe size of the one off investment in systems and processes as a result of the transition to independence will be a small proportion of an independent Scotland’s total budget. Further information is available on page 345 of Scotland’s Future –Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:50.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294989,"EventID":"S4W-21270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:50.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the UK Government refused to share intelligence assets with the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, what action it would take to ensure that the country had an adequate provision of similar assets.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland has a substantial existing capital stake in intelligence assets from our investment in the UK intelligence infrastructure. We would expect this investment to be recognised in the arrangements that are agreed with the UK as part of the independence settlement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:50.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294990,"EventID":"S4W-21271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:51.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of what each tier (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 risk set out in A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The National Security Strategy would be to the country if Scotland was to leave the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"An independent Scotland will be able to take a strategic approach to national security, underpinned by effective planning and investment across government. This will ensure appropriate responses to a range of identified threats.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:51.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294991,"EventID":"S4W-21272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:51.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland was to leave the UK, how much it would cost to (a) set up and (b) run an organisation similar to the UK (i) National Crime Agency and (ii) Joint Intelligence Committee.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland currently investigates serious organised crime in Scotland and liaise with the National Crime Agency as required. As indicated in Scotland's Future, it will be in the interests of all agencies involved in combatting serious organised crime to continue this practical co-operation following independence.\r\nIndependence offers an opportunity to build a new model for security and intelligence, which is fit for the 21st century and which provides a proportionate means of ensuring Scotland's national security. Setting up a new agency and government structure will allow us to do things differently, unconstrained by historical structures and precedent, and avoiding any barriers between different agencies or departments. Ensuring that Scotland is secure will be the primary responsibility of the Scottish Government, and an independent Scotland will be able to take a strategic approach to national security, underpinned by effective planning and investment made across government will reflect that.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:51.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294992,"EventID":"S4W-21275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:51.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland was to leave the UK, whether it would maintain the names, identities and traditions of each of Scotland's army regiments and infantry units.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, the units of the Scottish army will carry on the names, identities and traditions of Scotland’s regiments, including those lost in the defence reorganisation of 2006.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:51.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294993,"EventID":"S4W-21276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:51.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-21T09:25:43.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the security and intelligence agency proposed in Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland would work with Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"In line with good practice, the security and intelligence agency would be independent of, but work extremely closely with, Scotland's single police service, Police Scotland. There is already a long track record of close co-operation between the UK security services and the police in Scotland and this would continue to be the case with the security and intelligence agency. \r\nThat close co-operation with agencies such as Police Scotland, other law enforcement bodies and the Scottish Government would help the security and intelligence agency, and the Scottish Government, to discharge their responsibilities to protect the security of Scotland, its citizens and its interests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:51.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294994,"EventID":"S4W-21314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:51.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have been sent for treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:51.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294995,"EventID":"S4W-21315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:52.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have been sent for heart and lung transplants at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is contained in the following table:\r\nScottish residents who received a cardiothoracic transplant at Newcastle, Freeman Hospital 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2014:\r\nYear\r\nHeart\r\nLung\r\nHeart/lung\r\nLiver and lung\r\nTotal\r\n2004-05\r\n#\r\n11\r\n#\r\n0\r\n16\r\n2005-06\r\n#\r\n10\r\n#\r\n#\r\n11\r\n2006-07\r\n#\r\n10\r\n#\r\n#\r\n16\r\n2007-08\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n0\r\n11\r\n2008-09\r\n#\r\n12\r\n#\r\n0\r\n14\r\n2009-10\r\n#\r\n13\r\n#\r\n0\r\n16\r\n2010-11\r\n7\r\n7\r\n0\r\n0\r\n14\r\n2011-12\r\n#\r\n8\r\n#\r\n0\r\n12\r\n2012-13\r\n#\r\n18\r\n#\r\n0\r\n21\r\n2013-14\r\n#\r\n20\r\n#\r\n0\r\n23\r\nSource: NHS Blood and Transplant \r\n# to prevent disclosure or patient identification, some values have been suppressed (mainly values of five of less, but other values may also be suppressed if publication could lead to deduction of other small numbers).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:52.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294996,"EventID":"S4W-21316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:52.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have made use of the Porton Down Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of samples sent to Porton Down Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) from Scotland since 2007 are shown in the following table. It has not been possible to provide pre-2007 data because of changes to how this information was collected at RIPL.\r\nYear\r\nSamples\r\n2014\r\n429\r\n2013\r\n1131\r\n2012\r\n1185\r\n2011\r\n851\r\n2010\r\n2002\r\n2009\r\n576\r\n2008\r\n621\r\n2007\r\n509\r\nRIPL is an internationally recognised reference laboratory offering reference diagnostic services for dangerous pathogens. RIPL provides specialist expertise and advice throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. Scotland requests and pays for any testing currently carried out there on our behalf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:52.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294997,"EventID":"S4W-21317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:52.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have been sent for paediatric liver transplants at (a) King's College Hospital in London, (b) Leeds General Infirmary and (c) Birmingham Children's Hospital in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is contained in the following table. Leeds General Infirmary is not a designated transplant unit therefore transplant activity in St James’s University Hospital has been provided. \r\nPaediatric patients1 resident in Scotland who received a liver transplant in England 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2014:\r\nYear\r\nLeeds, St James’s University Hospital\r\nLondon,\r\nKing's College Hospital\r\nBirmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital\r\nTotal\r\n2004-05\r\n#\r\n#\r\n6\r\n11\r\n2005-06\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n7\r\n2006-07\r\n0\r\n#\r\n#\r\n7\r\n2007-08\r\n0\r\n#\r\n#\r\n6\r\n2008-09\r\n0\r\n8\r\n0\r\n8\r\n2009-10\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n7\r\n2010-11\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n7\r\n2011-12\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n2012-13\r\n#\r\n#\r\n0\r\n#\r\n2013-14\r\n#\r\n#\r\n#\r\n6\r\nSource: NHS Blood and Transplant \r\n1 Patients aged less than 18 at the time of transplant\r\n# to prevent disclosure or patient identification, some values have been suppressed (mainly values of five of less, but other values may also be suppressed if publication could lead to deduction of other small numbers.)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:52.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294998,"EventID":"S4W-21318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:53.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have made use of proton beam facilities in England.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the number of ophthalmic oncology referrals from Scotland to the Clatterbridge Hospital in England for low-intensity proton beam therapy.\r\nTable 1: Patients referred to NHS England for proton beam therapy\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNumber of referrals\r\n2006-07\r\n17\r\n2007-08\r\n17\r\n2008-09\r\n15\r\n2009-10\r\n15\r\n2010-11\r\n18\r\n2011-12\r\n18\r\n2012-13\r\n17\r\n2013-14\r\n26\r\nSource: NHS National Specialist and Screening Services Directorate\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:53.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":294999,"EventID":"S4W-21319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:53.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland have made use of ataxia centres in England in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally for all forms of ataxia.\r\nNHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division (NSD) commission a highly specialist service from NHS England for the rare condition ataxia telangiectasia.\r\nNSD holds information on the number of patients from Scotland referred to the ataxia telangiectasia service in Nottingham, however it would not be appropriate to share this information, in the interest of maintaining patient confidentiality, as the numbers are less than five.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:53.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295000,"EventID":"S4W-21320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:53.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T08:01:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many infants from Scotland have been sent for retinoblastoma screening at (a) Birmingham Children's Hospital and (b) the Royal London Hospital in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Figures for referrals for retinoblastoma in children are available from 2007-08 and all were to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The referrals include for confirmation of diagnosis and treatment:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNumber of referrals\r\n2007-08\r\n2\r\n2008-09\r\n3\r\n2009-10\r\n2\r\n2010-11\r\n1\r\n2011-12\r\n3\r\n2012-13\r\n2\r\n2013-14\r\n2\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:53.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295001,"EventID":"S4W-21321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:53.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-25T16:59:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what increase in immigration it estimates would be necessary to ensure that pensions would be affordable in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Pensions are already affordable for Scotland. Total expenditure on social protection, which covers pensions and broader welfare spending has been lower in Scotland than the UK over the past five years.\r\nAs set out in Scotland’s Future, this government would pursue a broader growth-based approach to boost working age population, increase labour market participation and improve productivity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:53.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295002,"EventID":"S4W-21322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:55.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T17:10:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that galleries in receipt of public funds should pay an exhibition fee to artists.","AnswerText":"Fees for exhibitions are a matter for negotiation between the organisation and artist involved on a case by case basis. The benefits to an artist may of course go beyond the immediate financial return. The Scottish Government is however supportive of the principle of encouraging fairer levels of remuneration for artists.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:55.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295003,"EventID":"S4W-21323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:55.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T17:10:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that all publicly funded bodies that commission artists should endorse the rates of pay recommended by the Scottish Artists Union.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that it absolutely vital for our economy and for our society that work pays and that work pays fairly. The Scottish Government therefore supports the principle of a fair rate of pay for artists.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:55.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295004,"EventID":"S4W-21324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:56.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T12:43:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review whether greenbelt areas in West Scotland can be used for housing developments \r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), published in 2010, sets out the government’s planning policy in relation to the green belt. This requires that a review of specific greenbelt boundaries should be part of the development plan process led by the planning authority in the first instance. Planning authorities are required to keep their development plans under review, with the requirement that local development plans be replaced at least every five years. \r\nSPP is currently under review. The draft SPP, published for consultation in April 2013, also indicated that in reviewing development plans, planning authorities should identify the most sustainable locations for long term development, and where necessary review the boundaries of any green belt. The finalised SPP is due for publication on 23 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:56.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295005,"EventID":"S4W-21325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:56.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T12:43:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in light of the recommendations made by Audit Scotland in its 2013 report, Housing in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s detailed response to the report and recommendations was considered by the Public Audit Committee on 11 December 2013. The committee was happy with the level of detail provided and described the response as positive. The response was also referred to the ICI Committee for the latter’s interest in the subject area. In September 2013, the Scottish Government announced that the investment in affordable housing over the three years to 2014-15 would increase to £970 million and that a further £390 million would be invested in 2015-16, not only consolidating the increases that have been made to the existing budget, but also representing an increase of around 21% on the average annual spend within the current three year programme. A range of other actions have also been taken, e.g. publishing information on in-year movements in the affordable housing supply budget, the publication of guidance on the operation of Local Authority Housing Revenue Accounts and the launch of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing. Other actions are in hand, and will be completed at various points in 2014 and beyond.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:56.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295006,"EventID":"S4W-21326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:56.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T12:43:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how prisoners' private cash accounts are (a) monitored and (b) controlled.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Prisoners’ private cash accounts are monitored and controlled in strict accordance with the Scottish Prison Service Financial Policy and Guidance Manual. \r\nEach prisoner has a record within the Scottish Prisons Information Network Prisoner Record Application (SPIN PR Application) showing the balance of cash held on their behalf along with the wages balance. All transactions relating to prisoner monies must be timely and accurately recorded on the SPIN PR Application. Prisoners may verify a printed copy of their individual financial record held within the SPIN PR Application on a periodic basis.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:56.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295007,"EventID":"S4W-21327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:56.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T12:43:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum single payment is that can be made into a prisoner's private cash account.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“There is no maximum single payment limit regarding a prisoner’s private cash account across the Scottish Prison Service estate. However, local limits on money sent/handed in will be set at the discretion of the governor. As a result of there being no maximum single payment limit, as this is set at the discretion of the governor, the maximum amount of money a convicted prisoner may transfer from their prisoner private cash account to wages is £20 per week. Where it is deemed that receipts may be from an illegitimate source or may be used for an illegitimate purpose they will be withheld from the prisoner pending investigation. All concerns will also be raised through the establishment intelligence unit.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:56.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295008,"EventID":"S4W-21328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:56.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T10:10:22.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether tolls can be levied on the use of (a) roads and (b) bridges and, if so, under what legislation. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a clear policy against the use of road and bridge tolls now or any time in the future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295009,"EventID":"S4W-21329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:57.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T10:59:42.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by the RAC Foundation, which suggests that young drivers in the Highlands and Grampian are among those most likely to be involved in road collisions, whether it will discuss with the UK Government the introduction of a graduated licence scheme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is supportive of the introduction of a graduated driver licencing (GDL) scheme and in January 2014, I wrote to the UK Government calling for the consideration of either UK-wide measures to be introduced, or for powers to be devolved to Scotland. This was refused. Following the decision of the Scottish Parliament in March 2014 to call on the UK Government to take action, I have again written to the UK Transport Secretary on 2 June 2014 expressing regret at their lack of action and urging them to consider a pilot of GDL in Scotland. I await a response.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:57.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295010,"EventID":"S4W-21331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T14:01:57.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T12:34:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) council houses and (b) properties owned by registered social landlords have been demolished in each year since the current unitary authorities were established, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of local authority demolitions by area from 1998-99 to 2012-13 is published as part of the Housing Statistics for Scotland web tables at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/Demolitions.\r\nThese tables are planned to be updated for the year 2013-14 in August 2014.\r\nDue to the limitations in the coverage of the data provided by local authorities it is not possible to accurately identify the number of registered social landlord and private sector demolitions, however combined figures across these tenures are published within the web tables to help indicate a minimum total level of demolition activity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T14:01:57.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295011,"EventID":"S4W-21353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T15:06:25.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:55:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish further projections of the public finances of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has on 28 May 2014 published the report Outlook for Scotland’s Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence. The report expands the analysis of Scotland’s public finances provided in Scotland’s Future by demonstrating how they could evolve over a range of time periods and under different assumptions about the division of assets and liabilities held by the UK Government and wider public sector, and Scotland’s economic performance.\r\nThe report is available from: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Publications/PSFOutlook\r\nThe Scottish Government has also published on 28 May 2014 the latest Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin which provides a detailed analysis of the outlook for the industry over the next five years. It is available from:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Publications/oilandgas/May2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-05-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T15:06:25.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295021,"EventID":"S4W-21332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:15.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:20:10.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21041 by Shona Robison on 15 May 2014, who is involved with the development of the strategic action plan for LGBT equality, and when it will be launched.\r\n","AnswerText":"The four national LGBT organisations, Equality Network, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and the Scottish Transgender Alliance have participated in an initial scoping meeting to develop a strategic approach to LGBT equality work in Scotland. This work will be further developed through engagement with officials across key areas of the government where the action plan will impact. The plan will be launched in spring 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:15.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295022,"EventID":"S4W-21334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:16.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:20:10.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21041 by Shona Robison on 15 May 2014, what areas will be targeted by the strategic action plan for LGBT equality, and how much funding it will provide toward its implementation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Areas for action regarding LGBT equality will focus on policy issues identified as a priority by the LGBT community in Scotland.\r\nIn 2012-15, Scottish LGBT organisations were awarded over £2.3 million of funding for LGBT equality work by the Scottish Government. Longer term funding decisions aligned to the next spending round will be informed by the strategic approach developed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:16.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295023,"EventID":"S4W-21335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:16.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:37:51.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would have its own financial services compensation scheme and, if so, what it would cost to establish; how the (a) start-up and (b) operation of the service would be funded, and what thresholds would apply.","AnswerText":"We have set out the proposed arrangements in Scotland’s Future, based on the recommendations of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.\r\nFinancial services firms already contribute to the compensation scheme, and levels of protection for key aspects are harmonised and set at the European level as part of a single market in financial services. A proportionate levy to fund compensation would continue post-independence, as is the case now.\r\nWe see merit in a jointly operated or co-ordinated scheme to reflect consistent standards of key aspects of regulation in a highly integrated market and as part of a formal monetary union.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:16.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295024,"EventID":"S4W-21337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:17.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:38:18.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the firms that would contribute to the cost of a financial services compensation scheme in an independent Scotland and what levy they would be charged.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21335 on 3 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:17.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295025,"EventID":"S4W-21338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:17.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:38:18.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the establishment of a financial services compensation scheme in the event that an independent Scotland did not have a currency union with the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"A formal currency union is in the interests of the rest of the UK. The Fiscal Commission Working Group, which consists of leading economic experts and two Nobel Laureates, has spelled out why this is the case.\r\nThe Scottish Government is committed to a properly functioning and well-regulated financial services sector which meets the needs of customers.\r\nBank deposits and other financial products will continue to be protected in an independent Scotland at the current levels of protection.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:17.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295026,"EventID":"S4W-21340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:17.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, for what reason it is not providing an equal focus on all under-represented groups.\r\n","AnswerText":"The scope of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board encompasses diversity in its wider sense, including all under-represented groups. However, in the early part of the programme, the primary focus will be on women (as the largest under-represented group) and this acknowledges their diversity. The learning from improving the gender balance of boards will be used to increase participation of other under-represented groups.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:17.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295027,"EventID":"S4W-21341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:18.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, how the board will influence the private sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"As previously answered in S4W-20607, a programme of activity is currently being developed by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the programme board and stakeholders. Action plans and targets are still in the developmental phase. Connecting with users’ experiences and raising awareness amongst influencers will be key to the success of the programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:18.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295028,"EventID":"S4W-21342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:18.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, whether it will provide a breakdown of the \"specific practical changes to systems and processes”.\r\n","AnswerText":"Practical changes undertaken to date include improvements to the online application system for applicants; the production of a public appointments toolkit for Scottish Government staff and selection panel members; the launch of a Twitter account to raise awareness of public appointments opportunities and a simplified and more inclusive application process. These were the original pieces of work and the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board and stakeholders as part of its ongoing improvement programme are ensuring that action taken will form a meaningful and sustainable change.  \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:18.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295029,"EventID":"S4W-21343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:19.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, how the proposals differ from the steps taken by it following publication of Diversity Delivers.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following Diversity Delivers it was felt appropriate to establish a Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board, to give a renewed focus to the diversity agenda and to build on the work done to date. This work is centred around providing strong leadership and influence and on delivering diversity through practical change to the appointments process. Practical measures undertaken so far have involved the use of increased outreach activity, streamlining our application processes and guidance and the use of social media to highlight opportunities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:19.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295030,"EventID":"S4W-21344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:19.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, what equality impact assessment was conducted to determine that the systems and processes are (a) appropriate and (b) likely to bring about change.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme have the core aim of improving the diversity of public and private boards in Scotland. Activities undertaken to date have been informed by an analysis of the evidence relating to women and people from other under-represented groups. We will continue to consider the equality implications of our proposed interventions, including any changes to systems and processes, throughout the life of the programme and will publish the results of equality results as appropriate on the Scottish Government's website in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:19.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295031,"EventID":"S4W-21345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:20.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, how it will ensure that there is no bias at the decision making stage.\r\n","AnswerText":"Appointments to the boards of public bodies are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers and each minister will appoint the person he or she considers to be best qualified for the position, based on specific published criteria. In making this decision, the minister adheres to the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, issued by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. The code sets out the principles on which all appointments are made: merit, integrity and diversity and equality. In addition, for many of those appointments regulated by the commissioner, a public appointments adviser, appointed by him, undertakes contemporaneous scrutiny of the appointment process to ensure these principles are upheld. Where the principles of the code are not upheld, the commissioner has the power to intervene. Depending on the circumstances, the commissioner may advise the appointing minister so that action can be taken to address the issue, or to report directly to the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:20.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295032,"EventID":"S4W-21346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:20.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:48:20.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, what powers the commissioner for ethical standards will have at the decision making stage.\r\n","AnswerText":"Appointments to the boards of public bodies are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers and each minister will appoint the person he or she considers to be best qualified for the position, based on specific, published criteria. In making this decision, the minister adheres to the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, issued by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. The code sets out the principles on which all appointments are made: merit, integrity and diversity and equality. In addition, for many of those appointments regulated by the commissioner, a public appointments adviser, appointed by him, undertakes contemporaneous scrutiny of the appointment process to ensure these principles are upheld. Where the principles of the code are not upheld, the commissioner has the power to intervene. Depending on the circumstances, the commissioner may advise the appointing minister so that action can be taken to address the issue, or to report directly to the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:20.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295033,"EventID":"S4W-21347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:21.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, how confident it is in the (a) robustness of the data-gathering process and (b) accuracy of the statistics mentioned in relation to the Practical Change strand.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Diversity data for new appointments to regulated public boards have been collected at the application stage of the process for the last three years. Applicants are invited to complete a diversity monitoring form which contains ten questions. Each question includes a 'prefer not to say' option. For all existing board members who were appointed before 2011, diversity data was collected by means of an exercise carried out in 2013 which asked members to complete and return the diversity monitoring form. Therefore, all current board members have been asked to complete the diversity monitoring form, with the vast majority providing some or all of the information. The completion of the diversity monitoring form is voluntary, so we rely on the co-operation of the board members and applicants for new positions to provide accurate and complete data. \r\n(b) The accuracy of the diversity statistics for public boards depends on the level of non-responses (including those who selected the 'prefer not to say' option). The higher the non-response rate, the less reliable our statistics will be. In 2013-14, the response rates for applicants for new board positions was very high, with nearly 70% of applicants completing the whole form and a response rate of more than 90% for nine of the ten questions (the exception being the question relating to household income which had a response rate of just under 80%). Therefore, we would expect our diversity statistics for new appointments in 2013-14 to accurately reflect the true position.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:21.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295034,"EventID":"S4W-21348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:21.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, for what reason diversity data has not been captured for members of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.","AnswerText":"Diversity data for those programme board members who are Scottish Government employees is captured on our electronic HR system. We are currently exploring methods of capturing this information for our non-Scottish Government employees on our electronic HR system. In addition, the Scottish Government does not publish sensitive personal data for numbers less than five to protect individual confidentiality.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:21.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295035,"EventID":"S4W-21349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:21.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20607 by John Swinney on 30 April 2014, for what reason it has selected 2025 as the year by which it should be broadly reflective of the Scottish population.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s view was that 2025 was a reasonable target. It aims to balance being attainable and stretching, given the significant resource constraints on the organisation, such as a general presumption against external recruitment. These resourcing constraints have an impact on our ability to change the shape of the organisation. The timeframe also gives the organisation time to reflect on the 2021 census results.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:22.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295036,"EventID":"S4W-21350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:22.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, how the Public Appointments Centre of Expertise measures the impact of its events and whether evaluations are carried out with attendees to assess that impact.","AnswerText":"The Public Appointments Centre of Expertise uses a range of different evaluation methods to measure the impact of events. This is tailored to the type of event and its audience. This has included an increase in applications received following a particular event, increased interest from those with particular skills or experience, additional requests to be added to our mailing register for details of future opportunities and informal feedback from event attendees. Further work will be undertaken to ensure evaluation methods are robust and able to fully inform future action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:22.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295037,"EventID":"S4W-21351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:22.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether any training has been delivered to date.","AnswerText":"Both diversity and unconscious bias training is available online to all Scottish Government employees through the Civil Service Learning portal. Although no diversity training for external selection panel members specific to this workstream has been delivered to date, plans are currently being considered jointly with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to develop suitable training. The Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board and stakeholders will consider the content and timing of this training to ensure that any investment made delivers results.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:22.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295038,"EventID":"S4W-21352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:23.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T14:50:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, when the training will be delivered; for how many people; when will it be completed, and when it will be available across the public sector.","AnswerText":"Both diversity and unconscious bias training is available online to all Scottish Government employees through the Civil Service Learning portal. Although no diversity training for external selection panel members specific to this workstream has been delivered to date, plans are currently being considered jointly with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to develop suitable training. The Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board and stakeholders will consider the content and timing of this training to ensure that any investment made delivers results.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:23.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295039,"EventID":"S4W-21354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:23.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:16:42.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on (a) repairing and (b) maintaining speed cameras in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The eight Safety Camera Partnerships across Scotland provide the Scottish Safety Camera Programme Office with a projection of costs associated with maintenance for the following financial year. The partnerships are then allocated funding based on this projection, which may not reflect the actual cost of maintenance in that year. If the partnership does not spend its full allocation, funding can be recovered by the Scottish Government and reinvested in other safety camera activity.\r\nThe following table sets out the financial projections for maintenance costs for the eight Safety Camera Partnerships over the last five years:\r\nSafety Camera Partnership\r\n2009-10 (£)\r\n2010-11 (£)\r\n2011-12 (£)\r\n2012-13 (£)\r\n2013-14 (£)\r\nCentral\r\n500\r\n500\r\n750\r\n1,000\r\n3,000\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n14,700\r\n7,500\r\n775\r\n2,400\r\n2,400\r\nFife\r\n6,600\r\n5,000\r\n2,325\r\n1,580\r\n2,080\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n92,000\r\n81,000\r\n97,172\r\n98,866\r\n70,340\r\nNorth East\r\n18,551\r\n18,332\r\n20,740\r\n22,912\r\n12,744\r\nNorthern\r\n5,000\r\n5,000\r\n5,631\r\n5,981\r\n3,700\r\nStrathclyde\r\n179,836\r\n171,550\r\n82,100\r\n90,744\r\n57,140\r\nTayside\r\n20,000\r\n20,000\r\n20,800\r\n16,750\r\n8,500\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:23.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295040,"EventID":"S4W-21355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:24.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:16:42.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many speed cameras have been (a) replaced and (b) repaired due to vandalism, and at what cost, in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the last five years, three of the eight Safety Camera Partnerships across Scotland have recorded incidents of vandalism to speed cameras. These are logged with the Safety Camera Programme Office on a partnership rather than a local authority basis. The number of incidents and associated costs are set out in the following table.\r\nSafety Camera Partnership\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n1 incident £2,633  \r\n1 incident £2,200\r\n5 incidents £12,668\r\n1 incident £1,444\r\n4 incidents £9,381\r\nNorth East\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n4 incidents £20,395\r\n1 incident £3,965 \r\nTayside\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1 incident £4,064 \r\n-\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:24.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295041,"EventID":"S4W-21356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:24.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:20:09.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many alcohol-related deaths there have been in NHS Grampian hospitals in each of the last three years and how many of these were of people aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 29, (c) 30 to 55 and (d) over 55.","AnswerText":"The information requested is given in the following table. These figures are provided on the same basis as the statistics of alcohol-related deaths published annually by the National Records of Scotland. The figures for 2013 are provisional; final statistics for 2013 will be available in August 2014.\r\nTable 1: Alcohol-related deaths in NHS Grampian hospitals, 2011-13:\r\nYear of registration of death\r\n17 and under\r\n18 to 29\r\n30 to 55\r\n56 and over\r\nAll ages\r\n2011 \r\n-\r\n-\r\n15\r\n30\r\n45\r\n2012\r\n-\r\n-\r\n23\r\n33\r\n56\r\n2013 (provisional)\r\n-\r\n-\r\n16\r\n34\r\n50\r\nSource: National Records of Scotland - deaths for which underlying cause had one of the following International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes: F10, G31.2, G62.1, I42.6, K29.2, K70, K73, K74.0, K74.1, K74.2, K74.6, K86.0, X45, X65, Y15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:24.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295042,"EventID":"S4W-21357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:24.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:20:09.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many attendances there were at each accident and emergency department in NHS Grampian in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.","AnswerText":"The following table shows information on emergency departments and minor injuries units in NHS Grampian.\r\nNew and unplanned attendances at accident and emergency departments in NHS Grampian for 2012 and 2013\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n146,476\r\n147,367\r\nEmergency Departments:\r\n106,626\r\n105,676\r\nAberdeen Royal Infirmary\r\n63,607\r\n62,217\r\nDr Gray's Hospital\r\n24,646\r\n24,952\r\nRoyal Aberdeen Children's Hospital\r\n18,373\r\n18,507\r\nMinor Injuries Units (MIU)/Other:\r\n39,850\r\n41,691\r\nAboyne Hospital\r\n992\r\n984\r\nChalmers Hospital\r\n3,615\r\n3,601\r\nFleming Cottage Hospital\r\n329\r\n367\r\nFraserburgh Hospital\r\n10,377\r\n10,192\r\nInsch and District War Memorial Hospital\r\n623\r\n704\r\nInverurie Hospital\r\n297\r\n164\r\nJubilee Hospital\r\n3,350\r\n3,449\r\nKincardine Community Hospital\r\n988\r\n1,248\r\nLeanchoil Hospital\r\n485\r\n354\r\nPeterhead Community Hospital\r\n14,201\r\n16,144\r\nSeafield Hospital\r\n689\r\n680\r\nStephen Cottage Hospital\r\n452\r\n410\r\nTurner Memorial Hospital\r\n1,261\r\n1,120\r\nTurriff Cottage Hospital\r\n2,191\r\n2,274\r\nSource: ISD Scotland A&E Datamart\r\nEmergency Departments: Sites that provide a 24 hour emergency medicine consultant led service. \r\nMIU/Other: Sites including MIU, small hospitals and health centres in rural areas that carry out Emergency Department related activity and are GP or nurse led. They may or may not be open 24 hours.\r\nInformation on emergency care is routinely published by Information Services Division and is available on the emergency care section of their website. This includes statistics on attendances at accident and emergency departments: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Emergency-Care/\r\n\r\n\r\nSCOTTISH GOVERNMENT\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:25.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295043,"EventID":"S4W-21358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:25.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:20:09.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many first-time buyers purchased property in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in the last five years.","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:25.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295044,"EventID":"S4W-21359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-27T17:09:25.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T15:20:09.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households were considered to be in fuel poverty in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in the most recent year for which information is available.","AnswerText":"Figures on the number of people affected by fuel poverty are collected in the Scottish House Condition Survey. The most recent official statistics, including local authority analysis for 2010-2012, were published at the end of 2013: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SHCS/LAtables2012)\r\nA breakdown of figures for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire local authority areas are provided in the following table.\r\n\r\nNot Fuel Poor\r\nFuel Poor\r\n000s\r\n%\r\n000s\r\n%\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAberdeen City\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n82\r\n61\r\n78\r\n58\r\n23\r\n45\r\n22\r\n42\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-10T17:09:25.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295045,"EventID":"S4O-03296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:36.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T09:17:27.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to help reduce carbon emissions and contribute toward the 2013-27 emissions reduction targets. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:37.157","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295046,"EventID":"S4O-03297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:37.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:30.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the monitoring and regulation of tyre recycling and disposal.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:37.853","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295047,"EventID":"S4O-03298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:38.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:46:34.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Sustainable Action Fund is progressing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:38.09","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295048,"EventID":"S4O-03299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:38.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T12:27:32.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with west of Scotland local authorities on environmental improvement initiatives.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:38.667","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295049,"EventID":"S4O-03300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:39.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-23T13:28:17.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the recreational opportunities of the forest estate.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:39.197","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295050,"EventID":"S4O-03301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:39.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:32.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its National Litter Strategy. ","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:39.583","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295051,"EventID":"S4O-03302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:39.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:33.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review Group can take account of the final report of the Land Reform Review Group, The Land of Scotland and the Common Good, in addressing calls for the right to buy for 1991 farm tenants.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:39.92","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295052,"EventID":"S4O-03303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:40.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:34.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle fly-tipping.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:40.533","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295053,"EventID":"S4O-03304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:40.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T10:36:44.52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to open up new export opportunities for food and drinks firms.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:40.78","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295054,"EventID":"S4O-03305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:27:53.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:35.467","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the rural economy and environmental research of the loss of 70 jobs at the James Hutton Institute.\r\n","AnswerText":"The institute's review of its science portfolio is aimed at identifying areas of scientific strength to build on for the future. The institute will take account of our needs identified in the Rural Affairs and Environment research strategy for 2016-2021.\r\nAn independent report commissioned by the institute in 2010 showed that the return on investment from their activities was £225 million per annum. We expect any proposed changes will help to secure the Institute's long term future as a leader in agricultural and environmental research.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:27:53.077","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295055,"EventID":"S4O-03306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:41.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:44:38.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers in Grampian have resigned since the creation of Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:41.42","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295056,"EventID":"S4O-03308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:42.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:48.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it plans to hold with the UK Government about the UK's block opt-out of pre-Lisbon criminal law and policing measures. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:42.19","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295057,"EventID":"S4O-03310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:42.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:49.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the licensing of air weapons is a proportionate measure, given that offences involving such weapons have fallen by 75% since 2006-07.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:42.55","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295058,"EventID":"S4O-03311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:42.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:50.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Chief Constable.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:42.907","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295059,"EventID":"S4O-03312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:43.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:50.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its legislation on air weapons will achieve a balance between protecting communities and allowing legitimate shooting in a safe environment.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:43.263","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295060,"EventID":"S4O-03313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:43.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:46:24.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Scottish Police Federation and what was discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:43.873","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295061,"EventID":"S4O-03314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:44.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T09:49:06.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government's decision to introduce fees for employment tribunals of £250 to register a case and a further £950 before it gets to a hearing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:44.273","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295062,"EventID":"S4O-03315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:44.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:52.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to community-based anti-sectarian projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"A community-based approach is central to our work to tackle sectarianism. We are investing £9 million over three years to tackle sectarianism, and this includes £7.5 million to deliver 81 community-based projects over this period. We firmly believe that communities themselves need to be active participants in tackling the social issues they experience to make all of our communities safer and stronger places to live.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:44.807","MeetingDate":"2014-06-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295063,"EventID":"S4O-03317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:45.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:58.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the commitment of Royal Mail to maintaining the universal service obligation given its economic impact.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:45.183","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295064,"EventID":"S4O-03318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:45.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:37:59.197","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the principal challenges for the economy would be in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:45.96","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295065,"EventID":"S4O-03319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:46.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:56:04.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the models for GP practices in rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:46.593","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295066,"EventID":"S4O-03320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:46.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T09:31:51.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:46.837","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295067,"EventID":"S4O-03321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:47.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:38:00.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Commonwealth Games organising committee about the use of the special reserve fund.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:47.123","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295068,"EventID":"S4O-03322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:47.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T10:01:08.737","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a report on the future of Shambellie House.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:47.41","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295069,"EventID":"S4O-03323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:48.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:38:01.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many households there are in Scotland compared with the number of dwellings.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:48.12","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295070,"EventID":"S4O-03324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:48.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:38:01.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on developing the tidal energy sector and creating electricity connections to the islands.\r\n","AnswerText":"This government is determined to make the most of Scotland’s extraordinary tidal stream resource. We are leading the world in the development of marine energy technologies and will do all we can to maintain that lead.\r\nWe are working hard with the enterprise agencies to facilitate the progress of the commercial tidal arrays planned for Scottish waters. We have consented MeyGen’s 86MW tidal stream array; provided £2.8 million for innovative projects designed to reduce the costs and risks of the first arrays; offered £3 million for a ‘Marine Farm Accelerator’ to tackle common industry challenges; and Scottish Enterprise has launched a third round of WATERS research and development funding worth £6 million, to further develop wave and tidal energy prototypes.\r\nOn islands transmission links, Mr Ewing and the island council leaders have impressed on Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey the need to resolve some of the uncertainty about future support for the islands in its electricity market reform proposals.\r\nThe Scottish Islands Renewable Project Grid Access Study published on 28 April 2014 has highlighted further possible ways to overcome the barriers to grid access. The Scottish and UK Governments will establish a delivery forum to overcome these challenges.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:48.35","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295071,"EventID":"S4O-03325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:03:48.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-22T16:38:02.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides support to Sudan from its international development budget and, if so, what discussions it has had with the Sudanese authorities concerning Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, who has been sentenced to death and 100 lashes for apostasy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not provided any direct support to the Government of Sudan. The international development budget funded a project run by Tearfund in the Darfur region of Sudan during the first round of our Sub Saharan Development Programme in 2008. This was a four year project and it was awarded a grant of £1.25 million.\r\nThe project aimed to meet the basic needs of local and displaced people through provision of nutrition support and health promotion in feeding centres and health clubs, as well as improvements to water, sanitation and food security.\r\nWe have been in contact with the UK Government and fully support the representations made by the UK and EU regarding the Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag case, and are unequivocal in our support for freedom of religion and belief and in our opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances. The Scottish Government has not had any direct discussions with the Sudanese authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:03:48.673","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295072,"EventID":"S4W-21360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:10.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:16:14.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference are of the NHS group established to improve contract management of existing PFI contracts; on what dates the group has met, and whether it will publish the (i) agenda and (ii) minutes of each meeting.","AnswerText":"The terms of reference and membership of the group are as follows:\r\nTitle: PPP/PFI Operational Management Advisory Group\r\nAccountable to: The Strategic Facilities Group (SFG) of Health Facilities Scotland\r\nRole of the advisory group: The Advisory Group will act as a forum of expertise and exchange of intelligence on the operational management of PPP/PFI contracts across NHS Scotland, sharing best practice and where appropriate advising on policy change.\r\nRemit of the advisory group: The PPP/PFI Operational Management Advisory Group (Advisory Group) will:\r\nAct as the focus for advice on the operational management of PPP/PFI contracts to the SFG. \r\nBe the forum for the exchange of information on the operational management of PPP/PFI contracts.\r\nIdentify and communicate best practice in the operational management of PPP/PFI contracts.\r\nIdentify the necessary skill set for the operational management of PPP/PFI contracts.\r\nProvide access to appropriate education and training for those involved in the management of these contracts.\r\nIdentify areas which should be pursued with SPVs to improve the efficiency of the existing contracts.\r\nEnsure SFG is advised of developing issues relating to the delivery effective patient services on PPP/PFI sites.\r\nConsider changes in legislation/guidance which will impact on the services delivered by the contractors and ensure a consistent, national approach is taken.\r\nExamine best practice across the public sector and where appropriate recommend its implementation.\r\nAdvice on the involvement and appointment of professional advisors to the contracting process, where possible, maximising the purchasing power of NHS Scotland.\r\nMembership: \r\nOrganisation/Division\r\nResponsibilities:\r\nA Director/Head of Facilities, Strategic Facilities Group\r\n- Chair\r\nWill be the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the work of the Advisory Group.\r\nChair Advisory Group meetings.\r\nIn conjunction with the Advisory Group, develop the annual work plan.\r\nNegotiate the approval of the work plan with the Strategic Facilities Group (SFG).\r\nMonitor and report progress against the work plan to the SFG\r\nProvide the link to the SFG.\r\n\r\nNHS Scotland Health Boards Represenatives\r\nRepresent their organisation on matters relating to the operational management of contracts with their SPV.\r\nCommunicate with all managers in their Board who have responsibility for managing contracts with SPVs\r\nSupport the management process by bringing examples of good practice to the Advisory Group\r\nIdentify issues which are impacting on the cost or effectiveness of the existing contracts.\r\nSupport and advise colleagues engaged in the management of contracts.\r\nProvide, in a timeous manner, information necessary to deliver the agreed work plan.\r\nSit on short life working groups.\r\nHorizon scan on any aspect of service delivery to patients which is likely to impact on the contracts which exist between the Boards and the SPVs.\r\n\r\nNSS, Health Facilities Scotland\r\nAdvise on the approach likely to be taken by the contractors in the SPV.\r\nAdvise on the policies and procedures which should be adopted by the SPV.\r\nProvide guidance on operational management of service contracts.\r\nSupport short life working groups on specialist areas.\r\nAdvise on NHS best practice\r\nSupport benchmarking exercises with national data.\r\nProvide advice on FM skills\r\nAdvise on operational FM services.\r\nNSS, National Procurement\r\nAdvise on the relevance of the NHS Scotland national contracts to the SPV to maximise efficiency and purchasing power.\r\nInform the Group of, and involve them in, the procurement of goods and services.\r\nProvide specialist procurement advice.       \r\nScottish Futures Trust\r\nAdvise on changes which are likely to impact on the operational management issues.\r\nAdvise on areas of good practice in the management of contracts with SPVs in the wider public sector\r\nAdvise on change management within the existing contracts.\r\nAdvise on the most effective structures to engage with a","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:11.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295073,"EventID":"S4W-21361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:11.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:16:14.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the costs for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh lie within the range of other hospitals of similar size as set out in the Key Terms of the project agreement for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh dated 11 October 2004.","AnswerText":"Under the terms of the project agreement the costs of the soft facilities management (FM) services within the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) are benchmarked against the cost of comparable services within PFI/PPP and conventionally funded hospitals in the UK on a five year cycle. The benchmarking exercise in 2008 found the overall cost of the FM services to be in line with comparison sites. The NHS Lothian board accepted a recommendation from a benchmarking group, which included a staff side representative, to continue with the existing provider of FM services and not to insist upon a market test and tendering exercise of the soft FM services.\r\nIn 2013, a significant reduction to the cost of the soft FM services at the RIE was negotiated. This reduced soft FM cost will be in place until the next benchmarking exercise, scheduled for 2018.\r\nIn addition, some earlier PFI projects, in particular the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary contract, have been refinanced, delivering an in-year benefit and a recurring saving of £1.5 million, together with contract improvements.\r\nHard FM services are not subject to review within the contract, but NHS Lothian understands the costs to be average when compared to other contracts of this generation and size.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:11.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295074,"EventID":"S4W-21362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:11.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:16:14.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the (a) actual and (b) projected costs of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh compared with other hospitals of similar size for (i) catering, (ii) domestic, (iii) portering, (iv) security, (v) materials management and (vi) facilities services for each (A) month and (B) year of the contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"Detailed cost information for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract is held by NHS Lothian. The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.\r\nI refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21361 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:11.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295075,"EventID":"S4W-21363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:11.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:48:32.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its missing the 1 May 2014 introduction date, when it will introduce the new Patient and Clinician Engagement approval system.","AnswerText":"Patient and Clinician Engagement now forms part of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) evaluation process. Submissions from pharmaceutical companies received by SMC after noon on 7 April 2014 are eligible for this new approach, in line with what was set out in the Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee. The first decisions from this new process are expected in autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:11.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295076,"EventID":"S4W-21364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:12.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:48:32.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the new Peer Approved Clinical System will be operational and whether the transitional arrangements will continue in its place and remain financially supported by the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"Work is ongoing between the Scottish Government and NHS boards evaluating the financial implications of the new approach by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and how the Rare Conditions Medicines Fund (RCMF) can best support an increase in SMC approvals under this new approach. This work is also looking at whether additional financial support, through RCMF, should support the transitional period from Individual Patient Treatment Requests to a Peer Approved Clinical System in 2014-15. I will provide the Health and Sport Committee, and the member, with an update once this work has concluded. The transitional period has provided useful feedback to the development of the new system which will be rolled out shortly alongside information to NHS boards on RCMF.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:12.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295077,"EventID":"S4W-21365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:12.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:48:32.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding concerns raised by the scientific community that the recent amendments passed at the European Parliament to Articles 81 and 83 of the European Data Protection Regulation will harm the opportunities and benefits available as a result of Scotland’s health records data.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data protection is a reserved area and the Ministry of Justice has made representations on behalf of all parts of the UK. The Scottish Government takes the view that it is not yet clear whether the conditions and safeguards set out in the amended Articles of Data Protection Regulation will have negative implications on research given that NHSScotland already has robust scrutiny and security controls in regard to requests to use patient-originated data for research. Article 83 (b) states that such processing must comply with all other relevant legislation, in each member state. As health is a devolved area, the Scottish Government will consider whether any statute or instrument through the Scottish Parliament, would assist in making clearer how health records are to be used by public bodies for research which directly benefits NHSScotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:12.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295078,"EventID":"S4W-21371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:12.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the performance score awarded for (a) catering, (b) domestic, (c) portering, (d) security, (e) materials management and (f) facilities services provided by Consort at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for each month of the PFI contract.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government do not hold performance score information regarding the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh PFI contract. Monitoring and managing performance on this contract is the responsibility of NHS Lothian, who hold the performance data on the contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:12.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295079,"EventID":"S4W-21372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:13.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what cost allowance was built into the contract for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh between Consort and NHS Lothian for (a) catering, (b) domestic, (c) portering, (d) security (e) materials management and (f) facilities services, as set out in out in Key Terms of the Project Agreement for the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 11 October 2004.","AnswerText":"Initial costs for these services are as set out in schedule 17 to the project agreement. A copy of the project agreement is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\nDetailed cost information for these services is not held by the Scottish Government. Management of the contract is the responsibility of NHS Lothian, who hold the cost information on the contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:13.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295080,"EventID":"S4W-21373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:13.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on Consort's responsibility to (a) self-monitor and (b) self-report compliance with performance criteria for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, as set out in out in Key Terms of the Project Agreement for the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 11 October 2004.\r\n","AnswerText":"Consort’s responsibilities regarding self-monitoring and self-reporting compliance with performance criteria are set out in clause 21 of the project agreement, which is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\nManagement of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract is the responsibility of NHS Lothian. The board takes a very active role in managing this contract. It has employed its own management team, complete with auditors who carry out random checks on the facilities, with approximately 80 audits carried out every month.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:13.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295081,"EventID":"S4W-21374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:13.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) robustness and (b) cost effectiveness of the processes in relation to Consort's responsibility to (i) self-monitor and (ii) self-report compliance with performance criteria for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, as set out in out in Key Terms of the Project Agreement for the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, dated 11 October 2004.\r\n","AnswerText":"Management of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh PFI contract is the responsibility of NHS Lothian.\r\nIn addition to the self-monitoring and self-reporting that is the contractual responsibility of Consort, NHS Lothian has established its own internal review team. There are around 80 random audits conducted monthly covering all the services. NHS Lothian is reassured that the self-monitoring aspect is relatively robust as there are only a few discrepancies when cross checking to the contract self-monitoring performance. To review the performance NHS Lothian established the Score Card Review Group, a forum to check and verify performance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:13.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295082,"EventID":"S4W-21375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:13.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the deduction that can be applied to the (a) facilities services, (b) facilities maintenance and (c) ancillary services element paid to Consort for the maintenance of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh during the years of the PFI contract.","AnswerText":"Deductions that can be applied to payments are dependent on the applicable service score for any particular month. Details are as per schedule 14 of the project agreement for the performance banding, schedule 17 for ancillary services, and supplemental agreement 1 for the maintenance of the facilities services elements. In order to apply a penalty there has to have been a failure of service. Services are measured using key performance indicators. These are set out in schedule 8 of the project agreement.\r\nA copy of the project agreement is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at: http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:13.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295083,"EventID":"S4W-21376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:14.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what annual rent Consort has paid to NHS Lothian for the use of the Little France site in each year of the PFI contract for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"There is no rent contribution necessary from Consort or its service providers, as the board agreed a land lease with Consort prior to the project becoming operational. The terms of this lease are set out in schedules 1-3 of the project agreement, which is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\nThe lease is for 130 years. In accordance with standard PFI practice at the time, an annual rent of £1 has been paid by Consort under its lease. The hospital is sub-let back to NHS Lothian for its use also at an annual rent of £1.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:14.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295084,"EventID":"S4W-21377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:14.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the cost of insurance paid by Consort in each year of the PFI contract for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"Responsibilities regarding insurances for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh contract are set out in clause 26 and schedule 16 of the project agreement, which is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\nThe insurance payment is an obligation on the project company to organise, and forms part of the unitary payment. Until recently NHS Lothian were paying a top up contribution. However, there is no such charge now as the board has agreed to a corporate Consort healthcare arrangement and this has reduced the policy cost considerably, and no longer requires a separate payment.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not hold details of the costs of insurances paid for by Consort.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:14.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295085,"EventID":"S4W-21378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:14.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T08:29:14.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on dispute resolution processes that apply in the contractual relationship between Consort and NHS Lothian regarding the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"The dispute resolution processes for the project agreement over the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are set out in clause 41 and schedule 21 of the project agreement, which is publicly available on NHS Lothian’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Pages/RIE-PFI-Agreements.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:14.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295086,"EventID":"S4W-21379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:14.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T09:32:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Shetland and the Orkney islands councils under the auspices of the Our Islands Our Future campaign about the introduction of road equivalent tariff on the islands' internal ferry services\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular discussions with Shetland and Orkney islands councils in a range of forums including the Our Islands Our Future initiative. In that context I can confirm that fair ferry fares on the islands’ internal ferry services were one of the many issues discussed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:14.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295087,"EventID":"S4W-21380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:15.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:13:57.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been of the No Knives, Better Lives campaign roll-out.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since 2009, No Knives, Better Lives has been rolled out in 11 local authority areas to challenge young people’s attitudes about carrying knives, the consequences of such and encouraging them to make positive life choices.\r\nLatest crime figures recorded by the police show that the number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon, which includes knives, in South Lanarkshire has decreased by 12% for the period 2011-12 to 2012-13, showing a decrease by 53% since this government came into power.\r\nSince a national launch in May 2014, the No Knives, Better Lives programme has been extended to be available to all local authority areas across Scotland. Since this time the new improved No Knives, Better Lives website has recorded over 1,800 visits.\r\nWork will continue to engage with all local authority areas across Scotland to raise awareness of the No Knives, Better Lives programme, promoting wider engagement and collating intelligence about local current programmes/strategies to tackle knife crime.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:15.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295088,"EventID":"S4W-21381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:15.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:13:57.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a nation-wide smart ticketing system.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a longer term vision for smart ticketing, where all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be accessed using some form of smart ticketing or payment system. Transport Scotland has a delivery strategy and programme of work to implement this vision. This involves working with willing partners to deliver smart ticketing pilot projects, which once proved successfully in concept, can then be implemented in other areas in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:15.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295089,"EventID":"S4W-21382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:15.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:13:57.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on the development of a national strategy to tackle violence against women.","AnswerText":"Equally Safe: Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, co-produced by the Scottish Government and COSLA will be published on 25 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:15.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295090,"EventID":"S4W-21383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T14:04:16.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T11:13:57.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it does to support young carers through their education. ","AnswerText":"We have introduced a range of measures specifically to support young carers in education from primary schools through to further and higher education. These are complemented by local initiatives taken forward by our statutory and third sector partners.\r\nWe funded the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance (SYCSA) to produce an interactive training pack to identify and support young carers in primary schools. The SYCSA is also producing a secondary school pack due to be published and circulated shortly. We funded the College Development Network for a comprehensive workforce initiative in colleges to support young carers which I launched in May 2014. We are working with a range of organisations to help identify and support carers in higher education. We recently updated the guidance on the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and wrote to the Directors of Education and College Principals to ask them to provide the necessary flexibility to enable young carers to access the EMA. \r\nMoreover, young carers are included within the scope of additional support for learning and Getting it right for every child. The provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will apply to children with a wellbeing need which will include many young carers in education and we are considering the response to our consultation on carers’ legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T14:04:16.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295098,"EventID":"S4W-21384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T16:44:24.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T13:35:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will give to communities who wish to take over former sheriff court buildings.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Court Service (SCS) gives priority to, and provides full support and assistance to community interest groups who express an interest in taking on the ownership of former SCS properties.\r\nThe Scottish Government also provides a range of support for communities to acquire land and buildings. Advice and assistance is available from the Community Ownership Support Service, operated by the Development Trusts Association Scotland with Scottish Government funding, or from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for communities in the agency’s area. Funding for purchase may also be available through the Scottish Land Fund, in rural areas, and a range of other Scottish Government grants for community initiatives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T16:44:24.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295099,"EventID":"S4W-21385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T16:44:24.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T13:35:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision was made in the business case to close sheriff court buildings to finance any additional costs associated with their redeployment.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T16:44:24.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295100,"EventID":"S4W-21386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T16:44:25.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T13:35:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the business case for the closure of sheriff court buildings included capital being realised from the redundant assets.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T16:44:25.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295101,"EventID":"S4W-21387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-28T16:44:25.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T15:55:21.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to establish embassies and consulates for an independent Scotland, broken down by country.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02879 on 5 February 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/OfficialReport.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-11T16:44:25.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295125,"EventID":"S4W-21366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:15.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:53:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that, in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, police officers who have been found guilty of misconduct but who are not demoted or dismissed have a right to an independent and impartial tribunal.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Regulations 2013 take into account the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code of practice on discipline cases that should be used in all workplaces. The ACAS code of practice promotes fairness and transparency within workplaces, but officers have the right to seek redress to a finding of a misconduct process through an employment tribunal or judicial review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:15.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295126,"EventID":"S4W-21367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:16.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-27T16:53:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason police misconduct hearings are only held internally, and what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police misconduct hearings are held internally in line with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code of practice on discipline cases that should be used in all workplaces. In line with section 54 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Regulations 2013 were consulted with the main policing stakeholders, including the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:16.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295127,"EventID":"S4W-21388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:17.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-28T17:09:38.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the event of Scotland becoming independent, it would support a process of regularisation for migrants as part of the transition to a new Scottish immigration system.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to create a specific route for the regularisation of irregular migrants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:17.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295128,"EventID":"S4W-21390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:17.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:09:03.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of renationalising the Royal Mail in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to pages 326 and 327 of Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:17.867","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295129,"EventID":"S4W-21391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:18.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:09:03.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of running a mail service six days per week in an independent Scotland to include a universal service to remote and rural areas unsubsidised by other areas of the rest of the UK and what the cost would be of (a) first and second class stamps and (b) parcel delivery.\r\n","AnswerText":"Part 5 of Scotland’s Future sets out the answers to 650 questions about independence that have been asked of the Scottish Government. I refer the member to the answer to question 496 on page 537 which asks, “Will the price for stamps be higher in an independent Scotland than in the rest of the UK?”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:18.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295130,"EventID":"S4W-21392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:18.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:09:03.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought on the subsidy needed to maintain a six day a week universal mail service in an independent Scotland without an increase in stamp charges.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21391 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:18.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295131,"EventID":"S4W-21393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:19.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:09:03.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what job losses it estimates there would be at the Royal Mail Philatelic Bureau in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Operation of the Royal Mail Philatelic Bureau is a matter for Royal Mail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:19.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295132,"EventID":"S4W-21394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:19.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:09:03.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) civil service and (b) government agency jobs have been dispersed from Edinburgh and to where in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nThe policy on location of public sector jobs is driven by strategic estate management and focussed on making the best and most efficient use of space wherever that is available across the country.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:19.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295133,"EventID":"S4W-21395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:19.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) doctors, (b) dentists, (c) nurses, (d) midwifes and (e) other health professionals would be regulated by their current UK professional bodies if Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"The regulation of all health professionals will become the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament on independence. The Scottish Government will seek to work in continued cooperation with Westminster and the devolved administrations, to ensure that health professional regulation is maintained in the best interests of patient safety and the consistent treatment of healthcare professionals.\r\nThe Scottish Government will seek to maintain the current professional healthcare regulatory bodies, which are funded by fees from registrants, which will continue to operate in Scotland after independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:19.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295134,"EventID":"S4W-21396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:20.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the professional bodies that regulate (a) doctors, (b) dentists, (c) nurses, (d) midwifes and (e) other health professionals about whether they would maintain their role in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has confirmed in meetings and engagements with all the professional healthcare regulatory bodies that it is committed to continued four country working on healthcare regulation and it will seek to work in cooperation with Westminster and the devolved administrations, to ensure that health professional regulation is maintained in the best interests of patient safety and the consistent treatment of healthcare professionals through the current professional healthcare regulatory bodies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:20.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295135,"EventID":"S4W-21397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:20.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it contributes annually to (a) the Medical Research Council, (b) the National Institute for Health Research and (c) other similar bodies.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2013-14 the Scottish Government, through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO), contributed £8.09 million to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This allows Scottish-based researchers to bid competitively for funding available through a number of the NIHR administered funding schemes.\r\nCSO does not contribute directly to the funding of the Medical Research Council or similar bodies, although occasionally contributes small amounts of funding to initiatives that are co-funded. However in line with UK agreements CSO also invests £42 million annually in the NHS to meet the additional costs of hosting research from these external funders of research.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:20.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295136,"EventID":"S4W-21398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:21.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would be treated differently than the Republic of Ireland with regard to funding from UK (a) research councils and (b) medical charities, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"After independence, this government will seek to continue the current arrangements for a common research area and funding through established research councils, as we believe that this would benefit both Scotland and the rest of the UK in supporting collaboration.\r\nHigher education research is internationally recognised and respected for its quality and its innovative and collaborative nature. The excellence of our universities and strength of the research base is reflected in Scotland's success in competing for funding within the UK and internationally.\r\nThis government plans to ensure that levels of public investment in university research are sufficient to ensure our researchers and universities remain internationally competitive, with current levels of government investment in university research (through the Scottish Funding Council and the research councils) at least maintained. In addition, Scotland would continue to secure competitive funding from a range of sources, including medical charities, reflecting the quality of our research base and the global reputation of our universities.\r\nOthers support this view, for example, a spokesman from Cancer Research UK has stated that, \"as we fund research in a number of Scottish Universities and there is an enormous amount of public support for our work, Scotland is an integral part of our charitable activities. It is in everyone’s interest to see this research continue, regardless of the referendum outcome. Decisions around cancer care in Scotland are largely taken in Scotland. We currently work closely with the Scottish Government on these.”\r\nThere are a number of medical research charities that operate across both the UK and Ireland, including, for example, the Bone Cancer Research Trust.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:21.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295137,"EventID":"S4W-21399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:21.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost per patient has been at the State Hospital in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nOperating costs for health boards are published annually by ISD, and can be found in ISD publication R100T–expenditure and activity figures for the last five years, for Scotland and each health board:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Costs/File-Listings-2013.asp\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:21.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295138,"EventID":"S4W-21400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:21.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid to allow female patients to be treated in secure units or hospitals in England in each year since the State Hospital ceased to provide such services.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS National Services Scotland manages the contract for high secure services in Scotland on behalf of NHS Scotland.\r\nThe State Hospital, Carstairs stopped admitting female patients in 2008. The costs for female patients treated in high secure services in England are only available from 2011-12 and are as follows:\r\n2011-12\r\n£236,970\r\n2012-13\r\n£670,887\r\n2013-14\r\n£676,321\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:21.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295139,"EventID":"S4W-21401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:22.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:10:17.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the NHS in England regarding how much an independent Scotland would pay it for patients' access to specialist (a) hospitals and (b) services.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are already a range of service level agreements in place between NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division (NSD) and NHS England Specialised Commissioning and NHS Trusts in England, covering a wide range of specialist services not routinely available in Scotland due to their low volume and highly specialised nature.\r\nThe costs of these services will continue to be met by NSD through these arrangements, which will be unaffected by independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:22.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295140,"EventID":"S4W-21412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:22.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:04.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it (a) has taken and (b) will take to provide education and training on head injuries for (i) NHS services in prisons and (ii) prisoners.","AnswerText":"While policies, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, individual NHS boards are responsible for planning and funding services in their area and for securing the staff to deliver them. It is for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements, including training, based on the clinical needs and service developments in their area. This includes prisons located in board areas. \r\nNHS Chief Executives established the National Prisoner Healthcare Network (NPHN) to support delivery of a high quality, safe, effective and consistent \tservice to prisoners, hosted by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. The NPHN has a number of workstreams and a clinical forum for GPs working in prisons \tis being explored, this will include the assessment of training needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:22.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295141,"EventID":"S4W-21413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:23.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:04.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment of a person's brain injury history is carried out on admission to prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"All prisoners receive a health check and can also self-refer to the GP at the health centre in prison, as in the community. A prisoner would not receive any specific assessment, as with the general population.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:23.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295142,"EventID":"S4W-21414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:24.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:04.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners admitted in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14 (A) were assessed for, (B) were found to have, (C) were enrolled in any course related to and (D) completed any course in which they had been enrolled that was related to alcohol problems and how many were referred to community addiction teams on release.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:24.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295143,"EventID":"S4W-21415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:24.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its report on the viability of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and what the reason is for any delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Deputy First Minister will update the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on the future of Prestwick when she appears before the committee on 18 June 2014. We will subsequently publish a document setting out a strategic vision for the long term future of the airport, our plans for investment, business development and the optimum operating structure required to take the airport forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:24.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295144,"EventID":"S4W-21416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:24.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the local authorities in Ayrshire regarding the future of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and its report on the airport's viability.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have had regular discussions with South Ayrshire Council and a multi-agency group, which includes the three Ayrshire Councils, to monitor developments and to use their expertise to the benefit of the airport.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:24.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295145,"EventID":"S4W-21417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:25.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to next deliver a ministerial statement on Glasgow Prestwick Airport. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Deputy First Minister has committed to providing the Scottish Parliament with a further update on progress at Glasgow Prestwick Airport at the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on 18 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:25.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295146,"EventID":"S4W-21418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:25.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its comprehensive business plan on the future of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Deputy First Minister will update the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on the future of Prestwick when she appears before the committee on 18 June 2014. We will subsequently publish a document setting out a strategic vision for the long term future of the airport, our plans for investment, business development and the optimum operating structure required to take the airport forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:25.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295147,"EventID":"S4W-21419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:25.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its £5 million investment in Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been allocated.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided Glasgow Prestwick Airport with £4.5 million in 2013-14 and a further £1 million in 2014-15 to date, to cover the current cash deficit resulting from on-going operations and necessary capital expenditure and to maintain sufficient working capital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:25.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295148,"EventID":"S4W-21420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:25.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:13:54.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding staff at Glasgow Prestwick Airport being paid at least the living wage. \r\n","AnswerText":"The senior management team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport has had considerable discussions with the relevant unions and agreed that the implementation of the Living Wage will be discussed as part of future pay discussions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:25.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295149,"EventID":"S4W-21421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:25.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) deaths and (b) age-standardised deaths from hepatitis C there have been in (i) Scotland and (ii) each parliamentary constituency in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"Table 1 and 2 provide available data for liver-related deaths among those diagnosed with hepatitis C in Scotland, and by age group, for the period 2007 to 2012. Data on age-standardised deaths from hepatitis C, and by parliamentary constituency is not available. Data for 2012 are provisional as they are not yet published.\r\nTable 1: Number of liver-related deaths* among those diagnosed with hepatitis C in Scotland each year 2007-2013\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012**\r\n\r\nScotland\r\n117\r\n116\r\n144\r\n140\r\n157\r\n141\r\n\r\n* Deaths were defined as related to liver disease if the underlying cause of death was either (a) viral hepatitis, (b) liver cancer, (c) alcoholic liver disease or (d) non-alcoholic liver disease, or the contributing cause of death was either (b), (c) or (d).  \r\n** Data for this year are provisional.\r\n\r\nTable 2: Number of liver-related deaths* among those diagnosed with hepatitis C in Scotland each year 2007-2013, by age group\r\nAge at death\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012**\r\n\r\n< 40 years\r\n23\r\n21\r\n16\r\n21\r\n19\r\n27\r\n\r\n40-49 years\r\n46\r\n47\r\n65\r\n54\r\n61\r\n43\r\n\r\n50-59 years\r\n31\r\n39\r\n41\r\n41\r\n46\r\n38\r\n\r\n>60 years\r\n17\r\n9\r\n22\r\n24\r\n31\r\n33\r\n\r\nScotland Total\r\n117\r\n116\r\n144\r\n140\r\n157\r\n141\r\n\r\n* Deaths were defined as related to liver disease if the underlying cause of death was either (a) viral hepatitis, (b) liver cancer, (c) alcoholic liver disease or (d) non-alcoholic liver disease, or the contributing cause of death was either (b), (c) or (d).  \r\n** Data for this year are provisional.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:26.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295150,"EventID":"S4W-21422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:26.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an evaluation of the impact of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework sets out five high level outcomes the government wishes to see delivered. To support monitoring of progress against these outcomes the frameworks includes a range of detailed data indicators. When the current framework comes to an end in 2015, the Scottish Government will produce a report evaluating the progress made under the framework, based on these key indicators as well as reports on progress from NHS boards and other partners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:26.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295151,"EventID":"S4W-21423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:26.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its plans for dealing with hepatitis C after the expiry of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in 2015.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will publish an updated framework in 2015, as a successor to the current framework. The new framework will retain the current high level outcomes, but will reflect relevant major developments, including changes in the hepatitis C treatment landscape.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:26.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295152,"EventID":"S4W-21424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:27.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps (a) NHS boards and (b) alcohol and drug partnerships are taking to (i) identify and (ii) treat people with hepatitis C in the (A) general population and (B) custody of the Scottish Prison Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"In relation to the NHS, the testing, diagnosis and treatment of people with hepatitis C has been a Government priority since the publication of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan in 2008. This priority is maintained in the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework, which specifically requires multi-agency partners in local areas to work together to deliver local strategies on early diagnosis and treatment of those infected.\r\nAs a result of the government’s investment in these activities the cumulative number of individuals diagnosed with hepatitis C, and not known to have died, has increased from 18,638 in 2007, to 29,952 in 2013. Likewise the number of people commencing hepatitis C therapy every year has more than doubled from fewer than 500 per year to over 1,000 per year.\r\nIn relation to alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPS) the Scottish Government has worked in partnership with ADPs to strengthen governance and accountability arrangements and to develop and agree a set of core ADP outcomes and indicators. One of the national indicators that ADPs are expected to report against on an annual basis is the prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs. It is expected that ADPs will already be providing this information to their local community planning partnerships.\r\nA confidential blood borne virus service, incorporating hepatitis C, is available to all prisoners within the Scottish Prison Service. This service includes immunisations, testing and counselling, treatment and harm reduction awareness-raising. Around 580 prisoners have been tested for hepatitis C every year since 2010. The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework highlights the importance of ensuring that around 10% of those initiated onto treatment every year are prisoners. This target has been met, with more than 10% of all treatment initiations in Scotland taking place in prison every year since 2009-10.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:27.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295153,"EventID":"S4W-21425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:27.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been admitted to hospital with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of hepatitis C in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data on the number of people diagnosed with hepatitis C and admitted to hospital for the first time with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 2007 and 2012 are detailed in Table 1. Data for 2012 are provisional as they are not yet published.\r\nTable 1: Number of individuals diagnosed with hepatitis C in Scotland who have been admitted to hospital with ESLD and HCC and number of bed days associated with their stay for those with ESLD and HCC, 2007-2013\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012*\r\nFirst time hospitalised for ESLD and HCC\r\n\r\n123\r\n131\r\n148\r\n148\r\n153\r\n147\r\nESLD - End Stage Liver Disease\r\nHCC - Hepatocellular carcinoma\r\n* Data for this year are provisional \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:27.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295154,"EventID":"S4W-21426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:27.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people diagnosed with (a) liver disease and (b) hepatitis C in each of the last seven years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Public Health Observatory publishes available information and data on chronic liver disease on its website:\r\nhttp://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/chronic-liver-disease/key-points).\r\nHealth Protection Scotland data for new hepatitis C diagnoses is detailed in Table 2. \r\nTable 2: Number of persons newly diagnosed with hepatitis C antibodies in Scotland each year 2007-2013.\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nPersons newly diagnosed HCV positive1\r\n1549\r\n\r\n1613\r\n\r\n2020\r\n\r\n2110\r\n\r\n2327\r\n\r\n2009\r\n\r\n1903\r\n\r\n1 source: Hepatitis C Diagnoses database, Health Protection Scotland \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:27.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295155,"EventID":"S4W-21427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:28.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people (a) infected and (b) diagnosed with viral hepatitis in each of the last seven years.","AnswerText":"Table 1 and 2 provides the available data for hepatitis C and hepatitis B.\r\nTable 1: Number of individuals estimated to be infected with chronic hepatitis C and the estimated number diagnosed and living with chronic hepatitis C, by year 2007-2013*\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nNumber of people estimated to be infected with chronic HCV\r\nn/a\r\n39,000\r\n39,000\r\n38,700\r\n38,100\r\n37,600\r\nNumber of people estimated to be diagnosed and living with chronic HCV\r\nn/a\r\n15,500\r\n16,500\r\n17,550\r\n18,900\r\n19,500\r\n* Source: UK Hepatitis C report 2013\r\n\r\nTable 2: Number of individuals diagnosed with hepatitis B in Scotland each year 2007-2011, and the 2009 estimate of the number infected with hepatitis B\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\nNumber of adults estimated to be infected with chronic HBV*\r\n\r\n\r\n8,700\r\n\r\n\r\nNumber of people diagnosed with chronic HBV, not known to have died and not known to have since recovered\r\n3,321\r\n3,742\r\n4,164\r\n4,551\r\n4,866\r\n* Source: Schnier C, Hutchinson SJ, Epidemiology & Infection 2014 (in press)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:28.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295156,"EventID":"S4W-21428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:28.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual cost of hepatitis C-related outcomes.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the course of developing the Hepatitis C Phase 1 Action Plan, Health Protection Scotland estimated the costs of the current and future burden of chronic hepatitis C disease on the NHS in Scotland. This work was completed in February 2007.\r\nHealth Protection Scotland estimated that the annual health service costs associated with the monitoring, management and treatment of people with diagnosed chronic hepatitis C disease in Scotland was £11.8 million in 2005. This figure included £2.8 million for antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.\r\nThe same work also estimated potential future costs, assuming uptake of hepatitis C antiviral therapy by around 1,000 former injecting drug users a year. In this scenario it was estimated that costs would rise to around £22 million in 2015, comprising around £13 million for the costs associated with the management of chronic hepatitis C disease and around £9 million for the costs of antiviral therapy. (These costs do not take account of inflation and were calculated based on 2005 prices).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:28.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295157,"EventID":"S4W-21429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:28.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve prisoners' awareness of hepatitis C.","AnswerText":"A study led by the University of the West of Scotland and published in 2012 (Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management, Taylor et al), included an assessment of awareness raising activities within Scottish prisons. The study reported that a confidential blood borne virus service, incorporating hepatitis C (HCV), is available to all prisoners within the Scottish Prison Service. This service includes immunisations, HCV testing and counselling, HCV treatment and harm reduction awareness-raising such as awareness sessions regarding HCV (and other BBV) risk behaviour awareness training\r\nThe report also concluded that the Scottish Prison Service “is to be congratulated for having introduced a comprehensive range of interventions…. designed to reduce injecting, prevent transmission of infection and provide treatment, care and support for those already infected with HCV.”\r\nThe majority of prisoners at risk of hepatitis C infection within Scottish prisons are people who inject drugs (PWID) carrying out short sentences and who may also have been made aware of HCV through community based awareness programmes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:28.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295158,"EventID":"S4W-21430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:29.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of prisoners (i) have received a hepatitis C test and (ii) were diagnosed with hepatitis C in each year since 2007 and what percentage of these (A) started treatment, (B) completed treatment and (C) were cured of the virus.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of people in the prison setting who have received a test for hepatitis C and who were diagnosed is provided in Table 1 below, along with the annual total number of diagnoses in prison. The test data represent tests undertaken in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside. \r\nThe number of chronically infected people initiated on hepatitis C antiviral therapy within the prison setting is provided in Table 2. These data are available by financial year only. These data indicate an increase in provision of therapy in this setting. \r\nData on treatment completion and response to treatment are not available at this time for the prison setting\r\nTable 1: Hepatitis C testing and diagnosis in the prison setting 2007-2013:\r\n\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nNumber receiving an HCV test in prison each year*\r\n262\r\n299\r\n495\r\n580\r\n600\r\n583\r\n578\r\nNumber newly diagnosed with HCV in prison in Scotland's four largest NHS boards\r\n47\r\n44\r\n57\r\n73\r\n76\r\n76\r\n72\r\nNumber newly diagnosed with HCV in prison in Scotland (All NHS boards) \r\n72\r\n55\r\n92\r\n96\r\n104\r\n94\r\n98\r\n*HCV testing data currently only available for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Tayside and NHS Grampian \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 2: Number of chronically infected people initiated on hepatitis C antiviral therapy within the prison setting, Scotland 2007 -2013\r\n\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14*\r\nNumber on HCV treatment in the prison setting\r\n17\r\n37\r\n112\r\n143\r\n102\r\n117\r\n141\r\nProportion of annual treatment initiations (%)\r\n4\r\n6\r\n12\r\n14\r\n10\r\n11\r\n14\r\n* Data for this year are provisional.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:29.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295159,"EventID":"S4W-21436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:29.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:16:39.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dedicated inpatient beds are available for child and adolescent mental health services and how many more are planned.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are three regional CAMHS inpatient units in Scotland which provide inpatient facilities for a total of 42 children.\r\nThe South East of Scotland is served by 12 beds in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and provides inpatient facilities for Lothian, Fife and Borders.\r\nThe West of Scotland is served by 24 beds in Skye House and provides inpatient facilities for Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire and Arran.\r\nThe North of Scotland is served by six beds in Dudhope House Dundee and provides inpatient facilities for Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles. From Mid 2015 a further six beds will be available in Dudhope house.\r\nThere are also a further nine beds for under 12s provided on a national basis at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:29.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295160,"EventID":"S4W-21437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:30.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:16:39.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to substantially eliminate the admission of children and young people to adult mental health units.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are working with NHS boards to deliver commitment 12 of the Mental Health Strategy to reduce admissions of under 18s to adult wards, with a new commitment to reduce figures across Scotland to a figure linked to current performance in the South of Scotland area during delivery of the strategy timeframe 2012-15. To support this we have:\r\nMade a significant investment (£13.5 million from 2009 to 2014) to deliver faster access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services in the community; and in the CAMHS workforce which has seen the overall clinical workforce increase by 44% since 2008.\r\nWe have with ISD and the CAMHS regional tier 4 network, developed a data set to track progress in developing intensive community treatment teams and how the adolescent inpatient units are working. We are continuing to work with the CAMHS regional tier 4 networks to ensure that tier 4 services for children and young people are operating effectively and safely.\r\nTo meet the needs of children and adolescents, the North of Scotland are building a new 12 bed inpatient unit to replace the current 6 bed unit. This will increase the national bed base from 42 to 48 beds, and improve the quality of the estate. \r\nThere are some reasons why it may not always be possible for a young person to be admitted to a specialist child and adolescent bed, for example, a crisis admission out of hours where there are concerns for the young person’s safety, or where a specialist facility might be a considerable distance from family support that could help recovery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:30.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295161,"EventID":"S4W-21438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:30.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:17:17.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it has made available since December 2007 to (a) the primary care sector and (b) GP practices in disadvantaged areas to tackle health inequalities.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whilst statutory responsibility for the provision of healthcare services rests with health boards and it is for each board to put in place those services that best meet the needs of their patient populations. There is a strong alignment between practices in areas of deprivation and the Scottish Government about how to improve the links between primary care and wider health, social and other services in order to deliver 2020 vision.\r\nWhile we have some good examples of person centred, locality appropriate models of care, these have been driven by committed teams to address specific or local issues. We want to develop new integrated models of care at scale by converging our activity i.e. developing models of care that simultaneously improve person-centred care, improve team working around the needs of the individual, meet the needs of the locality, better address multi-morbidity, reduce inappropriate A&E attendance etc.\r\nFor example the Links Worker Programme, that was launched in May 2014, is a Scottish Government funded programme which aims to explore how the primary care team can support people to live well in their community, made up of two inter-related interventions: the provision of a practice attached links worker, and the development by the practice team of a links approach.\r\nThe Scottish Government through recognising the challenges in the national GMS contract in relation to practices whose patients face the greatest inequalities have also significantly altered the 2014-15 GMS contract to free those practitioners up to devote more time to the complex problems that their patients face.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also achieving a greater focus on targeting resources to most deprived areas by two routes. Firstly through better linking planning between NHS boards and local authorities through the community planning process and secondly we are ensuring our strategies have a clear focus on tackling inequalities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:30.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295162,"EventID":"S4W-21440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:31.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:17:17.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given since December 2007 to whether areas of the GP contract do not reflect the additional needs of GP practices in disadvantaged communities; whether it has identified such areas and, if so, what action has been taken.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21438 on 5 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:31.127","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295163,"EventID":"S4W-21442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:31.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the programme that is studying screening for hearing loss in adults that is jointly funded by the Medical Research Council and the Chief Scientist's Office.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no programme on studying screening for hearing loss jointly funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).\r\nThe MRC and CSO jointly fund the Scottish Section of the Institute of Hearing Research which is located at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. CSO funding for the institute is currently £368,172 per annum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:31.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295164,"EventID":"S4W-21443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:32.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposed closures of salaried dental practices in (a) Lochmaben, (b) Newton Stewart and (c) the Dumfries Dental Centre, and what additional costs will be incurred by social work services in Dumfries and Galloway arising from the need to transport patients from (i) Lochmaben to Dumfries and (ii) Newton Stewart to Stranraer.\r\n","AnswerText":"With access to NHS dental services improving it is appropriate for NHS Dumfries and Galloway to review their service provision in order to ensure routine dental care is provided by independent contractors where possible.\r\nIt is recognised that some patients with complex treatment needs are not able to be seen by independent contractors. Patients with additional dental support needs in Dumfries and Galloway have typically been seen, and will continue to be seen, by the Public Dental Service at Dumfries Dental Centre and Galloway Community Hospital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:32.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295165,"EventID":"S4W-21444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T11:59:22.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients will be deregistered from their existing dentists and transferred to independent general dental practitioners if the NHS Dumfries and Galloway board passes proposals to close salaried dental practices in Dumfries, Lochmaben and Sanquhar.","AnswerText":"As at 30 April 2014 the estimated number of patients at Dumfries Dental Centre, Lochmaben, and Sanquhar, in receipt of routine general dental services, was as follows:\r\nDumfries Dental Centre\r\n689\r\nLochmaben\r\n2,510\r\nSanqhuar\r\n2,136\r\nRegistration with a NHS dentist will be maintained for all these patients.","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295166,"EventID":"S4W-21445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:32.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what savings will be made by NHS Dumfries and Galloway as a result of the closure of dental clinics in (a) Newton Stewart, (b) Lochmaben and (c) Dumfries and what the justification is for these closures in light of the Scottish Government's policy to protect vulnerable patients and address health inequalities.\r\n","AnswerText":"With access to NHS dental services improving it is appropriate for NHS Dumfries and Galloway to review their service provision in order to ensure routine dental care is provided by independent contractors where possible. \r\nThe proposed changes are about migrating patients in need of routine dental care from salaried General Dental Services (GDS) to independent contractor GDS with a consequential shift in resources.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:32.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295167,"EventID":"S4W-21446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:33.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what public consultation has taken place in relation to the proposed closure by NHS Dumfries and Galloway of dental clinics in Lochmaben, Newton Stewart and Dumfries and for what reason patients were not consulted or informed of the proposed changes.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Dumfries and Galloway are conducting an appropriate consultation of their proposals, and are currently welcoming patient feedback on their preferred option.\r\nThe board developed a patient engagement plan in collaboration with the Scottish Health Council. Clinic staff, independent dental contractors and other stakeholders were consulted on proposed options regarding the future provision of routine General Dental Services from each clinic site. Patient information leaflets, posters and comment forms were also made available at each of the clinics explaining the options being considered and the preferred option.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:33.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295168,"EventID":"S4W-21447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:33.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the decision of the Chief Dental Officer to restrict the funding and the contract of a recently filled salaried dentist post in the Skye Dental Centre to one year and whether it has a long-term commitment to provide dental services to patients on Skye.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decision by the Chief Dental Officer was based on a request by NHS Highland to recruit a fixed term vacant salaried dentist post. This decision has no bearing on the Scottish Government’s long term commitment to NHS dental services in Skye.\r\nNHS Highland is currently formalising a strategy for primary care dental services. Recruitment to a fixed term post at this stage will provide flexibility in terms of planning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:33.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295169,"EventID":"S4W-21448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:33.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Broxden Dental Centre in Perth is reported to have, on some days, only one of 20 dental surgeries in use; whether the policy to repatriate patients treated by the public dental service in Tayside to independent high street dentists has been driven by financial expediency, and to what extent patients have been involved in these decisions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Broxden Dental Centre in Perth will rarely run with one surgery. These rare occasions, when a single surgery emergency service is run, will be on public holidays over and above Christmas and New year, and on two occasions per year when NHS Tayside dental service have a board area-wide meeting.\r\nThe decision to enable dental patients to be treated by independent dental contractors, rather than the public dental service, has been driven by the Scottish Government’s aim to improve access to NHS General Dental Services for people in Scotland, and for those services to be provided by independent contractors where possible.\r\nChanges in arrangements have been communicated to patients by NHS Tayside.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:33.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295170,"EventID":"S4W-21449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:34.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the investment of £7.6 million in the building of the Broxden Dental Centre in Perth in 2011 represents a sound investment given that it is reportedly massively underused.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does consider that the investment of £7.6 million in the building of Broxden Dental Centre represents a sound investment.\r\nIt is not the case that Broxden Dental Centre is massively underused. It is the only Public Dental Service Clinic serving a population of more than 150,000 people in Perth and Kinross. It also carries out undergraduate outreach work, provides vocational training for young dentists unable to obtain positions in independent practice; caters for patients with special needs or requiring special care; and delivers Childsmile.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:34.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295171,"EventID":"S4W-21450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:34.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term strategic plan is for NHS dentistry.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to ensure that people who wish to have access to a NHS dentist, can do so. Over 4.4 million people across Scotland are now registered with a NHS dentist. This constitutes an increase of 1.8 million since March 2007.\r\nWe will also continue to prioritise child oral health through preventative programmes such as Childsmile. The latest report from the National Dental Inspection Programme showed that almost 70 per cent of P1 pupils have no obvious sign of tooth decay compared with only 44 per cent in 2003.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:34.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295172,"EventID":"S4W-21451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:35.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what tendering process NHS boards undertake when disposing of or transferring assets and services to the independent sector, and whether such disposals require to be advertised locally, nationally and EU-wide.\r\n","AnswerText":"The NHSScotland Property Transactions Handbook sets out the mandatory requirements for NHSScotland bodies in relation to the lease, acquisition or disposal of property holdings. This requirement was set out in CEL 8 (2011) which was issued on 22 February 2011. Mandatory guidance regarding the disposal of assets including valuation and marketing can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.pcpd.scot.nhs.uk/PropTrans/PTHome.htm\r\nPrimary day-to-day responsibility for ensuring that NHS property is bought, sold and leased at a price and on other conditions which are the best obtainable for the public interest at that time rests with the Chief Executive of the NHSScotland holding body. This is a significant responsibility and he/she is answerable to the accountable officer, to ensure that procedures are followed. It is essential that the management of transactions is based upon best commercial practice informed by public accountability requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:35.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295173,"EventID":"S4W-21452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:35.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the privatisation of delivery of NHS dental services in (a) Sanquhar, (b) Lochside, (c) Dumfries, (d) Eyemouth, (e) Kirkwall, (f) Patna and (g) Dalmellington, given the assurances of the Deputy First Minister on 11 March 2012 that “As long as we are in charge, there will be no privatisation of the NHS in Scotland. Let me say loudly and clearly. Not here, Not now, Not ever”.","AnswerText":"These services are not being privatised.\r\nAny shift in service provision from the Public Dental Service to independent contractors providing NHS dental services does not constitute privatisation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:35.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295174,"EventID":"S4W-21453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:35.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS boards are contemplating reductions in salaried dental services given that it is funding £25,000 recruitment allowances for independent contractor dentists.","AnswerText":"There is a requirement on NHS boards to ensure that NHS general dental services are provided by independent contractors where possible, and are not duplicated by the Public Dental Service.\r\nThe £25,000 recruitment allowance is only payable in the three island board areas, where recruitment has historically been challenging.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:35.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295175,"EventID":"S4W-21454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:36.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:41:55.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been changes to airport staff terms and conditions since its buyout of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.\r\n","AnswerText":"No changes have been made to the terms and conditions of Glasgow Prestwick Airport staff as a result of the airports acquisition by Scottish Ministers. However, in the normal day to day running of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, the airport has changed the terms and conditions on an individual basis where people have moved positions or changed working hours.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:36.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295176,"EventID":"S4W-21455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:36.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:15:13.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of failing to treat a person with hepatitis C in the last seven years.","AnswerText":"In the course of developing the Hepatitis C Phase 1 Action Plan, Health Protection Scotland estimated the costs of the current and future burden of chronic hepatitis C disease on the NHS in Scotland. This work was completed in February 2007.\r\nHealth Protection Scotland estimated that the annual health service costs associated with the monitoring, management and treatment of people with diagnosed chronic hepatitis C disease in Scotland was £11.8 million in 2005. This figure included £2.8 million for antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.\r\nThe same work also estimated potential future costs, assuming uptake of hepatitis C antiviral therapy by around 1,000 former injecting drug users a year. In this scenario it was estimated that costs would rise to around £22 million in 2015, comprising around £13 million for the costs associated with the management of chronic hepatitis C disease and around £9 million for the costs of antiviral therapy. (These costs do not take account of inflation and were calculated based on 2005 prices).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:36.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295177,"EventID":"S4W-21456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:36.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T11:27:17.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of police misconduct hearings only being held internally, what protections are in place to ensure that they are conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Regulations 2013 take into account the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service code of practice on discipline cases that promotes fairness and transparency in all workplaces. In line with section 54 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, these regulations were consulted with the main policing stakeholders, including the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:36.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295178,"EventID":"S4W-21457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T14:22:37.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T11:30:19.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what changes it has made since December 2007 to the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee and Quality Outcomes Framework for GPs to ensure that the distribution of existing and future resources better reflects the balance of workload required to tackle health inequalities.\r\n","AnswerText":"All changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and to the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee are made following consultation with GP representatives, and take into account the impact on the whole of general practice.\r\nA review of the current Scottish Allocation Formula and variability of funding will be taken forward over the next few years, in consultation with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee, including agreeing any changes required to take better account of deprivation. The aim is to create a stable funding environment for the whole of general practice with a focus on moving towards the 2020 vision and strengthening primary health care teams in and around GP practices; addressing issues relating to caring for elderly/ deprived/rural populations.\r\nThe GP contract agreement for 2014-15 will also see a shift of around £36 million funding from the Quality Outcomes Framework into the core contract, to provide more funding stability for practices, removing bureaucracy and freeing up more GP time to spend on face to face patient care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:37.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295179,"EventID":"S4W-21458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:35.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T13:16:31.78","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S4O-03284 by Fergus Ewing on 28 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31474), what measures it is taking specifically to address the gap between the business start-up rates of men and women.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that supporting more women to set up and succeed in business is an economic priority. Building on the support already provided through our enterprise agencies and local authorities, we recently launched the Women in Enterprise Action Framework and are supporting its implementation with resources of £70,000. Projects supported include the Ambassadors Project featuring five high-profile female role models from different backgrounds, geographies and sectors to promote the opportunities for female entrepreneurs. This is in addition to the £50,000 we are providing for the Investing Women initiative designed to help female entrepreneurs to become investment-ready.\r\nIn addition, the measures set out in the ‘Scotland Can Do’ Framework, developed with public, private and third sector partners, make clear our ambition and highlight the priority areas where we will jointly act to see Scotland become a world leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation for all.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:36.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295180,"EventID":"S4W-21459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:36.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T14:48:15.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that chapter 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 should be amended to give the public interest equal weight to the public benefit.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no intention to amend Section 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 with regards to giving ‘public interest’ equal weight to ‘public benefit’.\r\nSection 7 of Chapter 2 sets out the charity test that must be satisfied by every body on the Scottish Charity Register. The test consists of two parts: the purposes of the body must be exclusively charitable and it must provide public benefit, either in Scotland or elsewhere.\r\nCharities in Scotland are regulated by The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). OSCR is responsible for determining charitable status in Scotland in accordance with the 2005 Act. OSCR will make their assessment of public benefit on the basis of a body’s (intended) activities and will look at whether in practice a body provides (or is likely to provide) public benefit as a result of the activities carried out in furtherance of its charitable purposes\r\n‘Public benefit’ has far more relevance than ‘public interest’ as this demonstrates that the body is delivering benefit to the public. Therefore there is no intention make any amendment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:36.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295181,"EventID":"S4W-21460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:36.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T15:32:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Zero Waste Scotland has given to each local authority as part of its food waste programme and how much of the budget is still available for local authorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"To support local authorities in introducing food waste collections as required by the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, Zero Waste Scotland provided a £20 million fund. That fund is now fully committed, and awards have been made as set out in the following table.\r\nLocal authority\r\nAward (£)\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n300,320.00\r\nAngus \r\n147,077.00\r\nNorth Ayrshire \r\n886,351.78\r\nClackmannanshire \r\n455,931.00\r\nNorth Lanarkshire \r\n1,580,000.00\r\nDumfries and Galloway \r\n1,653,283.00\r\nGlasgow City \r\n1,064,163.00\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n806,619.00\r\nEast Ayrshire \r\n994,979.02\r\nWest Lothian \r\n897,537.33\r\nAberdeen \r\n1,124,360.00\r\nSouth Ayrshire \r\n931,082.28\r\nHighland \r\n957,541.17\r\nAberdeenshire \r\n1,573,936.00\r\nCity of Edinburgh \r\n2,704,961.00\r\nFalkirk \r\n776,280.00\r\nInverclyde  \r\n685,000.00\r\nFife \r\n636,715.51\r\nRenfrewshire \r\n1,721,382.84\r\nStirling \r\n279,482.00\r\nPerth and Kinross \r\n7,139.00\r\nTotal* \r\n20,184,140.93\r\n*The total is slightly over £20 million due to the refinement of spending profile between initial bids and final awards\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:36.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295182,"EventID":"S4W-21462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:37.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T15:59:59.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many doctors left Scotland to work abroad in their Foundation Year (a) 1 and (b) 2 in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information is not available in the format requested.\r\nIntake to foundation training is Scotland is 804 places, for years 1 and 2. No foundation trainee in Scotland can leave to do their foundation training abroad as Scotland has no arrangements to support Foundation Year (FY) training overseas.\r\nInformation from the UK Foundation Programme Office for FY1 trainees leaving to do their FY2 training overseas is :\r\nYear\r\nFY2 Training Done Overseas\r\n2010\r\n60\r\n2011\r\n57\r\n2012\r\n48\r\n2013\r\n23\r\n\r\nNHS Education for Scotland data from their post-FY2 destination survey is only available for the last three years. This indicates:\r\nYear\r\nLeft the UK\r\nLeft for England, Wales or N.Ireland\r\n2011\r\n67\r\n134\r\n2012\r\n85\r\n122\r\n2013\r\n47\r\n106\r\nSuccessful FY2 trainees leaving the UK will be a mixture of UK nationals going to the other countries to work for a year or so before returning, and overseas nationals e.g. from Singapore, Malaysia, returning home after completion of UK foundation training.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:37.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295183,"EventID":"S4W-21463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:37.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T15:59:59.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency medicine posts are unfilled, broken down by grade.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of unfilled emergency medicine posts by grade is not centrally available, although information on the number of vacancies for consultant emergency medicine posts is available. The following table shows current numbers of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) vacancies in this staff group.\r\nNumber of vacancies\r\nMar-14\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n4.0\r\nNHS Borders\r\n1.0\r\nNHS Fife\r\n3.0\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n1.0\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n1.0\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n2.0\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n4.0\r\nScotland total\r\n16.0\r\nSource: ISD Scotland\r\nThe number of consultants working in emergency medicine has increased by over 91.8 WTE, or 121.2%, from 75.8 WTE to 167.6 WTE, during the lifetime of this Government. \r\nFurther information relating to consultant vacancies may be found on the Information Services Division Scotland workforce statistics website at:\r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/Consultant_Vacancies_M2014.xls\r\nIn relation to recruitment of doctors into emergency medicine training posts, this is co-ordinated on a UK-wide basis, with any unfilled training posts passed back to NHS boards to fill through local recruitment action. In addition to this local activity the Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS Scotland boards on a national and international recruitment exercise aimed at increasing the numbers of emergency medicine trainee doctors in Scotland from August 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:37.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295184,"EventID":"S4W-21464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:37.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T15:59:59.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that medical students are given posts in the NHS on qualifying.\r\n","AnswerText":"As part of the NHSScotland workforce planning process, and to ensure continuity of supply of trainee doctors to meet the future needs of NHSScotland boards, Scottish Ministers control the numbers of funded medical undergraduate and postgraduate training places in Scotland. This is an annual process based upon advice received from Scottish stakeholders who have considered the future supply and demand needs. \r\nAll graduates of UK Medical Schools (whether UK domiciled, EEA or overseas students) are eligible to apply to do foundation training, in addition small numbers of applications are received from outwith the UK. Foundation training in the UK is managed on a UK basis through the UK Foundation Programme Office, and entry is a competitive process. Briefly, all applicants are ranked based upon a range of measures (performance in assessments, academic ability), and all applicants rank their preference for all foundation schools (Scotland is a school).\r\nAs overall numbers of foundation places are controlled, the Scottish Government cannot guarantee every applicant a place and, in addition, applicants for posts must still satisfy the normal employment checks required by boards where trainees will work. However, in response to unprecedented numbers of medical school graduates from UK medical schools over the last two years, the Scottish and UK Governments have agreed to fund additional foundation training places in Scotland, to accommodate the anticipated extra numbers. We are keeping this situation under continual review, working with our UK partners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:37.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295185,"EventID":"S4W-21465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:38.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T15:59:59.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) ensures that doctors are in  posts that are appropriate to their grade and (b) avoids doctors in a lower grade covering higher grade posts due to a lack of suitable staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is up to individual NHS boards to ensure that doctors are appointed to the appropriate grade in accordance with the relevant grading criteria and undertaking work appropriate to that grade.\r\nGrading criteria for doctors are set out in their terms and conditions of service. These have been agreed following negotiations with the Scottish Government, NHS employers in Scotland and the British Medical Association.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:38.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295186,"EventID":"S4W-21469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:38.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:34:13.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities in Forth Valley have signed up to the No Knives, Better Lives campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"Clackmannanshire Council have been signed up to the No Knives Better Lives programme since 2010.\r\nLatest crime figures recorded by the police show that the number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon, which includes knives, in the Forth Valley area (Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils) has decreased by 32% for the period 2011-12 to 2012-13, a decrease of 55% since this government came into power.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:38.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295187,"EventID":"S4W-21470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:38.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:34:13.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21076 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 May 2014, for what reason it wrote to the Scottish Police Authority on 13 March 2014 regarding the budgetary planning process.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21076 on 22 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:38.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295188,"EventID":"S4W-21471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:39.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:34:13.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21076 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 May 2014, whether the money allocated to the Police Scotland budget can be subsequently reallocated by the force to CashBack for Communities or similar projects and, if so, what its position is on the appropriateness of the police making such funding decisions and not ministers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The grant in aid allocated annually by Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), and set out in the budget allocation and monitoring letter, is not ring-fenced. As that letter makes clear, Scottish Ministers expect the SPA and, through it, Police Scotland to use the resources to deliver the statutory policing principles and functions set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. The use of those resources must be in accordance with the agreed strategic plan, the terms of the Governance and Accountability Framework between the SPA and the Scottish Government, and any relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers, in particular the Scottish Public Finance Manual.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not expect Police Scotland to grant-fund projects that are directly funded by Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:39.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295189,"EventID":"S4W-21472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-29T16:53:39.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:34:13.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21076 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 May 2014, what areas  the money allocated to the Police Scotland budget cannot be subsequently reallocated to by the force and for what reason.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21471 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-12T16:53:39.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295200,"EventID":"S4W-21406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:51.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:12:02.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices have at least one GP who has had supervised training in a paediatric department for a minimum of six months.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not available in the format requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:52.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295201,"EventID":"S4W-21407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:52.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:12:02.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of any new GP contract, it will consider collecting information on the presence of GPs in each practice who have had training in paediatrics of at least six months at a postgraduate level.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are several reasons why I do not consider that collecting such information as part of the GP contract requirements would be sensible or useful.\r\nAt present, much GP training is vocational, and involves practitioners gaining experiences in a variety of care settings in order to gain competencies in managing patients, whether children or adults. I consider it would be unhelpful to assume that a GP who has not completed a formal paediatric or child health post, but has been vocationally trained, is somehow less competent than a GP who did have such experience in a secondary care setting. This is important as our approach to the new GP contract is not to propose changes with current GP training requirements, which is more properly for the General Medical Council (GMC) as regulator of the profession, and the Royal College of General Practitioners.\r\nWe are aware of concerns that GP training in paediatric and child health is not as effective as it should be, and it is important that this be addressed. This is one issue highlighted within Professor David Greenaway’s independent review of the future shape of medical training in the United Kingdom, where he has made several recommendations on how improvements might be achieved, including that GP training should be better designed to equip them with more enhanced knowledge and skills based upon broad patient care themes e.g. child health, women’s health, mental health etc. that will enable them to work more seamlessly across primary and secondary care settings. Any restructured medical training will need to be agreed and implemented on a UK basis, with the support of the GMC, health boards, patients, and Royal Colleges etc., and UK-wide discussions on how best to take forward the recommendations are now underway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:52.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295202,"EventID":"S4W-21408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:52.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:12:02.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of any new GP contract, it will consider collecting information on the presence of GPs with a postgraduate qualification in child health in each community health and social care partnership.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21407 on 11 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:52.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295203,"EventID":"S4W-21409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:53.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:12:02.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make it a requirement of any new GP contract that every practice has to respond to surveys from the Information Services Division in relation to NHS primary care.","AnswerText":"One of the key achievements this year with the GP contract was to reduce the workload associated with bureaucracy, and that will continue to be a priority for the Scottish Government, whilst any proposed changes to the existing GP contract will continue to be subject to negotiations with Scottish General Practitioners Committee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:53.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295204,"EventID":"S4W-21411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:53.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:12:26.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, it will require NHS boards to incorporate Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines into publicly available local protocols or the equivalent within a set timescale.\r\n","AnswerText":"Delivering safe and effective care remains a priority for the Scottish Government. SIGN develops guidelines for effective practice, based on current evidence. We expect all health boards to ensure robust systems are in place to support the reliable delivery of high quality care. There are no plans for the Scottish Patient Safety Programme to require boards to incorporate SIGN guidelines into publically available local protocols.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:53.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295205,"EventID":"S4W-21466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:54.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:01:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will take forward the findings of its consultation on the water and sewerage charges exemption scheme for small organisations.\r\n","AnswerText":" I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21259 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:54.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295206,"EventID":"S4W-21467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:54.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:01:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how changing the basis for eligibility for the water and sewerage charges exemption scheme for small organisations from net to gross income would impact on churches.\r\n","AnswerText":"An explanation of how the proposals for the exemption scheme were derived is set out in the consultation document. This is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9119. Once a decision has been reached, a report on the consultation responses, and the responses where the consultees have given permission, will be published on the government’s website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:54.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295207,"EventID":"S4W-21468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:54.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T16:01:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make more money available to the water and sewerage charges exemption scheme for small third sector organisations.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21259 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:54.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295208,"EventID":"S4W-21473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:54.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T17:24:03.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the volume of oil that is recoverable from Scottish territorial waters up until 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"Oil and Gas UK estimate that there are up to 24 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves remaining under the North Sea. Recent research by Professor Alex Kemp of the University of Aberdeen has suggested that around 98.8 per cent of North Sea oil production and around 60 per cent of gas production in the 30 years from 2011 will come from Scotland's geographical share of the current UK continental shelf.\r\nThe Oil and Gas UK Economic Report 2013 is available at:\r\nhttps://publ.com/N6D1Taa#8\r\nThe Scottish Government published the third Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin on \r\n28 May 2014; this focuses on the outlook for the industry over the next five years.\r\nIt is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00451335.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:54.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295209,"EventID":"S4W-21476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:55.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the single security and intelligence agency referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The transition to independence is a major opportunity to improve service delivery in Scotland. The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of work to prepare for the transition to independence, and our approach is set out in “Scotland’s Future”. Pages 343 to 350 explain that a number of factors will influence the size of the one-off investment that Scotland will make in the transition to independence. They include the negotiations that will take place between the two governments on apportioning assets and securing public services in Scotland, and the options that are chosen for improving systems and providing more modern and responsive public services for people in Scotland in the period following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:55.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295210,"EventID":"S4W-21477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:55.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the expanded Revenue Scotland referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:55.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295211,"EventID":"S4W-21478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:55.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish defence HQ referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:55.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295212,"EventID":"S4W-21479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:55.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the single economic regulator referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21478 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at;\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:55.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295213,"EventID":"S4W-21480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:56.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish civil service commission referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:56.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295214,"EventID":"S4W-21481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:56.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish competition and consumer regulator referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:56.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295215,"EventID":"S4W-21482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:56.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the EU consumer centre referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:56.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295216,"EventID":"S4W-21483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:56.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish supreme court referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:56.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295217,"EventID":"S4W-21484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:57.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the expanded Scottish Parliament referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:57.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295218,"EventID":"S4W-21485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:57.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the shipping agency referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:57.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295219,"EventID":"S4W-21486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:57.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish pensions regulator referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:57.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295220,"EventID":"S4W-21487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:57.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the up to 90 overseas Scottish embassies referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:57.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295221,"EventID":"S4W-21488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:57.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the debt management office referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:57.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295222,"EventID":"S4W-21489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:58.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up organisations or departments that would need to be established in an independent Scotland but are not referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:58.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295223,"EventID":"S4W-21490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:58.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the set-up costs of (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be established before Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:58.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295224,"EventID":"S4W-21491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:58.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the costs of adapting existing UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be expanded or adapted before Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:58.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295225,"EventID":"S4W-21492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:58.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the costs of adapting existing Scottish (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be expanded or adapted to take functions that are currently reserved before Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:58.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295226,"EventID":"S4W-21493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:59.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish broadcasting service referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:59.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295227,"EventID":"S4W-21494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:59.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish borders and migration service referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:59.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295228,"EventID":"S4W-21495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:59.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish passport agency referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:59.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295229,"EventID":"S4W-21496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:59.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish tribunal service referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:59.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295230,"EventID":"S4W-21497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:06:59.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish health and safety body referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:06:59.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295231,"EventID":"S4W-21498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:00.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish motor services agency referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:00.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295232,"EventID":"S4W-21499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:00.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish employment savings trust referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:00.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295233,"EventID":"S4W-21501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:00.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the nationalised Royal Mail referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to pages 326 and 327 of Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:00.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295234,"EventID":"S4W-21502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:00.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the industrial relations body referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:00.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295235,"EventID":"S4W-21503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:01.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish international pensions centre referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:01.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295236,"EventID":"S4W-21504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:01.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the air command and control facilities referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:01.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295237,"EventID":"S4W-21505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:01.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up other (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be established shortly after Scotland became an independent country but are not referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:01.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295238,"EventID":"S4W-21506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:01.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the set-up costs of other (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be established shortly after Scotland became an independent country but are not referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:01.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295239,"EventID":"S4W-21507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:02.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the costs of adapting existing UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be expanded or otherwise adapted shortly after Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:02.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295240,"EventID":"S4W-21508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:02.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the costs of adapting existing Scottish (a) organisations and (b) departments that would need to be expanded or otherwise adapted shortly after Scotland became an independent country.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:02.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295241,"EventID":"S4W-21509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:02.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Royal Mint, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government proposes to maintain shared services in areas where it makes sense to do so, and where it is in the interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. A number of such bodies are set out at page 364 of Scotland’s Future. Where functions continue on a shared basis, there will need to be adjustments to the governance of these bodies, but the Scottish Government sees no need for a new body to be established.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:02.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295242,"EventID":"S4W-21510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:02.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of Research Councils UK, how much it would cost to set up the equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:02.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295243,"EventID":"S4W-21511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:02.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the (a) Marine and (b) Air Accident Investigation Branch, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:02.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295244,"EventID":"S4W-21512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:03.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of its expert or technical advisory groups, how much it would cost to set up the equivalent bodies in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:03.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295245,"EventID":"S4W-21513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:03.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Green Investment Bank, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:03.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295246,"EventID":"S4W-21514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:03.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Hydrographic Office, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:03.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295247,"EventID":"S4W-21515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:03.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Civil Aviation Authority, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:03.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295248,"EventID":"S4W-21516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:04.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS), how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:04.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295249,"EventID":"S4W-21517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:04.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the National Grid, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:04.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295250,"EventID":"S4W-21518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:04.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Met Office, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:04.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295251,"EventID":"S4W-21519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:04.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the Office of Rail Regulation, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:04.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295252,"EventID":"S4W-21520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:05.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to share the services of the National Lottery, how much it would cost to set up an equivalent body in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:05.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295253,"EventID":"S4W-21521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:05.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of how much it would cost an independent Scotland to establish equivalents of the UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that the Scottish Government has presumed would be shared if the rest of the UK refused to do so.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:05.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295254,"EventID":"S4W-21522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:05.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of how much it would cost an independent Scotland to adapt or expand the UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that the Scottish Government has presumed would be shared, if the rest of the UK refused to do so.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:05.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295255,"EventID":"S4W-21523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:05.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up a Scottish financial services compensation scheme if the Scottish Government’s presumption that the rest of the UK would agree to a currency union proved to be incorrect.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:05.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295256,"EventID":"S4W-21524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:05.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to enter a currency union with an independent Scotland, how much it would cost to set up a Scottish financial conduct authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:05.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295257,"EventID":"S4W-21525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:06.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the rest of the UK refused to enter a currency union with an independent Scotland, how much it would cost to set up a Scottish central bank.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:06.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295258,"EventID":"S4W-21526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:06.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the costs of setting up the UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that the Scottish Government presumes would be shared, if the rest of the UK refused to enter a currency union with an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:06.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295259,"EventID":"S4W-21527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:06.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T10:58:56.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the costs of adapting or expanding the UK (a) organisations and (b) departments that the Scottish Government presumes an independent Scotland would share, if the rest of the UK refused to enter a currency union.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21509 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:06.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295260,"EventID":"S4W-21528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:06.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve (a) awareness, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-21532, S4W-21535 and S4W-21536 on 11 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:06.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295261,"EventID":"S4W-21529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:07.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) one and (b) five-year survival rates for pancreatic cancer in Scotland compared with other parts of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent published comparison of cancer survival in the UK is available from the European Cancer Registry Based Study on Survival and Care of Cancer Patients (EUROCARE-5), which relates to the period of diagnosis 2000-07.\r\nAccording to this study, one year and five year relative survival probabilities for pancreatic cancer in Scotland are not significantly different from the other parts of the UK.\r\nTables 1a and 1b show the cumulative relative survival (percentage) up to a) one year and b) five years after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer for patients aged 15 years and over in Scotland compared with other parts of the UK.\r\nTable 1a: \tSurvival at one year after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (2000-07)\r\nUnited Kingdom; males and females aged 15 and over.\r\n\r\nOne year\r\n\r\nPercentage\r\nLower 95% confidence interval\r\nUpper 95% confidence interval\r\nScotland\r\n15.65\r\n14.64\r\n16.73\r\nEngland\r\n16.37\r\n16.03\r\n16.72\r\nNorthern Ireland\r\n13.54\r\n11.78\r\n15.58\r\nWales\r\n16.07\r\n14.80\r\n17.45\r\n\r\nTable 1b: \tSurvival at five years after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (2000-2007)\r\nUnited Kingdom; males and females aged 15 and over.\r\n\r\nFive years\r\n\r\nPercentage\r\nLower 95% confidence interval\r\nUpper 95% confidence interval\r\nScotland\r\n2.81\r\n2.28\r\n3.46\r\nEngland\r\n3.26\r\n3.06\r\n3.47\r\nNorthern Ireland\r\n2.59\r\n1.59\r\n4.22\r\nWales\r\n4.09\r\n3.30\r\n5.06\r\nSource: European Cancer Registry Based Study on Survival and Care of Cancer Patients (EUROCARE-5). \r\nDate extracted: 03-06-2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:07.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295262,"EventID":"S4W-21530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:07.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of information for people newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in (a) hospitals and (b) GP surgeries.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of providing accurate, quality assured information to cancer patients and their carers. This includes pancreatic cancer. In April 2014, we launched the Patient Experience Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs). These QPIs place a responsibility on health boards to provide appropriate information to patients and their carers in order to promote maximum understanding and to assist coping mechanisms. Access to written materials, computerised information and a named nurse should be readily available at all stages of disease management.\r\nThe QPIs recommend that healthcare professionals explore the patient’s preferences about the level and type of information they want. Based on this, the patient (and their family members and/or carers if appropriate) should be given clear, consistent, evidence-based, contextualised, and tailored information throughout all stages of their care.\r\nIn addition to the QPIs, NHS24 will continue to work to develop the Cancer Zone on NHS inform to provide a trusted source of on-line tailored cancer information that supports the patient at whatever stage they are in their treatment process. This development includes the facility for GPs to produce leaflets for patients which are tailored for their specific needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:07.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295263,"EventID":"S4W-21531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:07.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with relevant third sector organisations to improve the awareness, diagnosis, treatment and care of pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cancer Coalition (SCC) is a partnership of 21 voluntary sector organisations which plays a continuing role in the implementation of Better Cancer Care, an Action Plan (2008), providing the Scottish Government with collective views and feedback on what is required in Scotland to support people living with and beyond cancer.\r\nRepresentatives from the SCC attend the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, the group tasked with overseeing the overall delivery of the action plan. The SCC is also represented by member organisations on the various sub-groups taking forward specific areas of action, such as the National Cancer Quality Steering Group, that has undertaken a programme of work to develop clinical quality performance indicators for all main cancer types, including pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:07.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295264,"EventID":"S4W-21532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:07.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that GP practices have access to the latest technology used to diagnose pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards have well-established ‘urgent suspected cancer’ GP referral pathways to facilitate prompt diagnosis of cancer. To support these pathways and support effective referral to secondary care, the Scottish Cancer Taskforce has recently asked NHS boards to confirm what systems are in place to support direct access to imaging modalities for primary care practitioners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:07.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295265,"EventID":"S4W-21533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:08.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the medical training curriculum promotes early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer remains challenging as symptoms are initially often vague and non-specific. The most common presenting feature is obstructive jaundice but may also include weight loss and abdominal pain. Specifically in relation to management of patients who present with jaundice, the General Medical Council approved curriculum for general surgical training details that trainees need to be “competent to manage, including referral for radiological and endoscopic investigation, patients who present with jaundice” and need to be “competent to manage patients who present with malignant disorders including pancreatic cancer … within a multi-disciplinary team with other surgical, medical and clinical oncology colleagues”.\r\nNHS Education for Scotland ensures delivery of these approved curricula through quality managed training programmes and an annual review of competency progression for each trainee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:08.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295266,"EventID":"S4W-21534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:08.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask Scottish Government whether it will undertake a review of pathways between primary and secondary care for the referral and investigation of pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"Healthcare Improvement Scotland is leading on a review of these Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer. The guidelines for breast, lung and colorectal cancers were published in October 2013. Revised guidelines for suspected oesophagogastric, hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers, skin, and urological cancers were published in May 2014.\r\nThe remaining guidelines are under review and all guidelines will be published by summer 2014. A further sub-group has been convened to support the effective dissemination of the revised guidelines with support from Macmillan Cancer Support. \r\nIn addition, following discussions of the referral guidelines at the Cross Party Group on Cancer on 20 May 2014 the Scottish Primary Care Cancer Group will engage with colleagues specialising in pancreatic cancer to facilitate further discussions on referral guidelines and pathways.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:08.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295267,"EventID":"S4W-21535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:08.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a pancreatic cancer specific symptom awareness campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to improving survival rates from cancer. The Detect Cancer Early Programme was formally launched in February 2012. The tumour types covered by the programme are breast, colorectal and lung, chosen because these tumours account for over 45% of new cancer cases in Scotland.\r\nUsing these three tumour types, which have a large numbers of cases, will demonstrate the impact of the programme more effectively and the learning can then be used to inform initiatives for other tumour types in the future. The Detect Cancer Early Programme board is currently undertaking work to look at the inclusion of additional tumour types into the programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:08.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295268,"EventID":"S4W-21536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:09.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that treatments proven to show benefit to people with pancreatic cancer will be made available on the NHS as quickly as possible.\r\n","AnswerText":"New technologies for patients require careful evaluation of the safety, efficacy and clinical and cost-effectiveness prior to use.\r\nThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes Multiple Technology Appraisals (MTAs) which are then reviewed in Scotland by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who consider the suitability of the NICE MTAs for Scotland. HIS then issues advice to all NHS boards identifying any contextual differences.\r\nNHS boards are expected to follow HIS advice on technologies in the planning and provision of its services, and clinicians are expected to follow their professional judgement, working within the management structure of their boards.\r\nFor medicines, the Scottish Medicines Consortium assesses all new medicines and makes recommendations for their use in NHS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:09.127","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295269,"EventID":"S4W-21537","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:09.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will be assigned a clinical nurse specialist.\r\n","AnswerText":"The role of the Scottish Government is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards in order that they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local population. Within this context, the actual planning and provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local health boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment. This includes deciding how best to utilise funding, facilities and staff.\r\nWe expect NHS boards to plan their facilities and workforce to deliver these services and to have robust processes in place to ensure the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care, which is delivered by the right professional at the right time. NHS boards have fully delegated powers to recruit and deploy their workforce to meet their service provision responsibilities and to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to meet the needs of their population.\r\nWhilst recognising that it is NHS boards’ responsibility to plan and deliver services, including specialist nursing services, taking account of national priorities and local need, there is awareness within the Scottish Government of the increasing prominence of the issue of specialist nursing services. \r\nThe Chief Nursing Officer therefore wrote to all NHS boards asking Nurse Directors to consider the implications of the recent reports on this issue by our third sector partners in terms of their current approach, future plans for provision and potential solutions to any common challenges identified.\r\nThe Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to host three regional workshops to provide opportunities for specialist nurse groups and other stakeholders to explore current provision and the future direction of specialist nursing in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:09.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295270,"EventID":"S4W-21538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:09.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T11:19:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that dieticians are made compulsory members of pancreatic cancer multidisciplinary teams that review people with pancreatic cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"As noted on the NHS inform website the Scottish Government recognises dieticians as a core part of a multidisciplinary team.\r\nWe would encourage NHS boards to ensure that this is the case with regard to pancreatic cancer multidisciplinary teams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:09.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295271,"EventID":"S4W-21539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:09.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has undertaken of the costs of the transition to independence in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of work to prepare for the transition to independence, and our approach is set out in “Scotland’s Future”. Pages 343 to 350 explain that a number of factors will influence the size of the one-off investment that Scotland will make in the transition to independence. They include the negotiations that will take place between the two governments on apportioning assets and securing public services in Scotland, and the options that are chosen for improving systems and providing more modern and responsive public services for people in Scotland in the period following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:09.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295272,"EventID":"S4W-21540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:10.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the costs of the transition to independence in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21539 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:10.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295273,"EventID":"S4W-21541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:10.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimates of the costs of the transition to independence in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum it plans to publish before the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21539 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:10.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295274,"EventID":"S4W-21542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:10.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the update on the institutions, costs and staff numbers required for the transition to independence referred to in paragraph 49 of the cabinet paper by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth that has appeared in the media has been produced for the cabinet and, if so, whether it will be published before the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s work on the transition to independence is reflected in chapter 10 of Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:10.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295275,"EventID":"S4W-21543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:10.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many officials in the finance directorates and the office of the Chief Economic Adviser worked on the paper on the institutions, costs and staff numbers required for the transition to independence referred to in paragraph 49 of the cabinet paper by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth that has appeared in the media.\r\n","AnswerText":"The work that has been undertaken by Scottish Government officials on the transition to independence is reflected in chapter 10 of Scotland’s Future. Officials from across the Scottish Government have contributed to the Scottish Government's policy on independence as they would any other Scottish Government policy. The amount of time officials spent contributing in some way to this policy is not routinely recorded as there is no business need for it.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:10.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295276,"EventID":"S4W-21544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:11.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken in relation to the institutions, costs and staff numbers required for the transition to independence since the matter was referred to in paragraph 49 of the cabinet paper by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth that has appeared in the media.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21542 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:11.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295277,"EventID":"S4W-21545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:11.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who took the decision not to publish an estimate of the transition costs to independence in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Decisions on the content of Scotland’s Future were taken by Scottish Ministers\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:11.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295278,"EventID":"S4W-21546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:11.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to commission work on the costs of a transition to independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21539 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:11.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295279,"EventID":"S4W-21547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:11.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers have, in the last two years, instructed officials to cease work on the preparation of estimates of the transition costs to independence in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"No, the work done is reflected in “Scotland’s Future”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:11.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295280,"EventID":"S4W-21548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:12.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the preparatory work on the institutions, costs and staff referred to in paragraph 49 of the cabinet paper by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth that has appeared in the media has been destroyed.\r\n","AnswerText":"No, the work done is reflected in “Scotland’s Future”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:12.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295281,"EventID":"S4W-21549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:12.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Audit Scotland to consider modelling the costs of transition to independence using the Scottish Government’s preferred model for institutions and staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"No.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:12.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295282,"EventID":"S4W-21550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:12.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the basis is for the assertion in the white paper on independence that “the investment in systems and processes will be a small proportion of an independent Scotland’s total budget”. \r\n","AnswerText":"This is based on the approach to transition proposed in chapter 10 of Scotland’s Future\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:12.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295283,"EventID":"S4W-21551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:12.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:41:26.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of an independent Scotland’s total budget it estimates would be needed to invest in systems, processes and institutions required ahead of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21539 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:12.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295284,"EventID":"S4W-21552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:13.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T12:51:00.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any potential revision of the national concessionary travel scheme, in light of the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to charge Scottish National Entitlement Card holders from outwith Edinburgh to use its trams.\r\n","AnswerText":"The national bus concessionary travel scheme is a national scheme, is for buses only and does not apply to local schemes such as the Edinburgh trams and the Glasgow Subway. Any decisions on tram concessionary travel are for the City of Edinburgh Council to take.\r\nIt is possible for the City of Edinburgh Council to offer concessions to non-Edinburgh citizens if, as with the Glasgow subway, they come to agreements with other local authorities to do so.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:13.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295285,"EventID":"S4W-21553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T14:07:13.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T13:27:27.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to set up the Scottish department for international development referred to in the white paper on independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21476 on 27 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T14:07:13.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295287,"EventID":"S4W-21554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T15:34:32.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T13:51:32.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Scottish Court Service and (b) Police Service of Scotland regarding the future of the Stonehaven Sheriff Court building.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Court Service considered the future of Stonehaven Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court as part of their public consultation on the future structure of Scotland’s courts.\r\nIn developing their proposals, the Scottish Court Service discussed the emerging findings of their analysis with both the Scottish Government and Police Scotland. The Scottish Government accepted the Scottish Court Service’s final proposals. Orders were laid and approved at the Justice Committee on 11 June 2013.\r\nThe future of Stonehaven Sheriff Court building is an operational matter for the Scottish Court Service. Historic Scotland (which is an executive agency of the Scottish Government) was asked to reconsider the listing status of the building. Historic Scotland was assisted by Scottish Court Service in this review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T15:34:32.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295288,"EventID":"S4W-21555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T15:34:33.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T13:51:32.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who owns footway drainage channel covers on public adopted footways adjacent to dwellings and who is responsible for (a) their maintenance and (b) replacing them in the event of their theft.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities own and are responsible for maintaining gullies and drainage channels on public roads, footpaths and car parks. Missing or broken covers should in the first instance be reported to the local authority who will investigate and take appropriate action. If it appears that a cover has been stolen, and the matter is reported to Police Scotland, I would expect a note of a report of theft to be taken and commensurate investigation to take place to identify and report a culprit.\r\nThe Scottish Government is supporting efforts to tackle all aspects of metal theft. Measures to tighten licensing requirements for metal dealers have been included within the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill that was introduced to Parliament in May 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T15:34:33.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295289,"EventID":"S4W-21556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-05-30T15:34:33.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T13:51:32.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it expects police officers to take in the event that a theft of footway drainage channel covers from a public adopted footway is reported to them.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21555 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-13T15:34:33.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295291,"EventID":"S4W-21474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:52.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T17:36:41.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase business enterprise research and development spending in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerText":"Boosting business investment in research and development is a key priority for the Scottish Government. A range of support programmes to help address this is being delivered by our enterprise agencies, working in collaboration with the Scottish Funding Council.\r\nWe are also taking steps to improve industry and academic links by establishing Innovation Scotland as well as a network of Innovation Centres, where partners from across Scotland are coming together to provide targeted support for business and academic engagement and develop solutions to demand-led industry problems.\r\nOn 13 November 2013, Scotland CAN DO: Becoming a World-leading Entrepreneurial and Innovative Nation was published. The framework builds on The Government Economic Strategy and details the Scottish Government’s current approach to, and future plans for, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. It can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/7675\r\nOn 29 April 2014, Scotland CAN DO Action Framework was published and it can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/04/3454\r\nBuilding on Scotland CAN DO: Becoming a World-leading Entrepreneurial and Innovative Nation, the Action Framework describes where and how we are investing and working with partners to help Scotland become a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation.\r\nLast week the Scottish Government also published a strategy for reindustrialising Scotland, which highlights the key role that innovation has to play and sets out how the powers of independence could help achieve our aims.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:52.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295292,"EventID":"S4W-21475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:53.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T17:36:41.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on barriers to increasing business enterprise research and development spending.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government uses data from the UK community innovation survey and has committed to boost the size of the Scottish sample in the 2015 survey. The survey includes sections on factors that hamper innovation, the impact of innovation on the business and the sources of information used. It also touches on aspects of the wider innovation process, such as the introduction of new management techniques.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:53.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295293,"EventID":"S4W-21557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:53.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T15:38:45.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its definition is of a clinical intervention. \r\n","AnswerText":"A clinical intervention is a treatment which will cure or improve a patient’s medical condition. This could be medicine, surgery, therapies, health promotion and other care provided by regulated health professionals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:53.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295294,"EventID":"S4W-21558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:54.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only one scenario for oil revenues in 2016-17 is used in the table on page 3 of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s ‘Outlook for Public Finances and the Opportunities for Independence’ report uses Scenario 4 from the Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin to produce the headline fiscal forecasts.\r\nScenario 4 projections use the latest industry assumptions about investment costs and production and assume that oil prices fall by 10% in real terms in the coming years.\r\nSensitivity analysis of the fiscal position, based on the other scenarios of North Sea oil and gas receipts, is provided in Box 3.4 on page 25 of the report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:54.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295295,"EventID":"S4W-21559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:54.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the oil revenue scenario for 2016-17 in the table on page 3 of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence to be a cautious estimate.","AnswerText":"The North Sea projections used on page 3 of the report ‘Outlook for Scotland’s Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence’ are based on robust analysis and draw on external projections and assumptions. The projections use the latest industry assumptions about investment costs and production and assume that oil prices fall by 10% in real terms in the coming years. The government believes this to be a conservative estimate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:54.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295296,"EventID":"S4W-21560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:55.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any independent experts it consulted consider the oil revenue scenario for 2016-17 in the table on page 3 of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence to be a cautious estimate.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21559 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:55.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295297,"EventID":"S4W-21561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:55.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what input the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser had in the production of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s Outlook for Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence report was prepared by officials on behalf of the Scottish Government drawing on analysis previously published by the Scottish Government, the Fiscal Commission Working Group and a range of other organisations, as detailed in the report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:55.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295298,"EventID":"S4W-21562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:55.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what input the Council of Economic Advisers had in the production of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21561 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:55.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295299,"EventID":"S4W-21563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:56.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what input the Fiscal Commission Working Group had in the production of Outlook for Scotland's Public Finances and the Opportunities of Independence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21561 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:56.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295300,"EventID":"S4W-21564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:56.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's current budget balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 1 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:56.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295301,"EventID":"S4W-21565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:56.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's current budget balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 2 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:56.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295302,"EventID":"S4W-21566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:57.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's current budget balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 3 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:57.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295303,"EventID":"S4W-21567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:57.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's net fiscal balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 1 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:57.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295304,"EventID":"S4W-21568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:57.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's net fiscal balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 2 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:57.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295305,"EventID":"S4W-21569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:57.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:41:35.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what an independent Scotland's net fiscal balance would be in 2016-17 under scenario 3 from page 13 of the 3rd Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21558 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:57.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295306,"EventID":"S4W-21570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:58.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-30T16:43:39.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce the road equivalent tariff scheme on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry route. \r\n","AnswerText":"In the ferries plan we stated that we intend to roll out the road equivalent tariff (RET) to all lifeline services and where we are not responsible for those services we will discuss the appropriate form and timing of any roll out with those who are. Consideration of the implementation on the Gourock-Dunoon service is on-going.\r\nWe are aware that introducing RET on the Gourock–Dunoon ferry route now would increase fares for a large number of users, due to the fact that while the advertised fares are higher than RET, many users are currently able to access fares that are lower than RET.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:58.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295307,"EventID":"S4W-21571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:58.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T09:40:21.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities should take into account disability related expenditure for older and disabled people when calculating social care charges.\r\n","AnswerText":"Guidance on charging for residential care is set out in the Charging for Residential Accommodation guidance published on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Support-Social-Care/Support/Older-People/Care-Homes\r\nThe Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) produces guidance for local authorities on charging for non-residential social care, which is published on the COSLA website at:\r\nhttp://www.cosla.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/14-01-31_item_nn_13-12-19_national_strategy_and_guidance_2014-15_gs_0_0.doc\r\nInformation on how many councils take disability related expenditure into account when calculating social care charges for older and disabled people is not held centrally.\r\nWhilst many councils consider disability related expenditure explicitly, others allow for additional expenditure accrued as a result of having a disability through other elements of their assessment processes. However, this situation is changing following the release in April 2014 of the most recent version of the COSLA charging guidance which encourages councils to ‘be proactive in considering further disregard of income where additional expenditure is incurred by a service user as a result of living as a disabled person’.\r\nFurthermore, COSLA is currently working with the Scottish Government and a range of representative carers’ organisations including disabled people’s organisations to facilitate greater consistency in how disability related expenditure is considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:58.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295308,"EventID":"S4W-21572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:58.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T09:40:21.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to councils about taking into account disability related expenditure for older and disabled people when calculating social care charges.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21571 on 11 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:58.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295309,"EventID":"S4W-21573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T13:52:59.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T09:40:21.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many councils take disability related expenditure into account when calculating social care charges for older and disabled people.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21571 on 11 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T13:52:59.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295319,"EventID":"S4T-00723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:45:24.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T10:10:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the matters raised in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's report, Dignity and respect: dementia continuing care visits.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:45:24.5","MeetingDate":"2014-06-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295320,"EventID":"S4F-02140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:51.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T14:01:33.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:51.273","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295321,"EventID":"S4F-02142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:51.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-31T12:45:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to order a public inquiry into the handling of the Edinburgh Trams project.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:51.523","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295322,"EventID":"S4F-02143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:51.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-01T09:57:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will respond to the report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:51.773","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295323,"EventID":"S4F-02144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:52.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T09:17:28.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:52.023","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295324,"EventID":"S4F-02149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:54.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T10:23:24.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with Police Scotland regarding the use of stop and search.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:54.223","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295325,"EventID":"S4F-02161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T12:44:59.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T11:53:48.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the Vale of Leven Hospital inquiry will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:59.4","MeetingDate":"2014-06-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295326,"EventID":"S4W-21574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T16:57:12.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T14:53:25.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what the procedure is for a harbour to be re-registered as a working harbour.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no procedure for the registration of working harbours.\r\nStatutory harbours around our coasts operate under a variety of models either as harbour trusts, private or local authority operated. Each harbour is enabled and governed by its own unique legislation, which may be in the form of Acts of Parliament or orders made under the Harbours Act 1964.\r\nSome harbours operate without having any statutory powers and may be owned by an operator or other body, such as a boat club or an individual or company. All harbours are expected to comply with the Port Marine Safety Code and may be asked to confirm compliance to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but this does not involve a registration process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T16:57:14.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295327,"EventID":"S4W-21575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T16:57:14.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T15:02:20.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its response to the responsible dog ownership consultation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures’ closed on 31 March 2014 with in excess of 2,000 responses received. The responses will be independently analysed and thoroughly considered and it is expected that an analysis report will be published during summer 2014. The views offered in response to the consultation will inform decisions by the Scottish Government about next steps in relation to measures to promote responsible dog ownership.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T16:57:14.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295328,"EventID":"S4W-21577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-02T16:57:14.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T15:14:37.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the transport plan for the Armed Forces Day National Event in Stirling will be signed-off at ministerial level.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been working closely with Stirling Council to support their preparation of the transport plan and other aspects of the various events across Stirling's 'Big Weekend'. The most recent draft of this transport plan, as prepared by Stirling Council, was received by officials on 6 June 2014.\r\nThe Armed Forces Day National Event is an event bid for and organised by Stirling Council. As such, signing-off a robust transport plan is a matter for Stirling Council rather than Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-16T16:57:14.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295336,"EventID":"S4W-21578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T10:02:25.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T09:57:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in implementing the Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on Tackling Bureaucracy's report.\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"Good progress is being made. In particular:\r\nSQA has announced plans to reduce workload requirements for the new qualifications whilst maintaining standards.\r\nEducation Scotland is using its inspection teams to challenge unnecessary bureaucracy in schools and offer practical advice for improvements.\r\nEducation Scotland has worked with local authorities and teacher associations to organise a series of well received events for teachers on the best means of tackling excessive bureaucracy.\r\nWe will maintain momentum on implementing the Group’s report to ensure that teachers can focus on teaching and not be stifled by unnecessary bureaucracy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T10:02:25.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295337,"EventID":"S4W-21585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T13:48:40.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:40:11.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20838 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with making the MV Argyll Flyer the lead vessel.     \r\n","AnswerText":"The MV Argyll Flyer was switched to 'lead' vessel on the Gourock-Dunoon route to improve reliability, following a formal request to Transport Scotland from local ferry users.\r\nThis switch required changes to the established rosters and shift patterns. These, along with associated increased maintenance and repair costs, increased berthing dues and increased overheads and operators return, have generated additional operating costs.\r\nThe breakdown of these costs is commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T13:48:40.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295338,"EventID":"S4W-21586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T13:48:40.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:43:39.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20838 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, whether, by adding historic grant payments made to Argyll Ferries and the projected costs to June 2017, the Argyll Ferries' service is now more expensive than the other bids received during the tender process. ","AnswerText":"The costs of the other bids received in 2011 for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service contract are commercially confidential to those bidders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T13:48:40.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295339,"EventID":"S4W-21587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T13:48:41.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:43:39.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-20838 and S4W-21231 by Keith Brown on 9 May and 2 June 2014 respectively, for what reason the additional costs of providing Argyll Ferries' service have not been paid from the reserves of the parent company, David MacBrayne Limited.    \r\n","AnswerText":"The changes made to the services provided by Argyll Ferries Ltd (AFL) have all been made under the provisions of AFL’s contract with the Scottish Ministers and are therefore eligible for increased grant funding under the terms of that contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T13:48:41.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295340,"EventID":"S4W-21588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T13:48:41.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:43:39.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21231 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2014, whether the quantum of dividend that could have been repaid to the Scottish Government has been diminished by the costs associated with the Gotland tender.      \r\n","AnswerText":"As with any commercial company, the board of David MacBrayne Ltd is responsible for decisions on how profits are spent: on investments in the company, on new business ventures and on returns to the shareholder. It is not therefore possible to conclude that the costs of the Gotland tender have reduced the dividends paid to the Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T13:48:41.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295352,"EventID":"S4W-21595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T15:56:18.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T15:50:37.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent motions it will lodge in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government to be announced in the Queen’s Speech on 4 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"In accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.\r\nThis is an important part of the devolution settlement, which acknowledges the special constitutional position of the Scottish Parliament and the democratic mandate conferred on this Parliament by the people of Scotland. In the view of the Scottish Government, the Sewel Convention will remain an essential part of the constitution of the UK for as long as the UK Parliament retains its current powers and functions in relation to Scotland.\r\nIn the normal course of business, legislation on devolved matters should be scrutinised and determined in the Scottish Parliament. There may however be situations in which it is helpful and appropriate for legislation dealing with devolved matters to be taken forward at Westminster.\r\nThe Scottish Government is committed to assessing opportunities of this kind on their merits and to working closely and constructively with the UK Government, on a case by case basis, to deliver legislation which best meets Scotland’s needs.\r\nThe formal consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in relation to all proposals for Westminster primary legislation on devolved matters, including alterations to devolved competence, in accordance with Chapter 9B of Standing Orders.\r\nWithin the legislative programme announced today by the UK Government, we have identified two areas where a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) may be appropriate.\r\nThe UK bills which we currently expect to give rise to LCMs in the Scottish Parliament cover:\r\nSerious Crime Bill – a Bill which aims to address serious and organised crime which mainly extends to England and Wales but on introduction we expect that it will require legislative consent for amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; reform of serious crime prevention orders; the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and, the closing of a legislative loophole around Female Genital Mutilation legislation.\r\nSmall Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill – a Bill which aims to remove what are regarded as unnecessary impediments to business and includes a range of measures aimed at promoting economic growth. Discussion with the UK Government indicates that it is likely that there will be a requirement for legislative consent on several areas of the Bill when it is introduced later this month.\r\nThe Scottish Government will, in due course, lodge memoranda and motions for these bills, once they have been introduced in the UK Parliament. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.\r\nIt is possible there may be a requirement for the Scottish Government to consider further LCMs as the UK legislative session progresses and we will consider such proposals on their merits to ensure the best interests of the people of Scotland are served.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T15:56:19.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Joe FitzPatrick","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295353,"EventID":"S4W-21596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:00:29.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T15:53:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the second report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"I am pleased to advise that the second report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare Re-thinking Welfare: Fair, Personal and Simple will be published today. It can be accessed at \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/EXPERTWORKINGGROUPONWELFARE\r\nA copy of the publication has been placed in SPICE (BIB number 55938).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:00:29.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295360,"EventID":"S4W-21576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:16.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T15:02:20.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow City Council, (b) the UK Government and (c) the European Commission on lowering nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, in light of the legal action by the European Commission in relation to air quality targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government contributed to the UK Government’s response to the European Commission’s Article 258 letter of formal notice on infraction proceedings. This response, which is still being considered by the European Commission, outlined the various actions being undertaken across the UK to ensure compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit values as soon as possible. We have not to date had any direct discussions with the commission on this issue.\r\nThe Scottish Government has not had any specific discussions with Glasgow City Council on the potential infraction case. We continue to work closely with all local authorities and other partners to further reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and other air pollutants.\r\nOnce the ‘missing link’ of the M8 between Baillieston and Newhouse, to the east of Glasgow, is completed, modelling indicates that compliance with the directive will be achieved. Transport Scotland estimate that this work will be completed in 2017-18.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:16.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295361,"EventID":"S4W-21589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:16.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T12:31:24.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided toward the (a) set up and (b) running costs of Braeside Primary School following the closure of Hamilton School, and what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding this assistance.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland worked very closely with Aberdeen City Council following the closure of Hamilton School in providing support and advice in the interests of the pupils and parents.\r\nThe responsibility for the provision of education rests with individual local authorities. Aberdeen City Council in discharging its duties arranged for Braeside Primary School to be available to pupils who had attended Hamilton School.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:16.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295362,"EventID":"S4W-21590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:16.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T12:31:24.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the impact of the closure of Hamilton School.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with Aberdeen City Council following the closure of Hamilton School. The council are confident that there are sufficient primary school places in the city to accommodate the former pupils from Hamilton School.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:17.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295363,"EventID":"S4W-21591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:17.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T12:31:24.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it took to ensure that suitable provision was made for the pupils of Hamilton School in Aberdeen following the school’s closure.\r\n","AnswerText":"The responsibility for the provision of education rests with individual local authorities. Aberdeen City Council in discharging its duties arranged for Braeside Primary School to be available for pupils who attended Hamilton School.\r\nThe Scottish Government worked closely with Education Scotland and Aberdeen City Council to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for pupils who were affected by the closure of Hamilton School on 21 February 2014. Immediate action was taken to provide onsite advice to parents, a dedicated helpline was put in place and a letter was issued to all parents from the Registrar of Independent Schools explaining the reasons for the closure. Aberdeen City Council provided detailed information in respect of applying for places at the authority’s schools. Support on site at Braeside Primary School and through the offer of meetings continued to be provided to parents in the weeks that followed the closure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:17.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295364,"EventID":"S4W-21594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:17.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T15:47:43.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Grampian regarding its approach to managing surgical patients nearing the time limit for their treatment, particularly in relation to performing surgery at weekends.","AnswerText":"I am aware the board has been experiencing capacity difficulties in delivering the waiting time guarantee and standards. The board are now undertaking weekend working to improve their performance. They are also investing £7 million in the current year in a number of specialties, including orthopaedics, general surgery and urology. This will involve the recruitment of around 74 (whole time equivalent) staff including doctors, nurses and clinical support staff. This should enable a significant reduction in waiting times with the 12 weeks legal treatment time guarantee being delivered during the quarter ending September 2014. My officials continue to work with the board to support delivery of waiting times.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:17.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295365,"EventID":"S4W-21597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-03T16:45:18.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T16:02:38.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing accredited courses in Polish at local authority schools and introducing exams in the subject at (a) National 4, (b) National 5 and (c) Higher level as part of the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local Authorities are responsible for decisions about what courses should be taught in schools and this includes whether to introduce any accredited courses in Polish.\r\nIn terms of qualifications, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has validated Polish as part of the suite of languages represented in the Languages for Work Purpose Units (up to SCQF level 7) and Polish can also be studied as part of the new SQA Languages for Life and Work Award (SCQF levels 3 and 4). SQA has also validated Polish as part of their Higher National Units at SCQF level 6, 7 and 8 – these are offered by colleges.\r\nI met with representatives from the Polish community on 26 March 2014, together with SQA, and agreed that SQA would explore what might be done to support staff in Polish schools, to raise awareness and help improve uptake of these existing qualifications. An update on these issues will be provided by SQA and Education Scotland at a future meeting of the Parliament’s cross party group on Poland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-17T16:45:18.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295366,"EventID":"S4O-03326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:55.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:35:18.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:55.94","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295367,"EventID":"S4O-03327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:56.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T16:35:38.707","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address waiting time challenges in NHS Lothian.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:56.663","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295368,"EventID":"S4O-03328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:57.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T14:21:53.203","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote healthy eating choices for children.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:57.307","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295369,"EventID":"S4O-03329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:57.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:32:01.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to combat malnutrition, which affects some of the most vulnerable older people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:57.66","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295370,"EventID":"S4O-03330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:57.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:12.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase community involvement in the pharmacy application process in remote areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:57.987","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295371,"EventID":"S4O-03331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:58.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T14:53:41.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making in recording and reducing the levels of boarding out.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:58.277","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295372,"EventID":"S4O-03332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:58.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:12.687","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle health inequalities in the most deprived communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:58.82","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295373,"EventID":"S4O-03333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:59.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:12.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is to taking to help young people with cancer access clinical trials.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:59.067","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295374,"EventID":"S4O-03335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:59.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:13.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:59.333","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295375,"EventID":"S4O-03336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:50:59.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T09:30:44.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to improve early identification and diagnosis of children with asthma.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:50:59.76","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295376,"EventID":"S4O-03337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:00.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:13.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the health impact of overprovision of licensed premises in urban areas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:00.087","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295377,"EventID":"S4O-03338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:00.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T09:23:48.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how unpaid carers could be supported by the findings of the Expert Working Group on Welfare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:00.327","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295378,"EventID":"S4O-03339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:00.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:14.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on prescribing homeopathic medicines.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:00.577","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295379,"EventID":"S4O-03340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:00.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:04:56.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what secondary dental treatment for oral cancer is provided without charge by the NHS.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:00.83","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295380,"EventID":"S4O-03341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:01.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:20:32.743","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people with diabetes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Diabetes Action Plan sets out our vision for a world class diabetes service and includes a comprehensive and ambitious programme of work to improve care for people living with diabetes. Work is currently in hand to refresh the plan to ensure that our priorities and actions to improve care are fully aligned to the 2020 Vision for Health and Social Care and continue to meet the needs of people living with diabetes.\r\nAround £900,000 is invested each year by the Scottish Government to support the implementation of the Diabetes Action Plan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:01.1","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295381,"EventID":"S4O-03344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:01.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T14:15:55.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support those NHS boards that are not meeting the waiting time target of 26 weeks for child and adolescent mental health services.","AnswerText":"We continue to monitor progress of each health board on a monthly basis through data submitted to the NHS Information Services Division, and are working with all NHS boards to identify priorities for additional support.\r\nWe have made a significant investment of £13.5 million between 2009 and 2014 in the child and adolescent mental health services workforce which has seen the overall clinical workforce increase by 44% since 2008, and we have committed a further £3.5 million this year.\r\nThe Quality, Efficiency & Support Team are providing support to NHS boards to improve data collection and service improvements which are sustainable. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:01.41","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295382,"EventID":"S4O-03345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:01.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:15.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Both Ministers and Government officials regularly meet representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss matters of importance to local people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:01.717","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295383,"EventID":"S4O-03346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:46:00.68","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports victims of rape in Edinburgh and the Lothians.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:02.02","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295384,"EventID":"S4O-03347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:02.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:50.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the work underway in 2012 on the start-up costs of an independent Scotland will be completed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:02.317","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295385,"EventID":"S4O-03348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:03.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T08:25:52.837","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what value was delivered on the ground in 2013-14 by non-profit distribution-financed capital investment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:03.073","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295386,"EventID":"S4O-03349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:03.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T09:23:30.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the fishing sector and what its position is on the suggestion that the European Fisheries Fund should be spent elsewhere.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:03.353","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295387,"EventID":"S4O-03350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:03.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:52.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend support for the adoption of environmentally friendly public transport such as hydrogen and electric fuelled buses.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:03.653","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295388,"EventID":"S4O-03351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:03.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T09:09:28.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote an awareness of problem gambling given its impact on communities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:03.99","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295389,"EventID":"S4O-03353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:04.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:54:33.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish farm produce is sold elsewhere in the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:04.283","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295390,"EventID":"S4O-03354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T12:51:04.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-02T12:02:53.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it gives to local authorities updating their transport appraisal guidance reports.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T12:51:04.597","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295391,"EventID":"S4O-03334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:04:55.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:59:29.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the standard mortality rates at Ayr Hospital.\r\n\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:04:55.273","MeetingDate":"2014-06-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295392,"EventID":"S4W-21593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:13.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T14:57:22.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would support the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, which looks after the children of armed forces personnel, if there was a Yes vote in the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"Queen Victoria School is registered with Scottish Ministers as an independent school and there are no plans to change the status of such schools in the event of independence.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises the importance of stability in the education of the children of service personnel. In the event of independence it would therefore enter into responsible discussion with the government of the rest of the UK, which would also have a strong interest in maintaining continuity of education for children of its service personnel at the school. Discussions would include the availability of places at the Queen Victoria School to children of service personnel from the rest of the UK and from the Commonwealth.\r\nIt may also be helpful to say that in Scotland’s Future Scottish Ministers have confirmed that terms and conditions of service personnel will remain harmonised with those of the UK through a transitional period. That would include the Continuity of Education Allowance, where eligibility criteria are met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:13.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295393,"EventID":"S4W-21598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:14.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T16:21:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what weight is given to cognitive behavioural therapy in the provision of mental health services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to creating a well-functioning mental health system, where all therapeutic interventions are based around the needs of the individual, and recognises the important role cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) plays within this.\r\nNHS boards are working towards the HEAT target, ‘Deliver faster access to mental health services by delivering 18 weeks referral to treatment for Psychological therapies from December 2014’. CBT is one of the key psychological therapies delivered through this target.\r\nWe have published The Matrix: a Guide to Delivering Evidence-based Psychological Therapies in Scotland on what treatments are effective for which conditions. There is an evidence base to show that CBT is effective in the treatment of a range of conditions, including anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and the management of chronic pain.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:14.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295394,"EventID":"S4W-21599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:14.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T16:20:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when a CT scanner will be operational in NHS Orkney.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully aware of the importance of this equipment to the local community and have sought, and received, an assurance from NHS Orkney that it remains committed to bringing a CT scanner to Orkney, as soon as is practicable.\r\nThe board is making positive progress: a Lead CT Radiographer is now in post and in discussion with other boards in preparation for the start-up of the service. NHS Orkney is currently in negotiations for the installation of the equipment and believes the works required will take approximately five months. This is due, in part, to the fact that the board will require to upgrade its IT to support the new scanner. This will ensure that it links with existing X-ray equipment and that the imaging will be of the best possible quality.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:14.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295395,"EventID":"S4W-21600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:14.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:46:11.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to improve the collection of data to assess demand for housing, in light of the 2013 Audit Scotland report, Housing in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has recently published revised guidance on Housing Need and Demand Assessments to assist local authorities in the task and to provide more consistent estimates for all tenures, within a consistent methodological framework. \r\nThe Scottish Government will also shortly be commissioning work to examine housing waiting lists that is intended to provide an insight into the characteristics of people on the list.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:14.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295396,"EventID":"S4W-21601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:15.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet last discussed whether an air route development fund should be established.\r\n","AnswerText":"The European Union’s 2005 Aviation Guidelines made the creation of a new fund unviable but the Scottish Government is currently reviewing the new Aviation Guidelines that were published earlier this year to determine whether our route development work can be improved within these revised guidelines. The Scottish Government has provided significant support for the establishment of new direct international air services from Scotland. Notable recent examples include Edinburgh to Philadelphia, Chicago and Doha, Glasgow to the Isle of Man and a range of new services from Inverness.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:15.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295397,"EventID":"S4W-21602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:15.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have held with stakeholders since 2011 on the possibility of  establishing an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers regularly discuss air route development with stakeholders including airlines and Scotland’s airports. The Scottish Government has a long history of supporting route development at Scotland’s airports despite the constraints placed upon us by the restrictive EU Aviation Guidelines. Notable recent successes have included Edinburgh to Philadelphia, Chicago and Doha, Glasgow to the Isle of Man and a range of new services from Inverness.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:15.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295398,"EventID":"S4W-21603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:15.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned independent experts to review whether to establish an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"No.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:15.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295399,"EventID":"S4W-21604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:15.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out to consider whether to establish an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a long history of supporting route development at Scotland’s airports despite the constraints placed upon us by the restrictive EU Aviation Guidelines. We are currently reviewing the new aviation guidelines that were published earlier this year to determine whether our route development work can be improved within these revised guidelines.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:15.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295400,"EventID":"S4W-21605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:16.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the EU since 2007 regarding the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"On 7 June 2011 the Scottish Government responded to the European Commission’s (EC) ‘Consultation on the review of the EC guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports’. On 3 October 2013 we responded to the European Commission’s ‘Consultation on the draft Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines’. In both responses we argued that the guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes should be less restrictive. Scottish Government officials also made this point at a meeting with the commission on 25 January 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:16.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295401,"EventID":"S4W-21606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:16.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not established an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The restrictions placed on start-up aid for new air services in the European Union’s 2005 Aviation Guidelines, forced the discontinuation of the Scottish Government’s previous route development fund. They also made the creation of a new fund unviable. The Scottish Government has, however, continued to provide compliant support for the development of new air services from Scotland. Notable recent examples include Edinburgh to Philadelphia, Chicago and Doha, Glasgow to the Isle of Man and a range of new services from Inverness.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:16.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295402,"EventID":"S4W-21607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:16.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T17:49:37.263","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what future meetings it plans with stakeholders to consider whether to establish an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government regularly discusses route development with stakeholders including airlines and Scotland’s airports. Discussions are ongoing in respect of various new route opportunities to enhance Scotland’s international connectivity and increase inbound tourism.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:16.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295403,"EventID":"S4W-21608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:16.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T08:21:32.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been each year under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information is given in the following table.\r\nPersons proceeded against under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 20051.\r\nFinancial year\r\nProceeded against\r\nCharge proved\r\nNot guilty\r\n2005-06\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2006-07\r\n3\r\n3\r\n0\r\n2007-08\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2008-09\r\n6\r\n6\r\n0\r\n2009-10\r\n6\r\n5\r\n1\r\n2010-11\r\n7\r\n7\r\n0\r\n2011-12\r\n12\r\n10\r\n2\r\n2012-13\r\n6\r\n5\r\n1\r\nTotal\r\n42\r\n37\r\n5\r\n1. where main offence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:16.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295404,"EventID":"S4W-21609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:17.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T20:38:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the water rates exemption scheme for charities will next be reviewed.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21259 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:17.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295405,"EventID":"S4W-21610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:17.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:07:23.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been given to NHS board area drug and therapeutic committees on (a) patient and public involvement in decision making and (b) publication of minutes of meetings, and how compliance with such guidance is being monitored.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is planned that further advice on the role of area drug and therapeutic committees will issue later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:17.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295406,"EventID":"S4W-21611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:17.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:23:00.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend the water rates exemption scheme for charities to extend eligibility for it to those established after March 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposals for the exemption scheme are set out in the government’s consultation document at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9119. \r\nIn this document, the government recognised that the ineligibility of organisations created since 1999 is a shortcoming of the current scheme. It also proposed that such criteria should be removed in the new scheme to apply from 1 April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:17.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295407,"EventID":"S4W-21612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:18.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T10:41:54.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent officers were designated as local resources for (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray Divisions as of (i) 30 June and (ii) 30 September 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland publishes sub-national police officer numbers, which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/. \r\nThe first published sub-national data are for 31 December 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:18.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295408,"EventID":"S4W-21614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:18.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:34:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice is available to the owners of historic and architecturally significant properties concerning the installation of fire suppression systems.","AnswerText":"In 2010 Historic Scotland published ‘Guide for Practitioners 7: Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings’ which outlines the full range of fire protection systems available including automatic suppression systems. The guide also explains the different types of suppression systems and the technical issues to consider when retrofitting them in heritage properties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:18.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295409,"EventID":"S4W-21615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:18.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:34:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the properties in the care of Historic Scotland are equipped with fire suppression systems.","AnswerText":"As a result of on-going assessments of risk, four category A listed properties in the care of Historic Scotland currently have fire suppression systems. These are Duff House and Corgarff Castle, which are both in Aberdeenshire, The Palace at Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle.\r\nAll Historic Scotland sites where fire safety is a concern have fire safety measures in place, ranging in complexity from the basic provision of extinguishers to elaborate fire suppression systems. The exact nature of fire safety measures adopted at each individual site is determined through a detailed fire risk assessment, which itself is subject to periodic review.\r\nHistoric Scotland employs two fire safety advisers who fulfil a central co-ordinating and advisory role and are responsible for creating and maintaining bespoke fire safety management plans for all of our properties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:18.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295410,"EventID":"S4W-21616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T13:43:19.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T11:34:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Scotland will undertake a review of the fire suppression and fire prevention systems in place in its properties as a result of the fire at the Glasgow School of Art.\r\n","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland keeps fire safety under frequent review and fire risk is something that is constantly scrutinised across sites. Historic Scotland is aware of the continuing responsibility to protect both the historic environment and visitors and staff from fire. With this in mind Historic Scotland undertook a comprehensive review of fire safety in 2012. The outcome was the creation of an updated fire safety management strategy for Historic Scotland’s estate and the appointment of two fire safety advisers to implement the strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T13:43:19.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295422,"EventID":"S4W-21441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:21:00.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local managed care networks, set out the extent of the responsibilities for each and identify which NHS boards participate.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information about the work of individual national managed clinical networks is available on the NHS National Services Division website at: http://www.nsd.scot.nhs.uk/services/nmcn/index.html.\r\nInformation relating to parts (b) and (c) of the question is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:47.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295423,"EventID":"S4W-21620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:47.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:55:37.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that women prisoners can have better access to modern technology to allow them to have more regular contact with their families.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The Scottish Prison Service is currently developing a strategy for the management of women in custody in parallel with the development of Scotland’s new national establishment for women offenders, HMP & YOI Inverclyde. This development is currently in design phase. A key aspect of this is the appropriate application of technology, including supporting improved family contact, alongside other offender outcomes.\r\nHMP & YOIs Grampian and Cornton Vale already make use of their video conferencing facilities for virtual visits and all establishments utilise the email-a-prisoner service which enables prisoners to receive email correspondence.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:47.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295424,"EventID":"S4W-21621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:48.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:55:37.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, The care and treatment of Mrs CD, which examined issues surrounding women in prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government notes the Mental Welfare Commission’s report on The care and treatment of Mrs CD.\r\nIn meeting commitment 19 of the Mental Health Strategy 2012-15 on improving how services respond to distress, a draft report on work to develop and test an approach which focuses on improving responses to distress will be published by NHS Tayside later this year.\r\nResponding to people in distress is one of five themes in the recently published Suicide Prevention Strategy (2013–2016). In addressing commitment 1 under this theme and building on the work in relation to commitment 19 above, we have arranged three stakeholder events, the next one being on 24 June 2014 in Glasgow, to allow colleagues from a range of sectors to work through the challenge of improving responses to the underlying causes of distress in people for whom current practices are ineffective.\r\nCommitment 30 of the Mental Health Strategy: 2012-15 builds on the work at HMP Cornton Vale testing the effectiveness of training prison staff in a 'mentalisation' approach to working with women with borderline personality disorder and women who have experienced trauma. We have provided funding to support a two-year pilot programme at HMP & YOI Cornton Vale and HMP Edinburgh with the aim of improving the care, treatment and support of women with personality disorders through the development of therapeutic relationships and environment. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is currently reviewing how best to incorporate the concept of ‘mentalisation’ into the development of the SPS Framework for the Management of Women Offenders in Custody and the Staff Training Strategy.\r\nWe have also committed to work with NHS Lothian to test an approach to working with women with borderline personality disorder in the community by extending the Willow Project in Edinburgh. We will use the learning from this to inform service development more widely across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:48.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295425,"EventID":"S4W-21622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:48.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:55:37.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations of the report of the Commission on Women Offenders, which was chaired by Dame Elish Angiolini.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has made substantial progress in implementing the recommendations of the report Commission on Woman Offenders.\r\nFollowing the commission’s principles of coordinated multi-agency working, 16 new services for women offenders have been developed in localities across Scotland to deliver services tailored to the needs of women who offend. Where appropriate, these projects follow the model of community justice centres for women. But, where a single centre does not fit the needs of the population, the projects are using a range of models (including outreach projects and improved co-ordination of services) to deliver improved services to women in smaller or rural populations.\r\nWe are also providing mentoring services to women offenders across Scotland through the SHINE public social partnership, one of the mentoring services being funded through the Reducing Reoffending Change Fund.\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is developing a new national prison for women in Inverclyde which will open in summer 2017. The plans for HMP Inverclyde have been developed in line with the commission’s recommended standards. In addition, new women specific facilities at HMP Edinburgh and HMP Grampian will provide the opportunity for many women to serve shorter sentences closer to their families.\r\nIn the meantime, an upgrade to HMP Cornton Vale has included renovation of prison buildings, the creation of a new family/visitor hub and specialised training for all SPS staff who deal with women prisoners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:48.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295426,"EventID":"S4W-21623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:48.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:55:37.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) supports and (b) treats women with borderline personality disorder, and what additional assistance is given to women prisoners with this condition.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Education for Scotland have developed and been delivering two day workshops on mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) skills and awareness for staff in forensic settings. Staff from a range of disciplines including nurses, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and occupational therapists, have been equipped with a working knowledge of MBT which they will be able to put into use in their current practice.\r\nThe Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland are working with NHS Grampian to develop capacity to deliver evidence based MBT in NHS Scotland. Through MBT Scotland, hosted by NHS Grampian, it will establish an MBT network to help clinical teams across Scotland establish the necessary skills and expertise to deliver MBT across complex groups, including personality disorder.\r\nThe Scottish Government has made commitments in the Mental Health Strategy 2012-15 to improve services and address the challenges around mental health and offending. £158k is available over the three years from 2013 to 2016 to support the funding of these initiatives. \r\nThe Mental Health Strategy for Scotland includes a specific commitment to build on the work carried out at HMP&YOI Cornton Vale by testing the effectiveness of training prison staff in a ‘mentalisation’ approach to working with women with personality disorder and women who have experienced trauma. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is working in partnership with NHS Lothian to test approaches to working with women with borderline personality disorder. Funding has been provided by the Scottish Government Mental Health Division to support a two-year pilot programme at HMP&YOI Cornton Vale and HMP Edinburgh with the aim of improving the care, treatment and support of women with personality disorders through the development of therapeutic relationships and environment.\r\nThe SPS women offenders project team is also working in collaboration with Professor Lindsay Thomson, Chair of the National Prisoner Healthcare Network Mental Health Workstream to develop a model of care to meet the future management of women with high care needs, as part of the service planning work in progress for HMP Inverclyde. Additionally, HMP&YOI Cornton Vale is collaborating with a pilot intervention for women assessed with post-traumatic stress disorder, which will be delivered by a team lead by Professor Kevin Power, University of Stirling. SPS will continue to participate in the care programme approach in the management of restricted patients who may be accommodated in prison.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:48.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295427,"EventID":"S4W-21624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:49.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:55:37.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed system for reviewing child deaths will incorporate the (a) methodology used by and (b) findings of the University of Dundee's Fatalities Investigation and Review Studies Team.\r\n","AnswerText":"The methodology used by and the findings of the University of Dundee’s Fatalities Investigation and Review Studies Team will be considered by the group being set up to develop a national system for reviewing child deaths.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:49.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295428,"EventID":"S4W-21625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-04T16:57:49.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T15:39:12.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available in 2014-15 for community rail partnerships.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ministers have, since 2012-13, engaged the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) to support the creation, development and operation of community rail partnerships (CRPs) in Scotland.\r\nInitially for a two year period, I announced at the Community Rail Conference held in February 2013 that funding would be extended for the year 2014-15, we have made £50,000 available to ACoRP, with up to an additional £50,000 available for project funding.\r\nBidders for the next ScotRail franchise are expected to demonstrate how they will support and encourage CRPs and community rail initiatives, such as Adopt a Station and Station Community Regeneration up to an annual value of £500,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-18T16:57:49.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295438,"EventID":"S4W-21617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:52.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:40:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will address anomalies in the administration of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) identified by the Scottish Youth Parliament’s Care.Fair.Share Campaign that result in many young carers losing their EMA entitlement.","AnswerText":"Following parliamentary question S4O-02985 answered on 6 March 2014, we have revised the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) guidance documents with a particular emphasis on the need for flexibility for vulnerable young people, including young carers. This guidance is for local authorities and colleges and provides the flexibility within the scheme to ensure that young people do not lose out through no fault of their own. Further to this the Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Training and Women’s Employment, Angela Constance MSP and I wrote to directors of education and college principals to ask them to provide the necessary flexibility to enable young carers to access the EMA.\r\nAll answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The official report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8993\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:52.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295439,"EventID":"S4W-21618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:53.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:40:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional (a) funding and (b) bursary opportunities it will offer young carers who find it difficult to afford further education due to their caring responsibilities as highlighted by the Scottish Youth Parliament’s Care.Fair.Share campaign.","AnswerText":"College students studying further education courses are being supported by record levels of student support, with investments of over £104 million this coming academic year. Young carers studying full-time further education courses at college can receive a Dependant’s Allowance of up to £53.03 per week if they have care, financial or legal responsibilities for an adult dependant. Each college also has a discretionary fund which is targeted to help students who have financial difficulties that might prevent them getting access to further education or from continuing their course. \r\nUnder the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013, local authorities have discretion to support young carers, including with a direct payment.\r\nI will be meeting with representatives of the Care.Fair.Share campaign on 25 June 2014 to discuss the work they are doing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:53.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295440,"EventID":"S4W-21619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:54.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-04T14:40:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to alleviate the cost of travel for young carers between school, work and home to fulfil their caring and education duties.","AnswerText":"The Young Scot National Entitlement Card gives one third off adult single fares on almost all local and long-distance buses in Scotland to 16-18 year olds or to full time volunteers under the age of 26. In addition, the card gives one third off most rail fares and 50% off all weekly or monthly tickets. Eligible Scottish islanders are also entitled to two free return ferry journeys to the mainland a year. The scheme is kept under review, but there are no plans at this time for any changes.\r\nLocal authorities have discretionary powers to provide local concessionary travel schemes in their areas. The terms and conditions of each scheme are for individual authorities to decide taking local needs and circumstances into account. Most local authorities provide local travel concessions, but the modes of transport, which include ferries, rail and taxis, and concessions available, differ from area to area.\r\nI will be meeting with representatives of the Care.Fair.Share Campaign on the 25 June 2014 to discuss the work they are doing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:54.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295441,"EventID":"S4W-21638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:54.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T10:49:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Blood and Transplant regarding introducing a national lung allocation system.\r\n","AnswerText":"The allocation of organs is a highly complex clinical issue where we have to rely on expert advice. The Scottish Government contracts with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to develop organ allocation policies and NHSBT draws on the necessary expert advice to do this. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on such an issue.\r\nA sub-group of the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group within NHSBT is currently reviewing the lung allocation policy to ensure that it delivers the best outcomes for all patients awaiting a transplant and I am assured that Scotland’s interests are appropriately represented by clinicians involved in that work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:54.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295442,"EventID":"S4W-21639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:54.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T10:49:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust report, Hope for More: Improving access to lung transplantation and care for people with cystic fibrosis.\r\n","AnswerText":"We welcome the publication of the recent report from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and sympathise with cystic fibrosis patients and indeed everyone who is waiting for a transplant. I recently met with members of the trust to discuss the report and services for cystic fibrosis patients in Scotland.\r\nOf course, one of the most important factors in reducing the number of people who die while waiting for an organ to become available for transplant, is to increase the number of organs available. Over the last six years we have increased by 96% the number of organ donors in Scotland, and our Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland 2013-2020 sets out the ways in which we hope to continue to improve donation and transplantation in Scotland over the next few years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:54.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295443,"EventID":"S4W-21640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:54.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T11:21:21.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many compensation claims and how much compensation the NHS has paid in each year since 2007-08, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospital.","AnswerText":"The following table details the total number of clinical negligence cases that settled for each NHS board since 2007-08. A break down per hospital cannot be provided as this could lead to the identification of individual cases.\r\nHealth Board\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n15\r\n10\r\n8\r\n7\r\n22\r\n21\r\n12\r\nBorders\r\n8\r\n3\r\n4\r\n5\r\n5\r\n2\r\n2\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n4\r\n3\r\n3\r\n3\r\n3\r\n6\r\n10\r\nFife\r\n11\r\n3\r\n7\r\n3\r\n19\r\n13\r\n11\r\nForth Valley\r\n9\r\n20\r\n25\r\n14\r\n15\r\n11\r\n13\r\nGrampian\r\n14\r\n14\r\n17\r\n12\r\n25\r\n20\r\n23\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n48\r\n50\r\n69\r\n44\r\n72\r\n51\r\n50\r\nHighland\r\n6\r\n8\r\n4\r\n5\r\n7\r\n6\r\n5\r\nLanarkshire\r\n22\r\n7\r\n20\r\n9\r\n16\r\n18\r\n18\r\nLothian\r\n25\r\n27\r\n23\r\n15\r\n27\r\n35\r\n20\r\nOrkney\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2\r\nShetland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2\r\n1\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2\r\nTayside\r\n16\r\n22\r\n9\r\n12\r\n16\r\n16\r\n23\r\nWestern Isles\r\n-\r\n1\r\n2\r\n-\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\nNHS 24\r\n-\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n-\r\n4\r\n1\r\nNHS National Services Scotland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n-\r\nNational Waiting Times Board\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n10\r\n2\r\n3\r\nScottish Government Health & Social Care Directorates\r\n3\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\nScottish Ambulance Service\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n3\r\n1\r\n2\r\nState Hospital\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\nTotal\r\n182\r\n171\r\n194\r\n133\r\n244\r\n211\r\n198\r\nSource: Central Legal Office, NHS National Services Scotland\r\n\r\nThe total amount spent by NHSScotland on clinical negligence claims since \r\n2007-08 is detailed in the following table. A break down by health board and/or hospital cannot be provided as this could lead to the identification of individual cases.\r\n\r\n2007-08\r\n£ million\r\n2008-09\r\n£ million\r\n2009-10\r\n£ million\r\n2010-11\r\n£ million\r\n2011-12\r\n£ million\r\n2012-13\r\n£ million\r\n2013-14\r\n£ million\r\nNHSScotland\r\n18.9\r\n28.4\r\n31.1\r\n60.7\r\n29.2\r\n35.0\r\n36.7\r\nSource: Barnett Waddingham\r\n\r\nFluctuations in the sums paid from year to year are due to the number of high value settlements occurring in any one year. These tend to relate to birth cases where the sums paid can be substantial.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:54.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295444,"EventID":"S4W-21642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:55.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T11:21:21.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) legal and (b) administrative costs have been incurred in relation to compensation paid by the NHS in each year since 2007-08, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information sought is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:55.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295445,"EventID":"S4W-21643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:55.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T11:22:31.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a national lung allocation system.\r\n","AnswerText":"Currently, lungs are allocated to the designated UK transplant centres on a zonal basis and the centres are responsible for selecting the patient. Organs such as the heart and lungs are very vulnerable to time spent in the cold (required for transport of organs) without a blood supply. This fact has to be taken into account in any allocation policy and, in general, encourages transplantation in the centre nearest to where the donation took place.\r\nThe allocation of organs is a highly complex clinical issue where we have to rely on expert advice. The current lung allocation policy was developed by the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group within NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). A sub-group of this is presently looking at reviewing the current approach to ensure it delivers the best patient outcomes.\r\nNHSBT monitors the current allocation systems closely to ensure there is equity for all patients across the UK and zones are adjusted to help ensure equity of access. The most recent analysis showed no statistically significant differences in outcomes across the UK lung transplant centres.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:55.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295446,"EventID":"S4W-21644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:55.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T11:56:27.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21159 by Alex Neil on 28 May 2014, how much of the money allocated to Healthcare Improvement Scotland used for non-pay costs was spent on (a) the Development of the Care Experience survey tool, (b) National Learning Sessions 1, 2 and 3 and (c) travel and subsistence including island NHS board travel costs to learning session.","AnswerText":"Details of non-pay costs in 2012-2013 are as follows:\r\nDevelopment of the Care Experience survey tool – £10,853 (1)\r\nNational learning session 1 costs and additional meeting costs – £135,779 (2)\r\nTravel and subsistence including island NHS board travel costs to learning session - £2,846\r\nDetails of non-pay costs in 2013-2014 are as follows:\r\nDevelopment of the Care Experience survey tool £18,301 (1)\r\nNational learning sessions 2 and 3 and additional meetings costs – £303,849 (2)\r\nTravel and subsistence including island NHS board travel costs to learning sessions £6,549\r\n(1) The Care Experience survey tool is a customisable, web-based survey tool that allows local teams to focus on what matters to the people using their services and use this information to drive improvement.\r\n(2) The Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative national learning sessions bring NHS staff at all levels together to learn how they can use internationally recognised improvement science, which has already achieved demonstrable improvements to patient safety through the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, to reliably improve person-centred care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:55.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295447,"EventID":"S4W-21645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T13:42:56.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T11:56:27.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21159 by Alex Neil on 28 May 2014, what the reason is for the increase of over 100% in non-pay costs for the Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative from 2012-13 to 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The Person-Centred Health and Care Collaborative was launched in November 2012. The first national learning session took place in that year. Costs for 2013-14 cover the whole year. Two national learning sessions took place in that year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T13:42:56.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295464,"EventID":"S4W-21646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:13.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:42:34.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the home report system.\r\n","AnswerText":"Prior to the introduction of the home report, Scottish Ministers gave a commitment to carry out a full policy review after five years of its operation. This review began with a public consultation on 5 December 2013. This consultation, which formed the first stage of the review, closed on 27 February 2014. All responses have now been analysed and the report published on the Scottish Government website on 7 May 2014. The report can be found at the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/05/2311\r\nThe second stage of the review will take the form of a research study and focus groups. A research company has been appointed and this phase is now under way. The review is due to be completed by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:13.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295465,"EventID":"S4W-21647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:14.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:58:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the retention of guards on ScotRail services.","AnswerText":"We take passenger safety and security seriously. That is exactly why the ScotRail invitation to tender (ITT) requires the franchisee to provide two members of staff for every service. In addition to the driver, the passenger facing member of staff will be required to carry out a range of customer services duties. I understand that our franchise is one of the few franchises in the UK to specify this requirement. The ITT also specifies a number of other safety and security requirements, thus demonstrating our clear commitment to passengers and staff in this important area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:14.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295466,"EventID":"S4W-21648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:14.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:58:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any bids received for the ScotRail franchise state that guards will be removed from ScotRail services.","AnswerText":"Under the terms of procurement exercise of the ScotRail franchise the content of any bid is commercially confidential, accordingly, I am precluded from commenting further on any matter relating to the bids.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:14.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295467,"EventID":"S4W-21649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:14.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:58:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with bidders in respect of guards on ScotRail services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The bidders have been made aware through presentations and at meetings of the content of the ScotRail franchise invitation to tender and the emphasis that the Government places on ensuring the safety and security of passengers and staff on our railway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:14.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295468,"EventID":"S4W-21650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:14.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:58:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether new rolling stock on ScotRail services will be configured to be operated by the guard.","AnswerText":"It is for bidders to propose rolling stock to meet the specifications of the ScotRail franchise invitation to tender (ITT). The ITT is available on the Transport Scotland website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:14.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295469,"EventID":"S4W-21651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:15.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much private sector investment will be sought for the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.\r\n","AnswerText":"Over £60 million of private sector money will be invested in new rolling stock for the Caledonian sleeper in addition to a £60 million capital grant from the Scottish Ministers. This investment in new rolling stock alongside investment in staff training and development, and many other innovative changes, will give a dramatically improved customer experience.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:15.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295470,"EventID":"S4W-21652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:15.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much private profit is expected to arise from the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.\r\n","AnswerText":"Private sector profit under the Caledonian sleeper franchise is subject to a cap and sharing mechanism. The public subsidy levels have been bid as part of the procurement.\r\nAny profits above 7% of revenue will be shared 50:50 between Transport Scotland and the franchisee. 100% of any profits above 15% would be allocated to Transport Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:15.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295471,"EventID":"S4W-21653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:15.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will be allowed to increase fares above the rate of inflation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Caledonian sleeper is operating in a particularly competitive market between Scotland and London competing with air, daytime rail (where low advance fares are being promoted) and overnight coach travel which is a driver for competitive fares, and the sleeper franchisee is obliged to hit patronage targets. Fares on the Caledonian sleeper are however generally unregulated and overnight ticket prices (fares) will be based on a dynamic pricing structure to adjust prices at quieter/busier times to ensure maximum patronage. The fares on the morning commuting service on the sleeper from highland communities to Inverness will continue to be regulated.\r\nThe new franchisee is aware of the Scottish Government’s policy of bearing down on rail fares and ensuring accessibility to the sleeper for all budgets.\r\nWe are already aware of ticket schemes and fares promotions the franchisee plans to put in place, and in addition they plan to use a dynamic pricing structure to adjust prices at quieter/busier times to ensure maximum patronage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:15.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295472,"EventID":"S4W-21654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:15.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what earliest opportunity it will have to terminate the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is the expectation of Scottish Ministers that this contact will last for 15 years. The contract places clear obligations on the franchisee. If at any point during the contract term the franchisee fails to meet these obligations, Scottish Ministers have a range of sanctions available to them including ultimately rights of termination.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:16.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295473,"EventID":"S4W-21655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:16.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies will be put in place to ensure that the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will continue for the full duration of its contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is the firm intention of Scottish Ministers to ensure that the contract will continue for its full duration. As with other contracts of this nature, there are mechanisms in the contract to ensure the viable and effective delivery of the contract for the full contract term, as long as the franchisee maintains their commitments and obligations under the contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:16.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295474,"EventID":"S4W-21656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:16.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise became unable to fulfil the terms of its contract, who would be the operator of last resort.\r\n","AnswerText":"The selection of an operator of last resort would depend on the circumstances. Transport Scotland could step in to set up an operation similar to the Department for Transport’s Directly Operated Railways, or could appoint another suitably competent operator on a temporary basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:16.557","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295475,"EventID":"S4W-21657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:16.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultants it hired for advice about the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise; how much each was paid; whether they were asked to declare any possible conflicts of interest and, if so, what declarations were made.\r\n","AnswerText":"The requirement for a procurement competition for rail franchising in Scotland occurs once every 7-10 years, and it is not therefore economically advantageous to continually employ, train and retain the specialist staff required in order to provide advice on undertaking such procurement competitions. Scottish Ministers have always stressed the importance of having an expert and appropriately resourced team to undertake both franchise procurements in order to do so competently and maximise the benefits of the public sector franchise investment, and also to mitigate against potential procurement challenge. The Caledonian sleeper franchise contract award is the first one to be completed since the West Coast Main Line debacle (reported to have cost around £40 million).\r\nA fair and open competition was undertaken to appoint advisors to work on both procurements and the external advisors appointed for advice as part of the Caledonian sleeper franchise procurement were: technical advisors – Atkins, financial advisors – Ernst & Young and the legal advisors – DWF. The advisors work on both procurements and in the case of the legal advisors were sourced through the Scottish Government framework for external legal services. The costs of the procurement have not yet been finalised as the franchise contract has only very recently been signed.\r\nThe members of the advisor teams and Transport Scotland officials working on the procurement are routinely asked to check and declare if there are any conflicts of interest. To date no conflicts have been identified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:16.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295476,"EventID":"S4W-21660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:17.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will be allowed to sub-contract (a) drivers, (b) conductors, (c) cleaners, (d) maintenance crews, (e) station staff and (e) other staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"Now that the Caledonian sleeper rail franchise contract has been signed, following the voluntary standstill period, the franchisee is in the early phases of their mobilisation. The franchisee is working with the existing franchisee (First ScotRail) to ensure that a series of staff briefings are undertaken as early as possible (some current sleeper staff are sub-contracted). There are also staff interdependencies with the ScotRail franchise procurement competition, which will not be known until that procurement is concluded.\r\nCurrent staff pay and conditions are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 and the Scottish Ministers have ensured that Caledonian sleeper staff shall benefit from a fully funded railway pension scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:17.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295477,"EventID":"S4W-21661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:17.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:16:09.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the attitude of the operators of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise toward how industrial relations on the service should be managed.\r\n","AnswerText":"A rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process has been undertaken by an expert and well-resourced team in Transport Scotland which looked at all aspects of the new franchise including industrial relations. Both Transport Scotland and the new franchisee will actively and appropriately manage all potential risks and mitigating controls.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:17.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295478,"EventID":"S4W-21662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:17.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultations it has had with the UK Government regarding the future of the east coast main line.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not recently been engaged in any specific consultations regarding the East Coast Main Line, although it engages in general industry processes around the management of the line. It notes that Network Rail, who manage and maintain the line as a private sector not-for-dividend company limited by guarantee, will, on 1 September 2014, be part of the UK Government and an arm’s-length body of the Department for Transport.\r\nHowever, we have engaged fully with the UK Government on the future development of the InterCity East Coast franchise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:17.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295479,"EventID":"S4W-21663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:17.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the privatisation of the east coast main line.","AnswerText":"Since the Railways Act 1993, several UK Government administrations have had the opportunity to reverse the decision to privatise the railways but have failed to do so.\r\nThe Scottish Government has made numerous representations to the UK Government about the unfairness of its rail franchise legislation which prevents UK public sector organisations bidding whilst allowing those from Europe and elsewhere. Those representations have not been heeded.\r\nFollowing discussion with the UK Government, the invitation to tender for the InterCity East Coast franchise requires the franchisee to provide services to and from Scotland to, at least, their current levels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:17.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295480,"EventID":"S4W-21664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:18.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made representations to the UK Government to ensure that services to and from Scotland will be retained at least at their current level following the privatisation of the east coast main line.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has discussed in detail with the UK Government the continuing need for the provision of services to and north of Edinburgh and notes that the specification of the InterCity East Coast franchise included within the invitation to tender requires the franchisee to provide services to and from Scotland to, at least, their current levels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:18.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295481,"EventID":"S4W-21665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:18.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made representations to the UK Government that the east coast main line should be retained in the public sector.","AnswerText":"Since the Railways Act 1993, several UK Government administrations have had the opportunity to reverse the decision to privatise the railways but have failed to do so.\r\nThe Scottish Government has noted the performance of East Coast Main Line Ltd, a public sector company, in delivering rail services and have made public its views, many times, on the restrictive nature of the Railways Act 1993 which precludes any United Kingdom public sector organisation from bidding to operate a railway service. However, no such barrier applies to state-backed organisations from Europe or elsewhere, a position we believe to be fundamentally unfair and constraining: it discriminates Scottish interests as well as those of the rest of the UK, and it is constraining because it restricts the range of options that are available for the operation of our railway services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:18.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295482,"EventID":"S4W-21666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-05T16:45:18.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T15:25:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what issues relating to the east coast main line it has been consulted and whether it expects that further consultation will take place.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been fully consulted by the Department for Transport as part of the InterCity East Coast refranchising process, and has presented its requirements of the new franchise, in partnership with the department, at the Bidders’ Awareness Day, marking the commencement of the franchising process.\r\nScottish Government officials have also completed discussions with all companies bidding for the InterCity East Coast franchise, and will have further consultation with the Department for Transport on the content of those companies’ bids as they relate to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-19T16:45:18.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295483,"EventID":"S4W-21402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:09.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:11:22.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what savings were (a) planned and (b) achieved in response to the recommendation at paragraph 6.5.44 of the Budget Review Group report, Choices for a Purpose: Review of Scottish Executive Budgets, on Scottish Ambulance Service patient transport. \r\n","AnswerText":"It is not possible to directly attribute either a) the planned savings or b) achieved savings to the recommendations in the Choices for a Purpose report.\r\nIt should however be noted that during 2009-10, the Scottish Ambulance Service completed a review of scheduled care using Lean methodology and involving frontline staff in the process. One of the outcomes of this review was the establishment of a business case for the redesign and reconfiguration of the Patient Transport Service (PTS) which detailed a five year improvement programme from 2011-12 through to 2015-16. Estimated baseline savings for the PTS following implementation of the plan are as follows:\r\nFinancial year\r\nBaseline savings\r\n2011-12\r\n£1.7 million\r\n2012-13\r\n£2.9 million\r\n2013-14\r\n£4.5 million\r\n2014-15\r\n£5.9 million\r\n2015-16\r\n£7.3 million\r\n2016-17\r\n£8.1 million\r\nThe board is progressing with the improvement programme and is on track to deliver the baseline savings outlined in the plan with £4.4 million achieved by the end of \r\n2013-14. The redesign and reconfiguration programme is anticipated to deliver \r\n£8.1 million savings between 2011-12 and 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:10.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295484,"EventID":"S4W-21403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:11.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:11:22.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work has been undertaken in response to the recommendation at paragraph 6.5.49 of the Budget Review Group report, Choices for a Purpose: Review of Scottish Executive Budgets, on savings to be made by consolidating the Special Health Boards into a \"beefed up\" National Services Scotland.","AnswerText":"The approach of this government has been to focus on delivering savings through existing structures rather than going through extensive reorganisation. Since 2011-12, a differential efficiency target has been set for special boards budgets which do not deliver direct patient care. This has resulted in recurring savings of £49.3 million being returned centrally to Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates to be reinvested in frontline patient care such as the delivery of the new vaccines programme. \r\nTable 1 details the contribution of each of the four boards:\r\nTable 1 – Special Health Board Efficiencies\r\nYear\r\nNational Services Scotland\r\nNHS Education\r\nNHS Health Scotland\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland\r\nIn-Year Total\r\n2011-12\r\n£7,711\r\n£12,014\r\n£1,051\r\n£897\r\n£21,673\r\n2012-13\r\n£4,000\r\n£5,000\r\n£1,009\r\n£866\r\n£10,875\r\n2013-14\r\n£4,000\r\n£2,500\r\n£1,009\r\n£866\r\n£8,375\r\n2014-15\r\n£4,000\r\n£2,500\r\n£1,009\r\n£866\r\n£8,375\r\nTotal\r\n£19,711\r\n£22,014\r\n£4,078\r\n£3,495\r\n£49,298\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:11.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295485,"EventID":"S4W-21404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:12.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:11:22.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what savings have been delivered by the State Hospital (a) in each year and (b) cumulatively since 2006 in response to the recommendation at paragraph 6.5.54 of the Budget Review Group report, Choices for a Purpose: Review of Scottish Executive Budgets, and what the non-capital budget was in each year.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is not possible to indicate how directly connected the savings generated by the State Hospital relate to the Choices for a Purpose report.\r\na) Total savings delivered in each of the years are as follows:\r\n2006-07\r\n£0.3 million\r\n2007-08\r\n£0.9 million\r\n2008-09\r\n£0.8 million\r\n2009-10\r\n£1.4 million\r\n2010-11\r\n£1.6 million\r\n2011-12\r\n£1.5 million\r\n2012-13\r\n£1.4 million\r\n2013-14\r\n£1.0 million\r\n\r\nb) Cumulative ‘recurring’ savings delivered during the same period totalled £7.4 million.\r\nThe baseline budget for each year was:\r\n2006-07\r\n£30.8 million\r\n2007-08\r\n£32.7 million\r\n2008-09\r\n£33.7 million\r\n2009-10\r\n£34.8 million\r\n2010-11\r\n£35.5 million\r\n2011-12\r\n£33.2 million\r\n2012-13\r\n£33.2 million\r\n2013-14\r\n£33.6 million\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:12.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295486,"EventID":"S4W-21667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:12.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T16:13:01.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to eradicate racial abuse in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"All children and young people should be able to learn in schools free from discrimination to enable them to make the most of their learning. We want every child and young person in Scotland to grow up free from bullying and we want them to develop mutually respectful, responsible and confident relationships with other children, young people and adults.\r\nCurriculum for Excellence aims to provide the right environment to enable young people to develop as informed and responsible global citizens with a knowledge of Scotland and its place in the world and an understanding of different beliefs and cultures. Racism can be addressed across the curriculum for example in expressive arts, health and wellbeing, literacy and English, religious and moral education and social studies.\r\nCitizenship education is embedded throughout Curriculum for Excellence. The aim is to develop Scotland’s children and young people into responsible global citizens with an understanding of Scotland and its place in the world. It addresses the exercising of rights and responsibilities within communities at local, national and global levels, encompassing the development of informed decision making and the ability to take thoughtful and responsible action, locally and globally.\r\nWe are clear that bullying of any kind is unacceptable, regardless of the motivation, and should be tackled quickly.\r\nThe Equality Act 2010 places duties on local authorities to actively deal with inequality, this may include, harassment or victimisation of pupils on the basis, or a perceived basis, of their race.\r\nWe continue to support the national anti-bullying service, respectme, which works with schools, authorities and communities in preventing and tackling bullying effectively. The service provides advice, information and training to those who work directly with children and young people to support improvement in preventing and tackling bullying of any kind. The service works to raise awareness of all types of bullying, including a section on its website covering prejudice bulling.\r\nEducation Scotland is the Scottish Government’s executive agency responsible for the national development and improvement of education. It is charged with providing support and challenge to the education system, from early years to adult learning. Education Scotland has a number of useful resources available on their website to practitioners on tackling the issue of racism in schools in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:12.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295487,"EventID":"S4W-21668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:13.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T10:49:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance it makes available toward the cost of flood defences for homeowners who have experienced repeated flooding.","AnswerText":"We are providing funding through the local government settlement for local authorities to continue to invest in major new flood protection schemes.\r\nLocal authorities can apply for this funding on the basis of criteria agreed by the Scottish Government and COSLA. A total of £73 million was available in this spending review period, on top of the £53 million funding that was allocated to existing projects and included within local authorities’ General Capital Grant allocations. Local authorities are also free to allocate additional resources to flooding from within the overall funding provided to them by the Scottish Government and from within their own resources.\r\nWhile local authorities will continue to promote engineered schemes to help protect communities at risk from flooding, these cannot protect all properties and businesses. In future we will have to rely more heavily on building more resilient and better warned and informed communities that can take action for themselves.\r\nWe know that property level protection products such as flood doors, automatic airbrick covers, non-return valves for domestic and foul drainage systems are effective flood risk management measures; especially in areas that benefit from a flood warning scheme. For that reason we have recently commissioned a research project to find out more about the value of installing these products and to quantify the benefits they bring. The project will also assess how many properties in Scotland might benefit from property level protection products, survey people who own these products to get their views on the benefits and barriers. The research findings will help us develop our policy for building flood resilient communities.\r\nWe are also supporting the public and others to take practical actions through our additional funding for the Scottish Flood Forum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:13.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295488,"EventID":"S4W-21669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:15.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T11:30:17.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken, in conjunction with the Scottish Qualifications Authority, to ensure that pupils continue to have the opportunity to study geology at Higher level and beyond from 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has advised that the number of entries to geology Higher courses is too low to effectively support a standalone qualification. However, I can confirm that there will be opportunities for young people to study geology. All of the units of the current geology Higher, Intermediate and Access courses will be retained and available on a stand-alone basis and as such can be recognised on a candidate’s certificate.\r\nEngagement between the SQA, Education Scotland, the wider Earth Sciences community in Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society is continuing with a view to understand the requirements and demand for an Earth Sciences qualification. In addition, SQA and Education Scotland are keen to explore every opportunity to encourage Earth Sciences as a context for interdisciplinary learning within the Curriculum for Excellence broad general education.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:15.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295489,"EventID":"S4W-21670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T13:41:16.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T11:30:17.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-21240, S4W-21241, S4W-21243 and S4W-21244 by Alex Neil on 2 June 2014, what the timescale is to develop a strategy for (a) the long-term transformation of residential care, (b) supported housing, (c) co-housing and (d) intermediate care in order to comply with the recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the residential care sector will continue to work on the recommendations made by the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland. We have accepted in principle all the recommendations and are currently in discussion with partners to put together a plan to take forward work on all the issues raised in the report.\r\nAt this point in time we do not see the need for a separate strategy and will be taking forward each of the recommendations, recognising that some may require legislative changes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T13:41:16.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295497,"EventID":"S4W-21671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T15:34:44.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T14:45:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that (a) the integration of health and social care is crucial to the financial sustainability of the NHS and (b) the general practice share of NHS spend should be restored to ensure that general practice has the resources to deliver critical services in partnership with social care, communities and the voluntary sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"a) Integration of health and social care will play a key role in ensuring the ongoing quality and sustainability of health and social care in Scotland.\r\nWe are integrating health and social care services in order to improve the quality and consistency of care, and to ensure that our systems of health and social care support people with the right care, in the right place at the right time. Integrated budgets, under the control of the new Integration Authorities established via the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, will enable local integrated health and social care partnerships to put in place strategic plans for service provision that support local needs and priorities effectively and efficiently.\r\nb) The government’s investment in the NHS has continued to increase. £757 million was invested directly in primary medical services in 2012-13, an increase of 10% since 2006-07. I announced on 14 March 2014 a further increase in investment for general practice for 2014-15 of £6 million, reflecting the invaluable contribution that general practice can make in improving outcomes through more effective integrated care and management of patients.\r\nIn addition, for the first time this year, health boards are also required to complete a ‘strategic assessment of primary care’ as part of the annual Local Delivery Plan process. Within health boards these assessments will inform the measurable resource shift necessary to innovate in and strengthen primary care, recognising that across Scotland, health boards have different priorities, reflecting their geographic situation, current infrastructure and health needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T15:34:44.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295498,"EventID":"S4W-21672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-06T15:34:44.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T14:45:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on patient care of the reduction in funding for general practice from 9.8% of the NHS budget in 2005-06 to 7.8% in 2011-12.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21671 on 19 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-20T15:34:44.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295499,"EventID":"S4T-00732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:47:21.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve street safety in cities at night.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:42.01","MeetingDate":"2014-06-10T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295501,"EventID":"S4F-02163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:12.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T14:01:07.12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:13.353","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295502,"EventID":"S4F-02164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:14.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T09:18:39.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:14.127","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295503,"EventID":"S4F-02165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:14.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T09:18:45.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:14.34","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295504,"EventID":"S4F-02167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:14.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:13:29.443","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last met members of the Commonwealth Games organising committee and whether access to the special reserve was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:14.947","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295505,"EventID":"S4F-02170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:15.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:35:47.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the survey published by Transform Scotland to mark the launch of its Fix It First campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:15.813","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295506,"EventID":"S4F-02176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T12:42:17.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T11:20:08.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Ernst & Young 2014 UK attractiveness survey.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T12:42:17.85","MeetingDate":"2014-06-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295516,"EventID":"S4W-21673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:06.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T15:34:10.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) warrants have been issued, (b) reports the Lord Advocate has received from the police, (c) people have been interviewed as (i) witnesses, (ii) suspects and (iii) accused persons, and (d) searches of (A) properties and (B) IT equipment there have been in connection with the Serious and Organised Crime Division’s investigation into the banking sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"It would not be appropriate to provide the information requested as the investigation by the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is still ongoing. This is a major investigation which is being carried out by the Serious and Organised Crime Division of COPFS in conjunction with other criminal justice agencies. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:06.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295517,"EventID":"S4W-21676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:06.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T15:34:10.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by the Serious and Organised Crime Division in connection with its investigation into the banking sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"The investigation is being conducted by the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD) at the Crown Office. In addition to the legal and accounting expertise available within SOCD, assistance has been received from partner agencies and experts within the private sector who have particular skills in relation to forensic accounting investigations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:06.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295518,"EventID":"S4W-21677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:06.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-06T15:34:10.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the Serious and Organised Crime Division’s investigation into the banking sector has cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information sought is not available. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:06.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295519,"EventID":"S4W-21680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:07.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T09:57:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Cervical Screening Awareness Week.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government fully supports the aims of Cervical Screening Awareness Week 2014 (CSAW14) and congratulates Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in leading this initiative to highlight the importance of cervical screening and its role in preventing cancer. The Scottish Government will utilise its social media channels to promote the aims of CSAW14 and the “Put Yourself In The Picture” campaign, already supported by Health and Wellbeing Ministers.\r\nThe Scottish Government operates successful immunisation and screening programmes designed to vaccinate against the HPV virus and to identify possible cervical cancer causing cells before they develop. Through these programmes, women are provided with information to help them make informed choices about attending cervical screening and symptoms they should look out for.\r\nThe Scottish Government are in discussion with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust about developing initiatives to improve uptake within the Scottish Cervical Screening programme and in particular raising awareness of the programme and its benefits amongst lower socio-economic groups.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:07.127","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295520,"EventID":"S4W-21681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:07.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T09:57:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations of the Demos report, Behind the Screen, which seeks to increase the uptake of cervical screening.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the Demos report, Behind the Screen, and the recommendations it makes. The Scottish Government fully supports the objective of increasing uptake in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme. Indeed work is already taking place which covers many of the recommendations made in the report.\r\nFor example, NHS boards have the responsibility for publicising screening within their local area and working closely with their communities to increase screening uptake. Work of this nature is currently taking place with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recently launching a campaign targeting women in the lower age range to encourage greater uptake within the programme. Likewise, GPs already play a pivotal role in highlighting the benefits and risks of cervical screening to their patients.\r\nFurthermore, the Scottish Government are in discussion with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust about the Demos report and developing initiatives to improve uptake within the Scottish Cervical Screening programme. In particular raising awareness of the programme and its benefits among lower socio-economic groups is a key goal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:07.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295521,"EventID":"S4W-21682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:07.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:03:08.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C among communities of (a) eastern European and (b) south Asian origin.","AnswerText":"Research into the prevalence of hepatitis C among people of south Asian origin in Glasgow was undertaken during the Hepatitis C Phase II Action Plan, and funded by the Scottish Government. This research estimated the prevalence of hepatitis C amongst the South Asian community in Greater Glasgow and Clyde to be 3%(The prevalence of hepatitis C virus among people of South Asian origin in Glasgow, O’Leary, 2013). This prevalence is in line with estimates generated from surveys conducted in England.\r\nSpecific research has not been carried out amongst the eastern European population in Scotland but other studies have been published in the international literature which estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C in eastern Europe to be in the region of 2-3% (Mohd Hanafiah et al. Hepatology 2013).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:07.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295522,"EventID":"S4W-21684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:07.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:57:30.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a business regulatory impact assessment was carried out on the white paper on independence and, if so, whether it will publish its findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) was not required for Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland. The policies within the white paper will be subjected to scrutiny and assessment as they come forward for implementation and that would be the appropriate point at which BRIAs would be completed.\r\nThe government of an independent Scotland will be able to create a more supportive, competitive and dynamic business environment. Future Scottish Governments will have the ability to make choices over tax, use measures to boost innovation and exports, promote good industrial relations and support small and medium enterprises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:07.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295523,"EventID":"S4W-21685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:08.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T10:57:30.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers decided that a business regulatory impact assessment was not required for the white paper on independence and, if so, on what basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21684 on 23 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:08.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295524,"EventID":"S4W-21686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:08.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T11:57:26.45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S4O-03287 by Richard Lochhead on 29 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 31578), what scientific advice it has received on the condition of sandeels (a) in the Northern Isles and (b) across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"A number of scientific studies suggest sandeel abundance in both the north of Scotland and across Scotland as a whole varies considerably from year to year, mainly due to the relatively short life cycle of sandeels, and only partly as a result of human activities. Fisheries measures across Scotland, including the north east UK closure and restrictions on coastal fisheries, have now minimised human impacts but populations still vary due to changes in the marine ecosystem. Some studies have suggested that climate change is a main reason for condition changes and Marine Scotland Science are investigating this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:08.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295525,"EventID":"S4W-21687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:08.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T14:56:31.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21125 by Michael Matheson on 28 May 2014, what target the refreshed framework will set to reduce cases of hepatitis C.\r\n","AnswerText":"No decision has been made on targets within the refreshed framework. Targets for hepatitis C treatment will be informed by progress in delivering the current priorities, as reflected in data on indicators; by end of framework reports from NHS boards, which will be received towards the end of 2014-15; by the Treatment and Therapies Sub-group, which will report to ministers before Christmas 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:08.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295526,"EventID":"S4W-21688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:08.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T14:56:31.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21127 by Michael Matheson on 28 May 2014, what progress each NHS board is making on achieving the national target for treatment initiations for 2013-14, and whether it expects the overall target to be met.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework does not contain any board-specific targets for treatment initiations. Progress against the national target for number of persons commencing therapy is detailed in the following table.\r\nThe targets set out in the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework were informed by a long-term goal to significantly change the shape of the epidemic in Scotland, and were based on the hepatitis C therapies in use at the time the framework was written. Since the framework was published there have been changes to standard therapies for hepatitis C in Scotland, including the introduction of protease inhibitors in 2012-13, which have improved treatment outcomes for many patients, and which mean more people commencing treatment are clearing the virus.\r\nDecisions about initiating treatment must be made by clinicians and patients together. Some patients may choose to delay commencing treatment for a range of reasons, in discussion with clinicians.\r\nYear\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14*\r\nNumber of persons commencing therapy\r\n904\r\n1049\r\n1002\r\n1052\r\n1000\r\nScotland target\r\n750\r\n1000\r\n1100\r\n1150\r\n1200\r\n*Data for 2013-14 is provisional\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295527,"EventID":"S4W-21689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:09.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T14:56:31.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21127 by Michael Matheson on 28 May 2014, what steps it is taking to ensure that the number of people being initiated for treatment continues to increase.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework contains an explicit target reflecting the government’s desire to see treatment numbers increase, and performance against these targets is monitored through national indicator data and during annual Scottish Government visits to NHS boards.\r\nThe current financial year is the final year of the framework, and the refreshed framework, to be published next year, will reflect the conclusions of the treatment and therapies subgroup on priorities for hepatitis C therapy in light of the rapidly evolving treatment landscape. Policy on hepatitis C targets may therefore be different in the future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:09.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295528,"EventID":"S4W-21690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:09.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T14:56:31.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21128 by Michael Matheson on 28 May 2014, whether it will devise a strategy to engage with people who have hepatitis C who have previously (a) not completed treatment and (b)  completed treatment but still have the condition.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Framework highlights the importance of developing strategies to treat those chronically infected with hepatitis C. This fully encompasses all infected individuals, including those who have not completed treatment and those who have not achieved a sustained viral response.\r\nData is collected locally and nationally on individuals commencing but not completing treatment, and those who do not achieve a sustained viral response. Those who have previously commenced treatment will be known to services and in the vast majority of cases will be seen regularly for review by the clinical team.\r\nThe table below sets out national data on the number of patients commencing treatment each year. A significant proportion are individuals recommencing treatment. This increased significantly in 2012-13 following the introduction of protease inhibitors.\r\nPatients who had previously been treated for HCV, and commenced another course of therapy in Scotland* by financial year**\r\nFinancial year\r\nNumber of patients recommencing a course of therapy* (A)\r\nTotal number of patients initiated on therapy* (B)\r\n% (A/B)\r\n2009-2010\r\n86\r\n788\r\n10.9%\r\n2010-2011\r\n80\r\n927\r\n8.6%\r\n2011-2012\r\n95\r\n905\r\n10.5%\r\n2012-2013\r\n218\r\n967\r\n22.5%\r\n2013-2014\r\n147\r\n895\r\n16.4%\r\n*Excludes data from two clinics in NHS boards: Dumfries & Galloway and Lothian. \r\n\r\n**Data reported is provisional.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:09.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295529,"EventID":"S4W-21691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-09T16:50:09.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:03.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of electric shock dog collars.\r\n","AnswerText":"As noted in part of the answer to S4W-17063 from Christine Graham on 19 September 2013, the latest Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) funded research into the effect of electronic shock collars found no evidence of long-term or significant harm to dog welfare. Based on this evidence the Scottish Government does not believe that there are sufficient grounds for a ban.\r\nHowever, it is important to ensure that such collars are used responsibly and manufactured to a high standard. We will therefore work with Defra and industry to ensure the development of a set of manufacturing standards for electronic shock collars and of guidance about how such collars should be used to avoid misuse.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-23T16:50:09.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295531,"EventID":"S4W-21679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:05.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-08T22:00:46","Title":"","ItemText":" To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21331 by Margaret Burgess on 6 June 2014, what information it has on how many of the demolished properties were built after 1945, broken down by local authority area. \r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:05.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295532,"EventID":"S4W-21692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:06.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent in 2013-14 on the white paper on independence and activities associated with it.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland was published on 26 November 2013. An update on expenditure on publication and distribution was published on 11 March 2014 in response to parliamentary question S4W-20080. The text of this response is available from:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_ChamberDesk/WA20140311.pdf\r\nDetails of 2013-14 expenditure on the public information campaign were published on 22 May 2014 in response to parliamentary question S4W-21283.\r\nDetails of 2013-14 expenditure on events were published on 22 May 2014 in response to parliamentary question S4W-21284.\r\nThe text of responses to S4W-21283 and S4W-21284 are available from:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_ChamberDesk/WA20140522.pdf\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:06.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295533,"EventID":"S4W-21694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:06.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend in 2014-15 on the white paper on independence and activities associated with it, and how much has been spent since April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Expenditure in 2014-15 will depend on a number of factors, including demand for copies of Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland. I will report on expenditure incurred in 2014-15 in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:06.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295534,"EventID":"S4W-21695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:06.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20130 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2014, whether all of the costs associated with the white paper on independence have been met from the Strategic Communications budget and, if not, what other departmental budget lines have contributed.\r\n","AnswerText":"I can confirm that all programme costs associated with Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland have been charged to the Strategic Communications budget line.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:06.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295535,"EventID":"S4W-21696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:07.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which departmental budgets provided the £8.4 million referred to in the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision as having been transferred to the Infrastructure, Investment and Cities portfolio to \"centrally manage social advertising and public information campaigns\".\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table provides a breakdown of the £8.4 million Spring Budget Revision transfers by portfolio.\r\nPortfolio transferred from\r\nAmount\r\nInfrastructure, Investment and Cities\r\n£1,871,000\r\nFinance, Employment and Sustainable Growth\r\n£585,000\r\nEducation and Lifelong Learning\r\n£300,000\r\nCulture and External Affairs\r\n£1,300,000\r\nRural Affairs and the Environment\r\n£1,547,000\r\nHealth and Wellbeing\r\n£2,299,000\r\nJustice\r\n£498,000\r\nTotal\r\n£8,400,000\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:07.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295536,"EventID":"S4W-21697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:07.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how it spent the £8.4 million referred to in the 2013-14 Spring Budget Revision as having been transferred to the Infrastructure, Investment and Cities portfolio to \"centrally manage social advertising and public information campaigns\".\r\n","AnswerText":"£6,689,669 of the £8.4 million Spring Budget Revision was spent on Scottish Government domestic public information and social advertising campaigns. These campaigns inspire positive change and help people make choices that change and save lives. Last year, for example:\r\nOur Don’t Risk It road safety campaigns prevented an estimated 93 accidents, reducing injury and loss of life and saving the economy £11 million \r\n6,000 people signed up to the organ donation register - an increase of 26% - following the launch of our campaign \r\nAround 100,000 women took action as a result of the ‘Lumps aren’t the only sign’ breast cancer campaign, and 7,100 of these visited their GP.\r\nThrough our No Knives Better Lives campaign, we engaged with 8,016 parents living in areas most affected by violent crime and 7,850 leaflets were distributed to help parents have a conversation with their children about the dangers and consequences of knife carrying.\r\nin 2013-14, four out of ten people took action to prepare for winter as a direct result of the Get Ready for Winter adverts, with the majority of the remainder saying they had already taken action. £1,211,871 was spent on international marketing which builds Scotland’s reputation overseas, encouraging people to live, work, study, visit and invest in Scotland. This includes expenditure related to the winter festivals.The remaining £498,460 was spent on Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland and related activity. This expenditure forms part of the overall expenditure on Scotland’s Future and related activities, key elements of which are set out in the response to S4W-21692 on 27 June 2014.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:07.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295537,"EventID":"S4W-21698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:07.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T16:16:43.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20130 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2014, from which departmental budget lines the costs associated with the white paper on independence were met prior to the Strategic Communications budget taking responsibility for these.\r\n","AnswerText":"It was agreed prior to expenditure being incurred that costs associated with Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland would be met from the Strategic Communications budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:07.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295538,"EventID":"S4W-21699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:46:07.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T10:20:58.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Diabetes Group expects to agree an approach to identifying people with undiagnosed diabetes.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Diabetes Group continues to work with stakeholders and is exploring how best it can help to ensure that people who develop diabetes are identified as soon as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:46:08.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295549,"EventID":"S4W-21702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T13:59:37.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T13:55:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure that employees of National Museums Scotland Enterprises receive the Scottish living wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"National Museums Scotland has concluded a remuneration review for employees of National Museums Scotland Enterprises (NMSE) which started in the autumn 2013. Since its establishment in 1998, NMSE staff have historically not been subject to the Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy. The review considered wider conditions of employment in the commercial and retail sector as well as in similar organisations. It has delivered a number of improvements to terms and conditions for some NMSE employees. This includes the payment of at least the Scottish living wage to all employees. Changes will be back-dated to 1 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T13:59:37.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295550,"EventID":"S4W-21703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T16:44:21.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T14:00:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many licensed puppy farms there are in Scotland and how many breeding dogs they are licensed to hold.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information on licenced dog breeders or their licence conditions.\r\nLicences for breeding dogs are issued by local authorities under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T16:44:21.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295551,"EventID":"S4W-21704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T16:44:22.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T14:00:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities on the (a) licensing and (b) inspection of puppy farms.\r\n","AnswerText":"No guidance is provided by the Scottish Government to local authorities on the matter of licencing or inspection of dog breeders and their establishments. All requirements on these matters are clearly laid out in the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999.\r\nHowever, in 2013 the Scottish Government animal welfare team worked with Fife Council to draw up a set of robust licence conditions under the Licensing of Animal Dealers (Young Cats and Young Dogs) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, to ensure the welfare of any puppies that may pass through a dealer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T16:44:22.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295552,"EventID":"S4W-21705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T16:44:22.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T14:00:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions have taken place in the last five years for breach of the conditions of a licence to operate a puppy farm.","AnswerText":"In the last five financial years for which information is available from the Scottish Government Court Proceedings Database (2008-09 to 2012-13), one person was prosecuted in 2010-11 where the main charge was under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.\r\nIt should be noted that court proceedings statistics are based on the year in which the person's case is disposed of. People are counted once for each occasion on which they are proceeded against. If a person is proceeded against more than once on the same day, each proceeding will be counted separately. Where a person is proceeded against for more than one crime or offence in a single proceeding, only the main charge is counted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T16:44:22.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295553,"EventID":"S4W-21706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-10T16:44:23.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T14:00:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the legislation relating to the operation of puppy farms.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has begun an initial review of existing companion animal welfare legislation, including legislation on the breeding and sale of dogs, and intends to develop long-term options for further work in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-24T16:44:23.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295562,"EventID":"S4O-03357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:22.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:06:00.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to build on cultural links with Ireland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:23.143","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295563,"EventID":"S4O-03359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:23.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:09.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications would be for the Common Travel Area of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:23.8","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295564,"EventID":"S4O-03360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:24.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:09.373","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council regarding taking forward some of the plans in the Dundee City of Culture 2017 bid.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:24.453","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295565,"EventID":"S4O-03361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:24.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:09.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on using traditional music to promote Scottish culture around the world.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:24.703","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295566,"EventID":"S4O-03362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:25.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T23:53:16.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the set-up costs of an international development agency would be in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:25.327","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295567,"EventID":"S4O-03363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:25.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:10.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact of independence on funding available to creative organisations through the Big Lottery Fund.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:25.56","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295568,"EventID":"S4O-03364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:25.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:10.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has sought with consular representatives to explain its case for Scotland leaving the UK.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:25.827","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295569,"EventID":"S4O-03365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:26.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T11:30:03.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the away aspect of its Legacy 2014 Scottish Sport Relief Home and Away Programme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:26.077","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295570,"EventID":"S4O-03366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:26.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:11.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of art treasures, paintings, artefacts and national treasures that it or the Scottish National Gallery holds.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:26.293","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295571,"EventID":"S4O-03367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:26.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:34:24.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the rising cost of rent for housing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:26.513","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295572,"EventID":"S4O-03368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:26.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:30.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the construction of the Borders railway.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:26.763","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295573,"EventID":"S4O-03369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:27.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T09:16:21.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the redevelopment of the Stranraer harbour waterfront.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:27.013","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295574,"EventID":"S4O-03370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:27.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T16:41:09.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the availability of affordable housing in the private rented sector. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:27.667","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295575,"EventID":"S4O-03371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:27.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:31.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:27.887","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295576,"EventID":"S4O-03372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:28.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:31.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the building of more affordable homes in the rural communities of the Highlands and Islands.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:28.463","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295577,"EventID":"S4O-03373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:28.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:32.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with cycling organisations regarding improvements to cycling infrastructure.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:28.853","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295578,"EventID":"S4O-03374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:29.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:23:25.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report, Below the Breadline, published by Oxfam, Church Action on Poverty and the Trussell Trust.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:29.073","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295579,"EventID":"S4O-03375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:29.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T21:25:27.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding transport developments.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:29.29","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295580,"EventID":"S4O-03376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:29.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:02:33.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on churches, mosques and synagogues of the proposal to change the threshold for the water charges exemption scheme from £64,500 net income to £75,000 gross income per annum.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposals that we set out in our consultation sought to design a new scheme within the £4 million cost of the existing scheme. The proposed scheme sought to remove some of the current criteria, in particular the 1999 qualification date. The proposed £75,000 represents the threshold below which charities can be offered full exemption within the current cost.\r\nI am aware of the important role all charities, including places of worship, play in our communities. I have had a large number of representations on this point and will take them into account when I make my final decisions on the income thresholds and the overall cost of the scheme which I hope to do soon.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:29.54","MeetingDate":"2014-06-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295581,"EventID":"S4O-03377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:29.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:03:09.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help recruit and retain GPs in rural and remote practices.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:29.79","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295582,"EventID":"S4O-03378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:30.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:43:24.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many private educational establishments are entitled to 80% mandatory rates relief and how many are given relief of up to 100%.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:30.053","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295583,"EventID":"S4O-03379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:30.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:03:10.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the remit of Education Scotland school inspections to include the condition of school buildings.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:30.35","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295584,"EventID":"S4O-03380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:30.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T14:50:16.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what flexibility there is in the national calculation method for determining the type of heating system used in large public buildings.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:30.617","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295585,"EventID":"S4O-03381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:30.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:25:29.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the single intelligence agency it proposes to create in an independent Scotland would protect citizens from unjustified surveillance.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:30.943","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295586,"EventID":"S4O-03382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:31.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:03:11.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:31.52","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295587,"EventID":"S4O-03383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:31.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:03:11.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the number of missed bin collections over the last two years is evidence of the failure of its concordat with local government.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:31.753","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295588,"EventID":"S4O-03384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:32.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T09:55:03.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support speech and language therapy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution speech and language therapists and other allied health professionals (AHP) make to the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.\r\nThe National Delivery Plan for the Allied Health Professions in Scotland, 2012-2015 provides a strategic platform for all AHP activity and highlights the importance of supporting children with communication difficulties to access the curriculum and to achieve their full potential through partnership approaches and creative working across agencies. \r\nThe national delivery plan also sets our out commitment to the development of a transformational children and young people’s AHP service plan linked to the Early Years Collaborative to meet the evolving needs of children and families due to be published at the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:32.253","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295589,"EventID":"S4O-03385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:32.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T12:03:11.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the final report of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce.","AnswerText":"I will outline the Scottish Government’s initial response to Sir Ian Wood’s report on developing Scotland’s young workforce in a statement to Parliament on 24 June 2014.\r\nImplementing this important report forms a central part of our efforts to reduce youth unemployment, and we will work together with local government to achieve its ambitions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:32.503","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295590,"EventID":"S4O-03386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:24:32.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T11:22:00.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government at what percentage of staffed bed capacity the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy is operating.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not routinely collect bed occupancy information at hospital level.\r\nThe occupancy of acute beds across the whole of NHS Fife in the quarter ending December 2013 was 85.1%, a reduction of 4.4 percentage points compared to the same quarter in the previous year\r\nHowever, NHS Fife has informed us that during the six month period from 1 December 2013 to 31 May 2014, their data on acute bed availability and occupancy at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy was as follows:\r\nAvailable bed days – 95,545\r\nOccupied bed days – 84,338\r\nRate of occupancy – 88.3%\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:24:32.723","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295591,"EventID":"S4W-21707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:02.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T15:56:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on national pay bargaining for (a) merged and (b) further education colleges.","AnswerText":"A National Bargaining Development Group was established to consider the structure through which national pay bargaining will take place. The group concluded that national pay bargaining should operate through national joint negotiating committees. All parties, including the sector and trade unions, have endorsed this new bargaining structure for which Colleges Scotland will provide support. This committee has been asked to agree a new pay structure, which must have regard to equal pay principles for staff in the college sector.\r\nThe first meeting of what is to be called the National Joint Negotiating Committee (College Staff) took place on 13 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:02.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295592,"EventID":"S4W-21708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T16:41:08.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possibility of effectively eliminating hepatitis C in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The treatment and prevention of hepatitis C continue to be a government priority, and this is reflected in the five high-level outcomes within the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also committed to developing innovative approaches towards the reduction and elimination of hepatitis C. We are currently funding a pilot study by University of Dundee into the treatment of actively injecting drug users, which aims to examine the potential to reduce rates of infection amongst this group.\r\nThe treatment and therapies subgroup of the National Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Advisory Committee is currently considering the rapidly evolving hepatitis C treatment landscape and will provide advice to ministers later this year on potential new policies and strategies for tackling hepatitis C in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:03.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295593,"EventID":"S4W-21709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:03.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T16:41:08.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inclusion of hepatitis C testing in the opt-out routine antenatal testing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not currently support the inclusion of hepatitis C testing for all women as part of routine antenatal testing.\r\nThe Scottish Government takes advice on screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). Current NSC advice is that universal screening for hepatitis C in pregnancy is not recommended. This is because there are currently no interventions which have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. The exception to this is the small group of women with HIV/HCV co-infection. In addition there is insufficient information on the prevalence of hepatitis C in the pregnant population and on the natural history of vertically acquired infection.\r\nThis is a rapidly evolving area and discussion is beginning to focus on a postnatal screening strategy and the identification of children who would benefit from early intervention. However the effectiveness of new treatment regimens in the paediatric population, and their impact on the assessment of screening, are currently insufficiently understood to justify recommending that all pregnant women should be offered screening.\r\nThe NSC reviews its decisions on a regular basis and will do so earlier if new evidence arises. We will take account of any new recommendation made by the NSC in regard to hepatitis C screening.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:03.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295594,"EventID":"S4W-21710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:03.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T16:41:08.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inclusion of hepatitis C testing in Keep Well checks.\r\n","AnswerText":"Keep Well checks are mainly focussed on heart disease and its main risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes, including wider lifestyle issues. Some NHS boards offer hepatitis C testing as part of the Keep Well check based on identified local population needs.\r\nHepatitis C testing and diagnosis has significantly increased since the launch of the Hepatitis C Action Plan in 2006 and The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in 2011.\r\nAnyone who requires testing for hepatitis C can access this through their GP and testing is also available via a wide range of services (such as needle exchange and third sector services) targeting those who are at an increased risk of hepatitis C.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:03.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295595,"EventID":"S4W-21711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:04.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-10T16:41:08.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of opt-out hepatitis C tests for all prisoners as part of the prisoner induction process.","AnswerText":"A study led by the University of the West of Scotland, and published in 2012 (Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management, Taylor et al), provided information on the availability of hepatitis C services to prisoners in Scotland. The study reported that a confidential blood borne virus service, incorporating hepatitis C (HCV), is available to all prisoners within the Scottish Prison Service. This service includes immunisations, HCV testing and counselling, HCV treatment and harm reduction awareness-raising.\r\nThe report also concluded that there is a very low incidence of HCV among the whole prison population. Most prisoners infected with hepatitis C are likely to be on short-term sentences and will also be in contact with services in the community.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:04.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295596,"EventID":"S4W-21712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:04.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T09:24:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether patients will continue to be sent to other parts of the UK for transplant operations in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The NHS in Scotland is already fully devolved and independence will not change the way cross-border transplantation of organs is managed. The vast majority of transplants on Scottish patients are carried out in Scotland. The rare cases of transplants being undertaken outside Scotland are generally for specialised transplants such as lung, small bowel and paediatric procedures. The small numbers of these cases in Scotland mean we get better health outcomes by contracting with specialist centres.\r\nNHS Scotland fully pays for the transplants on Scottish residents undertaken elsewhere in the UK. These are arranged through NHS National Services Division (NSD) who commission transplant services for Scottish residents by contribution to the NHS England Specialised Commissioning Team. For lung transplantation and aftercare, a contractual arrangement, managed by NSD, is in place with the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. These contractual arrangements would not change in the event of independence and we will continue to work collaboratively across the UK countries, reflecting similar arrangements elsewhere in Europe where multiple countries come together to support donation and transplantation across borders.\r\nIn 2012-13 a total of 26 patients from Scotland received transplants in other parts of the UK. This compares with 333 transplants carried out in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:04.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295597,"EventID":"S4W-21713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:04.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:41:29.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had to consider whether the Modern Slavery Bill will cover Scottish interests.","AnswerText":"There have been discussions both at ministerial and official level with the Home Office regarding the measures contained within the Modern Slavery Bill. The focus of these discussions, which are currently ongoing, is to ensure that the relevant authorities have the necessary powers to disrupt and prosecute this crime and protect its victims.\r\nA decision on whether any measures contained in that Bill should extend to Scotland will be made in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:04.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295598,"EventID":"S4W-21714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:04.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:41:29.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will inform victims of sexual and domestic abuse of the various support networks available to them.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works collaboratively with its stakeholders in both the statutory and third sector to ensure that victims of sexual and domestic abuse are informed of the support networks available to them.\r\nThe Scottish Government provides funding to organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance and has provided funding for Police Scotland’s rape prevention campaign.\r\nEqually Safe, Scotland’s strategy aimed at all forms of violence against women and girls, which was published on 25 June 2014, has been co-produced by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and is Scotland’s first national strategy aimed at all forms of violence against women and girls. Delivery of the strategy will be taken forward by a number of dynamic workstreams with membership drawn from a wide range of partners who have a wealth of experience in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:04.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295599,"EventID":"S4W-21715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:05.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:41:29.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what policies are in place to ensure that the 2020 renewable energy target is met.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s 2020 Routemap for Renewable Energy in Scotland outlines the policies and collective actions designed to deliver the renewables targets for electricity, heat, transport and community and locally owned energy. This covers a wide range of action areas including grid access, reinforcement and charging; planning and consents procedures; supply chain activity; and reform of the electricity market. \r\nAnnual updates to the routemap set out progress, emerging challenges, and the way these are being addressed. The last update was published on 19 December 2013 and is available online at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/RoutemapUpdate2013\r\nThe National Planning Framework and updated Scottish Planning Policy published on 23rd June, 2014 will be a further tool to help deliver the 2020 targets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:05.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295600,"EventID":"S4W-21716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:05.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T11:49:31.86","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the risks of hepatitis C among communities of (a) eastern European and (b) south Asian origin.","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework includes a number of priorities around awareness raising, including education for young people, and that work to promote awareness and understanding of hepatitis C should continue locally, regionally and nationally.\r\nThe Scottish Government funds Hepatitis Scotland to provide information and raise awareness on viral hepatitis across Scotland. In the course of its work Hepatitis Scotland recognises the needs of specific communities and minority groups. In March 2013 Hepatitis Scotland, in partnership with HIV Scotland, held a free international conference on minorities, communities and blood borne viruses to look at these issues.\r\nThere are many other more targeted activities being taken forward locally across Scotland to raise awareness in particular risk groups, but these will be in response to local need and will vary from area to area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:05.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295601,"EventID":"S4W-21717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:26:05.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T12:27:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a date for the coming into force of the provisions of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014.","AnswerText":"Sections 34 (interpretation), 35 (ancillary provision), 36 (commencement) and 37 (short title) of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force on the day after Royal Assent which was on 12 March 2014.\r\nIn addition, sections 7 (reset: abolition of defence), 19 (marriage outside Scotland: evidence of dissolution of former civil partnership), 20 (religious marriages: solemnisation by Church of Scotland deacons), 22 (second marriage ceremony: form of endorsement), 23 (sheriff court jurisdiction in relation to declarator of marriage), 27 (dissolution of civil partnership: evidence) and 32 (provision of certain information to district registrars) came into force on 21 May 2014. The relevant commencement order is at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/ssi/2014/121/made\r\nFurther commencement orders are planned. Our intention is that the Act will be in force generally by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:26:05.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295615,"EventID":"S4W-21723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T14:49:49.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T14:43:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the First Minister’s recent visit to the United States.\r\n \r\n \r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland Week 2014 was the most successful programme to date. The First Minister travelled to the US as part of Scotland Week 2014 to carry out an extensive programme of business engagements with top US companies, developing both new and existing relationships, featuring 1,075 new and secured Scottish jobs for Glenrothes, Alloa, Renfrew, Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Livingston.\r\nThe overall purpose of this year’s Scotland Week was to encourage economic investment and secure jobs for Scotland; promote VisitScotland’s Homecoming 2014 tourism campaign; and engage with a number of prestigious global institutions and key influencers to demonstrate that Scotland is open for business, promote strength and competiveness of Scotland’s key sectors,\r\nKey Highlights of the visit included:\r\nAnnouncing 1075 new and secured jobs for Scotland\r\nCompany\r\nSector\r\nJobs\r\nLocation\r\nPortfolio Recovery Associates\r\nCredit management\r\n397\r\nKilmarnock\r\nCeridian\r\nFinancial services\r\n130\r\nRenfrew\r\nOwen Illinois\r\nGlass packaging\r\n328 (safeguarded)\r\nAlloa\r\nKaiam\r\nOptical components\r\n103\r\nLivingston\r\nA J Gallagher\r\nInsurance\r\n67\r\nGlasgow\r\nNational Oilwell Varco\r\nOils and gas services\r\n50\r\nGlenrothes\r\nLeading a New York Scotland Week Trade Mission of 17 Scottish companies.\r\nDelivering a keynote address at the prestigious Bloomberg New Energy Summit declaring Scotland’s green energy ambition. The summit was also addressed by the US Secretary of Energy Dr Ernest Moniz, Jill C Anderson Chief of Staff of the New York Power Authority and Michael Bloomberg.\r\nOpening of renewable technology company Smarter Grid Solutions first overseas office. Smarter Grid Solutions has already won a contract to model and simulate microgrid applications for the New York metro area. The First Minister met with Chairman Robert Armour, CEO Gerry Docherty and CTO Bob Currie.\r\nParticipating in an audience interview and Q&A hosted by the Wall Street Journal which was live streamed to over 1000 people, with the top three countries being USA, UK and Canada.\r\nDelivering the inaugural Caledonian Lecture, entitled ‘The Common Weal’, at Glasgow Caledonian University New York campus, the first university in the United Kingdom to open a campus in New York. \r\nOfficially starting the annual Scotland Run where 10,000 people registered to participate in the 10k in Central Park which was covered by WNBC, WABC, WPIX and BBC.\r\nAddressing an event marking the 50th Anniversary of Edinburgh Napier University.\r\nAnnouncing sales by independent brewer Innis & Gunn increased by 9,000% and welcomed the US Government lifting the Scotch Beef ban for the first time in over 20 years.\r\nThe First Minister undertook the following business meetings:\r\nMeeting with Ken Donnelly, Director Bank of America, Global Banking and Markets Risk; Suzanne Buchta, MD, Green Debt Capital Markets (Green Bond); John Lynch, MD, EMEA Sector Head, Energy Renewables; Alexandra Liftman, Global Environment Executive, Bank of America\r\nMeeting with Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of News Corp and Chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox\r\nAttended a meeting at Citibank HQ with Bill Mills, CEO North America and Alan S MacDonald, Chief Client Officer (he is also Vice Chairman of Citibank; Chair of Citigroup’s Pension Fund Committee; Chairman of Citigroup’s Private Equity Funds Committee and member of the Business Development and Business Practices Committees)\r\nMeeting with David M Cote, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell\r\nMeeting with Huntington Ingalls Pete Diakun Vice President of Energy Programs (also President of Newport News Industrial Corp. (NNI) and Newport News Energy); Mike Duman Program Director of Newport News Shipbuilding & Vice President, Newport News Energy); Tim Wilkins Founder, Paliria Energy\r\nMeeting with PRA UK Steve Frederickson – Chairman, President and CEO, Donald Redmond – Vice President, Government Relations\r\nMeeting with Arthur J Gallagher & Co. Alastair Hessett - Chief Accounting Officer Glasgow for Arthur J.Gallagher International/","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T14:49:49.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295616,"EventID":"S4W-21718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T16:53:54.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T12:39:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many medical consultants per 1,000 population there are in Scotland and what information it has on how this compares with Wales.\r\n","AnswerText":"Statistics published by Information Services Department of National Services Scotland show the number of medical consultants in NHS Scotland is 0.86 per 1,000 population (4,596.9 whole time equivalent) as at 31 March 2014.\r\nHowever, the most recent published information regarding numbers of medical consultants per head of the population in Wales is as at September 2012. At that point there were 0.7 consultants per 1,000 population in Wales with 2,289.8 whole time equivalent (wte) staff in post. For comparison, the number of medical consultants in NHS Scotland at that time, were 0.82 per 1,000 population with 4,373.4 wte staff in post.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T16:53:54.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295617,"EventID":"S4W-21719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T16:53:55.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T12:39:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the real-terms increase in the resource budget of NHS Scotland is expected to be between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and what information it has on how this compares with NHS Wales.\r\n","AnswerText":"Comparisons between countries are difficult as the classification of expenditure areas are different. For example in Wales, social services are included within ‘Health and Social Services’ whereas in Scotland social services are included within local authority budgets. \r\nHowever the Nuffield Trust recently published their report A decade of austerity in Wales? The funding pressures facing the NHS in Wales to 2025-26 which reported that:\r\n‘Funding for the NHS in Wales fell by an average of 2.5% a year in real terms between 2010-11 and 2012-13. Following an increase in 2013-14, funding is likely to continue to fall until 2015-16, when the total budget for the Welsh NHS is projected to be 3.6% lower in real terms than it was in 2010-11.’\r\nThis compares to the position in Scotland where the real terms increase in NHS Scotland’s resource budget between 2010-11 and 2015-16 is expected to be 2.2 per cent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T16:53:55.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295618,"EventID":"S4W-21720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T16:53:55.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T13:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Connect Roads on (a) whether, (b) which and (c) when sections of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will open before the 2018 project completion date.","AnswerText":"The programme for delivery of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Balmedie to Tipperty was discussed at regular meetings with all bidders, including Connect Roads, as part of the procurement process. Sections discussed for potential early delivery, with all bidders, were the Balmedie to Tipperty section and Craibstone junction at Aberdeen International Airport. Discussions will now continue with Connect Roads to determine locations where early benefits can be delivered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T16:53:55.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295619,"EventID":"S4W-21725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-11T16:53:55.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T15:34:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available specifically for mental health services for teenagers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies - including NHS boards and local authorities - to support implementation of policy.\r\nThe management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities are the responsibility of relevant local agencies. It is therefore the responsibility of NHS boards and local authorities to work with their partners and regularly review spending decisions to deliver fit for purpose services which respond to local needs.\r\nFunding on mental health services for teenagers will continue to be drawn from the overall funds allocated to NHS Scotland and local authorities by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-25T16:53:56.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295629,"EventID":"S4W-21728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T09:34:02.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T09:30:22.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the Minister for External Affairs and International Development’s recent visit to Canada and the United States.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland Week 2014 was the most successful programme to date. I travelled to Canada and the United States as part of Scotland Week 2014 to carry out an extensive programme of business engagements with top US and Canadian companies, developing both new and existing relationships.\r\nThe overall purpose of this year’s Scotland Week was to encourage economic investment and secure jobs for Scotland; promote VisitScotland’s Homecoming 2014 tourism campaign; and engage with a number of prestigious global institutions and key influencers to demonstrate that Scotland is open for business, promote strength and competiveness of Scotland’s key sectors.\r\nBusiness engagements during my Canada visit included meetings to reaffirm Government support of expanded investment in Scotland and further develop relationships between Canadian companies and Scottish businesses. While in San Francisco, my business engagements highlighted entrepreneurship in Scotland, with a meeting at Stanford University underscoring the extensive collaboration between Stanford and Scottish universities exploring photonics and medicine. I also conducted a roundtable event at the Northern California World Trade Center with a focus on renewable energy and Scotland’s economic strength. A business meeting with Hewlett Packard underscored the Scottish Government’s \r\nlong-standing commitment to HP as a strong economic partner.\r\nI conducted several courtesy meetings with provincial officials while in Canada, including the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, to discuss mutually beneficial links between Scotland and Canada at the provincial level. \r\nI met with the Deputy Mayor of Vancouver to formulate stronger ties between Scotland and the City of Vancouver.\r\nMy visit to Canada included several cultural engagements, including a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery which highlighted the gallery’s Scottish connections, including to the Edinburgh International Art Festival, and its’ Myfanwy Macleod exhibition. I was also the Guest of Honour at the Victoria Highland Games Association Tartan Day Celebration and was photographed with iconic bagpipes, which will form part of the National Museums of Scotland Commonwealth exhibition, at the British Columbia legislature.\r\nIn San Francisco, I visited Muir Woods and planted a Douglas fir sapling to celebrate Scottish-American connections through John Muir, the father of American national parks; Homecoming 2014; and the John Muir Festival. I also visited the John Muir National Historic Site to unveil a plaque and met with representatives of the Sierra Club, an environmental conservation group.\r\nIn addition, I spoke at Simon Fraser University’s Scottish Studies Centre, discussing the Year of Homecoming, Scotland’s future, and Canada’s appreciation of Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.\r\nI hosted a reception in partnership with the Scottish Canadian Business Association of British Columbia for key stakeholders in Vancouver to underscore Scotland’s investment and economic opportunities. Similarly, in San Francisco, I hosted a Team Scotland reception to promote the strength and competitiveness of Scotland’s key sectors, encourage tourism to Scotland, and highlight Homecoming 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T09:34:02.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295630,"EventID":"S4W-21733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:19:46.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T13:11:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will set out further details on how independence would enable it to reindustrialise the Scottish economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published Reindustrialising Scotland for the 21st Century: A Sustainable Industrial Strategy for a Modern, Independent Nation on 13 June 2014. The report builds on the key theme of reindustrialising Scotland set out in Scotland’s Future and Building Security and Creating Opportunity: Economic Policy Choices in an Independent Scotland. The paper considers in more detail the potential policy opportunities that would only be available with independence to rebalance and diversify the Scottish economy, in particular through strengthening manufacturing, promoting innovation, and increasing trade and investment. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T13:19:46.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295631,"EventID":"S4O-03356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:59:35.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-05T10:06:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what progress the Parliament is making in meeting its environmental targets.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T13:59:35.053","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295632,"EventID":"S4O-03387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:59:35.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-09T13:57:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that it maximises the benefits of digital working.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295633,"EventID":"S4O-03388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:59:35.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:31:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many incidents there have been in the Parliament complex since 2012 that have led to police action.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295634,"EventID":"S4O-03389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:59:36.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T10:34:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what prices it will set for the proposed pilot of commercial access to the Parliament, and whether these will be reduced for non-profit or charitable organisations.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295635,"EventID":"S4O-03390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T13:59:36.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T12:21:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what security support and advice is available to members.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T13:59:36.213","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295653,"EventID":"S4W-21579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:06.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on charging people for (a) insulin pumps and (b) their necessary consumables.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards are expected to provide insulin pumps, and associated consumables, to patients who meet the clinical criteria, within a reasonable timescale and free of charge.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:07.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295654,"EventID":"S4W-21580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:07.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what level of charges it advises NHS boards to levy for (a) insulin pumps and (b) their necessary consumables, broken down by item.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21579 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:07.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295655,"EventID":"S4W-21581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board charges for (a) insulin pumps and (b) their necessary consumables, broken down by item.  \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21579 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:08.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295656,"EventID":"S4W-21582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:08.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people were charged for (a) insulin pumps and (b) necessary consumables in 2013, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21579 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:08.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295657,"EventID":"S4W-21583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:08.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to NHS boards to provide insulin pumps, broken down by (a) board and (b) year since 2011.","AnswerText":"Funding provided by the Scottish Government to NHS boards to support insulin pump therapy is set out in the following table:\r\nNHS Board\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n2014\r\nTotal\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n£274,885\r\n£178,815\r\n£160,125\r\n£613,825\r\nNHS Borders\r\n£101,496\r\n£91,700\r\n£22,875\r\n£216,071\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n£139,557\r\n£64,190\r\n£22,875\r\n£226,622\r\nNHS Fife\r\n£84,580\r\n£160,475\r\n£22,875\r\n£267,930\r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n£148,015\r\n£243,005\r\n£137,250\r\n£528,270\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n£236,824\r\n£343,875\r\n£201,300\r\n£781,999\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n£630,121\r\n£687,750\r\n£777,750\r\n£2,095,621\r\nNHS Highland\r\n£126,870\r\n£137,550\r\n£219,600\r\n£484,020\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n£202,992\r\n£403,480\r\n£320,250\r\n£926,722\r\nNHS Lothian\r\n£219,908\r\n£536,445\r\n£22,875\r\n£779,228\r\nNHS Orkney\r\n£8,458\r\n£18,340\r\n£4,575\r\n£31,373\r\nNHS Shetland\r\n£25,374\r\n£18,340\r\n£13,725\r\n£57,439\r\nNHS Tayside\r\n£160,702\r\n£174,230\r\n£59,475\r\n£394,407\r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n£0\r\n£68,775\r\n£18,300\r\n£87,075\r\nTotal\r\n£2,359,782\r\n£3,126,970\r\n£2,003,850\r\n£7,490,602\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:08.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295658,"EventID":"S4W-21584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:08.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-03T11:26:01.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many requests it has received since 2011 from NHS boards for additional funding to provide insulin pumps, broken down by board.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not been approached by NHS boards with any requests for further funding for insulin pumps and consumables out with the national procurement exercises carried out in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:08.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295659,"EventID":"S4W-21726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:09.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T16:43:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas will be published.","AnswerText":"The date for the publication of the Oil and Gas Expert Commission report will be agreed between the commission and ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:09.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295660,"EventID":"S4W-21727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:09.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-11T17:08:05.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what will be discussed at the meeting between the Deputy First Minister and the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group scheduled for 30 June 2014.","AnswerText":"There is no meeting with the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group scheduled for that date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:09.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295661,"EventID":"S4W-21732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T14:22:09.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T12:32:13.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4O-02879 (Official Report, c. 27421) and S4W-21387 by Humza Yousaf on 5 February 2014 and 10 June 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested  and confirm how much it would cost an independent Scotland to establish embassies and consulates, broken down by country. \r\n","AnswerText":"The transition to independence is a major opportunity to improve service delivery in Scotland. The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of work to prepare for the transition to independence, and our approach is set out in Scotland’s Future. Pages 343 to 350 explain that a number of factors will influence the size of the one-off investment that Scotland will make in the transition to independence. They include the negotiations that will take place between the two governments on apportioning assets and securing public services in Scotland, and the options that are chosen for improving systems and providing more modern and responsive public services for people in Scotland in the period following independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T14:22:09.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295671,"EventID":"S4W-21405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:02.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-05-29T10:11:22.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all transfers of funds between NHS boards in 2012-13, including funds transferred to the Golden Jubilee Hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012-13, there was intra-NHS board trading of approximately £1.2 billion, the majority of which related to service level agreements agreed between NHS boards. The Scottish Government does not hold any details centrally on these agreements, although NHS boards do report the total income received from other NHS boards in their annual accounts return.\r\nThe National Waiting Times Centre NHS Board received £61.9 million from each NHS board broken down as:\r\nIncome Received from:\r\n£000s\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n6,987 \r\nNHS Borders\r\n(21) \r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n2,584 \r\nNHS Fife\r\n157 \r\nNHS Forth Valley\r\n2,063 \r\nNHS Grampian\r\n25 \r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n23,971 \r\nNHS Highland\r\n1,886 \r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n9,800 \r\nNHS Lothian\r\n158 \r\nNHS Orkney\r\n15 \r\nNHS Shetland\r\n7 \r\nNHS Tayside\r\n119 \r\nNHS Western Isles\r\n566 \r\nNHS National Services Scotland\r\n12,432 \r\nScottish Ambulance Service\r\n6 \r\nNHS Education for Scotland\r\n494 \r\nThe State Hospital\r\n10 \r\nNHS 24\r\n613 \r\nNHS Health Scotland\r\n13 \r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland\r\n52 \r\nTotal\r\n61,937 \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:02.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295672,"EventID":"S4W-21734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:02.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T14:38:34.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it is deemed inappropriate for the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to investigate an issue raised about a report from the Care Inspectorate.","AnswerText":"When the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) consider a complaint about the Care Inspectorate, they consider the process by which the Care Inspectorate reached a decision, rather than the actual issue that was complained about. For example, the SPSO can consider a complaint that the Care Inspectorate took an unreasonably long time to answer a complaint, did not follow their own procedures, were biased in the way they considered a complaint or did not take into account relevant rules and regulations.\r\nWhile the SPSO can investigate complaints about the Care Inspectorate itself, they are not part of the appeals process about care services or inspection reports. A person cannot appeal to the SPSO about a decision that the Care Inspectorate took in relation to a complaint about a care service and the SPSO cannot change decisions the Care Inspectorate have made, for example about quality grades or inspection reports.\r\nFull details are available on the SPSO’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.spso.org.uk/sites/spso/files/communications_material/leaflets_public/subject_factsheets/13_05_31_Care_Inspectorate.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:02.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295673,"EventID":"S4W-21735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:03.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T14:38:34.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what processes and appeals mechanisms are available in addition to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for people wishing to challenge the Care Inspectorate.","AnswerText":"An individual who is affected by a decision of the Care Inspectorate may bring judicial review proceedings by way of a petition to the Court of Session. In judicial review proceedings, the Court considers whether a decision has been properly made in public law terms (for example whether it is within the scope of the powers available and meets principles of natural justice) but does not consider the actual merits of the decision made or substitute its own view of what decision ought to have been taken.\r\nIn addition, the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 gives service providers (or prospective service providers) a statutory right of appeal to the Sheriff in respect of decisions by the Care Inspectorate to; grant an application for registration subject to conditions which have not been agreed with the service provider; refuse an application for registration, cancel a registration, impose a condition or refuse an application for variation or removal of conditions.\r\nThe Act also provides a statutory right of appeal to the Sheriff Principal in respect of a decision by the Sheriff to agree the Care Inspectorate’s application for emergency cancellation of a service registration. The Sheriff or Sheriff Principal may consider the merits of the Care Inspectorate’s decision and decide to uphold, quash or vary the decision originally taken.\r\nThe Care Inspectorate has recently changed its procedure for complaints made against them referring these directly to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:03.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295674,"EventID":"S4W-21736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:03.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T14:38:34.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the extent of the powers available to the Care Inspectorate.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is satisfied that the current regulation and enforcement powers of the Care Inspectorate are appropriate and allow it to discharge its statutory responsibilities, but will keep this under review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:03.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295675,"EventID":"S4W-21737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:03.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T14:38:34.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider increasing the powers of the Care Inspectorate to include the option of heavier penalties for private care homes that fail to act on its recommendations.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21736 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nMost care homes perform well and the Care Inspectorate have a range of enforcement powers to bring poorly performing homes up to scratch and safeguard residents. If improvements are not made the Care Inspectorate can apply emergency conditions, for example blocking new admissions, or issue formal improvement notices which homes must comply with or face closure.\r\nAll care homes for older people are subject to annual, or more frequent if necessary, unannounced inspections by the Care Inspectorate to ensure that any concerns about standards and quality of care are addressed swiftly and effectively.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:03.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295676,"EventID":"S4W-21738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:03.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T14:38:34.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making it a legal requirement for private care homes to publish their inspectorate reports on their websites.","AnswerText":"All registered services must make information of their registration accessible to service users and their carers.\r\nInspectorate reports carried out by the Care Inspectorate are made widely available and are published directly to the Care Inspectorate website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:03.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295677,"EventID":"S4W-21742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:03.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model are operational.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242\r\nThe Scottish Futures Trust regularly publish reports on progress with the NPD programme and these are available on its website:\r\nwww.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/non-profit-distributing/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:03.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295678,"EventID":"S4W-21743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:04.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model are at the construction stage.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are eight revenue funded projects which are currently in construction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:04.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295679,"EventID":"S4W-21744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:04.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model are at the procurement stage.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are 32 revenue funded projects at procurement or hub development stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:04.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295680,"EventID":"S4W-21745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:04.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model have yet to reach the procurement stage.\r\n","AnswerText":"Out of 47 revenue funded projects there are only six projects which have not yet reached procurement stage or hub development stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:04.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295681,"EventID":"S4W-21746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:05.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what capital budget equivalent was delivered on the ground in 2013-14 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:05.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295682,"EventID":"S4W-21747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:05.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:57:53.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what capital budget equivalent will be delivered on the ground in 2014-15 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:05.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295683,"EventID":"S4W-21748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:05.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:54:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on general practice in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"The following table details primary medical service (PMS) expenditure over the last 10 years.\r\nPrimary Medical Service Expenditure (2003-04 to 2012-13)\r\nFinancial Year\r\nPrimary Medical Services\r\n(£million)\r\nPMS% of Total Operating Cost\r\n2003-04\r\n2004-05\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n519.041\r\n628.444\r\n701.009\r\n698.398\r\n704.611\r\n701.000\r\n729.305\r\n741.398\r\n747.071\r\n756.016\r\n8.0%\r\n8.7%\r\n9.1%\r\n8.6%\r\n8.1%\r\n7.7%\r\n7.6%\r\n7.7%\r\n7.6%\r\n7.5%\r\nInformation on primary medical services obtained from the published Scottish Health Service Costs Book.\r\nThe table reflects that since 2003-04 there has been a cash increase of around £237 million (46%) in PMS expenditure and a real terms increase of around 17% over the period.\r\nDespite the challenging financial climate over the last five years, boards’ expenditure on PMS has remained broadly static – representing on average around 7.6% of total operating expenditure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:05.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295684,"EventID":"S4W-21749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:05.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:54:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS budget it considers appropriate to spend on general practice.","AnswerText":"General practice, by means of their clinical decisions, affect such services as prescribing, direct investigations and unplanned admissions and in this way commit about 52% of total NHS expenditure.\r\nFor the first time this year, health boards were required to complete a ‘Strategic Assessment of Primary Care’ as part of the annual local delivery plan process that will inform the measurable resource shift necessary to innovate in and strengthen primary care, recognising that across Scotland, health boards have different priorities, reflecting their geographic situation, current infrastructure and health needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:05.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295685,"EventID":"S4W-21750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:06.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:54:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Royal College of General Practitioners' campaign, Put Patients First: Back General Practice, and whether it plans to increase the proportion of the NHS budget spent on general practice.","AnswerText":"General practice has an invaluable contribution to make in improving outcomes through more effective integrated care and management of patients and Scotland already leads the world in patient safety. It is vitally important that the individual needs of patients are at the centre of all that is being and will be done. The Scottish Government is pleased that the Royal College of General Practitioners', through its ‘Put Patients First’ campaign, is in full agreement with this government’s 20:20 vision for health and social care, putting primary care firmly at the heart of its ambition to ensure that people are able to live longer and healthier lives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:06.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295686,"EventID":"S4W-21751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:06.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:54:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect of poor mobile and broadband connectivity in remote and rural areas on the delivery of cost-effective telehealth solutions.","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan sets out plans for delivering a world-class and future-proofed digital infrastructure by 2020, facilitated by the Step Change 2015 programme. The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities recognises, in our National Telehealth and Telecare Delivery Plan for Scotland to 2015, the importance of ensuring there is a wide range of solutions for the delivery of telehealthcare services to people who live in areas with limited or no mobile or broadband connectivity.\r\nThis has included exploring the use of low-cost satellite broadband, which is currently being successfully utilised in areas of the west of Scotland, and, given their ubiquity, the greater use of digital television to deliver services. Increasingly, digital telehealth devices are being equipped with dual-SIM capability, allowing the device to ‘lock-on’ to the strongest mobile signal in the area in recognition of the variation in mobile connectivity across not just remote and rural communities but also within urban areas.\r\nThere are also a range of, for example, environmental and lifestyle monitoring sensors/devices in use which are analogue, meaning data is transmitted through the user’s telephone line thus reducing the dependency on mobile/broadband capacity and availability.\r\nWhilst the Scottish Government recognises that there is still a degree of work to be completed to ensure adequate infrastructure is in place, in the interim period investigation is underway into the efficacy of more simple telehealth solutions, including text-based and (landline) phone-based options.\r\nUltimately, connectivity should be part of the initial assessment of the individual, and appropriate technology put in place only if it is both suitable for the individual and suitable for the location.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:06.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295687,"EventID":"S4W-21752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-12T16:51:06.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:54:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the 5% of the population who will not receive improved mobile and broadband connectivity by 2017-18 through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme will not continue to experience inadequate digital connectivity.","AnswerText":"There are a number of initiatives that will deliver improved broadband connectivity, including superfast broadband, to the final 5%.\r\nCommunity Broadband Scotland has a £5 million budget to work with remote communities to deliver local broadband projects in the final 5% of areas that will not be served by the Superfast Broadband programme. Scotland is also one of the pilot areas for the £10 million competitive fund across the UK. These initiatives will explore innovative technical and investment solutions to deliver broadband services in some of the hardest to reach areas.\r\nScotland has been allocated a further £21 million to extend superfast broadband beyond the current predicted coverage levels. This money will be matched in Scotland, which will mean a further £42 million will be available to increase the number of premises with access to superfast broadband. Work is ongoing at the moment to determine the best way to invest this money to deliver improved connectivity and maximum benefits for Scotland. \r\nWe have committed to ensuring that premises that are unable to receive superfast broadband through these projects will have access to a minimum of basic broadband connectivity.\r\nIn terms of mobile coverage, the commercial market is still investing in the roll-out of 4G coverage across Scotland. We expect this to provide widespread coverage over the next few years and therefore further intervention would be premature at this stage. We will review this when the impact of the commercial roll-out of 4G is clearer and the UK Government’s Mobile Infrastructure Project has been completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-26T16:51:06.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295688,"EventID":"S4W-21758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T09:32:43.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T08:54:43.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the consultation on the draft Scottish Independence Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Independence Bill: a Consultation on an Interim Constitution for Scotland is being published today.\r\nThe consultation document includes a draft Bill, which would be introduced to the Scottish Parliament following a vote for independence in the referendum. The draft Bill provides for Scotland to be an independent State and sets out an interim constitution which would apply from Independence Day until a permanent written constitution has been prepared by a Constitutional Convention. The consultation will run until 20 October 2014.\r\nThe consultation document can be accessed online at:\r\n www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/8135, as can a summary of the document, which can be found at:\r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/7881.\r\nCopies of the consultation document have been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe) (Bib number 55965). A link to the online version of the document is also being sent to all MSPs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T09:32:46.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295689,"EventID":"S4W-21759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T10:02:43.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T09:50:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outcome of the work of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Empowering Scotland’s Islands Communities has been published today. Copies are available in SPICe - Bib number 55950.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T10:02:43.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295690,"EventID":"S4W-21768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T12:49:58.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T12:45:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners' Rights’ visit to Canada.\r\n","AnswerText":"I visited Canada from 27 April to 2 May 2014.\r\nThe visit programme was made up of meetings and engagements to strengthen business, education, cultural, tourism and government ties with Canada. Key engagements included welcoming the Queen’s baton to Canada on its journey round the Commonwealth, meetings with Federal and Provincial Ministers, and engaging with the Scottish Diaspora. I also undertook media interviews in Ottawa and Toronto, and this coverage of the visit helped position Scotland as a business and tourist destination.\r\nThere were a number of strategic aims to the visit, including: representing Scotland in welcoming the arrival of the Queen’s baton in Ottawa, and accompanying it on its journey to Toronto and Hamilton; highlighting the excellent preparations being made for Glasgow 2014, deepening the close relationships between Scotland and Canada at a federal and provincial level and developing policy links around physical activity, by engaging with the Canadian Government’s sport and physical activity agenda.\r\nKey outcomes of the visit include renewed ties with the Federal Government, the Provincial Government of Ontario and the Canada-Scotland Parliamentary Friendship Group, the promotion of Scotland’s tourism opportunities and messages on Homecoming Scotland 2014, Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup; the development of the strong recognition in Ontario of Scotland’s historic relationship with Canada through celebration of our shared cultural heritage and the promotion of Scotland as a modern, dynamic nation, and a friend of Canada; and enhanced educational links between Scotland and Canada by raising the profile of the Scottish education sector and Scotland as a destination to live, learn and work.\r\nIn terms of my programme: I arrived in Ottawa on 27 April 2014, and the official visit began on 28 April 2014 with a meeting with the Honourable Dr Kelly Leitch, Federal Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women. Dr Leitch set out the Canadian Government’s priorities in respect to the status of women and reported progress around federal policy interventions. I spoke to the Scottish Government’s priorities and progress around the equalities agenda and committed to further developing links between Scotland and Canada in this area. \r\nIn the afternoon I was present for recognition in Parliament, before participating in and speaking at the first official Queen’s Baton Relay event which was held on the lawns of Parliament Hill. This event was also attended by the Federal Minister for Sport, Bal Gosal. I also spoke at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association reception which followed the event, and in the evening attended and spoke at the Queen’s Baton Relay reception at the residence of the British High Commission, along with 100 attendees from the diplomatic community, cultural, sport and tourism sector.\r\nOn 29 April 2014, I met with the Honorable Bal Gosal, Federal Minister of State for Sport. We compared and discussed the similarities and differences in relation to the Canadian and Scottish sports systems. Mr Gosal was particularly interested in the Cashback initiative, the Better Movers and Thinkers Programme, and our physical activity implementation plan which draws considerably on the Toronto Charter. I also discussed the legacy programme and Scotland’s readiness to deliver a fantastic international sporting event in July 2014.\r\nThis was followed by a meeting with Christina Parsons who is on the board of the True Sport Foundation, a national charitable organisation that promotes values-driven sport. Doug MacQuarrie, Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, was also in attendance. I discussed ways in which sport can be used to bring communities together, and how sport can be perceived as a public asset. I heard how the True Sport Foundation have engaged with local community foundations to connect sport and non-sport organisations to build social capital and community through values based","AnswerDate":"2014-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T12:49:58.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295691,"EventID":"S4W-21729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:26.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T11:24:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) trawled nephrops, (b) creel-caught nephrops, (c) dredged scallops and (d) dived scallops caught in the Clyde sea area in each of the last 10 years were landed at creeks (i) in the Clyde sea area and (ii) elsewhere in Scotland, and what information it has on how many were landed outside Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"As requested, please find data on (a) trawl-caught nephrops, (b) creel-caught nephrops, (c) dredge-caught scallops, and (d) hand-caught scallops that were caught in the Clyde zone over the last 10 years(1) and were landed into ports on the Clyde and the rest of Scotland. \r\nData on landings made outside Scotland is also provided, but this will include catches from the non-Clyde portions of the Clyde zone(2). Due to the way our fishery data is captured, it is only possible to determine that a vessel’s catch was made within the Clyde portions of the Clyde zone when it also lands into Scotland.\r\n(1) 2013 landings are provisional.\r\n(2) The ‘Clyde zone’ includes the waters of five International Council for the Exploration of the Sea statistical rectangles. While two of these rectangles contain waters wholly within the Clyde, the other three also contain waters beyond its boundaries.\r\n(a) Trawl-caught nephrops landings from Clyde zone \r\nYear\r\nClyde Ports\r\nRest of Scotland\r\nOutside Scotland\r\nTotal Tonnage\r\n2004\r\n2418\r\n0\r\n258\r\n2,676\r\n2005\r\n2897\r\n-\r\n148\r\n3,045\r\n2006\r\n3990\r\n-\r\n246\r\n4,236\r\n2007\r\n5609\r\n1\r\n361\r\n5,971\r\n2008\r\n4808\r\n3\r\n424\r\n5,235\r\n2009\r\n3865\r\n2\r\n282\r\n4,149\r\n2010\r\n4718\r\n8\r\n465\r\n5,191\r\n2011\r\n5128\r\n-\r\n541\r\n5,669\r\n2012\r\n4976\r\n-\r\n834\r\n5,809\r\n2013\r\n3130\r\n32\r\n596\r\n3,758\r\n \r\n(b) Creel-caught nephrops landings from Clyde zone\r\nYear\r\nClyde Ports\r\nRest of Scotland\r\nOutside Scotland\r\nTotal Tonnage\r\n2004\r\n70\r\n-\r\n-\r\n70\r\n2005\r\n56\r\n-\r\n0\r\n56\r\n2006\r\n111\r\n0\r\n-\r\n111\r\n2007\r\n165\r\n-\r\n-\r\n165\r\n2008\r\n128\r\n-\r\n-\r\n128\r\n2009\r\n138\r\n-\r\n-\r\n138\r\n2010\r\n154\r\n-\r\n-\r\n154\r\n2011\r\n180\r\n-\r\n-\r\n180\r\n2012\r\n170\r\n-\r\n-\r\n170\r\n2013\r\n160\r\n-\r\n-\r\n160\r\n \r\n(c) Dredge-caught scallops landings from Clyde zone\r\nYear\r\nClyde Creeks\r\nRest of Scotland\r\nOutside Scotland\r\nTotal Tonnage\r\n2004\r\n460\r\n-\r\n34\r\n495\r\n2005\r\n535\r\n4\r\n14\r\n553\r\n2006\r\n429\r\n-\r\n3\r\n432\r\n2007\r\n541\r\n7\r\n1\r\n549\r\n2008\r\n504\r\n1\r\n0\r\n505\r\n2009\r\n431\r\n5\r\n21\r\n457\r\n2010\r\n356\r\n1\r\n2\r\n359\r\n2011\r\n364\r\n8\r\n12\r\n384\r\n2012\r\n341\r\n4\r\n12\r\n357\r\n2013\r\n252\r\n1\r\n13\r\n266\r\n \r\n(d) Hand-caught scallops landings from Clyde zone\r\nYear\r\nClyde Creeks\r\nRest of Scotland\r\nOutside Scotland\r\nTotal Tonnage\r\n2004\r\n28\r\n-\r\n-\r\n28\r\n2005\r\n29\r\n-\r\n-\r\n29\r\n2006\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n2007\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n2008\r\n13\r\n-\r\n-\r\n13\r\n2009\r\n17\r\n-\r\n-\r\n17\r\n2010\r\n0\r\n-\r\n-\r\n0\r\n2011\r\n3\r\n-\r\n-\r\n3\r\n2012\r\n7\r\n-\r\n-\r\n7\r\n2013\r\n65\r\n-\r\n-\r\n65\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:27.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295692,"EventID":"S4W-21739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:27.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:19:04.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its definition is of the “exceptional circumstances” referred to at paragraph 39 of the paper, Commonwealth Games 2014 Progress report 2: Planning for the delivery of the XXth Games, under which the special reserve for the Commonwealth Games can be drawn down.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21741 on 26 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:27.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295693,"EventID":"S4W-21740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:28.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:19:04.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03321 by Shona Robison on 5 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 31883), how the £800,000 notionally committed from the special reserve satisfies the \"exceptional circumstances\" criteria referred to at paragraph 39 of the paper, Commonwealth Games 2014 Progress report 2: Planning for the delivery of the XXth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21741 on 26 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:28.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295694,"EventID":"S4W-21741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:28.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:19:04.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03321 by Shona Robison on 5 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 31883), whether it will inform members of any future access to the special reserve fund and the reasons why ministers considered that the \"exceptional circumstances\" criteria referred to at paragraph 39 of the paper, Commonwealth Games 2014 Progress report 2: Planning for the delivery of the XXth Games had been met.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is providing up to £381.6 million of funding for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games  which are firmly on course to deliver within budget.\r\nIn the preliminary stages of planning these Games, it was identified that a prudent budget position would be to reserve a portion of the budget, the Special Reserve, to be used in response to unforeseen circumstances and to support the successful delivery of the Games.\r\nThis Special Reserve is and always has been part of the overall Games Budget.\r\nAs a Government we recognise that public funds must be well managed and that is why the Games Budget is subject to robust financial controls. In order to promote financial transparency Audit Scotland were invited to review these financial controls and the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Co-ordination Committee recently praised the “strong financial management” of the Games partners in relation to the Games Budget. Since the Special Reserve is entirely funded by the Scottish Government, access is subject to Ministerial approval.\r\nAny future use of the Special Reserve will require the further approval of Ministers.\r\nThe full audited accounts of Glasgow 2014 will be available post Games. In addition, Audit Scotland will be conducting a review of the Commonwealth Games which will be published in January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:28.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295695,"EventID":"S4W-21753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:28.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T16:28:24.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount (a) collected and (b) predicted to be collected in non-domestic rates was in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the total amount of non-domestic rates collected and predicted to be collected in each of the last 10 years for which final figures are available.\r\nAny surpluses or deficits between the amounts predicted and collected are taken into account in the calculation of the amounts paid out to local authorities in future years local government finance settlements. This is known as the Distributable Amount (DA) and the figures for the last 10 years are shown in the final column of the table.\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNon-domestic rates collected (£m)\r\nEstimated Non-domestic rates (£m)\r\nDistributable Non-domestic rates (£m)\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2003-04\r\n1,706.3\r\n1,673.0\r\n1,804.4\r\n2004-05\r\n1,813.0\r\n1,843.0\r\n1,895.9\r\n2005-06\r\n1,933.4\r\n1,951.0\r\n1,897.1\r\n2006-07\r\n1,933.0\r\n1,904.0\r\n1,883.8\r\n2007-08\r\n1,928.5\r\n1,835.0\r\n1,859.7\r\n2008-09\r\n1,923.8\r\n1,871.1\r\n1,962.8\r\n2009-10\r\n2,009.8\r\n2,051.9\r\n2,165.1\r\n2010-11\r\n2,138.2\r\n2,128.1\r\n2,068.2\r\n2011-12\r\n2,251.1\r\n2,168.1\r\n2,182.0\r\n2012-13\r\n2,346.9\r\n2,226.8\r\n2,263.0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:28.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295696,"EventID":"S4W-21755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:28.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T16:33:40.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S4W-20574 and S4W-20575, which received holding answers on 2 May 2014.","AnswerText":"I provided substantive answers to S4W-20574 and S4W-20575 on 19 June 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:28.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295697,"EventID":"S4W-21756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:29.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T16:54:06.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the next periodic safety review is due for (a) Hunterston B and (b) Torness nuclear power station.\r\n","AnswerText":"The next periodic safety review (PSR) for Hunterston B is due to be submitted by the site licensee in January 2016, and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) will make a decision on this in January 2017.\r\nFor Torness, the PSR is due to be submitted by the site licensee in January 2019, and the ONR decision date is January 2020.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:29.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295698,"EventID":"S4W-21757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:29.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T16:54:06.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the periodic safety review of a nuclear power station requires an environmental impact assessment.","AnswerText":"Periodic safety reviews (PSRs) of nuclear power stations do not require an environmental impact assessment. \r\nUK nuclear site licensees must carry out PSRs every 10 years as agreed with the regulator, Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and provide a systematic review and assessment of the safety case, looking forwards up to ten years.\r\nPSRs provide an opportunity to undertake a comprehensive study of plant safety, taking into account aspects such as its operational history, ageing factors which could lead to deterioration in safety, and the advances in safety standards since the time of construction or the previous review. From this, the safety of future operation of the plant is evaluated. PSRs are complementary to the day-to-day regulatory controls which are applied to nuclear power stations.\r\nThe scope and the structure of a PSR is a matter for the licensee but must satisfy the ONRs expectations as set out in its guidance: http://www.onr.org.uk/periodic-safety-review/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:29.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295699,"EventID":"S4W-21760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:29.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T10:33:34.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Review of the Strategic Development Plans in Scotland and whether it considers that there is a need for more targeted engagement with the wider community and the use of representative forums.","AnswerText":"The Report of the Review of Strategic Planning was published in April 2014. The Scottish Government has published its response to the review on its planning web page. The Scottish Government considers there is a need for effective engagement in planning at all levels and this is reflected in the actions within the response.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:29.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295700,"EventID":"S4W-21761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:29.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T10:33:34.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of the National Standards for Community Engagement in the planning system.","AnswerText":"In applying the National Standards for Community Engagement to the planning system, Planning Advice Note 3/2010: Community Engagement recognises that the National Standards, as linked to the VOiCE (Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement) toolkit are particularly useful and can help plan, monitor and evaluate community engagement.\r\nBoth the National Standards and VOiCE were recently used successfully by the Scottish Government in the public engagement on National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:29.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295701,"EventID":"S4W-21762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:30.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T10:33:34.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the application of the National Standards for Community Engagement.","AnswerText":"The National Standards for Community Engagement launched in 2005, are a practical tool to help improve the experience of all participants involved in community engagement. They help towards achieving the highest quality of process and results.\r\nThe standards are not compulsory, but they are good practice and have been widely adopted in community planning partnerships and in other areas of government.\r\nThere is no process in place to monitor their use. However, the standards have been recommended by Audit Scotland as good practice and a positive evaluation of their use was published by the Scottish Government in 2008. The report Evaluation of the Impact of the National Standards for Community Engagement is available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/231923/0063366.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:30.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295702,"EventID":"S4W-21763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T13:32:30.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T10:33:34.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the impact is of the findings of the Review of the Strategic Development Plans in Scotland for regional transport partnerships.\r\n","AnswerText":"The report of the Review of Strategic Planning was published in April 2014. It included three findings that the research team identified as specifically relevant to Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs). Officials have met with representatives of the RTPS to consider the findings and discuss the next steps. The Scottish Government has published its response to the review on its planning web page. The actions within the response reflect the discussions with RTPs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T13:32:30.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295718,"EventID":"S4W-21769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T15:54:05.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:05:01.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) sub-contractors and (b) suppliers of the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium have invoked the dispute resolution mechanisms over payments for work on the crossing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Forth Replacement Crossing project continues to progress on time and within the reduced budget range of £1.4 to £1.45 billion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T15:54:05.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295719,"EventID":"S4W-21771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T15:54:05.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:09:05.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many disputes over payments for work on the Forth Replacement Crossing between (a) sub-contractors and (b) suppliers and the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium (i) have been resolved and (ii) remain unresolved.","AnswerText":"The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Forth Road Crossing project continues to progress on time and within the reduced budget range of £1.4 to £1.45 billion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T15:54:05.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295720,"EventID":"S4W-21773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T15:54:05.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:09:05.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what specific bridge or road works are the subject of disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium and sub-contractors or suppliers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Forth Road Crossing project continues to progress on time and within the reduced budget range of £1.4 to £1.45 billion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T15:54:05.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295721,"EventID":"S4W-21774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T15:54:06.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:09:05.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money is involved in disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium and sub-contractors or suppliers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Forth Road Crossing project continues to progress on time and within the reduced budget range of £1.4 to £1.45 billion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T15:54:06.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295722,"EventID":"S4W-21776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T15:54:06.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:18:39.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of the books recommended by Stonewall Scotland for use in primary schools (a) it and (b) Education Scotland has approved since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland do not approve books or texts for the teaching of relationships, sexual health and parenthood education. It is up to local authorities and schools to determine what are the best resources to use in their circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T15:54:06.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295723,"EventID":"S4W-21775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-13T16:00:19.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T15:18:39.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what materials and publications (a) it and (b) Education Scotland has approved or recommended to teach about same-sex marriage in primary schools since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland do not approve materials or publications for the teaching of relationships, sexual health and parenthood education. It is up to local authorities and schools to determine what are the best resources to use in their circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-06-27T16:00:19.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295734,"EventID":"S4T-00744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:59.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T11:02:55.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that people with motor neurone disease are not charged for care.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:59.247","MeetingDate":"2014-06-17T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295735,"EventID":"S4F-02186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:36.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-12T15:42:44.967","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:37.227","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295736,"EventID":"S4F-02188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:37.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T09:46:37.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:37.853","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295737,"EventID":"S4F-02189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:38.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T09:49:32.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:38.163","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295738,"EventID":"S4F-02195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:39.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T11:22:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Supporters Direct Scotland National Football Survey finding that 62% of respondents were in favour of lifting the ban on alcohol at football matches.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:39.943","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295739,"EventID":"S4F-02203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:42.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T11:50:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how people in Scotland can benefit from a written constitution. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:42.097","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295740,"EventID":"S4F-02207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-16T12:44:43.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T11:58:37.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government would introduce a local income tax in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-14T12:44:43.39","MeetingDate":"2014-06-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295747,"EventID":"S4W-21764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:38.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T11:26:48.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20193 by Michael Russell on 1 April 2014, what (a) maximum and (b) minimum amount would be required for tuition fee costs supported by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for 3,300 students, assuming that all were eligible for tuition fee support.","AnswerText":"On 24 January 2014 the Scottish Funding Council announced funding for around 3,300 additional places. Should all these places be filled on a full-time basis and assuming that all these students were eligible for tuition fee support and that they all apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for tuition fee support the cost would be a maximum of £6 million. The minimum amount would be nil based on the assumption that none of these students apply for tuition fee support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:39.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295748,"EventID":"S4W-21765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:39.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T11:26:48.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20193 by Michael Russell on 1 April 2014, what the cost would be to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for Young Students' Bursary and Independent Students' Bursary for 3,300 students if the students (a) followed the same pattern of distribution by income as the existing SAAS-supported undergraduate population and (b) were all assessed as eligible for the maximum bursary, assuming the same proportions for young and independent students as applied in 2013-14.","AnswerText":"We are unable to provide costs based on the undergraduate population of 2013-14 because these statistics are not yet available. The breakdown of student support will be published in October 2014 in the report, Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:39.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295749,"EventID":"S4W-21766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:39.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T11:26:48.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20193 by Michael Russell on 1 April 2014, whether it expects the Scottish Funding Council's announcement on 24 January 2014 of 3,300 more places to lead to a similar rise in the total number of students receiving tuition fee support from the Student Award Agency for Scotland.","AnswerText":"Should all eligible students apply for tuition fee support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, it would be expected that recipient numbers would increase in line with the increase in funded places.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:39.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295750,"EventID":"S4W-21767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:40.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T11:26:48.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20193 by Michael Russell on 1 April 2014, whether the 3,300 additional funded student places announced by the Scottish Funding Council on 24 January 2014 are expected to result in an additional number of eligible students being recruited to Scottish universities or are to provide funded places for existing levels of recruitment that were previously unfunded.\r\n","AnswerText":"The funded places announced by the Scottish Funding Council in January are for allocation to students from Scotland and the EU and provide additional places for that group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:40.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295751,"EventID":"S4W-21785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:40.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T16:21:01.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how guidance has changed since April 2013 for Police Scotland officers in the Grampian region dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for legacy Grampian Police.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:40.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295752,"EventID":"S4W-21786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:40.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T16:21:01.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons and by whom the guidance was changed for police officers in the Grampian region dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for legacy Grampian Police.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:40.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295753,"EventID":"S4W-21787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:41.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T16:21:01.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance was in place in Grampian prior to April 2013 for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for legacy Grampian Police.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:41.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295754,"EventID":"S4W-21788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:41.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T09:08:36.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what EU legislation governing rail transport it refers to in its document, Scotland’s Priorities for EU Reform, and what reforms would be required to allow a state-owned UK company to tender to operate ScotRail services.","AnswerText":"It is domestic law, the Railways Act 1993, which prevents a state-owned UK company from tendering to operate ScotRail services. We will make that clearer within the document Scotland’s Priorities for EU Reform. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:41.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295755,"EventID":"S4W-21793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:42.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:17:53.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dogs are in service with Police Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland continues to see the benefits of a single police service. Policing remains strong, being shaped and delivered in communities. Specialist expertise and equipment, including dogs, can be deployed flexibly and efficiently whenever they are needed.\r\nThe deployment of police dogs is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and so this information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:42.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295756,"EventID":"S4W-21794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:42.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:17:53.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dogs were in service with each former police constabulary in each year from 2007.","AnswerText":"Scotland continues to see the benefits of a single police service. Policing remains strong, shaped and delivered in communities, while specialist expertise and equipment, including dogs, can be deployed flexibly and efficiently whenever they are needed.\r\nThe deployment of police dogs is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and so this information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:42.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295757,"EventID":"S4W-21795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:42.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:17:53.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many horses are in service with Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland continues to see the benefits of a single police service. Policing remains strong, shaped and delivered in communities, while specialist expertise and equipment, including horses, can be deployed flexibly and efficiently whenever they are needed.\r\nThe deployment of police horses is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and so this information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:42.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295758,"EventID":"S4W-21796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T13:59:42.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:17:53.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many horses were in service with each former police constabulary in each year from 2007.","AnswerText":"Scotland continues to see the benefits of a single police service. Policing remains strong, shaped and delivered in communities, while specialist expertise and equipment, including horses, can be deployed flexibly and efficiently whenever they are needed.\r\nThe deployment of police horses is an operational matter for Police Scotland, and so this information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T13:59:42.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295770,"EventID":"S4W-21777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:52.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T16:44:22.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the results of its review of permitted development rights on hill tracks.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with stakeholders in regard to agricultural and forestry private ways. A decision will be taken in due course and the results of the review will be published to coincide with this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:52.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295771,"EventID":"S4W-21778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:52.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T16:44:22.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria hill track construction must meet to ensure that no planning application is required.","AnswerText":"The criteria are set out for agricultural and forestry tracks in classes 18 and 22 respectively of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. Agricultural tracks are not permitted development if;\r\nThe development is not on agricultural land; or,\r\nThe development would be carried out on agricultural land less than 0.4 hectare in area; or,\r\nAny part of the development would be within 25 metres of a trunk or classified road; or,\r\nThe development is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment\r\nForestry tracks are not permitted development if; \r\nThe development is not on forestry land; or, \r\nAny part of the development would be within 25 metres of a trunk or classified road.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:52.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295772,"EventID":"S4W-21779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:53.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T16:44:22.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government under what conditions or circumstances landowners must complete an environmental impact assessment before constructing a hill track.\r\n","AnswerText":"An environmental impact assessment must be completed where one is required either by virtue of the development falling within Schedule 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations, or where the development falls within Schedule 2 to the 2011 EIA Regulations and it is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, by virtue of factors such as its size, nature or location.\r\nAlternatively, if the development is intended for forestry use, the requirement for Environmental Impact Assessment is considered under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:53.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295773,"EventID":"S4W-21780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:53.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-13T16:44:22.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what types of tracks and circumstances fall under the definition, \"tracks for other purposes,\" in the planning system.","AnswerText":"The planning system does not define this term. Classes 18 and 22 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 set out, respectively, the criteria that must be met for a private way to benefit from the permitted development rights conferred by each class. Tracks which fail to meet one or more of the criteria do not benefit from the permitted development rights set out in these classes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:53.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295774,"EventID":"S4W-21781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:53.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T15:59:57.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Richard Lochhead on 11 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 32086), how many farmers will be impacted by the £400,000 cap on basic payments. \r\n","AnswerText":"This is a completely new payments system and because the land and animal numbers declared in the future will affect the payment rates and therefore the total basic payments, it is not possible to say for certain how many businesses will be impacted by a cap on basic payments until claim details are collected from all applicants.\r\nHowever, estimates made for the final scheme year (2019) based on the land and animals held by businesses in 2011, suggest that less than ten businesses will probably be affected by a cap on basic payments at £400,000.\r\nOther changes to the CAP such as the move to area based payments will also result in significant reductions to large payments. Under the new payment system (with a cap at £400k of basic payments) the top 20 recipients in 2019 are estimated to receive approximately £4.8 million less than the £14 million claimed by the top 20 recipients in 2011.\r\nMany farmers, and the general public, think there should be an upper limit on CAP payments. Introducing a cap therefore underlines the principle that unlimited individual payments cannot be tolerated in future. It is also one of the tools available to help tackle slipper farming and is part of the “five-pronged assault” on inactivity that I announced, along with the Scottish clause, the negative list, a third region, and more coupled support. Any funds generated from capping will go Pillar 2.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:53.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295775,"EventID":"S4W-21782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:54.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T15:59:57.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Richard Lochhead on 11 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 32086), whether it will list each of the \"ten green gains in the policy\" referred to by the minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"The “ten green gains” referred to in the statement are examples of ways in which the post-2015 CAP will improve the environmental performance of Scottish agriculture.  These are listed below:\r\nPillar 1 Greening:\r\nImproved nutrient efficiency on livestock farms \r\nSubject to commission approval, Pillar 1 Greening obligations in Scotland will be delivered under a certification scheme, including a combination of standard and equivalent practices which non-exempt farmers will need to observe in order to claim their full direct payment.\r\nThe scheme will include a new requirement for nutrient management planning on permanent grassland (excluding rough grazing). This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diffuse pollution of watercourses by avoiding over-application of fertiliser and slurry, helping to deliver climate change and Water Framework Directive commitments.\r\nImproved habitat for farmland birds and other biodiversity on arable land \r\nThe greening certification scheme will include a requirement for non-exempt farmers to ensure that 5% of arable land is ecological focus area. This will benefit farmland birds and other biodiversity by increasing or maintaining the area of wildlife-friendly habitats in intensively farmed arable landscapes.\r\nPillar 2 Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP):\r\nIncreased Agri-Environment-Climate budget and a maintained Forestry budget\r\nDespite Scotland’s poor Pillar 2 allocation, the agri-environment-climate budget has been increased by over £10 million per year compared to the 2007-13 SRDP and the forestry budget has been maintained. This will increase the impact of the SRDP in delivering a range of environmental objectives, including support for vulnerable species and habitats, progress towards designated site condition targets, reduction in diffuse pollution, flood risk management and climate change mitigation.\r\nAdditional support for peatland restoration\r\nAn additional £15m for peatland restoration has been included in the agri-environment-climate budget. This will help to deliver climate change targets by protecting internationally important peatland carbon stores while also contributing to flood risk management and benefiting biodiversity.\r\nImproved targeting of Agri-Environment-Climate measures\r\nNew spatial targeting of agri-environment-climate measures will ensure that support is directed to the right locations to create meaningful environmental benefits and maximise multiple benefits.\r\nIncreased support for collaboration and advice \r\nA new cooperation fund for agri-environment-climate and forestry measures will support land managers to deliver landscape-scale environmental benefits. Access to advice will be improved under the Farm Advisory Service, supporting joined up delivery of the schemes.\r\nPromotion of new carbon audits tool under SRDP\r\nThe Farm Advisory Service will promote the use of a new carbon audit tool which helps to reduce the farm’s environmental impact whilst improving resource efficiency.\r\nScottish Beef Improvement Database\r\nThe SRDP will include new incentives for the establishment of a national cattle database able to feedback information on genetics, management and performance to farmers and their advisors. This will enable animals to be managed more efficiently, reducing death, disease and lack of productivity, which in turn will reduce waste and minimise the carbon footprint per kilogram of meat produced.\r\nGAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition):\r\nIncreased protection for hedgerows\r\nA new requirement for 2 million uncultivated buffer strips along hedgerows will be introduced. This will help to halt the decline in farmland birds and benefit other farmland biodiversity, also boosting habitat networks.\r\nStrengthened measures to reduce diffuse pollution\r\nA new requirement for 2 million uncultivated buffer strips with no fertiliser along watercourses will be introduced. This will reduce diffuse pollution from fertiliser run off and sediment by reinforcing ","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:54.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295776,"EventID":"S4W-21783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:54.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T15:59:57.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Richard Lochhead on 11 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 32086), from which budget line the additional \"£45 million of new money\" for the beef sector will be drawn.\r\n","AnswerText":"As agreed with the Finance Committee the Scottish Government will be presenting its Draft Budget for 2015-16 to Parliament before the October 2014 recess. Expenditure for the Scottish beef improvement scheme will form part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-20 commencing in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:54.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295777,"EventID":"S4W-21784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:54.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T15:59:57.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason measures to amend Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 have not been included in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill makes amendments to the community right to buy provided for under Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 “the Act”. These changes build on experience gained over 10 years of working with the legislation, extensive post-legislative scrutiny of the Act, submissions made to the Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) and the interim view of that group.\r\nPart 3 was not considered for inclusion into the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, as presented, because, as the LRRG had written in their interim report in May 2013, they were going to ensure that the interests of the crofting community were respected further in their final report, which was scheduled to be published in April 2014 and was finally published 23 May 2014. The Scottish Government decided to proceed with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill in order not to delay the introduction of this key piece legislation, and to consider any recommendations on Part 3 once the LRRG final report was published.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:54.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295778,"EventID":"S4W-21797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:55.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:39:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which prisons provide psychological therapies as part of mental healthcare provision.","AnswerText":"On 1 November 2011 responsibility and accountability for the provision of health care services transferred from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to the NHS and these services are now provided by the respective local health boards. As part of this transition, all prisoner health care records and mental health service management information also transferred from SPS to NHS.\r\nAs such, the information requested in questions S4W-21797, S4W-21798, S4W-21799 and S4W-21800 is not held centrally.\r\nA range of interventions and training is being delivered in prison settings. For example, NHS Education for Scotland deliver a five day practical skills training programme to equip clinicians (including nursing, social work, psychology and occupational therapy staff) with the skills to deliver a suite of low intensity psychological therapy programmes. 68 clinicians from across six sites attended this training during 2013-14.\r\nThe National Prisoner Healthcare Network’s Mental Health Sub Group has identified issues relating to, and components considered essential to a successful model of prisoner mental healthcare.\r\nAs part of our work to deliver the access to psychological therapies HEAT target, we have begun to look at what psychological therapies are being delivered in prisons, and whether boards could collect data on these. We do not have reliable data at this stage.\r\nWe aim for the provision of mental health care for prisoners to be equivalent to care received by people in the community, taking into consideration the increased mental health needs of the prison population. We recognise that there is much work to be done to reach that position.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:55.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295779,"EventID":"S4W-21798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:55.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:39:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been diagnosed as requiring (a) mental healthcare provision and (b) specialist psychological therapy in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21797 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThis information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:55.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295780,"EventID":"S4W-21799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:55.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:39:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long prisoners wait on average to access (a) mental health treatment and (b) specialist psychological therapies, broken down by prison.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21797 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThis information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:55.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295781,"EventID":"S4W-21800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:55.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T13:39:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which prisons’ mental health teams provide access to (a) nurses trained in cognitive behaviour therapy and (b) clinical psychology.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21797 on 25 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThis information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:55.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295782,"EventID":"S4W-21801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:56.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:21:03.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 requires amendment. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware that Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) act 2003 requires some ‘housekeeping’ amendments (e.g. to increase absentee crofter limit from 16 km to 32 km to reflect the changes made in the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.\r\nPart 3 may also be affected by other legislative changes or reports currently being progressed, such as the Scottish Law Commission’s review of Compulsory Purchase. Scottish Ministers are also giving careful consideration to the Land Reform Review Groups final report recommendations, and will take into account any feedback from stakeholders, before deciding exactly what amendments should be taken forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:56.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295783,"EventID":"S4W-21802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:56.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:21:03.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to amend Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are a number of options available to the Scottish Government in addressing any future amendments to Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, including the recently announced proposed Land Reform Bill.\r\nScottish Ministers are currently considering the recommendations made in the Land Reform Review Group final report. They will also take into account the other work streams connected with Part 3, such as the Scottish Law Commission’s work on Compulsory Purchase, before deciding how and when to address reforming Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:56.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295784,"EventID":"S4W-21803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:56.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:43:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many medicines for treating (a) cancer and (b) other conditions the Scottish Medicines Consortium has considered in each of the last four years, and how many were subsequently (i) approved and (ii) not recommended for use.\r\n","AnswerText":"All Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions are available on the SMC website: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk. I have asked the Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland to provide the requested information.\r\nDetails as follows:\r\n\r\nTable 1: Full submissions \r\n\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nCancer medicines \r\n1\r\n10\r\n7\r\n3\r\nMedicines for other conditions\r\n23\r\n10\r\n24\r\n12\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nCancer medicines \r\n2\r\n7\r\n4\r\n7\r\nMedicines for other conditions\r\n23\r\n10\r\n28\r\n5\r\n\r\nTable 1: Figures for full submissions only (i.e. excludes re-submissions, abbreviated submissions, non-submissions and independent review panels) based on decisions made at SMC meetings between 2010 and 2013.\r\n\r\nTable 2: Resubmissions\r\n\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nAccepted /Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nCancer medicines \r\n4\r\n3\r\n2\r\n2\r\nMedicines for other conditions\r\n4\r\n3\r\n4\r\n7\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n\r\nAccepted/ Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nAccepted/ Accepted with Restriction\r\nNot recommended\r\nCancer medicines \r\n2\r\n0\r\n4\r\n0\r\nMedicines for other conditions\r\n8\r\n1\r\n6\r\n2\r\nTable 2: Figures for all resubmissions (i.e. excludes abbreviated submissions, non-submissions and independent review panels. Note that the initial full submission may not have been assessed in the same year) based on decisions made at SMC meetings between 2010 and 2013.\r\n\r\nTable 3: Figures for non-submissions \r\n\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nCancer medicines\r\n3\r\n2\r\n8\r\n6\r\nMedicines for other conditions\r\n7\r\n16\r\n16\r\n15\r\nTable 3 provides the number of non-submissions (i.e. medicines ‘not recommended’ in the absence of a company submission. Figures not included here for medicines where the company subsequently made a submission; these are included in table 2). The above figures are based on decisions made at SMC meetings between 2010 and 2013. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:56.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295785,"EventID":"S4W-21805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:56.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:43:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the medicines for treating (a) cancer and (b) other conditions that were not recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in each of the last four years have since been (i) approved and (ii) not recommended for use following consideration through the Patient and Clinician Engagement process.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21803 on 7 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:56.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295786,"EventID":"S4W-21807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:57.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:43:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for the Scottish Medicines Consortium to reach a decision on whether to approve a medicine for use following consideration through the Patient and Clinician Engagement process.\r\n","AnswerText":"Patient and Clinician Engagement now forms part of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) evaluation process. Submissions from pharmaceutical companies received by SMC after noon on 7 April 2014 are eligible for this new approach, in line with what was set out in the Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee. The first decisions from this new process are expected in Autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:57.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295787,"EventID":"S4W-21808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:57.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T14:43:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment in the Scottish Medicines Consortium's (SMC) June 2014 briefing note that the cancer treatment drug, Abraxane, \"offered a substantial improvement in life expectancy\", what its position is on the SMC's decision not to recommend it for use.","AnswerText":"Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions are made independently of the Scottish Government. SMC advice should be read in the context of the whole of the Detailed Advice Document, published at www.scottishmedicinesconsortium.org.uk.\r\nThe Scottish Government has already acted to put in place changes to the way that medicines are assessed in Scotland, to ensure that there will be increased access to medicines for treatment at end of life.\r\nSMC had made the pharmaceutical company aware that the timing of their submission meant that it would not be considered under the new, more flexible process but the company wished to proceed on that basis. The new process for these medicines allows a further opportunity for a company to submit a patient access scheme to improve the cost effectiveness of the medicine. This submission did not include a patient access scheme.\r\nThe Scottish Government would welcome a resubmission to SMC and encourage that the pharmaceutical company considers a patient access scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:57.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295788,"EventID":"S4W-21809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:57.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T15:05:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the children’s hearings system.","AnswerText":"The introduction of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, which came into force on 24 June 2013, involved a full review of the children’s hearings system. The Scottish Government intends to build on the improvements already introduced by continuing to work with all partners, including children, young people and their families, and by measuring the success of the modernisation programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:57.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295789,"EventID":"S4W-21810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:58.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T15:05:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Children’s Panel members have (a) been recruited and (b) resigned in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is in the following table.\r\n\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n(a) Appointments\r\n508\r\n526\r\n492\r\n114\r\n544\r\n(b) Resignations\r\n395\r\n371\r\n359\r\n353\r\n385\r\nSource: Children’s Hearings Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:58.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295790,"EventID":"S4W-21811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-17T17:04:58.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T15:05:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is given to Children’s Panel members facing grievance and disciplinary procedures in relation to their work for the Children's Panel.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Children’s Hearings Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-15T17:04:59.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295810,"EventID":"S4W-21812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:25.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:22:48.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03329 by Alex Neil on 11 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 32073), how many people have developed malnutrition (a) at home, (b) in hospital and (c) in residential care in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:25.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295811,"EventID":"S4W-21815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:26.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:22:48.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03329 by Alex Neil on 11 June 2014 (Official Report, c. 32073), whether older people being discharged from hospital are screened for malnutrition. ","AnswerText":"All patients are screened throughout their hospital stay through the use of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, and if a patient is identified as being malnourished staff should undertake appropriate referrals and assessments through to the patient’s discharge. Patients receive a discharge summary when they leave hospital in which any concerns about their nutritional status are highlighted. These concerns are then discussed with the patient’s GP or community nurses.\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland are currently consulting on revised Food, Fluid and Nutrition Standards which are likely to reinforce the importance of discharge planning, and the need to develop that planning with the patient and, where appropriate, carers. The revised standards are due to be published in October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:26.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295812,"EventID":"S4W-21816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:26.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:49:13.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake rate is for the (a) Healthy Start voucher scheme and (b) vitamin supplements available as part of the scheme, broken down by NHS board area and also expressed as a national average.","AnswerText":"(a) The uptake rate for the Healthy Start Voucher Scheme is shown in the following table:-  \r\nNHS Board\r\n5 May 2014 to 1 June 2014 (latest available figures)\r\n%\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n\t3,112\r\n75\r\nBorders\r\n\t521\r\n72\r\nDumfries &  Galloway\r\n\t801\r\n73\r\nFife\r\n\t2,798\r\n75\r\nForth Valley\r\n\t1,899\r\n74\r\nGrampian\r\n\t1,856\r\n65\r\nGreater Glasgow &  Clyde\r\n\t10,429\r\n79\r\nHighland\r\n\t1,401\r\n67\r\nLanarkshire\r\n\t4,484\r\n76\r\nLothian\r\n\t4,956\r\n74\r\nOrkney\r\n\t50\r\n55\r\nShetland\r\n\t45\r\n47\r\nTayside\r\n\t2,467\r\n75\r\nWestern Isles\r\n\t84\r\n64\r\nTotal\r\n\t34,903\r\n69\r\n (b) The uptake of Healthy Start Vitamins is shown in the following table:-\r\nNHS Board\r\nChildren (Vitamin drops)\r\nWomen (Vitamin Tablets)\r\nTotal\r\nAyrshire & Arran\r\n\t105\r\n\t42\r\n\t147\r\nBorders\r\n\t87\r\n\t54\r\n\t141\r\nDumfries & Galloway\r\n\t119\r\n\t79\r\n\t198\r\nFife\r\n\t60\r\n\t40\r\n\t100\r\nForth Valley\r\n\t86\r\n\t72\r\n\t158\r\nGrampian\r\n\t290\r\n\t147\r\n\t437\r\nGreater Glasgow & Clyde\r\n\t2,245\r\n\t1,050\r\n\t3,295\r\nHighland\r\n\t109\r\n\t75\r\n\t184\r\nLanarkshire\r\n\t245\r\n\t177\r\n\t422\r\nLothian\r\n\t318\r\n\t205\r\n\t523\r\nOrkney\r\n\t19\r\n\t13\r\n\t32\r\nShetland\r\n\t9\r\n\t8\r\n\t17\r\nTayside\r\n\t158\r\n\t82\r\n\t240\r\nWestern Isles\r\nNo data\r\nNo data\r\nNo data\r\nTotal\r\n\t3,850\r\n\t2,044\r\n\t5,894\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:26.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295813,"EventID":"S4W-21817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:26.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:49:13.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its pilot project to deliver Healthy Start through community pharmacies and dispensing practices.","AnswerText":"The decision has been taken to extend the Healthy Start Vitamins Community Pharmacy pilot scheme for another year until May 2015. During this period an evaluation will take place to assess the Scheme’s impact upon uptake of vitamins. We expect the evaluation and resulting recommendations on the future of the scheme to be completed by May 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:26.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295814,"EventID":"S4W-21820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:26.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T11:46:38.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20524 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, what the budgeted cost was in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The revised grant to Argyll Ferries Ltd for the contract year 2013-14 is £3,059,869 plus £476,739 fuel grant.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:26.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295815,"EventID":"S4W-21823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T13:49:27.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T13:19:09.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated total cost of the public service contract with Argyll Ferries (a) was when signed in 2011 and (b) will be at the end of the contract.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to my replies to his previous Parliamentary Questions S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012, S4W-20524 on 22 April 2014 and S4W-21820 on 14 July 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T13:49:27.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295816,"EventID":"S4O-03391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:13.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:44.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what issues were discussed at the last meeting of the British-Irish Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:15.543","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295817,"EventID":"S4O-03392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:15.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:44.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent reports of significant levels of disruption to residents in Dalmarnock because of the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:15.95","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295818,"EventID":"S4O-03393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:16.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T11:47:48.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the 13% increase in complaints about hospital and community health services and 36% increase in relation to family health services between 2011-12 and 2012-13.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:16.183","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295819,"EventID":"S4O-03394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:16.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:45.313","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the European Commission's proposal to lift the Faroe Islands' herring sanctions that are in place to deter unsustainable fishing practices.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:16.917","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295820,"EventID":"S4O-03395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:17.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:45.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to inform doctors about the medical certificate of cause of death that is expected to be introduced in August. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:17.307","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295821,"EventID":"S4O-03396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:17.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:45.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities the proposals in Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities could bring to Arran and Cumbrae.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:17.57","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295822,"EventID":"S4O-03397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:17.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:29:36.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of its Affordable Housing Supply Programme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:17.993","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295823,"EventID":"S4O-03398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:18.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T09:31:04.22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the reported 22% increase in homophobic hate crimes in the last year.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:18.21","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295824,"EventID":"S4O-03399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:18.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:50:51.32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the start-up costs of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of work to prepare for the transition to independence and our approach is set out in Chapter 10 of Scotland’s Future. This explains that a number of factors will influence the size of the one-off investment that Scotland will make in the transition to independence, which includes the negotiations that will take place between the two governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:18.477","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295825,"EventID":"S4O-03400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:18.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:06:46.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors that found that housing demand is outstripping supply leading to rises in house prices.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is taking a wide range of action to support the delivery of new housing across all tenures and throughout Scotland, stimulating activity, protecting and creating jobs and helping to secure our vision for housing. \r\nThat includes our planned investment of £1.35 billion in affordable housing over the four years to 2015-16 and my decision to increase the subsidy available for each new affordable home we support, putting us well on track towards our target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament. It also includes the £275 million Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme, which has already helped more than 1,600 people to buy a new home.\r\nI am committed to working with organisations from across the housing sector to build on these actions and to explore opportunities to work towards the shared aim of increasing housing supply.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:18.71","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295826,"EventID":"S4O-03401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:18.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:19:13.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to encourage college and university engagement with employers following the publication of the report of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:18.943","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295827,"EventID":"S4O-03402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:19.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:22.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council regarding the European regional development funding that was given to the Woodburn House site of the former Langside College.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:19.193","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295828,"EventID":"S4O-03403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:19.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:22.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what strategic contribution education can make to improving regional economic activity.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:19.46","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295829,"EventID":"S4O-03404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:19.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T09:58:03.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the estimated backlog of over £72 million for necessary school maintenance costs in Fife.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:19.71","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295830,"EventID":"S4O-03405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:19.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T11:00:29.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will produce the final version of its guidance on relationships, sexual health and parenthood education and whether the right to be properly informed with the knowledge to make safe, healthy and positive choices will be an integral part of the document.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:19.927","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295831,"EventID":"S4O-03406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:20.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T16:46:20.467","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to local authorities for the education of Gypsy/Travellers. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:20.393","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295832,"EventID":"S4O-03407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:20.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:23.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect from closure those schools classified as rural.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:20.643","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295833,"EventID":"S4O-03408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:20.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:10:13.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Funding Council and what issues were discussed. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:21.003","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295834,"EventID":"S4O-03409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:21.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T08:51:27.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the establishment of student associations, and how many have been set up since the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 came into force.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:21.283","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295835,"EventID":"S4O-03410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:21.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:24.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what importance it attaches to musical instrument tuition in schools.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:21.55","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295836,"EventID":"S4O-03411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:21.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:24.707","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the application in schools of Getting it Right for Every Child for children who require additional support.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:21.847","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295837,"EventID":"S4O-03412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:22.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-17T15:41:41.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the attainment gap between girls and boys identified in the 2014 edition of the Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:22.173","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295838,"EventID":"S4O-03413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:22.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:25.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is publicising to parents the expansion of childcare provision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:22.47","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295839,"EventID":"S4O-03414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:22.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T09:51:24.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last visited the Crichton Campus in Dumfries and what was discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:22.72","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295840,"EventID":"S4O-03415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:22.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:25.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities there are in the curriculum for excellence to study geology.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:22.97","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295841,"EventID":"S4O-03416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:23.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T09:32:34.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Dumfries and Galloway Council's Director of Education and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:23.203","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295842,"EventID":"S4O-03417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:23.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:26.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, according to the figures published on 17 June, how many school leavers in Fife went on to positive destinations.","AnswerText":"87.9 per cent of 2012-13 school leavers in Fife sustained a positive destination in March 2014, similar to the previous year but higher than for 2007-08, when only 83.4 per cent of school leavers in Fife were in sustained positive destinations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:23.937","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295843,"EventID":"S4O-03418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:24.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-16T12:07:26.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is spending £623 less in real terms per pupil on education than it was in 2008-09.","AnswerText":"In cash terms, between 2007-08 and 2012-13, the resources within the Scottish Government’s control increased by 6.4%.\r\nOver the same period local government’s budget increased by 8.9% in cash terms demonstrating the strong financial settlements agreed with local government during challenging financial times.\r\nThe real terms fall in spending by local authorities on education reported by the Accounts Commission on 19 June 2014 is a direct result of the austerity Labour and their colleagues in Better Together, the Tories and Lib Dems have inflicted on Scotland. Indeed the real terms fall in the Scottish Government’s revenue budget, after we protected health, is greater than the 5% seen in council education spending.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:24.153","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295844,"EventID":"S4O-03419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:24.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:33:38.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on plans for a new secondary school at Bobby Calder Park in Cove in Aberdeen. \r\n","AnswerText":"I am pleased to inform the member that Bobby Calder Park has been identified by Aberdeen City Council as the location of the new secondary school to replace the existing Torry and Kincorth Academies, through the government’s school building programme, Scotland’s Schools for the Future.\r\nMy officials and Scottish Futures Trust are working closely with the council and I expect this project to start construction next summer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:24.387","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295845,"EventID":"S4O-03420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T15:00:24.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T11:10:36.443","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local authorities will be given the full revenue and capital costs necessary to implement its early years and childcare initiative.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to fully funding the agreed costs of our early learning and childcare policy. We have already committed significant revenue and capital funding to local authorities. Full details can be found in the Financial Memorandum and Supplementary Financial Memorandum for the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Local authorities have been notified of the allocation and distribution of this funding.\r\nWe have proposed a further capital allocation of £61 million to local authorities for the additional two year olds who will become eligible from August 2014 and August 2015, and we continue to work with COSLA to agree a final sum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T15:00:24.67","MeetingDate":"2014-06-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295846,"EventID":"S4W-21818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:09.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:42:50.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the system of resolving rent disputes through the Scottish Land Court fit for purpose.","AnswerText":"Despite the Rent Review Working Group’s report in 2012 concluding that no changes to the legislation were required, and the subsequent production of the industry led Practitioner’s Guide setting out best practice for rent reviews, the interim report of the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review has confirmed that there are still issues with the statutory rent review process.\r\nThe fact that current legislation is not delivering for Scotland’s tenant farming sector has been thrown into sharp relief by recent reactions to the Scottish Land Court’s decision in the Roxburgh Mains rent review case. This vindicates the need for the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review and the very thorough work we are undertaking.\r\nClearly we have lived with some of these issues and uncertainties for a long time and so the review group needs time to come up with the right solutions.\r\nThe review group will continue to work with STFA and other stakeholders as we develop recommendations for the tenanted sector in Scotland on a number of specific issues, including rent reviews.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:09.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295847,"EventID":"S4W-21819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:10.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T10:42:50.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, following the Scottish Land Court's decision in relation to the Roxburgh Mains rent review, it plans to reconsider how tenant farmer rent rates are calculated.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to my response to question S4W-21818 on 7 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:10.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295848,"EventID":"S4W-21822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:10.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T12:48:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the consultation on the sulphur content of marine fuel; whether it made a submission to the consultation and, if so, whether it will publish this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on this consultation.\r\nWe have sent a letter to the MCA outlining our response to the consultation and will publish this as part of the material prepared for the second conference we are hosting on this matter on 13 August 2014. The MCA will also be publishing an analysis of responses in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:10.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295849,"EventID":"S4W-21826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:10.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T14:43:21.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the causes of a reduction in the quality of raw water supplying water treatment works.","AnswerText":"Raw water quality can change due to a wide range of reasons, some of which are site-specific and some of which are more general. These can include changes in the physical characteristics of the catchment, the impacts of climate change and impacts arising from man-made activities, including land use change. The Scottish Government, in collaboration with Scottish Water, has commissioned CREW (Centre of Expertise for Waters) to use existing data in order to identify any trends in raw water quality across Scotland and to quantify the extent of these.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:10.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295850,"EventID":"S4W-21827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:11.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T14:43:21.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact a reduction in raw water quality can have on the quality of drinking water.\r\n","AnswerText":"In general terms, a reduction in raw water quality can challenge water treatment works and increase the costs of treatment. Scottish Water’s treatment works are designed to cope with fluctuations in raw water quality and ensure final water quality is unaffected. Occasionally, where raw water quality changes beyond the range for which the works is designed, the quality of water supplied to consumers can be affected.\r\nImpacts can be experienced in respect to: \r\nincreased treatment costs due to greater use of chemicals\r\nreduced resilience and reliability of the treatment process\r\nreduced final water quality \r\nincreased operation and maintenance costs\r\nincreased risk of contaminant breakthrough\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:11.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295851,"EventID":"S4W-21828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:11.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T15:30:06.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Caledonian sleeper franchise will lead to a reduction in the Inverness train depot's daytime workload.","AnswerText":"The future of the ScotRail maintenance depot in Inverness is secure. The Scottish Government has specified that the new ScotRail franchisee must maintain the depot at Inverness. This is appropriate because the majority of work conducted at the depot is for ScotRail day train services. The depot will continue to conduct daily servicing of the Inverness portion of the Sleeper, and also work for the East Coast franchisee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:11.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295852,"EventID":"S4W-21829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:11.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T15:30:59.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is  taking to tackle fuel poverty in North East Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the four year period between 2009-10 and 2012-13 we invested £220 million on fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes across Scotland, with an estimated net gain in household income of over £1 billion across the lifetime of the measures.\r\nThis included the installation of energy efficiency measures to over 4,900 homes across the north east in 2012-13 (the last year for which figures are available).\r\nOur Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS), launched in April 2013, use Scottish Government funding to lever in additional investment to tackle fuel poverty. The budget in 2014-15 is £79 million, and in total we will spend around a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period (2013-14 – 2015-16) on fuel poverty and energy efficiency.\r\nOn 4 June 2014 we announced £60 million of funding for our HEEPS: Area Based Schemes for 2014-15, distributed across all of Scotland’s local authorities. Of this, the following awards of grant were made in North East Scotland for the current year:\r\nAberdeen City\r\n£1.683 million\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n£3.150 million\r\nAngus\r\n£1.067 million\r\nDundee\r\n£3.654 million\r\nTotal\r\n£9.554 million\r\nThese grants will help people in areas with high levels of fuel poverty to install energy efficiency measures such as solid wall, cavity and loft insulation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:11.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295853,"EventID":"S4W-21830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:11.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T15:30:59.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Grampian regarding the standard of patient care.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers and senior officials regularly discuss a range of issues concerning the standard of patient care with representatives of NHS Grampian. This includes discussions with policy leads on key areas of performance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:12.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295854,"EventID":"S4W-21832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-18T16:44:12.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T15:30:59.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP appointments in NHS Grampian were cancelled in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of cancelled GP appointments in NHS Grampian is not available centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-16T16:44:12.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295863,"EventID":"S4W-21825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:05.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T14:26:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is carrying out further modelling work on the impact of air passenger duty on Glasgow Prestwick Airport and, if so, when it will be complete and when the stage 2 business plan will be published.","AnswerText":"Further modelling work is to be completed to assess the likely impact on Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s business growth opportunities of a reduction or abolition of Air Passenger Duty, and on possible route development support mechanisms as a result of revised EU guidance.\r\nWe will subsequently publish a document within the next couple of months (summer 2014), setting out a strategic vision for the long term future of the airport, our plans for investment, business development and the optimum operating structure required to take the airport forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:05.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295864,"EventID":"S4W-21833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:05.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T16:31:35.373","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21612 by Kenny MacAskill on 18 June 2014, as the figures have not been published on the Police Scotland website, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm how many full-time equivalent officers were designated as local resources for (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray Division as of (i) 30 June and (ii) 30 September 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"As stated in the answer to question S4W-21612 on 18 June 2014, publication of sub-national police officer numbers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold the information that you request.\r\nPost-reform sub-national police officer figures were produced for the first time in March this year relating to 31 December 2013.\r\nThe sub-national police officer numbers can be found at:  \r\nhttp://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:05.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295865,"EventID":"S4W-21834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:06.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-18T17:33:43.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas to report back.\r\n","AnswerText":"The independent expert scientific panel was convened to assess the scientific evidence on unconventional oil and gas and produce a robust, well-informed report. The panel will report in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:06.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295866,"EventID":"S4W-21835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:06.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T11:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether letters of comfort have been provided to local authorities regarding discretionary housing payments to fully mitigate the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"A letter to all local authorities was issued jointly from the UK and Scottish Governments on 25 June 2014. A copy of that letter was shared with the Welfare Reform Committee and can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/67206.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:06.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295867,"EventID":"S4W-21836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:06.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T11:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to have the power to vary the cap for discretionary housing payments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The draft timetable for the Section 63 order which will transfer the cap-setting power to Scottish Ministers has been shared with the Welfare Reform Committee, and is available on the Scottish Parliament website at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/63916.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:06.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295868,"EventID":"S4W-21837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:07.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T11:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) the UK Government about the power to vary the cap on discretionary housing payments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Deputy First Minister met with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland on 8 May 2014 to agree the plan for the Section 63 order that will transfer the power to vary the cap on Discretionary Housing Payments. They have subsequently discussed progress on a number of occasions. Scottish Government officials are engaged on an on-going basis with representatives of COSLA and the Scotland Office.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:07.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295869,"EventID":"S4W-21838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:08.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T11:42:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether tenants are receiving a full discretionary housing payment to mitigate the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"The administration of discretionary housing payments (DHPs) is the responsibility of individual local authorities. The Scottish Government expects everyone who is affected by the bedroom tax and who applies for a DHP, to receive one. Local authorities have been allocated sufficient funds for full bedroom tax mitigation in 2014-15, and the UK Government has confirmed that local authorities are able to incur expenditure in excess of the current cap in anticipation of the transfer of powers and the subsequent lifting of the cap by Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:08.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295870,"EventID":"S4W-21839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:08.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T12:13:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the Consul General of China and whether it will raise at the meeting concerns about the annual Yulin dog-meat festival in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. \r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans to meet with the Chinese Consul General, Mr Pan, however, the Scottish Government is aware of animal welfare concerns surrounding certain practices in China, including the Yulin festival practiced by those that believe that eating dog meat on midsummers day brings health benefits.\r\nIt is important to note that the Scottish Government takes the welfare of all animals very seriously and routinely feeds into deliberations on animal welfare at both the EU and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) level via Defra. However, when dealing with another countries practices, there must always be an element of caution in making judgements about the customs in other countries and sensitivity in bringing about change. It is evident from media stories on this topic that there is an increasing proportion of the population within China that no longer support the practice of eating dog meat. The most appropriate way for external parties to improve dog welfare in China is to work with sympathetic organisations within China to help bring about further change. This is a strategy used by many Scottish and UK animal welfare charities with international concerns and indeed by the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, established at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2011, which is closely partnered with a number of international animal welfare charities and veterinary organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:08.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295871,"EventID":"S4W-21840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T13:45:08.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T13:17:47.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many two-year-olds from workless households will be eligible to receive free childcare provision from August 2014.  \r\n","AnswerText":"We estimate that 3,400 two year olds from workless households will start their entitlement from the beginning of the autumn term in August.\r\nThis is in addition to an estimated 1,184 two year olds whose entitlement is set out on the face of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, those who are looked after, under a kinship care order or have a parent-appointed guardian. In total more than 8,000 disadvantaged two year olds are expected to benefit from this enhanced provision across the forthcoming school year.\r\nA joint assessment by the Scottish Government and COSLA has confirmed that every local authority has plans in place to deliver the new provision for eligible 2 year olds in August.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T13:45:08.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295889,"EventID":"S4W-21841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T16:47:40.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T14:14:37.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Independent Report on NHS Lanarkshire Neonatal Services, Wishaw General Hospital, which was published on 16 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is grateful to Dr Ian Laing and his expert review group for their very thorough investigation and report. Whilst the report was a rigorous study of local procedures and practices, the investigation was very sensitively handled by Dr Laing and his team, and fully recognised the tragic circumstances for the families affected. Ministers want to join with Dr Laing in thanking the parents for the brave and important contribution they have made to this report.\r\nThe independent report highlights a highly professional and dedicated workforce at the neonatal unit at Wishaw General Hospital; delivering high quality, compassionate care. The review team concluded that all three babies were cared for to a high clinical standard, and that the neonatal unit met required staffing levels. The report is also clear that the infection control precautions and hygiene measures of staff were of a high quality.\r\nHowever, when it comes to the care of such precious and vulnerable babies we must always look at how we can improve the care that is offered. NHS Lanarkshire are committed to effectively addressing the recommendations of the independent report and we will keep progress under close review.\r\nWhile NHS Lanarkshire are increasing numbers of staff, in line with recruitment happening across Scotland, we will do all we can to assist the health board with solutions for staffing required related to sickness or leave - including through supporting the creation of specialist regional nurse banks. Our innovative nursing workforce planning tool will also help to ensure that the health board has the right staff, with the right skills in the right place at all times.\r\nWe are sharing the report with the management teams of every neonatal intensive care unit in Scotland so they too can learn any appropriate lessons from it.\r\nThe government would reiterate our thanks to the parents who shared their personal stories about the care their families received in the unit, and would also like to pay tribute to the staff who work tirelessly to care for every sick baby and to support bereaved families when the worst happens.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T16:47:40.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295890,"EventID":"S4W-21842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T16:47:40.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T14:37:40.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that workers from Estonia working for CalMac under the terms of its contract with the Scottish Government for lifeline ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network are being paid £4.19 per hour.","AnswerText":"We take very seriously the issue of the UK national minimum wage for staff paid both directly and indirectly by the Scottish Government.\r\nAs soon as we were alerted to this issue we wrote to Stephen Hammond MP, the UK Government Minister with responsibility for the maritime sector, asking him to close any legal loopholes that allow this situation to arise.\r\nEmployment law is a reserved matter for the UK Government, but we will continue to press for a means to improve this situation. Responsibility for payment and levels of the wages of the crew on the vessels concerned lies with Seatruck as the employer. However, Scottish Ministers will continue to press the matter as noted and our key aim is to ensure the affected workers on the vessels in question receive at least the minimum wage and that this is backdated to the start of the current charter arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T16:47:40.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295891,"EventID":"S4W-21849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T16:47:40.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:16:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of self-harm involving people aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 34, (c) 35 to 59 and (d) 60 and over there have been in each of the three last years, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data for hospital treated self-harm is collected by Information Services Division (ISD), NHS National Services Scotland. Incidents of intentional self-harm in Scotland are recorded in two main datasets:\r\n1. Acute hospital inpatient/day case discharge records collated by ISD.  \r\n2. Death registration records collated by National Records of Scotland (NRS)\r\nAcute hospital inpatient/day case discharge records\r\nISD does not produce analyses of hospital-treated self-harm incidents because of concerns raised by quality assurance work about the comparability and consistency of the diagnosis data for self-harm between hospitals across Scotland. It is the view of ISD that the data on discharges with a diagnosis of intentional self-harm are not robust enough to answer this question.\r\nDeaths as a result of intentional self-harm\r\nTable 1: Deaths from intentional self-harm registered in Scotland by NHS Board, calendar years 2011 and 2012. \r\nNHS Board\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAyrshire & Arran \r\n32\r\n39\r\nBorders \r\n11\r\n18\r\nDumfries & Galloway \r\n25\r\n17\r\nFife        \r\n33\r\n30\r\nForth Valley \r\n17\r\n27\r\nGrampian \r\n52\r\n56\r\nGreater Glasgow & Clyde \r\n146\r\n127\r\nHighland \r\n46\r\n51\r\nLanarkshire \r\n40\r\n53\r\nLothian \r\n87\r\n107\r\nOrkney \r\n3\r\n-\r\nShetland \r\n-\r\n-\r\nTayside \r\n33\r\n40\r\nWestern Isles    \r\n-\r\n2\r\nScotland\r\n525\r\n567\r\nIntentional self-harm deaths are defined using the following International Classification of Disease (ICD10) codes as the main cause of death - X60-84, Y87.0\r\nNote that these data do not include any deaths coded as being of undetermined intent (i.e. those which may be accidentally or purposely inflicted).\r\nThe above information on deaths as a result of intentional self-harm presented by NHS board for calendar years 2012 and 2011 can be found on the NRS website in table 6.3 at the following links: a) 2012: \r\nhttp://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/ve-ref-tables-2012/ve12-t6-3.xls b) 2011:  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/ve-reftables-2011/ve-2011-t6.3.xls\r\nYears are assigned by date of registration of deaths.\r\n2013 figures are not included as they have not been finalised by NRS.\r\nAn age breakdown is not provided by NHS board due to small numbers, however the following table shows an age breakdown for Scotland as a whole.\r\nTable 2: Deaths from intentional self-harm, registered in Scotland, by year and age group, calendar years 2011 and 2012.\r\nAge group\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nUnder 18\r\n5\r\n8\r\n18 to 34\r\n163\r\n162\r\n35 to 59\r\n301\r\n309\r\n60 and over\r\n58\r\n90\r\nTotal\r\n527\r\n569\r\nIntentional self-harm deaths are defined using the following International Classification of Disease (ICD10) codes as the main cause of death - X60-84, Y87.0\r\nNote that these data do not include any deaths coded as being of undetermined intent (i.e. those which may be accidentally or purposely inflicted).\r\nYears are assigned by date of registration of deaths.\r\n2013 figures are not included as they have not been finalised by NRS.\r\nSource: ISD Scotland using NRS death registration records.\r\nRef: IR2014-01156\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T16:47:40.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295892,"EventID":"S4W-21850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-19T16:47:41.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:44:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what body an independent Scotland would introduce to assume the functions of the Child Support Agency.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish and UK Governments have a common interest in working together, as envisaged by Paragraph 30 of the Edinburgh Agreement, to support each other in maintaining the delivery of services during the agreed period of transition. We believe that this option will offer the best possibility for minimising transition costs and ensuring continuity of service. Any decisions to change existing services will be for future governments of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-17T16:47:41.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295904,"EventID":"S4W-21868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T11:24:01.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T11:18:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will take forward the policies and proposals in the finalised National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to achieving a high performing planning system in Scotland. Today, I have published the finalised National Planning Framework 3 (NFP3) and the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP). For the first time, Scotland has an up to date, forward looking and coherent national planning policy framework to guide development and investment across the country. I expect all of those involved in the planning process to work together in the coming years, to focus on the shared outcomes of NPF3 and the SPP and enable high quality development on the ground.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T11:24:01.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295910,"EventID":"S4W-21843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:44.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21653 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what it means by “generally unregulated” and whether the new Caledonian sleeper franchisee will be allowed to increase fares above inflation.","AnswerText":"“Generally unregulated” means generally, or mostly, not subject to regulation or control by government. The Caledonian Sleeper service carries two types of passenger groups:\r\n1) passengers in accommodation other than seated (the majority of passengers) and\r\n2) seated passengers.\r\nFares for group 1 are not regulated by the Scottish Government and the fares are currently set at the discretion of the franchisee in a manner to attract passengers in a competitive market. This will continue when the new franchise starts on 1 April 2015.\r\nFares for group 2 are more complicated. Seated fares for journeys wholly within Scotland are subject to the same regulation by the Scottish Government as the ScotRail franchise. This regulation limits annual increases to RPI for peak fares and RPI -1% for off peak fares for the following standard class ticket types :\r\nSeason;\r\nAnytime Single/Return\r\nAnytime Day Single/Return;\r\nOff-Peak Single/Return; and\r\nOff-Peak Day Single/Return\r\nCross-Border ‘Interavailable’ tickets (i.e. tickets which may be used on more than one train operating company) may be used on the sleeper, and the regulation of these fares is currently a matter for the UK Department of Transport.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:45.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295911,"EventID":"S4W-21844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:45.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21652 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, who is responsible for checking “any profits above 7% of revenue”.","AnswerText":"Further to the answer to S4W-21652, Transport Scotland is responsible for checking ‘any profits above 7% of revenue’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295912,"EventID":"S4W-21845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:46.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what procurements the term \"both procurements\" refers to.","AnswerText":"‘Both procurements’ in the context of the answer to question S4W-21657 refers to the Caledonian Sleeper Franchise procurement (which has now been awarded and is now in mobilisation) and the ongoing ScotRail Franchise procurement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:46.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295913,"EventID":"S4W-21846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:46.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, when the costs of the procurement will be finalised and where that information will be published.","AnswerText":"Further to the answer to question S4W-21657 the costs of the procurement, mobilisation and transition will be finalised after 31 March 2015 when the new Caledonian Sleeper Franchise begins. This information will be made available once it is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:46.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295914,"EventID":"S4W-21847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:46.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, how the Parliament will be made aware if any conflicts of interest are identified.\r\n","AnswerText":"Further to the answer to S4W-21657 officials at Transport Scotland actively monitor these matters on a regular basis. Were there to be any actual conflicts identified, and if considered appropriate, the Scottish Government would inform Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:46.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295915,"EventID":"S4W-21848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:47.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T15:14:52.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21656 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what contingencies Transport Scotland has in place to set up an operation similar to the Department for Transport’s Directly Operated Railways.\r\n","AnswerText":"Further to the answer to S4W-21656 there are different options available to Transport Scotland in the event that the Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee becomes unable to fulfil the terms of its contract.\r\nThe circumstances would be assessed at the time and one of the following options would be followed:\r\nStep in as Operator of Last Resort through Transport Scotland and take on the franchise management\r\nNegotiate with a suitably competent train operator to take over the franchise management\r\nTransport Scotland has considered appropriate contingency plans and has established suitable shelf companies for use should the need arise for either franchise. These shelf companies are wholly owned by Scottish Ministers, and should they be needed, Boards to run these companies would be populated with suitably experienced and qualified directors. These companies would still be subject to the relevant franchise agreement of the franchisee they are replacing. They have been created and have been inactive but are ready to be used to perform the delivery functions of an operator of last resort.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:47.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295916,"EventID":"S4W-21862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:47.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants were involved in the organisation and preparation of the Scotland’s Future public meetings, broken down by event.\r\n","AnswerText":"Officials from across the Scottish Government have contributed to the organisation and preparation of the Scotland’s Future public meetings programme as part of their role to support Scottish Government Ministers.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not hold information on the time spent by officials contributing to this programme as there is no business need for that information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:47.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295917,"EventID":"S4W-21863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:47.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it was decided where Scotland’s Future public meetings would be held.","AnswerText":"We want to make sure that the public are as well informed as possible about the content of Scotland’s Future and the huge opportunities offered by independence.\r\nTo facilitate this, the Scottish Government has organised a full programme of public engagement events across all of Scotland. This will cover as many local authorities as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:47.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295918,"EventID":"S4W-21864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:47.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the government car service was used to transport ministers to Scotland’s Future public meetings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers have attended these events as part of their Government activities. Ministers have therefore used the government car service to attend these events in line with standard practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:47.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295919,"EventID":"S4W-21865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:48.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the public have attended each of the Scotland’s Future public meetings.\r\n","AnswerText":"As at 1 July 2014, the programme of Scotland’s Future public meetings has attracted an audience of over 3000 people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:48.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295920,"EventID":"S4W-21866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:48.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21284 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 May 2014, what the total cost of the Scotland’s Future public meetings has been since 1 April 2014, also broken down by event.\r\n","AnswerText":"The programme of events is ongoing and I will update parliament on costs when expenditure for 2014-15 is finalised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:48.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295921,"EventID":"S4W-21867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-20T13:40:48.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T17:24:41.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants attended each of the Scotland’s Future public meetings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Civil servants have attended Scotland’s Future public meetings in their role to support Scottish Government Ministers as part of their routine duties.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not hold information on civil servants attending each event as there is no business need to record this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-18T13:40:48.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295936,"EventID":"S4W-21851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:32.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:28:24.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, what provisions in the proposed carers legislation will involve carers in the discharge process of patients and whether there will be a specific duty on NHS boards and local authorities.","AnswerText":"It is very important to fully involve carers in the discharge planning of the people they care for who are patients. The good practice which exists needs to be spread across Scotland and we will make sure that this happens.\r\nThe consultation on the carers’ legislation sets out our proposals to help ensure more consistent and sustainable support to improve outcomes for carers and young carers across Scotland. One of the key principles of the legislation, and of the regulations underpinning the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, is to ensure greater carer involvement in the shaping, planning, and delivery of services that carers and the people they care for use.\r\nWe are currently analysing the consultation responses to the carers’ legislation and will publish our response in Autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:32.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295937,"EventID":"S4W-21855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:32.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:31:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on islands being able to secede from an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland has 93 inhabited islands with a total population of over 103,000 people (latest 2011 Census day estimates). Our island communities are long-standing and much-valued parts of Scotland and that would continue in the event of independence. This is reflected in section 30 of the draft Scottish Independence Bill, which provides that the particular needs of island communities must be taken into account when the Scottish Government is carrying out its functions, and in the Government’s proposals in Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities published on 16 June.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:32.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295938,"EventID":"S4W-21856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:33.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:31:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed constitution for an independent Scotland would, in principle, allow areas of the country to secede.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 6 of the Scottish Government’s draft Scottish Independence Bill, which was published for consultation on 16 June 2014, provides that the territory of Scotland, in the event of independence, would continue to consist of all the land, islands, internal waters and territorial sea that form the territory of Scotland at present. This is in accordance with widely-accepted principles of international law.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:33.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295939,"EventID":"S4W-21857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:33.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:31:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed constitution for an independent Scotland would address calls for secession.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21856 on 15 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at         \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:33.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295940,"EventID":"S4W-21858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:33.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:31:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the white paper on independence did not refer to (a) the principles of and (b) calls for secession in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Question 558 in Scotland’s Future made it clear that, in the event of independence, Scotland’s territory will remain as it is now.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:33.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295941,"EventID":"S4W-21859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:34.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:33:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote communication between emergency services, first responders and doctors to improve the treatment of diabetic patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects emergency services, first responders and doctors to make use of the Emergency Care Summary and Key Information Summary to ensure that anyone with diabetes in Scotland receives appropriate, timely care, regardless of where and when they are receiving treatment.\r\nThe Scottish Ambulance Service’s training and education programmes for ambulance staff include the management and treatment of patients with diabetes, aligned with the UK Ambulance Service Clinical Practices Guidelines 2013. The guidelines includes, for example, which patients can be safely left at home and which patients need transferring to further care and recommends referral to the local diabetic nurse or primary care health team for those left at home.\r\nFirst Responders focus on the management of people who have diabetes. If they require any clinical advice, they can contact a clinical adviser at the Ambulance Control Centre until they can hand over to an ambulance crew. The service is also trialling videoconferencing to allow first responders to consult with local GPs if the call is out of GP hours.\r\nIn addition, the Ambulance Service is piloting the electronic transfer of ambulance patient records to both hospital A&E departments and the patient’s GP. The plan is to roll this out across Scotland which will improve communications and provide improved continuity of care and planned follow up after an emergency episode.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:34.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295942,"EventID":"S4W-21860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:34.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:33:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote tools to increase communication and help doctors respond to (a) hypoglycaemic and (b) hyperglycaemic reactions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects doctors to make use of the Emergency Care Summary and Key Information Summary to ensure that anyone with diabetes in Scotland receives appropriate, timely care regardless of where and when they are receiving treatment.\r\nThe Government is also supporting work to improve the management of diabetes in Scottish hospitals. The Diabetes in Scottish Hospitals (DiSH) initiative led by the NHS Scotland Quality Improvement Hub is currently working with a number of boards to test approaches and a range of tools (such as diabetes specific education and training of doctors and other healthcare professionals) to support the early identification and appropriate treatment of patients with diabetes admitted to hospital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:34.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295943,"EventID":"S4W-21861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:34.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T16:33:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the telehealth system to increase communication between doctors and first responders.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service has electronic communication methods in place to dispatch first responders to the scene of some categories of patients who require immediate attention. Thereafter the first responder information gathered at the scene in respect of the patient is electronically available within the Scottish Ambulance Service. At present the Scottish Ambulance Service can electronically send this information to some hospitals and some GP practices. The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently working in partnership with the territorial boards to roll out electronic information transfer to all boards.\r\nThe Scottish Ambulance Service also recently announced it is to make a multi-million pound investment in installing the latest tablet computers in its 600-strong accident and emergency fleet, while wireless satellite, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G technologies will also be added to the vehicles. This investment in the latest infrastructure will greatly enhance the capabilities of first responders to communicate with doctors and other clinicians.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:34.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295944,"EventID":"S4W-21869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:34.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:06:59.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on developments with the business rates incentivisation scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"As previously reported, I met the COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill on 4 June 2014 to discuss a possible joint review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS).\r\nThe outcome of that meeting was an agreement that our officials should jointly undertake a review of the BRIS with an aim to provide a better targeted incentive for councils to deliver the aims of the scheme to support economic recovery through growth in the underlying tax base. We agreed that this review should be concluded by the end of August this year.\r\nAlthough we were unable to reach agreement on the proposed revised 2012-13 targets, I agreed with COSLA that those councils that exceeded the Scottish Government’s revised targets for that year, around £9 million in total, should retain these sums. Those councils benefiting from this decision have now been notified of this decision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:34.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295945,"EventID":"S4W-21870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:35.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:06:59.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21218 by John Swinney on 28 May 2014, what progress with the business rates incentivisation scheme was made at the meeting with COSLA on 4 June 2014 and whether it will publish the minutes.\r\n","AnswerText":"I met the COSLA President, Councillor David O’Neill, on 4 June 2014 and agreed that our officials should jointly undertake a review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) with an aim to provide a better targeted incentive for councils to deliver the aims of the scheme to support economic recovery through growth in the underlying tax base. It was agreed that this review should be concluded by the end of August 2014.\r\nThe outcome of the meeting was summarised in a letter from me to Councillor O’Neill on 26 June 2014 confirming this approach. No other minutes of the meeting were taken.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:35.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295946,"EventID":"S4W-21872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:35.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:42:04.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21604 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, when it will (a) complete and (b) publish its review of the EU aviation guidelines.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our review of the new EU Aviation Guidelines is an internal consideration of the opportunities and impacts that they represent for the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:35.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295947,"EventID":"S4W-21874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:35.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:42:04.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21607 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, when it (a) last met and (b) will next meet stakeholders to discuss the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government regularly discusses route development with stakeholders including airlines and Scotland’s airports. Discussions are ongoing in respect of various new route opportunities to enhance Scotland’s international connectivity and increase inbound tourism. These discussions include support for route development but have not covered the establishment of an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:35.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295948,"EventID":"S4W-21876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:36.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:42:04.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21603 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, for what reason it has not commissioned such a review.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have reviewed the new aviation guidelines and are aware of both the constraints and the opportunities they represent. No further review is required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:36.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295949,"EventID":"S4W-21877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:36.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:42:04.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21605 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, whether it will publish its submission of (a) 7 June 2011 and (b) 3 October 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s submission of 7 June 2011 can be viewed at: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2011_aviation_guidelines/scotland_en.pdf\r\nThe Scottish Government’s submission of 3 October 2013 is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 56026).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:36.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295950,"EventID":"S4W-21879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:36.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-20T17:42:04.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings ministers have had with the EU regarding the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"None.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:36.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295951,"EventID":"S4W-21880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:37.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T08:26:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Minister for Environment and Climate Change is conducting \"an informal review\" of Orkney Islands Council’s proposed changes to the management of ballast water in Scapa Flow, in light of his statutory responsibility to review this decision under the habitats directive.\r\n","AnswerText":"Orkney Islands Council approved a revised Ballast Water Management Policy for Scapa Flow on 10 December 2013. Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and stakeholders have expressed concerns about the proposals and the need to ensure compliance with European legal requirements. In view of these concerns and Scottish Ministers’ statutory responsibilities, my officials have been reviewing the council’s appropriate assessment to determine whether we are satisfied that the proposals are compliant and, if not, whether or not there is a need to use statutory powers available to ministers in the regulations implementing the EU Habitats Directive.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:37.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295952,"EventID":"S4W-21881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:37.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T08:26:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice the Minister for Environment and Climate Change has received from (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding Orkney Islands Council’s recently adopted changes to the management of ballast water in Scapa Flow.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government maintains contact with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on Orkney Islands Council’s revised Ballast Water Management Policy.\r\nSEPA has a duty under the Water Framework Directive to protect the quality of water bodies and avoid any deterioration in status including that which may arise through the introduction of invasive non-native species. The Scottish Government is aware that SEPA continues to have concerns with respect to the Council’s Ballast Water Management Policy and that SEPA has advised Orkney Islands Council through the Strategic Environmental Assessment consultation process that, in SEPA’s judgement, the proposed policy change does not offer acceptable protection to Scapa Flow.\r\nSNH have informed the Scottish Government that they continue to have concerns about the potential for impacts on the Loch of Stenness Special Area of Conservation arising from approval of the revised Ballast Water Management Policy. SNH have expressed the view that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, at this time it cannot be ascertained beyond reasonable scientific doubt that the Ballast Water Management Policy for Scapa Flow will not potentially affect the integrity of this Special Area of Conservation. SNH have determined that the appropriate assessment undertaken by OIC has utilised an acceptable methodology and procedure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:37.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295953,"EventID":"S4W-21883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:37.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T08:26:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for Environment and Climate Change or his officials have had with the European Commission about Orkney Islands Council’s recently adopted changes to the management of ballast water in Scapa Flow and its compatibility with EU legislation.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers and their officials have to date had no discussions with the European Commission on Orkney Islands Council’s revised Ballast Water Management Policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:37.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295954,"EventID":"S4W-21884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:38.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T11:24:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support Scots who are (a) homeless and (b) sleeping rough in London.","AnswerText":"Since 1999-2000 the Scottish Government has provided £1.4 million to Borderline in 2014-15 to assist homeless Scots in London. Borderline is a charity that provides support and assistance to homeless Scots in London.\r\nIf someone is homeless and approaches a Scottish local authority they will be assessed under the homelessness legislation. If they are unintentionally homeless they will be entitled to settled accommodation\r\nIn England a homeless person can approach an English local authority for homelessness assistance. The local authority will then assess the case against the English homelessness legislation\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:38.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295955,"EventID":"S4W-21886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T14:45:39.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T11:24:28.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported rise in the number of Scots who are homeless and sleeping rough in London, whether it will reinstate funding to the homeless charity, Borderline, to its 2009-10 level.","AnswerText":"Since 1999-2000 Borderline has received more than £1.4 million from the Scottish Government to provide assistance to Scottish people in London who find themselves homeless.\r\nFunding has been provided through the Scottish Government’s Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme. Application forms for the 2015-16 grant scheme will shortly be sent to all interested organisations, including Borderline. All submitted applications for funding will be evaluated with a view to announcing successful recipients by 31 December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T14:45:39.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295956,"EventID":"S4F-02208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:39.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-19T14:01:25.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:40.007","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295957,"EventID":"S4F-02210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:40.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T10:07:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government can take to tackle the proliferation of fixed-odds betting terminals and pay-day lenders on the country's high streets.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:40.957","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295958,"EventID":"S4F-02211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:41.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T10:40:04.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Police Scotland report, Management Information Year End 2013/14.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:41.253","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295959,"EventID":"S4F-02217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:43.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T11:30:52.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to Professor Dunleavy's report, Transitioning to a new Scottish state.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:43.173","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295960,"EventID":"S4F-02222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:44.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T11:45:46.73","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to remarks made by the chief executive of the NHS regarding the movement of emergency patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:44.857","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295961,"EventID":"S4F-02209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:09:40.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T09:43:41.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:09:40.303","MeetingDate":"2014-06-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295962,"EventID":"S4T-00747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T13:32:32.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T10:10:33.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that people with serious criminal convictions are teaching in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T13:32:32.487","MeetingDate":"2014-06-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295963,"EventID":"S4W-21887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T16:52:19.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T16:10:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the 6.3% fall in the Level 4 budget figure for education maintenance allowance (EMA) between 2013-14 and 2014-15 reflects the expected reduction in actual spending between the two years or an expectation that actual spending in 2013-14 would be closer to the reported actual spend of £27.8 million in 2012-13 than the £31.6 million budgeted for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not expect to reduce actual spending for education maintenance allowance (EMA) in 2014-15. The reduced budget position reflects our anticipated spend for 2014-15 which we consider will be in line with spending from previous years, £27.8 million in 2012-13 and £27.6 million in 2011-12.\r\nEMA is an entitlement in Scotland and the Scottish Government will ensure every individual who is eligible for EMA support receives it. Unlike in England where the EMA programme has been abolished, Scottish Ministers are committed to the EMA programme and value its contribution to helping young people overcome financial barriers to access learning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T16:52:19.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295964,"EventID":"S4W-21888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T16:52:20.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T16:10:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further detail regarding the \"changing demographics in Scotland\" affecting spending on education maintenance allowance that are referred to in the \"explanation of significant changes from previous year\" provided in the Level 4 spreadsheet for the 2014-15 budget.","AnswerText":"Education maintenance allowance (EMA) is an entitlement in Scotland which means that any person who meets the eligibility criteria will receive EMA support.\r\nThe explanation in the Level 4 spreadsheet for the 2014-15 budget relates to the revised budget position for EMA rather than actual spend.\r\nThis revision reflects the projected decline in the number of secondary school pupils in Scotland.\r\nThe projections are available through the following web link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PupilProjectionsDataset/PupilProjections2010\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T16:52:20.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295965,"EventID":"S4W-21889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-23T16:52:20.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-23T16:15:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dog microchip reading machines (a) Police Scotland has and (b) local authorities have and where they are located.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-21T16:52:20.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":295970,"EventID":"S4W-21891","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T10:08:33.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T10:03:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since the publication of the response to its consultation on business rates, Supporting Business - Promoting Growth.\r\n","AnswerText":"In its response to the consultation “Supporting Business - Promoting Growth”, the Scottish Government set out 20 actions it will undertake up to the period of the next rates revaluation in 2017.\r\nA summary of progress against each of these actions is as follows.\r\nScottish Government actions, following the business rates consultation with progress summary\r\nScottish Government business rates consultation outcomes\r\nProgress summary\r\nWe will write, in 2013, to every business in Scotland based in a property that me be entitled to the Small Business Bonus scheme to highlight that they may benefit.\r\nIn November 2013 Minister for Energy Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing wrote to every business in Scotland that may be entitled, but was not claiming.\r\nWe will work with stakeholders to ensure there is a more consistent approach across Scotland.\r\nOn-going, a working group has been set up with Scottish Government officials, council officials and COSLA to produce non-statutory guidance to rates reliefs.\r\nWe will review rates relief application processes to ensure they are simple, transparent and streamlined.\r\nOn-going.\r\nWe will undertake a review of the recent changes to empty property relief in 2015. \r\nTo be carried out in 2015.\r\nAll rates reliefs will be kept under regular review to ensure that benefit is directed where it is most needed. \r\nOn-going. Actions already taken include the expansion of Fresh Start relief to include higher rateable value properties and previously empty hotels, restaurants and pubs and the expansion of the Small Business Bonus Scheme to include an estimated additional 4,000 properties, both came into force in April 2014. In addition, payday lenders will no longer be entitled to rates relief in Scotland from April 2014.\r\nAll current exemptions provided, including to some key sectors such as agriculture, will be retained. \r\nAll current exemptions have been\r\nretained.\r\nThe Scottish Government will create a power to allow local councils to respond better to local need and create their own localised relief schemes. \r\nThe Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was laid before Parliament on 11 June 2014. This includes a power to allow councils to create their own localized business rates relief schemes. There is no equivalent power to levy supplements.\r\nWe will continue the Small Business Bonus Scheme until 2016 and consider which relief thresholds can be established on a longer term basis ahead of the 2017 review. \r\nLegislation was laid and came into force on 1 April 2014 to allow for the SBBS to run for 2 years (for lifetime of current Scottish Parliament).\r\nThe way all current reliefs are funded will be maintained. \r\nFunding of all current reliefs has been\r\nmaintained\r\nThe way that relief to different sectors is recorded will be maintained.\r\nRecording of relief to different sectors\r\nhas been maintained.\r\nThe Scottish Government will consult on transitional relief ahead of the next revaluation in 2017. \r\nConsultation planned to take place\r\ncloser to 2017 revaluation date.\r\nNew rateable values will be made available to ratepayers as far in advance of the 2017 revaluation as possible.\r\nWork on-going, officials working jointly with the Scottish Assessors.\r\nA separate review of the appeals system will begin in 2014, concluding in time for the next revaluation in 2017. \r\nCurrently engaging with stakeholders to help inform the review. \r\nWe will work jointly with others to ensure businesses have access to clear, concise information about valuations, rateable values, rates bills and reliefs. \r\nNew business portal website and rates bill calculator launched in 2013.\r\nWhere there are further opportunities identified to provide clear, concise information on business rates, these will be considered.\r\nWe will take all possible measures to prevent tax avoidance and ensure rates are paid. \r\nOn-going.\r\nWhere possible, loopholes and avoidance tactics will be closed.\r\nOn-going.\r\nPowers for debt recovery will be strengthened and streaml","AnswerDate":"2014-06-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T10:08:33.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296004,"EventID":"S4W-21893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:44.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how schools can apply to the Access to Education Fund and what the eligibility criteria are.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:44.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296005,"EventID":"S4W-21894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:44.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether parents can apply directly to the Access to Education Fund for help with funding for school uniforms and other school expenses.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:44.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296006,"EventID":"S4W-21895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:45.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fund (a) parental engagement programmes or (b) participation in existing programmes via the Access to Education Fund and whether programmes must be approved for support related to them and, if so, what the criteria are.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:45.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296007,"EventID":"S4W-21896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:45.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further detail on how schools will access the Access to Education Fund and how it will allocate money to schools.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:45.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296008,"EventID":"S4W-21897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:45.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to advertise the Access to Education Fund to schools, and whether information will be disseminated to families via schools.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:45.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296009,"EventID":"S4W-21898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:46.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Access to Education Fund will fund (a) specific trips and programmes for groups of pupils or (b) individual students to participate in trips and programmes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:46.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296010,"EventID":"S4W-21899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:46.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will decide how much to award schools from the Access to Education Fund and what it expects the (a) uptake and (b) average award to be.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:46.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296011,"EventID":"S4W-21900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:46.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a standard application form for the Access to Education Fund and, if so, how many (a) pages and (b) questions it has.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:46.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296012,"EventID":"S4W-21901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:46.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether teachers are expected to complete application forms for the Access to Education Fund on behalf of children and families in need of support and, if so, how they will identify such children and families.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:46.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296013,"EventID":"S4W-21902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-24T16:41:47.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-24T15:14:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long it expects it will take to (a) process and (b) administer applications to the Access to Education Fund.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and Education Scotland are currently working to develop detailed criteria for eligibility and the application process. This will be published and made available to schools in time for the fund opening at the start of the new term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-22T16:41:47.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296014,"EventID":"S4W-21916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T11:24:18.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T11:20:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of the action it is taking to implement the Renewable Heat Action Plan in order to deliver its target to meet 11% of heat demand from renewable sources by 2020.\r\n","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce that I laid a report in Parliament on 26 June 2014 which updates the actions the Scottish Government is taking to implement the Renewable Heat Action Plan. Copies of the report are available on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-sources/19185/Heat/RHUpdate2014\r\nIn addition the Energy Saving Trust published their report on Renewable Heat in Scotland for 2013 on 26 June 2014. The report shows that in 2013 renewable heat capacity increased by 18% and heat generated from renewable sources by 17% compared with 2012, indicating that Scotland is making good progress towards meeting the renewable heat target by 2020. A copy of the Energy Saving Trust report is available at the following link: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/About-us/About-us/Recent-reports.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-06-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T11:24:18.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296015,"EventID":"S4W-21903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:03.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the mortality rate is for (a) heart failure, (b) cancer and (c) stroke.\r\n","AnswerText":"Table 1 shows European age-sex standardised mortality rates for heart failure, cancer and stroke from 2008 to 2012, as published by Information Services Division Scotland. Further information is available on the ISD website at the following web addresses:\r\nCancer: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/\r\nHeart Disease (including heart failure): http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Heart-Disease/\r\nStroke: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Stroke/\r\nTable 1: European age-sex standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population per \r\nyear for heart failure, cancer and stroke; Scotland, all ages and both sexes; 2008-\r\n2012.\r\n\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHeart failure\r\n5.0\r\n4.6\r\n4.2\r\n3.7\r\n4.2\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCancer (all sites)\r\n206.8\r\n202.9\r\n200.7\r\n198.5\r\n198.6\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStroke\r\n34.2\r\n29.5\r\n27.6\r\n26.2\r\n24.7\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNotes: \t1. International Classifications of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes used:\r\nHeart Failure – I50.\r\nCancer – C00-C97 excluding C44.\r\nStroke – I61, I63-I64.\r\n2. Rates are directly standardised to the 1976 European Standard Population\r\nSource: National Records of Scotland (NRS), death registrations and population estimates. Reference: IR2014-01155.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:03.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296016,"EventID":"S4W-21904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:04.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent heart failure specialist nurses there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on numbers of qualified nurses, which increased in this government by 4%, or by 1654.4 whole-time equivalent (WTE) to 42,680.6 WTE, is available via ISD Scotland.\r\nDue to the multidisciplinary nature of the role, a qualified nurse may work in more than one specific specialty, only one of which is recorded by ISD Scotland for each nurse.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:04.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296017,"EventID":"S4W-21905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:05.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many heart failure specialist nurses should be, based on the formula of 1 per 100,000 of the population.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of qualified nurses can be found through Information Services Division.\r\nDue to the multidisciplinary nature of the role, a qualified nurse may work in more than on specific speciality, however only one specialist area is recorded for each nurse.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:05.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296018,"EventID":"S4W-21906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:05.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to administer (a) a brain natriuretic peptide test, (b) an ultrasound scan and (c) a chest x-ray.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not centrally hold the cost of a brain natriuretic peptide test.\r\nThe 2012-13 Scottish Health Service Costs (Costs Book) publication provides a cost per examination for ultrasonics (£42.87) and for ‘other radiology’ (£54.79), which includes conventional x-rays:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Costs/Detailed-Tables/Radiology.asp). The cost of chest x-rays is not separately identified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:05.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296019,"EventID":"S4W-21907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:06.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last carried out a national audit of heart failure services and whether it will publish the findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Healthcare Improvement Scotland published the Heart Disease Services: Take Heart – A National Overview in September 2011. This publication covers heart failure and the development and subsequent implementation of a Heart Failure Care Bundle. This is an integral part of the current acute care work stream of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:06.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296020,"EventID":"S4W-21908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:06.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last commissioned Professor Henry Dargie to review heart failure services; what recommendations were made, and what subsequent action was taken.\r\n","AnswerText":"Professor Henry Dargie completed an audit of heart failure services in Scotland in 2008-09.\r\nThis was undertaken as part of NHS QIS (HIS) Heart Disease Improvement Programme, the report of which was published in September 2011.\r\nThis work helped to inform the development and subsequent implementation of a Heart Failure Care Bundle which is an integral part of the current Acute care workstream of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:06.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296021,"EventID":"S4W-21909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:07.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a national heart failure pathway.","AnswerText":"The Heart Failure Hub has been established as a subgroup of the National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease in order to take forward a national programme of work in relation to heart failure. The group brings together clinicians, managers, the voluntary sector and patients to ensure a co-ordinated approach to tackling the many challenges facing heart failure teams in NHS Boards across Scotland. The Heart Failure Hub has recently commissioned work on a Heart Failure Pathway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:07.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296022,"EventID":"S4W-21910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:07.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) diagnosis, (a) treatment, (c) follow up and (d) waiting times targets it has set for heart failure services.\r\n","AnswerText":"Heart failure services are covered by the Scottish Government 18 weeks to referral to treatment waiting time standard. To deliver this standard all parts of the patient pathway, outpatient consultation, diagnostic test and treatment, must be as short as possible. If a patient goes on to inpatient and day case treatment they will also be covered by the 12 weeks legal treatment time guarantee. However, within the standard and guarantee we would expect that the more urgent patients will be seen much quicker.\r\nThere are no waiting time targets for follow up appointments as the timing of such appointments need to reflect each individual patients condition and treatment. We would expect clinicians to keep patients fully informed of their care and the frequency of any follow-up care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:07.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296023,"EventID":"S4W-21911","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:08.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T08:23:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of its most recent cost-benefit analysis of the early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and the savings in social care that could arise.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:08.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296024,"EventID":"S4W-21912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:08.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T10:47:19.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the peer approved clinical system will replace the individual patient treatment request system.\r\n","AnswerText":"Changes to access to medicines policy have already been introduced and hundreds more patients throughout Scotland are already accessing new treatments.\r\nThe interim individual patient treatment request system was introduced in 2013-14, and brought greater flexibility which has seen a significant increase in the number of applications and approvals to the new system.\r\nDue to this substantial increase in patients accessing new treatments, and ahead of a body of Scottish Medicines Consortium decisions which will reduce reliance on individual requests, we are planning to carefully pilot the rollout of the Peer Approved Clinical System early in 2015 to ensure that it does not reduce this increase in access to treatments through changes already made.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:08.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296025,"EventID":"S4W-21913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:09.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T10:47:19.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have submitted applications under the individual patients treatment request system and how many were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.\r\n","AnswerText":"Individual patient treatment requests (IPTRs) are made by clinicians rather than individual patients. The Scottish Government is compiling the most recent information on IPTRs in order to provide an update to the Health and Sport Committee before Parliament enters recess on 23 August 2014. I will ensure that this information is also placed in SPICe. There has been a significant increase in the number of IPTRs approved in the transitional period ahead of decisions by the Scottish Medicines Consortium under their new process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:09.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296026,"EventID":"S4W-21914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:09.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T10:47:19.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of time has been between the receipt of an application under the individual patient treatment request system and a decision.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards prioritise individual patient treatment requests in accordance with the patient’s clinical needs and it is expected that due consideration is given to the urgency of the request given the patient’s clinical condition.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not have access to confidential patient information on the clinical condition of individual patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:09.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296027,"EventID":"S4W-21915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:09.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T11:19:10.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed local income tax scheme will be set by local authorities or centrally.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to consulting others later in this parliamentary session to develop a fairer, more progressive, local tax based on the ability to pay.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:09.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296028,"EventID":"S4W-21917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:10.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T11:24:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have adopted a six-week settling-in period for pupils starting primary one.\r\n","AnswerText":"The statutory responsibility for the provision of education in Scotland rests with local authorities. In discharging these duties authorities are responsible for the day to day organisation of the schools including the arrangements for the settling in of primary one pupils each year. Information relating to how many local authorities have adopted a six week-settling in period for primary one pupils is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:10.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296029,"EventID":"S4W-21918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:10.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T11:32:23.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidance on supporting its planning policy on onshore oil and gas exploration and production; what the status of this guidance will be, and how it will be informed by (a) the findings of the Independent Expert Scientific Panel on Unconventional Oil and Gas and (b) EU recommendation 2014/70/EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"Updated Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) published on 23 June 2014 contains strengthened policy on promoting responsible extraction of resources, including the following key changes: confirmation that buffer zones should be applied to all proposals; making explicit that buffer zones will be assessed by the planning authority and statutory consultees, with a strong expectation that planning permission should be refused if they are unacceptable; putting in place an additional requirement for risk assessments to be prepared; ensuring greater transparency concerning proposals for unconventional gas developments; and requiring a fresh application and public consultation if permission has not been sought for hydraulic fracturing but a developer subsequently wishes to undertake this process. The updated policy now applies.\r\nThe Scottish Government is currently considering the scope of further guidance which will take account of both the Expert Scientific Panel’s report and the EU’s recommendation. This guidance will be non-statutory and will be published in due course. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor emerging advice on health and safety.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:10.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296030,"EventID":"S4W-21919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T13:54:10.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T12:39:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanism it has in place to monitor whether individual NHS boards are complying with the (a) Patient Rights (Treatment Time Guarantee) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and (b) Patient Rights (Treatment Time Guarantee) (Scotland) Directions 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government receives regular information from all boards around the delivery of the treatment time guarantee. ISD Scotland also publish quarterly information, not only on the delivery of the guarantee but also on the number and reasons of why patients have been made unavailable for treatment. This data is closely scrutinised by the Scottish Government and any deviation in trends will be raised with the board concerned. In addition the Health Directorate’s Access Support Team meets regularly with boards both individually and through the Waiting Time Executive Leads Group to discuss compliance and how rules are being applied across NHSScotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T13:54:10.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296044,"EventID":"S4W-21920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-25T16:30:18.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T15:21:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average length of a short assured tenancy contract has been in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-23T16:30:18.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296051,"EventID":"S4W-21921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:33.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T16:37:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all patients receive cross-border NHS treatment through Article 7 (4) of EU directive 2011/24.\r\n","AnswerText":"Article 7 (4) of the European Cross-border Healthcare Directive (2011/24) sets out the amount that the home Member State must reimburse for treatment provided in another Member State. This has been transposed into Scottish legislation through the National Health Service (Cross-Border Health Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2013.\r\nArticle 7 (4) also sets out that reimbursement must be made to either the patient or the overseas healthcare provider, and that additional costs may be considered at the home Member State’s discretion. These are matters for NHS boards, taking into account the individual patient’s particular circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:33.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296052,"EventID":"S4W-21922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:33.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T16:37:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will give to the National Contact Point and NHS boards on providing patients with access to information and advice on Article 7 (4) of EU directive 2011/24. \r\n","AnswerText":"The purpose of the EU-wide network of National Contact Points (NCP) is to help smooth the path for patients looking to access treatment in a particular Member State under the European Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (2011/24), by providing information on: healthcare providers; treatment quality and safety; and access, to allow patients to make informed choices. Scotland’s NCP is provided via NHS informs website and helpline.\r\nFunding decisions and arrangements for Scottish residents who choose to travel to another Member State for healthcare under the provisions of the directive are matters for NHS boards as state healthcare providers.\r\nAs confirmed by the European Commission, the general expectation is that patients who choose to exercise their rights under the directive will pay the overseas healthcare provider at the time of their treatment. They can then claim reimbursement, up to the amount the treatment would have cost had it been provided by the State at home, in Scotland that would be their local NHS board.\r\nNHS boards are aware that under Article 7(4) the cost of treatment can be paid direct to the healthcare provider in another Member State. That is a decision for boards based on the individual patient’s particular circumstances.\r\nIt is in the best interests of patients considering treatment in another Member State under the directive, or the family member/independent representative acting on their behalf, to enter into early dialogue with their local NHS board before they travel. This provides an opportunity to discuss the process, eligibility and the level of reimbursement or funding they can expect to receive.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:33.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296053,"EventID":"S4W-21923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:33.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T16:37:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients seeking cross-border NHS treatment under EU directive 2011/24 (a) paid for the treatment themselves or (b) had the cost of treatment paid for them under Article 7 (4) of the directive, broken down by NHS board area since October 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is a matter for NHS boards and is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\nI refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-21921 and S4W-21922 on 24 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:33.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296054,"EventID":"S4W-21924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:34.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T17:37:55.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local residents and communities of interest have rights to formally comment on new or upgraded hill track construction.","AnswerText":"Where a planning application is submitted to the planning authority, the legal requirements for neighbour notification and publicising the application will be followed and local residents and communities are given the opportunity to make a representation. Where an agricultural or forestry track is considered to be permitted development then, as with any other permitted development, there is no legal requirement to publicise the matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:34.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296055,"EventID":"S4W-21925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:34.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T17:37:55.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it can ensure that the views of developers, local people and communities of interest are taken into account when hill tracks are constructed. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21924 on 16 July 2014. When a planning application is received, the relevant planning authority will consider any representations and to decide how much weight to give the representation in reaching any decision.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:34.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296056,"EventID":"S4W-21926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:34.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T17:37:55.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the environmental impacts of hill tracks are relevant to the planning process wherever they occur or only in certain protected areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"Environmental impacts are relevant to any development. Where permission is required any such impacts, including those affecting protecting areas, will be considered as part of the planning process.\r\nPrivate ways (including hilltracks) are either roads or footpaths. Where a road is being created this is considered to be schedule 2 development in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and therefore should be screened to consider whether or not an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required. If an EIA is required then any permitted development rights no longer apply and a planning application is required. \r\nAlternatively, if the development is intended for forestry use, the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment is considered under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:34.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296057,"EventID":"S4W-21927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:34.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T17:37:55.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process is used to ensure a balance between interests in hill track construction in national scenic areas and some designated sites, but not in others.","AnswerText":"The planning system allows for certain development to be considered as permitted development where it is considered that permission would generally be granted if sought. While the majority of permitted development rights apply across the whole of Scotland, they can also be restricted to specific areas where it is considered that there is a need to do so.\r\nFollowing consultation on permitted development rights, including those for agricultural and forestry private ways, the Scottish Government committed to keeping these rights under review. The Scottish Government continues to monitor the situation and a decision will be announced in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:34.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296058,"EventID":"S4W-21928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:35.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T18:19:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement the UK Crime and Courts Act 2013 provisions in relation to drug driving; whether it will bring forward secondary regulations in this regard, and, if so, on what timescale.","AnswerText":"It is a criminal offence to drive in an impaired way while under the influence of drugs.\r\nA new drug driving offence was provided for in the UK Crime and Courts Act 2013 which makes it an offence to drive with above specified levels of certain drugs within a person’s body.\r\nThe Scottish Government and the UK Government last year jointly consulted on possible approaches to setting a drug driving limit for the new offence for a specified range of drugs. We expect to publish an analysis of the Scottish consultation responses in the next few months. This will inform Scottish Government decisions about the next steps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:35.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296059,"EventID":"S4W-21930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:35.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T18:59:57.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model are at the construction stage.","AnswerText":"The revenue funded projects currently at construction stage are:\r\nAlford Academy, Aberdeenshire;\r\nAyrshire College (Kilmarnock Campus);\r\nCity of Glasgow College;\r\nInverness College;\r\nJames Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh;\r\nM8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements;\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran Acute Mental Health and North Ayrshire Community Hospital*;\r\nNHS Grampian and NHS Highland Bundle - Forres, Woodside and Tain Health Facilities; and\r\nNHS Lanarkshire Bundle - Wishaw, East Kilbride and Kilsyth Health Centres.\r\n*This project started construction after S4W-21743 was answered on 25 June 2014\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:35.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296060,"EventID":"S4W-21931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:35.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T18:59:57.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it still estimates that a capital budget equivalent of £185 million was delivered on the ground in 2013-14 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nwww.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:35.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296061,"EventID":"S4W-21932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:36.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T18:59:57.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it still estimates that a capital budget equivalent of £809 million will be delivered on the ground in 2014-15 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nwww.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:36.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296062,"EventID":"S4W-21935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:36.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the first national report on lung cancer quality performance indicators will be published.","AnswerText":"The first year of lung cancer quality performance indicators data analysis (for patients diagnosed from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014) is scheduled for submission to ISD on 13 November 2014. The national comparative report is due to be published May 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:36.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296063,"EventID":"S4W-21936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:37.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will evaluate the Detect Cancer Early Programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Detect Cancer Early Programme has an associated HEAT target to increase the proportion of people with stage 1 disease at diagnosis by 25% (as a proxy indictor of survival outcome) for the three most common cancers in Scotland, lung, breast and colorectal cancer and is due to be met by end December 2015.\r\nThe social marketing campaigns are continually being reviewed and are evaluated through an independent research agency. In addition the impact on the uptake of the national bowel and breast screening programme is being assessed. The initial evaluations of the social marketing campaigns have been encouraging however the direct impact of public awareness campaigns and other components of the Detect Cancer Early Programme will not be fully apparent until the cancer staging data for 2013-2014 is available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:37.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296064,"EventID":"S4W-21937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:37.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Detect Cancer Early Programme targets hard-to-reach communities.","AnswerText":"The Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme aims to increase the proportion of Scots diagnosed in the first stage of cancer, initially focusing on breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Survival rates from cancer are often poorest in those living in the most deprived communities and uptake of the cancer screening programmes is lowest in these areas.\r\nThe DCE social marketing campaigns are targeted to the most hard to reach groups and include targeted TV, radio and press adverts, translated materials as well as extensive field marketing and road shows. Indeed, over 75% of this target audience have reported high levels of awareness of the DCE social marketing campaigns through an independent evaluation.\r\nIn addition we have introduced a two year primary care initiative to support informed uptake of the national bowel screening programme in areas of poorest uptake and have recently launched a targeted breast screening campaign aimed at women over 50 who do not currently take up the offer to screen.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:37.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296065,"EventID":"S4W-21938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:38.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on the lung cancer screening programme trial.","AnswerText":"A report on the Early Lung Cancer Detection Study will be published on completion of clinical trials. Those leading the study are currently recruiting volunteers and estimate that clinical trials will be complete in 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:38.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296066,"EventID":"S4W-21939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:38.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects information on patient experience of cancer services to inform service improvements and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cancer Taskforce discussed the possibility of a cancer patient experience survey in Scotland in their meeting on 27 June 2014. The taskforce agreed that further investigation should take place, including examination of the methodology behind the surveys which have taken place in other parts of the UK.\r\nThe Scottish Government gathers the experiences of a range of health care users via the biennial Inpatient Patient Experience survey and the biennial Health and Care Experience survey (formerly the GP Patient Experience survey). This includes cancer patients.\r\nA national cancer quality performance indicators (QPI) programme is being taken forward to drive continuous quality improvement in cancer care across NHS Scotland, and QPIs will be developed for all main cancers by October 2014. As part of the wider QPI work programme, Patient Experience QPIs were published in April 2014. The aim is to foster a culture of continuous quality improvement at a local level supported by a programme of regional and national comparative reporting and review. This will allow for identification of common themes and best practice for improvement in patient experience.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:38.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296067,"EventID":"S4W-21940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:39.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer are being (a) communicated and (b) implemented to ensure early diagnosis of lung cancer.","AnswerText":"To support GPs in Scotland to refer patients with suspected cancer as early as possible, the Scottish Government published referral guidance in 2007, called the ‘Scottish Executive Health Department Letter (2007) 9: Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer’.\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland have been leading on a review of these Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer. Review groups have been established for each tumour group, with membership of each including clinicians from secondary and primary care, members of the Scottish Cancer Coalition and patient representatives. The lung cancer review group produced draft guidelines for suspected lung cancers, which were sent out for wide clinical, patient and public consultation prior to being published in October 2013.\r\nTo support effective communication and implementation of the revised guidelines a series of primary care education session were held in autumn 2014 in partnership with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. These sessions are now available for primary care professionals to view online.\r\nThe remaining guidelines are under review and all guidelines will be published by late summer 2014.\r\nA further sub-group has being convened to support the effective dissemination and implementation of the revised guidelines with support from Macmillan Cancer Support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:39.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296068,"EventID":"S4W-21941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:39.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-25T23:34:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and improve survival rates.","AnswerText":"Smoking, including passive smoking, increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The Scottish Government has introduced a legislative programme on smoke-free public places and on tobacco sales. This includes the Tobacco and Primary Medical (Scotland) Act 2010, which is designed to discourage people becoming addicted at an early stage.\r\nIn March 2013, the Scottish Government published its new Tobacco Control Strategy - Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation. The new strategy sets out the Scottish Government's ambition for a smoke-free Scotland (less than 5% smoking population) by 2034. A key action within the strategy charged NHS Health Scotland with leading a review of smoking cessation services in Scotland. In addition, the current HEAT target for smoking cessation focuses on addressing health inequalities.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also committed to improving survival rates from lung cancer. Our 'Detect Cancer Early' initiative, which was launched in February 2012 with £30 million of investment, focuses on raising public awareness and encouraging people with early symptoms of cancer to see their GP. \r\nOur lung cancer social marketing campaign, led by Sir Alex Ferguson as spokesperson, has been running from November 2013, with the aim of building belief that something can be done for lung cancer if detected earlier, reinforcing that people can live well after lung cancer if it’s detected earlier, and impressing on people that it is worthwhile seeing their GP as soon as possible. \r\nThe revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer were published in October 2013 and updated May 2014. This version updates referral guidelines for lung cancer, and takes account of new research evidence and the findings of audits undertaken since the last revision. The aim of these updated guidelines is to facilitate appropriate referral between primary and secondary care for patients whom a GP suspects may have cancer. The guidelines should help GPs, the wider primary care team, other clinicians and patients and carers to identify those patients who are most likely to have cancer and who therefore require urgent assessment by a specialist. Work is also being undertaken to support the effective dissemination and implementation of the revised guidelines when they are published by August 2014.\r\nThe quality performance indicators programme also aims to drive up the standard of cancer services available in NHS Scotland. This programme contains specific indicators for prostate cancer. These indicators will be used to monitor and drive quality improvement in prostate cancer care across the NHS in Scotland and ensure that people have access to timely, safe and effective services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:39.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296069,"EventID":"S4W-21950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:40.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T11:35:07.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to (a) public sector, (b) third sector and (c) private sector social care providers to assist with meeting workforce qualification requirements.","AnswerText":"Employers are responsible for the training and continuous learning of their employees.\r\nThere is guidance and tools available to all employers in the social services sector which supports the identification, level and quality of training required for their employees. This includes the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Code of Practice, National Occupational Standards (NOS), Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF); and the Continuous Learning Framework (CLF).\r\nBodies such as the SSSC, Skills for Care and Development, the sector skills council for the social services sector, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Care Inspectorate) and the Scottish Qualifications Authority amongst others, support employers in training their workforce.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:40.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296070,"EventID":"S4W-21953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:40.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T11:35:07.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what average grant is awarded to a social care trainee.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are several different funding streams available to people undertaking education and training.\r\nThe Scottish Social Services Council has produced guidance on funding and support for training. The guidance provides information on sources of funding available to assist with the cost of undertaking qualifications.\r\nIf eligible, students can apply for a part-time fee grant from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. The level of the tuition fee will be pro-rata on the number of Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework credits the student takes. To qualify for this funding, the student should have an individual income of £25,000 a year or less.\r\nA new simplified higher education student support package as part of the Post 16 Education Reform Programme was introduced in 2013-14 for full time students undertaking a course of higher education.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:40.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296071,"EventID":"S4W-21954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:40.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T11:35:07.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many private sector providers are covering the cost of social care staff training to meet workforce qualification requirements.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not collected and held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:40.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296072,"EventID":"S4W-21955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T13:42:41.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T11:35:07.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what help is available to social care staff whose employer does not cover the cost of training for workforce qualifications.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21953 on 21 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T13:42:41.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296080,"EventID":"S4W-21942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:38.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:19:36.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 3,440 two-year-olds in workless families will be guaranteed a childcare place at the start of August 2014.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21840 on 10 July 2014. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:38.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296081,"EventID":"S4W-21943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:38.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:19:36.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the “outstanding and unresolved issues” are that are referred to in paragraph 15 of the policy note accompanying the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014 [draft] and how many local authorities it expects to experience them.","AnswerText":"A joint assessment by the Scottish Government and COSLA has confirmed that every local authority has plans in place to deliver the new provision for eligible 2 year olds in August 2014.\r\nTo ensure they are ready to deliver this new provision, local authorities have been making alterations to buildings to make them ready for a higher number of young children, recruiting more suitably trained and experienced staff and negotiating with partner providers and childminders.\r\nHowever, there remains a risk that practical issues may appear during the initial stages of implementation.\r\nThe extra time before the legal duty commences allows local authorities more flexibility to resolve any unforeseen challenges around implementation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:38.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296082,"EventID":"S4W-21945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:39.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:19:36.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it had with COSLA regarding the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014 [draft] and when the need for a three-month delay in the legal duty was first raised with Scottish Government officials.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been ongoing discussions with COSLA on this issue, and assessment of local authorities’ progress towards delivering the funded early learning and childcare entitlement to eligible 2 year olds.\r\nOn 19th June 2014, the Scottish Government agreed with COSLA that, in order to enable local authorities to address any unforeseen issues with provision that may arise, and to fully test the implementation of local authority plans, the legal duty in relation to eligible two year olds will now come into force on 31 October.\r\nThis will protect councils from legal challenge in the event that any adjustments are required to local delivery plans.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:39.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296083,"EventID":"S4W-21946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:39.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:19:36.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will inform parents from workless households of the expansion of childcare provision.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is developing public information materials to raise awareness of the increased funded hours of early learning and childcare and extended eligibility for vulnerable two year olds.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:39.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296084,"EventID":"S4W-21956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:39.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent primary school teachers there have been in each year since 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of full-time equivalent primary school teachers is published in table 1.1 of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No 4: 2013 Edition publication. A link to this publication which is on the Scottish Government website is as follows:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4199/4\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:39.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296085,"EventID":"S4W-21957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:39.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies for full-time equivalent primary school teachers there have been in each year since 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:39.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296086,"EventID":"S4W-21958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:40.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on (a) how many and (b) what proportion of primary school teachers who qualified in each year since 2010 had a degree in mathematics, chemistry, physics or biology.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:40.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296087,"EventID":"S4W-21959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:40.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland on increasing the minimum entry requirements for primary school teachers to include qualifications in mathematics, chemistry, physics or biology.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government discussed this and other matters with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) during the consultation period prior to the GTCS publishing the June 2013 version of the Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland which can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.gtcs.org.uk/web/FILES/about-gtcs/memorandum-on-entry-requirements.pdf\r\nThe memorandum sets out at section 4(iii) the intention of the GTCS to have revised requirements in relation to the subjects referred to in place by 2020 at the latest.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:40.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296088,"EventID":"S4W-21960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:41.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of science specialists in primary schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whilst recruitment of teachers is the responsibility of local authorities, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of a good grounding in science in the primary years and is providing support for primary school teachers to build their knowledge and skills in the teaching of science. In January 2014, Education Scotland launched TigTag, a comprehensive package of online science teaching support materials for primary teachers. We are also funding the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre to run a learning programme specifically targeting the science needs of primary teachers. It focuses on the development of primary teacher mentors, who in turn work with schools in their local area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:41.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296089,"EventID":"S4W-21961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:41.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent secondary school teachers in (a) mathematics, (b) chemistry, (c) physics and (d) biology there have been in each year since 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of full-time equivalent secondary school teachers by main subject taught is given in table 3.9 of the teacher census supplementary dataset to the ‘Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No 4: 2013 Edition’ publication. A link to this dataset which is on the Scottish Government website is as follows:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata/teachcensus2013\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:41.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296090,"EventID":"S4W-21962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:41.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T12:46:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies for full-time equivalent secondary school teachers in (a) mathematics, (b) chemistry, (c) physics and (d) biology there have been in each year since 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:41.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296091,"EventID":"S4W-21963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:42.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T15:00:44.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what trends in sandeel abundance were observed during the sandeel survey in 2006.","AnswerText":"In 2006 there was a trawl survey of the Shetland coastal grounds. This was part of an annual survey that ran from 1984-2007. In 2006, the index for young of the year sandeels was below the average for the survey but above the preceding five years and in 2007 the index was similar to this average.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:42.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296092,"EventID":"S4W-21964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:42.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T15:00:44.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the conservation of sandeels can be monitored in the absence of a specific survey.\r\n","AnswerText":"The breeding success of some surface feeding seabirds provides a reliable proxy of sandeel abundance near colonies and these seabird species are monitored annually at colonies around Scotland. Hence it is possible to get a regular indication of sandeel abundance. In addition, Marine Scotland Science has undertaken an annual survey off the east coast of Scotland since 2008 in order to obtain reliable estimates of sandeel abundance in the only region which is still subject to a significant fishery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:42.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296093,"EventID":"S4W-21965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:42.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T15:18:02.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on (a) how many and (b) what proportion of primary school teachers who qualified in each year since 2010 had qualifications in (i) higher mathematics, (ii) higher chemistry, physics or biology and (iii) standard grade chemistry, physics or biology.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:42.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296094,"EventID":"S4W-21966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:43.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T16:17:01.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on the affordability to an independent Scotland of continuing the tax incentives currently offered by the UK Government in relation to the creative industries.","AnswerText":"Fiscal incentives are currently given, subject to meeting set criteria, to production of films, high end television drama, animation and video games. Such incentives will continue at the point of independence on the principle of continuity of law. Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland indicates that “We plan to continue the existing fiscal incentives for such production and, within the first term of an independent Scottish parliament, we propose to look at ways to encourage further development in the sector, through incentives, infrastructural investment and support for development, skills and training.” As audio-visual production has been historically focused on the South-east of England continuing fiscal incentives will tend to attract new production to Scotland without subsidising production that would have happened in any event, to a greater degree than for the UK at present.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:43.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296095,"EventID":"S4W-21967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-26T16:43:43.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T16:17:01.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on the affordability to an independent Scotland of introducing tax relief for film productions at the levels available in countries such as Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland indicates that “We plan to continue the existing fiscal incentives for such production and, within the first term of an independent Scottish parliament, we propose to look at ways to encourage further development in the sector, through incentives, infrastructural investment and support for development, skills and training.” Consideration of the costs and benefits to Scotland of such approaches to further development, in terms of tax revenue foregone, tax revenue generated from production activity that would not otherwise have happened, and non-tax costs such as investment in human and infrastructural capital would form part of that consideration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-24T16:43:43.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296096,"EventID":"S4W-21968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:45.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether fees paid to safeguarders by Children 1st are subject to VAT and what discussions it has had with HM Revenue and Customs about the matter.","AnswerText":"Fees payable to safeguarders by Children 1st are not subject to VAT. No direct discussions have been held with HM Revenue and Customs, as the position on VAT applicability is in line with HM Revenue and Customs guidance and the Scottish Public Finance Manual.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:46.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296097,"EventID":"S4W-21980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:47.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T12:35:47.197","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate funds from the Scotland Rural Development Programme to help manage (a) historical and (b) archaeological sites.\r\n","AnswerText":"Due to a very tight common agricultural programme budget settlement we are unable to allocate Scotland Rural Development Programme funds for the specific purpose of the managing of historical and archaeological sites.\r\nInstead, we are seeking to integrate the management needs of some scheduled monuments into targeting and scoring mechanisms for agri-environment payments. This approach can ensure that agri-environment payments, which are directed primarily towards biodiversity, water quality and climate change priorities, can deliver improved management of targeted scheduled monuments, maximising the use of our limited budget to deliver multiple beneficial outcomes.\r\nThere may be scope for Links Between Activities Developing the Rural Economy (LEADER) to fund community initiatives which seek to make effective use of local cultural heritage where this is identified as a priority in their Local Development Strategy. LEADER funding has been used to this effect in previous programmes, delivering benefit for communities and the historic environment alike.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:47.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296098,"EventID":"S4W-21981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:47.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T12:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, what discussions it has had with Caledonian MacBrayne regarding the rates of pay for ratings on the MS Clipper Ranger.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has had regular discussions with CalMac Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries about pay levels for employees of SeaTruck since this was first highlighted as an issue by both operators.\r\nWe have made it clear, to both CalMac Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries, that we expect them to offer to pay for increases to be made to the wage levels of these crew members, backdated to the start of the charter agreements these companies have with Seatruck. However, we understand that Seatruck has still to agree to this offer.\r\nCalMac Ferries and Serco NorthLink are actively pursuing a solution in the interests of the seafarers concerned.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:47.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296099,"EventID":"S4W-21982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:47.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T12:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when Caledonian MacBrayne chartered the MS Clipper Ranger; when the charter will end, and what the cost has been.","AnswerText":"The charter agreement entered into by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd commenced on 19 September 2013 and is due to end in November 2014. The cost of chartering the vessel is commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:47.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296100,"EventID":"S4W-21983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:48.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T12:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost David MacBrayne Ltd to charter the MV Hildasay from 2006 to 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"The MV Hildasay was chartered by David MacBrayne Ltd from 20 January 2010 until 30 June 2012. The cost of chartering the vessel is commercially confidential under the terms of the agreement signed by David MacBrayne Ltd.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:48.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296101,"EventID":"S4W-21984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:48.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T12:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost Serco NorthLink to charter the MV Hildasay from 2012 to 2018.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the terms of the charter agreement between Serco NorthLink and Seatruck the cost to Serco NorthLink of chartering the MV Hildasay is commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:48.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296102,"EventID":"S4W-21985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:48.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T13:55:02.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the coming into force of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, how many hours per month it expects named persons who are teachers to spend fulfilling their obligations as a named person; what additional resources it will provide to schools to provide a named person service, and what opt-outs there will be for professionals who do not wish to act as a named person.\r\n","AnswerText":"The additional resources for local authorities implementation of named person duties are set out in the financial memorandum, including the additional time associated with the role. This can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Children%20and%20Young%20People%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b27s4-introd-en.pdf .\r\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has confirmed that the Scottish Government will fully fund the additional costs of the Act to local authorities.\r\nThe Act does not place duties on individuals, but on organisations to ensure that the named person functions are carried out. Arrangements for individuals to ‘opt out’ of the role would be covered by existing arrangements in each of these organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:48.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296103,"EventID":"S4W-21987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:48.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T13:55:02.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which (a) NHS boards and (b) local authorities are operating a named person scheme.","AnswerText":"Community Planning Partnerships across Scotland are currently implementing a non-statutory version of the named person role on a voluntary basis, with positive results and experiences. Our understanding is that some of the local authorities and NHS boards who have committed to implementing the named person include Highland, Edinburgh, Angus, Stirling and Ayrshire.\r\nThe Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, which puts the named person role into statute, received royal assent on 27 March 2014. The named person provisions of the Act are likely to be commenced in August 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:48.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296104,"EventID":"S4W-21989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:49.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T14:40:24.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign and whether it has had correspondence with local authorities or other organisations regarding whether it breaches the provisions of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotions Act 2002.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have been made aware of the Smoke Spots campaign. The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) and Glasgow City Council Trading Standards are also aware of the campaign.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:49.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296105,"EventID":"S4W-21990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:49.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T14:40:24.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign is likely to have the effect of promoting tobacco use and, if so, whether it considers that it is in breach of Article 13 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.\r\n","AnswerText":"Article 13 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control places an obligation on Parties to “undertake a complete ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”.\r\nThe purpose of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotions Act 2002 (TAPA) is to prohibit any advert whose purpose is to promote tobacco products, or whose effect is to do so. Enforcement of TAPA rests with Trading Standards.\r\nWe will keep under review any activity which we think compromises TAPA.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:49.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296106,"EventID":"S4W-21991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:47:49.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T14:40:24.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the legality of Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are in contact with colleagues in Department of Health about a range of issues. They are aware of the Smoke Spots campaign.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:47:49.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296107,"EventID":"S4W-21969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:06.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how VAT on safeguarders fees was dealt with when the fees were paid by local authorities; how it is dealt with under Children 1st, and what the Scottish Government's position is on the matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The payment of safeguarders prior to the 2011 Act was a matter for local authorities. It is understood that the method and range of payments varied between local authorities as well as in respect of individual safeguarders. Prior to the 2011 Act and associated regulations coming into force on 24 June 2013, the Scottish Government undertook a consultation on fees applicable to the new arrangements with all safeguarders. A revised set of nationally consistent fees, expenses and allowances, with levels set on a ‘no detriment’ basis was published by the Scottish Government. From 24 June 2013, Children 1st have been responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to safeguarders - VAT is not payable on these fees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:06.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296108,"EventID":"S4W-21970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:07.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received representations on the issue of the payment of VAT on safeguarders' fees and, if so, when, and what action it has taken as a result.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are some 180 serving safeguarders in Scotland. The Scottish Government is aware of representations from two safeguarders on the issue of the payment of VAT. Both enquires were received in January 2014, with a follow-up from one individual in April 2014. The position was checked with the relevant officials, and written responses were provided explaining that VAT was not payable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:07.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296109,"EventID":"S4W-21971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:08.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is required to cover VAT charges on fees for safeguarders.","AnswerText":"VAT is not payable on fees for safeguarders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:08.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296110,"EventID":"S4W-21972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:08.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:11:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will decide whether to cover VAT on fees for safeguarders.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government cannot pay VAT on fees for safeguarders, reflecting the positions set out in HM Revenue and Customs and Scottish Public Finance Manual guidance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:08.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296111,"EventID":"S4W-21973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:09.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:41:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) about the range of evidence it considers when developing clinical guidelines for the treatment of (a) mental health conditions, (b) depression and (c) anxiety.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and improving outcomes. The range of evidence considered in the production of any particular guideline is based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multidisciplinary guideline development group. There have been no discussions between the Scottish Government and SIGN on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:09.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296112,"EventID":"S4W-21974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:09.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:41:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the next review will take place of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) clinical guidelines for the treatment of (a) depression and (b) anxiety.","AnswerText":"Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and improving outcomes. The range of evidence considered in the production of any particular guideline is based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multidisciplinary guideline development group. Any group or individual may propose a guideline topic to SIGN. Guideline topics are selected on the basis of burden of disease, the existence of variation in practice, and the potential to improve outcome. There are currently no plans for a review of the SIGN clinical guidelines on the non-pharmacological management of depression. SIGN has not produced a guideline on the treatment of anxiety and currently has no plans to do so.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:09.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296113,"EventID":"S4W-21975","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:09.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:41:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) about the consideration of practice-based evidence for psychological therapies in the production of its clinical guidelines.","AnswerText":"Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and improving outcomes. The range of evidence considered in the production of any particular guideline is based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multi-disciplinary guideline development group. SIGN would consider evidence for psychological therapies, where relevant, in the production of any particular guideline based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multi-disciplinary guideline development group. There have been no discussions between the Scottish Government and SIGN on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:09.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296114,"EventID":"S4W-21976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:09.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T17:41:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role it considers practice-based evidence for psychological therapies can play in the production of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) clinical guidelines.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) would consider evidence for psychological therapies, where relevant, in the production of any particular guideline based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multi-disciplinary guideline development group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:09.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296115,"EventID":"S4W-21977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:10.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T10:56:34.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the European Court of Justice as a valid avenue of appeal in relation to criminal cases in which interim suspension of sentence is granted pending appeal on the grounds of violation of human rights.","AnswerText":"A Scottish court can refer a question of interpretation of EU law to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for a preliminary ruling. It is for the courts to determine if the circumstances of any particular case permit or justify a reference to the ECJ. It would be possible for an issue involving rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights to be referred to the ECJ for a ruling on how EU law should be interpreted in a domestic context. However, this mechanism could not be used to refer a question relating to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to the ECJ.\r\nDetermination of legal issues relating to the ECHR is generally for the domestic courts. Where it is considered that the domestic courts have not properly decided an ECHR issue, a direct application may be made to the European Court of Human Rights. However, this process requires an applicant to have exhausted all domestic remedies before making an application.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:10.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296116,"EventID":"S4W-21978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:10.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T10:56:34.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government to which body judicial oaths of office and allegiance will be directed in the event of independence.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to change judicial oaths of office and allegiance in the event of independence. These oaths will continue to be directed to the Queen and to the law itself.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:10.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296117,"EventID":"S4W-21979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-27T15:48:10.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T10:56:34.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the European Union Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014 to 2020 have beneficial implications for the purchase of forests by community bodies.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s priority is to support Scotland’s community empowerment agenda, in particular through encouraging asset and land ownership. We recognise that in a limited number of circumstances state aid can be a barrier to community aspirations. However, the new European Union rules for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sector 2014-2020, are aligned to the EU Rural Development Regulations and the measures brought forward under each member state’s rural development programmes; as such as the guidelines are not primarily designed to address community land purchases.\r\nTo help support communities and address incidences where potential state aid occurs, the Scottish Government is working to prepare guidance on the interpretation of the state aid rules for community land purchases. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-25T15:48:10.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296124,"EventID":"S4W-21993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:37.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T08:10:16.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is increasing awareness of the maedi-visna virus in sheep among sheep farmers and veterinarians, and what advice it is giving farmers to help maintain disease-free status on their farms.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, through the Veterinary and Advisory Services programme, funds the Scottish Rural College (SRuC) to deliver veterinary surveillance in Scotland, to communicate animal health risks to farmers and veterinarians and to produce advice on disease prevention and control.\r\nSince 2012, SRuC has produced and published more than 30 articles in farming and veterinary press, newsletters and veterinary and scientific publications, with three to date in 2014.\r\nFarmers should remain vigilant for signs of disease within their flocks and contact their veterinary surgeons for advice on maedi-visna disease prevention and control.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:38.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296125,"EventID":"S4W-21994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:38.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T10:03:17.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20591 by Richard Lochhead on 12 May 2014, how the potential in-combination impact of the offshore windfarms proposed at Dogger Bank and in the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay on the Forth Islands Special Protection Area is being considered.\r\n","AnswerText":"The potential in-combination impacts on the Forth Islands Special Protection Area will be considered as part of the appropriate assessment undertaken by the Scottish Ministers, as the competent authority, for the Forth and Tay offshore wind farm applications. The in combination impacts of developments outwith Scotland will be considered where appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:38.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296126,"EventID":"S4W-21995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:38.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T10:03:17.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with other UK authorities to ensure that the development of offshore wind energy results in maximum generation of renewable energy for least environmental impact.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working collaboratively with other UK administrations taking a marine planning approach to ensure that the potential of offshore wind energy is realised in a sustainable manner.\r\nThe UK Marine Policy Statement, adopted by all UK administrations, provides the framework for preparing marine plans and taking decisions affecting the marine environment. The Scottish Government is developing its own national marine plan, which has been subject to wide consultation and will require both Scottish and UK ministerial clearance.\r\nIn addition, the UK Marine Science Strategy co-developed by the UK and devolved administrations sets out the general direction for marine science across the UK from 2010 to 2025. This strategy has inspired joint scientific partnership projects to assess the interaction of renewable energies and the marine environment.\r\nThe Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Partnership is a UK initiative that brings regulators and industry together to look at the impacts and consenting challenges of offshore renewables. This is complemented by other UK working groups that are looking at other relevant factors such as the Offshore Regulators Strategic Environmental Group and the Offshore Renewables Licensing Group. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:38.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296127,"EventID":"S4W-21996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:38.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to seek changes to the appeals process employed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to seek changes to the appeals process employed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).\r\nThe SPSO has set up a new internal complaints process within the Complaints Standards Authority. A complaint about the service can be made to the head of complaints standards and if still unhappy a further complaint can be made to an independent reviewer. The head of complaints standards and the independent reviewer will only consider complaints about service and not about the decision made.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:38.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296128,"EventID":"S4W-21997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:39.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the appeals process for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) was set up as an independent body, not accountable to the Scottish Government, in order to maintain an independence from the public services which they could be investigating. Its decisions cannot be reviewed by ministers.\r\nIf a complainant is unhappy with the initial decision by the SPSO and the complainant has exhausted the SPSO’s internal complaints procedure then further redress can be sought through the court. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:39.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296129,"EventID":"S4W-21998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:39.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with any other body the possibility of changes to the appeals process for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been no discussions about changing the appeals process for complainants unhappy with the initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:39.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296130,"EventID":"S4W-21999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:39.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered alternative appeals process models employed by other ombudsmen with a view to seeking changes to the process for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no plans to consider alternative appeals processes adopted by other ombudsmen.\r\nThe Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has recently set up a new internal complaints process within the Complaints Standards Authority with further redress to an independent reviewer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:39.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296131,"EventID":"S4W-22000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:39.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what new ombudsmen it would need to establish in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Much of the current competition and consumer protection landscape is fragmented. There is significant scope to deliver this more efficiently in an independent Scotland offering a real opportunity to deliver better outcomes for consumers.\r\nScotland’s Future proposes establishing a new single Scottish Ombudsman Service for consumers to turn to when they cannot resolve disputes with traders, so that they can quickly and easily seek redress without going through the courts.\r\nScotland’s Future also confirms that consumers in Scotland will be able to bring complaints about pensions and financial services, either through the single ombudsman service or a specific Scottish Financial Services Ombudsman.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:39.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296132,"EventID":"S4W-22001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:40.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what appeals process it would seek to introduce for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by any newly established ombudsmen in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Consultation on the model of the proposed Scottish Ombudsman Service is ongoing. The model chosen will determine the appeals process which will be introduced. The options for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by ombudsman are largely determined by whether the body in question is a voluntary or a statutory ombudsman.\r\nWhichever model is chosen, we shall ensure that decisions made by new ombudsmen can be challenged where appropriate and that Scottish consumers do not lose any right of appeal which they currently possess in respect of the decisions of existing ombudsmen.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:40.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296133,"EventID":"S4W-22002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:40.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it would seek to retain the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in its present form in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is widely respected and praised for its work. Any system we develop should build on current successes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:40.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296134,"EventID":"S4W-22003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:40.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it would seek to change the appeals process for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to change the appeals process for complainants unhappy with initial decisions made by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:40.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296135,"EventID":"S4W-22005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:40.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T11:52:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that a new system on access to medicines has not been brought in on time.","AnswerText":"The new Scottish Medicines Consortium system is in place and has already begun work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:40.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296136,"EventID":"S4W-22006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:41.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T12:32:47.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the private care home sector on the implications of the introduction of the living wage.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is keen to encourage the payment of the living wage across the social care sector.\r\nWe continue to work with COSLA and care providers to look at how the living wage can be introduced to the third and independent sectors, in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Residential Care for Older People in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:41.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296137,"EventID":"S4W-22007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:41.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:13:50.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on devolved areas of responsibility of the proposals in the Department for Energy and Climate Change's Consultation on Proposal for Underground Access for the Extraction of Gas, Oil or Geothermal Energy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government looks forward to considering the draft provisions that are to be included in the UK Government’s Infrastructure Bill, which may follow from the Department for Energy and Climate Change's consultation. However, we are clear that any devolved aspects will require a Legislative Consent Motion to be considered in the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:41.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296138,"EventID":"S4W-22008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:41.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:13:50.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the acceptability of companies running pipelines under land for the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas without the permission of the landowner or resident or other occupier of the land.","AnswerText":"Proposals for onshore oil and gas in Scotland will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes, including the local authority, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Safety Executive. Only once all necessary permissions are granted could an onshore oil and gas development proceed. Where permission cannot be agreed with landowners for underground access rights, operators have legal recourse to apply for access through provisions set out in the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1966 as applied by Section 7 of the Petroleum Act 1998.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:41.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296139,"EventID":"S4W-22009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:42.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:13:50.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for (a) the Department of Energy and Climate Change to issue licences or (b) planning consent to be granted for works related to the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas in (i) national parks, (ii) sites of special scientific interest, (iii) special protection areas, (iv) special areas of conservation, (v) local nature reserves and (vi) undesignated nature reserves and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The power to issue licences for the extraction of petroleum is currently reserved to Westminster. However, with independence, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government would be accountable for all policies in relation to unconventional oil and gas. It is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to give a view on the outcome of planning applications that have not been made, however, the Scottish Government is clear that there should be a level of protection afforded to all these areas (in some instances by legislation), and this is confirmed in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP). Such protection will need to be taken into account if an application for planning permission is ever submitted. SPP is clear that planning permission should be refused where the nature and scale of proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the natural environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:42.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296140,"EventID":"S4W-22010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-06-30T15:04:42.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:16:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to dyslexic (a) pupils and (b) students who are sitting exams.","AnswerText":"With regards to pupils with dyslexia, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) operates a needs-based policy in relation to assessment. Schools identify any assessment arrangements a dyslexic candidate may require. Those most commonly provided for dyslexic candidates in SQA external examinations include extra time, a human reader/scribe, digital question papers or the use of appropriate information and communications technology equipment.\r\nThe Scottish Government funds CALL (Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning) Scotland at the University of Edinburgh to lead the development and provision of assistive and communication technology for pupils with disabilities and additional support needs in Scotland. As part of this work, CALL and SQA have developed digital question papers and these have been available for students with additional support needs, including dyslexia, since 2008.\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government has funded the licensing and distribution of “Heather” and “Stuart” which are high quality computer voices with Scottish accents. These can be downloaded from CALL Scotland’s website and installed on school computers free of charge.\r\nAll Scottish Higher Education Institutions have specialist dyslexia or disability advisers who can organise individualised support for students with dyslexia, including assessment of their needs, provision of appropriate resources and examination arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-28T15:04:42.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296163,"EventID":"S4W-22011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:02.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:52:09.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government during which month it expects the Forth Replacement Crossing will be open.","AnswerText":"The Forth Replacement Crossing remains on schedule to be open by December 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:02.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296164,"EventID":"S4W-22012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:03.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:52:09.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all aspects of the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.","AnswerText":"All aspects of the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule to be completed by December 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:03.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296165,"EventID":"S4W-22013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:03.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:52:09.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the works on the road network (a) north and (b) south of the river related to the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22012 on 17 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:03.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296166,"EventID":"S4W-22015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:03.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T14:52:09.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are areas of work related to the Forth Replacement Crossing that are not on schedule.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22012 on 17 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:03.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296167,"EventID":"S4W-22016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:03.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T15:55:26.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring the seven houses owned and managed by its Rural Payments and Inspection Division at Knocknagael Farm and Balrobert Farm in Inverness up to Scottish Housing Quality Standard.\r\n","AnswerText":"We commissioned a report into the state of the properties which has informed us about the repairs which need to be done, and we are undertaking to start work in the very near future. On completion of the works the houses shall meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:04.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296168,"EventID":"S4W-22017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:04.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T15:55:26.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what avenues of redress exist for occupants of houses that it owns and manages regarding the standard of maintenance.","AnswerText":"The rights of redress of tenants depend on tenure.\r\nIf occupants are private tenants, the landlord is expected to meet its duty to repair and maintain its properties as set out in the repairing standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Private tenants can apply to the Private Rented Housing Panel for assistance if landlords fail to carry out repairs that are needed to meet the repairing standard.\r\nIf occupants are social tenants, the landlord is expected to meet its duty to repair and maintain property under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and to ensure that property meets the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by April 2015. Social tenants have a right of complaint against their landlord to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.\r\nThese rights apply to occupants of homes owned by the Scottish Government as they would for other landlords.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:04.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296169,"EventID":"S4W-22018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:04.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T15:55:26.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that every house that it owns and controls is entered on the electronic Property Information and Mapping Service (e-PIMS). ","AnswerText":"There is a central team in place that maintains a strategic overview of the Scottish Government’s estate.\r\nTo assist organisations with property data entry a pre-populated pro forma has been developed along with guidance in order to make the exercise as straightforward as possible, however it remains the responsibility of the public body organisation to populate the database as requested. This includes any dwellings they may have in their portfolio.\r\nThe accuracy and completeness of the property records is the responsibility of the public bodies in the wider Scottish Government estate, who contribute to the e-PIMS database.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:04.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296170,"EventID":"S4W-22019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:04.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T15:55:26.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to report to the Parliament on the Highlands Empty Homes Initiative.","AnswerText":"The Highlands Empty Homes Initiative brings together £400,000 from the Scottish Government Empty Homes Loan Fund with match funding from the council to allow flexible grant and loan funding to help bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing. It is a 10 year programme prioritising areas of housing need in both urban and rural areas.\r\nI am pleased to report that the initiative moved into its second year in 2014-15 with the first year focussing on set-up and targeting. In June the fund assisted in converting a vacant bank into three residential units for those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Three further projects have been approved to date and when complete will provide a further nine residential units with further projects in the pipeline stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:04.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296171,"EventID":"S4W-22020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:04.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T17:43:29.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) opportunities and (b) risks it considers would arise for the financial services industry in the event of Scottish independence.","AnswerText":"Scotland has a successful and diverse financial services industry, with both Edinburgh and Glasgow recognised internationally as leading financial centres. With full access to the levers of growth, an independent Scotland will have the opportunity to further develop the industry, building on this position of strength. Scotland’s Future sets out our proposal for a consistent regulatory framework, to ensure the continuation of the existing highly integrated market for financial services across the sterling area. Firms will be able to continue to provide financial products and services to consumers in Scotland and the rest of the UK and to realise the benefits of this integrated market.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:04.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296172,"EventID":"S4W-22022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:05.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-30T17:43:29.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland was removed from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting that took place on 28 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"As indicated in the note of the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 which is available on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/finance/meetings/FISABmeetings2014/FiSABApril2014noteofmeeting, the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland was removed from the agenda to enable a more comprehensive discussion to take place at a future meeting.\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:05.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296173,"EventID":"S4W-22023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-01T15:13:05.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T13:33:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when a decision will be made on whether Lemtrada, a treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, will be made available in NHS Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice for Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®) for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis on 7 July 2014. SMC reviewed this medicine in April 2014. However, publication of the advice was withheld at the manufacturer’s request until stock of the medicine became available for supply to NHS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:05.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296182,"EventID":"S4W-22024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:51.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “ensuring island communities, like all communities, can fulfil their potential requires a fair allocation of resources”, what funding allocation model would be used to determine central government funding packages to local authorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s preference will always be to have a fair and equitable settlement for all councils that is based on local needs and gives the maximum opportunity to deliver strong local services for local people and we will continue to work closely with COSLA to ensure that is achieved.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:52.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296183,"EventID":"S4W-22025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:53.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “the Scottish Government has committed to building a simpler system of taxation after independence”, whether the fuel duty derogation of 5p, implemented by the UK Treasury, would automatically be retained.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, Scotland will inherit the prevailing UK tax code at the point of independence, including tax rates, reliefs and allowances. These will remain in place until changes are made by future Scottish Governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:53.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296184,"EventID":"S4W-22026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:53.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “Instead of trying to influence Westminster, island communities and authorities will have direct access to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the impact of government policies on the islands and present their views”, whether it considers that Scottish island communities are without access to the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerText":"Independence will create a more democratic Scotland that will always get the government it votes for and have a strong voice for Scotland’s islands at the heart of government. Island communities already benefit from direct engagement from Scottish Ministers on devolved issues, for example at recent visits by the Scottish Cabinet to the Shetland Islands and the Western Isles, and from a higher level of parliamentary representation with an MSP for each Island local authority area. The Scottish Government’s proposals in ‘Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities’, such as designating a ‘minister for island communities’, protecting the position of island MSPs and bringing forward a bill for an islands Act upon independence, will ensure island communities have full access to ministers on all issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:53.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296185,"EventID":"S4W-22027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:53.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “the Scottish Parliament already has the power to vary the application of legislation by geographical area. The process of island-proofing would provide an opportunity to consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether this might apply to particular pieces of legislation”, which legislation passed since 2007 would have been altered had the policy of \"island-proofing\" already been in place, and how this would have been implemented.\r\n","AnswerText":"The benefit of island-proofing, and of making it a binding duty in an Islands Act in the event of independence, is that the needs and circumstances of island communities will be considered throughout the legislative process, including before a proposed Bill reaches Parliament. Where, as a consequence of the island-proofing process, it is considered appropriate to vary the application of legislation by geographical area, this will be decided upon through discussion between the islands communities and the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:53.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296186,"EventID":"S4W-22028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:53.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial mechanisms it considers should be deployed to enable the delivery of island grid upgrades, and what steps it has taken to explore them.\r\n","AnswerText":"The key financial mechanism that will unlock island grid upgrades is the extension of the Scottish island strike price beyond the first Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan period, which ends in 2018-19. The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change have the power to make that happen now.\r\nWorking together with the island councils, the Scottish Government has argued strongly for the UK Government to recognise the additional support needed to enable the delivery of island renewables projects, given the higher costs they face. As a result of our representations to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, a delivery forum to facilitate connections between the Scottish islands and the Great Britain transmission grid has been established.\r\nAt a meeting of the delivery forum on 26 June 2014, the UK Secretary of State agreed to consider what reassurances could be given regarding the longer term future Scottish island strike price. Progress on the actions agreed will be reported at the next meeting of the delivery forum which is due in September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:53.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296187,"EventID":"S4W-22029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:54.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-01T16:44:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on ticket prices on inter-island ferries in Orkney and Shetland should the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) be applied.\r\n","AnswerText":"During the ferries review, Transport Scotland carried out some basic modelling of RET fares for Orkney Islands Council’s, and Shetland Islands Council’s, inter-island ferry services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:54.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296188,"EventID":"S4W-22030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:54.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T13:15:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of (a) disabled people, (b) lone parents, (c) women and (d) young people who received a jobseekers allowance sanction in Scotland in each year from 2009 to 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"As benefits are reserved to the UK Government the Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of individuals who have been sanctioned. However, the Department for Work and Pensions publishes data on the number of individuals in receipt of an adverse sanction decision on their Stat-Xplore tool. The following table shows the number of individuals in Scotland who received an adverse sanction for Jobseekers Allowance each year from 2009 to 2013.\r\nNumber of individuals in in Scotland receipt of an adverse sanction for Jobseekers Allowance, 2009 to 2013\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012*\r\n2013\r\nDisabled people\r\n8,026 \r\n10,239 \r\n9,677 \r\n11,616 \r\n13,128 \r\nLone Parents\r\n476 \r\n1,042 \r\n1,635 \r\n2,576 \r\n3,157 \r\nWomen\r\n7,914 \r\n9,832 \r\n10,034 \r\n13,276 \r\n13,993 \r\nYoung People**\r\n16,857 \r\n19,797 \r\n18,622 \r\n22,290 \r\n20,699 \r\nSource: DWP Stat-Xplore tool [Accessed 7 July 2014] https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ \r\nNotes: * The UK Government introduced a new sanction regime from 22 October 2012.  Data for 2012 therefore includes both the old and new regime.\r\n**Young people are defined as those aged 16 to 24\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:54.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296189,"EventID":"S4W-22031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:54.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T13:15:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which projects have been funded by the Welfare Reform Resilience Fund in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Welfare Reform Resilience Fund is supporting 11 projects across Scotland which will assist in mitigating the worst impacts of the UK Government’s welfare reform policies and build resilience into Scottish public services regardless of any future changes to the welfare system imposed by the UK Government.\r\nThe following table gives a brief overview of each of the projects. Further details can be found on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/WRRF2014-15Update.\r\n\r\nLocal Authority\r\nProject Description\r\nAberdeen City\r\nImproving the coordination of local support services for clients with mental health issues.\r\nAberdeenshire\r\nProviding holistic housing and money advice service for new social sector tenants.\r\nDundee City\r\nProviding enhanced access to ICT and creating innovative digital tools to improve the accessibility and clarity of information on welfare reform.\r\nFalkirk\r\nImproving support for customers with complex/multiple mental health needs to access welfare benefits/advice services.\r\nFife\r\nAdding consistency to local welfare reform action plans and supporting people in their communities through improved triage, digital and financial inclusion.\r\nInverclyde\r\nTackling the issues of high cost lending and developing a robust case management system.\r\nMidlothian\r\nCreating a digital access point in a local library for vulnerable people affected by welfare reform.\r\nMoray\r\nCreating a welfare benefits 'portal' giving information on, and access to, support services.\r\nRenfrewshire\r\nProviding fuel advocacy services to vulnerable families and families experiencing financial hardship.\r\nShetland Islands\r\nDeveloping the ICT skills of individuals and their access to the internet throughout rural Shetland.\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\nProviding financial wellbeing advice and support for families with additional support needs relating to parenting challenges (via local family support centre).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:54.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296190,"EventID":"S4W-22032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-02T15:18:54.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T14:33:49.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider instituting a mechanism for reviewing the public interest charitable status test applied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator that reflects the fact that \"public interest\" can change with time and circumstances. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’) makes ‘public benefit’, which is a well-established concept in charity law, unlike ‘public interest’, a criterion of the charity test. Parliament has set out in section 8 of the 2005 Act, the matters that the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) must take into account in assessing whether a charity (or a body wishing to get charitable status) provides public benefit.\r\nOSCR already has the power to review whether existing charities continue to meet the Charity test. Section 28 and section 30 of Chapter 4 of the 2005 Act provide OSCR with the power to make inquiries into a charity at any time and to remove any charity that no longer meets the charity test. An organisation that does not provide ‘public benefit’ will not meet the requirements of the charity test and will be removed from the register.\r\nThere are over 23,500 charities in Scotland. OSCR undertakes in depth reviews of a small number of charities in groups where there is a perceived likelihood of failing the charity test, and then disseminates the results effectively to other relevant charities. This is a proportionate and targeted approach, in line with regulatory principles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-30T15:18:54.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296191,"EventID":"S4W-22033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:01:59.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T16:49:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure compliance in Scotland with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water.\r\n","AnswerText":"The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water is not currently in force, although the Scottish Government would advise all harbour authorities to take it into account in developing or revising their ballast water management policies where applicable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:00.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296192,"EventID":"S4W-22034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:00.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T16:49:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which harbour authorities have (a) adopted or (b) been consulted on ballast water management plans.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information on which harbour authorities have adopted ballast water management plans as this is a matter for individual authorities to consider and implement if appropriate.\r\nIt is unlikely that a harbour authority would be consulted on another authorities plan unless they were directly affected by its introduction or amendment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:00.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296193,"EventID":"S4W-22035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:01.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T16:49:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received from (a) Scottish Natural Heritage and (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding Orkney Islands Council's proposals for ballast water management in Scapa Flow.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21881 on 16 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:01.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296194,"EventID":"S4W-22036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:01.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-02T16:49:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the role is of (a) the Scottish Ministers, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage and (c) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in the consenting process for oil transfer licences made under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 as amended.","AnswerText":"The consenting process for oil transfer licences made under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 as amended is currently the responsibility of the UK Secretary of State for Transport. Scottish Ministers have repeatedly called for these powers to be devolved to Scotland.\r\nScottish Ministers have responsibilities for marine planning and marine nature conservation in Scotland including implementation of the EU Habitats Directive and all public bodies have responsibilities to comply with the EU Habitats Directive when considering licence applications and other approvals.\r\nScottish Natural Heritage is the statutory nature conservation body in Scotland and its responsibilities include advising ministers and public bodies of potential impacts on Special Areas of Conservation designated under the EU Habitats Directive. Scottish Natural Heritage is listed as one of the possible consultation bodies in the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, as amended.\r\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency has a duty under the Water Framework Directive to protect the quality of water bodies and avoid any deterioration in status including that which may arise through the increased risk of introduction of invasive non-native species, as could arise from activities and ship-to-ship transfers. The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, as amended, do not include any specific legal duties for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the Secretary of State’s consideration of an application for an oil transfer licence but we understand the regulations include discretion, on the part of the UK Secretary of State, when considering an oil transfer licence, to seek the views of any other body that the Secretary of State considers to have an interest or to require a harbour authority to consult that body. Clearly, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, our regulatory agencies, would have an interest in such matters and are recognised as “consultation bodies”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:01.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296195,"EventID":"S4W-22038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:01.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-03T12:49:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it established a group to develop a research proposal and review the clinical and cost-effectiveness of Da Vinci robot-assisted surgery for NHS Scotland, what its membership is and when it will report on its conclusions.","AnswerText":"Last year, the National Planning Forum (NPF) asked the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to carry out a review of current evidence for this type of surgery. The review found that the clinical and cost effectiveness evidence for robotic surgery for prostate cancer is uncertain. That is why we are undertaking further work in this area.\r\nSince January 2014, a subgroup of the NPF has been working to develop a research proposal that is expected to add to the evidence base for robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer, and other conditions that may benefit.\r\nThe subgroup has been chaired by a Scottish Government Senior Medical Officer and its membership includes directors of planning from NHS boards, prostate cancer surgeons and representatives from the urological cancer charities Prostate Scotland and UCAN.\r\nThere has been good progress with developing the proposal, which is currently going through the peer review process, in advance of consideration by the Chief Scientist Office (CSO). If the proposal is successful, it will attract a CSO grant of £225,000, which would be expected to begin around October 2014 and would take around two years to complete and report.\r\nI have advised NPF that I am keen to see robotic surgery introduced to Scotland as soon as possible and asked what needs to be done to facilitate this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:01.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296196,"EventID":"S4W-22039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:01.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-03T12:49:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase awareness and treatment of prostate cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is undertaking a range of actions that aim to increase awareness and treatment of prostate cancer.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early initiative, which was launched in February 2012 with £30 million of investment, focuses on raising public awareness and encouraging people with early symptoms of cancer to see their GP. It is an ambitious programme of work and aims to increase the number of people who are diagnosed at an earlier stage. Although this campaign initially focuses on the three most prevalent cancers in Scotland - breast, bowel and lung - it is expected to raise awareness of all cancers and increase the number of people diagnosed at an early stage.\r\nThe revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer were published in October 2013 and updated May 2014. This version updates referral guidelines for prostate cancer, and takes account of new research evidence and the findings of audits undertaken since the last revision. The aim of these updated guidelines is to facilitate appropriate referral between primary and secondary care for patients whom a GP suspects may have cancer. The guidelines should help GPs, the wider primary care team, other clinicians and patients and carers to identify those patients who are most likely to have cancer and who therefore require urgent assessment by a specialist. Work is also being undertaken to support the effective dissemination and implementation of the revised guidelines when they are published by August 2014.\r\nThe Quality Performance Indicators programme also aims to drive up the standard of cancer services available in NHS Scotland. This programme contains specific indicators for prostate cancer. These indicators will be used to monitor and drive quality improvement in prostate cancer care across the NHS in Scotland and ensure that people have access to timely, safe and effective services.\r\nThe Scottish Government also recognises the importance of research. Earlier this year, the Scottish Government, Prostate Cancer UK, and The Movember Foundation granted researchers at Dundee University £500,000 to investigate unanswered questions surrounding prostate cancer (£275,000 from Prostate Cancer UK and Movember, £225,000 from the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientists Office). The money will be used to fund clinical research that is being carried out in patients for the first time. The researchers will be investigating ways to improve the diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer and reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, one of Prostate Cancer UK’s priority areas for research funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:01.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296197,"EventID":"S4W-22040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-03T15:02:02.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-03T12:49:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS boards, (b) external groups and (c) NHS England on the introduction of robot-assisted surgery by NHS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22038 on 31 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-07-31T15:02:02.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296210,"EventID":"S4W-22041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-04T14:32:00.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-03T15:45:53.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many General Dentist Service dentists there were as at (a) September 2006 and (b) March 2014.","AnswerText":"The number of General Dental Service dentists as at (a) September 2006 and (b) March 2014 is shown in the following table below:\r\nDate\r\nNumber of General Dental Service dentists\r\n30 September 2006\r\n2,434\r\n31 March 2014\r\n3,178\r\nThis information is published on Information Services Division’s (ISD) website and can be located using the following link:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/Dentists_M2014.xls#Age!A1\r\nSource: ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-01T14:32:00.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296211,"EventID":"S4W-22042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-04T14:32:00.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-03T15:45:53.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults were registered with an NHS dentist as at (i) March 2007 and (ii) March 2014 and how this compares to the highest level registered.\r\n","AnswerText":"The percentage of children and adults registered with an NHS dentist as at March 2007 and March 2014 is shown in the following table:\r\nDate\r\nChildren (%)\r\nAdults (%)\r\nMarch 2007\r\n67.2\r\n46.2\r\nMarch 2014\r\n91.5\r\n83.7\r\nNote:\r\nChildren are defined as <18 years old and adults as 18+ years.\r\nNational Records of Scotland mid-year population estimates are used to calculate the percentage of people registered.\r\nThe percentage of children and adults registered with an NHS dentist at 31 March 2014 is the highest recorded since Information Services Division (ISD) began publishing this information in 2007.This information is published on ISD’s website and can be located using the following link: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Dental-Care/Publications/2014-06-24/Figures_1and2_trend_Scot_reg_chart.xls#Table!A1\r\nSource: ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-01T14:32:00.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296212,"EventID":"S4W-22045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-04T14:32:01.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-04T10:20:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the Active Schools Network in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"sportscotland invested £11,925,900 in active schools in each of the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. On 3 July 2014, sportscotland announced that it will invest up to £50 million into the network across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities over the period 2015-19.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-01T14:32:01.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296213,"EventID":"S4W-22046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-04T14:32:01.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-04T10:53:01.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09238 by Fergus Ewing on 12 September 2012, what progress has been made by Business Club Scotland (BCS) in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), and what the outcome was of the BCS/Scottish Enterprise research to identify the barriers to SMEs supplying goods and services to major events.","AnswerText":"Business Club Scotland (BCS) finalised their research to identify the barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises supplying goods and services to major events in 2012. In September 2013, following preparatory discussions with Scottish Enterprise, BCS informed members of a change in how their services would be delivered: ‘As a member you will be aware that our aim is to help businesses capitalise on opportunities relating to the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming. In discussion with Scottish Enterprise (SE), it has been agreed that BCS will be integrated into their wider communications channels. SE will continue to maintain BCS channels, alongside their own website and email newsletters. They will also continue awareness raising events.’\r\nIn the run up to the Commonwealth Games, 72 business awareness events have been delivered through a partnership approach with a range of bodies, including SE. These events aimed to encourage Scottish businesses to bid for the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup related contracts and approximately 9000 participants attended these events.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-01T14:32:01.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296214,"EventID":"S4W-22047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-04T14:32:01.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-04T13:56:52.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-04381 by Stewart Stevenson on 16 December 2011, (a) how many and (b) which sites of special scientific interest have been damaged in each of the last three years; what the cause of the damage was; what area was damaged; whether the damage was due to illegal activities and, if so, whether these were subject to investigation and prosecution; what restoration management has been implemented, and whether any of the damaged land was de-notified.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Data are collated by financial year. Incidents are recorded by Scottish Natural Heritage where damage exceeds a threshold of over 0.5 hectares in area or 100m in length or 10% of the interest feature on the site.\r\n23 incidents were recorded for 2011-12, nine for 2012-13 and 13 for 2013-14.\r\n (b) The requested information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (bib. number 56130).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-01T14:32:01.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296215,"EventID":"S4W-22048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:31.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T09:47:45.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who has liability for controlled activities regulations licences at Powharnal and Grievehill open cast coal sites; whether it considers that the liquidators of Scottish Coal are in compliance with these licences at the Powharnal site in East Ayrshire, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Responsibility for compliance with the requirements of a water use licence under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 lies with the ‘responsible person’, as defined in regulation 2. Monitoring of compliance with licences is a matter for the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, as provided in the regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:31.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296216,"EventID":"S4W-22050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:32.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T09:47:45.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding the restoration of the open cast coal mines in the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area.","AnswerText":"Officials have had informal discussions with the European Commission as part of the preliminary scoping of possible restoration options.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:32.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296217,"EventID":"S4W-22051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:32.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T09:49:18.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will consider in-combination impacts of proposed developments on the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area in light of the current impact of opencast coal mines in the area.","AnswerText":"In-combination impacts of proposed developments are taken into account by the relevant authorities in accordance with the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and are informed by statutory advice and all other material considerations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:32.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296218,"EventID":"S4W-22052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:32.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T09:49:18.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what implications the failure to restore opencast coal mines in the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area could have for an independent Scotland becoming a member of the EU.","AnswerText":"No implications are perceived for an independent Scotland becoming a member of the EU.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:32.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296219,"EventID":"S4W-22064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:33.05","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T11:50:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it seeks to collect the personal data of attendees registering to attend Scottish Government events and, if so, what it does with the information.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government collects a limited amount of personal information for the purposes of registration of attendees at the events. This information is solely used for management of the specific event the person has registered for.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:33.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296220,"EventID":"S4W-22065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:33.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T11:50:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what personal data it receives from attendees of Scottish Government events via the Eventbrite online registration process.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government requests personal data from attendees appropriate to the particular event. For most Scotland’s Future events, the required information is name and email address. For cabinet events, a postal address is also requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:33.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296221,"EventID":"S4W-22066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:33.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T11:50:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has used or plans to use information obtained via the registration process for Scottish Government events to contact attendees regarding the independence referendum.","AnswerText":"This information provided is used by the Scottish Government solely for management of the event for which the details are submitted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:33.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296222,"EventID":"S4W-22067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-07T15:03:34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T13:00:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities or NHS boards will have lead responsibility for data access requests arising from the integration of social care services.","AnswerText":"The changes in health and social care, including the creation of integration authorities, do not make any difference to how data access requests are handled. As at present, both health boards and local authorities will continue to be responsible for answering data access requests in relation to any data for which they are the data controller. Where integration joint boards exist, they will also be responsible for answering any data access requests in relation to any data they are responsible for.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-04T15:03:34.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296230,"EventID":"S4W-22053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:21.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:26:36.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what economic analysis was carried out to inform its decision regarding coupled support for sheep production and whether it included the potential loss of ecosystem services due to overgrazing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The economic analysis of coupled support for sheep considered business level changes in total direct payments in 2019 compared with 2011, in sectors and in geographic regions.\r\nThe analysis did not include potential loss of ecosystem services due to overgrazing, however coupled support is only allowed in order to maintain and not to increase the numbers of livestock. If the number of sheep in Scotland were to increase under voluntary coupled support then the scheme would need to be modified – or stopped - to reduce the incentive to increase primary production.\r\nThe design of these EU schemes is such that site-specific management of grazing pressures cannot be delivered through this coupled support option under Pillar 1 of the common agricultural policy. It is however addressed through other policy measures such as those under the Pillar 2 Scotland Rural Development Programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:21.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296231,"EventID":"S4W-22055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:22.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:26:36.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the decision to invest in the beef sector from Pillar 2 funds rather than in agri-environment/climate schemes will jeopardise Scotland’s chances of meeting biodiversity and climate change-related targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decision taken to invest additional domestic funds in the beef sector will not have any impact on the agri-environment-climate budget. In the 2014-20 Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) we have actually increased the agri-environment-climate budget by £10 million per year and maintained the forestry budget.\r\nWe are also introducing a range of other improvements under the agri-environment-climate and forestry schemes including measures to ensure better targeting of support, an improved Farm Advisory Service and a new scheme to support groups of land managers to collaborate in delivering landscape scale benefits. The 2013 Scottish Budget also identified £15 million that has been included within the SRDP budget line to support peatland restoration.\r\nThese initiatives, coupled with the increased budget, mean that the new SRDP should be able to make an even greater contribution to delivering our biodiversity and climate change targets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:22.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296232,"EventID":"S4W-22056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:22.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:28:44.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to employers in modern apprenticeship schemes to raise awareness of the importance of a safe working environment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The majority of modern apprenticeship (MA) places are allocated through a contracting process between our delivery body, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and training providers, rather than directly with employers. This means that contact between the Scottish Government, SDS and employers is limited with regard to delivery of the MA programme. Employers’ main point of contact for day to day matters will be with the training provider delivering the off-the-job training associated with the apprenticeship.\r\nSDS ensures that training providers are aware of their responsibilities where the apprentice attends their premises as well as the statutory obligations the employer has towards its employees.\r\nMore widely, health and safety regulation is reserved to the UK Government. Compliance is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities depending on the size and nature of the workplace activities.\r\nThe Scottish Government funds the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to provide advice and support to employers and employees about workplace health, safety and wellbeing. As well as more general advice the centre’s advisers, website and advice line carry information particular to the needs of younger workers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:22.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296233,"EventID":"S4W-22057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:22.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:28:44.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of young people with long-term health conditions accessing modern apprenticeships.","AnswerText":"Achieving a balanced workforce which reflects Scottish society as a whole is a challenge for the labour market as a whole and is not specific to the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme. We appreciate, however, that we need to do more to ensure young people understand the nature and opportunities available across the labour market, and that employers recognise the economic and social value of a balanced workforce.\r\nAddressing under-representation across the MA programme remains a key priority for the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland to address in partnership with industry and delivery partners.\r\nThe priority we attached to this important issue can be seen in the recent £3 million funding announcement in response to the recommendations from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, which includes specific activity to address under-representation across our employability programmes. Further details on action we will be taking on the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce will be set out later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:22.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296234,"EventID":"S4W-22059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:23.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:29:59.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the modern apprenticeship programme is tackling occupational segregation.","AnswerText":"In 2013-14, 41% of all modern apprenticeship (MA)starts were women, however achieving a balanced workforce which reflects Scottish society as a whole is a challenge for the wider labour market and is not specific to the modern apprenticeship programme.\r\nAddressing the gender imbalance, and wider under-representation across the MA programme remains a key priority for the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland to address in partnership with industry and delivery partners.\r\nThe priority we attached to this important issue can be seen in the recent £3 million funding announcement in response to the recommendations from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, which includes specific activity to address under-representation across our employability programmes. Further details on action we will be taking on the Young Workforce Commission will be set out later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:23.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296235,"EventID":"S4W-22061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:23.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:29:59.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for modern apprenticeships associated with the Commonwealth Games 2014 and how many have been established, broken down by (a) disability, (b) age, (c) race and (d) gender.\r\n","AnswerText":"This data is not held centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:23.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296236,"EventID":"S4W-22062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:23.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T10:29:59.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for monitoring in (a) 2015 and (b) 2019 the number of Commonwealth Games-associated modern apprentices who obtain permanent employment.","AnswerText":"This is an operation issue for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:23.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296237,"EventID":"S4W-22068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-08T15:08:23.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-08T14:50:02.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to legislate or review the law on \"in perpetuity\" clauses.","AnswerText":"We have no current intention of legislating on or reviewing the law in this area. I understand that the member is interested in “in perpetuity” clauses in timeshare contracts. Legislation on timeshare is a reserved matter (see Head C7 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998). The subject matter of the Timeshare Act 1992 includes the right to cancel timeshare agreements. That subject matter remains reserved although the Timeshare Act 1992 has been repealed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-05T15:08:23.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296242,"EventID":"S4W-22070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-09T15:27:24.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-09T12:28:16.073","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of its carbon management plan and the development of future plans.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published its first Carbon Management Plan (CMP) in 2009. It committed the Scottish Government to a 30% reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2020 against 2007-08 baseline levels and contained a range of projects including voltage optimisation, centralised building management systems) and server virtualisation which have been delivered. \r\nIn 2008-09, the offices, laboratories and other buildings used by Marine Scotland, Communities Scotland and the Scottish Building Standards Agency became part of the Scottish Government estate. These significant structural changes to the Scottish Government estate are reflected in a new CMP that has been developed with the support of The Carbon Trust and which will be published in the near future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-06T15:27:24.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296250,"EventID":"S4W-21947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:40.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:28:57.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many submissions have been made under the Patient and Clinician Engagement process.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in the Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee, the Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) step is an option where the New Drugs Committee’s draft advice for an eligible medicine is not recommended. The pharmaceutical company will then be offered the opportunity to request a PACE meeting. At this point the pharmaceutical company will also have the option to submit a new or revised Patient Access Scheme (PAS) aimed at improving the cost-effectiveness of the medicine. A company may decide to offer a new or revised PAS and proceed to the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) meeting for a decision without invoking the PACE step. Submissions from pharmaceutical companies received after noon on 7 April 2014 are eligible for this approach with the first decisions from this new process expected in autumn 2014. As set out in the Task and Finish Group report, whether the PACE process is invoked for a particular medicine is therefore not at the point of submission to the SMC but following consideration by the New Drugs Committee.\r\nDetails of all submissions made to the SMC can be accessed on the website as follows: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/Home\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:42.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296251,"EventID":"S4W-21948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:43.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:28:57.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what target time it has set the Patient and Clinician Engagement process to consider submissions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee covered the issue of timescales for the new approach. The report set out that where the Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) step is invoked it would require a ‘pause’ in the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) process of less than three months, which the Task and Finish Group noted was quicker than the resubmission process following ‘not recommended’ advice. I asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland to implement this new approach as recommended in the report and this is therefore the timescale SMC are working to with regard to the PACE step. The first decisions from this new process are expected in autumn 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:43.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296252,"EventID":"S4W-21949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:43.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-26T10:28:57.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the  Patient and Clinician Engagement process has a prioritised waiting list for medicines and, if so, what the criteria are.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) does not operate on the basis of having a waiting list for submissions. The Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee noted that the SMC should engage with health boards and Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees to determine which medicines should have priority on resubmission according to patient needs. The SMC has agreed their approach with pharmaceutical industry representatives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:43.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296253,"EventID":"S4W-22077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:43.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T13:09:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with any impact on farmers in Scotland arising from the difference with England in the levels of nitrate permitted in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ).\r\n","AnswerText":"Efficient nitrogen fertiliser use has benefits for the environment, addressing climate change and contributing to farm business profitability. The Scottish NVZ Action Programme encourages farmers to maximise the efficiency of nitrogen fertilisers. The Scottish Government considers there is no demonstrable negative effect on Scottish yields resulting from the different nitrogen fertiliser maximum application standards which apply in the Scottish and English NVZ action programmes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:43.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296254,"EventID":"S4W-22078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:44.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T13:18:08.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21350 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, whether the events are evaluated on a (a) formative or (b) summative basis and, if so, whether it will publish the evaluation (i) methodology and (ii) findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Events held by the Public Appointment Centre of Expertise vary greatly, from hosting a stand at a conference to organising large events such as Women On Board: Quality through Diversity, held in November 2013. As such, not every event is evaluated, and methods used may be on a formative, summative or other method as considered appropriate. Any evaluations that are published will be available on the Scottish Government’s website, alongside more information on the work of the Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/PublicBoardsCorporateDiversityProg  \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:44.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296255,"EventID":"S4W-22079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-10T15:20:44.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T13:18:08.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21351 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, for what reason no diversity training for external selection panel members specific to the workstream has been delivered.\r\n","AnswerText":"The key findings report from the event Women On Board: Quality through Diversity held in November 2013 included an action: “training in unconscious bias, equality and diversity for everyone involved in the recruitment process”. The Scottish Government’s Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board has supported the integration of this action across the programme strands.\r\nFurther scoping work is currently underway to devise how to provide suitable diversity training for external board members. The programme board and relevant stakeholders will consider the content and timing of such training to ensure that any investment made delivers results.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-07T15:20:44.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296276,"EventID":"S4W-22071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:08.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-09T16:13:39.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the target revenue gain of £250 million, referred to on page 79 of its white paper on independence, will come from (a) reduced compliance costs, (b) streamlining reliefs and (c) reduced tax avoidance.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9379.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:09.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296277,"EventID":"S4W-22074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:09.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-09T16:13:39.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which tax reliefs it would streamline in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9379.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:09.633","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296278,"EventID":"S4W-22075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:09.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-09T16:13:39.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue gain will occur from each of the tax reliefs that it would streamline in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9379.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:09.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296279,"EventID":"S4W-22080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:10.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T14:07:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of mental health officer reports under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 are provided within the required timescale.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:10.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296280,"EventID":"S4W-22081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:10.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T14:07:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of delays in the registration of powers of attorney (a) generally and (b) with regard to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.","AnswerText":"Registration of powers of attorney under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 is a matter for the Office of the Public Guardian, part of the Scottish Court Service. There is no requirement to register a general power of attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian. The Scottish Government is aware that there are delays in registering manually submitted powers of attorney under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. The Office of the Public Guardian is taking action to address this and details are available from their website:\r\nhttp://www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk/news/index.asp. Submissions made on the electronic registration system can be dealt with promptly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:10.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296281,"EventID":"S4W-22082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:10.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T16:33:47.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many ST1 specialist training posts in accident and emergency departments are filled.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is responsible for trainee recruitment. In May 2014 NES advertised and filled all available 30 ST1 core emergency medicine vacancies for accident and emergency departments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:10.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296282,"EventID":"S4W-22083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:11.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T16:33:47.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many doctor posts in accident and emergency departments are vacant, broken down by grade.\r\n","AnswerText":"In terms of consultancy vacancies, the most recent published information collected from NHSScotland boards as of 31 March 2014 indicates there were 16.0 whole time equivalent (WTE) consultant vacancies in emergency medicine.\r\nThe funded establishment of consultants as a whole has increased from 3,896.9 WTE as of 30 September 2006 to 5,018.4 WTE as of March 2014. This includes the specialism of emergency medicine, which has increased by 119.9% over the same period.\r\nIn terms of recruitment into trainee emergency medicine posts in Scotland, information gathered from NHSScotland boards following the end of national recruitment indicates that from 21 Scottish specialty trainee 4 (ST4) posts advertised, six were filled with 15 vacancies remaining at ST4 level. Boards are actively recruiting to fill these posts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:11.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296283,"EventID":"S4W-22084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:11.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T16:38:19.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it helps deaf people who use British Sign Language to remain in employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of British Sign Language (BSL) to the deaf community in Scotland. BSL is a vital means of communication for deaf people and contributes to their ability to live fulfilled and independent lives.\r\nWhile employment remains reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government nonetheless has provided significant funding to the deaf community in Scotland across a range of organisations. Total funding of £2,707,657 is being provided for the period 2012-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:11.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296284,"EventID":"S4W-22085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:11.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T16:38:19.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many communication support workers there are and how it encourages the use of their services.","AnswerText":"Communication support workers are not required to be registered therefore exact numbers are not known.\r\nThrough Principles of Inclusive Communication - an information and self-assessment tool for public authorities, the Scottish Government recognises that a person who requires communication support may need information to be provided in a different format and may require communication support workers to enable them to communicate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:11.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296285,"EventID":"S4W-22086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:11.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-10T16:38:19.453","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it helps deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL) in finding employment and what specific support it provides for work training programmes for BSL users.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of British Sign Language (BSL) to the deaf community in Scotland. BSL is a vital means of communication for deaf people.\r\nScottish Government agencies and public bodies support the duties under the Equality Act 2010 which states that in most circumstances, service providers must make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers – physical or otherwise – that could make it difficult or impossible for disabled people, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, to use their services.\r\nWe have taken a range of action to support deaf people to find employment or enter training programmes. For example:\r\nIn June 2013, Skills Development Scotland, in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society published a ‘Template for Success’, a resource aimed at improving the post-school transition for young deaf people;\r\nSkills Development Scotland staff can request BSL interpretation and other communication support for individuals as required;\r\nWe continue to fund Donaldson’s College project for deaf school leavers. ‘Future Focus’ supports deaf young people aged 16-24 into further education and supported or mainstream employment,\r\nAt college and university, the Scottish Government ensures that all students with disabilities are supported to enable them to participate fully in further or higher education. This is through individual support from the institution as well as targeted support, such as the Disabled Students Allowance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:11.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296286,"EventID":"S4W-22087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:12.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:34:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has (a) had any discussions with Police Scotland and (b) issued Police Scotland with any instruction or guidance regarding the appropriateness of searching children.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Police Scotland on a wide range of policing issues, including stop and search. The most recent meeting was held on 22 July 2014.\r\nThe use of stop and search is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government has not issued Police Scotland with any instruction or guidance regarding the appropriateness of searching children.\r\nThe Scottish Government welcomes the establishment by Police Scotland of a new Children and Young Persons Reference Group in order to better understand the views of young people and other relevant stakeholders in relation to stop and search.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:12.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296287,"EventID":"S4W-22088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:12.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:34:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the non-statutory stop and search of people under the age of 18 to be consistent with its obligations under Articles 3 and 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998 require police officers to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) when carrying out their duties. The ECHR contains similar provisions to those found in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and while the ECHR is applicable to all, children also benefit from its protection. Carrying out searches of people under the age of 18 in a manner compatible with the ECHR should ensure that the principles of the UNCRC are respected.\r\nThe Scottish Government welcomes the establishment by Police Scotland of a new Children and Young Persons Reference Group in order to better understand the views of young people and other relevant stakeholders in relation to stop and search.\r\nProperly targeted, intelligence-led use of stop and search is an important tool to enable the police to prevent and detect crime and to protect individuals and keep people safe.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:12.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296288,"EventID":"S4W-22089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:12.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:34:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the use of non-statutory stop and search to be compatible with Articles (a) 5, (b) 8 and (c) 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law. Police officers must comply with Articles 5, 8 and - if applicable - 14 when carrying out their duties. In addition, police officers are required to comply with the requirements set out in the code of ethics for policing in Scotland. The police no longer carry out non-statutory stop and search of young people under the age of 12.\r\nProperly targeted, intelligence-led use of stop and search is an important tool to enable the police to prevent and detect crime and to protect individuals and keep people safe.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:12.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296289,"EventID":"S4W-22090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:13.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:34:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the Standing Firearms Authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Chief Constable and other senior officers from Police Scotland on a wide range of policing issues. I last met with the Chief Constable on 22 July 2014 and most recently met with Deputy Chief Constable Livingston on 13 August 2014 when the issue of Police Scotland’s Standing Firearms Authority was discussed. \r\nWhile the decision on the granting of a Standing Firearms Authority is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, I welcome the announcement made on 14 August 2014 by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority about their complementary reviews of the Standing Firearms Authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:13.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296290,"EventID":"S4W-22091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:13.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:34:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what limits there are to the Chief Constable’s power to issue a Standing Authority for the issue and carriage of firearms, and whether the Chief Constable could command that every police officer should be armed while undertaking routine duties.\r\n","AnswerText":"As I made clear during my statement to Parliament on 5 August 2014, it is not the Scottish Government’s policy to have a fully armed police force but we accept the need for a small number of specialist trained officers to support day to day police operations and respond to particular events.\r\nWhile the Chief Constable has operational independence, under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, there are a number of checks and balances in place to ensure that citizens’ rights are protected, including statutory scrutiny roles for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS). In addition, the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing is able to scrutinise all aspects of policing.\r\nPolice Scotland carries out a review of the Standing Firearms Authority on a quarterly basis with the next review scheduled to take place in September 2014. The Chief Constable has confirmed that, as well as assessing the threat, risk and intelligence available to him, he will also take on board views and representations that have been made.\r\nI welcome the announcement made on 14 August 2014 by HMICS and the SPA about their complementary reviews of Police Scotland’s Standing Firearms Authority. This work follows a commitment from Police Scotland for independent assessment of the decision process around standing authorities and also my announcement during my statement on 5 August 2014 that the Chief Constable will, in future, inform the SPA, the Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing and me if the number of officers with standing firearms authority routinely exceeds 2% of the total number of officers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:13.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296291,"EventID":"S4W-22092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:13.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T12:51:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in each year since 2007, also broken down by the number detained in (a) mental health, (b) NHS and (c) Scottish Prison Service facilities.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39346 on 24 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:13.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296292,"EventID":"S4W-22096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:13.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T13:12:05.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it undertook a comprehensive digital economy business survey in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Survey work began, as planned, in June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:13.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296293,"EventID":"S4W-22097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:14.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T13:12:05.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the most recent comprehensive digital economy business survey.\r\n","AnswerText":"Fieldwork for the digital economy business survey began in June 2014 and headline findings will be published in September 2014. It is anticipated that further reports will be made available later in the year following review and subsequent data analysis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:14.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296294,"EventID":"S4W-22098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-11T14:59:14.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T13:12:05.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated value of e-commerce sales was in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"E-commerce sales were estimated at £31 billion in 2010 through a methodology that adjusted UK level data on the basis of Scotland's share of UK employees in each of the sectors that contributed to the overall assessment of e-commerce sales.\r\na) The estimated figure for e-commerce sales in 2010 was not updated for 2011.\r\nb) Using the same methodology used to generate the 2010 figure, the estimate of Scotland's total e-commerce sales in 2012 was £38 billion.\r\n(c) The 2014 digital survey will be able to provide an estimated value for sales via the internet for surveyed companies for 2013-14. This will be included in the headline findings for the digital survey that are due to be published in September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-08T14:59:14.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296318,"EventID":"S4W-21992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:38.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-06-27T16:21:11.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many orchestras are part of BBC Scotland; how many members they have; how many times they have performed in the last year, and how this compares with orchestras that are part of RTÉ in Ireland.","AnswerText":"The BBC supports one orchestra in Scotland, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which is part of BBC Scotland. Data on the BBC website indicate that the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra employs 76 players and is scheduled to play at 26 engagements during 2014. RTÉ supports two orchestras: the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Data on the RTÉ website indicate that the two RTÉ orchestras employ 134 players and are scheduled to play at 52 engagements during 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:38.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296319,"EventID":"S4W-22063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:38.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-07T11:02:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its news release of 26 June 2014, £220 million for schools and health facilities, when it will announce similar new investment in primary and community health premises.","AnswerText":"The allocation of further resources will be considered over the summer with an announcement in the autumn of a future investment programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:38.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296320,"EventID":"S4W-22099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:39.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T14:45:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what records are kept regarding the use of incapacitant spray in prisons and young offenders institutions.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘Pelargonic acid vanillyamide (PAVA) spray is deployed in line with SPS incident management procedures which prompt the creation of risk assessments and authorisation forms for which records are maintained. Logs recording personnel, time of issue and the weight of PAVA canisters both on issue and return are also maintained and the PAVA support officer produces an incident report.’’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:39.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296321,"EventID":"S4W-22100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:39.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T14:45:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions incapacitant spray has been used in each prison and young offenders institution in each year since 2006-07 and who authorised its use.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘Deployment of pelargonic acid vanillyamide (PAVA) incapacitant spray was authorised in line with SPS incident command procedures for deployment by the incident commander in May 2014 for the first time since its introduction in February 2007.’’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:39.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296322,"EventID":"S4W-22101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:39.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T14:45:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff or police officers have been (i) incapacitated and (ii) hospitalised due to the use of incapacitant spray in each prison and young offenders institution in each year since 2006-07. ","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘Pelargonic acid vanillyamide (PAVA) incapacitant spray was deployed for the first time by the Scottish Prison Service as part of the incident management tactical response to an incident in May 2014 at Her Majesty’s Prison & Young Offenders Institution Grampian. Neither SPS staff nor members of Police Scotland were incapacitated by PAVA during the incident. A total of nine prisoners were incapacitated by PAVA spray, all of whom were provided with the appropriate aftercare. No hospital treatment was required for any individual affected by the deployment of the substance.’’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:39.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296323,"EventID":"S4W-22102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:40.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T14:45:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions police officers used incapacitant spray in each year between 2006-07 and 2012-13, broken down by legacy force, and in 2013-14, broken down by division.","AnswerText":"This information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\nSince 1 April 2013 the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner has required all police bodies operating in Scotland to notify it of any instances of incapacitant sprays being discharged.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:40.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296324,"EventID":"S4W-22103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:40.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the needs and circumstances of island communities when (a) developing, (b) formulating and (c) implementing policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does consider the needs and circumstances of island communities when developing, formulating and implementing policy. For example, each government bill which is introduced to Parliament is accompanied by a policy memorandum which sets out an assessment of the effects of that bill on island communities.\r\nAs set out in Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities the Scottish Government intends to consolidate existing practice by making island-proofing a binding duty in an Islands Act in the event of independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:40.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296325,"EventID":"S4W-22104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:40.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the (a) gross and (b) net annual income from leasing the seabed around the Scottish islands, and what estimates it has made of future income.","AnswerText":"The Crown Estate Scotland Report 2014 states that gross revenue from Scotland was £13.6 million and net revenue was £11.2 million in 2013-14. Revenue from aquaculture, dredging and coastal activities in Scotland was £3.3 million, £0.1 million and £2.9 million respectively. Scottish Ministers have called for the Crown Estate to be more transparent about income raised in Scotland but the Crown Estate has not so far published information on gross or net annual income from leasing the seabed around the Scottish islands. In the absence of detailed information on income from leasing the seabed around the Scottish islands the Scottish Government has not made any estimates of future income.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:40.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296326,"EventID":"S4W-22106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:41.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, further to comments on page 43 of Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities, it ensures that islands’ interests are given a voice in discussions at the North Sea and North West Waters regional fisheries management groups.","AnswerText":"The island communities are well represented in all of the Scottish Government’s fisheries management bodies. Based on discussions in national forums the Scottish Government is able to ensure that the islands’ interests are given a voice in discussions at the North Sea and the North West Waters regional fisheries management groups. Scottish Government officials have attended all the meetings of these groups held to date and will ensure that islands’ interests are given strong voice as the implementation of the common fisheries policy develops.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:41.26","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296327,"EventID":"S4W-22107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:41.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial mechanisms it considers should be deployed to enable the delivery of island grid upgrades, and what steps it has taken to explore them.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22028 on 30 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:41.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296328,"EventID":"S4W-22108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:41.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that the cost of replacing the internal ferry services of Orkney and Shetland does not become the sole responsibility of the local authorities.","AnswerText":"Internal ferry services in Orkney and Shetland, including vessel provision and maintenance, are currently the responsibility of the local authorities.\r\nIn the Ferries Plan, we made clear that we are willing to assume responsibility for all lifeline ferry services in Scotland, subject to the principles set out in the Ferries Plan. We are in discussion with both Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council regarding a potential transfer of responsibility.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:41.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296329,"EventID":"S4W-22109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:42.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has to support the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment in his letter to Mr Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation dated 26 June 2014 that “there will be no detriment to any other member of the European Union as a result of Scotland’s continuing membership”, and whether this includes what would be the remainder of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government will approach EU membership negotiations operating on the principle of continuity of effect: that is a transition to independent membership that is based on the EU treaty obligations and provisions that currently apply to Scotland under its present status as part of the UK, and without disruption to Scotland’s current fully integrated standing within the legal, economic, institutional, political and social framework of the EU.\r\nTherefore, the act of maintaining Scotland’s current fully integrated standing, as outlined above, ensures that an independent Scotland’s continuing membership of the EU does not represent any detriment to the other members of the EU.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:42.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296330,"EventID":"S4W-22110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:42.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what evidence it bases the position expressed by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment in his letter to Mr Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation dated 26 June 2014 that “we expect EU Member States to be keen to see an independent Scotland effect a smooth transition to membership”.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects that EU member states will be keen to see an independent Scotland assume full and timely EU membership. Scotland has been a constituent part of the EU since the accession of the UK in 1973 and benefits greatly from the peace, security and economic opportunities provided by membership of the European Union.\r\nOver these 40 years, Scotland's economy and society have become an integral and fully integrated part of the EU single market which constitutes over 500 million potential customers and over 20 million firms. Over 160,000 EU workers and students currently live in Scotland. An independent Scotland’s timely and smooth transition to membership of the EU would therefore be highly desirable in order to avoid a situation which jeopardised any of these links, as highlighted by the Scottish Parliament European and External Relations Committee’s recent report.\r\nIt is also the case that EU member states would wish Scotland to effect a smooth transition to membership of the EU given the value of our fisheries to the EU as a whole and Scotland’s pivotal role in international fisheries negotiations. For example, Scotland is the second largest contributor to the EU/Norway fishing negotiations and has the fourth largest sea area in EU core waters. It is at the heart of delicate and complex access arrangements involving 27 other countries from both within the EU and beyond. Were an independent Scotland outside the European Union its waters would cease to be EU waters, which would greatly complicate international fisheries negotiations and give rise to a range of damaging and undesirable knock-on consequences for many EU fleets.\r\nThe report of the European and External Relations Committee is available here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_EuropeanandExternalRelationsCommittee/Reports/euR-14-02w-rev.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:42.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296331,"EventID":"S4W-22111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:43.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a worst-case-scenario timescale for negotiating entry to the EU if it takes longer than 18 months, and how long it considers this would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is confident that its approach will deliver full and timely EU membership for an independent Scotland.\r\nAs set out in Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government will approach EU membership negotiations operating on the principle of continuity of effect: that is a transition to independent membership that is based on the EU treaty obligations and provisions that currently apply to Scotland under its present status as part of the UK, and without disruption to Scotland’s current fully integrated standing within the legal, economic, institutional, political and social framework of the EU.\r\nI would also refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-22109 on 6 August 2014 and S4W-22110 on 11 August 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:43.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296332,"EventID":"S4W-22112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:43.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has done to establish the position expressed by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment in his letter to Mr Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation dated 26 June 2014 that “we would, of course, negotiate our continuing membership from a position of significant strength”, and whether this research is publically available.","AnswerText":"The position of strength referred to is self-evident given what is now known about the distribution patterns and abundance of stocks in Scotland’s northern waters. This distribution means our waters are very important to up to 12 non Scottish nations that fish them who spend in excess of 20,000 fishing days per year there - a situation that naturally provides negotiating strength because the resource other countries want lies within our fishing zones.\r\nScotland’s seas are the fourth largest sea area in EU core waters and longest coastline of anywhere in Europe containing some of the richest seas with around four tonnes of fish taken from each square nautical mile of Scottish waters compared to around one tonne on average for EU waters.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:43.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296333,"EventID":"S4W-22113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:43.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has to support the position expressed by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment in his letter to Mr Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation dated 26 June 2014 in relation to the allocation of relative quota shares to EU member states that “We do not envisage any of these countries wishing to open up this complex and delicately balanced arrangement for renegotiation”.\r\n","AnswerText":"The relative sharing of resources is a sensitive and extremely complex subject, particularly given the future demands that will be faced upon implementation of the landing obligation. The position of other countries has to date been very clear and during the negotiations to reform the common fisheries policy, indeed from the very outset of discussions, member states made it very clear they did not wish to touch relative stability - that was the one pillar of fisheries management that was left untouched.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:43.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296334,"EventID":"S4W-22114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:44.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:01:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its position “that the Scottish Government will not use our fisheries as a bargaining chip to be traded away for other objectives”, what other resources it has considered to be suitable for negotiation with the rest of the UK in the event of independence.","AnswerText":"After a democratic vote for independence, it will be in the interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK to come to a swift and co-operative settlement.\r\nIn the Edinburgh Agreement, the UK and Scottish governments agreed they will continue to work together constructively in the light of the outcome, whatever it is, in the best interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government expects this agreement to be upheld.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:44.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296335,"EventID":"S4W-22119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:44.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T16:25:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the relevant governing body regarding where an independent Scotland would locate the main national training facility for (a) aquatics, (b) archery, (c) badminton, (d) basketball, (e) boxing, (f) canoeing and kayaking, (g) cycling, (h) equestrian events, (i) fencing, (j) football, (k) golf, (l) gymnastics, (m) handball, (n) hockey, (o) judo, (p) modern pentathlon, (q) rowing, (r) rugby sevens, (s) sailing, (t) shooting, (u) table tennis, (v) taekwondo, (w) tennis, (x) track and field, (y) triathlon, (z) volleyball, (aa) weightlifting and (bb) wrestling.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland already has excellent national training facilities such as the national swimming centre at Stirling, the national judo centre at Ratho and the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome among others. I have asked the chief executive of sportscotland to provide you with detailed information on national training centres.\r\nIn addition the Scottish Government has committed £25 million to deliver a National Performance Centre for Sport. All governing bodies were consulted as part of this process and while some such as football and volleyball will make greater use of the centre than others, all governing bodies will be able to benefit from the facilities and services that will be available when the centre becomes operational in 2016.\r\nsportscotland also recently launched a new £20 million national and regional facilities investment which will help address gaps in provision identified through the bidding process for the National Performance Centre for Sport. As the national agency for the development of sport in Scotland, sportscotland is committed to working with sport governing bodies and others to ensure our elite athletes have access to appropriate facilities that will allow them to prepare and compete successfully on the international stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:44.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296336,"EventID":"S4W-22120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:44.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-12T11:19:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21669 by Alasdair Allan on 17 June 2014, whether the earth sciences qualification will be available from 2015, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the chief executive to write to you.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:44.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296337,"EventID":"S4W-22121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:45.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-12T11:19:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21669 by Alasdair Allan on 17 June 2014, how many tariff points Higher grade geology commands, and how this compares with each of the geology units that will be available from 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UCAS tariff score for each Higher (geology included) is: D = 36; C = 50; B = 65; and A = 80. The tariff is attached to a qualification as a whole and not to individual units.\r\nInsight, a new online tool for secondary schools and local authorities, will be used to benchmark, analyse and compare a range of awards relating to performance in the senior phase of the Curriculum for Excellence. Insight includes a tariff scale in some measures to provide users with summary information about different awards from different providers, with points allocated to units as well as full courses.\r\nInformation supplied by the Scottish Qualifications Authority for their National Qualifications courses indicates that a Higher course will be allocated 84 points for those attaining all the units, 149 points for attaining a course award at grade D, 160 points for a course award at grade C, 182 points at grade B and 204 points at grade A. It is important to note that the Insight tariff scale will be used for benchmarking the attainment of cohorts of pupils. It should not be viewed as a reflection of the value of the qualification to the individual learner, nor should it be used to make decisions on the particular subjects that individual learners pursue.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:45.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296338,"EventID":"S4W-22122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:45.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-12T11:19:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a further breakdown of the information at table 4 of Public Sector Employment In Scotland Statistics for 1st Quarter 2014 to provide details of (a) teaching and (b) non-teaching staff at further education colleges.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide a further breakdown of information contained in table 4 of Public Sector Employment In Scotland Statistics. Information on teaching and non-teaching staff at further education colleges is not collected through these statistics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:45.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296339,"EventID":"S4W-22123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:46.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T11:53:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08399 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2012, for what reason the anticipated completion date of early 2014 for the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement scheme has not been met, and on what date it will be completed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The £9 million Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement project was opened to traffic on 27 June 2014. This was a significant achievement given its construction took place over one of the wettest winters in recent memory.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:46.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296340,"EventID":"S4W-22124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-14T15:34:46.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T12:21:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortfall in psychiatry numbers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has increased the numbers of core specialty trainees in Scotland for the 2014 recruitment round and is continuing to work closely with the Royal College of Psychiatry, NHS Education for Scotland and other stakeholders.\r\nIt should be noted that the funded establishment of psychiatric specialties has increased from 497.4 whole time equivalent (WTE) as at September 2006 to 569.0 WTE as at March 2014. Over this time period the total per cent of vacancies has decreased from 10.6% to 9.8% with a decrease from 7.8% to 1.4% for vacancies of six or more months.\r\nInformation on the psychology services workforce can be found on the Information Services Division website at: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/index.asp\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-11T15:34:46.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296345,"EventID":"S4W-22115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:25.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:10:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have an epidermoid brain cyst; how many are receiving gamma knife treatment for this, and how many consultants specialise in treating the condition, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:25.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296346,"EventID":"S4W-22118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:26.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-11T15:10:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people with an epidermoid brain cyst have been referred to the NHS in England for treatment, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:26.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296347,"EventID":"S4W-22125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:26.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T14:53:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a right of appeal for local authorities to challenge planning recommendations made by Scottish Government reporters and if such right has been removed, when.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recommendations made by reporters in examining a planning authority’s local development plan are largely binding on planning authorities who may only depart from recommendations in specific defined circumstances. These are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Grounds for Declining to Follow Recommendations) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 which came into force on 28 February 2009. These procedures were introduced in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, promoted by the previous administration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:26.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296348,"EventID":"S4W-22126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:26.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T14:53:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what local circumstances Scottish Government reporters take into account when making planning recommendations.\r\n","AnswerText":"Regulation 21 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 limits the scope of the matters to be assessed in the examination to issues raised in unresolved representations. The reporters will fully consider the representation, the council’s statement on the matters raised, comments from any other body in relation to the representation, national planning policy and any other information the reporters consider necessary to make recommendations on the unresolved representation. These procedures were introduced in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, promoted by the previous administration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:26.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296349,"EventID":"S4W-22127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:26.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T14:53:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance there is for Scottish Government reporters making planning recommendations.","AnswerText":"Reporters are required to carry out an examination for a local development plan and make recommendations in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1997, the Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, Scottish Government Circular 6/2013, Scottish Planning Policy and the National Planning Framework. The examination is restricted to the matters raised in unresolved representations. These procedures were introduced in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, promoted by the previous administration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:26.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296350,"EventID":"S4W-22128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:27.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T15:37:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the World Health Organization's Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations.\r\n","AnswerText":"HIV continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government and as such, we welcome the World Health Organization’s consolidated guidelines.\r\nHIV policy, as set out in The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework, focusses on the key populations in Scotland who are vulnerable to HIV, namely men who have sex with men and those from areas of high prevalence.\r\nThe Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework will be refreshed in 2015 and the Scottish Government will consider all relevant evidence including this guidance when refreshing the framework.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:27.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296351,"EventID":"S4W-22129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:27.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-14T15:37:01","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on calls for sexually active gay and bisexual men to take antiretroviral drugs to reduce the spread of HIV.","AnswerText":"The British HIV Association/British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Position Statement on pre-exposure prophylaxis in the UK advises that more clinical research is needed before the benefits, risks and cost effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can be fully known and advised that “ad hoc prescribing [of PrEP] is avoided, and that PrEP is only prescribed in the context of a clinical research study in the UK”.\r\nThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has also noted that “despite some encouraging results, a number of questions remain unanswered regarding PrEP. For example, the cost-effectiveness of PrEP in the long term requires further investigation, as it is likely to depend on high levels of adherence to the treatment.”\r\nResearch trials are currently underway and we will await the outcome of these and further advice from the British HIV Association and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV before reviewing the existing recommendations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:27.377","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296352,"EventID":"S4W-22130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:27.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-15T11:53:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children with (a) attention deficit hyperactive disorder and (b) an autistic spectrum disorder were prescribed Ritalin in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:27.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296353,"EventID":"S4W-22132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-15T15:18:27.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-15T11:53:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children per 10,000 population have been prescribed Ritalin in each year since 2009.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of children in Scotland, aged 0-18 years, prescribed Ritalin and the rate per 10,000 population by calendar year (2009-13) are shown in Table 1.\r\nThis data relates only to Ritalin and does not include its equivalents with the non-proprietary name methylphenidate hydrochloride.\r\n\r\nTable 1:\r\nYear\r\nItem Name\r\nDispensed Items\r\nNumber of Patients\r\nPopulation\r\nRate\r\n2009\r\nRitalin\r\n1,545\r\n417\r\n1,121,777\r\n3.72\r\n2010\r\nRitalin\r\n1,427\r\n367\r\n1,115,497\r\n3.29\r\n2011\r\nRitalin\r\n1,442\r\n429\r\n1,108,561\r\n3.87\r\n2012\r\nRitalin\r\n1,404\r\n314\r\n1,104,046\r\n2.84\r\n2013\r\nRitalin\r\n1,199\r\n269\r\n1,099,669\r\n2.45\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-12T15:18:27.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296354,"EventID":"S4W-22133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:17.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-15T17:01:05.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland concerning Operation Lingle; whether it approved plans to extend surveillance of the general public under Operation Lingle, and what consultation was carried out prior to Police Scotland's proposal that members of the public be encouraged to report people they think may be sex workers.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. While Scottish Government officials have had strategic discussions with Police Scotland about how they could link in with NHS board sexual health services, the Scottish Government had no role in approving or planning Operation Lingle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:17.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296355,"EventID":"S4W-22136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:18.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:14:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be invested in the new satellite of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre at Monklands Hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"£22 million is being invested in the Monklands satellite of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow to help meet rising demand for radiotherapy treatment over the next ten years. The centre is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.\r\nThe new centre will be equipped with the most advanced technology and equipment to deliver the same world-class treatment currently provided at the Glasgow centre. This includes two new state-of-the-art linear accelerators, which deliver high-energy radiation to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells, with expansion space for a third machine, if required.\r\nThe centre will also have a CT simulator to help plan radiotherapy treatment. This will enable around 80 patients a day who require radiotherapy for lung, breast, prostate and rectal cancers to be treated.\r\nInitially, the majority of patients are expected to come from Lanarkshire, however over time patients from other West of Scotland areas may also be treated at the new facility. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:18.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296356,"EventID":"S4W-22137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:18.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:14:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whole-time equivalent oncologists there were in (a) September 2006 and (b) March 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on how many whole time equivalent oncologists there were in (a) September 2006 and (b) March 2014 can be found in the following table. \r\nOncologists in NHS Scotland at 30 September 2006 and 31 March 2014\r\n \r\nSeptember 2006\r\nMarch 2014\r\n \r\nClinical Oncologists\r\nMedical Oncologists\r\nTotal\r\nClinical Oncologists\r\nMedical Oncologists\r\nTotal\r\nScotland Oncologists WTE\r\n111.2\r\n54.0\r\n165.2\r\n147.6\r\n52.8\r\n200.4\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\nThe main oncology specialties are clinical and medical oncology, and the numbers of clinical and medical oncologists are shown in the table. In addition to these, there are also surgical oncologists working within specialties such as gynaecology. The number of surgical oncologists is not collected centrally.\r\nPublished information on hospital, community and public health services staff by specialty can be found on the workforce statistics web site at\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/HCHS_by_specialty_M2014.xls\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:18.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296357,"EventID":"S4W-22138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:19.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:14:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whole-time equivalent cancer clinical nurse specialists there were in September (a) 2009 and (b) 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on how many whole time equivalent cancer clinical nurse specialists there were in September (a) 2009 and (b) 2013 can be found in the following table.\r\nDue to the multidisciplinary nature of the role a nurse may work in more than one specialty, however only one specialist area is recorded for each nurse. The figures shown do not include those who spend part of their time working in cancer but have been recorded against another specialty. \r\nCancer clinical nurse specialists in NHS Scotland at 30 September 2009 and 30 September 2013\r\n\r\nSep 09\r\nSep 13\r\nScotland - Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists\r\n170.0\r\n237.7\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\nFurther published information on the number of clinical nurse specialists by cancer site can be found on the workforce statistics web site at:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2013-11-26/Clinical_Nurse_Specialists_S2013.xls\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:19.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296358,"EventID":"S4W-22139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:19.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:14:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whole-time equivalent radiography staff there were in (a) September 2007 and (b) March 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on how many whole time equivalent (WTE) radiography staff there were in (a) September 2007 and (b) March 2014 can be found in the following table.\r\nRadiography staff in NHS Scotland at 30 September 2007 and 31 March 2014.\r\n \r\nSep 07\r\nMar 14\r\nRadiography staff NHS Scotland\r\n1,836.8\r\n2,175.7\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\nRadiography staff working in NHSScotland have increased by 338.9 WTE or 18.5% during the period of September 2007 and March 2014.\r\nFurther information on the statistics, including information on how the data are collected and notes to aid interpretation, can be found on the Information Services Division website at: www.isdscotland.org/workforce\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:19.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296359,"EventID":"S4W-22140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:19.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:43:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time has been for the fire and rescue services to attend an incident in (a) urban and (b) remote and rural areas in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:19.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296360,"EventID":"S4W-22141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:20.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:43:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the longest time has been for a fire and rescue service appliance to attend an incident in an (a) urban and (b) remote and rural area in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:20.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296361,"EventID":"S4W-22142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:20.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:43:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce response times for fire and rescue services in remote and rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have set out the strategic direction for fire and rescue in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013. Its priorities include requirements for planning operational response in a way which reflects national and local risk across Scotland.\r\nIn response to the Fire and Rescue Framework, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has published strategies on response and resilience, as well as Local Plans, which detail its approach to incident prevention and response on a local basis. These documents are available to the public and can be found at the following link: http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/document-library.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:20.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296362,"EventID":"S4W-22143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:20.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:43:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there at each level in the (a) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and (b) Scottish Ambulance Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:20.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296363,"EventID":"S4W-22144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:21.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:43:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many single-crewed ambulances have been deployed (a) on weekdays and (b) at weekends in each of the last five years, also broken down by (i) urban and (ii) remote and rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The single crewing of double-crewed ambulances should only happen in exceptional circumstances, such as short notice sickness absence when cover cannot be secured. The Scottish Ambulance Service is working hard to deliver this.\r\nThe information requested is not held centrally.\r\nHowever, the total incidence of single crewing for April to June 2014 (inclusive) was 478 shifts, representing 1.1% of those shifts that were rostered to be double crewed. Of that total, many of the instances of single crewing occurred due to exceptional circumstances. Excluding these, the figures for single crewed shifts under non-exceptional circumstances was 0.6% across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:21.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296364,"EventID":"S4W-22147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:21.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:55:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the granting of EU special area of conservation status in 2004 has had on the population levels of (a) freshwater pearl mussels, (b) salmon, (c) otters and (d) sea lamprey.\r\n","AnswerText":"The River Spey Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is the only SAC in Scotland designated for all four of the listed qualifying features.\r\nScottish Natural Heritage’s most recent assessments of the condition of the River Spey SAC’s qualifying features, and other Scottish SACs with any of these qualifying features, are available via the following weblink:\r\nhttp://gateway.snh.gov.uk/sitelink/siteinfo.jsp?pa_code=8365\r\nInformation on population levels is available at a UK scale in the second and third reports under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive submitted in 2007 and 2013 respectively. The latter also provides component reports for each of the four UK countries but does not make a conservation status assessment at country scale. The conservation status of the four listed species is summarised in the following table. This information is collated at a UK level, however Scotland hosts a significant proportion of each of the four listed species’ UK populations:\r\nConservation Status at UK level\r\nSpecies\r\n2007\r\n2013\r\nStatus\r\nTrend\r\nStatus\r\nTrend\r\nChange in Conservation Status\r\nOtter\r\nFavourable\r\n-\r\nFavourable\r\n-\r\nNone\r\nAtlantic salmon\r\nInadequate\r\n-\r\nInadequate \r\nStable\r\nNone\r\nFreshwater pearl mussel \r\nBad\r\nDeteriorating\r\nBad \r\nDeclining\r\nNone\r\nSea lamprey\r\nInadequate \r\nImproving\r\nUnknown\r\n-\r\nUnknown\r\nThe full reports, including estimated population numbers at UK (2007 and 2013) and Scotland (2013 only) levels, are available on the JNCC website via the following weblink: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6397\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296365,"EventID":"S4W-22148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:22.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the causes of educational inequality are.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and all its partners have a strong shared commitment to raising attainment for all and closing the attainment gap between children and young people who are most and least advantaged.\r\nThe causes of educational inequality are complex and varied. Recent research, such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report Closing the attainment gap in Scottish education, which was published in May 2014, suggests that there are many contributory factors including deprivation, gender, a child’s home environment, additional support needs and looked after status.\r\nBut there are other influential factors which we have limited control over. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that an additional 50,000 Scottish children will be living in relative poverty by 2020 because of UK welfare reform, and when housing costs are taken into account, the figure could be as high as 100,000.\r\nOur Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland expresses our commitment to focus on the need to tackle the long-term drivers of poverty, through early intervention and prevention, partnership and holistic services.\r\nIndependence will have a significant and positive impact on education if Scotland has control of the welfare, benefits and taxation systems. With independence – and control over these powers – we have a decisive opportunity to put an end to underachievement in our schools that is caused by poverty.\r\nWhile we cannot mitigate all of the impacts of welfare reform, we are continuing to do what we can within our existing powers and resources to mitigate the worst impacts where possible. Our current and planned funding will result in an investment of at least £260 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16. This will help to limit the most damaging effects of welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:22.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296366,"EventID":"S4W-22149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:22.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) policies and (b) programmes it has introduced to address educational inequality.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and all its partners have a strong shared commitment to raising attainment for all and closing the attainment gap between children and young people who are most and least advantaged. This commitment to improvement and equity in attainment has a firm foundation in all our key policies and programmes which affect children and young people, the pillars of which are Curriculum for Excellence, Teaching Scotland’s Future, Getting it right for every child, The Early Years Framework and Opportunities for All. More specifically:\r\nThe Raising Attainment for All Programme was launched in June 2014 and aims to close the attainment gap between children and young people who are most and least advantaged. 12 local authorities and over 100 schools are part of this programme, which supports consistent improvement in attainment and achievement through the development of a collaborative learning system, the implementation of improvement methodology and by enabling shared learning. \r\nEducation Scotland are also encouraging collaboration and continuous \r\nself-improvement through the Schools Improvement Partnership Programme. \r\nThe development of Insight will help local authorities and secondary schools to analyse strengths and areas for improvement.\r\nA refreshed Parentzone website will provide more accessible information for parents.\r\nThe Scottish Government is also taking forward a number of other activities to focus on the key issues which have an impact on raising attainment and closing the equity gap. These include: \r\nThe implementation of Teaching Scotland’s Future to support the teaching workforce; \r\nEstablishing a Scottish College for Educational Leadership to support leadership development; \r\nThe establishment of literacy and numeracy hubs to facilitate sharing of best practice.\r\nHowever, we know that there is more work to do. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that an additional 50,000 Scottish children will be living in relative poverty by 2020 because of UK welfare reform, and when housing costs are taken into account, the figure could be as high as 100,000.\r\nOur Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland expresses our commitment to focus on the need to tackle the long-term drivers of poverty, through early intervention and prevention, partnership and holistic services.\r\nIndependence will have a significant and positive impact on education if Scotland has control of the welfare, benefits and taxation systems. With independence – and control over these powers – we have a decisive opportunity to put an end to underachievement in our schools that is caused by poverty.\r\nWhile we cannot mitigate all of the impacts of welfare reform, we are continuing to do what we can within our existing powers and resources to mitigate the worst impacts where possible. Our current and planned funding will result in an investment of at least £260 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16. This will help to limit the most damaging effects of welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:22.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296367,"EventID":"S4W-22150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:23.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to tackling educational inequality and  what percentage of the education budget this represents.","AnswerText":"Tackling educational inequality is an agreed priority for all education partners, so our collective financial resources should be allocated to support that. The majority of education funding flows through local government. For 2013-14 Scotland’s local authorities’ provisional outturn total net revenue expenditure was £11.716 billion. Of this figure, £4.608 billion (39.3%) was on education.\r\nHowever, we know that there is more work to do. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that an additional 50,000 Scottish children will be living in relative poverty by 2020 because of UK welfare reform, and when housing costs are taken into account, the figure could be as high as 100,000.\r\nOur Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland expresses our commitment to focus on the need to tackle the long-term drivers of poverty, through early intervention and prevention, partnership and holistic services.\r\nIndependence will have a significant and positive impact on education if Scotland has control of the welfare, benefits and taxation systems. With independence – and control over these powers – we have a decisive opportunity to put an end to underachievement in our schools that is caused by poverty.\r\nWhile we cannot mitigate all of the impacts of welfare reform, we are continuing to do what we can within our existing powers and resources to mitigate the worst impacts where possible. Our current and planned funding will result in an investment of at least £260 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16. This will help to limit the most damaging effects of welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:23.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296368,"EventID":"S4W-22151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:23.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase the attainment levels of students from the most deprived backgrounds.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22149 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:23.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296369,"EventID":"S4W-22152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:23.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students at Scotland’s ancient universities are from the most deprived areas of Scotland.","AnswerText":"Figures from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) indicate that in 2012-13, the most recent year for which information is available; there were 4,904 students at Scotland’s four ancient universities from the 40% most deprived data zones in Scotland, as ranked in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Of these, 1,962 were from the 20% most deprived data zones.\r\nUnder this government we have seen growth in the number of students from deprived data zones to ancient universities since 2006-07.\r\nThe Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 introduced statutory widening access agreements as part of the wider outcome agreement dialogue between the SFC and each higher education institution in Scotland. Progress is monitored by the SFC and reported annually through their Learning for All publication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:23.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296370,"EventID":"S4W-22153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:23.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the students from the most deprived areas in the country at Scotland’s ancient universities has dropped out of higher education in the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Figures from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) show that the proportions of Scottish domiciled, full time undergraduate first degree students from the 40% most deprived data zones, as ranked by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, who did not continue into the next year of study at one of Scotland’s four ancient universities were:\r\n2008-09\r\n12.3%\r\n2009-10\r\n10.4%\r\n2010-11\r\n8.9%\r\n2011-12\r\n10.4%\r\n2012-13\r\n10.7%\r\nIt is not possible to confirm if these students embarked on another course of higher education study after leaving their original course.\r\nIn a letter of guidance issued to the SFC on 31 July 2014, I confirmed that the Scottish Government wants to improve retention rates and the level and quality of support for students who need more assistance to successfully complete their course, particularly at those universities performing less well in this regard.\r\nThe letter of guidance 2015-16 is available at:\r\nhttp://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/letterofguidance/letterofguidance.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:23.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296371,"EventID":"S4W-22154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:24.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage students from the most deprived backgrounds to study at Scotland’s ancient universities.","AnswerText":"The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 introduced statutory widening access agreements as part of the wider outcome agreement dialogue between the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and each higher education institution in Scotland.\r\nA university outcome agreements summary document, published by the SFC in May 2014, sets out how individual universities are improving access for students from more deprived communities. Activities include development or expansion of summer schools and other programmes focused on assisting students to obtain a place at university. \r\nA good example involving one of the ancient universities is the University of Glasgow’s refinement of their admissions process as part of an approach to recruiting 200 extra entrants from the most deprived 40% of data zones, as ranked by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, over the next three years. \r\nIn 2013-14, the Scottish Government committed additional funded places for Scottish and EU students to support widening access to a university education and articulation from college to university. A further commitment has been made for academic year 2014-15.\r\nEnabling students from the most deprived backgrounds to study at ancient universities also requires closing the attainment gap in schools. Independence will have a significant and positive impact on education if Scotland has control of the welfare, benefits and taxation systems. With independence – and control over these powers – we have a decisive opportunity to put an end to underachievement in our schools that is caused by poverty.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:24.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296372,"EventID":"S4W-22155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:24.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to produce a report on the progress made by high-attaining children from disadvantaged backgrounds.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports a number of activities which provide information on high-attaining children from disadvantaged backgrounds:\r\nThe Scottish Government funds Growing Up in Scotland, a study which contains a wealth of longitudinal data which allows us to explore the social and emotional wellbeing of children, resilience characteristics of children from areas of high deprivation and how these link with educational experiences. \r\nAs part of its review of Curriculum for Excellence in 2015, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will give consideration to how the Scottish education system is performing in terms of attainment and achievement, and how we can achieve more equitable outcomes across the social spectrum.\r\nWe intend to work with the University of Edinburgh to develop the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime to better understand the educational attainment and outcomes of that cohort of young people.\r\nEducation Scotland routinely highlight areas of good practice and success as part of their inspection and practice sharing activities.\r\nResearch, good practice and learning is already being shared across Scotland and is having an impact on attainment and closing the equity gap. To build on this, the Scottish Government is taking forward a range of activities to raise attainment and close the equity gap, including the Raising Attainment for All Programme. Education Scotland are augmenting this work with their School Improvement Partnership Programme.\r\nGiven the range of information and data currently available, the Scottish Government has no current plans to produce a more specific report on the progress made by \r\nhigh-attaining children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our focus is to work closely with partners to bring about practical change and improve outcomes for children and young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:24.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296373,"EventID":"S4W-22156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:24.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce recommends widening access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.","AnswerText":"The final report of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, Education Working For All! was published on 3 June 2014. The report makes a number of recommendations designed to provide earlier opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to access vocational opportunities in the senior phase of curriculum for excellence.\r\nThe report contains a chapter on advancing equalities. This chapter makes a number of specific recommendations to improve educational and labour market outcomes for groups of young people who are currently disadvantaged in the labour market.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:24.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296374,"EventID":"S4W-22157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:24.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons there was a 58% increase in lending to Scotland-domiciled students by the Student Loans Company in 2013-14.","AnswerText":"A new student support package was introduced for academic year 2013-14. Implementation of the revised package received praise from NUS Scotland. The new system included an annual minimum income of £7,250, through a combination of bursaries and loans, for students with a family income of less than £17,000.\r\nOther improvements included a revised minimum student loan amount for all eligible students of £4,500. Expansion in the amount of money available to all students resulted in an increase in overall lending during the first year of operation of the new, simplified support package.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:24.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296375,"EventID":"S4W-22158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:25.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the reported increasing level of student debt.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22157 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:25.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296376,"EventID":"S4W-22159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:25.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce the level of student debt.","AnswerText":"Scotland continues to have the lowest level of average debt per student. The Scottish figure of £7,600 compares with £20,100 for England, £17,310 for Wales and £16,820 for Northern Ireland.\r\nThe Scottish Government aims to contribute to maintenance of this by continuing to provide free tuition, saving students up to £27,000 compared to their peers elsewhere in the UK. In addition, interest repayment for Scottish domiciled students is kept at a minimum level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:25.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296377,"EventID":"S4W-22160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:25.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to tackling the level of student debt and what percentage of the education budget this represents.","AnswerText":"There is no specific ring fenced amount allocated to addressing debt accumulated by Scottish domiciled students.\r\nThe overall student support package offered by the Scottish Government is geared towards providing a mixture of support through free tuition, bursary and loan. Scottish domiciled students do not have to pay fees of up to £27,000 charged for tuition elsewhere in the UK. This is a real saving that does not become a debt.\r\nScotland continues to have the lowest level of average debt per student. The Scottish figure of £7,600 compares with £20,100 for England, £17,310 for Wales and £16,820 for Northern Ireland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:25.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296378,"EventID":"S4W-22161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:26.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the lower average tariff scores for looked-after children compared with all school leavers.","AnswerText":"The reasons for looked after children and young people experiencing poorer educational outcomes, lower levels of educational attainment and positive destinations are multiple and various.\r\nThe 2007 report We Can and Must Do Better highlighted ‘‘continuity, stability, a sense of security and support as key to ensuring that looked after children and young people do as well as their peers in terms of achievement and attainment at school and in positively participating in the wider school community.’’\r\nFurther, the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee report Inquiry into the educational attainment of looked after children indicated that ‘‘Children are ready to learn when they are emotionally stable, with secure attachments to key care givers, are free of threat and risk and attend school on a regular and consistent basis, and are supported by key role models who value education and actively support learning’’.\r\nWhilst there is still much to be done, the 2012-13 educational outcomes statistics demonstrate the progress that has been made in improving the attainment and achievement of looked after children. Since 2009 the proportion of young people in positive destinations has increased by 12 percentage points and the average tariff score has increased by 19 tariff score points. Attendance is improving and exclusions have fallen by 43%.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:26.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296379,"EventID":"S4W-22162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:26.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the lower percentage of positive destinations for looked-after children compared with all school leavers.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22161 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:26.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296380,"EventID":"S4W-22163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-16T15:18:26.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-16T11:57:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to achieve equality in outcome for looked-after students compared with all school leavers.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has, and continues to, take a range of actions to enable looked after children to improve outcomes, leaver destinations and attainment levels. In accordance with Getting it right for every child principles we continue to encourage high-quality, individually tailored, multi-agency approaches for this vulnerable group.\r\nThe needs of looked after children, young people and care leavers who have experienced multiple placements are embedded in our wider work to improve outcomes such as Getting it right for every child, Curriculum for Excellence, Additional Support for Learning, More Choices More Chances and Opportunities for All.\r\nYoung people need stability if they are to achieve. We have established the Permanence and Care Excellence (PACE) programme which aims to achieve fewer placements and earlier permanence for children and young people. PACE is being implemented in Aberdeen City and Renfrewshire and uses improvement methodology and takes a whole system (local authorities, children’s hearings & courts) approach to improving permanence. We will share the learning from this pilot and plan to extend the PACE programme to other areas over the next couple of years. We also fund the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children to provide direct support to local authorities to improve the way they deliver permanence.\r\nAll educational establishments are now required to have a designated senior manager for looked after children, with responsibilities for improving learning outcomes.\r\nWhilst there is still much to be done, the 2012-13 educational outcomes statistics demonstrate the progress that has been made in improving the attainment and achievement of looked after children. Since 2009 the proportion of young people in positive destinations has increased by 12 percentage points and the average tariff score has increased by 19 tariff score points. Attendance is improving and exclusions have fallen by 43%.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-13T15:18:26.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296391,"EventID":"S4W-22167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-17T13:14:40.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-17T13:06:07.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what cultural activity is planned as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is the most ambitious cultural celebration that has ever taken place in Scotland. It is a national programme of new work with two strands: ‘Culture 2014’ which is the Scotland wide programme and ‘Festival 2014’ the Games Time celebration that will run alongside the sporting action in Glasgow.\r\nCulture 2014 is already underway, including almost 200 projects and exhibitions and delivering over 800 events across Scotland. Many of these events are taking place along the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay and it will continue beyond the Games until 31 August 2014.\r\nFestival 2014 will transform Glasgow during Games time, and will run from 19 July to 3 August 2014. There will be more than 1000 performances in 100 venues across the city. ‘Live zones’ in Glasgow Green, Merchant City and Kelvingrove Bandstand as well as BBC at the Quay, will be a key focus of activity throughout each day.\r\nDetails about events can be found in the programme guides:\r\nCulture 2014 Programme Guide provides an overview of the nationwide programme of activity taking place in the run up to, during and beyond Games Time.\r\nhttp://www.creativescotland.com/resources/our-publications/marketing/culture-2014-programme-guide \r\nFestival 2014 Guide includes details of the full range of Games Time activity taking place in Glasgow, including details of sites at live zones\r\nhttp://publications.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts/2014-Festival-Brochure/ \r\nI would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this once in a lifetime cultural celebration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-07-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-14T13:14:40.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296400,"EventID":"S4W-22165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-17T14:58:39.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-17T11:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22030 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2014, whether it has information regarding the length of sanction imposed for people in each category in each year.\r\n","AnswerText":"As mentioned in response to question S4W-22030, the Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of individuals who have been sanctioned as benefits are reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government does not have any further information on sanctions other than what is publicly available on the Department for Work and Pensions Stat-Xplore tool, available at the following link: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk.\r\nDue to the complexity of this request, as sanction length varies depending on the type of sanction and the number of failures at that level, we would recommend requesting this information from the Department for Work and Pensions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-14T14:58:39.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296401,"EventID":"S4W-22166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-17T14:58:39.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-17T12:41:32.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the definition of permanent grassland for the purposes of the implementation of the common agricultural policy in Scotland includes (a) permanent pasture, (b) shrubs and/or trees which can be grazed and (c) land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas, as set out in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009.","AnswerText":"I can confirm that for the future implementation of the common agricultural policy 2015, the definition of permanent grassland does include the elements listed in the question. The legislative references are Article 4(1)(h) and (i) of Regulation 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the European Council, which state “(h) \"permanent grassland and permanent pasture\" (together referred to as \"permanent grassland\") means land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown) and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the holding for five years or more; it may include other species such as shrubs and/or trees which can be grazed provided that the grasses and other herbaceous forage remain predominant as well as, where Member States so decide, land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas; and, (i) \"grasses or other herbaceous forage\" means all herbaceous plants traditionally found in natural pastures or normally included in mixtures of seeds for pastures or meadows in the Member State, whether or not used for grazing animals”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-14T14:58:39.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296403,"EventID":"S4W-22168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-18T14:36:26.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-17T20:31:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS has (a) sold or (b) passed-on the names and addresses of patients to commercial companies in the last five years and, if so, for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"No NHS Scotland board has sold patient information in the last five years. The only circumstances where the names and addresses of patients pass from NHS Scotland to a third party would be where they were providing a specific set of services for NHS Scotland by contract. NHS Scotland complies with the Data Protection Act (1998), all relevant legislation and the Caldicott principles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-15T14:36:26.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296404,"EventID":"S4W-22171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-21T15:01:36.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T09:48:03.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21840 by Aileen Campbell on 10 July 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm how many two-year-olds from workless households will be eligible to receive free childcare provision from August 2014.   \r\n","AnswerText":"It is estimated that under the qualifying criteria specified in the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014, around 5,000 two-year-olds with parents on qualifying benefits will be eligible for the entitlement to early learning and childcare from the autumn term in August 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T15:01:37.497","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296405,"EventID":"S4W-22172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-21T15:01:38.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T09:48:03.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21945 by Aileen Campbell on 14 July 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm when the need for a three-month delay in the legal duty was first raised with Scottish Government officials.  \r\n","AnswerText":"There have been ongoing discussions with COSLA on this issue. The need to move the commencement date of the legal duty in relation to eligible two-year-olds to 31 October 2014 was first raised with Scottish Government officials on 18 June 2014 and agreed with COSLA on 19 June 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T15:01:38.607","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296406,"EventID":"S4W-22173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-21T15:01:38.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T09:48:03.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21946 by Aileen Campbell on 14 July 2014, when it will publish the public information materials.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has now published the public information materials. The information campaign commenced on 21 July 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T15:01:38.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296407,"EventID":"S4W-22174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-21T15:01:39.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T11:50:40.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers will police the Commonwealth Games, broken down by division.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T15:01:39.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296408,"EventID":"S4W-22175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-21T15:01:39.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T11:50:40.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that there is adequate cover in each police division during the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"A safe, secure and peaceful Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was delivered through a mixed workforce of Police Scotland police officers, mutual aid police officers from elsewhere in the UK, military personnel, private safety stewards and private security guards. It is a matter for the Chief Constable to determine the operational deployment of Police Scotland officers.\r\nHM Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland conducted assurance work to assess and validate the business as usual capacity and capability of Police Scotland for \r\nnon-games related policing activity throughout the games period. The conclusion was that there was confidence in the capacity of Police Scotland to ensure that there is no significant detrimental impact to routine policing activity over the period of the Commonwealth Games.\r\nThis extensive planning and preparation ensured that members of the public, visitors and athletes had a secure and enjoyable games experience, while day-to-day policing in communities across the rest of Scotland was maintained to the usual high standard to keep people safe.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T15:01:39.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296418,"EventID":"S4W-22176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:01.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T15:31:04.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) one-, (b) two-, (c) five- and (d) ten-year lung cancer survival rates are, broken down by (i) cancer network and (ii) NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tables 1a, 1b and 1c show survival rates (percentage) up to a) one year; b) two years and c) five years after diagnosis of lung cancer for patients aged 15 years and over in Scotland. As 10 years of follow-up information is not yet available for the cohort included in the analysis, it has not been possible to calculate 10-year survival rates. Data are presented by region and health board of residence.\r\nTable 1a: \tSurvival at one year after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)\r\nScotland; males and females aged 15 and over.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne year after diagnosis\r\n\r\nNumber of cases analysed \r\nPercentage\r\nLower 95% confidence interval\r\nUpper 95% confidence interval\r\nScotland \r\n20,695\r\n27.4\r\n26.8\r\n28.0\r\nRegion\r\nNorth of Scotland \r\n4,511\r\n28.2\r\n26.8\r\n29.6\r\nSouth East of Scotland \r\n5,329\r\n28.8\r\n27.6\r\n30.0\r\nWest of Scotland \r\n10,855\r\n26.4\r\n25.6\r\n27.2\r\nNHS Board\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1,547\r\n24.8\r\n22.6\r\n27.0\r\nBorders\r\n406\r\n31.5\r\n27.0\r\n36.0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n673\r\n25.9\r\n22.6\r\n29.2\r\nFife\r\n1,403\r\n25.6\r\n23.2\r\n28.0\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,065\r\n22.8\r\n20.3\r\n25.3\r\nGrampian\r\n1,665\r\n29.1\r\n26.9\r\n31.3\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n5,972\r\n27.3\r\n26.1\r\n28.5\r\nHighland and Argyll\r\n1,070\r\n25.6\r\n23.1\r\n28.1\r\nLanarkshire\r\n2,271\r\n26.6\r\n24.8\r\n28.4\r\nLothian\r\n2,847\r\n30.7\r\n28.9\r\n32.5\r\nOrkney\r\n63\r\n36.5\r\n24.5\r\n48.5\r\nShetland\r\n43\r\n25.6\r\n12.5\r\n38.7\r\nTayside\r\n1,557\r\n29.5\r\n27.1\r\n31.9\r\nWestern Isles\r\n113\r\n20.4\r\n13.0\r\n27.8\r\n\r\nTable 1b: \tSurvival at two years after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)\r\nScotland; males and females aged 15 and over.\r\n\r\n\r\nTwo years after diagnosis\r\n\r\nNumber of cases analysed \r\nPercentage\r\nLower 95% confidence interval\r\nUpper 95% confidence interval\r\nScotland \r\n20,695\r\n14.5\r\n14.1\r\n14.9\r\nRegion\r\nNorth of Scotland \r\n4,511\r\n14.6\r\n13.6\r\n15.6\r\nSouth East of Scotland \r\n5,329\r\n16.0\r\n15.0\r\n17.0\r\nWest of Scotland \r\n10,855\r\n13.7\r\n13.1\r\n14.3\r\nNHS Board\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1,547\r\n12.9\r\n11.1\r\n14.7\r\nBorders\r\n406\r\n18.2\r\n14.5\r\n21.9\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n673\r\n14.1\r\n11.6\r\n16.6\r\nFife\r\n1,403\r\n14.1\r\n12.3\r\n15.9\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,065\r\n12.6\r\n10.6\r\n14.6\r\nGrampian\r\n1,665\r\n14.5\r\n12.7\r\n16.3\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n5,972\r\n14.0\r\n13.2\r\n14.8\r\nHighland and Argyll\r\n1,070\r\n13.6\r\n11.6\r\n15.6\r\nLanarkshire\r\n2,271\r\n14.0\r\n12.6\r\n15.4\r\nLothian\r\n2,847\r\n17.1\r\n15.7\r\n18.5\r\nOrkney\r\n63\r\n19.0\r\n9.4\r\n28.6\r\nShetland\r\n43\r\n11.6\r\n2.0\r\n21.2\r\nTayside\r\n1,557\r\n15.7\r\n13.9\r\n17.5\r\nWestern Isles\r\n113\r\n8.8\r\n3.5\r\n14.1\r\n\r\nTable 1c: \tSurvival at five years after diagnosis of lung cancer (2003-07)\r\nScotland; males and females aged 15 and over.\r\n\r\n\r\nFive years after diagnosis\r\n\r\nNumber of cases analysed \r\nPercentage\r\nLower 95% confidence interval\r\nUpper 95% confidence interval\r\nScotland \r\n20,695\r\n6.5\r\n6.1\r\n6.9\r\nRegion\r\nNorth of Scotland \r\n4,511\r\n6.3\r\n5.5\r\n7.1\r\nSouth East of Scotland \r\n5,329\r\n7.8\r\n7.0\r\n8.6\r\nWest of Scotland \r\n10,855\r\n6.0\r\n5.6\r\n6.4\r\nNHS Board\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1,547\r\n5.2\r\n4.0\r\n6.4\r\nBorders\r\n406\r\n9.1\r\n6.4\r\n11.8\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n673\r\n6.4\r\n4.6\r\n8.2\r\nFife\r\n1,403\r\n6.6\r\n5.2\r\n8.0\r\nForth Valley\r\n1,065\r\n6.0\r\n4.6\r\n7.4\r\nGrampian\r\n1,665\r\n6.4\r\n5.2\r\n7.6\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n5,972\r\n6.0\r\n5.4\r\n6.6\r\nHighland and Argyll\r\n1,070\r\n5.5\r\n4.1\r\n6.9\r\nLanarkshire\r\n2,271\r\n6.7\r\n5.7\r\n7.7\r\nLothian\r\n2,847\r\n8.5\r\n7.5\r\n9.5\r\nOrkney\r\n63\r\n9.5\r\n2.2\r\n16.8\r\nShetland\r\n43\r\n2.3\r\n-\r\n6.8\r\nTayside\r\n1,557\r\n6.8\r\n5.6\r\n8.0\r\nWestern Isles\r\n113\r\n4.4\r\n0.7\r\n8.1\r\nSource: Scottish Cancer Registry, Information Services Division\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:01.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296419,"EventID":"S4W-22177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:02.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T15:31:04.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the surgical resection rates for non-small-cell lung cancer.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the auspices of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, National Cancer Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) have been developed to drive continuous quality improvement in cancer care across NHS Scotland.\r\nQPIs for lung cancer were published in November 2013. QPI 6 aims to improve the proportion of patients who undergo surgical resection for non-small-cell lung cancer. The QPI notes that all patients should be considered for surgical treatment appropriate to their stage of disease.\r\nIn order to ensure that the chosen target levels are the most appropriate and drive continuous quality improvement as intended, they will be kept under review and revised as necessary, once further evidence or data becomes available. NHS boards will be required to report against this QPI as part of a mandatory, publicly reported programme at a national level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:02.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296420,"EventID":"S4W-22178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:02.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T15:31:04.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to measure the experiences of lung cancer patients at a (a) national and (b) local level.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cancer Taskforce discussed the possibility of a cancer patient experience survey in Scotland in their meeting on 27 June 2014. The taskforce agreed that further investigation should take place, including examination of the methodology behind the surveys which have taken place in other parts of the UK.\r\nThe Scottish Government gathers the experiences of a range of health care users via the biennial Patient Experience Inpatient survey and the biennial Health and Care Experience survey (formerly the GP Patient Experience survey). This includes cancer patients.\r\nAs part of the wider quality performance indicators (QPI) work programme, patient experience QPIs were published in April 2014. These seek to capture the experience of cancer patients in Scotland, including lung cancer patients. The aim is to foster a culture of continuous quality improvement at a local level supported by a programme of regional and national comparative reporting and review. This will allow for identification of common themes and best practice for improvement in patient experience.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:02.373","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296421,"EventID":"S4W-22179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:02.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T15:31:04.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the proportion of lung cancer patients seen by a clinical nurse specialist.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whilst recognising that it is NHS boards’ responsibility to plan and deliver services, including specialist nursing services, taking account of national priorities and local need, there is awareness within the Scottish Government of the increasing prominence of the issue of specialist nursing services.\r\nThe Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to host three regional workshops to provide opportunities for specialist nurse groups and other stakeholders to explore current provision and the future direction of specialist nursing in Scotland. NES have now summarised the key themes emerging from these workshops. This will inform future development of the role of specialist nurses. The Scottish Government will take this work forward with the Scottish Executive Nurse Directors, NES and other stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:02.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296422,"EventID":"S4W-22180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:02.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-21T16:59:06.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what public-facing IP addresses are used by its secure intranet.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government secure intranet has no public-facing IP addresses. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:02.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296423,"EventID":"S4W-22184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:03.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T13:47:29.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of any independent (a) legal and (b) other advice it has (i) requested and (ii) received on whether an independent Scotland could continue to charge students from elsewhere in the UK tuition fees.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Future, including the proposition to continue to charge students from elsewhere in the UK tuition fees in an independent Scotland, is consistent with and informed by legal advice the government has received. The content of any legal advice is confidential. By long-standing convention, successive Scottish and UK governments have not disclosed the source or content of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:03.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296424,"EventID":"S4W-22185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:03.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T13:47:29.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland charging students from elsewhere in the UK tuition fees would be discriminatory under EU law, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that the unique and unprecedented position of an independent Scotland will enable us to establish an objective justification for our current policy approach to tuition fees which meets the requirements of the EU.\r\nThe current policy, based on residence, recognises the need to maintain the current mix of students at Scottish universities in order to ensure that Scottish-domiciled students have the opportunity to study in Scotland, and that Scotland secures the graduate skills it requires, while ensuring that the universities also admit students from the rest of the UK and beyond.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:03.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296425,"EventID":"S4W-22186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:03.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T13:47:29.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial contribution students from elsewhere in the UK make to the budgets of Scotland's universities and what percentage of university budgets this represents.\r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent figures available from the Scottish Funding Council indicate that students from elsewhere in the UK contributed £38.2 million in tuition fees to Scottish universities in 2012-13. This represented 4.9% of income from tuition fees and education contracts and 1.3% of overall university income.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:03.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296426,"EventID":"S4W-22187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-22T15:11:04.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T13:47:29.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students from elsewhere in the UK have attended Scotland's universities in each year since 2007, and what percentage of the student population this represents.\r\n","AnswerText":"The total number of students from the rest of the UK (rUK) studying at Scottish higher education institutes (HEIs) is shown in the table below. RUK students account for around 12 per cent of the HEI student population in Scotland.\r\nTable 1: Students from the rest of the UK studying at Scottish higher education institutes from 2007-08 to 2012-13\r\n\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nTotal number from RUK\r\n27,224\r\n28,098\r\n29,383\r\n29,681\r\n29,322\r\n28,791\r\nProportion of all students at Scottish HEIs\r\n12%\r\n12%\r\n12%\r\n12%\r\n13%\r\n12%\r\nSource: Higher Education Statistics Agency\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T15:11:04.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296427,"EventID":"S4W-22188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-23T10:03:46.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T14:14:40.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the Presiding Officer's letter of 1 July 2014 to the member for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, which advised that \"SPCB resources include...all areas of the Parliamentary complex”, in light of the “Parliamentary complex” being defined on the website as being \"The place where the Parliament or any of its committees or sub-committees meets”, what the basis is for the letter including the paved area outside the public entrance as part of the complex.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the Scotland Act 1998, as amended, the SPCB has responsibility for all property, services and staff for the Parliament.  The SPCB has given an assurance to the Parliament that in the lead up to the Referendum, as at other times, it will ensure that the resources of the Parliament are used impartially at all times and circulated a document to all Members to assist Members by summarising the various relevant policies already in place about the use of parliamentary resources.  The policy provides that SPCB resources include local offices, all areas of the parliamentary complex, IT, postage and stationery, all matters covered by the Members? expenses scheme and all services provided by SPCB staff.  In respect of the parliamentary complex, the SPCB is clear that it must relate to all areas of the Parliament’s property which includes the landscape area and the paved area to the front of the building.  \r\nShould a Member be in any doubt about the use of resources, officials are available to provide advice and assistance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T10:03:46.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296428,"EventID":"S4W-22189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-23T15:08:02.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-22T15:42:45.723","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to improve the exchange of conviction information with (a) EU and (b) non-EU countries.\r\n","AnswerText":"The provision of information about conviction information is essential for prosecutors so that the full offending picture of the accused can be assessed when making decisions in cases that are reported to them. This ensures prosecutors can consider how best to ensure the public is protected.\r\nThe exchange of criminal conviction information within the EU is provided for in Scotland by Section 71 and Schedule 4 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 which in turn amended the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. These provisions came into force on 13 December 2010. \r\nThe Police Service of Scotland is responsible for requesting conviction information from the EU through the United Kingdom Central Authority for the Exchange of Criminal Records.\r\nOutwith the EU countries, there are other mechanisms for the exchange of conviction information. Firstly, for conviction information from non-EU Interpol countries the police can obtain the information through the non-EU exchange of criminal records.\r\nThere is also the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters 1959 which provides for the transfer and recovery of previous criminal history in those states that are signatories to the Convention, namely those states that are parties to the Council of Europe as well as Chile, Israel and Korea, making a total of 50 states.\r\nFinally there are bilateral and United Nations treaties which allow the exchange of conviction information between the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions, such as the United States of America. In such cases letters or requests would require to be issued through the International Co-operation Unit at the Crown Office.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T15:08:02.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296429,"EventID":"S4W-22191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-23T15:08:02.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-23T10:13:20.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Ambulance Service staff will be on duty at the Commonwealth Games, broken down by regional operational division.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is set out in the following table:\r\nDivision\r\nNorth\r\nEast\r\nCentral\r\nSouth East\r\nWest Central\r\nSouth West\r\nNo. of Staff*\r\n21\r\n27\r\n15\r\n46\r\n33\r\n*This denotes operational staff only and does not include commanders and support services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T15:08:02.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296430,"EventID":"S4W-22192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-23T15:08:03.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-23T10:13:20.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that there is adequate shift cover in each Scottish Ambulance Service regional operational division during the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service’s (SAS) resilience planning for the Commonwealth Games was based on the principle of business as usual and its resource modelling ensured that normal levels of services across the country were maintained.\r\nThese measures included the use of relief staff where demand dictated; the capping of annual leave from the end of November 2013; the remodelling of the service’s resource escalatory action planning plan to take into account games activity, predicted increase in demand and staff abstractions; and an increased management presence in high demand areas. These managers also responded to operational issues affecting resources such as increased turnaround times at hospitals.\r\nSAS also ensured that the extraction of staff for Games duties was proportionate to resources available within divisions; and reached an agreement with the Fire and Rescue Services to utilise fire stations as tactical deployment points. There was also a negotiated position with the British Red Cross for their support in high demand areas, along with the greater use of Community Resilience Teams. The Ambulance Service also opened its National Command and Coordination Centre to monitor demand and performance; and brought forward their capital fleet programme to minimise the impact of vehicle abstraction for the Games.\r\nSAS operated in ‘Games delivery mode’ from 13 July 2014 when the athletes’ village and training venues opened until the end of the Commonwealth Games on 3 August 2014. Throughout this period, all plans put in place for games and business as usual activities were robust and effective.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T15:08:03.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296431,"EventID":"S4W-22195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-23T15:08:03.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-23T11:44:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the operation of the Short Assured Tenancy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has carried out the following research into the operation of the Short Assured Tenancy:\r\nQualitative research to explore the implications for private rented sector tenants and landlords of longer term and more secure tenancy \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/03/7326/0 (2014)\r\nEvidence review of the private rented sector in Scotland\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/government/Tenancy-Review/findings/evidence-review (2014)\r\nReview of the Private Rented Sector: Volume 1: Key Findings and Policy Implications http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/23153136/0 (2009)\r\nReview of the Private Rented Sector: Volume 2: Views and Experiences of Tenants in the Private Rented Sector in Scotland\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/23153402/0 (2009)\r\nReview of the Private Rented Sector: Volume 3: Views and experiences of landlords in the Private Rented Sector\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/23140128/0 (2009) \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T15:08:03.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296441,"EventID":"S4W-22196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-24T15:03:31.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-23T15:36:38.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt the open document format for all official publications.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no immediate plans for adopting the open document format for all official publications. Our official publications are already made available in both HTML and PDF formats, which are open standards that are compatible with applications commonly used to read document content.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T15:03:32.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296444,"EventID":"S4W-22197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-25T14:37:43.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-24T08:13:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are for psychiatrists, broken down by subject area.","AnswerText":"Vacancy information for all medical psychiatric grades is not held centrally. The information requested is collected for consultants only.\r\nPublished information on the number of consultant vacancies can be found on the workforce statistics website at: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/Consultant_Vacancies_M2014.xls.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T14:37:43.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296451,"EventID":"S4W-22200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-28T15:03:51.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-25T18:43:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of (a) antibacterials, (b) sea lice treatments, (c) anthelmintics, (d) fungicides and (e) anaesthetics has been used in the salmon farming industry in each year since 2003.","AnswerText":"The following tables provide the information requested. The categories are as defined by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) who collect the data. Both disinfectants and antimicrobials can contain fungicides and antibacterials.\r\nInformation regarding chemical usage on salmon farms is publically available on the Scotland’s Aquaculture website http://aquaculture.scotland.gov.uk/default.aspx and also on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) website:\r\nhttp://apps.sepa.org.uk/spripa/Search/Options.aspx\r\nYear\r\nAntifoulant\r\nAnaesthetic\r\nCopper Oxide (grams)\r\nEthyl-aminobenzoate (grams)\r\n2-Phenoxyethanol (Litres)\r\nTricaine Methyl Sulphonate (grams)\r\n2-Propanone (litres)\r\n2003\r\n25883650\r\n21701.7\r\n28.0\r\n9402.0\r\n127.4\r\n2004\r\n40094390\r\n25360.5\r\n6.9\r\n22796.4\r\n374.2\r\n2005\r\n61088790\r\n11966.0\r\n7.1\r\n22697.7\r\n182.3\r\n2006\r\n62297280\r\n7015.0\r\n0.0\r\n41824.3\r\n120.3\r\n2007\r\n64873980\r\n0.0\r\n55.0\r\n60141.7\r\n0.0\r\n2008\r\n91546860\r\n0.0\r\n0.0\r\n48583.5\r\n0.0\r\n2009\r\n101524315\r\n239050.0\r\n7.7\r\n70787.0\r\n23.0\r\n2010\r\n90987640\r\n129.0\r\n4.2\r\n78775.1\r\n1011.8\r\n2011\r\n130751740\r\n1600.0\r\n0.0\r\n80653.4\r\n2.0\r\n2012\r\n144357760\r\n3800.0\r\n0.0\r\n90578.4\r\n215.0\r\n2013\r\n117233920\r\n500.0\r\n0.0\r\n88099.7\r\n5.0\r\n\r\nYear\r\nAntimicrobial\r\n\r\nAntihelminthic\r\nDisinfectant\r\nAmoxycillin Trihydrate (grams)\r\nOxytetra-cycline (grams)\r\nFlorfenicol (grams)\r\nHydrogen Peroxide (litres)\r\nFenbendazole (grams)\r\nIodine (grams)\r\n1-Alkyl Diazapentane (litres)\r\nSodium Hypochlorite (litres)\r\n2003\r\n0.0\r\n662840\r\n0\r\n19275\r\n0.0\r\n170137.0\r\n10.1\r\n290.7\r\n2004\r\n0.0\r\n38000\r\n6000\r\n14600\r\n13056\r\n163721.2\r\n6.5\r\n575.3\r\n2005\r\n0.0\r\n1686053\r\n1857\r\n0\r\n400\r\n113881.7\r\n9.2\r\n281.8\r\n2006\r\n55200\r\n5282170\r\n32000\r\n0\r\n0.0\r\n105548.3\r\n9.7\r\n151.6\r\n2007\r\n0.0\r\n1532286\r\n21000\r\n0\r\n19593\r\n100554.2\r\n13.4\r\n142.0\r\n2008\r\n0.0\r\n753620\r\n9000\r\n28000\r\n0.0\r\n115805.1\r\n11.8\r\n267.4\r\n2009\r\n165000\r\n1952100\r\n1200\r\n0\r\n0.0\r\n106572.5\r\n9.6\r\n308.2\r\n2010\r\n0.0\r\n223250\r\n0.0\r\n78512\r\n0.0\r\n96078.5\r\n15.8\r\n227.2\r\n2011\r\n0.0\r\n242000\r\n0.0\r\n420109\r\n0.0\r\n113907.0\r\n9.8\r\n294.0\r\n2012\r\n0.0\r\n834733\r\n2400\r\n1877598\r\n358\r\n120245.0\r\n15.8\r\n400.0\r\n2013\r\n0.0\r\n168382\r\n32500\r\n7134201\r\n0.0\r\n113629.0\r\n15.4\r\n517.0\r\n\r\nYear\r\nSealice treatment\r\nCypermethrin (grams)\r\nAzamethiphos (grams)\r\nTeflubenzuron (grams)\r\nEmamectin Benzoate (grams)\r\nDeltamethin (grams)\r\n2003\r\n10414.7\r\n33400.0\r\n36000\r\n31907.2\r\n0.0\r\n2004\r\n9800.1\r\n11645.0\r\n0.0\r\n52679.9\r\n0.0\r\n2005\r\n6598.0\r\n0.0\r\n0.0\r\n36351.8\r\n0.0\r\n2006\r\n10227.5\r\n0.0\r\n0.0\r\n37265.5\r\n0.0\r\n2007\r\n36819.2\r\n0.0\r\n95769\r\n61787.5\r\n0.0\r\n2008\r\n21453.4\r\n100187.0\r\n0.0\r\n63540.9\r\n2877.1\r\n2009\r\n11857.3\r\n203934.6\r\n61759\r\n51831.7\r\n13371.7\r\n2010\r\n2961.7\r\n157615.0\r\n75000\r\n61399.6\r\n13836.9\r\n2011\r\n979.0\r\n211919.5\r\n91555\r\n70505.9\r\n21045.3\r\n2012\r\n0.0\r\n195420.3\r\n224797\r\n73362.5\r\n21146.3\r\n2013\r\n0.0\r\n153728.0\r\n261955\r\n59513.3\r\n12362.6\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-25T15:03:51.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296452,"EventID":"S4W-22201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-28T15:03:52.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T10:27:13.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated final cost is of the Borders Railway project.\r\n","AnswerText":"The target cost of constructing the project agreed with Network Rail is £294 million (at 2012 prices).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-25T15:03:52.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296453,"EventID":"S4W-22202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-28T15:03:52.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:12:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans or proposals there are to take forward renewables projects in the Scottish Government estate.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently has renewable technology in the form of solar heating panels at our offices at Saughton House in Edinburgh and Tweedbank near Galashiels and we have just commissioned the installation of biomass boilers at our offices in Faskally and Inverurie. We will pursue installing further renewable technology when funding is available and the cost, payback and carbon savings makes it value for money over other energy efficiency projects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-25T15:03:52.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296454,"EventID":"S4W-22204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-28T15:03:53.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T14:43:34.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that funding for domestic violence services reflects the need for such services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to tackling domestic violence. In spite of unprecedented pressure on the Scottish budget, record funding of £34.5 million has been allocated for 2012-15 (an increase of 62% on the amount committed over the period 2004–07) to support work to tackle all forms of violence against women (including domestic violence). This includes funding for projects which deliver frontline services, or build capacity in local partnerships to strengthen responses to violence against women.\r\nIn the coming period funding for services will be aligned to the priorities set out in Equally Safe Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-25T15:03:53.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296467,"EventID":"S4W-22205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:41.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T15:32:54.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the European Court of Justice ruling in the case, Alands Vindkraft AB v Energimyndigheten [the Swedish Energy Agency] will have on the Scottish Government's plans for renewable energy in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"The European Court of Justice ruling in this case does not prohibit EU member states from paying subsidies for renewables generated in other member states, if they choose to do so.\r\nThe UK Government has already indicated, in a document published on 4 August 2014, that it is considering subsidising lower cost renewables generation located outside the UK under its new Contract for Difference mechanism, the introduction of which was enabled by the 2013 Energy Act. Indeed, the UK has previously explored the option of sourcing renewable electricity from Ireland.\r\nWe believe that the extremely competitive renewable energy projects situated in an independent Scotland will continue to play a vital part in helping the rest of the UK to meet its legally binding EU targets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:41.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296468,"EventID":"S4W-22206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:42.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T15:32:54.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, following the European Court of Justice ruling in the case, Alands Vindkraft AB v Energimyndigheten [the Swedish Energy Agency], how an independent Scotland will fund (a) existing and (b) planned renewable energy schemes and what impact this will have on consumers.\r\n","AnswerText":"As detailed in the answer to question S4W-22205 on 26 August 2014, this decision does not affect the proposals for funding renewables set out in Scotland’s Future. \r\nThe report by the independent Expert Commission on Energy Regulation argues that the market arrangements which support renewable generation currently operating, or financially committed at the point of independence, should be grandfathered and the commercial arrangements honoured with the historic costs spread across all UK consumers as at present. \r\nThe UK Government’s binding renewables targets and legislation mean that suppliers across the rest of the UK will still need to buy Scottish power after independence, while Scottish renewables projects will be very well placed to compete for support under the new Contracts for Difference mechanism.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:42.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296469,"EventID":"S4W-22207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:42.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T15:34:07.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it received for the Welfare Reform Resilience Fund 2014-15.","AnswerText":"The Welfare Reform Resilience Fund received 33 applications from 29 local authorities. These applications were considered by a panel of representatives from the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Improvement Service, with 11 projects selected for funding in 2014-15. A list of the successful projects can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/WRRF2014-15Update\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:42.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296470,"EventID":"S4W-22208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:43.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T16:17:02.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21915 by John Swinney on 21 July 2014, whether its preference is for a local income tax to be set by local authorities or to be set centrally.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21915 on 21 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:43.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296471,"EventID":"S4W-22209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:43.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:00:13.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that participants in the opencast coal mining working groups have no conflict of interest and that governance of the groups is independent of organisations or individuals who own or control opencast coal mining sites.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government ensures an absence of conflict of interest on the groups by drawing on wide input from industry, environment, community, local authority, independent assessor and business interests.\r\nStrong chairmanship is required to ensure all aspects of the restoration process are fairly and evenly represented in the content, discussion and output from the groups. Ministers appointed Professor Russel Griggs OBE, a Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Government and chair of the Scottish Government’s independent Regulatory Review Group to chair both groups in order to ensure continuity. Professor Griggs also chairs the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust: an independent charitable trust created to help facilitate the restoration of legacy opencast coal sites across Scotland.\r\nIn terms of governance, the groups are run in a formal structure where minutes are taken and circulated to all participants for agreement to ensure all interests are being fairly and accurately represented and all issues are even-handedly addressed and recorded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:43.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296472,"EventID":"S4W-22210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:43.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:00:13.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the remits are of the working groups established to take forward the outcomes of the consultation on the regulation of opencast coal mining in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The main terms of reference for the finance working group are to assess the financial climate in assurance, make an assessment of parent company guarantees, the market in insurance policies and the pros and cons of escrow accounts, recommend how planning authorities should approach financial guarantees in future, consider the value of drafting bond templates,explore the matter of landowner accountability, and meet periodically to discuss evidence and draft conclusions.\r\nThe main terms of reference for the compliance working group are to take forward the options relating to compliance monitoring, mine progress plans, site surveys, enforcement and related matters, consider legislative and non-legislative measures, consider the value of a shared service or an independent compliance unit supporting planning authority autonomy, meet periodically to discuss evidence and draft conclusions.\r\nBoth groups will provide reports with conclusions and recommendations to the Opencast Coal Task Force before the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:44.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296473,"EventID":"S4W-22211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:44.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:00:13.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the membership is of the opencast coal mining working groups and on what basis members were selected.","AnswerText":"Membership of the compliance working group: \r\nRussel Griggs\r\nChair\r\nLin Bunten\r\nSEPA\r\nGraeme Walker\r\nSNH\r\nProfessor George Fleming\r\n\r\nAssociation of Environmental and \r\nEcological Clerks of Works\r\nGeorge Eckton\r\nCOSLA\r\nAlan Doak\r\nAED Planning and Development Ltd.\r\nMark North\r\nKier Mining\r\nBarney Pilgrim\r\nBanks Group\r\nJerry Mulders\r\ncommunity representative\r\nElizabeth Morton\r\n\r\nDeputy Chief Executive East Ayrshire \r\nCouncil\r\nDavid McDowall\r\nEast Ayrshire Council\r\nNicky Wilson\r\nNUM Scotland\r\nJim Birrell\r\nFife Council \r\nTim Brian\r\nScottish Government Inquiry Reporter\r\nGraham Marchbank, Stuart McKay\r\nand Caroline Stafford\r\n\r\nScottish Government Policy and Secretariat\r\n\r\n\r\nMembership of the finance working group:\r\nRussel Griggs\r\nChair\r\nMark North\r\nKier Mining\r\nPhil Garner\r\nCoalPro\r\nIain Cockburn\r\nHargreaves\r\nDavid Martin\r\nBanks Group\r\nChris Norman\r\nHeads of Planning Scotland\r\nLin Bunten\r\nSEPA\r\nElizabeth Morton\r\nCouncil\r\nDeputy Chief Executive East Ayrshire \r\n\r\nBarry White\r\nScottish Futures Trust\r\nRobin Caldow\r\nCC Services\r\nProfessor Niall Lothian\r\nHeriot Watt University\r\nJames Fowlie\r\nCOSLA\r\nGraham Marchbank, Stuart McKay,\r\n\r\nCaroline Stafford\r\nScottish Government Policy and Secretariat\r\n\r\nMembers were selected by the Scottish Government with reference to expertise and experience in the opencast coal sector with particular care to ensure broad representation across all parties interested in the sector. Substitutes or replacements attend from time to time.\r\nBoth groups will call on a presence from or write to other experts in relevant fields as required. So far this has included:\r\nRSPB \r\nDepartment for Energy and Climate Change \r\nHeads of Planning Scotland  \r\nInstitute of Civil Engineers Scotland  \r\nCoalPro  \r\nCoal Authority  \r\nMineral Products Association (Scotland)\r\nCommunity Alliance   \r\nAudit Scotland \r\nRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors\r\nHealth and Safety Executive\r\nRBS Group\r\nEuler Hermes\r\nZurich Global\r\nACE European Group\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:44.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296474,"EventID":"S4W-22212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:44.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:00:13.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of responses received to the consultation on restoration of opencast coal mining sites.","AnswerText":"The analysis was published in July 2014 and is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00457043.pdf.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:44.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296475,"EventID":"S4W-22213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-29T15:13:44.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:00:13.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how (a) environmental groups, (b) relevant ecological expertise and (c) community interests are being represented in the opencast coal mining working groups.","AnswerText":"As set out in the written answer to PQ S4W-22211 on 22 August 2014, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency represent environmental interests. The Association of Environmental and Ecological Clerks of Works represent ecological interests. Community and National Union of Mineworkers representatives represent the community interest.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-26T15:13:44.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296491,"EventID":"S4O-03421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:46.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T16:07:42.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of employment tribunal fees has had on youth and women's employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:49.21","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296492,"EventID":"S4O-03422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:50.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T16:07:06.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what involvement the Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women's Employment will have in the training programme for the recently announced additional 500 health visitors.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:50.413","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296493,"EventID":"S4O-03423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:50.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:10.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support Skills Development Scotland provides to the training of women over 25.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:50.643","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296494,"EventID":"S4O-03424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:51.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:11.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the quarterly increase in unemployment between March and May 2014 was represented by women.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:51.123","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296495,"EventID":"S4O-03425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:51.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T10:54:16.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the 120 women who become unemployed each day into employment.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:51.403","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296496,"EventID":"S4O-03426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:51.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:11.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what employment opportunities have been created through the Youth Employment Scotland scheme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:51.853","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296497,"EventID":"S4O-03427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:52.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T09:58:48.047","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government about equalising the minimum wage regardless of age, given the impact on youth employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:52.12","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296498,"EventID":"S4O-03428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:52.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:12.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the skills gaps in the north east.\r\n","AnswerText":"Through Skills Development Scotland (SDS), we have committed to establishing a robust, evidence based understanding of Scotland’s strategic workforce skills requirements. SDS has achieved this by developing sectoral Skills Investment Plans and Regional Skills Assessments in partnership with employers, local partners and industry. In this way, we are ensuring that our skills and education system remain closely aligned with the needs of employers, and regions, across Scotland as a whole.\r\nSDS is aware of the specific skills challenges in the north east of Scotland and is working with Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future and other local partners to address these issues. SDS will not only publish a Regional Skills Assessment for Aberdeen City and Shire later this year but is also committed to developing a regional skills strategy with Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:52.393","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296499,"EventID":"S4O-03429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:52.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:12.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to encourage more employers in North Ayrshire to offer modern apprenticeships to young women.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has exceeded its ambitious target to deliver over 25,000 modern apprenticeships (MAs) in each year of session four of the Scottish Parliament, with 77,402 new opportunities delivered over the past three years. Building on this, the First Minister announced on 15 April 2014 that the target for new MAs starts would increase year on year to 30,000 by 2020.\r\nWe will use the findings of the final report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce to develop a way forward for the MA programme which will continue to meet our aims and ambitions for Scotland.\r\nA significant focus of this will be improving the participation of women and engaging with employers to drive progress in North Ayrshire and across the country. I understand that participation by female MAs in North Ayrshire is already higher than average.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:52.737","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296500,"EventID":"S4O-03430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:53.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:12.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how independence would improve employment opportunities for young people receiving the national minimum wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"I believe that the full powers of independence would allow us create more opportunities by aligning the delivery of employability and skills provision in Scotland. It would also allow us to implement measures such as the European Youth Guarantee that will ensure all young people receive a good quality offer of employment, education, training or apprenticeship.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:53.13","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296501,"EventID":"S4O-03431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:53.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T10:42:06.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legacy is anticipated from the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:53.383","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296502,"EventID":"S4O-03432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:53.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:31.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to build on the success of the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:53.733","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296503,"EventID":"S4O-03433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:54.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:31.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a notable Commonwealth Games legacy to the more remote areas of the country.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:54.133","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296504,"EventID":"S4O-03434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:54.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T16:38:47.87","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the assertion in the International Business Times that an independent Scotland would not be able to participate in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:54.417","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296505,"EventID":"S4O-03435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:54.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:32.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether pensioners in an independent Scotland would be guaranteed their state pension and whether they would be paid at the same rate as in the rest of the UK.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:54.91","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296506,"EventID":"S4O-03436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:55.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T10:59:53.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent comments by the cabinet secretary with responsibility for pensioners’ rights, whether it will rule out an increase in state pension age to 67 if Scotland decides to separate from the rest of the UK.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:55.147","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296507,"EventID":"S4O-03437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:55.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:33.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that an independent Scotland would continue to receive UK Sport funding given that UK Sport does not fund sporting activity in other countries.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:55.567","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296508,"EventID":"S4O-03438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:55.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:33.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legacy it expects to see from Pride House at the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:55.823","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296509,"EventID":"S4O-03439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:56.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T10:25:19.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the legacy of the Commonwealth Games in rural South Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to creating a lasting legacy and maximising the benefits for the whole of Scotland from hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. With the games now behind us, I remain committed to deepening and strengthening the legacy across the whole of the country, including rural South Scotland.\r\nRural South Scotland is already benefitting from national legacy programmes. In Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders alone, there are, for example, eleven Community Sport Hubs, eight projects funded under the Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund, 209 projects supported under the Big Lottery Fund’s BIG 2014 Communities programme, 123 young people getting employment experience as part of Scotland’s Best and the Employer Recruitment Incentive programmes and 162 businesses registered on the Glasgow business portal.\r\nThere remains a wealth of legacy opportunities available. To find out about opportunities which may be of interest, I would direct you to the Legacy 2014 website: http://www.legacy2014.co.uk  \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:56.16","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296510,"EventID":"S4O-03440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:56.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T11:56:57.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it works with sportscotland and other partners to promote sporting pathways for young people so that aspiring athletes have the best chance of competing at major international events.\r\n","AnswerText":"The spectacular success of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow shows that Scotland has a world class sporting system.\r\nWe continue to work with sportscotland to invest in school, club and community sport to provide the very best foundation for sporting excellence. We have already announced that up to £50 million will be invested in Active Schools between 2015 and 2019.\r\nBuilding on this strong foundation in 2015-16 we are investing £24 million in a new National Performance Centre for Sport at Heriot-Watt University which will be a centerpiece of the world class sporting system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:56.4","MeetingDate":"2014-08-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296511,"EventID":"S4O-03441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:56.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:51.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide communities in the Highlands and Islands with access to fast and reliable broadband.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:56.69","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296512,"EventID":"S4O-03442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:57.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:52.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to privatise NHS services.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:57.28","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296513,"EventID":"S4O-03443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:57.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:52.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the newly appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:57.58","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296514,"EventID":"S4O-03444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:57.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T14:24:30.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of taxation in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:57.83","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296515,"EventID":"S4O-03445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:58.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:52.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the decision to arm police officers on routine duties was regarded as an operational matter and not scrutinised by the Parliament.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:58.07","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296516,"EventID":"S4O-03446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:58.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:53.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to tackle antisocial behaviour in Glasgow Provan.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:58.38","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296517,"EventID":"S4O-03447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:58.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:53.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address income poverty.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:58.68","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296518,"EventID":"S4O-03448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:58.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T10:59:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving access to justice for rape victims.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:58.963","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296519,"EventID":"S4O-03449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:59.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T11:46:24.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to the situation in Gaza.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is extremely concerned about the escalating violence in Gaza and its disproportionate impact on civilians. It is crucial that both sides calm the situation and a long term ceasefire is agreed.\r\nI announced on 30 July 2014 that the Scottish Government is providing £500,000 in humanitarian aid, to help people affected by the crisis in Gaza.\r\nWhat we need in Gaza is an immediate lasting end to the violence. On Tuesday 5 August 2014 I called for an immediate embargo on arms sales to Israel. The UK must conduct an immediate investigation into whether or not UK arms have been used in any violation of international law. I once again encourage the UK Government to implement a complete suspension of arms sales to Israel until this has been done.\r\nWe wrote to David Cameron calling on him to show equal determination in the UK Government’s approach to the situation in Gaza as they have shown in regard to the atrocity involving Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. A request was also made to support an UN investigation into civilian deaths as a result of the conflict.\r\nI wrote to Secretary of State for the Home Office, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, on 18 July 2014, highlighting that Scotland stands ready to play its part in helping to welcome and resettle refugees from Gaza into our communities.\r\nI wrote to the then UK Foreign Secretary William Hague on 9 July 2014 to offer the use of Scottish hospitals to treat patients requiring specialist care as a result of the conflict.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:59.24","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296520,"EventID":"S4O-03450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T14:53:59.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-28T12:03:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership for workers, public services and small businesses in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could deliver economic benefits for Scotland and has been engaging with the UK Government to maximise the benefits of TTIP for Scotland and to ensure that concerns about TTIP are addressed.\r\nAt the Joint Ministerial Committee on 26 March 2014 the Deputy First Minister highlighted the need for the UK Government to engage with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations on TTIP. Following that, my officials have been in regular dialogue with officials in the UK Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about the progress of the negotiations and the potential implications for Scotland. Officials in the Scottish Government’s EU team have also been keeping a watching brief on the European Commission’s approach to TTIP.\r\nMore specifically, given the vital importance of the NHS to the people of Scotland and concerns about the impact of TTIP on the NHS, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has written to the Secretary of State for Health requiring cast-iron assurances that, whatever the approach to the provision of health services in the rest of the UK, TTIP will not affect the Scottish Government's ability to determine how NHS services are provided; that there will be no obligation to open the NHS in Scotland to private providers as is happening in England; and that decisions of the Scottish Government in respect of the NHS would not be open to potential challenge through investor-state dispute settlement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T14:53:59.477","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296521,"EventID":"S4W-22198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T15:15:32.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-24T17:49:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it approved the flyer sent out by Practitioner Services Division with NHS schedules advertising an MSc course in restorative dentistry stating that it would help NHS practitioners increase their private income.\r\n","AnswerText":"No, the Scottish Government did not approve the flyer sent out by Practitioner Services Division. Approval of the issue of flyers with NHS schedules is a matter for Practitioner Services Division, not the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T15:15:32.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296522,"EventID":"S4W-22214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T15:15:33.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T07:50:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend on its early learning and childcare advertising campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"It will not be known how much will be spent on the early learning and childcare public information campaign until the end of the campaign. We will publish campaign costs alongside results when we have them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T15:15:33.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296523,"EventID":"S4W-22215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T15:15:33.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T09:55:02.52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it is giving to women with mesh implants and whether it is encouraging them to seek a second opinion where necessary.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has prepared a ‘Frequently asked Questions’ document which has been published on the NHS Inform website.\r\nhttp://www.nhsinform.co.uk/behind-the-headlines/special-reports/2014/06/~/media/NHSinform/BehindTheHeadlines/VaginalMesh_June2014_PDF.ashx\r\nAdvice to women who already have implants is as follows.\r\nFor the majority of women, tapes and meshes result in a successful treatment of stress urinary incontinence and prolapses respectively. However, if a woman has adverse symptoms or problems that she thinks might be due to her surgery, it is important that she should talk to her GP for onward referral to an appropriate specialist who has experience with tape or mesh complications.\r\nInformation is available on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website or from the relevant professional bodies (British Association of Urological Surgeons and British Society of Urogynaecology). \r\nWomen experiencing problems should go back to their implanting surgeon or see their GP for onward referral to an appropriate clinician. They should also report their problems to the MHRA, with as much detail as possible about the device involved. The patient should be referred to a centre that specialises in operating on complex cases. \r\nThe Chief Medical Officer has written to all GPs, through Medical Directors, on 11 July 2013, 20 December 2013 and on 2 June 2014 regarding the investigation and management of patients with vaginal mesh and tape products.\r\nAn expert group, chaired by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, is developing new pathways of care for women experiencing complications and may require complex surgery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T15:15:33.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296524,"EventID":"S4W-22216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-30T15:15:33.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-30T11:17:07.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21827 by Paul Wheelhouse on 16 July 2014, on how many occasions (a) the quality of water supplied to consumers has been affected as a result of raw water quality changes and (b) an elevated level of trihalomethanes has been detected in raw water supplying treatment works, in each year since 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"a) The quality of raw water is continually varying over a wide range of parameters. Similarly, the quality of treated water varies, although it must meet the standards set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2001. Problems may occur when the quality of raw water varies outside the quality range that a particular treatment works is designed to treat.\r\nThe Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR) receives notification from Scottish Water of all events that either do, or may potentially, affect treated water quality. The most serious of these are declared to be incidents. Summaries of incident investigations are published on the DWQR’s website. In the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 there were 25 such incidents which could potentially be attributed to a treatment works that was either not designed, or optimised, sufficiently to cope with the quality of incoming raw water. Details of specific incidents, and their impact on water supplied to consumers, will vary, depending upon the circumstances of each particular incident.\r\nb) Trihalomethanes (THMs) form when water containing naturally occurring organic material is disinfected using chlorine during the treatment process. Consequently, raw water should not contain THMs and Scottish Water is not required to test for THMs in its raw waters, only at consumers’ taps. Question S4W-22219, answered on 18 August 2014, deals with this matter.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-27T15:15:33.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296537,"EventID":"S4W-22218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-31T15:10:22.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-31T09:32:09.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the practice of sewage sludge spreading and the effectiveness of controls and enforcement powers.","AnswerText":"Earlier this year I asked my officials to consider with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) the current legal regime and practices around the spreading of sewage sludge. Following these discussions I intend to commission a review on the use of sewage sludge on land to ensure that this activity meets public expectations. This review will be led by SEPA in conjunction with my officials and a wider range of stakeholders, including Scottish Water, local authorities, waste management contractors, the public and landowning interests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-28T15:10:22.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296538,"EventID":"S4W-22219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-31T15:10:22.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-31T10:58:53.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions an elevated level of trihalomethanes has been detected in treated water in each year since 2011.","AnswerText":"There have been 97 failures of the total trihalomethane standard of 100 g/l in Scotland out of 5,252 samples taken since 2011 and details for samples taken between 2005 and 2014 (as at 31 May 2014) are set out in the following table:\r\nYear\r\nNo. THM Samples Taken\r\nNo. THM Samples Failed\r\n2005\r\n1,713\r\n103\r\n2006\r\n1,770\r\n93\r\n2007\r\n1,737\r\n80\r\n2008\r\n1,684\r\n81\r\n2009\r\n1,645\r\n89\r\n2010\r\n1,636\r\n62\r\n2011\r\n1,575\r\n43\r\n2012\r\n1,554\r\n42\r\n2013\r\n1,511\r\n12\r\n2014 (year to date)\r\n612\r\n0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-28T15:10:22.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296539,"EventID":"S4W-22221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-31T15:10:23.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-31T11:45:53.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism and his officials have had with Scottish Borders Council regarding a motion passed by the council on 29 May 2014 instructing the leader of the council to write to the Scottish Government to express concern at the conflict between the sustainability of the government's energy targets and their impact on Scottish Borders landscapes.\r\n","AnswerText":"No discussions have been had between myself or my officials with Scottish Borders Council on the motion passed by the council on 29 May 2014. However, a meeting between Scottish Government planning and energy officials has been scheduled to discuss matters further with the council. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-28T15:10:23.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296540,"EventID":"S4W-22224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-07-31T15:10:23.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-31T14:09:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what projects it has funded through its tackling sectarianism small grants programme since 1 November 2013, broken down by (a) group involved, (b) amount awarded and (c) local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government funds three small grant programmes to support work to tackle sectarianism. Support for all three small grants schemes forms part of our commitment to invest £9 million over three years to build our understanding of and deliver work to tackle sectarianism. \r\nThe programmes are run through Sense Over Sectarianism, Youth Scotland and the Voluntary Action Fund. Activity between the programmes is coordinated to ensure maximum coverage of Scotland.\r\nThe detailed breakdown requested for funded projects from 1 November 2013 for the three programmes is set out in the following table:\r\nProgramme Delivery Body\r\nProject\r\nLocal Authority Area\r\nFunding\r\nSense Over Sectarianism\r\nBridgeton Film Project\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£7,014\r\n\r\nCranhill Arts\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£9,230\r\n\r\nCrookston Castle and St Marnock’s Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£7,500\r\n\r\nImpact Arts\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£10,000\r\n\r\nInverclyde Radio\r\nInverclyde Council\r\n£6,934\r\n\r\nKnightswood and St Thomas Aquinas Learning Communities\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£2,700\r\n\r\nOaknote Theatre\r\nEdinburgh Council\r\n£9,745\r\n\r\nScottish Media Academy\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n£8,450\r\n\r\nSpringburn Academy and All Saints Secondary\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£7,962\r\n\r\nSt Blane’s Parkview and St Mary’s Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£7,230\r\n\r\nThistle Weir Youth Academy\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£8,090\r\n\r\nInternational Voluntary Service\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n£9,000\r\n\r\nLenzie Youth Club\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n£400\r\n\r\nBankhead Primary School\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nCairns Primary Schools\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n£500\r\n\r\nCaldervale High School\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n£500\r\n\r\nGleniffer High School\r\nRenfrewshire Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nKilmarnock Academy\r\nEast Ayrshire Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nLanark Academy\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n£500\r\n\r\nCastleton and St Bartholomews Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£475\r\n\r\nKnightswood Primary \r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nOur Lady of the Annunciation and Merrylee Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nRoyston and St Roch’s Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£500\r\n\r\nBlairdardie and Scotstoun Primary Schools\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£500\r\nYouth Scotland\r\nAberlour Youthpoint\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nAyrshire Communities Education and Sport\r\nNorth Ayrshire Council\r\n£990\r\n\r\nBoys Brigade:  Lanarkshire District Fellowship\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nMuirhouse Youth Development Group\r\nCity of Edinburgh Council\r\n£970\r\n\r\nSafety Zone Community Project\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n£976\r\n\r\nWest Dumbartonshire Leisure Sports Youth Groups\r\nWest Dumbartonshire\r\n£300\r\n\r\nCraigend Community Youth Group\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£620\r\n\r\nMove On\r\nCity of Edinburgh Council\r\n£944\r\n\r\nFuse Youth Café\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nYouth Highland\r\nHighland Council\r\n£900\r\n\r\nA&M Training\r\nGlasgow City Council\r\n£600\r\n\r\nOasis Youth Centre\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nFalkirk Community Trust\r\nFalkirk Council\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nHilton Youth Clubs\r\nHighland Council\r\n£997\r\n\r\nWest Pilton Neighbourhood Centre\r\nCity of Edinburgh Council\r\n£948\r\n\r\nWester Hailes WHALE\r\nCity of Edinburgh Council\r\n£1,000\r\n\r\nSpartans Community Football Academy\r\nCity of Edinburgh Council\r\n£1,000\r\nVoluntary Action Fund\r\nAlyth Youth Partnership\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n£4,750\r\n\r\nAuchinleck Community Development Initiative\r\nEast Ayrshire \r\n£10,000\r\n\r\nAuchinleck Talbot Community Football Foundation\r\nEast Ayrshire \r\n£4,430\r\n\r\nAyrshire Healthy Living Enterprise\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n£9,924\r\n\r\nBeith Community Development Trust\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n£4,820\r\n\r\nBurnsong Limited\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n£8,115\r\n\r\nCivil Service Strollers Amateur and Community Youth Football Club\r\nEdinburgh\r\n£9,530\r\n\r\nCommunity First\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n£4,320\r\n\r\nCouncil of Voluntary Organisations - East Ayrshire\r\nEast Ayrshire \r\n£24,493\r\n\r\nCumnock Juniors Community Enterprise\r\nEast Ayrshire \r\n£5,000\r\n\r\nKilwinning Community Sports Club\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n£4,200\r\n\r\nLogos Centre\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n£7,515\r\n\r\nMachan Trust\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n£1,500\r\n\r\nPe","AnswerDate":"2014-08-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-28T15:10:23.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296550,"EventID":"S4W-22225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-01T14:41:22.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T09:36:16.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to help patients meet the cost of travel to NHS appointments.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently two schemes in place to assist patients with the cost of travel to hospital in Scotland. The first is a means tested scheme to help those in receipt of certain DWP benefits; and the second a non-means tested scheme to help patients that reside in the Highlands and Islands area.\r\nMore detailed information on this, and help with other health-related costs, is available in the Scottish Government leaflet Are You Entitled to Help With Health Costs.\r\nHealth boards also have the discretion to provide help to those not eligible under the schemes mentioned above, in circumstances where travel costs are viewed as an extension of the patient’s treatment costs, and deemed to be clinically necessary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-15T14:41:23.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296551,"EventID":"S4W-22226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-01T14:41:23.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T10:49:37.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) Justice of the Peace court cases in each month since April 2014 has been dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the justice board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information is given in the following table:\r\nPercentage of summary criminal cases dealt with within 26 weeks (caution and charge to verdict) by month from April 2014\r\n\r\nApr-14\r\nMay-14\r\nJun-14\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n64%\r\n63%\r\n60%\r\nSheriff Court\r\n68%\r\n68%\r\n66%\r\nTotal\r\n66%\r\n66%\r\n63%\r\n1. Data for Glasgow and Strathkelvin Stipendiary Court are included in the Justice of the Peace data. Justice of the Peace courts replaced District courts between March 2008 and February 2010.\r\nSource: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Management Information\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-15T14:41:23.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296552,"EventID":"S4W-22227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-01T14:41:23.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T10:49:37.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average time from caution and charge to verdict for (a) sheriff summary and (b) Justice of the Peace court cases has been in each month since April 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the justice board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information is given in the following table:\r\nAverage time taken (in days) for summary criminal cases (caution and charge to verdict) by month from April 2014\r\n\r\nApr-14\r\nMay-14\r\nJun-14\r\nDistrict Court/Justice of the Peace Court1\r\n177\r\n178\r\n189\r\nSheriff Court\r\n147\r\n143\r\n157\r\n1. Data for Glasgow and Strathkelvin Stipendiary Court are included in the Justice of the Peace data. Justice of the Peace courts replaced District courts between March 2008 and February 2010.\r\nSource: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Management Information\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-15T14:41:23.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296553,"EventID":"S4W-22228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-01T14:41:24.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T10:49:37.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) Justice of the Peace court cases in each month since April 2014 has been dealt with within 20 weeks from first calling to sentence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The overall timescales for the processing of cases are kept under review on a national basis by the justice board. Local criminal justice boards keep the position in individual courts under review and respond to changes as appropriate. The available information has been provided by the Scottish Court Service and is given in the following table:\r\nSummary accused persons disposed during the period - percentage disposed of within 20 weeks of 1st calling\r\n\r\nApr-14\r\nMay-14\r\nJun-14\r\nSheriff Court - National\r\n60.7%\r\n59.7%\r\n58.4%\r\nJP Court - National\r\n84.5%\r\n84.3%\r\n83.3%\r\nSource: Scottish Court Service Management Information Reports\r\nThe Scottish Court Service uses a live operational case management system for the processing of court business. The information held on the system is structured for these operational needs, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes.\r\nThe information provided is based on the best information available from the case management system as at 4 August 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-15T14:41:24.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296554,"EventID":"S4W-22231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T13:55:08.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T15:25:06.753","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21204 by Keith Brown 2 June 2014, what budget was the source of the additional funding allocated to Argyll Ferries for the contract year to June 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The funding allocated to Argyll Ferries came from the Scottish Government’s ‘Support for Ferry Services’ budget line for 2013-14 and 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T13:55:08.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296566,"EventID":"S4T-00756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:37.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-01T13:41:45.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken regarding the situation in Gaza.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:37.733","MeetingDate":"2014-08-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":true},{"UniqueID":296567,"EventID":"S4F-02228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:12.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-29T13:48:23.72","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:12.453","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296568,"EventID":"S4F-02229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:12.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-07-31T15:07:09.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:12.72","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296569,"EventID":"S4F-02232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:13.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T09:58:33.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:13.97","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296570,"EventID":"S4F-02240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:16.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T11:52:01.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to First ScotRail being fined more than £2 million since 2011 for running too few coaches in a practice known as “short-forming”. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:16.85","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296571,"EventID":"S4F-02244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:17.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T11:52:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Credit Suisse Research Institute report, The Success of Small States. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:17.763","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296572,"EventID":"S4F-02243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-04T12:23:17.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T11:52:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what impact privatisation of the NHS in England will have on the budget available to the Scottish Government. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-18T12:23:17.547","MeetingDate":"2014-08-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296584,"EventID":"S4W-22234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:53.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T16:29:44.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what programmes are in place for the rehabilitation of female sex offenders.","AnswerText":"As at August 2014 there were only 24 females recorded on the Sex Offenders Register in Scotland. The small numbers of female sex offenders presents substantial problems in devising and delivering standardised programmes.\r\nAs the number of imprisoned female sex offenders is small the Scottish Prison Service manages them individually, and devises appropriate supervision, support and rehabilitative activity tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.\r\nOn release from custody, Criminal Justice Social Work Services work with female sex offenders on an individual basis rather than providing a standard rehabilitation programme, to ensure effective risk management, public protection, harm reduction and rehabilitation. This work is done in conjunction with the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements framework, as appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:53.43","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296585,"EventID":"S4W-22235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:53.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T16:29:44.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many female sex offenders have been incarcerated in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information is given in the following table:\r\nFemale sex offenders1 receiving a custodial sentence, 2006-07 to 2012-13.\r\nCrime\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nLewd and libidinous practices\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n-\r\nPublic indecency\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2\r\n-\r\nIncest\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\nRape\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nTaking, distribution, possession etc. of indecent photos of children\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1\r\n-\r\n-\r\n-\r\nTotal\r\n3\r\n1\r\n-\r\n2\r\n2\r\n3\r\n-\r\n1. Where main offences. Excludes crimes relating to prostitution.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:53.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296586,"EventID":"S4W-22236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:53.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T19:52:15.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) printing, (b) delivery, (c) labour, (d) artwork and (e) other costs were of Scotland's Future - What Independence Means for You and from what budget the costs will be taken.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current costs of the leaflet Scotland’s Future – What Independence Means for You are £525,300.\r\nThis is broken down in the following table:\r\nProduction\r\n£27,650\r\nPrint\r\n£330,350\r\nDistribution\r\n£167,300\r\nTotal\r\n£525,300\r\nThese costs will be covered by the strategic communications budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:53.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296587,"EventID":"S4W-22238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:54.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T19:52:15.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) printing, (b) delivery, (c) labour, (d) artwork and (e) other costs were of Scotland's Future is Everyone's Business.\r\n","AnswerText":"The costs of producing Scotland’s Future is Everyone’s Business were £1,109.01.\r\nThe leaflet is only available online on the scotreferendum and the Scottish Government websites, so there were no printing or delivery costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:54.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296588,"EventID":"S4W-22239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:54.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T20:22:10.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Fiscal Commission will have a veto on revenue forecasts produced by the Scottish Government.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fiscal Commission will provide independent scrutiny of Scottish Government forecasts of receipts from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax and assess the economic determinants that underpin forecasts of non-domestic rates income in Scotland. The commission will provide Parliament and the public with assurance over the reasonableness and integrity of the Scottish Government’s tax forecasts.\r\nThe Scottish Government will take all reasonable action to ensure that the tax revenue forecasts which underpin the Scottish Budget from 2015-16 onwards are assessed as robust and reasonable by the commission.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:54.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296589,"EventID":"S4W-22240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:54.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T20:22:10.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details on the statement that \"the [Scottish Fiscal] Commission would effectively have a veto on revenue forecasts which support the Scottish budget\", as recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the Tax Consultation Forum of 22 May 2014.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22239 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:54.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296590,"EventID":"S4W-22241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:55.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T20:31:10.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who decided to remove the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 and when.","AnswerText":"The secretariat to the Financial Services Advisory Board, in discussion with Scottish Enterprise officials, made the decision to remove the item from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 to enable a more comprehensive discussion to take place at a future meeting. The item was removed from the agenda on 14 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:55.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296591,"EventID":"S4W-22242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:55.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T20:31:10.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who was consulted regarding the removal of the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to S4W-22241 on 12 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:55.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296592,"EventID":"S4W-22244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:55.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T10:51:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what happens to childcare funding if a child is unable to use a place offered by a local authority.","AnswerText":"It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to secure a funded pre-school place for all eligible children whose parents wish it, using either their own provision or through partner providers.\r\nFunding for the early learning and childcare entitlement is allocated to local authorities via their block grant and is not ring fenced.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:55.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296593,"EventID":"S4W-22245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:56.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T11:21:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22029 by Keith Brown on 28 July 2014, how it defines “basic modelling” and whether it will provide full details of the modelling that was carried out.\r\n","AnswerText":"In this instance, ‘basic modelling’ was defined as a calculation of the notional road equivalent tariff (RET) fares on local authority run services.\r\nThese calculations, from 2012, used information on route mileage, fares and the values in the then RET formula. This information is now out of date, as fares have changed, as have the values in the RET formula.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:56.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296594,"EventID":"S4W-22246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:56.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T11:50:36.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been approached regarding the introduction of a direct ferry service between Scotland and Norway and what assessment it has made of the potential for such a service.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22248 on 12 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:56.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296595,"EventID":"S4W-22248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T13:43:56.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T11:50:36.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the introduction of a ferry service between Scotland and Norway and whether it would consider providing financial support for such a service.","AnswerText":"We have been approached on a number of occasions by parties and individuals about the provision of a direct ferry service to Norway from Scotland. We want to see the expansion of direct ferry connections from Scotland and are happy to engage with potential operators.\r\nHowever, given that EU state aid rules provide only limited scope for financial support, any potential ferry service would have to operate on a commercially viable basis and would be a matter for the prospective ferry operator to consider.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T13:43:56.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296596,"EventID":"S4W-22260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:12.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:39:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist people who applied to the Help to Buy scheme before 18 July 2014 but were unable to receive support because funds for the scheme had been fully allocated.\r\n","AnswerText":"All applicants looking for assistance to purchase a new home under Help to Buy (Scotland) up to close of business on 18 July 2014 are being assessed for support under the scheme.\r\nIf their applications meet the requirements of the scheme rules, they will receive support to complete their purchases.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:12.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296597,"EventID":"S4W-22261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:13.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:39:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason funding for the 2014-15 Help to Buy scheme was fully allocated within three months, and whether funds for the 2015-16 scheme can be brought forward.\r\n","AnswerText":"Help to Buy (Scotland) is a demand-led scheme, intended to support people to buy new homes, to support industry and to stimulate sustainable economic growth.\r\nThe scheme has been successful with high demand levels. Recognising this, ministers increased the funding available this financial year by a further £50 million. Continued demand from members of the public has resulted in all available funding being allocated – although the associated purchases will continue to be completed throughout the financial year.\r\nMinisters are not in a position to bring forward funding from 2015-16. A budget of £100 million remains available to support purchases to be completed from 1 April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:13.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296598,"EventID":"S4W-22263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:13.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:39:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with Homes For Scotland and others in the housing sector to help develop a longer-term strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works with Homes for Scotland and other housing organisations on a regular basis to discuss options for support and development of the housing sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:13.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296599,"EventID":"S4W-22264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:14.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T13:48:22.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding for what reason in session 2013-14 there were 55,000 fewer presentations by pupils for national exam qualifications compared with session 2012-13.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government regularly holds discussions with the SQA on many issues relating to the national qualifications. \r\nIt was to be expected that the total number of entries would be lower this year than last. This primarily reflects the changing patterns of learning which are developing as part of Curriculum for Excellence. The flexibility and personalisation offered by the senior phase enables schools to develop, in consultation with parents, curriculum models that allow for deeper attainment and a richer learning experience. This means that many pupils are now taking fewer subjects in S4. It is expected that this trend will continue in future years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:14.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296600,"EventID":"S4W-22265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:14.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T15:01:32.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22075 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm how much revenue gain will occur from each of the tax reliefs that it would streamline in the event of independence.  \r\n","AnswerText":"As set out on page 121 of Scotland’s Future, over the course of the first term of an independent Scottish Parliament, this government will work with Revenue Scotland to simplify the tax system to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce tax avoidance, with a target revenue gain of £250 million a year by the end of the first term.\r\nThe Office of Tax Simplification identified 1,140 separate reliefs in the UK tax system as at July 2014. This government would prioritise the ending of the married couple’s transferable tax allowance and the abolition of the shares for rights scheme following independence, and would identify further opportunities to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce tax avoidance as part of our planned review of the inherited tax system so that Scotland can realise the full benefits of a modern and efficient tax system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:14.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296601,"EventID":"S4W-22266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:15.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T15:01:32.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22074 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm which tax reliefs it would streamline in the event of independence.  \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22265 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:15.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296602,"EventID":"S4W-22267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-05T17:00:15.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T15:01:32.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22071 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm how much of the target revenue gain of £250 million, referred to on page 79 of its white paper on independence, will come from (a) reduced compliance costs, (b) streamlining reliefs and (c) reduced tax avoidance. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22265 on 13 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-19T17:00:15.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296619,"EventID":"S4O-03451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:40.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:02:55.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement about the consequences for the NHS of a No vote and a Yes vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:43.527","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296620,"EventID":"S4O-03452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:44.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T11:20:40.31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the gender balance in science and maths in schools to increase the number of female students studying science, technology, engineering and maths at degree level.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:44.21","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296621,"EventID":"S4O-03453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:44.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:02:56.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is taking to address the reported delays in the development of a unified IT system for Police Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:44.48","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296622,"EventID":"S4O-03454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:44.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T11:24:35.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the latest round of funding from the Bus Investment Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:44.723","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296623,"EventID":"S4O-03455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:45.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:02:57.11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the cost of childcare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:45.053","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296624,"EventID":"S4O-03456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:45.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:54:59.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support older people who live alone.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:45.307","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296625,"EventID":"S4O-03457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:45.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:02:57.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce plans for reform of the private rented sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:45.763","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296626,"EventID":"S4O-03458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:46.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:02:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will provide safeguards for rural schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:46.02","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296627,"EventID":"S4O-03460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:46.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T10:48:27.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:46.277","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296628,"EventID":"S4O-03462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:46.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T11:11:45.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address demographic impacts on the economy in an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:46.587","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296629,"EventID":"S4O-03463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:46.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T10:21:27.1","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has allocated sufficient budget to meet in full the costs of revenue funding arising from capital investment in the proposed new cancer centre and women's hospital in Aberdeen.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:46.863","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296630,"EventID":"S4O-03464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:47.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T11:43:07.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Enterprise annual review for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:47.537","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296631,"EventID":"S4O-03465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:47.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:27.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by Fiscal Affairs Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:47.793","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296632,"EventID":"S4O-03466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:48.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T10:20:12.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the N56 report on oil and gas.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:48.09","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296633,"EventID":"S4O-03467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:48.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T11:40:44.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comments by the former RBS chief executive and chairman, Sir George Mathewson, that the Better Together campaign's claims on banking and currency in an independent Scotland are \"nonsense\". \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:48.363","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296634,"EventID":"S4O-03469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:48.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:28.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on the set-up costs for an independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:48.61","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296635,"EventID":"S4O-03470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:48.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:33:35.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in its discussions with the UK Government regarding reinstating coal levies to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:48.89","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296636,"EventID":"S4O-03471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:49.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:29.663","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the latest figures from the Scottish Index of Manufactured Exports, which show that there has been strong growth in Scottish-manufactured exports over the last year.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:49.16","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296637,"EventID":"S4O-03472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:49.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T11:46:59.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of future local government finance following the result of the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:49.553","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296638,"EventID":"S4O-03474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:49.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:30.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the recent discoveries of oil and gas in the west of Shetland area.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:49.8","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296639,"EventID":"S4O-03475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:50.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:30.8","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on tourism has been of the various events across the country in 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:50.067","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296640,"EventID":"S4O-03476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:50.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:31.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth will take to ensure that sufficient funding is directed to the Help to Buy scheme so that it can meet demand.\r\n","AnswerText":"Help to Buy (Scotland) is intended to help people to buy new homes, to support industry by stimulating demand and to support sustainable economic growth. Given public enthusiasm for the scheme, it has clearly stimulated demand as intended.\r\nScottish Ministers have announced £275 million to support applications to Help to Buy (Scotland) up to March 2016, including an additional £50 million this year in recognition of exceptional demand. £100 million is available in 2015-16 to support purchases under the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:50.307","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296641,"EventID":"S4O-03477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:50.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:31.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government's proposed renewal of Trident will have on Scotland's public finances. \r\n","AnswerText":"In its concluding report, published on 1 July 2014, the Trident Commission estimated the annual net present value of the UK Government’s proposed Trident renewal plans to average £2.9 billion per year. Scotland’s population share of this equates to around £240 million a year at 2012 prices.\r\nThe total lifetime costs of the Trident successor programme are calculated to be around £103 billion in cash terms at 2012 prices, with annual costs peaking at around £4 billion a year by the mid-2020s. Scotland’s population share of those total costs equates to around £8.6 billion over the project’s lifespan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:50.61","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296642,"EventID":"S4O-03478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:50.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T11:42:34.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what use is being made of the Business Tourism Bid Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"Excellent use is being made of the Conference Bid Fund. To date the Conference Bid Fund has committed £1.2 million in match funding to help secure 62 conferences which are expected to attract almost 76,000 delegates with an estimated gross delegate spend of around £128 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:50.87","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296643,"EventID":"S4O-03479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:51.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:32.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential effect of the UK Government’s bareboat charter tax on the oil and gas industry.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government shares the view and analysis expressed by industry figures that the loss of just one field could outweigh the notional additional revenue that the UK Treasury expect the bareboat charter tax changes to generate. \r\nThis tax change is the precise opposite of the stable and predictable fiscal regime the industry needs and deserves, but has not enjoyed from successive UK Governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:51.597","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296644,"EventID":"S4O-03480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T14:16:51.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-04T12:03:32.473","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth plans to have discussions with BAE systems in Glasgow Anniesland.\r\n","AnswerText":"BAE Systems is an important employer in Glasgow Anniesland. I am in regular dialogue with the company.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T14:16:51.917","MeetingDate":"2014-08-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296648,"EventID":"S4W-22250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:34.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much debt the Student Loans Company has collected on behalf of the Scottish Government from people resident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last three years and what percentage this represented of the total amount collected.\r\n","AnswerText":"With the other UK administrations, the Scottish Government is a shareholder in the Student Loans Company (SLC). The SLC does not manage repayment of student loan debt on behalf of the Scottish Government alone.\r\nThe information requested on collection of student debt is not held by the Scottish Government. However, the SLC website provides relevant information on this matter: http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:35.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296649,"EventID":"S4W-22251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:36.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects an independent Scotland to operate a system of student loans and, if so, whether it plans to maintain the loans at around their current value.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current Scottish Government supports students by providing free tuition and ensuring that any debt accrued for living costs is sustainable. Aside from free tuition, eligible Scottish domiciled students can access a support package featuring bursaries and loans. The ability to access a student loan provides choice in how living costs are met. This Scottish Government would intend to continue with the existing student support package after independence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:36.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296650,"EventID":"S4W-22252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:36.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the event of independence, it expects HM Revenue and Customs to collect student loan repayments on behalf of the Scottish Government from Scottish graduates resident in the rest of the UK.","AnswerText":"Should the people of Scotland vote for independence, the collection of student loan repayments is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:36.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296651,"EventID":"S4W-22253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:36.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that, in the event of independence, it would collect student loan repayments on behalf of the administrations of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Should the people of Scotland vote for independence, the collection of student loan repayments is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:36.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296652,"EventID":"S4W-22254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:36.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any legal issues involved in any cross-border collection agreement relating to student loans.","AnswerText":"Should the people of Scotland vote for independence, the collection of student loan repayments is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments. However, we do not anticipate any particular legal issues arising out of cross-border collection. Loan repayments are currently collected from residents both within and outwith the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:36.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296653,"EventID":"S4W-22255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:37.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on any arrangements that make use of the tax system of another state to collect student loan repayments from former UK students.","AnswerText":"Should the people of Scotland vote for independence, the collection of student loan repayments is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:37.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296654,"EventID":"S4W-22256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:37.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average collection rate for student loans has been in each of the last three years from (a) UK residents and (b) people resident outside the UK.","AnswerText":"This information is not held by the Scottish Government. However, the Student Loans Company provide relevant information on their website: http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:37.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296655,"EventID":"S4W-22257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:37.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost per pound has been of collecting student loan repayments via (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) other methods.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:37.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296656,"EventID":"S4W-22258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:38.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the affordability of the student loan scheme in an independent Scotland (a) under and (b) without a cross-border collection arrangement with HM Revenue and Customs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the size of the overall loan book, as it relates to Scottish customers, remains sustainable and affordable.\r\nShould the people of Scotland vote for independence, the administration of student loan scheme is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:38.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296657,"EventID":"S4W-22259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:38.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T12:31:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on graduate retention in Scotland of an independent Scotland agreeing a student loan collection system with HM Revenue and Customs.","AnswerText":"No analysis of graduate retention in that specific context has been undertaken. Should the people of Scotland vote for independence, the collection of student loan repayments is a matter that will form part of transitional discussions between the Scottish and UK governments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:38.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296658,"EventID":"S4W-22278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:38.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T09:29:28.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21124 by Alex Neil on 29 May 2014, when the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products is due to present its final report.","AnswerText":"Lord Penrose, Chairman of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products (The Penrose Inquiry) wrote to me on 28 May 2014 updating me on the inquiry’s progress.\r\nAs the member will be aware, the Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Minsters and it is for Lord Penrose to decide on the progress and timetabling of the inquiry.\r\nThe inquiry is currently in the process of issuing warning letters and, as set on the inquiry’s website, http://www.penroseinquiry.org.uk/, the process has not yet concluded.\r\nSubject to the inquiry team progressing with the warning letter process at the anticipated rate, the final report will be published in the autumn of 2014. Lord Penrose has agreed to write to me again to provide a further update on progress.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:38.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296659,"EventID":"S4W-22279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:39.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:24:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has fully implemented directive 2011/24/EU as it was required to do by 25 October 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The European cross-border healthcare directive 2011/24/EU has been implemented in Scotland by a package of measures: the National Health Service (Cross-Border Health Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 and existing domestic legislation, guidance issued to NHS boards and Scotland’s European cross-border healthcare National Contact Point.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:39.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296660,"EventID":"S4W-22280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-06T16:52:39.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:24:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the European Commission has given it notice that it has either failed to implement or only partially implemented directive 2011/24/EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland has not been given notice. The UK Government and 11 other member states have received a request from the European Commission asking for notification of the measures taken to implement the European cross-border healthcare directive 2011/24/EU.\r\nTogether with the other UK countries, we are at present considering the additional information we will provide in validation of the provisions that have already been put in place in Scotland, which were notified to the commission at the end of October 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-20T16:52:39.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296666,"EventID":"S4W-22268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:32.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what liaison it has with local authorities regarding the number of sites available for the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities are responsible for decisions regarding the provision of Gypsy/Traveller sites in their area. Need is identified through a Housing Need and Demand Assessment and is considered by the local authority as part of developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Local housing strategies go through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials. Feedback from the review process is provided to the local authority, and where required this feedback will cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision (for example where the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers have not been sufficiently taken into account). The Scottish Government has also recently collected data on the number of Gypsy/Traveller sites local authorities provide.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:32.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296667,"EventID":"S4W-22269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:32.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the closure of a Gypsy/Traveller site by a local authority does not unduly impact on the way of life of the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities are responsible for decisions regarding the provision of Gypsy/Traveller sites in their area, including any decision to close a Gypsy/Traveller site. The Scottish Government is not directly involved in assessing the impact of such a closure. However, a local authority has to consider the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers as part of a Housing Need and Demand Assessment and when developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Each Local housing strategy goes through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials, and comments are provided as appropriate. These comments can cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:32.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296668,"EventID":"S4W-22270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:33.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing legislation that will require local authorities to advise it of any plans to close Gypsy/Traveller sites or facilities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce such legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:33.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296669,"EventID":"S4W-22271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:33.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the accommodation needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerText":"Accommodation needs for Gypsy/Travellers are assessed at a local level. A local authority has to consider the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers as part of its Housing Need and Demand Assessment and when developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Each local housing strategy goes through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials, and comments are provided. These comments would cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision, as necessary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:33.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296670,"EventID":"S4W-22272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:33.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) The Highland, (b) Argyll and Bute, (c) Moray and (d) Perth and Kinross Council about the needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have not had any significant recent discussions about the needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community with the four councils mentioned. Officials have had some contact with Argyll and Bute Council, in relation to the Minister for Housing and Welfare’s visit to the Gypsy/Traveller site at Lochgilphead in May 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:33.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296671,"EventID":"S4W-22273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:33.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages collaborative working across local authorities regarding the facilities required to maintain the Gypsy/Traveller lifestyle.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are aware of some local authority collaboration on site provision. We are working with key stakeholders, including representatives of local authorities, to develop an overarching strategy and action plan for Gypsy/Travellers. Through this work, we will consider other areas where collaboration would be helpful.\r\nWe also engage regularly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on a range of race equality issues, including those relating to Gypsy/Travellers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:33.873","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296672,"EventID":"S4W-22274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:34.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing legislation that will allow amenity blocks on Gypsy/Traveller sites to be recorded in local authority housing revenue accounts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to amend the rules governing housing revenue accounts to include the recording of amenity blocks on local authority owned Gypsy/Traveller sites.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:34.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296673,"EventID":"S4W-22275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:34.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans ministers have to visit Gypsy/Traveller sites in The Highland Council area.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans for Scottish Government Ministers to visit Gypsy/Traveller sites in the Highland council area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:34.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296674,"EventID":"S4W-22276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:34.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it consults with the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our Gypsy/Traveller strategy development group includes members of the Gypsy/Traveller community. We also aim to engage more broadly with members of the community, with the help of organisations working directly with Gypsy/Travellers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:34.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296675,"EventID":"S4W-22277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:34.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-05T16:46:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with EU member states about supporting the Gypsy/Traveller lifestyle.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have not had discussions with EU member states about supporting the Gypsy/Traveller lifestyle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:34.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296676,"EventID":"S4W-22281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:35.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how often cochlear implants in children should be (a) reviewed, (b) replaced and (c) upgraded.\r\n","AnswerText":"a) There is no specific guidance on the frequency of reviewing cochlear implant equipment in children. Nonetheless all Scottish child users of cochlear implants are currently reviewed at least on an annual basis and the functionality of their implants and sound processors is reviewed at this time.\r\nb) The internal cochlear implants are replaced as required either due to equipment failure or medical complications (these are rare occurrences). If there is a failure of an external sound processor then this is replaced as required. In addition, all sound processors lost or damaged beyond economic repair are replaced immediately.\r\nc) Upgrade or provision of new sound processors should be provided on average at five yearly intervals, in order to ensure patient access to up to date technology and to maximise their hearing performance and subsequently outcome from the intervention.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:35.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296677,"EventID":"S4W-22284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:35.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to be fitted with cochlear implants.","AnswerText":"There are currently seven children awaiting cochlear implant surgery.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:35.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296678,"EventID":"S4W-22285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:35.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to have cochlear implants updated.","AnswerText":"The number of children (under 16 years of age) with a processor over five years old and therefore in scope for sound processor upgrade is 131.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:35.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296679,"EventID":"S4W-22286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:36.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for upgrading cochlear implants in children is for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"Upgrades are possible for the external sound processor component of the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant as an internally embedded device is only replaced if there is equipment failure or medical complications (these are rare occurrences).\r\nThe budget for maintaining, replacing and upgrading sound processors is a unified budget and is not broken down by children and adults.\r\nThe budget for sound processor upgrades in 2014-15 is £271,000 and for 2015-16 is £601,000.\r\nThe total budget for maintaining, replacing and upgrading sound processors is £978,000 for 2014-15 and £1,308,000 for 2015-16. This is up from £800,000 in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:36.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296680,"EventID":"S4W-22287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:36.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to replace a cochlear implant in a child.","AnswerText":"A cochlear implant is a surgically embedded device. The cost of a unilateral cochlear implant is £20,722. This cost includes the internal component (the cochlear implant) and the external component (the sound processor at £5,000) and also includes theatre staff and ward costs.\r\nThe cost for a bilateral cochlear implant is £31,798. This cost includes a reduction on the cost of the second implant and the cost of two sound processors (£10,000) and theatre staff and ward costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:36.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296681,"EventID":"S4W-22288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:36.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-06T16:29:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used when determining whether a child’s cochlear implants should be replaced.","AnswerText":"Each child receives at least an annual review. This review for each child assesses the performance of the sound processor, makes adjustments to the processor to maximise performance and assesses clinical benefit. Where insufficient clinical benefit is obtained a replacement processor will be offered and this will be an upgraded processor where available. \r\nAll patients receive a replacement processor when the processor is lost or is damaged beyond repair outwith the assessment process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:36.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296682,"EventID":"S4W-22289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:37.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T09:41:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 10,000 Youth Employment Scotland Fund places have been filled, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"A full breakdown by local authority of the allocation of the 10,000 Youth Employment Scotland Fund places is not yet available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:37.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296683,"EventID":"S4W-22290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:37.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T09:41:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the Youth Employment Scotland Fund participants have moved, following their placement, to (a) full-time employment, (b) part-time employment, (c) education and (d) training, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"We will be undertaking an interim evaluation of the Youth Employment Scotland Fund later in the year and the results are likely to be published in early 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:37.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296684,"EventID":"S4W-22291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:37.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:24:45.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the uptake of the Scottish Baccalaureate is low and, if so, what it is doing to increase uptake.","AnswerText":"As a qualification designed to meet the needs of some of our most able learners in S6, the Scottish Baccalaureate was never intended to be a high uptake award. The number of pupils taking the Scottish Baccalaureate has shown an overall increase since its introduction in 2010, though the entry numbers decreased from 191 in 2013 to 176 in 2014.\r\nThe Scottish Qualifications Authority is continuing to work with schools, colleges and local authorities to promote the enhanced skills which the Scottish Baccalaureate develops. Education Scotland also has plans to promote the qualification at the next Scottish Learning Festival.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:37.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296685,"EventID":"S4W-22299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:38.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T11:14:38.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide the answer to question (a) S4W-21560, (b) S4W-21561, (c) S4W-21562 and (d) S4W-21563, and what the reason is for the delay.","AnswerText":"Questions S4W-21560, S4W-21561, S4W-21562 and S4W-21563 were answered on the 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:38.22","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296686,"EventID":"S4W-22300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:38.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T11:26:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Highland can achieve its 2014-15 savings target of £22.4 million without a detrimental impact on patient care.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is publically available on the NHS Highland website within the board papers for the meeting on 12 August 2014. The specific paper is entitled 5.7 NHS Highland Financial Position as at 30 June 2014. This paper can be accessed via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Meetings/BoardsMeetings/Documents/Board%20Meeting%2012%20August%202014/5.7%20Area%20Finance%20Report%20to%2030%2006%2014.pdf\r\nSection 5 of the paper discusses the overall savings target, with Table 5 outlining additional detail of the board’s plans to deliver these savings.\r\nEfficiency savings do not reduce the overall budget of NHS boards and are necessary to continuously improve NHS services. All savings are retained locally by territorial boards to allow them to reinvest in front-line services which directly benefit patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:38.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296687,"EventID":"S4W-22301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:38.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T11:26:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Highland plans to eliminate the £10.5 million projected overspend at Raigmore Hospital without a detrimental impact on waiting times targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is publically available on the NHS Highland website within the board papers for the meeting on 12 August 2014. The specific paper is entitled 5.7 NHS Highland Financial Position as at 30 June 2014. This paper can be accessed via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Meetings/BoardsMeetings/Documents/Board%20Meeting%2012%20August%202014/5.7%20Area%20Finance%20Report%20to%2030%2006%2014.pdf\r\nNHS Highland is forecasting financial breakeven for 2014-15.\r\nSection 4.1.4 provides specific information relating to Raigmore Hospital. Section 5 of the paper discusses the overall savings target, with Table 5 outlining additional detail of the board’s plans to deliver these savings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:38.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296688,"EventID":"S4W-22302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T14:15:39.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T11:54:48.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will report on progress with the starter farm at Balrobert in Inverness throughout the duration of the scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"It was announced last week the successful applicant for the starter farm. There is no requirement to publicly report on progress but we will work closely with the tenant for the duration of the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T14:15:39.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296692,"EventID":"S4W-22292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:44.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when and for what reason it decided to refresh its youth employment strategy.","AnswerText":"In Parliament on 24 June 2014, I announced this government’s intention to refresh the youth employment strategy. The economy returned to pre-recession levels in the first quarter of this year with a general strengthening of the labour market. Against a backdrop of a more positive economic climate it is important that we continue to ensure that our resources are effectively targeted to support young people into sustainable employment. The refresh will allow us to take the view of employers, young people and stakeholders on the shape of that support and will allow us to reflect the ambitious agenda set by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:45.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296693,"EventID":"S4W-22293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:45.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its reasons were for choosing the type of survey it used to inform its youth employment strategy refresh and what other methods of consultation it considered.\r\n","AnswerText":"This type of survey was chosen to ensure that employers had an early opportunity to input to the refresh of the strategy. The responses will supplement engagement with key stakeholders. In addition to the survey and engagement plan we have supported the development of an event for young people scheduled for 19 August 2014 and we are working with the Chambers of Commerce on an event for employers in September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:45.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296694,"EventID":"S4W-22294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:45.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) when it advertised its refreshed youth employment strategy on its website and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"In Parliament on 24 June 2014, I announced the Scottish Government’s intention to refresh the youth employment strategy. It is not a formal publication and has not been advertised as such. A range of stakeholders and interested groups have been approached for their views. It was included in a news release on the Scottish Government website on 19 August 2014. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:45.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296695,"EventID":"S4W-22295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:45.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the findings of its youth employment strategy refresh survey.","AnswerText":"The findings will be used to inform discussions with young people, stakeholders and employers and to shape the refresh of the youth employment strategy to be published later this year. We will publish a summary of the findings in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:45.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296696,"EventID":"S4W-22296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:46.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it will conduct in addition to the survey that it carried out as part of its youth employment strategy refresh.","AnswerText":"We are working with a range of stakeholders on the refresh of the youth employment strategy. We supported an event for young people that took place on 19 August 2014. Employers, public bodies and the third sector will all have the chance to contribute to the refreshed strategy which is expected to be published later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:46.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296697,"EventID":"S4W-22297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:46.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish its refreshed youth employment strategy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government plans to publish a refreshed youth employment strategy later in 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:46.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296698,"EventID":"S4W-22298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:46.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T10:54:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the reasons are for the youth unemployment rate in Scotland being higher than in the UK as a whole.","AnswerText":"The Labour Force Survey figures for April to June 2014 demonstrate that youth unemployment rate in Scotland has decreased by 2.9% over the year to 16.2%, the same as in the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:46.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296699,"EventID":"S4W-22304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:46.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:01:15.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how it defines and (b) what its position is on operational independence in relation to policing and what arrangements are in place to ensure that it is properly applied.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Chief Constable has operational responsibility for policing in Scotland, which ensures the police are able to impartially apply the law.\r\nThe Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 clearly sets out the responsibilities of the Chief Constable, which include the direction and control of the police service, the day to day administration of Police Scotland, the allocation and deployment of resources received from the Scottish Police Authority, and ensuring adequate arrangements for the policing of each local authority area are in place. This approach to the policing of Scotland must be undertaken with due regard to the policing principles, which set out that the main purpose of policing is to improve the safety and well-being of persons, localities and communities in Scotland.\r\nThe Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 makes clear that the Chief Constable is fully accountable to the Scottish Police Authority for the decisions that he and his officers make in the policing of Scotland. It is of course part of the authority’s governance and accountability role to scrutinise the implementation and impact of operational policing policy in Scotland, such as its scrutiny review on the use of the stop and search tactic which made a number of recommendations in May 2014. The Chief Constable must also have due regard to such recommendations made, or guidance issued by the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:46.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296700,"EventID":"S4W-22306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:47.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group took place in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and have taken place in 2014 and at how many of the meetings all members were present.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the minutes of the Fiscal Commission Working Group meetings. The minutes and a list of engagements with the Fiscal Commission Working Group can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/FCWG.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:47.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296701,"EventID":"S4W-22308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:47.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have attended meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:47.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296702,"EventID":"S4W-22309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:47.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for how long the currency of an independent Scotland has been discussed at each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:47.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296703,"EventID":"S4W-22310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:47.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) written and (b) oral evidence the Fiscal Commission Working Group has taken on the currency of an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296704,"EventID":"S4W-22311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:48.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many officials have attended each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:48.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296705,"EventID":"S4W-22312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:48.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who drafted the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to page 13 of the Fiscal Commission Working Group – First Report – Macroeconomic Framework.\r\nDetails of the full report can be accessed online here: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00414291.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:48.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296706,"EventID":"S4W-22313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-07T16:45:48.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:51:51.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) ministers and (b) officials had in the (i) drafting and (ii) publication of the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:48.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296707,"EventID":"S4W-22314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T13:44:02.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T11:13:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what projects it has funded to assist blind and partially sighted adults and children in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has funded the projects detailed in Tables 1-3 for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, that assist blind and partially sighted adults and children. In addition the Government allocated £1 million in each of the two years 2013-14 and 2014-15 to implement ‘See Hear’, the National Sensory Impairment Strategy.\r\nIt should be noted however that many projects are designed to assist people with sensory impairment and so may also include elements designed to improve the quality of life for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have dual sensory impairment.\r\nTable 1- 2011-12\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£6,000.00\r\n\r\nForth Valley Sensory Centre\r\n£26,000.00\r\n\r\nInsight Radio/RNIB Scotland\r\n£4,500.00\r\nKeep Safe campaign\r\nNorth East Sensory Services\r\n£100,000.00\r\nAberdeen City one-stop-shop\r\nFife Society for the Blind\r\n£100,000.00\r\n'Just Ask' programme\r\nForth Valley Sensory Centre\r\n£195,000.00\r\nPrevention strategies\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£200,000.00\r\nLothian one-stop-shop\r\nBorders one-stop-shop\r\n£120,000.00\r\nSensory champion and prevention project\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£226,996.00\r\nAyrshire one-stop-shop\r\nGlasgow Sensory Centre\r\n£75,000.00\r\nIndependence, re-enablement and inclusion\r\nDeafblind Scotland\r\n£99,826.00\r\nDevelop links for deaf-blind people\r\nSight Action\r\n£200,000.00\r\nHighland one-stop-shop\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTotal\r\n£1,503,322.00\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 2 - 2012-13\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nSight Action\r\n£200,000.00\r\nHighland one-stop-shop\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£200,000.00\r\nLothian one-stop-shop\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£226,996.00\r\nAyrshire one-stop-shop\r\nFife Society for the Blind\r\n£40,000.00\r\nShowcase and media resources\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£33,357.00\r\nBridge to Vision - Dementia\r\nVisibility\r\n£254,641.60\r\nDumfries & Galloway one-stop-shop\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£125,000.00\r\nAwareness training\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTotal\r\n£1,229,994.60\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 3 - 2013-14\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nVisibility\r\n£181,420.50\r\nOne-stop-service Dumfries\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£51,189.00\r\nBridge to Vision service\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£10,000.00\r\nTechnology for life conference\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£9,000.00\r\nInsight Radio Keep Safe campaign\r\nSISG (Ayrshire Hearing Support)\r\n£30,000.00\r\nAyrshire one-stop-shop\r\nHeriot Watt University\r\n£8,164.00\r\nAssessment of blue light for vision\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTotal\r\n£439,773.50\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T13:44:04.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296708,"EventID":"S4W-22315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T13:44:07.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T12:12:40.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the European Court of Human Rights as a valid avenue of appeal in relation to criminal cases in which interim suspension of sentence is granted pending appeal on the grounds of violation of human rights.","AnswerText":"Determination of legal issues relating to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) is generally for the domestic courts. Where it is considered that the domestic courts have not properly decided any ECHR issue, a direct application may be made to the European Court of Human Rights. This is an inevitable consequence of the UK’s membership of the Council of Europe – a membership Scotland’s Future confirms that an independent Scotland would maintain. \r\nHowever, where an applicant takes a case to the European Court of Human Rights he or she is obliged to have exhausted all domestic remedies before doing so; an application would not be accepted while a domestic appeal was pending.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T13:44:07.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296714,"EventID":"S4W-22316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:02.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the south side piers of the Forth Replacement Crossing designated (a) S1, (b) S2 and (c) S3 will be completed; what the original target completion date was, and what the reason was for any delay.","AnswerText":"Piers S1 and S2 are required to support the cable stay bridge deck sections built out from the south tower progressively during 2015. S1 and S2 are expected to be complete in summer 2015, in advance of the time when they are required to support these deck sections.\r\nPier S3 is the last pier required to support the south approach viaduct. Pier S3 is anticipated to be complete in early 2015, on time to support the final phase of the south approach viaduct incremental push launch. This is in line with the information provided to the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on 5 March 2014 by the Forth Replacement Crossing project director.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:02.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296715,"EventID":"S4W-22319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:02.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Forth Replacement Crossing has reached the halfway stage of construction.","AnswerText":"Yes, the Forth Replacement Crossing project has reached the halfway stage of construction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:02.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296716,"EventID":"S4W-22320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:03.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the critical path of the Forth Replacement Crossing project has been affected by delays in constructing piers or any other part of the project.\r\n","AnswerText":"The critical path of the project remains unchanged and the project remains on schedule for completion by December 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:03.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296717,"EventID":"S4W-22321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:03.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what float time is left in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.","AnswerText":"Adequate contingencies and allowances are built into all of more than 18,000 activities which comprise the project programme, which continues to show completion by December 2016. Float time is not identified separately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:03.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296718,"EventID":"S4W-22322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:03.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it would inform the Parliament of any risk that the Forth Replacement Crossing might not be completed on time and whether it would do so at the earliest available opportunity.","AnswerText":"The Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project provides a written update on progress to the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee at three monthly intervals. These are supplemented by appearances in front of the committee by the FRC project director and project manager at usually six-monthly intervals and visits to the project site by members of the committee when requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:03.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296719,"EventID":"S4W-22324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:04.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:16:17.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when work will commence on suspending the deck sections of the Forth Replacement Crossing.","AnswerText":"The first deck sections of the Queensferry Crossing are expected to start being placed at the towers during autumn 2014. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:04.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296720,"EventID":"S4W-22326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:04.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T13:50:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact analysis it has carried out on the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) (Scotland) Act 2012; what additional (a) revenues have been generated and (b) costs have been incurred by local authorities, and how many (i) houses, (ii) shops and (iii) business properties have been brought back into use.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is too early to determine the impacts to housing as a result of the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) (Scotland) Act 2012. This is due to only a single council applying the discretionary power (to charge increased levels of council tax for certain long-term empty homes) for the first full year of operation in 2013-14. 12 councils are applying the power in 2014-15 and the effect in terms of number of properties affected and revenue raised will be picked up in the local government finance returns to the Scottish Government.\r\nWith regards to how many (ii) shops and (iii) business properties have been brought back into use, we have undertaken to conduct post-legislative scrutiny of the empty property relief policy in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:04.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296721,"EventID":"S4W-22327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-08T15:39:04.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T14:25:10.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21894 by Michael Russell on 16 July 2014, what the (a) eligibility criteria are and (b) application process is.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Access to Education Fund is a £1.5 million fund which aims to reduce the barriers to learning experienced by pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The fund, which will be administered by Education Scotland, will be open to applications from schools, from the week commencing 18 August 2014. Applications can be made for up to £5000 per school for a range of activities, including, funding to support pupils and their families for additional school materials, trips, uniforms, IT, coaching and mentoring and parental engagement programmes. Further guidance for schools and the application form can be found on the Education Scotland website:\r\nwww.educationscotland.gov.uk/supportinglearners/accesstoeducationfund.asp\r\nThe deadline for applications is 10 October 2014 at 5.00pm. Officials from the Scottish Government and Education Scotland will consider all applications and schools will be notified with a decision by the end of November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-08-22T15:39:04.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296726,"EventID":"S4T-00763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:35.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-10T22:17:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what precautions it is taking to reduce the threat of the Ebola virus.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:35.467","MeetingDate":"2014-08-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296727,"EventID":"S4T-00764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:35.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T09:00:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the economic impact will be of Royal Mail's decision to bring forward rural post box collection times.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:35.903","MeetingDate":"2014-08-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296728,"EventID":"S4T-00765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:36.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T09:34:08.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest reports on waiting times to access support services that allow older people to live independently at home.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:36.217","MeetingDate":"2014-08-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296729,"EventID":"S4F-02245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:09.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-07T15:53:36.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:09.233","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296730,"EventID":"S4F-02247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:10.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T09:11:34.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:10.42","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296731,"EventID":"S4F-02248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:10.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T09:12:25.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how many two-year-olds from workless families will receive free childcare at the start of the new school session.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:10.637","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296732,"EventID":"S4F-02249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:11.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T09:24:13.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:11.217","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296733,"EventID":"S4F-02251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:12.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T10:18:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that an independent Scotland will not be able to support the state pension.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:12.353","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296734,"EventID":"S4F-02254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T12:33:13.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T11:11:41.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether there will be foodbanks in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T12:33:13.757","MeetingDate":"2014-08-14T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296735,"EventID":"S4W-22328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:35.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-08T15:45:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a complaint can be lodged against a solicitor regarding a report to a sheriff on the proposed arrangements for the care and upbringing of a child and, if so, to whom.","AnswerText":"I assume the member is referring to cases where a judge or sheriff has appointed a child welfare reporter (formerly known as a bar reporter) to assist in cases such as contact or residence under section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.\r\nChild welfare reporters do not have to be solicitors although our understanding is that most of them are. It may not be possible to raise a complaint with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission about the standard of service provided by a child welfare reporter who is also a solicitor. This is because there is no direct client/solicitor relationship between the reporter and a party to the case. The reporter is appointed by the court, rather than by one of the parties to a case. Section 2(1)(b) of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 lays down that service complaints are suggestions that “professional services provided by a practitioner in connection with any matter in which the practitioner has been instructed by a client were inadequate”.\r\nAny concerns about a report by a child welfare reporter or the conduct of the reporter should be raised with the judge or the sheriff dealing with the case. Any general concerns about the quality of work provided by a specific child welfare reporter could be raised with the sheriff principal or the Lord President. For sheriff courts, the sheriff principal maintains a list of those persons who may be appointed as a child welfare reporter in the sheriffdom: the Lord President maintains a similar list for the Court of Session. \r\nAny complaints about the conduct of a solicitor could be raised with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. Conduct complaints are suggestions of professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct. Any such complaints could include the conduct of a solicitor whilst performing the role of a child welfare reporter. The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission would need to consider if they have authority to consider such a complaint. If the commission decides it does have authority to consider a complaint relating to conduct, it would then pass the complaint to the relevant professional body for investigation.\r\nThe government has been leading a working group on child welfare reporters. More information on this working group is available on the government’s website at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/17867/reporters \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:35.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296736,"EventID":"S4W-22329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:35.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-10T10:07:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its special advisers will stand down ahead of the purdah period of the referendum campaign and, if so, what pay-off arrangements it has made.\r\n","AnswerText":"Special advisers may remain in post during the pre-referendum period, consistent with the terms of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Severance payment will not be payable if a special adviser chooses to resign.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:35.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296737,"EventID":"S4W-22331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:36.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T10:33:33.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what performance penalties have been payable each year under the public service contract with Argyll Ferries.","AnswerText":"The performance deductions payable to the Scottish Government are as follows.\r\nArgyll Ferries Limited – Contract Year\r\nPerformance Deductions (£)\r\n2011-12\r\n50,611.44\r\n2012-13\r\n5,223.27\r\n2013-14\r\n5,661.29\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:36.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296738,"EventID":"S4W-22332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:36.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T14:44:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are registered to teach deaf pupils and how many are in post, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The General Teaching Council for Scotland registers teachers to teach either in the primary sector or in the secondary sector. ‘To teach deaf pupils’ is not a registration category used by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:36.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296739,"EventID":"S4W-22333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:36.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T14:44:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people who teach deaf pupils are not formally registered to do so, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The supplementary dataset to the Scottish Government’s annual teacher census identifies the numbers of primary, secondary, special and centrally employed teachers who have indicated that their main subject taught, or other subject taught, is categorised as ‘Hearing Impairment’. The 2013 dataset can be viewed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata The all Scotland totals are shown at tables 2.8, 3.9, 4.8 and 5.2 respectively. The breakdowns by local authority, where identifiable, are shown at tables 7.9, 8.9, 9.8 and 10.2 respectively.\r\nAs explained in the answer to S4W-22332 on 8 September 2014, none of these teachers is registered to teach deaf pupils.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:36.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296740,"EventID":"S4W-22334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:37.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T14:44:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people teaching deaf pupils (a) have and (b) do not have the appropriate qualifications to do so, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nThe Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places a duty on education authorities to establish procedures for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of children and young people.\r\nIt is a matter for local authorities, as employers, to ensure that their teachers have the appropriate professional skills and knowledge necessary to enable them to undertake the teaching duties allocated to them. In the case of teachers who are employed to wholly or mainly teach pupils with a hearing impairment, a visual impairment or both a hearing and visual impairment it is a requirement that they have an additional appropriate qualification to teach such pupils. Alternatively, it is acceptable that they are in the process of obtaining such a qualification providing they do so within five years.\r\nThe Scottish Government funds the Scottish Sensory Centre to provide high quality career long professional learning for teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments, including those with hearing impairments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:37.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296741,"EventID":"S4W-22336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-11T17:12:37.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T14:52:58.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority has succeeded in providing results from all examinations sat in the 2013-14 school year.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has successfully provided results for all qualifications completed in the 2013-14 school year.\r\nThe Chief Executive of the SQA will be happy to discuss with you any specific queries you may have.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-08T17:12:37.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296760,"EventID":"S4W-22338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-12T13:41:23.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T11:04:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the HEAT targets on access to (a) child and adolescent mental health services and (b) psychological therapies will be met by December 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides support to NHS boards through its Quality and Efficiency Support Team (QuEST), who have developed a number of resources to support service improvement. This includes a toolkit to help services understand demand, capacity, activity and queue. QuEST support is designed to be sustainable and focussed on meeting the needs of people using the services.\r\nDiscussions are ongoing between QuEST and each individual NHS board to review options for tailored improvement support in meeting the targets.\r\nWe will continue to monitor NHS boards’ progress against the psychological therapies and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services HEAT targets, through monthly submissions of data to Information Services Division, which also give boards the opportunity to set out any issues they are facing in meeting the target, for example, with data collection or systems.\r\nWe have provided guidance to boards on the scope of the psychological therapies HEAT target, and through NHS Education for Scotland (NES) have produced ‘The Matrix’, a guide to delivering evidence based therapies. Also through NES, we are working to assess and develop workforce capacity to ensure that a range of staff are equipped to deliver therapies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-09T13:41:23.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296761,"EventID":"S4W-22339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-12T13:41:24.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T11:04:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what targets will replace the current  HEAT targets on access to (a) child and adolescent mental health services and (b) psychological therapies after December 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current psychological therapies and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Heat targets are to be met from December 2014. A decision has not yet been taken on the next steps for these targets. However, any future steps would take into account the integration of health and social care.\r\nData on waiting times for both psychological therapies and CAMHS will continue to be collected by Information Services Division.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-09T13:41:24.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296762,"EventID":"S4W-22340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-12T13:41:24.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T11:04:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps NHS Grampian is taking to ensure that it meets the HEAT target on psychological therapies by December 2014.","AnswerText":"NHS Grampian is working to develop their systems to help inform service development in line with demand. NHS Grampian also continues to make efforts to increase staffing capacity.\r\nAll mental health teams in NHS Grampian have undertaken a review of their patient pathway, with a view to making improvements. In addition, workloads have been shared across teams as appropriate.\r\nDiscussions are planned between the Scottish Government’s Quality and Efficiency Support Team and NHS Grampian to review other options for support in meeting the target as quickly as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-09T13:41:24.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296768,"EventID":"S4W-22341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-12T16:59:28.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T13:05:04.36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would recognise Palestine as an independent state and vote to allow it full membership of the UN.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for an independent Scotland to decide its own future foreign policy. The current Scottish Government supports a two state solution for the Israel and Palestine situation. The current Scottish Government is supportive of direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine and calls on both parties to work towards a peaceful solution to the conflict.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-09T16:59:29.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296769,"EventID":"S4W-22342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-12T16:59:30.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T15:52:57.073","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken following Shell's announcement on 8 August 2014 of around 250 job losses in Aberdeen and whether Partnership Action for Continuing Employment has been involved.","AnswerText":"We recognise this will be a difficult time for the employees who are affected by this announcement and for their families. The Scottish Government will provide assistance to those employees through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). Our national PACE team has already offered PACE support to the company and will work closely with the company’s appointed outplacement agency to minimise the time people affected by redundancy are out of work. It is expected that those employees affected will be informed by late October 2014. However, we hope the number of redundancies can be reduced through restructuring and relocation.\r\nWe welcome Shell’s continuing commitment to the North Sea, particularly their ongoing investment over the next few years of two billion dollars a year in Clair and Schiehallion. There is no indication that this will impact directly on North Sea production or field development. As Oil and Gas UK has stated, overall there was £14.4 billion investment in 2013 and the industry intends to invest a further £13 billion this year - this provides a clear signal that attractive opportunities still remain in the North Sea.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-09T16:59:30.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296776,"EventID":"S4W-22356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T11:37:27.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:33:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Population 2013: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends has been published today. The review contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information.\r\nA copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 55946), or from the National Records of Scotland website: www.nrscotland.gov.uk.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T11:37:28.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296786,"EventID":"S4W-22343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:54.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) greenfield and (b) agricultural land has been used for (i) building and (ii) other developments in each of the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:54.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296787,"EventID":"S4W-22344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:55.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the use of brownfield sites for (a) building and (b) other developments.\r\n","AnswerText":"Revised Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), published on 23 June 2014, sets out guiding principles for planning which include making efficient use of existing capacity of land, buildings and infrastructure; supporting town centre and regeneration priorities; and considering the reuse or redevelopment of brownfield land before new development takes place on greenfield sites. Planning policies and decisions are also expected to have regard to the principles of sustainable land use set out in the Land Use Strategy.\r\nThe SPP is a statement of the Scottish Government policy on how nationally important land use planning matters should be addressed across Scotland, and directly relates to the preparation of development plans, the design of development, and the determination of planning applications and appeals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:55.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296788,"EventID":"S4W-22345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:55.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the housing needs of families in the Highlands and Islands that (a) require additional assistance and (b) are large are being met. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 places a statutory requirement on local authorities to prepare a local housing strategy supported by a Housing Need and Demand Assessment, to quantify and fully consider the needs of different client groups. The Scottish Government considers these strategic documents, with the local authority, to ensure a suitable provision for different housing needs are identified. The Scottish Government has provided over £38 million to the Highlands and Islands, for the period 2012-13 to 2014-15, to deliver affordable housing options.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:55.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296789,"EventID":"S4W-22346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:55.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for scheduling a monument of national importance, and whether it plans to review these.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are under a duty to schedule monuments which are found to be of national importance. Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government, is currently responsible for discharging this duty and has developed operational policy which determines what constitutes national importance. This is set out in the Scottish Historic Environment Policy: \r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/shep.htm).\r\nIf the Historic Environment Scotland Bill is enacted, revision of the operational policy for scheduling will be a matter for a new body, Historic Environment Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:55.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296790,"EventID":"S4W-22347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:55.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what stakeholders it consults regarding the classification of sites of heritage interest.\r\n","AnswerText":"Important sites of heritage interest may be designated as scheduled monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979; or as listed buildings under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997; or as Historic Marine Protected Areas under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010; or they may be recognised by being added to the Inventory of Historic Battlefields or Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.\r\nThe stakeholders consulted during designation of a heritage asset vary considerably depending on the type of designation and the nature of the asset. They normally include owners, occupiers and the relevant local authority. Depending on the case type, they can also include other relevant community or special interest groups, and persons and organisations that may be affected by the specific designation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:55.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296791,"EventID":"S4W-22348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:56.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on there being no special right of access to scheduled monuments, and whether it plans to review this.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no special rights, over and above the general rights of access contained in the access code and its underlying legislation. This issue was considered as part of the process of bringing forward new legislation to create a new lead body for the historic environment, the Historic Environment Scotland Bill, which is currently before Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:56.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296792,"EventID":"S4W-22349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:56.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:05:15.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the specialist skills required to maintain historical monuments are not lost.\r\n","AnswerText":"The skills required to manage, nurture and enjoy the whole of the historic environment, which include but are not limited to those required to undertake physical conservation works, are a key priority within the overarching strategy for the Historic Environment, Our Place in Time. The forum which oversees the delivery of the strategy (and which met for the first time on 23 June 2014) has already identified ‘skills’ as an issue for immediate collective action and, as a first step, has recommended an audit of historic environment conservation skills training provision in Scotland to help inform our collective strategic approach to this issue over the coming years.\r\nHistoric Scotland are delivering a Traditional Building Skills Strategy, a significant element of which is the creation of the Engine Shed in Stirling as a focus and showcase for traditional building skills and will be a resource for the whole sector.\r\nOur Place in Time was published in March 2014 and is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/03/8522 \r\nThe Traditional Building Skills Strategy was published in 2011 and is available at:\r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/skillstrategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:56.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296793,"EventID":"S4W-22350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:56.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:38:28.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with fibromyalgia have their condition recognised by employers and the wider community.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that fibromyalgia can be a difficult and debilitating condition. As with all long term conditions we are committed to providing the best care and support to people living with fibromyalgia and have funded third sector led initiatives to help raise public awareness of the condition.\r\nWe acknowledge the important link between work and health and our health works strategy, sets out a range of actions to support both employers and individuals of working age to ensure that health is not a barrier to employment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:56.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296794,"EventID":"S4W-22351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:56.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T09:51:45.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities do not have enough places in their nurseries to cater for the increase in childcare hours for all eligible two, three and four-year-olds from the beginning of August 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"We expect all local authorities to have enough places available, either in council nurseries or with partner providers, to accommodate the estimated number of children who will take up their early learning and childcare entitlement in the new school term.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:57.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296795,"EventID":"S4W-22352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:57.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T09:51:45.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many eligible (a) two, (b) three and (c) four-year-olds have not taken up their free childcare place under the policy that started in August 2014 and for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of children registered with local authorities to receive their early learning and childcare entitlement is published annually in December.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:57.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296796,"EventID":"S4W-22353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:57.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:19:15.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times its taskforce for Stranraer has met and on what dates.\r\n","AnswerText":"The lead role in the regeneration of Stranraer Waterfront rests with Dumfries and Galloway Council.\r\nThe Scottish Government established the Stranraer taskforce to work with Dumfries and Galloway Council and a number of other local partners to explore the potential for the future of the Stranraer waterfront, following the relocation of ferry services from the town.\r\nThe taskforce was intended to be a short- life group. It met on four occasions on 16 February 2012, 28 May 2012, 27 September 2012 and 22 April 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:57.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296797,"EventID":"S4W-22354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:57.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:19:15.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the taskforce for Stranraer's action plan for the regeneration of Stranraer and the south west.\r\n","AnswerText":"In June 2014, the South of Scotland Alliance, comprising Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Enterprise, presented ministers with a Rural Regional Economic Development Programme for the South of Scotland.\r\nThis programme of development comprises four significant projects including the regeneration of Stranraer waterfront. The report can be accessed on the Dumfries and Galloway Council website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:57.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296798,"EventID":"S4W-22355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T13:42:58.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:19:15.79","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures have been taken to create jobs as a result of the work of the taskforce for Stranraer.","AnswerText":"Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) has the primary responsibility for and lead role in implementing plans in relation to Stranraer. As such DCG is best placed to lead on job creation measures and you may wish to discuss this with them directly.\r\nScottish Enterprise (as a member of the South of Scotland Alliance) has contributed to the South of Scotland Rural Regional Development Programme. Stranraer waterfront is a key project and Scottish Enterprise is working to develop the business case and will consider future funding.\r\nScottish Enterprise continues to deliver support to companies across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T13:42:58.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296799,"EventID":"S4O-03481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:04.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:06.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recent comments by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding further changes to welfare benefits and the impact that these changes would have on poverty in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:04.4","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296800,"EventID":"S4O-03482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:04.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:07:48.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what methods of consultation it uses to gauge the views of cyclists regarding major trunk road works.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:04.993","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296801,"EventID":"S4O-03483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:05.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:07.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the latest total annual service charge payable by NHS Lothian to Consort Healthcare for the most recent financial year in relation to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:05.273","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296802,"EventID":"S4O-03484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:05.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T16:03:05.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to strengthen and grow the economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:05.57","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296803,"EventID":"S4O-03485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:05.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T09:38:26.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Dumfries and Galloway Council and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:06.117","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296804,"EventID":"S4O-03486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:06.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:08.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports that the North Sea could hold more than £40 billion worth of unforeseen oil reserves.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:06.71","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296805,"EventID":"S4O-03487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:07.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T10:25:44.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the cumulative impact of UK Government reductions in benefits on disabled people in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:07.037","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296806,"EventID":"S4O-03488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:07.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T12:16:07.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a review  has been carried out on how effective the Queensferry Crossing consultation forums have been in dealing with local groups and people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:07.317","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296807,"EventID":"S4O-03489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:07.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:09.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:07.6","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296808,"EventID":"S4O-03490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:08.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:09.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking regarding the provision of a specialist centre for robot-assisted surgery for radical prostatectomies.","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced on Tuesday 19 August 2014 that Scottish men will soon be able to benefit from state of the art robotic surgery.\r\nThe Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to purchase a robot to assist surgery, initially for prostate cancer.\r\nWe plan to see this service up and running by spring 2015 and thereafter to roll this out in the central belt.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:08.003","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296809,"EventID":"S4O-03491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:08.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:52.377","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Chief Constable and what issues were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:08.27","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296810,"EventID":"S4O-03492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:08.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:52.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on police stations having mental health nurses assigned to them, similar to the pilot exercise being carried out in England.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:08.863","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296811,"EventID":"S4O-03493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:09.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:52.903","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders about the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:09.173","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296812,"EventID":"S4O-03494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:09.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:53.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the latest crime figures are.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:09.55","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296813,"EventID":"S4O-03495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:09.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:53.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community organisations in the Glasgow region in using funding from the CashBack for Communities programme and other money seized under proceeds of crime legislation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:10.047","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296814,"EventID":"S4O-03496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:10.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:53.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with the UK Government regarding the implementation of legislation relating to data laws.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:10.39","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296815,"EventID":"S4O-03497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:10.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:53.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the need for innovative thinking when planning new justice-related buildings.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:10.623","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296816,"EventID":"S4O-03498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:10.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:54.12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish Court Service will save as a result of the closure of sheriff and Justice of the Peace courts.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:10.907","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296817,"EventID":"S4O-03499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:11.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:02:54.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action Police Scotland is taking to tackle men’s violence against women.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since its inception, Police Scotland has made tackling men’s violence against women a key priority.\r\nThis includes setting up specialist investigation units for domestic abuse and rape in every local policing division throughout Scotland to investigate and provide specialist assistance in relation to incidents of domestic abuse; stalking and harassment; and rape and sexual offences.\r\nIn March 2014, Police Scotland launched the ‘We Can Stop It’ national rape awareness campaign and this week, Police Scotland announced the piloting of a disclosure scheme for domestic abuse, known as ‘Clare’s Law’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:11.39","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296818,"EventID":"S4O-03500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:11.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T17:42:42.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for justice in Scotland would be if the UK Government were to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.\r\n","AnswerText":"If the UK Government were to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights, to prevent the Convention having an effect on justice in Scotland it would need to amend the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998, in which it is an embedded principle.\r\nThe Convention is increasingly embedded in EU law as well. EU law is, of course, binding in Scotland. The UK Government would need to leave the EU to prevent the Convention being applied by this means.\r\nA disruption on this scale would inevitably cause a great deal of upheaval and uncertainty for justice in Scotland and, despite the best efforts of our courts, would be likely to cost us opportunities to improve further the protection of human rights in this country.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:11.623","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296819,"EventID":"S4O-03501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:11.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:38:42.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of Pillar 2 funding for rural development that an independent Scotland could expect to receive from the EU.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:11.95","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296820,"EventID":"S4O-03502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:30:12.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T09:47:41.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact marine protected areas will have on recreational boating and marine tourism.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:30:12.183","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296821,"EventID":"S4O-03503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:45.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-12T15:02:06.52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the British Veterinary Association.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:45.443","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296822,"EventID":"S4O-03504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:45.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:07.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how independence would support rural development funding in rural communities such as in Dumfries and Galloway.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:45.75","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296823,"EventID":"S4O-03505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:07.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what benefit farmers and crofters would have through Pillar 1 funding in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:46.017","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296824,"EventID":"S4O-03506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:46.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:07.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce red tape for agricultural industries.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:46.34","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296825,"EventID":"S4O-03507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:46.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:07.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would see an increase in funding from the EU European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and, if so, by how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:46.623","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296826,"EventID":"S4O-03508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:46.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:07.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in reducing the vulnerability of the towns referred to in the report, Rural Scotland in Focus 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since this report in 2012, we have undertaken a national review of town centres in Scotland, published the Town Centre Action Plan and announced the Town Centre First Principle in agreement with COSLA.\r\nThe action plan, underpinned by this principle and a commitment to cross-government working, will not only determine public sector investment decision making and align policies but also help to target wider resources within the private and third sectors to encourage diversity and vibrancy across Scotland’s towns.\r\nWe have created a solid framework for each local authority to set out the activity they will undertake to ensure they can help their towns adapt to changing circumstances. \r\nA key issue for rural towns across Scotland is access to broadband and hence the investment of £410 million in the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme is of great importance to our rural towns.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:46.91","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296827,"EventID":"S4O-03509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:47.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-11T12:03:08.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on implementation of the new common agricultural policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since announcing in June 2014 the main details of how we will implement the new common agricultural policy (CAP) in Scotland, the Government has been working closely with the UK Government and our stakeholders to agree the finer implementing details.\r\nWhilst we still await clarification from Europe on some of the technical details, I have written this week to all farmers setting out as much information as we can, and have posted the information on the Scottish Government’s CAP website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:47.343","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296828,"EventID":"S4O-03510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T14:08:47.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T11:45:14.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on agricultural land being exempt from the provisions of The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003.\r\n","AnswerText":"We ran a consultation on promoting responsible dog ownership earlier this year, and this included questions on the effectiveness of dog fouling legislation in this and other respects. The responses to our consultation are currently being analysed and we will carefully consider all responses before taking decisions on our next steps. This includes areas of recent interest such as current exemptions to the legislation and the level at which fixed penalties are set.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T14:08:47.687","MeetingDate":"2014-08-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296829,"EventID":"S4W-22357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:40:59.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T14:28:20.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many copies of the NHS Health Scotland leaflet, Recognise, Respond, Relieve,– Rheumatoid Arthritis have been (a) produced and (b) distributed; what assessment it has carried out of the effectiveness of the leaflet, including whether it has led to an increase in hospital referrals, and what plans it has to circulate further copies to (i) GP surgeries and (ii) community pharmacies. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) in conjunction with Arthritis Care and National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society developed the leaflet ‘Recognise, Respond, Relieve, - Rheumatoid Arthritis’ for the public to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.\r\nTwenty thousand leaflets were printed and distributed to GP practices, NHS Scotland health boards, Arthritis Care Scotland and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society.\r\nNeither ScotPHN nor NHS Health Scotland plan to undertake an assessment of the impact of this leaflet.\r\nThe leaflet is available on the ScotPHN, NHS Health Scotland and voluntary sector websites and there is no plan to reprint the leaflet.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:00.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296830,"EventID":"S4W-22360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:00.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T14:28:20.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of rheumatoid arthritis in addition to the NHS Health Scotland leaflet, Recognise, Respond, Relieve,– Rheumatoid Arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The NHS Health Scotland leaflet, ‘Recognise, Respond, Relieve, - Rheumatoid Arthritis’ is available on the Scottish Public Health Network, NHS Health Scotland and voluntary sector websites.\r\nNHS Inform provides comprehensive information on rheumatoid arthritis, including detailed information about the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment of the condition. The website also provides links to relevant stakeholders’ websites, where further information may be obtained.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:00.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296831,"EventID":"S4W-22363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:00.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T16:08:12.1","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ascertain how many homeless people there are in Scotland, and how vulnerable it considers the visibly homeless are to abuse, crime and others forms of ill-treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent homelessness statistics for Scotland show that, during 2013-14, local authorities assessed 29,326 households as either homeless or likely to become homeless within two months. Local authorities have the statutory duty for homelessness and all unintentionally homeless households are entitled to settled accommodation.\r\nThe most recent homelessness statistics, including further information on those who had also slept rough, are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/homelessstats.\r\nPolice Scotland is committed to keeping people safe. It acknowledges that those that are homeless can often be some of the most vulnerable people within our communities. That is why it works together with its partners, including the Scottish Government, to try to minimise the risk of homeless people becoming the victim of crime or abuse and that they are provided with medical or other forms of support that they require. If Police Scotland receives a complaint from a homeless person that they have been the victim of crime or abuse, it would investigate that in the same way it would with any another complaint, and if criminality was established it would ensure that appropriate action was taken.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:00.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296832,"EventID":"S4W-22364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:00.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T16:21:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many clinical negligence claims were made against each NHS board regarding pressure ulcers or sores in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 and in how many cases this was the underlying cause of death.","AnswerText":"In 2012-13 six clinical negligence cases relating to pressure ulcers or sores were raised, of which one was the underlying cause of death; whilst in 2013-14 five such cases were raised, of which none was the underlying cause of death.\r\nA breakdown by health board is not provided as this could lead to the identification of individual cases.\r\nSource: NHS Central Legal Office.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:00.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296833,"EventID":"S4W-22365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:01.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T16:21:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths there were in each NHS board area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 in which pressure ulcers or sores were (i) the underlying cause of death or (ii) mentioned on the death certificate.","AnswerText":"The statistics of deaths that National Records of Scotland produces are for calendar years, not financial years. On that basis, the information requested is given in the following tables for calendar years 2012 and 2013.\r\nFor the purpose of producing statistics on causes of death, deaths registered in Scotland are classified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The most relevant category in this classification is code ‘L89’, which is entitled ‘decubitus ulcer’. ICD-10 specifies that this code should also be used when the death certificate refers to bedsores, plaster ulcers and pressure ulcers.\r\nTable 1 – Deaths registered in Scotland for which pressure ulcers or sores (ICD-10 code “L89”) were the underlying cause, by NHS board¹ of residence and year of registration\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1\r\n0\r\nFife\r\n2\r\n1\r\nForth Valley\r\n0\r\n1\r\nGrampian\r\n2\r\n0\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n3\r\n2\r\nHighland\r\n0\r\n1\r\nLanarkshire\r\n1\r\n3\r\nLothian\r\n0\r\n1\r\nTayside\r\n3\r\n1\r\nAll\r\n12\r\n10\r\n¹ NHS board areas are based on the boundaries which \r\nwere introduced on 1 April 2014.\r\n\r\nTable 2: Deaths registered in Scotland for which pressure ulcers or sores (ICD-10 code “L89”) were mentioned on the death certificate, by NHS Board¹ of residence and year of registration\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n7\r\n6\r\nBorders\r\n4\r\n2\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n5\r\n4\r\nFife\r\n11\r\n15\r\nForth Valley\r\n4\r\n5\r\nGrampian\r\n7\r\n9\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n32\r\n22\r\nHighland\r\n4\r\n3\r\nLanarkshire\r\n19\r\n13\r\nLothian\r\n9\r\n16\r\nOrkney\r\n1\r\n1\r\nTayside\r\n7\r\n8\r\nAll\r\n110\r\n104\r\n¹ NHS Board areas are based on the boundaries which \r\nwere introduced on 1 April 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:01.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296834,"EventID":"S4W-22366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:01.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T16:21:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many inpatients were recorded as having sustained pressure ulcers or sores in each NHS board in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:01.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296835,"EventID":"S4W-22367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-13T16:41:01.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T16:21:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to NHS boards and staff to prevent inpatients from developing pressure ulcers or sores.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Integrated Programme for a National Coordinated Approach to Tissue Viability in Scotland provided a coherent and co-ordinated approach to tissue viability throughout Scotland to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. The programme of work included:\r\nReviewing and publishing best practice statements, developing a national standardised definition, a national grading system and methodology, and introducing care bundles, groups of key care actions that if completed will \tsupport and improve the prevention and healing of pressure ulcers.\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland’s website: www.tissueviabilityonline.com provides a range of information and guidance that can assist in the prevention of pressure ulcers in care settings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-10T16:41:01.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296843,"EventID":"S4W-22361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T14:04:48.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T15:59:31.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the electrification of the Whifflet-Central line will be completed.","AnswerText":"Network Rail has advised that electrification of the Whifflet route will be completed before the end of September 2014, four years ahead of the original schedule.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T14:04:48.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296844,"EventID":"S4W-22362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T14:04:49.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-13T15:59:31.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been associated with the electrification of the Whifflet-Central line.","AnswerText":"The final costs for the electrification of the Whifflet route are still to be determined. The cost of work done as at 15 August 2014 was £28.1 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T14:04:49.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296845,"EventID":"S4W-22368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T14:04:49.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T10:57:31.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2014-18 includes actions to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2014-18 only contains human health initiatives.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations. \r\nThe strategy includes measures to reduce the risk of emerging resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T14:04:49.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296846,"EventID":"S4W-22369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T14:04:49.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T10:57:31.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the use of antibiotics on animals.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations.\r\nThe strategy has seven key areas for future action to reduce the selective pressure for resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals and focuses on both human and animal health.\r\nScottish Government officials participate in a number of working groups and committees established to implement the strategy.\r\nFor example, the Scottish Government is implementing a plan to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea that has already halved the prevalence of this disease in Scottish cattle, and thus reduced the need for antibiotics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T14:04:49.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296847,"EventID":"S4W-22370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T14:04:50.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T10:57:31.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has on the contribution of antibiotic use in livestock farming to human resistance to medicinal drugs.","AnswerText":"Research indicates that antimicrobial resistance in micro-organisms of human health significance is driven by the use of antimicrobial in humans.\r\nNevertheless, the Scottish Government continuously monitors developments in antimicrobial resistance in animals and humans and has signed up for the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-18, developed in collaboration with public health and veterinary authorities across all UK administrations. \r\nThe strategy includes measures to reduce the risk of resistance from the use of antimicrobials in livestock and companion animals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T14:04:50.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296856,"EventID":"S4W-22371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:31.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T12:24:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received from the (a) Marine Scotland Science Advisory Board, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee and (c) Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland regarding the assessment methods used by Marine Scotland to consider the implications of offshore wind energy projects on seabirds.\r\n","AnswerText":"Advice was received from Marine Scotland Science, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Direct advice has not been received from the Marine Scotland Science Advisory Board, the Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee, or the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:31.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296857,"EventID":"S4W-22372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:32.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T12:24:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that offshore wind energy project consenting decisions are being made in the light of the best scientific knowledge and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Offshore wind energy projects undergo a full and thorough consultation and consideration is given to all assessment methods that are suggested by consultees. Marine Scotland ensures that decisions on the impacts of potential offshore wind projects are made in light of the best scientific knowledge and expert opinion, using peer reviewed outputs where possible. Where peer reviewed outputs are not practical, Marine Scotland utilises the best available scientific advice in conjunction with the most suitable assessment methods, which are, where possible, informed by outputs from specifically targeted and focussed scientific projects and research.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:32.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296858,"EventID":"S4W-22373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:33.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T12:24:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the methods used to assess the likely impact on seabird populations of proposed wind energy projects have been subject to scientific peer review and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are a range of methods used by Marine Scotland to assess the likely impact on seabird populations of proposed offshore wind energy projects. Some of these methods, such as collision risk modelling, have a long history of development with input from statutory nature conservation bodies and others. Other methods, such as energetic modelling and some population modelling, are more recent, but are nonetheless subject to consideration by steering groups with representatives from interested parties. Marine Scotland are operating at the forefront of science on this matter which will provide a strong basis going forward as knowledge and learning develops in this area. Given the importance to Scotland of its seabird populations, when assessing the likely impact on these populations by proposed wind energy projects, Marine Scotland use the most suitable techniques and the best available evidence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:33.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296859,"EventID":"S4W-22374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:33.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T12:24:44.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government at what stage uncertainty as to the absence of adverse effects on the integrity of a European wildlife site constitutes a reasonable scientific doubt.\r\n","AnswerText":"Completion of an appropriate assessment in compliance with the relevant secondary legislation is the stage at which competent authorities must establish the absence of reasonable scientific doubt when considering the potential impacts of plans or projects on European sites. In order to address uncertainty in relation to effects, assessments which are undertaken are precautionary, and, as a general rule, the more uncertainty in relation to effects that exists, the greater the precaution within the assessment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:33.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296860,"EventID":"S4W-22375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:33.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T15:06:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22225 by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014, how much each NHS board has spent in each of the last four years in using the discretion available to help patients who are not eligible for assistance under either scheme; how many patients have been supported, and on how many occasions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:33.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296861,"EventID":"S4W-22376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:34.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T15:06:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22225 by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014, how much each NHS board has spent in each of the last four years in helping patients through the means-tested scheme; how many patients have been supported, and on how many occasions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:34.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296862,"EventID":"S4W-22377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:34.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T15:06:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22225 by Alex Neil on 12 August 2014, how much has been spent in each of the last four years in helping patients who reside in the Highlands and Islands; how many patients have been supported, and on how many occasions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:34.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296863,"EventID":"S4W-22378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:34.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T15:37:14.993","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that sufficient and appropriate remedial steps have been taken by suppliers involved in blacklisting as set out at paragraph 13 of Scottish Procurement Policy Note, SPPN 4/2103.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is completely opposed to blacklisting and is committed to ending the practice in Scotland. Scottish Procurement Policy Note SPPN 4/2013 sets out our belief that a company which has engaged in blacklisting has committed an act of grave professional misconduct, and should be excluded from bidding for public contracts, unless the company has taken appropriate remedial measures. This guidance was developed in partnership with relevant trades unions.\r\nIt is for individual public bodies, rather than the Scottish Government, to decide, on a contract-by-contract basis, whether or not to exclude a company in these circumstances. Such a decision must be proportionate, given the circumstances of the specific case.\r\nIt is also for individual public bodies to assess, given all the circumstances of the case, whether any remedial measures taken by the company are sufficient to allow them to bid for the contract.\r\nWe will continue to work with trades unions as we develop statutory guidance and regulations to implement the provisions of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, and to transpose the three new European procurement directives. In doing so, we will aim to tackle blacklisting as robustly as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:34.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296864,"EventID":"S4W-22379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-14T16:48:35.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T16:05:04.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the document setting out the strategic vision for the long-term future of Glasgow Prestwick airport.","AnswerText":"A document will be published in October 2014, setting out a strategic vision for the long-term future of the airport, investment plans, business development and the optimum operating structure required to take the airport forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-11T16:48:35.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296877,"EventID":"S4W-22380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-15T15:39:20.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T11:06:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4T-00765 (Official Report, c. 33247) and S4O-03456 (Official Report, c. 33462) by Alex Neil on 12 and 14 August 2014 respectively, whether it will allocate £100 million or £125 million in additional resources over the next two years to additional priorities in the community or hospital sector and whether it will provide a breakdown of the spend by (a) year and (b) sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are working closely with our NHS and local authority partners to reduce the levels of delayed discharges across Scotland. Since April 2007 we have reduced the level of delays over four weeks by over 60%. However, tackling delays is not just about money, and some partnerships are facing real challenges, particularly around workforce recruitment and retention. We have therefore recently convened a task force to drive forward improvements and innovative change at a local and national level.\r\nWe have also provided additional support to partnerships facing the most significant pressures from delayed discharges. This funding will enable them to accelerate progress towards sustainable change, drive down delays and release hospital capacity over the long term.\r\nFurthermore, our plans to integrate adult health and social care will ensure that health and social care is provided in the right place, at the right time, making the best use of available money, facilities and people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-12T15:39:20.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296878,"EventID":"S4W-22381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-15T15:39:20.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T11:06:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03456 by Alex Neil on 14 August 2014 (Official Report, c. 33462) whether it will set out the cost to the each NHS board of supporting older patients waiting to be discharged from hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Information Services Division is working with NHS boards to develop a costing methodology to apply to this activity and we expect that this will be completed and publicly available from April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-12T15:39:20.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296879,"EventID":"S4W-22382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-15T15:39:21.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T14:55:06.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the geographical coverage of Police Scotland divisions in order to reduce the number of divisions required.\r\n","AnswerText":"One of the key aims of Police reform was to protect local services in the face of Westminster cuts. When Police Scotland was created, it was decided that a 14 division structure would be the most effective way to deliver an excellent local policing service across Scotland. Like all large organisations, Police Scotland will regularly review and check whether its approaches and structures provide the most efficient and effective mechanisms to ensure that the high quality delivery of policing in Scotland is maintained and enhanced. Any future changes to local policing structures will, of course, be progressed through engagement and discussion with relevant stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-12T15:39:21.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296880,"EventID":"S4W-22383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-15T15:39:21.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T14:55:06.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to reduce the number of Police Scotland divisions and, if so, what input it has had in any discussions on the matter. \r\n","AnswerText":"One of the key aims of Police reform was to protect local services in the face of Westminster cuts. When Police Scotland was created, it was decided that a 14 Division structure would be the most effective way to deliver an excellent local policing service across Scotland. Like all large organisations, Police Scotland will regularly review and check whether its approaches and structures provide the most efficient and effective mechanisms to ensure that the high quality delivery of policing in Scotland is maintained and enhanced. Any future changes to local policing structures will, of course, be progressed through engagement and discussion with relevant stakeholders. \r\nI meet regularly with Police Scotland to discuss a range of issues, including local policing.\r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-12T15:39:21.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296881,"EventID":"S4W-22389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:26.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on the possible introduction of compulsory microchipping for dogs and other measures to encourage responsible dog ownership will report.","AnswerText":"The responses to the consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures’ are currently being independently analysed and it is expected that an analysis report will be published soon. The views offered in response to the consultation will inform decisions by the Scottish Government about next steps in relation to measures to promote responsible dog ownership.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:28.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296882,"EventID":"S4W-22390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:28.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will launch a campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and the benefits of early diagnosis.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22360 on 8 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:28.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296883,"EventID":"S4W-22391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:29.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many clinics offer treatment for early rheumatoid arthritis, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:29.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296884,"EventID":"S4W-22392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:29.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent report by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society that considered the impact of chronic fatigue on people with the condition and whether it will prioritise the management of chronic fatigue for people with long-term conditions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and 2020health’s report Invisible Disease: RA and Chronic Fatigue 2014 details the substantial effect that chronic fatigue has on people with rheumatoid arthritis. The findings from this national survey help to highlight the difficulties that people with the condition face. By conducting such valuable research, this should help raise the profile of this symptom of rheumatoid arthritis.\r\nIn September 2010 we published a Scottish Good Practice Statement on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), for GPs, as part of the process of ensuring that people receive better and more consistent standards of care, including quicker and more reliable diagnosis.  Although all NHS boards have been made aware of the statement, it is a matter for individual boards whether or not to take it forward.\r\nFunding had also been provided to NHS Lothian to develop a two year ME/CFS pilot project drawing on a number of approaches including graded exercise, lifestyle management, vocational rehabilitation and pain management. The Scottish Government hopes that other boards might be encouraged to consider a similar approach should evaluation prove successful.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:29.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296885,"EventID":"S4W-22393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:29.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations of the Scottish Public Health Network’s report, Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has welcomed the Scottish Public Health Network’s (ScotPHN) Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis.\r\nThe recommendations of the ScotPHN report were recently discussed as part of a meeting between key stakeholders and officials, as to how improvement work on rheumatology may be taken forward in Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently engaging with these stakeholders as to how proposals may be progressed and it looks forward to working with them in developing work in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:29.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296886,"EventID":"S4W-22396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:30.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the national audit of early rheumatoid arthritis will be published and what its position is on the findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) predecessor organisation, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, funded the Scottish Society for Rheumatology in 2009 to develop and test a web based system of audit. This was not solely focused on early rheumatoid arthritis, but it provided the Scottish Society for Rheumatology with some useful information on rheumatoid arthritis. As this did not constitute a national audit, HIS has no current plans to publish this work from 2009-2011. HIS are in communication with the Scottish Society for Rheumatology about how their findings from the project may be used.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:30.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296887,"EventID":"S4W-22397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:30.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact is of rheumatoid arthritis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not assessed the economic impact of rheumatoid arthritis.\r\nThe Scottish Public Health Network report (August 2013) on the Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis assessed the cost implications for NHS Rheumatoid Arthritis Services in Scotland. The report is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotphn.net/pdf/2013_08_27_RA_HCNA_Part_D.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:30.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296888,"EventID":"S4W-22398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T14:06:30.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T12:11:26.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15595 by Richard Lochhead on 24 June 2013, whether it will provide an update on its position on regulating pub companies.","AnswerText":"Over the last year Scottish Government officials have discussed this issue with various interests both for and against the introduction of regulating pub companies and have called for empirical evidence to support any possible change. To date, the contributions received have not provided sufficient evidence to enable Scottish Ministers to come to a definitive view, though we remain open to consider further evidence from those parties who would be affected by any introduction of legislation in Scotland on this issue. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T14:06:30.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296898,"EventID":"S4T-00777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:52.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:18:35.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to help the food and fishing sectors affected by the Russian Government's recent decision to implement an import ban on EU food exports.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:52.52","MeetingDate":"2014-08-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296899,"EventID":"S4T-00779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:53.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:49:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Bank of England in relation to a currency union.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:53.223","MeetingDate":"2014-08-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296900,"EventID":"S4T-00786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:55.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T11:55:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the report by N-56 that North Sea oil and gas revenues could be six times higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:55.767","MeetingDate":"2014-08-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296901,"EventID":"S4F-02263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:19.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-14T15:38:58.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:19.503","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296902,"EventID":"S4F-02266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:20.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T09:34:56.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:20.907","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296903,"EventID":"S4F-02267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:21.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T09:50:57.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will ensure the future of shipbuilding in the lower Clyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:21.297","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296904,"EventID":"S4F-02270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:22.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T10:59:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the final report by the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:22.247","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296905,"EventID":"S4F-02272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:22.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T11:18:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what progress has been made in reducing cancer mortality rates.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:22.777","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296906,"EventID":"S4F-02281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T13:13:26.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T11:58:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government's economic strategy will help achieve the aims of its Arbroath \"declaration of opportunity\".\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T13:13:26.07","MeetingDate":"2014-08-21T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296907,"EventID":"S4W-22384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T16:34:36.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T15:45:38.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Prostate Cancer UK’s view that all men requiring prostate surgery should be able to make an informed choice about whether they wish to have robot-assisted surgery on the NHS, and what steps it is taking to ensure that men have this choice.\r\n","AnswerText":"Men who require prostate surgery should have access to the most appropriate treatment, based on their individual clinical circumstances.\r\nOn 19 August 2014, I announced that the Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to complement the fundraising efforts of UCAN, the urological cancer charity in the north of Scotland, to purchase a robot. The first patients are expected to benefit from this advanced surgical technique within a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T16:34:36.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296908,"EventID":"S4W-22385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T16:34:36.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T15:45:38.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the evidence used by countries throughout Europe, including England, to justify the decision to introduce robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer patients and for what reason it has decided not to introduce this technique in Scotland.","AnswerText":"A wide range of international evidence relating to robot-assisted surgery has been carefully considered by the Scottish Health Technologies Group and the National Planning Forum.\r\nOn 19 August 2014, I announced that the Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to complement the fundraising efforts of UCAN, the urological cancer charity in the north of Scotland, to purchase a robot. The first patients are expected to benefit from this advanced surgical technique within a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T16:34:36.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296909,"EventID":"S4W-22387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T16:34:36.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T15:45:38.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the National Planning Forum will decide whether to introduce robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer, and what discussions it has had with Prostate Cancer UK on this matter.","AnswerText":"I understand that robot assisted surgery for prostate cancer was discussed at a meeting between the First Minister and Prostate Cancer UK in November 2012.\r\nOn 19 August 2014, I announced that the Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to complement the fundraising efforts of UCAN, the urological cancer charity in the north of Scotland, to purchase a robot. The first patients are expected to benefit from this advanced surgical technique within a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T16:34:36.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296910,"EventID":"S4W-22388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-18T16:34:37.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-15T15:45:38.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to allow men with prostate cancer in Scotland to have robot-assisted surgery in England until such facilities are available in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The arrangements which underpin existing access to healthcare in NHS England for residents of Scotland are led by clinical decision making. The clinical requirement for referral is defined by a relevant specialist working in NHS Scotland in consultation with the patient.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-15T16:34:37.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296914,"EventID":"S4W-22399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T13:40:08.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-18T16:30:00.573","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to people with fibromyalgia.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises fibromyalgia can be a distressing and difficult condition to manage. As with all long term conditions we want people living with fibromyalgia to be able to access the best possible care and support wherever possible. \r\nSignificant investment in the national improvement of chronic pain services in Scotland represents an important part of our ambition to improve the lives of people living with pain daily. In addition to this programme of work, NHS Scotland provides a number of web based educational and awareness resources providing reliable information and advice, not only to people living with fibromyalgia but to carers, health professionals and the general public to help with the management of chronic pain. \r\nWork is progressing to establish the new Scottish National Residential Pain Management Programme which will see its first patients in January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T13:40:08.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296926,"EventID":"S4W-22406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T15:25:48.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T14:58:25.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what reassurance it can give public sector workers that their pensions would be safeguarded in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We set out our position on the issue of public sector pensions and independence in Scotland’s Future and in the detailed supporting paper Pensions in an independent Scotland, which we published on 23 September 2013.\r\nAlmost a year on I am aware that there is interest in this important issue, with a number of organisations being asked to provide more information to their staff. That is why this week the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing responded to questions which have been raised with him on this subject by writing to NHSScotland employees.\r\nFirstly, as we set out in Scotland’s Future, I want to confirm that all public service pension rights and entitlements are protected and accessible and that this government is committed to providing a fair, affordable and sustainable pension and reward package to public sector employees.\r\nIn Pensions in an independent Scotland, we went into more detail clarifying that, as well as the pension schemes that are already fully or partially devolved to Scotland, on independence the public service pensions of members of currently reserved schemes who live in or work for Scotland, for example, the armed forces and civil servants would continue to be paid in full. We also confirmed that there would be no difference to individual contribution rates or benefit levels as a result of independence.\r\nWhilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for the management of pensions for Scotland’s teachers, police officers, fire-fighters and NHS and local government workers and is responsible for all other terms and conditions for Scotland’s devolved public servants, pension legislation is currently set by Westminster for those, and the other main public service schemes in the UK. This means that the UK Government is able to impose its pensions policy on Scotland.\r\nIn an independent Scotland, our approach to negotiations about any future changes to public sector pensions would be positive and inclusive, in contrast with policy that has been imposed on Scotland with insufficient engagement and consultation.\r\nIn Scotland’s Future we also expressed our concern at the proposed rise in the State Pension Age to 67 and confirmed that one of our early tasks will be to establish a commission on the appropriate State Pension Age for Scotland. We will consider the impact of their recommendations on the working and retirement patterns of Scotland’s public servants and review the pension terms of all ‘uniformed’ services in that context, all within the first parliamentary term of an independent parliament.\r\nIt is also important to remember that Scotland already has the necessary people and infrastructure in place, delivering high quality public pensions. Independence would mean that future policy decisions on public service pensions would be taken in an independent Scottish Parliament and in the interests of the people of Scotland.\r\nIn summary, as the Deputy First Minister said in Pensions in an independent Scotland, independence will deliver a public service pensions system that is affordable, sustainable and fair; one that works for and with public sector employees, public service provision, the taxpayer, and the overall public finances. Independence will enable a positive and inclusive approach to negotiating public sector workers’ pension arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T15:25:48.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296927,"EventID":"S4W-22400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:37.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T13:51:16.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22201 by Keith Brown on 7 August 2014, how much (a) the Galashiels transport interchange, (b) the resurfacing of the B6458, (c) other essential work and (d) work not in the remit of Network Rail will add to the final cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"The target cost of constructing the project agreed with Network Rail is £294 million (at 2012 prices). Under this target cost arrangement the final cost of construction will not be known until completion. Transport Scotland remains confident of meeting the target cost.\r\nGalashiels transport interchange and the resurfacing of the B6458 are not funded by this project.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:37.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296928,"EventID":"S4W-22402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:37.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T14:31:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19374 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, when it will issue new guidance to local authorities in respect of their local air quality management (LAQM) duties.","AnswerText":"Work to revise the LAQM system is currently ongoing, taking into account the outcomes of the 2013 consultation. The intention is to have the revised system in place for the start of the next local authority reporting year in April 2015, including updated guidance.\r\nThe member may also be interested to know that work on the national Low Emission Strategy is progressing, which will include a section on renewable energy and biomass. A draft of the strategy is due to be presented at the Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership annual conference in November 2014, and will then be subject to further consultation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:37.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296929,"EventID":"S4W-22403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:38.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T14:31:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19375 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, whether the review of the Clean Air Act 1993 has been completed and, if so, whether the current guidance is to be strengthened in relation to the enforcement of the Act to address the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.","AnswerText":"The review of the Clean Air Act 1993 is being undertaken jointly with the other UK administrations and is still ongoing. It is due to be completed in early 2015. After this, a decision will be made on whether the current guidance requires updating.\r\nOne element of the review has been completed and is being implemented by the Scottish Government. Under section 50 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, the procedure by which fuels and exempted fireplaces are approved is changing from one requiring regular changes to a statutory instrument to an administrative system. The new approach will be quicker and more efficient, and allows manufacturers and suppliers to start marketing their products as soon as approval has been granted, rather than having to wait for the periodic updates of regulations and orders. A similar legislative change for England and Wales is currently being considered by the UK Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:38.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296930,"EventID":"S4W-22404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:38.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T14:38:45.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00763 by Michael Matheson on 12 August 2014 (Official Report, c. 33250), what the outcome was of the minister’s meeting with Health Protection Scotland to discuss the Ebola virus, and how the World Health Organization’s approval for the use of experimental drugs to combat the outbreak in west Africa will impact on contingency planning in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"I met with Heath Protection Scotland (HPS) on 19 August 2014 to discuss Scotland’s preparedness for any possible cases of Ebola virus. HPS reported the risk to the people of Scotland remains very low and the NHS stands ready to respond to any suspected cases, by following well-established protocols for dealing with highly infectious diseases.\r\nIn addition and following that meeting, a short life working group has been established to bring together the Scottish Government and relevant Scottish agencies to ensure we continue to monitor this situation and to consider what more needs to be done.\r\nThe World Health Organization approval and proposed use of experimental drugs to treat Ebola could reduce the number of patients infected and help reduce spread of the virus. There are however limited supplies of Zmapp globally and so the impact of the drug is likely to be limited and does not impact directly on contingency planning within Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:38.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296931,"EventID":"S4W-22408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:38.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T16:01:30.42","Title":"","ItemText":" To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland, (b) The Highland Council and (c) Lochaber Chamber of Commerce regarding traffic congestion in Lochaber.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business. Transport Scotland has quarterly liaison meetings with The Highland Council on trunk road issues. The next meeting is scheduled for 20 November 2014.\r\nTransport Scotland attends the Fort William Traffic Congestion Working Group which currently meets every six months and comprises representatives of The Highland Council, Police Scotland and the A82 Partnership. The last meeting was on 2 September 2014.\r\nTransport Scotland has attended a meeting of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, when congestion in the area was discussed. A Fort William area congestion study is underway and due for completion towards the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:38.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296932,"EventID":"S4W-22409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:38.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T16:01:30.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland, (b) The Highland Council and (c) Lochaber Chamber of Commerce regarding improvements to the A82.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with Ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business. Transport Scotland has quarterly liaison meetings with The Highland Council on trunk road issues. The next meeting is scheduled for 20 November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:38.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296933,"EventID":"S4W-22412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:39.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T16:01:30.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) upgrade and (b) improve the A82.\r\n","AnswerText":"A programme to address a number of areas along the route of the A82 is underway. The £5 million Crianlarich bypass and £9.2 million Pulpit Rock improvements are progressing, and the £1 million re-alignment scheme at Glen Gloy is currently programmed to start early 2015. Additionally, a £2 million design commission to improve the 17 km section of the A82 from Tarbet to Inverarnan is well underway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:39.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296934,"EventID":"S4W-22413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-19T16:56:39.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T16:01:30.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask what the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has carried out of the impact on the business community of traffic congestion in (a) Lochaber and (b) the A82.\r\n","AnswerText":"No assessments have been carried out on any impact on the business community of traffic congestion on trunk roads, but the results of the Fort William area congestion study could potentially be used in such an exercise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-16T16:56:39.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296940,"EventID":"S4W-22431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:26:24.957","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T12:09:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S4W-22188 by Linda Fabiani on 20 August 2014, what legal advice permitted that the definition of parliamentary complex as “the place where the parliament or any of its committees or subcommittees meets\" could, without amendment to that definition, be extended to include the landscaped and paved area outside the Parliament building.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information referred to by the Member was general guidance for the public which has now been updated, whereas the policy issued to Members was as a result of the commitment given to the Parliament by the SPCB that all SPCB resources and facilities are used impartially in the run up to the referendum and at all other times in accordance with the Parliament’s policies and legal obligations. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:26:25.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296941,"EventID":"S4W-22414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:19.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T19:00:43.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22312 by John Swinney on 19 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer, whether it will now provide the information that was requested by confirming who drafted the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:19.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296942,"EventID":"S4W-22415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:20.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T19:00:43.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22313 by John Swinney on 19 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer, whether it will now provide the information that was requested by confirming what role (a) ministers and (b) officials had in the (i) drafting and (ii) publication of the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:20.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296943,"EventID":"S4W-22416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:20.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:35:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will launch its consultation on regulations to set minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.\r\n","AnswerText":"We plan to consult on proposals in spring 2015, subject to development of options through our work with external stakeholders. The consultation will include questions on the level of regulation and the sectors it will apply to.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:20.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296944,"EventID":"S4W-22417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:21.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:35:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will enforce any regulations to set minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Proposals for draft regulations are planned to be published for public consultation in spring 2015. The consultation will set out proposals for the operation of the regulations. The final decision on the enforcement of regulations would take into account responses received through the public consultation process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:21.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296945,"EventID":"S4W-22418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:21.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:35:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that rural homeowners who live off-grid will not be disadvantaged by any proposed minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy, published in June 2013, set out our commitment to consult on draft regulations on the energy efficiency of existing private sector homes. This work is being taken forward with input from a steering group including representatives of fuel poverty and consumer interests. The consultation exercise will seek views from all parts of Scotland and Scottish Ministers will take account of the responses received in considering the final level of regulations for consideration by the Scottish Parliament.\r\nScottish Government funding for our Home Energy Efficiency Programme: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS) is distributed across all local authorities in Scotland and is allocated on the basis of need, taking into account levels of fuel poverty and the types of properties within areas. This ensures that funding is directed to those areas most in need of assistance, particularly in rural areas which are likely to have a higher proportion of homes in fuel poverty, particularly those where heating oil or electricity is their main source of heating. We allocated over £5 million more in HEEPS: ABS funding to rural authorities this year than in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:21.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296946,"EventID":"S4W-22419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:21.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:35:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) urban and (b) rural (i) on-grid and (ii) off-grid homes could be required to meet any proposed minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.","AnswerText":"Proposals for minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector housing are still under development with stakeholders for proposed public consultation in spring 2015. The public consultation will include proposals on the level at which regulations may be set and what homes may be affected by the standard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:21.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296947,"EventID":"S4W-22424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:22.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:27:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many partnership nurseries there were (a) in 2012-13, (b) in 2013-14 and (c) at the start of 2014-15, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The number of local authority funded nurseries (including partnership providers) is collected annually via the early learning and childcare census which takes place over a named week in September. The data therefore relates to a particular point in time, i.e. as at September 2012, 2013 etc., rather than across a full academic year.\r\nData for 2012 and 2013 is shown in the following table. The 2014 census is due to be undertaken in September 2014 with results scheduled for publication in December 2014.\r\nNumber of partnership early learning and childcare providers by local authority:\r\n \r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAberdeen City\r\n51\r\n50\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n74\r\n78\r\nAngus\r\n32\r\n33\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n26\r\n24\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n4\r\n4\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n42\r\n44\r\nDundee City\r\n19\r\n22\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n26\r\n25\r\nEast Lothian\r\n16\r\n16\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nCity of Edinburgh\r\n111\r\n117\r\nEilean Siar\r\n6\r\n6\r\nFalkirk\r\n5\r\n9\r\nFife\r\n52\r\n49\r\nGlasgow City\r\n76\r\n82\r\nHighland\r\n67\r\n68\r\nInverclyde\r\n6\r\n4\r\nMidlothian\r\n14\r\n13\r\nMoray\r\n32\r\n35\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n23\r\n22\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n36\r\n33\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n2\r\n2\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n33\r\n33\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n36\r\n35\r\nScottish Borders\r\n34\r\n33\r\nShetland Islands\r\n4\r\n4\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n11\r\n11\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n57\r\n57\r\nStirling\r\n14\r\n14\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nWest Lothian\r\n11\r\n9\r\nSCOTLAND\r\n947\r\n959\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:22.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296948,"EventID":"S4W-22426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:22.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:42:15.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent publication of research into tail injuries in working dogs by the University of Glasgow, what progress it is making in considering whether to introduce exemptions to legislation on tail docking.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following the publication of the Glasgow University research on tail injuries in working dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government undertook a series of discussions with key stakeholders on the findings. I have now subsequently asked the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland to further analyse how the exemptions allowing tail docking of working dogs have worked in practice in other parts of the UK, and how any potential exemption could be genuinely restricted to working dogs if any change was to be proposed in Scotland. Once I have that advice, we will aim to make an announcement in autumn 2014 on whether we will formally consult on any exemption for working dogs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:22.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296949,"EventID":"S4W-22427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:22.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will give to NHS boards about the use of quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) in light of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's position that, “all other factors being equal, QIV is preferable to trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine”.","AnswerText":"The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) issued guidance to the NHS in Scotland in relation to both the routine seasonal flu programme and the childhood flu programme on 18 June 2014. These letters provide professional guidance for those involved in delivering vaccination.\r\nThe algorithm for selecting the most appropriate flu vaccine for different eligible groups is complex, particularly when taking into account those who cannot have the nasal flu vaccine. Full information is provided to practitioners within the CMO letters and the associated influenza chapter of the Green Book, Immunisation against Infectious Disease.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:22.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296950,"EventID":"S4W-22428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:22.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a separate default tariff reimbursement price for quadrivalent vaccines for influenza in at-risk adults and older people.","AnswerText":"The arrangements for the ordering and reimbursing of generic flu vaccine for the 2014-15 flu season were advised in NHS Circular PCA (P)(2014)1/PCA (M)(2014)6 issued on 11 February 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:22.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296951,"EventID":"S4W-22429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:23.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the extent of B-type mismatch between the influenza types covered by the trivalent influenza vaccination and actual strains of infection in the adult population in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"Table 1 summarises the influenza B vaccine strains and circulating influenza B virus types for each of the previous three seasons: 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Information has been provided for all ages due to the small numbers of samples in two out of three seasons. Caution is required when interpreting these results due to the low level of influenza B detected and hence samples processed in 2011-12 and 2013-14. Please note that 2012-13 was characterised by a higher than usual influenza B activity and a decision was made to type all influenza B positive samples.\r\nDue to the small number of samples tested for influenza B type in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons, it is not possible to provide figures broken down by health board to avoid deductive disclosure. Whilst the number of samples typed for influenza B for the 2012-13 season are greater we are only able to provide a breakdown by circulating vaccine strain by region due to small numbers of samples tested in some boards (table 2)\r\nTable 1: Flu B vaccine and circulating strains for the last three influenza seasons in Scotland\r\nSeason\r\nFlu B vaccine strain (trivalent)\r\nCirculating flu B strains (% total)\r\nComment regarding sample size\r\n2011-12\r\nVictoria\r\nVictoria (59%), Yamagata (41%)\r\nBased on a small number of samples (n=17), prior to introduction of routine lineage testing for all flu B isolates\r\n2012-13\r\nYamagata\r\nVictoria (22%), Yamagata (78%)\r\nBased on a larger number of samples (n=667) \r\n2013-14\r\nYamagata\r\nVictoria (30%), Yamagata (70%)\r\nBased on a small number of samples (n=10)\r\n \r\nTable 2: Regional breakdown of circulating Influenza B types in Scotland in 2012-13\r\nRegion\r\nYamagata\r\nVictoria)\r\nAll\r\nWest\r\n285 (76%)\r\n89 (24%)\r\n374\r\nEast\r\n71 (76%)\r\n23 (24%)\r\n94\r\nNorth\r\n67 (86%)\r\n11 (14%)\r\n78\r\nTotal\r\n423 (78%)\r\n123 (22%)\r\n546*\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n* Whilst the number of samples available for analysis from season 2012-13 was 667 amplification to allow lineage was only possible on 546 of these samples \r\n \r\nUnlike influenza A viruses, there are only two lineages of influenza B virus, Yamagata and Victoria. Due to an increasing number of influenza B circulating strains being of the Yamagata lineage (type) in recent years, the World Health organization (WHO) changed the influenza B vaccine strain component of the annual trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine from Victoria to Yamagata in 2012-13.\r\nA ‘mismatch’ is where the flu viruses in the vaccine are significantly different from those circulating in the community. In years when the vaccine strains are not well matched to circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness may be reduced. However, even when the viruses in the vaccine and circulating viruses are not well matched, a vaccine may still offer some protection against circulating viruses. For example, B/Yamagata/Wisconsin strain in the 2012-13 trivalent vaccine provided some protection against B/Yamagata/Massachussetts (contained in the 2013-14 vaccine). However, B/Yamagata strains will not provide protection against B/Victoria. Vaccines containing one influenza B lineage would not be expected to give a significant level of protection against the other lineage. Hence the WHO recommendation for development of quadrivalent vaccines with both B lineages.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:23.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296952,"EventID":"S4W-22430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:23.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T10:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are made to provide influenza vaccination to older and at-risk prisoners and to prison staff.","AnswerText":"Health boards are responsible for the healthcare of the population in their areas, including prisoners. Prisoners who are ‘at-risk’ or are over the age of 65 would receive the flu vaccine in prison from their local NHS board.\r\nThe Scottish Prison Service (SPS) offers flu vaccinations to all employees free of charge. The SPS and its national partners strongly encourage employees to take full advantage of this offer. The SPS arranges on-site vaccinations and clinics, at no cost to employees which are held in each establishment. Employees wishing to receive the seasonal flu vaccination in their place of work are asked to register their interest with their local human resource department and the programme is delivered by SPS’s occupational health provider.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:23.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296953,"EventID":"S4W-22432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T13:45:23.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T13:27:39.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the speech delivered by Crawford Beveridge on 19 August 2014 was prepared by Scottish Government officials.","AnswerText":"The speech was developed in line with previous Fiscal Commission Working Group reports and I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T13:45:23.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296958,"EventID":"S4W-22433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T15:21:25.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:14:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to address concerns regarding the status of the spring stocks of wild Scottish salmon.\r\n","AnswerText":"The conservation of spring stocks of wild Scottish salmon is an issue of growing concern and I consider it necessary to take proactive action in order to protect these stocks by placing on a statutory footing the good practice currently operated by many responsible anglers and netsmen across Scotland.\r\nI therefore intend to consult in early course on statutory conservation measures, to be effective for commencement in 2015 requiring mandatory catch and release until \r\n1 April 2014, together with a delay in the start of the net fishing season, which broadly replicates the voluntary arrangements that have been in place prior to the 2014 season. The conservation measure would be for an initial five year period at which point it would be reviewed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-08-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T15:21:25.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296959,"EventID":"S4W-22401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:08.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T14:05:29.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions of the Claim of Rights Act 1689 in relation to the right to appeal to the monarch against perceived judicial injustice remain in force and, if not, what information it has on when these were revoked and for what reason.\r\n","AnswerText":"The provisions of the Claim of Right Act 1689 in relation to the right to appeal to the monarch against perceived judicial injustice remain in force to the extent that the right is now exercisable via appeal to the United Kingdom Supreme Court, in accordance with the usual rules of court, and civil procedure.\r\nThe Claim of Right Act 1689 provided a right for a person to appeal a decision of the Court of Session to the Parliament of Scotland (the ‘monarch in Parliament’) and not necessarily directly to the sovereign as an individual. Following the Acts of Union and the abolition of the Scottish Parliament, this right was effectively transferred to the House of Lords, meaning that decisions of the Court of Session could be appealed to the House of Lords. In 2009 the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords was transferred to the new United Kingdom Supreme Court, including appeals from the Court of Session. The right contained in the 1689 Act has evolved into the right of appeal to the Supreme Court and is not a parallel right of appeal alongside the normal rules of civil procedure.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s understanding is that the 1689 Act concerned proceedings of the Court of Session and does not entitle an individual to challenge a conviction or sentence of a Scottish criminal court by petitioning the sovereign or the government on Her Majesty’s behalf. The House of Lords never assumed appellate jurisdiction for criminal cases following the Union. The mechanism for challenging a conviction or sentence of a criminal court is by appeal in accordance with the normal rules of criminal procedure. An individual who remains dissatisfied with the outcome of that appeal can ask the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to consider investigating whether a miscarriage of justice has occurred, which can in certain circumstances result in the case being referred back to the appeal court.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:08.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296960,"EventID":"S4W-22420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:08.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:38:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers there have been at each rank in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"The latest Police Officer Quarterly Strength Statistics Scotland released on 5 August 2014, provides the overall number of officers in each quarter, from March 2007 to June 2014; it can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PublicationPoliceStrength/POQS2014Q2\r\nThe number of police officers at each rank is not held centrally. This was a matter for the eight legacy police forces of Scotland, and since 1 April 2013 is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:08.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296961,"EventID":"S4W-22421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:08.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:38:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual expenditure has been on police salaries in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"This was a matter for the eight legacy police forces of Scotland, and since 1 April 2013 is a matter for Police Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:08.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296962,"EventID":"S4W-22422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:08.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:38:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff were employed by police joint boards and by local authorities on work that has now been taken over by the Scottish Police Authority.","AnswerText":"As at 31 March 2013 there were 6,790 (full time equivalent) police staff employed by the ten legacy organisations. Staff were transferred on 1 April 2013 to the employment of the Scottish Police Authority, to be either under the direction and control of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland or the Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority; for that reason the function of staff employed by police joint boards and by local authorities is not directly comparable with the work that has now been taken over by the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:08.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296963,"EventID":"S4W-22423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:09.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-19T17:38:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of police civilian staff salaries and wages has been for Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish Police Services Authority, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, police joint boards and local authority staff whose posts transferred to the Scottish Police Authority, in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Prior to 1 April 2013, responsibility lay with the Scottish Police Services Authority, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, the joint police boards and unitary authorities. From 1 April 2013 this became the responsibility of the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:09.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296964,"EventID":"S4W-22438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:09.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:33:34.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which foodbanks in the Central Scotland region have received support from its emergency food aid grant fund, broken down by (a) amount received and (b) criteria that were met.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following projects are located in the Central Scotland region and have been allocated the funding indicated:\r\nLanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership \r\n£33,539\r\nCalderbank Parish Church \r\n£10,000\r\nFalkirk Foodbank \r\n£10,000\r\nAll applications for funding were assessed against five criteria:\r\nExtent to which the project will help respond to immediate demands for emergency food aid and help address the underlying causes of food poverty.\r\nDemonstrating a partnership approach.\r\nBuilding more sustainable local solutions to food poverty.\r\nAdopting an assets-based approach.\r\nTaking a robust approach to project costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:09.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296965,"EventID":"S4W-22439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:09.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:33:34.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for support through its emergency food aid grant fund have been (a) made and (b) approved.","AnswerText":"91 applications were made, of which 26 projects were approved for funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:09.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296966,"EventID":"S4W-22440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-20T16:55:09.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:33:34.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to allocate further support through its emergency food aid grant fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have no current plans for future rounds of funding – decisions will be taken in the context of next year’s budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-17T16:55:09.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296976,"EventID":"S4W-22441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:19.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:53:30.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is allocating to ensure that the data sets for the indicators in its biodiversity strategy report for 2011-13 are up-to-date and relate to the period of time specified for reporting.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 2011-13 report contains tables of biodiversity indicators that were initially developed for the 2004 Scottish biodiversity strategy. Not all of these indicators have been updated within the 2011-13 reporting period. The reasons for this vary between indicators but in many cases the cycles of data collection are not aligned with the three yearly report to Parliament requirement because data collection frequency reflects the pace of change affecting the indicator.\r\nThe table below provides information on update status of the current indicators.\r\nMost of the indicator datasets are being collected by bodies such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage for other purposes without the need for additional resource. Some of the current indicators are being reviewed or re-developed to reflect the strategy or legislation to which they are associated, this especially affects fresh water, marine and woodland indicators.\r\nSome datasets which were used for the suite of indicators for the 2011-13 report are no longer being updated or came from one-off research reports and will therefore not be used for future reporting. However the suite of indicators required for the purposes of the 2020 challenge is being considered by the Science and Technical Group for the Scottish Biodiversity Committee in conjunction with the development of a suite of new ecosystem health indicators.\r\nUpdate status\r\nAnnual\r\nMulti-year\r\nReview/ Redevelop\r\nPending\r\nNo longer collected\r\nTerrestrial breeding birds\r\nVascular plant diversity\r\nTerrestrial insect abundance – moths\r\nMarine fish at full reproductive capacity\r\nBAP priority species\r\nWintering waterbirds\r\nOtter\r\nFreshwater macroinvertebrates\r\n\r\nBAP priority habitats\r\nBreeding seabirds\r\nVisits to the outdoors\r\nWoodland diversity\r\n\r\nMarine plankton\r\nTerrestrial insect abundance – butterflies\r\nInvolvement in biodiversity conservation\r\nInvasive non-native species\r\n\r\nMarine fish at full reproductive capacity\r\nCondition of notified species\r\nMembership of biodiversity NGOs\r\nEstuarine fish diversity\r\n\r\nTiming of seasonal events\r\nCondition of notified habitats\r\nInformation Provision\r\nAttitudes to biodiversity\r\n\r\nTourism\r\nGreen space\r\nBuilt development\r\nRiver quality\r\n\r\n\r\nImprove the condition of protected nature sites 2014\r\nVisual influence of built development\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIncrease people’s use of Scotland’s outdoors 2013\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:19.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296977,"EventID":"S4W-22442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:20.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T15:53:30.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking (a) through the Scotland Rural Development Programme and (b) generally to reverse the reported decline of vascular plant diversity in order to protect the number of pollinators that was identified in the biodiversity strategy report for 2011-13.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Around £33 million was approved for pollinator-friendly options in the 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The principal types of pollinator-friendly management that have been supported under SRDP are:\r\nCreating wildflower-rich mosaics and increasing the diversification of flowering habitats at the appropriate landscape scale, maintaining or restoring permanent or short-term flower-rich habitats such as unimproved grassland and field margins, creating permanent species-rich grassland habitats including a mixture of grasses and wild flowers.\r\nActions directed at grassland are particularly important for pollinators. The most important options for pollinators in the 2007-13 SRDP were, conversion and maintenance of organic farming, habitat mosaic management, species-rich grassland management and cropped machair.\r\nThese options are being rolled forward into the new programme and pollinators will continue to be one of the beneficiaries as the arable options are designed to have as much ‘multifunctioning benefit’ as possible. \r\nIt is anticipated that the benefit to pollinators will increase as the total SRDP agri-environment budget for 2014-20 has increased by around £10 million per year in comparison to the last programme.\r\nFrom 2015 farmers will also need to comply with new greening requirements in return for their full pillar 1 payment. These include a requirement to ensure that an area equivalent to 5% of eligible arable land is ecological focus area, which has the potential to benefit pollinators.  \r\nThe reported decline in vascular plant diversity is also being addressed through a range of other actions to restore ecosystems under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 2020 Challenge. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is developing a route map to 2020 that addresses the key drivers of biodiversity loss and identifies the responses required, including those to address vascular plant diversity decline.\r\nCurrent activities to address vascular plant decline also include:\r\na peatland action plan being developed by SNH, native woodland being increased under the Scottish Forestry Strategy and habitat networks are expanding through initiatives such as the Central Scotland Green Network, the Scottish Government’s 10 year ‘Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland’ which has the overall aim to achieve a sustainable and healthy population of honey bees for pollination and honey production in Scotland; and a ‘Pollinator strategy - a plan for the conservation of wild bees (excluding honey bees) and other insect pollinators in Scotland’ being developed by SNH with a view to publishing this by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:20.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296978,"EventID":"S4W-22443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:20.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T16:42:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what projects supporting deaf and hard of hearing adults and children it has funded in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has funded the projects detailed in tables 1-3 for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, that assist deaf and hard of hearing adults and children. In addition the government allocated £1 million in each of the two years 2013-14 and 2014-15 to implement See Hear, the national sensory impairment strategy.\r\nIt should be noted however that many projects are designed to assist people with sensory impairment and so may also include elements designed to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, partially sighted or who have dual sensory impairment.\r\nTable 1 - 2011-12\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nForth Valley Sensory Centre\r\n£26,000.00\r\n\r\nNorth East Sensory Services\r\n£100,000.00\r\nAberdeen City one stop shop\r\nHearing Link\r\n£100,000.00\r\nTaking forward lip-reading policy\r\nHearing Link\r\n£10,000.00\r\nIntensive rehabilitation course\r\nForth Valley Sensory Centre\r\n£195,000.00\r\nPrevention strategies\r\nBorders one stop shop\r\n£120,000.00\r\nSensory champion and prevention project\r\nGlasgow Sensory Centre\r\n£75,000.00\r\nIndependence, re-enablement and inclusion\r\nDeafblind Scotland\r\n£99,826.00\r\nDevelop links for deaf-blind people\r\nNorth East Sensory Services\r\n£2,000.00\r\nLip-reading course and tutors\r\nDeaflinks\r\n£30,000.00\r\nAdvocacy worker in Tayside\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTOTAL\r\n£907,826.00\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 2 - 2012-13\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nSight Action\r\n£200,000.00\r\nHighland one stop shop\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£200,000.00\r\nLothian one stop shop\r\nRNIB Scotland\r\n£226,996.00\r\nAyrshire one stop shop\r\nHearing Link\r\n£10,100.00\r\nAcquired deafness course\r\nSCTTL\r\n£40,000.00\r\nLip-reading tutor course\r\nSign Language Interpretation\r\n£180.00\r\nCancellation of interpreters\r\nBritish Deaf Association \r\n£3,400.00\r\n1-to-1 consultation\r\nVisibility\r\n£254,641.60\r\nDumfries and Galloway one stop shop\r\nAction on Hearing Loss/Deaf Links\r\n£30,717.00\r\nTayside Enhanced volunteers\r\nSCTTL\r\n£14,310.00\r\nLip-reading tutor course\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n£10,000.00\r\nNational record of deaf children work\r\nHearing Link\r\n£15,400.00\r\nRehabilitation course\r\nSCTTL \r\n£2,770.00\r\nLip-reading tutor database\r\nAction on Hearing Loss\r\n£42,000.00\r\nLip-reading tutor mapping\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTOTAL\r\n£1,200,514.60\r\n\r\n\r\nTable 3 - 2013-14\r\nOrganization\r\nAllocation\r\nProject\r\nDeaf Links\r\n£40,000.00\r\nTayside one stop service advocacy worker\r\nVisibility\r\n£181,420.50\r\nDumfries and Galloway one stop shop\r\nSensory Impairment Support Group (Ayrshire)\r\n£30,000.00\r\nAyrshire one stop shop\r\nHearing Link\r\n£13,400.00\r\nRehabilitation course\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n£8,000.00\r\nAudiology outcomes workshop\r\nScottish Council on Deafness (SCOD)\r\n£30,000.00\r\nSCOD strategic positioning\r\nScottish Sensory Centre\r\n£150,000.00\r\nProduction of high-quality CPLD to support teachers of children and young people with sensory impairments. \r\nTOTAL\r\n£452,820.50\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:20.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296979,"EventID":"S4W-22444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:20.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-20T16:42:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22314 by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2014, for what reason funding was reduced from £1,503,322 in 2011-12 to £439,773.50 in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"There has been no reduction in the amount of Scottish Government funding made available to sensory impairment between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Rather, there has been a significant investment of £1 million for the implementation of See Hear, the national sensory impairment strategy.\r\nThis investment is aimed at transforming the delivery of services to users who should expect seamless provision of assessment, care and support and the same access to employment, education, leisure, healthcare and social care as everyone else.\r\nA further £1 million will be invested in the strategy’s implementation in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:20.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296980,"EventID":"S4W-22448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:20.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T10:05:44.89","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans the NHS has to introduce the anti-pneumonia drug, Solithromycin.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no marketing authorisation in the UK for solithromycin.\r\nIt is a decision for a manufacturer whether to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority or to the European Medicines Agency for a marketing authorisation providing evidence of safety, quality and efficacy. If a marketing authorisation is granted the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) would consider a submission from the company for this medicine.\r\nIn addition, subject to marketing authorisation, SMC’s Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group may consider solithromycin within its framework for making the best use of antimicrobials in the management of infection.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:20.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296981,"EventID":"S4W-22449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:21.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T10:06:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered using the reported saving of £0.15 billion from the Queensferry Crossing to upgrade the Highland Main Line.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is using the rail infrastructure investment funds available to it to support an ambitious £5 billion package of funding and investment for our railways until 2019. This will facilitate improvements to infrastructure and services across the network, including substantial improvements to the Highland Main Line.\r\nPhase one of the Highland Main Line project delivered two additional trains each way per day from 2011 and journey time improvements of up to 18 minutes on some services from December 2012. Phase two of the project will deliver further improvements to passenger journey times and service frequency in addition to more efficient freight operations by 2019.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:21.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296982,"EventID":"S4W-22450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T13:48:21.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T10:06:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it actively seeks to protect trees on land that it or its agencies owns by means of tree preservation orders.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not proactively seek to introduce tree preservation orders on its land. Scottish Ministers and local planning authorities have a duty to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting permission for any development adequate provision is made for the preservation or planting of trees.\r\nIn practice, local planning authorities are the mechanism through which tree preservation orders are administered. Local planning authorities therefore have the powers to make such tree preservation orders, as they deem necessary, with the granting of any planning permission and, from time to time, to review any tree preservation orders.\r\nScottish Government agencies manage the land owned by Scottish Ministers in line with the public interest and are responsible to ministers for doing so. The land is managed and developed in line with all relevant planning regulations and Scottish Ministers encourage good practice in land management by Scottish Government agencies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T13:48:21.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296998,"EventID":"S4W-22445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:24.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T09:41:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS and other staff received the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing entitled Public Sector Pensions after Independence; how it was distributed, and how much it cost to draw up, print and distribute.\r\n","AnswerText":"The letter clarifying pensions policy in the event of independence was drafted by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, based on previously published information in Scotland’s Future and Pensions in an Independent Scotland. This took around an hour of an official’s time, although exact costs are hard to quantify. It was then sent to each NHSScotland board chief executive’s office for onwards distribution to all staff. As this was distributed electronically, the costs were negligible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:24.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":296999,"EventID":"S4W-22458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:25.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22153 by Michael Russell on 13 August 2014, what steps it has taken to map the outcomes of people who drop out of university.\r\n","AnswerText":"Using information from the Student Awards Agency Scotland and the School Leaver Destination Returns report, Skills Development Scotland can identify those who are no longer receiving student support but have not completed their degree. Leavers are also tracked by the universities themselves.\r\nIn the 2015-16 letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning emphasised the importance of retention and the need to ensure that the higher education sector makes more effective use of data to track student progress.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:25.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297000,"EventID":"S4W-22459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:25.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people who drop out of university to find an alternative positive destination and what steps it is taking to improve these mechanisms.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides funding, via the Scottish Funding Council, to initiatives such as ‘Back on Course Scotland’ for the provision of advice and guidance for early leavers from higher education. The service is run by the Open University in Scotland.\r\nIn the 2015-16 letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning emphasised the importance of retention and the need to ensure that the higher education sector makes more effective use of data to track student progress.\r\nThe Scottish Government also supports a wide range of programmes aimed at helping adults and young people into positive destinations. This includes 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships each year, the Opportunities for All guarantee of a place in employment or training for all 16-19 year olds, a commitment of £5 million in response to Developing the Young Workforce to support Scotland’s education system to connect young people to business more effectively and £88 million (over three years) to support small businesses create youth jobs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:25.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297001,"EventID":"S4W-22460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:25.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has worked with Edinburgh University on the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime since 1998, including providing some funding to support analysis and reporting. More recently, we are engaging with the university to attempt to gain a better understanding of the educational attainment and outcomes of that cohort of young people and we will continue to work to develop this in the forthcoming year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:25.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297002,"EventID":"S4W-22461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects lending to Scotland-domiciled students from the Student Loans Company to increase in each of the next three years and, if so, by how much.","AnswerText":"A new student support package was introduced for academic year 2013-14. The new package included an annual minimum income of £7,250, through a combination of bursaries and loans, for students with a family income of less than £17,000 and a revised minimum student loan amount for all eligible students. Expansion in the amount of money available to all students through loan resulted in an increase in overall lending during the first year of operation.\r\nIn 2014-15, the minimum loan amount has increased by a further £250. Factors such as increase or decrease in loan uptake and/or increase in student numbers make it difficult to provide exact figures on future total lending.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:26.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297003,"EventID":"S4W-22462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:26.347","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T16:03:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to ensure sufficient numbers of wild host fish stocks in rivers (a) that currently host freshwater pearl mussel populations and (b) where freshwater pearl mussel populations are in decline.\r\n","AnswerText":"The range of actions (under initiatives such as the Pearls in Peril EC LIFE Project, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Environment Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Species Action Framework) at selected locations include the removal of barriers to fish migration, removal of bank protection and other features to restore mussel and fish habitat, installation of buffer strips to reduce diffuse pollution, planting riparian woodlands to improve habitat and artificial assistance for the colonisation of host fish by pearl mussel larvae.\r\nResearch has also been conducted, notably by the Integrated Aquatic Resources Management between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland (IBIS) project and under contract for SNH, to identify the specific host species of freshwater pearl mussel in particular rivers. Once this information is available it will further inform and guide future restoration actions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:26.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297004,"EventID":"S4W-22463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:26.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T16:06:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Lothian has no specialist immunology consultants.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Lothian has never ran a full immunology service directly. A limited clinical service was provided in Lothian by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) until the immunology consultant retired in 2009.\r\nIt is NHS Lothian’s ambition to transfer all of the immunology service from SNBTS over the next few months, and to provide a more robust clinical service for patients in Lothian and the wider region (in collaboration with neighbouring health boards), supported by a laboratory service. NHS Lothian has agreed to run the laboratory and has advertised for a Clinical Lead to manage the service. NHS Lothian is also currently recruiting a consultant immunologist.\r\nIn the meantime, NHS Lothian has approached the immunology service in Newcastle to discuss a short term visiting service to ensure that Lothian patients are seen by someone with the relevant expertise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:26.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297005,"EventID":"S4W-22464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:27.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T16:06:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients with primary immune deficiency are expected to travel to Newcastle while specialist consultants are not available in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the number of patients with primary immune deficiency expected to travel to Newcastle is not held centrally, however one young adult patient has been reviewed by the paediatric immunology team at Newcastle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:27.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297006,"EventID":"S4W-22465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-21T16:45:27.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T16:06:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects a full immunology service to be available in NHS Lothian that includes appropriate nursing and laboratory support.","AnswerText":"NHS Lothian has never ran an immunology service directly, with services being provided by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS). The board has advised that it intends to transfer all services from SNBTS over the next few months, subject to successful recruitment of a consultant immunologist and a Clinical Lead for the laboratory.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-18T16:45:27.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297007,"EventID":"S4W-22466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-22T15:44:48.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T10:40:44.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the \"technical difficulties\" are that have delayed the publication of prison statistics and projections for 2012-13.\r\n","AnswerText":"The prison statistics published by the Scottish Government are derived from daily data from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) live management information system. The Scottish Government statistical system is designed to rearrange detailed individual records into an accessible format suitable for a wide range of statistical analyses. There were two major IT changes across the Scottish Government during 2012 which meant that the system had to be extensively redesigned. This resulted in a backlog of data which then had to be uploaded and processed.\r\nThe complexity of the data and the system redesign mean that a range of technical problems have emerged in the course of processing the 2012-13 data, and it is anticipated it will take until the end of the year to fully resolve any outstanding issues. Once resolved, however, it is anticipated that these problems will not re-occur when processing more recent data. We are therefore planning to review our position, with a view to processing and publishing data for 2013-14 alongside the 2012-13 data in order to provide a more complete picture of recent trends, with an anticipated publication date in summer 2015.\r\nWhile the Scottish Government statistical system allows more detailed analyses of trends in the prison population over time than is possible to carry out directly from the SPS information system, the latter provides accurate figures on the prison population which are published in the SPS annual reports. The annual report for 2013-14 can be found on the SPS website at:http://www.sps.gov.uk/Publications/Publication-5433.aspx.\r\nWeekly population figures are published by SPS at:http://www.sps.gov.uk/Publications/ScottishPrisonPopulation.aspx.\r\nThe Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services have also used figures from the SPS information system to analyse recent trends in the May 2014 edition of the monthly Safer Communities and Justice brief available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Justicebrief.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-19T15:44:48.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297008,"EventID":"S4W-22467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-22T15:44:48.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T11:29:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03483 by Michael Matheson on 21 August 2014 (Official Report c. 33779), what the total annual service charge has been each year since the contract was introduced.\r\n","AnswerText":"HM Treasury publishes summary data on PFI projects annually. The latest publication can be found here:\r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2013-summary-data\r\nThe information on the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh that the member has requested can be found within the file entitled ‘Current projects as at 31 March 2013’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-19T15:44:48.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297009,"EventID":"S4W-22468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-22T15:44:49.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T11:44:00.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21268 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 June 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested by confirming whether an independent Scotland would be part of the Five Eyes partnership.\r\n","AnswerText":"It will be in the interests of the rest of the UK and other partners to work closely with Scotland on security matters, including the sharing of intelligence. The Scottish Government and its partners would engage closely as sovereign, equal and cooperative allies in tackling issues such as terrorism and organised crime.\r\nAs I indicated in my answer to question S4W-21268, Scotland’s Future outlines that the security and intelligence agency would be required to work with partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure Scotland's national security. The new security and intelligence agency will have the appropriate security arrangement necessary to give assurance to international partners that it can receive and handle intelligence safely and securely.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-19T15:44:49.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297021,"EventID":"S4W-22451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:24.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many young people are participating in the pilot permanence and care excellence programme, how much has been invested in it, and what the (a) length and (b) evaluation process is.\r\n","AnswerText":"Young people do not directly participate in the permanence and care excellence programme (PACE), but will benefit from the improved systems and decision making that PACE is expected to deliver.\r\nNo additional funding has been provided for the PACE programme. Support to PACE is being delivered by the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland and the Scottish Government, using existing staff resources. The cost of delivering this support is approximately £145,000 a year.\r\nPACE is expected to last at least three years, with implementation in additional local authorities each year.\r\nEvaluation of PACE is built into the programme through collecting data about each small-scale test of change and using that evidence to inform scaling up of improvements or to develop further tests of change.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:25.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297022,"EventID":"S4W-22452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:25.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that every educational establishment has a dedicated senior manager for looked-after children, when it expects every establishment to provide such a service, and how it is monitoring whether the target will be met.\r\n","AnswerText":"As a result of a recommendation within the Learning With Care, HM Inspectorate of Education and Social Work Services Inspectorate report in 2001, local authorities took steps to identify a designated senior manager for looked after children and young people in each of their educational establishments. \r\nThe Scottish Government developed We Can and Must Do Better: Core tasks for Designated Managers in educational and residential establishments in Scotland Guidance (Sept 2008) with partners to clarify the role and responsibilities and to support local authorities and professionals carry this out. The guidance sits alongside a suit of materials aimed at improving the education of looked after children available on We Can and Must Do Better website.\r\nThe Scottish Government funded the Centre for Excellence for looked after children in Scotland in 2012-13 to provide training for designated managers to learn about the Core Tasks, and responsibilities set out in the guidance. Local seminars took place in six local authorities, which we well attended and represented a mix of mainstream schools, specialist residential education provision, and residential establishments.\r\nThe Designated Manager role is non-statutory and it is for local authorities to decide how best to implement this at the local level. The school’s ability to cater for the needs of looked after children and young people are measured in the context of the inspection regime. The Scottish Government also publish annually data on Educational Outcomes for Looked After Children.\r\nThe designated manager role will be enhanced by the introduction of the Corporate Parenting duties in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:25.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297023,"EventID":"S4W-22454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:26.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22149 by Michael Russell on 13 August 2014, whether it will list each (a) local authority and (b) school participating in the Raising Attainment for All programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The local authorities currently involved in the Raising Attainment for All programme are Aberdeen City, Angus, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Fife, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling and Clackmannanshire.\r\nThere are around 100 schools involved at the moment, although final numbers will not be finalised until later in the year. The list of local authorities and their participating schools will be made available on the Raising Attainment pages on the Scottish Government website in due course: \r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Raisingeducationalattainment\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:26.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297024,"EventID":"S4W-22455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:26.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22149 by Michael Russell on 13 August 2014, how many adults are registered users of the Parentzone website, also expressed as a percentage of the target group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Parentzone Scotland is currently being redeveloped. Users will be encouraged to subscribe to regular newsletters when the new site goes live from 24 September 2014 but at present there is no facility to become a subscribed user.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:26.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297025,"EventID":"S4W-22456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:26.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the  answer to question S4W-22149 by Michael Russell on 13 August 2014, whether graduates of Teach First are eligible to teach in Scotland's schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is a statutory requirement that local authorities only employ teachers who are registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).\r\nAny Teach First graduate can apply for registration. They will then be individually assessed against the relevant GTCS criteria.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:26.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297026,"EventID":"S4W-22457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:26.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-21T15:51:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22149 by Michael Russell on 13 August 2014, what action it is taking to establish literacy and numeracy hubs; how much it has invested in this, and where they will be based. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supported the development of five inter-authority literacy hubs in North Lanarkshire, Fife, Edinburgh, Highland and West Dunbartonshire, and six inter-authority numeracy hubs in Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow, Midlothian, East Lothian, Angus and Moray. The literacy hubs were allocated a total of £495,997 from September 2012 to the end of June 2014; the numeracy hubs have thus far been allocated a total of £301,915 from October 2013 to the end of March 2015. Both the literacy and numeracy hubs continue to share with their partners successful approaches developed at local level to improve literacy or numeracy outcomes for children and young people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:26.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297027,"EventID":"S4W-22469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:27.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it reportedly welcoming the comments by the Governor of the Bank of England that contingency plans had been prepared regarding the referendum result, what contingency plans it has prepared if its preferred currency option is not agreed if Scotland decides to separate from the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government position is to retain sterling within a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK. As part of the proposed formal monetary union, the Bank of England would continue to act as the central bank across the sterling area and will continue to set monetary policy according to economic conditions across the sterling area.\r\nThe first report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group in February 2013 set out the range of viable currency and monetary models for a country of Scotland’s size and economic strength, and concluded that a formal sterling area is the best option for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom in the event of Scottish independence. This position was re-stated in a working group speech by Crawford Beveridge on 19 August 2014 and subsequently endorsed by the two Nobel laureates who sit on the working group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:27.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297028,"EventID":"S4W-22470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:27.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decides to separate from the UK, whether the people will be given an opportunity to decide whether the negotiated terms of separation are acceptable.\r\n","AnswerText":"The member is referred to question 548 on page 553 of Scotland’s Future: your guide to an independent Scotland available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:27.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297029,"EventID":"S4W-22471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:27.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any scenario planning of options available if Scotland decided to separate from the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"The member is referred to question 549 on page 553 of Scotland’s Future: Your guide to an independent Scotland available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:27.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297030,"EventID":"S4W-22472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:28.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessments it has prepared on what would happen if its preferred options could not be delivered if Scotland decided to separate from the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":" The member is referred to question 549 on page 553 of Scotland’s Future: your guide to an independent Scotland available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:28.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297031,"EventID":"S4W-22473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:28.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, it would not accept a share of UK debt unless a currency union was agreed.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:28.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297032,"EventID":"S4W-22474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:28.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, which tax authority would collect taxation from a retired person in Scotland who is in receipt of a pension from an English local authority pension fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future – Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, the Scottish Government will build on the existing definition set out in the Scotland Act 2012 and general international protocols to establish a definition of a Scottish taxpayer based on residence. In general, this means that people who live in Scotland for most of the year will pay their taxes here. Where people split their time between Scotland and other countries, including England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there will be clear rules set out in statute to determine which tax authority they pay their taxes to.\r\nScotland’s Future also explains that the Scottish Government will seek a double taxation agreement with the Westminster government to ensure that cross-border tax affairs for companies and individuals operating in both jurisdictions are as fair and simple as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:28.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297033,"EventID":"S4W-22475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:29.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, which tax authority would collect taxation from a retired person in England who is in receipt of a pension from a Scottish local authority pension fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22474 on 22 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:29.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297034,"EventID":"S4W-22476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:29.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, and Scotland or the rest of the UK were not members of the EU, what entitlement would there be to medical and welfare services for citizens of the rest of the UK who (a) visited and (b) came to live in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The outcome of the referendum means that Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom. The greatest risk to access to medical services arises from the proposed referendum on EU membership, which could affect access to European healthcare arrangements for any UK citizen travelling to or residing in other European Economic Area countries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:29.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297035,"EventID":"S4W-22477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:29.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, and Scotland or the rest of the UK were not members of the EU, what entitlement would there be to medical and welfare services for Scottish citizens who (a) visited and (b) came to live in the rest of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22476 on 11 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:29.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297036,"EventID":"S4W-22478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:29.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, whether people who lived in Scotland but paid their income tax to (a) an EU and (b) a non-EU member state would be entitled to free prescriptions.\r\n","AnswerText":"Eligibility for free prescriptions in Scotland is determined by provisions set out in the NHS (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, and is based on whether the patient concerned presents a Scottish NHS prescription form, or equivalent, for dispensing at a community pharmacy in Scotland.\r\nThere is an additional special arrangement for patients resident in Scotland but registered with an NHS GP practice in England, and who presents their English prescription form for dispensing at a community pharmacy in Scotland.\r\nThe white paper Scotland’s Future indicated that this Scottish Government would retain the policy of free prescriptions in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:29.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297037,"EventID":"S4W-22479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:30.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth said in September 2013 that \"it was impossible to give a definitive answer on whether Royal Mail could be renationalised\".\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and the majority of Scottish MPs at Westminster opposed the privatisation of Royal Mail. A privatised Royal Mail threatens the quality of service and risks further increasing the price of postage. On independence, the Scottish Government will begin the process of bringing the Royal Mail in Scotland back into public ownership. Our approach will be considered in the light of circumstances at the point of independence, including the prevailing structure of the Royal Mail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:30.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297038,"EventID":"S4W-22480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:30.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decides to separate from the UK, whether it would set up a Scottish broadcasting service.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to pages 316–319 of Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:30.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297039,"EventID":"S4W-22481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:30.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government if Scotland decides to separate from the UK and the government of the rest of the UK agrees to a currency union, whether it considers that the citizens of the rest of the UK should be given the right to endorse the currency union in a referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:30.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297040,"EventID":"S4W-22482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:30.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the SNP's share of the vote was at the 2011 Scottish election expressed as a percentage of the (a) turnout and (b) electorate, and whether it considers that this gives the current administration a sufficient mandate to represent all of the people who live in Scotland with respect to relations with the UK Government, Europe and currency, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not responsible for publishing the results of Scottish Parliament elections. This is the responsibility of individual Returning Officers at the time of the election.\r\nThe member is referred to question 543 on page 552 of Scotland’s Future: your guide to an independent Scotland available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:30.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297041,"EventID":"S4W-22484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:31.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decides to separate from the UK, how much it would cost to set up a separate mail service and how this would operate.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to pages 326 and 327 of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:31.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297042,"EventID":"S4W-22486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:31.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, whether it would purchase the part of Royal Mail that has been privatised, and how much this would cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to pages 326 and 327 of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:31.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297043,"EventID":"S4W-22488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:31.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK and a currency union could not be agreed, what its preferred alternative would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:31.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297044,"EventID":"S4W-22489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:31.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, who would have the final say on whether a currency union would pertain.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:31.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297045,"EventID":"S4W-22490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:32.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it understands the view is of the (a) Conservative, (b) Liberal Democrat and (c) Labour Party on whether a currency union would be agreed if Scotland decided to leave the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:32.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297046,"EventID":"S4W-22491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:32.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK and at some point joined the EU, in light of the EU requirement that all member states have a central bank, what its central bank would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22469 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:32.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297047,"EventID":"S4W-22492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:32.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost to decommission redundant oil rigs over the next 20 years and who would be responsible for meeting these costs if Scotland decided to separate from the UK. \r\n","AnswerText":"Chapters two and eight of Scotland’s Future provide information on Scotland’s public finances and the Scottish Government policy with respect to the future decommissioning of oil and gas facilities in the North Sea respectively.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:32.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297048,"EventID":"S4W-22494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:32.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, whether the oil industry would be able to offset against tax any costs it incurs in the decommissioning of oil rigs.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22492 on 23 September 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:32.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297049,"EventID":"S4W-22496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:33.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its latest assessment is of the set up costs of a separate state if Scotland decides to leave the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03469 on 13 August 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/official-report.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:33.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297050,"EventID":"S4W-22497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:33.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the UK’s EU rebate is worth to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Estimates of Scotland’s historic share of the UK rebate, which assign a population share to Scotland, are presented in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2012-13 which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GERS \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:33.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297051,"EventID":"S4W-22498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:33.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, whether it considers that a separate Scotland would receive an EU rebate and, if so, what the value of this would be.\r\n","AnswerText":"As set out in Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government proposes that an independent Scotland would negotiate EU membership from within the EU and approach these membership negotiations on the principle of ‘continuity of effect’. This approach ensures ‘no detriment’ to other member states and no disruption to Scotland’s current fully integrated standing within the EU.\r\nAs such the current EU budget has been agreed until 2020. The Scottish Government would not intend to re-open budget discussions until the next financial period post 2020.\r\nAs stated at page 222 of Scotland’s Future, ‘…we consider that the division of the share of the UK rebate would be a matter for negotiation between the Scottish and Westminster Governments’.\r\nFor an estimate of the value of Scotland’s historic share of the rebate, please refer to the answer to S4W-22497 on 22 September 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:33.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297052,"EventID":"S4W-22499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:34.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students from England paid university tuition fees at Scotland's universities in 2013-14, and what was the total amount paid.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:34.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297053,"EventID":"S4W-22501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:34.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK and at some point joined the EU, whether Scotland's universities would be able to charge students from England.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that should Scotland in the future choose independence, as a member of the EU, it would be able to maintain the current policy of charging students from the rest of the UK tuition fees to study at Scotland’s universities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:34.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297054,"EventID":"S4W-22502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:34.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T12:25:11.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland decided to separate from the UK, in light of the 1975 referendum being held on a UK-wide basis, whether the people of Scotland would be allowed to vote in whether the country should be an EU member.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18632 on 16 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:34.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297055,"EventID":"S4W-22503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:34.93","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T17:35:24.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in co-operation with public bodies, including local authorities, to help them comply with their climate change duties.\r\n","AnswerText":"I work closely with senior public sector figures in my role as chair of the Public Sector Climate Leaders Forum (PSCLF). The remit of the PSCLF is to provide strategic leadership on public sector climate action, including measures undertaken by individual bodies to comply with their public bodies duties.\r\nThe forum is supported by a network of Climate Champions and the Climate Leaders Officer Group (CLOG) which is made up of representatives of key public sector stakeholders. The CLOG has an operational delivery role to promote and develop climate change support and improvement across the public sector.\r\nThe Scottish Government also funds the Sustainable Scotland Network, Resource Efficient Scotland and Adaptation Scotland programmes which provide practical support to the public sector to help compliance with their climate change duties.\r\nGuidance to support public bodies in exercising their duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/02/04093254/0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:34.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297056,"EventID":"S4W-22504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:35.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T17:35:24.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to assess and improve the level of understanding of autism in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"The level of understanding of autism in schools is assessed by Education Scotland inspectors who consider how well the school meets the learning needs of children and young people with autism and publish, within school reports, notable aspects of practice.\r\nRecent examples include:\r\nIdentifying as a key strength of the Hillpark Secondary School in Glasgow “the learning experiences and achievements of young people in the Autism Unit”; and \r\nDaldorch House School in East Ayrshire was praised for “staff’s knowledge and understanding of autism spectrum disorders”.\r\nTo help improve the level of understanding of autism in schools, I launched the Autism Toolbox website on 29 April 2014 at Grangemouth High School. The delegates included teachers, educational support staff and pupils.\r\nScottish Autism has used part of its funding to produce the Autism Toolbox website to promote the use of the toolbox in schools and local authorities, including:\r\nContacting all education authorities with the offer of awareness sessions about the Autism Toolbox website. Sessions have already taken place in 11 authorities and have reached over 1,500 delegates, including teachers and educational support staff.\r\nAn awareness session about the website at the Scottish Learning Festival in September 2013. There will also be an information stand at this year’s festival.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:35.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297057,"EventID":"S4W-22505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:35.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T17:35:24.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the success of the VisitScotland Growth Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"VisitScotland’s Growth Fund supports the development of collaborative marketing campaigns, delivered by its industry partners. It plays an important part in supporting the wider work of the organisation through its role in stimulating collaboration between industry, engendering partnership working with VisitScotland and achieving strategic alignment to grow tourism in Scotland.\r\nThe growth fund provides the single funding opportunity for VisitScotland to support locally-led collaborative marketing initiatives. It is an effective platform for leveraging additional, and more focused marketing investment, aligned with national strategy, for example, the tourism industry-led Tourism Scotland 2020 strategy, and helps improve the marketing effectiveness and competitiveness of individual businesses within groups, by encouraging a more strategic, focused approach to marketing.\r\nThe fund was reviewed by VisitScotland during 2013, with the aim of managing considerable demand for funding support, with a priority on collaboration, new ideas and growth. As a result, the current growth fund programme, which runs from 2014-15, is being delivered and managed on a more strategic and proactive basis, identifying gaps and opportunities across Scotland and supporting areas and sectors with potential for growth.\r\nA rigorous and challenging application, monitoring and evaluation process has been introduced to ensure funding is allocated to groups more likely to deliver innovative new activity and more sustainable growth as well as return on investment.\r\nThe current growth fund programme has approved £288,486 of funding to date to 12 tourism industry partnerships. This has enabled £632,414 of investment to be made in marketing campaigns so far, involving 668 businesses across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:35.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297058,"EventID":"S4W-22506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T11:27:49.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T17:35:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided by the VisitScotland Growth Fund, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"VisitScotland have run two growth fund programmes during this administration.\r\nThe current VisitScotland Growth Fund programme, which runs from 2014-15, has to date approved £288,486 of funding to 12 tourism industry partnerships.\r\nDuring the previous growth fund programme (2011–14), £1,109,268 of funding was awarded to 30 groups throughout Scotland.\r\nDetails of the awards, provided by VisitScotland, including a breakdown by local authority, where applicable, are in the following tables:\r\n2014-15 Growth Fund:\r\nArea/Local Authority\r\nRecipients name\r\nProject Description\r\nAmount\r\nAberdeen City and Aberdeenshire\r\nGolf Aberdeen City and Shire\r\nCampaign aimed at increasing awareness of the region as a golfing destination and increasing golfing visitors through familiarisation trips, website creation, event and exhibition attendance, print and online marketing.\r\n£22,500\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\nGardens of Argyll and Bute\r\nTo increase visitor numbers to Argyll and Bute gardens and increase the number of gardens in the group, carried out through the use of websites and social media in conjunction with Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative.\r\n£12,202\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\nSouth of Scotland Golfers' Association\r\nTo promote Dumfries and Galloway as a region with a varied and good value golf product using online and print marketing.\r\n£10,000\r\nEast, Mid and West Lothian\r\nVisit West Lothian\r\nPromotion of West, Mid, and East Lothian as a key stopover and destination to the group tour market.\r\n£11,900\r\nEast Lothian\r\nEast Lothian Golf Tourism Alliance\r\nPromotion of East Lothian’s golf product, bringing in ancillary services such as food and drink and accommodation. \r\n£22,280\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\nMarketing Edinburgh\r\nThe development of the North American market to secure additional business for the members of Marketing Edinburgh Ltd and the city of Edinburgh as a whole.\r\n£39,100\r\nHighland\r\nCairngorms Business Partnership\r\nCairngorms Business Partnership series of themed mini-campaigns, either product (e.g. cycling) or location specific (e.g. Aviemore).\r\n£35,000\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\nGolf Perthshire\r\nMaximising the golfing legacy from The 2014 Ryder Cup in Perthshire. \r\n£15,414\r\nSouth Ayrshire \r\nSouth Ayrshire Council Year 3\r\nArts and cultural festival designed to complement the creativity and variety of the work of Robert Burns and his legacy. Specific activity includes newly designed programme, targeted distribution strategy and new outdoor display elements.\r\n£14,000\r\nStirling\r\nDestination Stirling\r\nEstablishment of a new destination organisation, set up on the back of a Scottish Enterprise funded strategy and with backing from VisitScotland and Stirling Council, to take advantage of 2014 opportunities.\r\n£26,000\r\nStirling\r\nBreadalbane Tourism Co-operative\r\nCampaign designed to build on Ring of Breadalbane Explorer hop-on, hop-off bus and promote ‘Rings’ beyond the bus, such as walking and cycling (on and off-road) routes. \r\n£10,000\r\nNational \r\nThe Scottish Licensed Trade Association\r\nTo promote a positive image of Scottish pubs by telling ‘little heard of stories’ associated with pubs across the length and breadth of Scotland using a variety of marketing and communication tools.\r\n£60,000\r\nNational\r\nSail Scotland\r\nTo increase visitors from key target markets through consumer exhibitions and promotional marketing. \r\n£22,500\r\n\r\n2011-14 Growth Fund:\r\nArea\r\nGroup Name\r\nProject Description\r\nAmount\r\nAberdeenshire\r\nDeeside and Cairngorms Ltd\r\nActivity aimed at improving consumer information and interest in the area. It incorporated website development; facilitating interaction via smartphones; a Victorian Heritage Trail marketing initiative; data collection and e-flyers; and the reintroduction of Deelicious magazine for the area. \r\n£21,000\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\nArdnamurchan Tourist Association\r\nTo attract new visitors to Ardnamurchan outwith the summer months through a PR campaign and online advertising in specialist walking and photograph publications and main","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297059,"EventID":"S4W-22507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:35.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-22T17:38:23.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many empty homes have been brought back into use by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not hold the number of empty homes brought back into use by local authority. Councils do report to the empty homes partnership the number of homes brought back into use, however, this reporting is not uniform and will result in under-counting. In 2012-13, 76 homes were reported as being brought back into use, this then increased to 278 in 2013-14. The empty homes partnership have reported that they expect this to increase steeply by the end of 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:35.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297060,"EventID":"S4W-22509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:36.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-25T13:37:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on IT systems by the Registers of Scotland in each month for the last two years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and she advises that the amounts spent on IT systems in Registers of Scotland in each month for the last two financial years are as shown in the following table:\r\nMonth\r\nExpenditure\r\nApril 2012\r\n£0.7 million\r\nMay 2012\r\n£0.8 million\r\nJune 2012\r\n£0.8 million\r\nJuly 2012\r\n£1.4 million\r\nAugust 2012\r\n£0.3 million\r\nSeptember 2012\r\n£0.5 million\r\nOctober 2012\r\n£1.6 million\r\nNovember 2012\r\n£0.7 million\r\nDecember 2012\r\n£0.8 million\r\nJanuary 2013\r\n£0.3 million\r\nFebruary 2013\r\n£0.4 million\r\nMarch 2013\r\n£0.9 million\r\nFinancial year 2012-13\r\n£9.2 million\r\nApril 2013\r\n£0.1 million\r\nMay 2013\r\n£0.5 million\r\nJune 2013\r\n£0.4 million\r\nJuly 2013\r\n£0.4 million\r\nAugust 2013\r\n£0.3 million \r\nSeptember 2013\r\n£0.4 million\r\nOctober 2013\r\n£0.5 million\r\nNovember 2013\r\n£0.5 million\r\nDecember 2013\r\n£0.6 million\r\nJanuary 2014\r\n£0.5 million\r\nFebruary 2014\r\n£0.6 million\r\nMarch 2014\r\n£0.6 million\r\nFinancial year 2013-14\r\n£5.4 million\r\nIn addition a compensation payment of £1.2 million was made to a third party supplier in 2012-13. See our annual accounts for that year for further detail.\r\nThe total spent on IT systems during financial year 2013-14 differs from the £5.8 million reported in a previous written answer as adjustments have been made during finalising of the annual accounts for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:36.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297061,"EventID":"S4W-22510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:36.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-25T14:20:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the vacancy rate for consultant psychiatrists in the NHS increased from 218 to 324 between December 2013 and March 2014, according to ISD Scotland workforce statistics.\r\n","AnswerText":"It may be helpful to note that the vacancy rate for consultant psychiatrists quoted in the question “from 218 to 324 between December 2013 and March 2014” is, in fact, an approximation of vacancy data for all consultant posts in all specialties for that period. The correct information is supplied in the following table:\r\n\r\nDec-13\r\nMar-14\r\nTotal Consultant Vacancies\r\n 218.1 wte\r\n 324.8 wte\r\nTotal Consultant Psychiatric Vacancies \r\n21.5 wte\r\n55.8 wte \r\nSource: ISD\r\nThe total funded establishment for consultants, which includes consultant psychiatrists, has increased during this period and it would be expected for vacancies to rise while health boards recruit to these posts. It should be noted that vacancy numbers for this specialism have reduced by 5.6 wte during the last quarter and stand at 50.2 wte as at June 2014.\r\nWe expect NHS boards to plan their facilities and workforce to deliver this service and to have robust processes in place to ensure the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care. The Scottish Government is working with NHS Education for Scotland and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to ensure this patient care is delivered by the right professional at the right time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:36.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297062,"EventID":"S4W-22511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:37.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-25T14:30:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason training grants have been withdrawn for educational psychology training in relation to the MSc in Educational Psychology course.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decision to change the funding arrangements for the training of educational psychologists was taken in the light of challenging financial circumstances as part of the Spending Review 2011. This aligned financial support for postgraduate training for educational psychologists with financial support for many other postgraduate training schemes.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises and values the role that educational psychologists play in additional support for learning. We are working in partnership with the National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists around workforce planning at a national level to ensure a sustainable supply of educational psychologists to meet potential future needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:37.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297063,"EventID":"S4W-22512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:37.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-25T14:30:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many educational psychologists there have been in the NHS in each year for the last ten years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested on how many educational psychologists there have been in the NHS in each year for the last ten years is not centrally held.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:37.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297064,"EventID":"S4W-22513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-25T15:22:38.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-25T14:30:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many educational psychologists are in training at university and what the estimated need is for educational psychologists in training from 2014, given the estimated increase in additional support needs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises and values the role that educational psychologists play in supporting learners. We are working in partnership with the National Scottish Steering Group for Educational Psychologists to ensure a sustainable supply of educational psychologists to meet potential future needs. This includes work to improve the data available to inform future workforce planning decisions, including decisions around numbers of educational psychologists to train. \r\n24 students have started the first year of the Master of Science degree in educational psychology at Dundee University this month, and 19 students have started the second year of the course at Strathclyde University. 21 students completed the course in September 2014. \r\nThere has been a significant increase in the number of pupils recorded in national statistics as having additional support needs since 2010. This is a direct consequence of an extension in the way in which we collect information. Prior to 2010, only pupils with co-ordinated support plans, individualised educational programmes or who were attending a special school were recorded as having additional support needs. However, in 2010 this was extended to include anyone receiving additional support, including all the pupils identified and receiving support in mainstream schools. This has led to a large increase in the number of pupils recorded with additional support needs since 2010.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-22T15:22:38.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297069,"EventID":"S4W-22516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-26T15:11:27.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-26T14:01:59.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the time that patients remain in hospital while awaiting care arrangements to be made, after they are clinically ready to be discharged.  \r\n","AnswerText":"We are working closely with our NHS and local authority partners to reduce the levels of delayed discharges across Scotland. Since April 2007 we have reduced the level of delays over four weeks by over 60%. However, tackling delays is not just about money, and some partnerships are facing real challenges, particularly around workforce recruitment and retention. We have therefore recently convened a task force to drive forward improvements and innovative change at a local and national level.\r\nWe have also provided additional support to partnerships facing the most significant pressures from delayed discharges. This funding will enable them to accelerate progress towards sustainable change, drive down delays and release hospital capacity over the long term.\r\nFurthermore, our plans to integrate adult health and social care will ensure that health and social care is provided in the right place, at the right time, making the best use of available money, facilities and people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-23T15:11:28.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297072,"EventID":"S4W-22517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:03.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T10:27:20.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many notifications, as required by part 2, section 5(3)(b) of the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012, have been received for invertebrates since the commencement of the regulations; which species or subspecies these notifications relate to, and what the country of origin was of the consignment.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The number of notifications made for invertebrates being imported directly into Scotland since July 2012 is set out in the following tables. Information on the importation of honey bees has however only been held centrally since 2013.\r\nBees:\r\nYear\r\nDescription\r\nCountries of Origin\r\nNumber of Notifications\r\n2013\r\nBumble bees\r\nBelgium\r\n2\r\n2013\r\nHoney bees\r\nItaly, Greece, Slovenia, France, Poland, Germany, Austria\r\n11\r\n2013\r\nHoney bees\r\nNew Zealand\r\n1\r\n2014\r\nHoney bees\r\nItaly, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Germany\r\n13\r\n2014\r\nHoney bees\r\nNew Zealand\r\n3\r\nOther invertebrates:\r\nYear\r\nDescription\r\nCountry of Origin\r\nNumber of Notifications\r\n2012\r\nPacific oysters\r\nGuernsey\r\n3\r\n2012\r\nMussels\r\nRep of Ireland\r\n11\r\n2012\r\nKing scallops\r\nNorway\r\n1\r\n2013\r\nPacific oysters\r\nGuernsey\r\n17\r\n2013\r\nMussels\r\nRep of Ireland\r\n43\r\n2013\r\nKing scallops\r\nNorway\r\n4\r\n2014\r\nPacific oysters\r\nGuernsey\r\n12\r\n2014\r\nMussels\r\nRep of Ireland\r\n27\r\n2014\r\nKing scallops\r\nNorway\r\n1\r\n2014\r\nPurple sea urchin\r\nRep of Ireland\r\n1\r\n2014\r\nCotton spinner sea cucumber\r\nRep of Ireland\r\n1\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:04.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297073,"EventID":"S4W-22518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:04.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T10:27:20.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many licences under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 have been issued for the release of non-native invertebrates since the Act's commencement; which species or subspecies these licences relate to, and what the reason was for their release.\r\n","AnswerText":"Licences for the release of non-native invertebrates are issued under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which has been amended several times, most recently by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\nScottish Natural Heritage is the licensing authority for such licences and has provided the following summary of licences issued since 2011.\r\n2011 - 1 licence issued:\r\nSteinernema carpocapsae (Steinernematidae; Rhabditida) (a nematode) for the control of large pine weevil. (Root damaging species.)\r\n2012 - 6 licences issued:\r\nEretmocerus eremicus (a parasitic wasp) for the control of whitefly pests in Integrated Crop Management systems. (Leaf eating species.)\r\nHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) for the control of black vine weevil in gardens, soft fruit and nursery stock; and for garden chafer. (Root damaging species.)\r\nHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) in the products known as 'Larvanem' for the control of black vine weevil in soft fruits and ornamental crops and 'Terranem' for the control of the larvae of scarabaeidae beetles (white grubs) in turf. (Root damaging species.)\r\nSteinernema carpocapse, steinernema feltiae and heterorhabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) for the control of vine weevil, wireworm, strawberry root weevil, carrot fly maggot, cutworms, leatherjackets, larvae of sciaidae family, cabbage worm and chafer grub in ornamentals, nursery stock, soft fruit, vegetable crops and turf. (Root damaging species.)\r\nNeoseiulus californicus (a mite) for the control of two-spotted spider mites and fruit tree spider mite in Integrated Crop Management systems. (Leaf eating species.)\r\nMacrolophus pygmaeus (an insect) for the control of whitefly pests and other pests in Integrated Crop Management systems. (Leaf eating species.)\r\n2013 - 11 licences issued:\r\nAmblyseius swirskii (a mite) for the control of glasshouse whitefly, tobacco whitefly, western flower thrips and two-spotted spider mite. (Leaf eating species)\r\nAmblydromalus limonicus (a mite) for the control of glasshouse whitefly, tobacco whitefly, western flower thrips and onion thrips. (Leaf eating species)\r\nDelphastus catalinae (a beetle) for the control of glasshouse whitefly, tobacco whitefly. (Leaf eating species)\r\nHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) for the control of black vine weevil in gardens, soft fruit and nursery stock; and for garden chafer. This licence was later amended for a name change. (Root damaging species.)\r\nHeterohabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) for (a) the control of chafer on golf greens and fairways (excludes rough areas, sand dunes, dune slacks or other parts of golf courses which have not been reseeded with sports turf grasses) and sports fields and (b) the control of black vine weevil larvae in greenhouses and nurseries. (Root damaging species.)\r\nSteinernema carpocapsae (a nematode) for the control of leatherjacket larvae in turf and caterpillars in greenhouses. This licence permits the licensee to sell this species to growers and growers to release the species subject to compliance with the conditions of this licence. (Root damaging species.)\r\nHeterohabditis bacteriophora (a nematode) for (a) the control of chafer on golf greens and fairways (but excluding rough areas, sand dunes, dune slacks or other parts of golf courses which have not been reseeded with sports turf grasses) and sports fields and (b) the control of black vine weevil larvae in greenhouses and nurseries. (Root damaging species.)\r\nHeterorhabditis downesi (a nematode) for the control of black vine weevil larvae, chafer grubs and pine weevil larvae on nursery crops, soft fruit, home gardens, golf courses, sports fields, spruce and pine stumps. (Root damaging species.)\r\nSteinernema carpocapsae (a nematode) for the control of leatherjackets in turf and gardens, pine weevils in forests, codling moth in orchards and dipteran pests in greenhouses. (Root and fruit damaging species.)\r\nSteinernema carpocapse, steinernema feltiae","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:04.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297074,"EventID":"S4W-22519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:05.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T10:47:06.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid to farmers on Islay under (a) the single farm payment scheme, (b) the less favoured area support scheme and (c) other CAP funding streams in each of the last five years; how many recipients there were, and what the average payment was under each stream.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided below as follows:\r\n(a) The single farm payment scheme – see table 1. \r\n(b) The less favoured area support scheme – see table 2.\r\n(c) Other CAP funding streams – see tables 3, 4, and 5. \r\n \r\nTable 1 - Single Farm Payment Scheme Payment Information\r\nYEAR\r\n \r\nSingle Farm Payment Scheme\r\n2009\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£3,096,339.91 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n110\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£28,148.54 \r\n2010\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£3,049,831.61 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n110\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£27,725.74 \r\n2011\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£3,185,223.47 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n108\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£29,492.81 \r\n2012\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£3,044,159.30 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n106\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£28,718.48 \r\n2013\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,991,747.30 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n104\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£19,151.42 \r\nAll Years – Average \r\nSpend (A)\r\n£14,367,301.59 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n538\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£26,705.02 \r\nTable 2 - Less Favoured Area Support Scheme Payment Information\r\nYEAR\r\n \r\nLess Favoured Support Scheme\r\n2009\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,148,022.63 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n111\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£10,342.55 \r\n2010\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,273,638.33 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n106\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£12,015.46 \r\n2011\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,319,922.76 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n106\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£12,452.10 \r\n2012\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,317,298.52 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n110\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£11,975.44 \r\n2013\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,320,463.69 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n100\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£13,204.64 \r\nAll Years - Average\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£6,379,345.93 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n533\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£11,968.75 \r\nTable 3 - Other Funding Streams - Part 1 - Payment Information\r\nYEAR\r\n \r\nScottish Beef Calf Scheme/Scottish Beef Scheme\r\n2009\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£259,630.80 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n65\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,994.32 \r\n2010\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£244,875.48 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n64\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,826.18 \r\n2011\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£200,511.89 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n60\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,341.86 \r\n2012\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£202,822.56 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n64\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,169.10 \r\n2013\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£198,141.36 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n61\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,248.22 \r\nAll Years - Average\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,105,982.09 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n314\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£3,522.24 \r\n \r\n \r\nTable 4 - Other Funding Streams - Part 2 - Payment Information\r\nYEAR\r\n \r\nRural Priorities\r\nLand Mangers Contract Menu Scheme/Land Mangers Options\r\n2009\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£25,740.00\r\n£189,915.81 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n2\r\n71\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£12,870.00 \r\n£2,674.87 \r\n2010\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£797,034.57 \r\n£161,319.01 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n26\r\n71\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£30,655.18 \r\n£2,272.10 \r\n2011\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,015,667.59 \r\n£109,629.65 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n33\r\n67\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£30,777.81 \r\n£1,636.26 \r\n2012\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,824,707.84 \r\n£67,218.63 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n36\r\n45\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£50,686.33 \r\n£1,493.75 \r\n2013\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,094,220.80 \r\n£76,541.03 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n35\r\n49\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£31,263.45 \r\n£1,562.06 \r\nAll Years - Average\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£4,757,370.80 \r\n£604,624.13 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n132\r\n303\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£36,040.69 \r\n£1,995.46 \r\nTable 5 - Other Funding Streams - Part 3 - Payment Information\r\nYEAR\r\n \r\nCrofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme\r\nLegacy Agri-Environment Schemes\r\n2009\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£1,408.50 \r\n£193,522.95 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n1\r\n85\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\n£1,408.50 \r\n£2,276.74 \r\n2010\r\nSpend (A)\r\nNil \r\n£105,261.57 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\nNil\r\n39\r\n \r\nAverage payment (A ÷ B)\r\nN/A \r\n£2,699.01 \r\n2011\r\nSpend (A)\r\n£3,492.98 \r\n£67,095.19 \r\n \r\nNumber of Recipients (B)\r\n2\r\n43\r\n \r\nAverage paymen","AnswerDate":"2014-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:05.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297075,"EventID":"S4W-22520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:05.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T13:30:55.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what changes are planned for Police Scotland (a) annual leave entitlements and (b) shift patterns.\r\n","AnswerText":"All police staff are employed by the Scottish Police Authority whether under the direction and control of the Chief Executive or the Chief Constable. As such, terms and conditions, including annual leave entitlements and shift patterns, are a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland. Police Scotland’s corporate strategy sets out plans to standardise terms and conditions of employment and any material changes to them require ministerial approval.\r\nFor police officers there are currently no proposals to change annual leave entitlements, beyond that already set out in the Police Negotiating Board circular 2014-15 (see following link). Shift patterns are a matter for the Chief Constable.\r\nhttp://www.local.gov.uk/documents/10180/6144395/2014-5+EXCHANGE+OF+PUBLIC+HOLIDAYS+FOR+ANNUAL+LEAVE+FINAL.pdf/5f2d8ce1-81d3-4336-b773-c3c7b22b1e81\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:06.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297076,"EventID":"S4W-22521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:06.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T13:30:55.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority in relation to proposed changes to Police Scotland annual leave entitlements and shift patterns.\r\n","AnswerText":"All police staff are employed by the Scottish Police Authority whether under the direction and control of the Chief Executive or the Chief Constable. As such, terms and conditions, including annual leave entitlements and shift patterns, are a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland. Police Scotland’s corporate strategy sets out plans to standardise terms and conditions of employment and any material changes to them require ministerial approval. No discussions have taken place with the Scottish Government regarding annual leave or shift patterns.\r\nFor police officers annual leave is a matter for discussion and negotiation through the Police Negotiating Board, of which the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland are members. The annual leave entitlement for officers was changed in March 2014 and these changes were set out in the Police Negotiating Board circular 2014-15 (see following link). Shift patterns are a matter for the Chief Constable and no discussions have taken place with the Scottish Government on shift patterns.\r\nhttp://www.local.gov.uk/documents/10180/6144395/2014-5+EXCHANGE+OF+PUBLIC+HOLIDAYS+FOR+ANNUAL+LEAVE+FINAL.pdf/5f2d8ce1-81d3-4336-b773-c3c7b22b1e81\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:06.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297077,"EventID":"S4W-22522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:06.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T13:30:55.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many policy officers with responsibility for constitutional reform are employed in (a) its directorates, (b) its agencies, (c) NDPBs and (d) public corporations.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) directorates: \r\nAs part of their normal duties, civil servants provide support on relevant aspects of the Scottish Government’s work. Staff contribute to constitutional policy development from within their own subject areas as and when required. For details of the staff of the election and constitution division as at 31 March 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 I refer the member to the published information on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/constitution/About/constitution-SG-staffing \r\n(b) agencies: \r\nI have asked the chief executives of executive agencies to respond. Their responses are as follows:\r\nExecutive agencies\r\nNumber of policy officers with responsibility for constitutional reform as of date of question\r\nAccountant in Bankruptcy\r\n1 full-time equivalent\r\nDisclosure Scotland\r\n0\r\nEducation Scotland \r\n0\r\nHistoric Scotland\r\n0\r\nScottish Prison Service\r\n0\r\nScottish Public Pensions Agency\r\n1.5 full-time equivalent \r\nStudent Awards Agency for Scotland\r\n0\r\nTransport Scotland\r\n2 full-time equivalent \r\n(c) NDPBs and (d) public corporations:\r\nStaffing is a matter for individual NDPBs and public corporations. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:06.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297078,"EventID":"S4W-22523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:07.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T13:30:55.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in relation to (a) road tax and (b) vehicle registration in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"Decisions on vehicle excise duty will be made by the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland. Page 417 of Scotland’s Future addresses several key questions around the current Scottish Government's priorities for motoring services in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:07.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297079,"EventID":"S4W-22524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-27T15:14:07.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T13:30:55.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether vehicle owners in Scotland will keep their current vehicle registration numbers in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. Page 417 of Scotland’s Future addresses several key questions around the current Scottish Government's priorities for motoring services in an independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-24T15:14:08.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297080,"EventID":"S4W-22525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:03.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-27T15:41:36.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many seals were shot under licence in the (a) first and (b) second reporting periods in 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of seals shot under licence in the first and second reporting periods in 2014 is outlined in the following table: \r\n\r\nQuarter 1\r\nQuarter 2\r\nGrey seals\r\n25\r\n68\r\nCommon seals\r\n10\r\n9\r\nThese figures, of 35 seals shot in Q1 and 77 seals shot in Q2, compared to, 85 in Q1 in 2013 and 95 in Q2 in 2013.\r\nFurther information can be found on the Scottish Government website at:-\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/SealLicensing.\r\nInformation on the subsequent two reporting periods of 2014 will be published on this website in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:04.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297081,"EventID":"S4W-22526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:05.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-28T10:27:29.197","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its Home Report consultation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is carrying out a scheduled five year policy review of the Home Report. The first stage of this review, a public consultation, ran from December 2013 to the end of February 2014 and the analysis of responses is available on the Scottish Government website at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/05/2311.\r\nThe second phase of the review, a research study, is now under way and will consider and build on the interim review and the findings from the consultation to evaluate how the Home Report has performed over its five years of operation.\r\nWe anticipate that the research report and key findings summary paper will be published on the Scottish Government website by early 2015, and that the Scottish Government will publish its response to the five year review at that stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:05.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297082,"EventID":"S4W-22527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:05.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-28T13:08:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what NHS support is available to people who have Prader-Willi syndrome.","AnswerText":"There are a range of services and support for people with Prader-Willi syndrome. For example, for specialist care there is a Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic, held quarterly at the Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Yorkhill Glasgow. In addition, care and on-going support in childhood is provided through paediatrics, community paediatrics and specialist education for children. Similarly, input from dietetics, endocrine and medical services is available to those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome as part of routine NHS provision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:05.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297083,"EventID":"S4W-22528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:06.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-28T13:08:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial help is available to people who have Prader-Willi syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"People with Prader-Willi syndrome are entitled to apply for all relevant benefits. Advice on benefits is available from: \r\nhttps://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits or by telephone on: 0345 712 3456.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:06.337","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297084,"EventID":"S4W-22529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:07.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-28T13:08:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it offers to local authorities seeking to support people with Prader-Willi syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (www.pwsa.co.uk) provides advice to local authorities and to families affected by the condition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:07.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297085,"EventID":"S4W-22530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-08-28T15:14:07.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-08-28T13:08:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland have been diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-25T15:14:07.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297100,"EventID":"S4W-22531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-02T15:03:30.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-02T14:35:34.463","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to reduce the number of drug-related deaths in Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2013, 526 drug related deaths were registered in Scotland, which is 9% fewer than in 2012. I am not complacent however, and any loss of life is a tragedy for all those it affects.\r\nI have asked the Scottish Drugs Forum to undertake specific work with Scotland’s Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to assist them in developing and implementing local death prevention strategies. Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health and I jointly wrote to councillor Matt Kerr, Chair of City of Glasgow ADP, on 6 August 2014 encouraging him to take up this offer of support which will build on the positive and excellent work being undertaken in Glasgow through the death prevention sub group. \r\nWe continue to increase the reach and coverage of the national naloxone programme by increasing the number of kits supplied to people at risk of opiate overdose. This financial year, the Scottish Government has provided £9.9 million to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to enable them to deliver nationally agreed core outcomes and local outcomes for alcohol and drugs services including tackling drug related deaths. \r\nWe also continue to work closely with independent experts like the National Forum on Drug Related Deaths and others to better understand the issue and identify solutions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-09-30T15:03:31.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297120,"EventID":"S4W-22533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-03T15:18:00.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-03T14:19:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made on the legality, under human rights legislation, of the current position whereby couples with children in the home are unable to access NHS-funded infertility treatments.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is not the practice of government to disclose the content of legal advice provided to it, or indeed whether legal advice has been sought or provided to it. Nevertheless, we can confirm that the Scottish Government is satisfied that our policy on access to IVF treatments, and all guidance issued to NHS boards is consistent with the requirements of the ECHR.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-01T15:18:00.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297121,"EventID":"S4W-22534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-03T15:18:01.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-03T14:19:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when in 2015 it will review its current position that couples with children in the home should not have access to NHS-funded infertility treatments.\r\n","AnswerText":"As recommended by the National Infertility Group, the Scottish Government is committed to the 2015 review. The expert National Infertility Group will be reconvened towards the end of 2014, and will undertake their review in early 2015. The child in the home criteria will be reviewed at this stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-01T15:18:01.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297122,"EventID":"S4W-22535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-03T15:18:01.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-03T14:19:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use to consider whether to reverse its current position that couples with children in the home should not have access to NHS-funded infertility treatments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group recommended that the criteria used to consider further access criteria changes to NHS funded IVF treatment, including the child in the home criteria, should include the following:\r\na) impact of access criteria changes made in July 2013\r\nb) emerging clinical evidence in light of new treatment pathways\r\nc) capacity\r\nd) available funding\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-01T15:18:01.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297131,"EventID":"S4W-22536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-04T15:00:27.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-04T11:08:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help disabled people to gain and retain employment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government places great value on the contribution disabled workers can make to our economy, and is committed to supporting disabled people to enter and sustain employment.\r\nWhile the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has primary responsible for delivering employment services for disabled people in Scotland, the Scottish Government supports a range of activity to complement and add value to the DWP’s offer.\r\nWe support the employability of disabled people by funding a number of programmes and initiatives which include dedicated support for disabled people, for example through employment recruitment initiatives and graduate internships. We also work with local authorities to promote the supported employment framework, a model which places and trains disabled people in work, while supporting their transition to mainstream employment.\r\nThe value of employment for disabled people is also embedded in our approach to health and wellbeing, through for example, our mental health strategy and ‘keys to life’ learning disability strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-02T15:00:27.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297132,"EventID":"S4W-22538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-04T15:00:27.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-04T12:02:00.89","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from use of the 101 telephone number, and what plans it has to provide callers with a notice that a charge of 15p will be incurred.","AnswerText":"The introduction of the 101 number has allowed for the cost of a non-emergency call to become standardised and transparent across the whole of the UK for the first time.\r\nThere are no plans for a national campaign about the 15p charge. Information on the 101 number and the 15p charge is already available on the Police Scotland website. Neither the Police nor the Scottish Government receive money from calls to 101. The 15p cost of the call goes to the telephony providers to cover the cost of carrying the calls. The 15p charge per call to the 101 number was set and is regulated by the Home Office.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-02T15:00:28.013","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297137,"EventID":"S4W-22539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-05T14:29:03.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-05T12:04:05.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a universal flat cost for Home Reports as part of its review of their operation.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have no powers to set the cost of Home Reports under the existing Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and costs are determined by the market.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s scheduled five year review of the Home Report will examine how well the Home Report is meeting its original objectives and consider if those objectives are still appropriate, examine how it is operating in the current market, and explore in detail various issues that have been raised both by the general public and stakeholders since its introduction.\r\nThe Scottish Government will set out its response to the findings of the review, including any proposed actions or amendments, once the research report and key findings summary paper have been published on the Scottish Government website (expected by early 2015).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-03T14:29:03.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297141,"EventID":"S4W-22540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-08T12:32:29.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-05T14:50:41.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is consistent support for teachers and others working with young people in the event of them being subject to threats, abuse and allegations.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government takes the issue of threats and abuse in schools very seriously.\r\nHowever, the employment and welfare of teachers in schools is a matter for local authorities. As employers, each authority will have support provisions in place to help support teachers who have been subject to threats abuse and allegations.\r\nThe Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools published guidance in March 2013 better relationships, better learning, better behaviour in response to the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research 2012 This guidance encourages the development and implementation of school policies which promote positive behaviour and relationships through whole school ethos and values, something which the research notes is considered by staff to be the most helpful approach in schools.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:32:29.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297142,"EventID":"S4W-22541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-08T12:32:30.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-05T14:50:41.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to local authorities on how to support teachers and others working with young people in the event of them being subject to threats, abuse and allegations.\r\n","AnswerText":"The General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct offers guidance to teachers as to how they should behave in relation to pupils which, if adhered to, should minimise the risk of complaints and/or allegations being made against them. In addition, the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s website explains how they deal with any complaints and/or allegation against teachers that they receive: http://www.gtcs.org.uk/fitness-to-teach/teacher-complaints.aspx.\r\nThe Scottish Government issued revised guidance in September 2011 on handling of allegations against members of school staff. Schools and local authorities must have procedures in place that meet the needs of both staff and children and young people. It is important that these procedures dovetail with disciplinary and child protection procedures.\r\nEducation Scotland's Rights, Support and Wellbeing Team continue to work with local authorities and schools to review, develop, plan and implement policy frameworks on positive relationships and behaviour.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:32:30.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297143,"EventID":"S4W-22542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-08T12:32:30.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-05T14:50:53.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a minimum national set of (a) standards or (b) qualifications for people appointed as quality improvement officers for local authorities.  \r\n","AnswerText":"There are no nationally defined standards or qualifications for Quality Improvements Officers (QIOs). Standards and qualifications required for people appointed as QIOs are set by local authority employers.\r\nThe definition of the type of work to be undertaken by staff carrying out the role of the QIO in the education service is agreed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) and published on the SNCT website\r\nhttp://www.snct.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Part_2_Section_2\r\nEmployers would be expected to ensure that those recruited into such posts would have the necessary skills and competencies to undertake these requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:32:30.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297154,"EventID":"S4W-22551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-09T13:06:45.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-08T22:44:49.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is routine testing of prisoners for learning disability and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) does not currently routinely and systematically screen prisoners for learning disability. Potential learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD) issues are identified through a variety of means including the application of literacies screening tools for those choosing to engage in learning or observations by SPS, education or health centre staff and SPS to address the presenting needs of prisoners identified through these means.\r\nThe principal reason that SPS does not routinely screen prisoners for LDD is that until recently, there has been no comprehensive tool available to identify the needs of this cohort group. We have therefore relied on the transfer of information accompanying the individual from health, social services or justice representatives to inform of any hidden disabilities that may be present.\r\nSPS does recognise that LDD is a significant issue amongst the prisoner population and is committed to improving our assessment processes and provision of services. We are currently testing a number of approaches including piloting. This is a comprehensive screening tool providing a ‘red flag’ indicator across the spectrum of LDD conditions.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-07T13:06:45.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297162,"EventID":"S4W-22552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-10T15:00:36.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-10T11:07:22.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the World Health Organization's recommendation that the use of e-cigarettes indoors should be banned.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government agrees that electronic cigarettes need appropriate regulation. While we accept that the devices may potentially help people smoke fewer cigarettes, or even stop altogether, there is concern that they could also re-normalise smoking.\r\nThe Scottish Government has already said that we will introduce a restriction on the age at which an e-cigarette can be purchased to protect young people. We are exploring what more can be done in Scotland now that the European Tobacco Products Directive has set out its measures for regulation and we will consider all available options to protect public health. We will continue to monitor all evidence as well as advice from the World Health Organisation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T15:00:37.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297163,"EventID":"S4W-22553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-10T15:00:37.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-10T11:07:22.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how additional investment in patient flow will improve waiting time performance in NHS Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government has invested substantial resources in NHS Lanarkshire to improve emergency waiting times for patients and enhance local delivery at hospital level. The investment is closely aligned to the recommendations of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Review.\r\nThe additional investment in terms of patient flow will focus on ensuring the sufficiency of senior decision makers within the emergency department and receiving units, delivering on the internal processes and good practice to maximise flow and reducing the level of patients delayed from hospital.\r\nTo support this, the board has successfully piloted a ‘rapid assessment team’ in the accident and emergency department at Monklands, and plans to build on this pilot to deliver sustainable services. Additional medical staff working over the weekend will maximise the discharge of patients, while fully utilising the discharge lounges across all sites. There will also be further development of ambulatory care pathways and a realignment of beds where appropriate.\r\nThese actions, along with the use of electronic whiteboards and daily ward rounds, will support the timely, safe flow of patients through the system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T15:00:37.337","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297167,"EventID":"S4W-22554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:31.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-10T12:40:21.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the findings of the Prostate Cancer UK report, Men United v Prostate Cancer: Five inequalities, five solutions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the findings of the Prostate Cancer UK report. Cancer remains a high priority for the Scottish Government and we have a number of on-going work streams which will help to address the inequalities highlighted by the report, including the Detect Cancer Early programme and the recent review and update of the cancer referral guidelines.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:32.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297168,"EventID":"S4W-22555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:32.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-10T12:40:21.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement that robot-assisted surgery is to be introduced by the NHS for prostate cancer patients, whether it will include Prostate Cancer UK as part of the group of charities to be consulted on the second facility proposed for the central belt.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. Prostate Cancer UK will have an opportunity to comment on plans once they have been developed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:32.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297169,"EventID":"S4W-22556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:32.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-11T09:57:45.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement Prostate Cancer UK’s call for (a) a national cancer patient experience survey that will carry analysis by (i) region, (ii) ethnicity and (iii) age and (b) the inclusion of prostate cancer in the next phase of the Detect Cancer Early Initiative, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.         \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cancer Taskforce discussed the possibility of a cancer patient experience survey in Scotland in their meeting on 27 June 2014. The taskforce agreed that further investigation should take place, including examination of the methodology behind the surveys which have taken place in other parts of the UK. This will be discussed at the next meeting of the taskforce on 3 October 2014.\r\nThe Detect Cancer Early Programme Board has discussed the inclusion of additional tumour groups, including tumours of the prostate, into the programme, and has consulted with clinicians and members of the Scottish Cancer Coalition through an options appraisal process. This data is being further analysed, and will be discussed at the next meeting of the Detect Cancer Early Programme Board in October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:32.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297170,"EventID":"S4W-22557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:33.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-11T09:57:45.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement Prostate Cancer UK’s call to (a) increase (i) GP and (ii) patient awareness of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme and (b) develop national guidelines on the management of each of the possible life-changing side effects of prostate cancer treatment, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"A Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme information pack was issued to GPs across NHS Scotland, urologists and histopathologists working in Scottish hospitals, and also those working in Scottish prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing laboratories in 2009. This was subsequently tailored to suit a Scottish audience and is available on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Services/Cancer/Risk-Management\r\nThe pack provides guidance to medical practitioners on the information and help that should be provided to patients before PSA testing is undertaken, and the support that may be required by men as they deal with the consequences of the PSA test and any resulting diagnosis.\r\nIn order to help men decide whether or not to take the test, an information sheet has been provided to give balanced information about the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. This can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00398270.pdf\r\nIt is for the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network to determine priorities for development of Scottish national clinical guidelines. We also expect clinicians to take account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guideline No. 175 (January 2014) on Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer Guideline No. 175 (January 2014) on Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer, which includes advice on managing patients with serious complications of treatment including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and radiation-induced enteropathy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:33.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297171,"EventID":"S4W-22558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:33.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-11T13:52:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated each local authority in 2014-15 to enable them to fully mitigate the so-called bedroom tax through the use of discretionary housing payments.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested can be found in the following table:\r\n\r\nDWP funding\r\nSG funding allocated to date\r\nTotal\r\nAberdeen\r\n£308,438\r\n£842,096\r\n£1,150,534\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n£480,948\r\n£441,326\r\n£922,274\r\nAngus\r\n£357,857\r\n£328,376\r\n£686,233\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n£409,580\r\n£375,838\r\n£785,418\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n£176,383\r\n£416,208\r\n£592,591\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n£732,662\r\n£672,303\r\n£1,404,965\r\nDundee\r\n£484,174\r\n£1,328,521\r\n£1,812,695\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n£322,608\r\n£1,110,356\r\n£1,432,964\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n£102,435\r\n£274,005\r\n£376,440\r\nEast Lothian\r\n£122,558\r\n£304,923\r\n£427,481\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n£67,736\r\n£193,154\r\n£260,890\r\nEdinburgh\r\n£1,533,120\r\n£2,986,782\r\n£4,519,902\r\nEilean Siar\r\n£109,743\r\n£100,702\r\n£210,445\r\nFalkirk\r\n£258,058\r\n£955,637\r\n£1,213,695\r\nFife\r\n£693,077\r\n£2,267,467\r\n£2,960,544\r\nGlasgow\r\n£2,724,843\r\n£5,812,024\r\n£8,536,867\r\nHighland\r\n£1,178,903\r\n£1,081,781\r\n£2,260,684\r\nInverclyde\r\n£210,794\r\n£671,144\r\n£881,938\r\nMidlothian\r\n£183,798\r\n£510,664\r\n£694,462\r\nMoray\r\n£228,368\r\n£209,554\r\n£437,922\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n£408,703\r\n£1,356,641\r\n£1,765,344\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n£692,677\r\n£2,166,541\r\n£2,859,218\r\nOrkney\r\n£50,592\r\n£46,424\r\n£97,016\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n£380,620\r\n£349,263\r\n£729,883\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n£369,000\r\n£1,243,136\r\n£1,612,136\r\nScottish Borders\r\n£464,841\r\n£426,546\r\n£891,387\r\nShetland\r\n£71,267\r\n£65,396\r\n£136,663\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n£305,618\r\n£720,046\r\n£1,025,664\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n£638,098\r\n£1,833,922\r\n£2,472,020\r\nStirling\r\n£420,609\r\n£385,958\r\n£806,567\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n£339,751\r\n£1,220,039\r\n£1,559,790\r\nWest Lothian\r\n£402,484\r\n£1,303,226\r\n£1,705,710\r\nSCOTLAND\r\n£15,230,343\r\n£ 32,000,000\r\n£47,230,343\r\n\r\nAn additional £3 million of Scottish Government funding will be distributed in May 2015 according to local authorities’ actual expenditure on discretionary housing payments. This distribution was agreed with COSLA on 29 August 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:33.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297172,"EventID":"S4W-22559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-11T15:02:33.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-11T13:52:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when local authorities received funding to enable them to fully mitigate the so-called bedroom tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"The initial allocation of £20 million was included in the 2014-15 local government finance settlement from 1 April 2014 and is being paid to individual local authorities on a weekly basis as part of their general revenue grant allocations. An additional £15 million was held back whilst negotiations were ongoing with the UK Government around the removal of the cap on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). Following agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, £12 million of this will be paid in the last two weeks of March 2015, the remaining £3 million being paid in May 2015 following the publication of DHP statistics which will allow the Scottish Government to reimburse local authorities according to actual DHP expenditure.\r\nThe funding was announced in advance of the Scottish budget in February 2014 and I wrote to each local authority on 28 March 2014 to confirm that they would receive sufficient funding to fully mitigate the bedroom tax in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T15:02:33.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297177,"EventID":"S4W-22543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:12:58.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether every firefighter is trained in the use of breathing apparatus.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:12:58.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297178,"EventID":"S4W-22544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:12:59.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been employed in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in each of the last five years, broken down by staff category.","AnswerText":"Statistics on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service workforce can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubFireRescue. Data for 2013-14 will be published in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:12:59.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297179,"EventID":"S4W-22545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:00.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many trained fire and rescue personnel have been available to be called out in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:00.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297180,"EventID":"S4W-22546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:00.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many fire engines in the Highlands are no longer on call due to lack of trained staff.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:00.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297181,"EventID":"S4W-22547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:00.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many fire stations are sufficiently crewed to respond to fire and rescue incidents in the Highlands and Islands.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), however information on the availability of Retained Duty System crews can be found on the draft Quarterly Performance Report published by SFRS among the papers for the September board meeting at this link: \r\nhttp://www.firescotland.gov.uk/media/669939/140925_item_8.4b_quarter1_performance_report_draft_new_format_appendix_1.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:00.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297182,"EventID":"S4W-22548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:01.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average, (b) minimum and (c) maximum response time is to attend fire and rescue incidents in (i) Inverness, (ii) the rest of the Highlands, (iii) Shetland, (iv) Orkney and (v) the Western Isles.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally. However, response time information by Service Delivery Area can be found on the draft Quarterly Performance Report published by SFRS among the papers for the September board meeting at this link:\r\nhttp://www.firescotland.gov.uk/media/669939/140925_item_8.4b_quarter1_performance_report_draft_new_format_appendix_1.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:01.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297183,"EventID":"S4W-22549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:01.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out of the (a) training, (b) IT support, (c) response times and (d) other outcomes resulting from the establishment of the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.","AnswerText":"As outlined in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Governance and Accountability Framework, the Scottish Government assesses the performance of the SFRS on a continuous basis and undertakes a formal review at least twice a year.\r\nThe criteria for appraisal of the SFRS is laid out in the letter to the Chair of the SFRS, Pat Watters, which has been published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0046/00460007.pdf\r\nIn addition, Her Majesty’s Fire Inspectorate Service exists to provide independent, risk based and proportionate professional inspection of the SFRS. Since the establishment of the SFRS it has published two relevant reports, An Overview of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Equal Access to National Capacity. Reports are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00437774.pdf\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00451034.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:02.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297184,"EventID":"S4W-22550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:02.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-06T15:39:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the benefits are of the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to (a) staff and (b) the public.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has identified three benefits to fire reform. First, to safeguard and improve local services while reducing costs, second, to create more equal access to specialist fire and rescue services across the country, and third, to strengthen the connection between the fire and rescue service and local communities.\r\nIn its Strategic Plan 2013-16, published in October 2013, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service identified the four strategic aims for the single service as improved safety for communities and staff, more equitable access to fire and rescue services, improved outcomes through partnership and a culture of continuous development.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:02.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297185,"EventID":"S4W-22560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:02.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-13T16:43:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS Lanarkshire to address the reported staff shortages in emergency medicine.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is supporting NHS Lanarkshire in aligning its staff to meet patient demand and the implementation of a number of site-specific actions.\r\nIn NHS Lanarkshire, the number of A&E consultants has risen by over 300 per cent since 2006, from 8 whole time equivalent (WTE) to 32.2 WTE.\r\nA recent international recruitment exercise for accident and emergency and acute medicine trainee doctors has led to NHS Lanarkshire successfully recruiting to an ST4 Emergency Medicine post.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:02.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297186,"EventID":"S4W-22561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-15T15:13:03.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:04:23.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Men's Health Forum Scotland regarding the future of the Men's 10k, which may close due to lack of funding, and what its response is to the petition on Change.org calling for investment in the future of the event.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government have not been approached by the Men’s Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) regarding the future of the Glasgow Men’s 10k run.\r\nWe recognise the importance of promoting men’s health and that’s why we provided over £500,000 to Men’s Health Forum Scotland between 2007 and 2012 through the Keep Well budget and Section 16b of the General Grants Scheme.\r\nIt has been highlighted to MHFS on a number of occasions that for any business to be sustainable central government funding cannot be relied upon given the economic climate. They have been encouraged to pro-actively seek alternative funding streams to help the organisation develop an effective sustainable business model.\r\nI understand that there have been issues in securing funding for the 2015 Glasgow Men’s 10k event. This type of event can be a fun and visible way to promote causes such as better men’s health. It is essential however that such events be sustainable as well as successful. The Scottish Government provide funding to Jog Scotland who have provided expert advice and support to Men’s Health Forum Scotland in marketing the 2014 event and organising the associated 5k run. I have therefore asked my officials to meet with Men’s Health Forum Scotland to explore all options that would allow the 2015 and future events to happen successfully and sustainably.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-13T15:13:03.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297189,"EventID":"S4O-03511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:38.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:28:25.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reducing the number of senior managers in the NHS.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:40.2","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297190,"EventID":"S4O-03512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:41.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:29:27.573","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many consultants work in NHS Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:41.403","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297191,"EventID":"S4O-03513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:41.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:44:15.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing medical staffing issues in NHS Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:41.743","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297192,"EventID":"S4O-03514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:41.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:10.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:41.963","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297193,"EventID":"S4O-03515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:42.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:11.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it is providing to address delayed discharges.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:42.277","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297194,"EventID":"S4O-03516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:42.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:36:26.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS homeopathic and complementary medicine arrangements in South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:42.713","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297195,"EventID":"S4O-03517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:42.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T11:22:59.063","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it is providing to the Scottish Ambulance Service in light of it not meeting a range of targets. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:42.963","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297196,"EventID":"S4O-03518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:43.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:27:22.013","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to improve support for unpaid carers.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:43.197","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297197,"EventID":"S4O-03519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:43.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T16:26:49.6","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research has been undertaken to determine if there is a link between the intake of sugar and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:43.43","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297198,"EventID":"S4O-03520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:43.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:12.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what issues it discussed when it last met NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:43.71","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297199,"EventID":"S4O-03521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:44.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:13.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for children who require an upgraded cochlear implant processor.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:44.32","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297200,"EventID":"S4O-03522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:44.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T14:03:20.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it is undertaking of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework 2011-15 and when it will publish the framework for work beyond 2015.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:44.693","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297201,"EventID":"S4O-03523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:44.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T16:45:14.99","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on NHS Fife would be of the reported shortfall of up to £450 million in NHS funding.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:44.927","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297202,"EventID":"S4O-03524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:45.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:13.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how frontline services would be affected if the reported £400 million reduction in NHS funding is implemented.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:45.147","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297203,"EventID":"S4O-03525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:45.49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:14.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the provision of accessible GP services for people in remote and rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:45.503","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297204,"EventID":"S4O-03526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:45.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:14.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will have on the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could deliver economic benefits for Scotland and has been engaging with the UK Government to maximise the benefits of TTIP for Scotland.\r\nEconomic gains should not come at any price and I am aware that stakeholders have concerns about aspects of TTIP.\r\nGiven the vital importance of the NHS to the people of Scotland and concerns about the impact of TTIP on the NHS, I wrote to the UK Secretary of State for Health at the beginning of August 2014 seeking explicit protection for the NHS in TTIP negotiations. I have not yet had a response.\r\nI have also written to the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Tonio Borg, seeking similar assurances. I have asked to meet him as a matter of urgency to seek guarantees that policy decisions of the Scottish Government on the NHS in Scotland would in no way be affected by TTIP.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:45.847","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297205,"EventID":"S4O-03527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:46.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:14.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how IVF and other infertility services will be affected by possible NHS budget reductions.","AnswerText":"There are no planned budget reductions to IVF or other infertility services, nor indeed wider NHS budgets. The Scottish Government has a record of protecting and increasing the NHS budget, and our latest £12.1 billion resource budget reflects a funding increase in real terms for both 2014-15 and 2015-16.\r\nThat is why we’re improving IVF services by committing to providing equitable access to IVF treatment and a maximum waiting time of 12 months for IVF by 31 March 2015. To support this, we have invested £6 million in IVF services over the last two years, specifically to reduce IVF waiting times, with a further £6 million being invested in the current financial year 2014-15.\r\nThis funding has made a dramatic impact in reducing waiting times for IVF treatment in all areas across Scotland, with the majority of centres having waiting times of less than 12 months. To ensure waiting times remain at 12 months or less, a further £6 million IVF funding is planned for 2015-16, subject to parliamentary approval of the draft budget.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:46.207","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297206,"EventID":"S4O-03528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:46.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:15.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the six NHS boards that did not meet the 26-week target for child and adolescent mental health services waiting times are able to do so, and are able to meet the new 18-week target from December 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have written to the boards concerned asking them to provide a detailed report on the current situation and the plans they have in place to accelerate the work to ensure delivery from December 2014.\r\nThe Scottish Government continues to provide support to health boards to deliver the target, including monthly monitoring of data submitted to NHS Information Services Division, and has been working with all NHS boards to identify priorities for additional support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:46.457","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297207,"EventID":"S4O-03529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:46.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T16:49:31.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to NHS boards covering remote and rural areas to provide necessary GP cover.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with NHS Highland to promote a range of initiatives to recruit and support GPs working in remote and rural areas throughout Scotland.\r\nOne strand of work, being supported by £1.5 million funding from the Scottish Government over four years, is to develop and test innovative ways of delivering healthcare in rural Scotland. This funding will be used for programme management and clinical leadership, technology and practice systems to support new models, training and community resilience work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:46.753","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297208,"EventID":"S4O-03530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:46.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:15.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met members of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers and government officials regularly meet with representatives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss matters of importance to local people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:46.987","MeetingDate":"2014-09-24T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297209,"EventID":"S4O-03531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:47.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:39:41.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will reduce poverty among disabled people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:47.237","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297210,"EventID":"S4O-03532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:47.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T15:57:55.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the latest date will be for the introduction of a local income tax.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:47.547","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297211,"EventID":"S4O-03533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:47.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:26.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce rail journey times between Perth and other Scottish cities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:47.97","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297212,"EventID":"S4O-03534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:48.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in tackling unemployment and increasing employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:48.203","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297213,"EventID":"S4O-03535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:48.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:33:44.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote high skilled, high quality jobs in the West Scotland region.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:48.437","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297214,"EventID":"S4O-03536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:48.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T15:19:56.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the turnout was of the referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:48.67","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297215,"EventID":"S4O-03537","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:48.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T09:36:59.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report, Challenges from the Frontline, which suggests that Barnardo’s Scotland is increasingly reporting extreme levels of destitution among the families of the vulnerable children that it works with.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:48.907","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297216,"EventID":"S4O-03538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:49.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:27.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to fairer pay for workers employed by private companies on public contracts.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:49.187","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297217,"EventID":"S4O-03539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:49.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-15T12:02:28.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet Orkney Islands Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since the outcome of the referendum I have spoken to all three Island Councils, and just this morning my ministerial colleague, Fergus Ewing met with Councillor James Stockan from Orkney Islands Council at the Island Renewables Delivery Forum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-09-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:49.42","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297218,"EventID":"S4O-03540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T14:57:49.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-16T12:10:29.077","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the arrangements relating to the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 and their operation.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T14:57:49.733","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297221,"EventID":"S4W-22563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T15:02:47.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T10:49:29.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) by whom the decision was taken to appoint Capita Resourcing Ltd (Surveys and Research) to undertake the NHS Scotland staff surveys for 2014 and 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following an open competitive procurement exercise and assessment of tenders by an evaluation panel, the contract for the NHSScotland staff survey was awarded to Capita Resourcing Ltd (Surveys and Research) on 25 June 2014 based upon receipt of the most technically and commercially compliant offer.\r\nThe evaluation panel contained representatives from NHS Employers, Staff Side partners and the Scottish Government.\r\nA decision on the 2015 staff survey, and whether to take up the option for Capita Resourcing (Surveys and Research) to continue to deliver the project, will be taken following assessment of 2014 survey contract deliverables, and will be subject to ministerial agreement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T15:02:47.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297222,"EventID":"S4W-22564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T15:02:47.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T10:49:29.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland was paid to carry out the NHS Scotland staff survey for 2013 and how much will be paid to Capita Resourcing Ltd (Surveys and Research) for the 2014 survey.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland signed a service level agreement with the Scottish Government to deliver the 2013 NHSScotland staff survey at a cost of £278,417 (including VAT). Following completion of work, some savings were realised and the final total paid to ISD was £231,443 (including VAT). Under the terms of the contract with Capita Resourcing Ltd (Surveys and Research), the Scottish Government will pay £261,128.40 (including VAT) for the fieldwork and analysis of the 2014 NHSScotland staff survey. This is subject to satisfactory delivery of the contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T15:02:47.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297223,"EventID":"S4W-22565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-17T15:02:48.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-17T10:49:29.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the 2014 and 2015 NHS Scotland staff surveys will not be carried out by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland.","AnswerText":"To ensure best value for money the Scottish Government took the decision to run an open and transparent competitive tendering procurement exercise for delivery of the NHSScotland staff survey for 2014 and 2015. In accordance with procurement guidelines the Scottish Government published an advert in Public Contracts Scotland on 28 March 2014 for interested parties to tender for the stated requirement. On this occasion the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland declined to submit a tender response.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-15T15:02:48.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297224,"EventID":"S4F-02284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:02.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T09:18:59.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:02.747","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297225,"EventID":"S4F-02286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:03.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T09:30:10.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:03.37","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297226,"EventID":"S4F-02288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:03.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T10:11:41.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:03.993","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297227,"EventID":"S4F-02289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:04.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T10:20:44.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on raising the minimum wage to £8 per hour.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:04.553","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297228,"EventID":"S4F-02290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:05.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T10:25:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to capitalise on the legacy of the Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:05.227","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297229,"EventID":"S4F-02296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T12:17:07.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T11:44:14.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to discuss with the UK Government extending the voting franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T12:17:07.567","MeetingDate":"2014-09-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297230,"EventID":"S4W-22567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:26.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of fraudulent disposition of deeds have been recorded in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"We do not hold this information.\r\nRegisters of Scotland are responsible for the registering of dispositions. However, Registers of Scotland would only know if a fraudulent deed had been registered if the fraud comes to light. Some deeds are registered in the Land Register and others in the Register of Sasines.\r\nIn the Land Register, a party affected by fraud can apply for rectification of the register. However, the Keeper of the Registers does not catalogue the applications for rectifications in such a way as to allow her to identify the number of rectifications sought as a consequence of fraud.\r\nIn the Register of Sasines, a fraudulent deed can be reduced by a decree of reduction granted by the courts. These decrees may be recorded in the sasines but that is not obligatory. A search of the sasines to examine decrees of reduction granted by the courts following the recording of a fraudulent deed would be time-consuming. In any event, any such search would not give a definitive answer given that some fraud may be undetected and, in other cases, the decree of reduction may not have been recorded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:26.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297231,"EventID":"S4W-22568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:27.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many compensatory awards the Law Society of Scotland has made to victims of fraudulent disposition of deeds from its Guarantee Fund and master policy in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The society have advised us that their information from October 2008 to date shows there have been no such awards during that period from the Guarantee Fund. The society have also advised us that information on awards from the Guarantee Fund is not held in a way which can be readily interrogated to uncover the number of fraudulent dispositions in each year since 1999. The society is seeking to establish if further information is available on awards from the master policy. I will write to the member once the society has provided us with further details. Some background on the Guarantee Fund and master policy generally is held on the Society’s website at: http://www.lawscot.org.uk/for-the-public/what-the-society-can-do-for-you/consumer-and-professional-protections/ \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:27.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297232,"EventID":"S4W-22569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:27.597","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many householders have lost their homes because of fraudulent disposition of deeds in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\nThe Scottish Government and the Keeper of the Registers do not know how many frauds there might be in total and how many frauds have led to an action of reduction in the courts. Even when a deed is reduced by the courts, the deed may not necessarily relate to a home – it could, for example, relate to a commercial property.\r\nHowever, our general expectation is that the number of cases of householders losing their homes because of fraudulent deeds will be low. This is particularly the case as even when fraud does take place, householders may not lose their homes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:27.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297233,"EventID":"S4W-22570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:27.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend conveyancing law to ensure that purchasers are offered greater protection.","AnswerText":"Registers of Scotland have recently completed a comprehensive overhaul of registration law in the form of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012. Three of the changes brought about by that Act, which is due to be implemented later this year, will enhance the protection afforded to parties to conveyancing transactions.\r\nFirst of all, the process of registering or recording a deed can take several weeks, or months. This creates a risk period during which the purchaser is exposed to the insolvency of the seller or a competing conveyance. The current solution is for the seller’s solicitors to provide a letter of obligation in which the firm undertakes to ensure that there is no impediment to the purchaser being registered as owner within a certain period, usually 14 days. The 2012 Act provides a mechanism to avoid the risk period by lodging an advance notice on the register. This provides protection against the registration of a competing conveyance and the insolvency of the seller for up to thirty five days from the date when the notice is lodged.\r\nSecondly, at the moment under the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979, if a mistake is made during the registration of a title in the Land Register then this cannot be altered except in very limited circumstances. Under changes made by the 2012 Act, it will be easier to rectify the Land Register.\r\nThirdly, the 2012 Act provides for a new statutory system of caveats. A caveat on the title sheet will effectively warn third parties of on-going litigation. This is not possible at present under the 1979 Act.\r\nIn addition, the Law Society are currently undertaking an independent review of the consumer protections which are in place for clients buying and selling property: http://www.lawscot.org.uk/news/2014/05/law-society-announces-independent-review-of-consumer-protections/. If the review should suggest that changes to the law might be required, the government will consider fully and carefully any points raised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:27.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297234,"EventID":"S4W-22571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:28.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Law Society of Scotland about fraudulent disposition of deeds.","AnswerText":"The Law Society of Scotland announced on 16 May 2014 the setting up of an independent review of the consumer protections which are in place for individuals buying and selling property in Scotland. This review will be carried out by former Sheriff Principal Bowen.\r\nThe Scottish Government discussed the review and related matters at one of our regular quarterly meetings at ministerial level with the society, held on 25 September 2014.\r\nIn addition, Registers of Scotland staff met with the society on 15 August 2014 to discuss a number of matters of common interest including fraud. Registers of Scotland staff also met with former Sheriff Principal Bowen on 21 July 2014 about the review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:28.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297235,"EventID":"S4W-22572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-22T16:54:28.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T14:03:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a submission to the Law Society of Scotland’s independent review of consumer protections for clients buying and selling property.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government do not plan to make a submission to the review. We will however, provide the society with any help or information it may require while carrying out the review. In addition, we will consider very carefully any recommendations made by the review which may impact on government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-06T16:54:28.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297264,"EventID":"S4O-03541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:24.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:56.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how full fiscal autonomy would impact on its strategic planning for areas that fall under the  Infrastructure, Investment and Cities portfolio.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:24.97","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297265,"EventID":"S4O-03542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:25.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:57.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will introduce the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:25.687","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297266,"EventID":"S4O-03543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:25.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:57.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what road transport projects it plans for South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:25.983","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297267,"EventID":"S4O-03544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:26.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:57.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed Aberdeen Harbour Development.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:26.31","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297268,"EventID":"S4O-03545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:26.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:58.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the impact on child poverty in Scotland of any UK Government freeze on child benefit.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:26.577","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297269,"EventID":"S4O-03546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:26.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:28:14.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to ensuring the continued viability of local bus services that have hospitals and other essential services on their routes.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:26.873","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297270,"EventID":"S4O-03547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:27.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:58.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has drawn from the funding for the Help to Buy scheme being fully allocated within three months.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:27.153","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297271,"EventID":"S4O-03548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:27.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T12:32:22.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how an extension of the 1% cap on child benefit to 2017 would impact on its poverty strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:27.607","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297272,"EventID":"S4O-03549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:27.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:59.567","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has of a link between the UK Government’s welfare policies and the increase in the number of people using foodbanks.","AnswerText":"The Trussell Trust reported that between April and June 2014 over 6,000 people used their Scottish foodbanks due to a benefit delay, 4,000 due to low income and 4,000 due to benefit changes.\r\nThese statistics reflect the conclusions of the report we published in December 2013 - that benefit changes and delays are a major cause of these increases. \r\nThat is why we are providing 26 projects with a total of over half a million pounds through our Emergency Food Fund, and why I continue to press the case to the UK Government that the most vulnerable people in our society must be protected, and that any changes to the welfare system must not further reduce their income.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:27.917","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297273,"EventID":"S4O-03550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:28.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:01:59.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the rollout of next generation broadband in South Scotland.","AnswerText":"The local authorities in the south of Scotland are key investment partners in the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.\r\nThe south of Scotland will receive upgraded infrastructure throughout the four year programme, which will run until the end of 2017.\r\nIn the first two phases of the programme, it has been confirmed that cabinets connected to the exchanges in Galashiels and Dumfries will receive fibre broadband. It has also been announced that the following exchange areas will be fibre-enabled: Amisfield, Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, and Earlston, Lauder, Melrose, Selkirk and St Boswells in Scottish Borders.\r\nBy the end of the programme, access to fibre broadband in the south of Scotland is expected to increase from 32% to 94% of premises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:28.197","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297274,"EventID":"S4O-03551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:28.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T10:55:34.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the positive outcomes are of the International Culture Summit held in Edinburgh in August 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:28.48","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297275,"EventID":"S4O-03552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:28.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:14.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent in 2013-14 on renovating historic buildings in West Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:28.823","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297276,"EventID":"S4O-03553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:29.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:14.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to analyse the impact of its 2014 major events strategy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:29.213","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297277,"EventID":"S4O-03554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:29.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:38:16.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to use its International Development Fund to provide support to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:29.507","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297278,"EventID":"S4O-03555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:29.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:15.13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support traditional Scottish music and dance.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:29.79","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297279,"EventID":"S4O-03556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:30.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:15.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and what matters were discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:30.337","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297280,"EventID":"S4O-03557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:30.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:15.91","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what figures it has on the closure of museums and libraries over the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:30.617","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297281,"EventID":"S4O-03558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:30.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:16.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward providing additional powers to the Parliament to enhance Scotland's role internationally.\r\n","AnswerText":"As the First Minister set out in his statement on 23 September 2014, any enhanced devolution settlement should enable Scotland to have a stronger and more clearly articulated voice on the international stage. The Scottish Government will be pursuing that objective in the next phase of this work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:30.897","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297282,"EventID":"S4O-03559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:31.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:57:18.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs last met Historic Scotland and what was discussed.","AnswerText":"I meet regularly with Historic Scotland officials to discuss a variety of matters. Most recently, I met with the Director of Heritage Management on Thursday 25 September 2014 to discuss significant cases relating to the historic environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:31.333","MeetingDate":"2014-10-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297283,"EventID":"S4O-03561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:31.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:36.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standards are required for premises to be considered suitable for primary care use.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:31.693","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297284,"EventID":"S4O-03562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:31.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:37.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many representations it has received calling for the Craighouse Development planning application to be called in.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:31.957","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297285,"EventID":"S4O-03563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:32.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:37.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Barnett formula will be reduced by the UK Government over time.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:32.237","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297286,"EventID":"S4O-03564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:32.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:37.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding its role in the proposed national resilience centre in Dumfries.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:32.627","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297287,"EventID":"S4O-03565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:33.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:38.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Treasury on the implications for Scotland’s budget from 2016-17 to 2020-21 of UK Government efforts to reduce its debt of £1.57 trillion as at the end of 2016.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:33.08","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297288,"EventID":"S4O-03566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:33.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:38.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the high voter turnout for the referendum.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:33.44","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297289,"EventID":"S4O-03567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:33.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:38.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors how the educational outcomes for looked-after children in kinship care placements compares with those of children in residential or foster care.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:33.72","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297290,"EventID":"S4O-03568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:34.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:38.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has made to deal with any ebola outbreak.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:34.063","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297291,"EventID":"S4O-03569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:34.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-22T12:02:39.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when work on the new Dumfries hospital will commence.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:34.563","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297292,"EventID":"S4O-03570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T14:01:34.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T10:10:40.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to Albyn House, Aberdeen’s designated place of safety, if Police Scotland withdraws its share of the funding for the service in April 2015.","AnswerText":"The funding of local initiatives is a matter for Police Scotland, and it is appropriate that they review their commitments regularly alongside all priority and partnership activities.\r\nPolice Scotland have made no announcement about cutting their funding of this project. An options appraisal for funding is currently being developed by the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) and when complete, Police Scotland will consider this along with other partners, prior to agreeing the allocation of any funds beyond March 2015.\r\nSince 2008, the Scottish Government has made a record investment of £278 million to tackle problem alcohol use to ADPs. In 2014-15 the three partnerships operating in Grampian area received over £3 million in funding through NHS Grampian.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T14:01:34.92","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297303,"EventID":"S4W-22573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:23.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T16:40:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance and support is available in the community to people with Prader-Willi syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"People with Prader-Willi syndrome potentially require a wide range of health, social care and community services according to their specific needs.\r\nThe Single Gene Complex Needs (SGCN) service, which works primarily with adults living with rare diseases of single gene origin throughout Scotland, supports individuals and their families to manage their care needs in their local communities. This service will consider referrals for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome.\r\nSGCN works with a range of partners from the third, health and social care sectors, to design, develop and deliver anticipatory services to improve outcomes for people living with single gene disorders. The service also acts as a point of contact between the health service, social services, the third sector, education and employers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:23.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297304,"EventID":"S4W-22574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:24.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T16:40:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what residential support is available to people with Prader-Willi syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no centrally held data on the numbers of people with Prader-Willi syndrome in local authority residential care settings.\r\nClare House in Dunblane, which opened in 2009, is part of a national network of residential support for people with Prader-Willi syndrome run by Gretton Homes www.grettonhomes.co.uk.\r\nWith space for 13 residents, Clare House specialises in accommodating people with Prader-Willi Syndrome from across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:24.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297305,"EventID":"S4W-22575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:24.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T17:18:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering a new railway station in Plains.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposal to progress a railway station at Plains is being taken forward by North Lanarkshire Council with the involvement of Plains Community Council.\r\nStrathclyde Partnership for Transport have assisted with funds for a feasibility study, which was returned to the council in July 2014.\r\nAn application for funds to the Scottish Stations Fund can be submitted once an appraisal in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance has been completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:24.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297306,"EventID":"S4W-22576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:24.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T18:11:46.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards have been introduced to ensure that Scotland Excel assesses tenders and awards contracts fairly and equitably.","AnswerText":"All public bodies, including Scotland Excel, must act in accordance with the EU treaty principles of transparency, proportionality, equal treatment, non-discrimination and mutual recognition. When awarding contracts worth more than the EU thresholds, they must also comply with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which transpose the 2004 European Public Procurement Directive. The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 will introduce regulation for lower value contracts which are not regulated by the EU directives.\r\nIn order to help public bodies to comply with this legal framework, we publish a range of procurement guidance. This is available on the Scottish Government website.\r\nIf a firm feels that a public body has not acted in accordance with the relevant legislation, we offer a voluntary and informal advice, support and dispute resolution service through our Single Point of Enquiry for procurement.\r\nParties may also have recourse to the courts, and can lodge a complaint with the European Commission.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:24.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297307,"EventID":"S4W-22577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:24.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-23T18:23:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have been advised that they can cancel arrears of the so-called bedroom tax arising in 2013-14 and when it will issue guidance on the matter.","AnswerText":"The management of arrears, including those related to the bedroom tax, is a matter for landlords as part of their responsibility to manage their tenants, stock and finances.\r\nThe cap for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) will be lifted once the power to do so is transferred to Scottish Ministers. When that happens, local authorities will be able to top up their DHP accounts to make any further payments in line with local priorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:24.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297308,"EventID":"S4W-22579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:25.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:17:47.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses a central recording system to monitor the patterns of the use of new psychoactive substances, and what the reason is for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government continues to update its data collection tools to include new psychoactive substances (NPS). We have commissioned a review of evidence and data available on NPS and this will inform improvements in collection and research. An integrated drug and alcohol information system is also under development.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:25.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297309,"EventID":"S4W-22580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:25.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:17:47.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the (a) strength and (b) toxicity of new psychoactive substances is measured.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number and type of new psychoactive substances available, including their individual strengths and toxicity, is constantly growing and changing. This makes it difficult to identify levels and risks of use. However, work is underway to develop a national set of standards to guide toxicology.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:25.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297310,"EventID":"S4W-22581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:26.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:17:47.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Welsh Government regarding the Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances Project (WEDINOS), which samples previously unknown or unidentified drugs, and what discussions it has had with universities regarding introducing a similar approach in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Welsh Government on a range of matters, including the WEDINOS project. Scottish Government officials have met with Welsh counterparts and are monitoring the WEDINOS project with interest. We are working with universities on a range of matters, including drugs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:26.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297311,"EventID":"S4W-22582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:26.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T11:17:47.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what drug (a) testing and (b) monitoring groups it funds.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides resources to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships across Scotland to create relevant networks available at the local level. Where appropriate, this includes monitoring groups.\r\nThe Scottish Government engages with some drug trends monitoring groups, including regularly with the Edinburgh drug trends monitoring group and the Greater Glasgow and Clyde drug trends monitoring group. These groups look at emerging drug trends, their issues and challenges, and develop action plans to improve local responses.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:26.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297312,"EventID":"S4W-22584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:26.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T13:20:40.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the recycling rates of each local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"Official statistics on household waste are published annually by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). As from 2012, SEPA started publishing household waste data information on an annual calendar year basis rather than a financial year basis. This aligns household waste data reporting with other European waste data reporting, and allows comparison and aggregation of the information on household waste data with commercial and industrial waste data. The data in the household waste reports are obtained from WasteDataFlow (the web based system for waste data reporting by UK local authorities to government).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:26.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297313,"EventID":"S4W-22585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:26.927","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T13:20:40.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with COSLA and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure that local authorities are working toward achieving the objectives set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.","AnswerText":"The Public Sector Climate Leaders Forum (PSCLF) provides a formal means of discussing climate change action with both COSLA and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. I chair the forum which meets quarterly and Councillor Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson on Development, Economy and Sustainability is deputy chair. Minutes and papers for the meetings are available at www.scotland.gov.uk.\r\nThe Climate Leaders Officers Group provides operational support to PSCLF and is the main delivery vehicle for the actions arising from PSCLF.\r\nI have also had several bilateral meetings over the last year with Councillor Hagan, to discuss climate change and also biodiversity, and the Scottish Government funds a policy manager post within COSLA to provide liaison between the government and COSLA on climate change and waste issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:26.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297314,"EventID":"S4W-22586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:27.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T13:20:40.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a league table of recycling rates for local authorities.\r\n","AnswerText":"Official statistics on household waste are published annually by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Its annual household waste summary reports, which include the recycling rate for each local authority, can be viewed on SEPA’s website at: \r\nhttp://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_data/waste_data_reports/lacw_reporting/household_waste_reporting.aspx\r\nThese SEPA reports give an overview of local authority household waste management performance, showing that:\r\nNine local authorities recycled/composted more than 50% of household waste in 2013 - the same authorities that achieved this in 2012 (Stirling, Perth and Kinross, North Ayrshire, Moray, Inverclyde, Fife, Falkirk, East Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire).\r\n20 local authorities improved on their 2012 rates. The biggest increases were: Orkney, up 8.3% (to 30.8%); East Dunbartonshire, up 6.2% (to 44.9%); Renfrewshire, up 5.4% (to 44.3%); Inverclyde, up 4.8% (to 55.5%); Argyll & Bute, up 4.6% (to 36.1%).\r\nVariation between councils is a big factor in overall performance – five of the eight with biggest waste volumes are recycling under 40%, as follows: South Lanarkshire 39.1% (up 1.7%); Edinburgh 38.1% (up 1.4%); Aberdeen City 37.1% (down 0.2%); Aberdeenshire 35.9% (up 0.3%); Dundee 31.1% (up 1.4%); Glasgow 26.9% (down 2.6%).\r\nWaste landfilled in Scotland went down from 55.5% in 2012 to 53.5% in 2013. The biggest local decreases were: East Dunbartonshire, down 12.6% (to 48.7%); Angus, down 7.4% (to 46.6%); East Ayrshire, down 6.6% (to 49%); Argyll and Bute, down 5.9% (to 51.1%); Dundee, down 5.8% (to 43.6%)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:27.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297315,"EventID":"S4W-22587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:27.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T13:20:40.27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding its recycling rates and service availability.","AnswerText":"I met with all councils at COSLA’s Development, Economy and Sustainability Executive Group in September 2013 to discuss the importance of the zero waste agenda and hear feedback from councils on progress and the issues they are facing. Earlier this year, I, along with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, convened the first meeting of the Zero Waste Taskforce with COSLA. The taskforce’s work aims to support all councils to collaborate, drive up recycling rates, and create economic opportunities.\r\nScottish Government officials and Zero Waste Scotland last met with Glasgow City Council in late 2012 to discuss their approach to waste and recycling. Following that meeting, Zero Waste Scotland has provided the council with considerable support for a variety of activities to help review its approach to collections, including piloting food waste collection and assessing waste collection issues in tenements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:27.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297316,"EventID":"S4W-22588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-24T16:53:27.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T16:00:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the success of its Scottish Winter Festivals programme.","AnswerText":"Scotland’s Winter Festivals, which include St Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night, celebrate Scotland’s unique culture and creativity. \r\nThe 2013-14 Winter Festivals programme was a great success attracting over 250,000 people to events the length and breadth of the country and generating significant media interest around the world. \r\nParticipation in Scotland’s Winter Festivals is growing year on year. For example, in 2013-14 we saw a 19% comparative increase in footfall at funded events and a 26% increase in footfall at Historic Scotland events. Over the course of the 2013-14 campaign we also saw an estimated 62,000 visitors take part in St Andrew’s Day Out events, delivered by 137 private sector partner organisations offering free or discounted entry. Encouragingly, the number of private sector partner organisations taking part in the St Andrews Day out celebration increased by 140% between 2012-13 and 2013-14.\r\nOn 26 September 2014 I was also delighted to announce that the Scottish Government is providing £315,000 to support 16 events across the country as part of the 2014-15 Winter Festival’s programme. These events, alongside the many other partner activities, initiatives and attractions which make up the wider Winter Festival’s programme, offer something for everyone and the marketing effort supported by the Scottish Government will be used to encourage the people of Scotland, visitors, attractions and businesses to join in the coming celebration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-08T16:53:27.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297317,"EventID":"S4W-22589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:09.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T16:21:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is developing alternatives to custody for female offenders.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working in partnership with justice bodies and other agencies to deliver the recommendations of the Commission on Women Offenders.\r\nIn addition to the range of community-based sentences, diversion from prosecution and other non-custodial sentences already available to sentencers, we are funding an enhanced diversion project based in Glasgow, which is testing how diversion from prosecution could be more widely used for the most chaotic women.\r\nAdditionally, £3 million has been allocated over 2013-15 to support new and enhanced services for women offenders in the community. This includes projects focusing on early intervention, and projects looking at whether providing enhanced support to the summary court assists their consideration of the use of non-custodial alternatives.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:09.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297318,"EventID":"S4W-22590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:09.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T16:21:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support families living at a distance from the new national prison and regional units wanting to visit imprisoned female relatives.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘The SPS set up the women offenders project to design and build an establishment specifically for the needs of female offenders at Inverclyde, which encompasses a national facility and a facility to cater for the needs of those prisoners from the west coast of Scotland, where the highest number of female offenders would reside upon release from prison. This is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017.\r\nThe building of a female specific Regional Unit at HMP Edinburgh, which will cater for female offenders in the east of Scotland, is scheduled to open in the autumn/winter of 2016, again displays the emphasis the SPS has placed on ensuring that offenders are located as close as possible to their own home area to support the throughcare and re-integration process upon release.\r\nAdditionally, HMP Inverclyde is proposing to have ‘roll on, roll off’ visit sessions where families, after having booked the day they will attend, are able to spend as much time as is available at the visit with their female relative. With the commitment to build a family centre and help hub at Inverclyde, this again supports the SPS priority of ensuring that the families attending visits at establishments needs are met.\r\nFurther to this is the proposal to provide technology at both sites, which will support virtual visits and enhance the links with family, and with the increased use of video conference technology currently being rolled out across the SPS, this is currently supporting communication and interaction of families at a number of sites across the SPS for all prisoners who are currently not located at an establishment close to their home area, where visiting may present difficulties.\r\nThere is a family centre and help hub currently being built at HMP Grampian, and this supports the needs of those family members attending visits, and they can be catered for with regard to additional support for partner and third sector agencies, and be provided with refreshments or food before, during or after their visit. Family or visitor centres are also located at HMP and YOI Cornton Vale and HMP Edinburgh.\r\nThe SPS is also part of the wider Assisted Prison Visits Scheme, where families can apply for financial support for visiting family members in custody. They can claim for up to 26 visits per calendar year.’’\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:09.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297319,"EventID":"S4W-22591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:10.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T17:05:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional staff are being recruited to meet the (a) current waiting time target for child and adult mental health services and (b) proposed target of 26 weeks for adult mental health patients from December 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Funding is provided for NHS boards to increase the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) clinical workforce. Significant investment (£13.5 million from 2009-2014) was provided to deliver faster access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services in the community; and in the CAMHS workforce which has seen the overall clinical workforce increase by 43% since 2008. \r\nInformation Services Division (ISD) publish data on a quarterly basis detailing the size of the CAMHS workforce across NHS boards. As at 30 June 2014, the total number of clinical staff in post in NHS Scotland CAMHS was 1080 (headcount) with a whole time equivalent (WTE) of 925.4.Previous figures in 2014 are as follows:\r\nAs at 31 March 2014, the total number of clinical staff in post in NHS Scotland CAMHS was 1075 (headcount) with a WTE of 917.5.\r\nAs at 31 December 2013, the total number of clinical staff in post in NHS Scotland CAMHS was 1065 (headcount) with a whole time equivalent of 909.9\r\nNHS boards have delivered the CAMHS HEAT target commitment that by March 2013 no one will wait longer than 26 weeks from referral to treatment for specialist CAMHS.\r\nNHS boards are now working towards the target of 18 weeks by December 2014. We continue to monitor their progress through monthly management information data and through the quarterly published ISD data. The latest published data indicates that nationally the 18 week target is being met within the 10% tolerance and the average wait is 7 weeks.\r\nISD publish quarterly data on the psychology workforce in NHS Scotland. The total number of clinical staff employed in NHS Scotland Psychology Services continues to rise, with 1184 staff (1001.2 WTE) including 861 (724.2 WTE) clinical and other applied psychologists in post at 30 June 2014. There has been a significant increase over time in the number of clinical and other applied psychologists employed in NHSScotland from 426 (371.0 WTE) in 2003 to the current level of 861 (724.2 WTE). \r\nThe data from this publication is used by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), the Scottish Government and NHS boards to support local, regional and national workforce planning, and to support educational training and planning. \r\nAs staff required to deliver the psychological therapies access target will be wider than those working in psychology services alone, we are, through NES, working to assess and develop workforce capacity to ensure that a range of staff are equipped to deliver therapies. Staffing levels are however, a matter for each individual board to determine, according to local need.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:10.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297320,"EventID":"S4W-22592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:10.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T17:05:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22510 by Alex Neil on 22 September 2014, what is being done to fill the 50.2 whole time equivalent consultant psychiatrist vacancies.","AnswerText":"NHS boards are responsible for filling vacant consultant posts, and the Scottish Government expects boards to actively utilise national, European and international recruitment options in filling their vacancies. Action being taken by boards to recruit in the last quarter has reduced vacancies by 5.6 whole time equivalent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297321,"EventID":"S4W-22593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:11.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T20:37:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the report from the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have recently been advised by Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry that he intends to publish his report on Monday 24 November 2014 at Fifteen Ninety Nine, 232-242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow (the premises of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons).\r\nFurther details will be available on the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry website. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:11.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297322,"EventID":"S4W-22594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:12.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-24T20:37:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital has been and how this compares with the costs of other recent public inquiries.","AnswerText":"The information on inquiry costs is set out in the following table: \r\nInquiry\r\nCost\r\nICL Inquiry\r\n£1.9 million\r\nFingerprint Inquiry\r\n£4.75 million\r\nPenrose Inquiry (ongoing)\r\n£11.5 million (as at 31 August 2014)\r\nVale of Leven Hospital Inquiry (ongoing)\r\n£10.1 million (as at 30 July 2014)\r\nIt is not possible to make direct comparisons of the costs associated with different public inquiries, established under the Inquiries Act 2005, because the terms of reference are specific to each inquiry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:12.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297323,"EventID":"S4W-22595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:12.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T11:38:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is using its powers under section 4 (2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is using its powers under section 4(2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 to disseminate information promoting and encouraging breastfeeding through a number of initiatives and activities, such as:\r\nThe Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) to deliver BFI accreditation in maternity hospitals and in community settings in Scotland.\r\n‘Welcome to Breastfeed Here’ schemes, these are located in most health board areas in Scotland. Local breastfeeding friendly premises are made known to mothers. \r\nNHS Health Scotland’s Breastfeeding Peer Support Guidance.\r\nThe Feedgood Factor website provides information and support about breastfeeding to mums. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:12.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297324,"EventID":"S4W-22596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:13.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T13:12:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03527 by Michael Matheson on 24 September 2014, which IVF centres have met the 12-month waiting time target.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 12 month waiting time target for IVF does not start until 31 March 2015. However, all referring NHS boards using the IVF centres in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh are currently meeting the target.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:13.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297325,"EventID":"S4W-22597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:13.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T13:12:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03527 by Michael Matheson on 24 September 2014, which IVF centres have not met the 12-month waiting time target, also broken down by current waiting time.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 12 month waiting time target does not start until 31 March 2015. Waiting times are currently up to 15 months in the IVF centre located within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Current waiting time broken down by referring NHS board as follows:\r\nNHS Ayrshire and Arran\r\n12 months\r\nNHS Dumfries and Galloway\r\n12 months\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n15 months\r\nNHS Lanarkshire\r\n12 months\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:13.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297326,"EventID":"S4W-22598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T14:06:13.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T13:12:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03527 by Michael Matheson on 24 September 2014, how many people are on the waiting list at each IVF centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not currently available centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T14:06:13.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297337,"EventID":"S4W-22599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:15.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:19:42.05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the result of the referendum, whether there is a timetable for the privatisation of NHS services.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to privatise NHS services. Unlike in England, where NHS spending on private and other providers has gone through the £10 billion barrier, the mutual NHSScotland does not seek to promote competition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:16.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297338,"EventID":"S4W-22600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:17.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:25:19.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it plans to prevent riders of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 50cc from using the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing is open if they have only a compulsory basic training certificate.","AnswerText":"Vehicles permitted to utilise the Forth Road Bridge once the Queensferry Crossing opens were considered during the passage of the Forth Crossing Bill and is set out in the Policy Memorandum.\r\nThe Queensferry Crossing and existing Forth Road Bridge will be maintained and operated as part of a managed crossing strategy to ensure the existing Forth Road Bridge infrastructure is retained and continues to provide public benefit. \r\nAs the Queensferry Crossing is to be a motorway, the policy for the Forth Road Bridge set out in the Policy Memorandum, in particular paragraph 26, supporting the Forth Crossing Bill was that it would become a dedicated public transport corridor for buses and taxis, together with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles less than 50cc, that class of motorcycle not being permitted on motorways. Other motorcycles are permitted on motorways. In setting the policy, it was considered that to make particular exception for other motorcycles and vehicles displaying a learner driver plate would open the Forth Road Bridge to wider use, not in keeping with its proposed designation as a public transport corridor. No objections to the Forth crossing Bill were received in relation to the proposed policy regarding motorcycles and the Forth Crossing Bill was passed in full view of the policy set out in the Policy Memorandum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:17.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297339,"EventID":"S4W-22601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:17.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:32:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that all social landlords will meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by April 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The independent Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) is responsible for monitoring landlords’ progress towards meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). The SHR reported earlier this year that social landlords are making steady progress towards the 2015 target, with 94% of social landlords anticipating they will meet the SHQS by April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:17.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297340,"EventID":"S4W-22602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:18.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:32:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any social landlords have indicated that they might not meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by April 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The independent Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) is responsible for monitoring landlords’ progress towards meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). The SHR reported earlier this year that ten social landlords anticipated that some of their housing stock will not meet the SHQS by April 2015. The SHR is engaging with these landlords to seek further assurance on how they plan to address this shortfall.\r\nThe SHR recently published landlord reports which include updated SHQS information for each landlord along with performance data in other key service areas. The SHR has also published national figures on compliance and exemption as at 31 March 2014 as part of the dataset available on its website and later this year will publish national analysis of all social landlords’ performance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:18.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297341,"EventID":"S4W-22603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:18.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:32:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any extra funds have been allocated to social landlords to help meet the April 2015 target for the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and, if so, how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) is not funded directly by the Scottish Government. The SHQS is funded through social landlords’ investment plans, including prudential borrowing for local authorities and private sector borrowing for housing associations. Social landlords are also able to access funding for energy efficiency improvements from energy companies. The Scottish Housing Regulator reported earlier this year that landlords intend to spend approximately £852 million in 2014 and 2015 to bring homes up to SHQS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:18.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297342,"EventID":"S4W-22604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:18.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:34:21.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many operational open cast coal sites there are in Scotland.","AnswerText":"There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. In some cases it is the continuation of coaling which facilitates the workforce and vehicles on site to best enable restoration to take place.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:18.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297343,"EventID":"S4W-22605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:19.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:34:21.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total aftercare and restoration liabilities of open cast coal operators for operational open cast coal sites.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities.\r\nRestoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guarantees are agreed between the operator and the planning authority as part of the planning process on a site by site basis.\r\nIssues of restoration and aftercare for open cast sites were addressed as part of the cross-party Scottish coal industry taskforce through Scottish Government’s consultation, Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation. \r\nThe analysis from responses received for that consultation was published in July 2014 and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00457043.pdf.\r\nTwo separate working groups have been established to take forward and develop and make assessment of the responses to the consultation. The output from the groups will be produced in a report with conclusions and recommendations to the opencast coal task force before the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:19.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297344,"EventID":"S4W-22606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:19.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:34:21.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total level of independent financial guarantees in place for restoration and aftercare of operational open cast coal sites.","AnswerText":"There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. Restoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guarantees are agreed between the operator and the planning authority as part of the planning process on a site-by-site basis.\r\nScottish Planning Policy states:\r\n“Planning authorities should, through planning conditions and legal agreements, ensure that a high standard of restoration and aftercare is managed effectively and that such work is undertaken at the earliest opportunity. A range of financial guarantee options is currently available and planning authorities should consider the most effective solution on a site-by-site basis.”\r\nIssues of restoration and aftercare for open cast sites were addressed as part of the cross-party Scottish coal industry taskforce through the Scottish Government’s consultation Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation, which invited views on revisions to planning policy and advice including Planning Advice Note 64: Reclamation of Surface Mineral Workings. The consultation closed on 27 February 2014.\r\nThe analysis from responses received for that consultation was published in July 2014 and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00457043.pdf.\r\nTwo separate working groups have been established to take forward and develop and make assessment of the responses to the consultation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:19.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297345,"EventID":"S4W-22607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:20.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:34:21.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of restoration and aftercare liabilities at operational open cast coal sites falling to the public sector if the operators go into liquidation.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. Restoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guarantees are agreed between the operator and the planning authority as part of the planning process on a site-by-site basis.\r\nIssues of restoration and aftercare for open cast sites were addressed as part of the Scottish Government’s consultation Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation, which invited views on revisions to planning policy and advice including Planning Advice Note 64: Reclamation of Surface Mineral Workings. The consultation closed on 27 February 2014. Two separate working groups have been established to take forward and develop and assess the responses to the consultation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:20.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297346,"EventID":"S4W-22608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:20.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:36:55.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of statutory obligations under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, how planning authorities should take into consideration climate change issues when reviewing applications for open cast coal mining and what (a) support and (b) guidance is available to them to assist with this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Open cast mining proposals over 25 hectares require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Open cast mining proposals of under 25 hectares may require an EIA where it is considered that the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment.\r\nIn addition, where an EIA is required under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, the applicant is required to submit an environmental statement. This must include a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the development including, where relevant, climatic factors.\r\nIn all cases the policies of the development plan apply and Scottish Planning Policy could be a material consideration in the determination of the planning application. Meeting our emissions reductions targets is part of the Scottish Planning Policy subject policy ‘A Low Carbon Place’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:20.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297347,"EventID":"S4W-22610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:20.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:36:55.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what level of coal extraction is compatible with the vision set out in the (a) Scottish Planning Policy to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and (b) National Planning Framework to support a limited amount of thermal generation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Neither National Planning Framework 3 nor Scottish Planning Policy specify a level of coal extraction required to support the transition to a low carbon economy.\r\nScottish Planning Policy recognises the national benefit of indigenous coal in maintaining a diverse energy mix and improving energy security. It encourages the safeguarding of workable resources.\r\nThe Electricity Generation Policy Statement 2013 informs the approach taken in National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy. It anticipates that a minimum of 2.5 gigawatts of thermal generation (progressively fitted with carbon capture and storage technology) will be required as part of the electricity generation mix.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:20.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297348,"EventID":"S4W-22611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:21.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:36:55.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if a proposed open cast coal mine is considered environmentally unacceptable, even with planning conditions, how much potential local or community benefit it would have to demonstrate to outweigh the environmental concerns.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for the planning authority to consider the material considerations to be taken into account in determining applications, and how much weight to attach to any such considerations.\r\nConsent should only be granted for surface coal extraction proposals which are either environmentally acceptable (or can be made so by planning conditions) or provide local or community benefits which clearly outweigh the likely impacts of extraction.\r\nPolicies and decisions should give due weight to net economic benefit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:21.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297349,"EventID":"S4W-22612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-25T16:42:21.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T14:36:55.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Planning Policy requires that all proposals for open cast coal mines should have an independent financial guarantee that will ensure that any restoration is fully funded by the developer.","AnswerText":"Yes. Scottish Planning Policy states “Planning authorities should, through planning conditions and legal agreements, ensure that a high standard of restoration and aftercare is managed effectively and that such work is undertaken at the earliest opportunity. A range of financial guarantee options is currently available and planning authorities should consider the most effective solution on a site-by-site basis.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:21.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297350,"EventID":"S4W-22613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-26T14:07:35.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:45:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homes designed to meet the requirements of (a) disabled and (b) older people in order to facilitate independent living have been built in each year since 2009-10.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows a breakdown of completions for older/wheelchair/physically disabled provision from 2009-10 to 2013-14: \r\nCategory\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nProvisional\r\nOlder\r\n489\r\n577\r\n575\r\n401\r\n458\r\nOlder Physical Disabled\r\n15\r\n39\r\n0\r\n1\r\n10\r\nOlder Wheelchair\r\n13\r\n22\r\n12\r\n10\r\n14\r\nOlder Supported Residential\r\n73\r\n18\r\n0\r\n12\r\n32\r\nWheelchair\r\n129\r\n208\r\n223\r\n140\r\n140\r\nPhysical Disabled\r\n84\r\n79\r\n59\r\n23\r\n4\r\nTotal\r\n803\r\n943\r\n869\r\n587\r\n658\r\n\r\nNotwithstanding these specific categories, the Affordable Housing Supply Programme supports the delivery of flexible housing capable of being adapted to suit peoples’ changing requirements. Therefore wherever possible, all units are built to varying needs standards. While there are projects specifically for particular needs, many projects that we fund will include a mix of homes for both general needs and particular needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-10T14:07:36.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297351,"EventID":"S4W-22614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-26T14:07:36.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:45:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the approach set out in Homes Fit for the 21st Century: The Scottish Government's Strategy and Action Plan for Housing in the Next Decade: 2011-2020, which green industries are involved in the completion of affordable homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The promotion of environmental sustainability in the development of greener homes is being supported through the Scottish Government Greener Homes Innovation Scheme. This scheme, currently comprising 319 new homes (13 projects) was launched on 25 September 2012, and is specifically for affordable homes that employ modern, environmentally friendly methods of off-site construction. This includes walls, floors, pipes, kitchens and roofs which are assembled in a factory then transported, as a unit, to the building site, ensuring a faster construction process, reduced waste and less disruption to the environment. We will look at evaluating the scheme later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-10T14:07:36.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297352,"EventID":"S4W-22615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-26T14:07:37.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:45:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has received each year from the European Investment Bank for use in housing projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not receive funds from the European Investment Bank for use in housing projects. Individual housing associations may access funds, but the Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-10T14:07:37.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297353,"EventID":"S4W-22631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-26T14:07:37.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T17:10:50.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homes and businesses (a) have received improved broadband connectivity to date and (b) will have received improved connectivity by the end of 2014 in North East Fife, and how much money has been invested in North East Fife as part of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The figures for the most recent work through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband projects are still to be validated through an assurance project.\r\nIt is projected that the programme has provided access to fibre broadband to more than 108,000 premises since the contracts were signed last year. This projection includes over 28,000 across the Highlands and Islands, and more than 90,000 across the rest of Scotland project areas. We intend to provide access to fibre broadband for around 700,000 premises by the end of the programme.\r\nWe are not able to provide a breakdown of the amount of premises connected or money spent specifically in North East Fife. However, Fife as a whole will receive significant benefits from the project. Fife Council is contributing £2.8 million to the project. Along with the other public and private sector funding in this £200 million investment, the level of fibre coverage in Fife is expected to increase from 69% to 98% of premises during the 4.5 years of the programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-10T14:07:37.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297365,"EventID":"S4T-00793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:30.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T10:13:17.49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will support humanitarian efforts in Iraq in light of the UK Parliament’s approval of air strikes in the country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:30.383","MeetingDate":"2014-09-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297366,"EventID":"S4T-00796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:31.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T11:47:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the removal of the right of householders in Scotland to object to fracking taking place beneath their homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:31.6","MeetingDate":"2014-09-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297367,"EventID":"S4T-00797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:31.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T11:56:53.397","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Police Scotland’s decision not to make details of the cost of policing the Commonwealth Games public.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:31.943","MeetingDate":"2014-09-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297368,"EventID":"S4F-02301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:09.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-26T11:03:41.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:09.307","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297369,"EventID":"S4F-02303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:10.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T09:17:08.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:10.43","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297370,"EventID":"S4F-02304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:10.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T09:22:06.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:10.883","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297371,"EventID":"S4F-02305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:11.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T11:07:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to promote and safeguard employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:11.13","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297372,"EventID":"S4F-02309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:12.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T11:31:13.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to COSLA's agreement to oppose the policy of allowing police officers to carry guns while carrying out routine duties.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:12.88","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297373,"EventID":"S4F-02311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-29T12:32:13.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T11:47:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support people affected by UK Government welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-27T12:32:13.487","MeetingDate":"2014-10-02T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297388,"EventID":"S4W-22633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-30T17:11:16.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T19:55:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that local authorities use the electoral roll for electoral purposes only.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes tighter restrictions should be placed on the use of the electoral registers, including on the sale of the registers to private debt collectors.\r\nThe Minister for Local Government and Planning wrote to the UK Government on \r\n6 October 2014 to call again for the transfer of remaining responsibilities in relation to elections in Scotland (including the electoral registers) to the Scottish Parliament.\r\nAmong other things, this would allow Parliament to consider the purpose of the registers and who should have access to them, and allow the Scottish Government to bring forward legislation to prevent the sale of the registers to private debt collectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-28T17:11:16.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297389,"EventID":"S4W-22634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-30T17:11:17.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T09:43:28.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allow water and sewerage charges to be levied on empty retail premises from spring 2015 and, if so, what the charge will be and how much will be generated.","AnswerText":"As indicated in the government’s General Statement of Policy - Principles of Charging for Water Services 2015-21, published on 1 October 2014, we intend to bring vacant non-domestic properties into charge during the period 2015-21. The principles may be viewed at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00459866.pdf. \r\nA consultation will be issued later this year to seek views on this policy and the date for its introduction.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-28T17:11:17.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297390,"EventID":"S4W-22635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-09-30T17:11:17.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T15:59:43.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the (a) recycling rates and (b) availability of its collection service for food waste.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has ongoing dialogue with Falkirk Council and other local authorities regarding recycling and the implementation of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012.\r\nTo improve recycling rates and to maximise the recycling services available to residents, the Council introduced a three-weekly collection of non-recyclable waste in May 2014. This was the first such collection in the UK and was supported by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) by funding for temporary staff to support the implementation. In addition ZWS provided £750,000 of funding for Falkirk to roll out their food waste collection in 2012.\r\nThe food waste collection service is now being made available to properties throughout the Falkirk Council area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-28T17:11:17.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297413,"EventID":"S4O-03571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:24.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:20.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision primary schools and nurseries make for first aid cover.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:25.293","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297414,"EventID":"S4O-03572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:26.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:21.103","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation will be done of the work carried out by schools to help prepare 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:26.3","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297415,"EventID":"S4O-03573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:26.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:21.337","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the recommendations of the ICT in Education Excellence Group.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:26.6","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297416,"EventID":"S4O-03574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:26.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:21.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish updated guidance for the delivery of relationship, sexual health and parenting education.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:26.873","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297417,"EventID":"S4O-03575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:27.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:21.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many further education college staff have had pay reductions or an increase in working hours following the recent merger process.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:27.153","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297418,"EventID":"S4O-03576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:27.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:22.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about reintroducing the post-study work visa.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:27.603","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297419,"EventID":"S4O-03577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:27.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:22.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on severance packages in the college sector since 2011.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:28.01","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297420,"EventID":"S4O-03578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:28.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T16:31:14.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase awareness and understanding of autistic spectrum disorder in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:28.297","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297421,"EventID":"S4O-03579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:28.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:23.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the trends are in the number of children in Gaelic-medium education.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:28.633","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297422,"EventID":"S4O-03580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:28.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:31:34.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on funding for people studying for postgraduate masters degrees.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:28.95","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297423,"EventID":"S4O-03581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:29.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:24.147","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that grades awarded in the new national qualifications are considered to be equal across all subjects.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:29.25","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297424,"EventID":"S4O-03583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:29.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:25.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how plans for the children and young people’s summit are progressing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:29.67","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297425,"EventID":"S4O-03584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:29.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:26.143","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the headcount, enrolment and full-time equivalent figures are for female students at colleges in 2014 compared with 2011.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:29.95","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297426,"EventID":"S4O-03585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:30.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T09:39:15.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people in remote areas into further education and lifelong learning.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:30.267","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297427,"EventID":"S4O-03586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:30.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:26.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the education system can be more closely aligned toward job and career opportunities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:30.553","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297428,"EventID":"S4O-03587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:30.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:40:53.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to ensure that there is suitable accommodation to deal with the projected increase in school rolls.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:30.843","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297429,"EventID":"S4O-03588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:31.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:02:28.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed education issues with Aberdeen City Council.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:31.317","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297430,"EventID":"S4O-03589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:31.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T15:35:20.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on independent schools having charitable status.  \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:31.693","MeetingDate":"2014-10-08T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297431,"EventID":"S4O-03591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T14:47:18.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T10:23:50.517","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask what the Scottish Government what progress has been made on replacing the two hospitals on Skye.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T14:47:18.08","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297432,"EventID":"S4O-03592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:32.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:03:05.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lanarkshire and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:32.4","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297433,"EventID":"S4O-03593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:32.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T14:16:15.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with HM Revenue and Customs regarding employment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:32.667","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297434,"EventID":"S4O-03594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:33.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:11:55.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how investment in hybrid ferries will contribute to meeting its low-carbon targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:33.027","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297435,"EventID":"S4O-03595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:33.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T14:59:27.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring proposals for local government budget savings to ensure that they have no adverse consequences for public safety.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:33.5","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297436,"EventID":"S4O-03596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:33.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:43:26.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the lack of funding affecting the Men's 10k event in Glasgow run by the Men's Health Forum Scotland and what it can do to secure the future of the event.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:33.883","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297437,"EventID":"S4O-03597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:34.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T10:11:43.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been supported by the protection of funding for the council tax reduction scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:34.32","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297438,"EventID":"S4O-03598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:34.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:03:07.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on powers relating to gambling being devolved.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:34.693","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297439,"EventID":"S4O-03599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:35.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:16:29.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the arrangements relating to the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 and their operation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:35.077","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297440,"EventID":"S4O-03600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:39:35.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-29T12:03:07.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the repairs to the A68 south of Jedburgh.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is committed to fully re-opening the A68 as soon as possible. Significant ground and environmental investigations have been undertaken to ensure the long term solution is robust. Transport Scotland is working with the operating company to complete the design and undertake the remedial measures as soon as practicable. The patience of the local community is appreciated while a permanent solution is designed and implemented.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:39:35.453","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297441,"EventID":"S4W-22636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:07.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T16:58:03.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease has met.","AnswerText":"The National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease is scheduled to meet on 27 October 2014 which will be the thirteenth time the group has met since it was reconstituted in September 2010.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:08.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297442,"EventID":"S4W-22637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:08.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T17:27:38.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease has discussed the role of heart failure nurses in Orkney and what recommendations it has made regarding this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease (NACHD) was re-formed in September 2010. Since that date the role of heart failure nurses in Orkney has been mentioned on three occasions with no recommendation made by the NACHD.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:08.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297443,"EventID":"S4W-22641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:08.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T19:28:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for first time connections to the water main.","AnswerText":"Scottish Water is required by The Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to make a contribution towards the costs of connecting new customers. The amounts payable and terms under which these are paid are set out in the regulations. Regulations covering the 2015-21 period will be issued for consultation shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:08.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297444,"EventID":"S4W-22642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:09.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T19:28:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any of the £3.5 billion investment by Scottish Water announced on 29 September 2014 is for first time connections to the water main.","AnswerText":"The £3.5 billion investment is designed to address, in the main, priorities that arise on the public network from the need to meet mandatory standards in relation to drinking water and the environment. This also includes sums necessary to accommodate growth including the amounts payable under the Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. The priorities as agreed are set out in directions issued to Scottish Water on 1 October 2014.\r\nA specific provision has been included to require Scottish Water to assist regulators with the assessment of the sustainable and cost effective options to improve private provision. A Rural Provision Group has been established to carry out this assessment. In the light of recommendations ministers may instruct Scottish Water to facilitate improvements.\r\nThe investment Directions are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00459867.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:09.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297445,"EventID":"S4W-22643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:10.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T19:28:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide grant funding to assist domestic households with first time connections to the water main.\r\n","AnswerText":"In Scotland, there are over 20,000 private water supplies of which some 10% are larger supplies supplying commercial premises or large communities. It is essential that before any funds are allocated that there is a fuller understanding of the location, nature and condition of these supplies. For this reason, the government has asked that the assessment as noted in my answer to S4W-22642 on 14 October 2014, be carried out.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:10.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297446,"EventID":"S4W-22644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:10.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:04:09.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19942 by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2014, when it will publish the findings of its financial review of kinship care and what the reason is for any delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"The findings of the financial review have been delayed in light of the ongoing investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in Scotland into local authorities’ policies and payment of allowances to support looked after children in kinship and foster care.\r\nI met with Councillor Chapman on 14 October 2014 to discuss this matter. We now plan to reconvene the kinship care financial review group with a view to completing the review and publishing our findings as soon as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:10.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297447,"EventID":"S4W-22645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:10.857","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:33:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council about the provision of parking for staff, patients and visitors at the new South Glasgow Hospitals site.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has corresponded with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on a number of occasions regarding the provision of parking for staff, patients and visitors. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have outlined the provision of 3,500 car parking spaces following completion of a third multi-storey car park in the summer of 2016 – the maximum number of spaces permitted by the planning consent for the new hospitals and laboratory facilities. In allocating these spaces the board will take account of the following:\r\nThe balance of allocation of space between staff permit holders and patients, the process to allocate permits to staff, a small number of unallocated, first come first served spaces which can be access by staff without permits, a car sharing programme and a number of travel information and support arrangements for staff. \r\nThe board is in continued dialogue with planners to look at whether there is any scope to increase the number of spaces from 3,500 to 4,000 as part of the final master planning of the site.\r\nParking provision is being considered as part of a range of travel options, including investment in public transport. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are working with local authorities and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to improve accessibility and frequency of services to this site. The board will encourage car sharing and a switch to public transport alternatives to take pressure off parking space availability. Loan schemes are in place to save staff costs on travel tickets and on enhanced transport links such as the new Fastlink.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:10.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297448,"EventID":"S4W-22646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:11.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:33:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is adequate parking for staff, patients and visitors at the new South Glasgow Hospitals site.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is satisfied that the maximum number of car parking spaces, as determined in the planning consent process, will be provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.\r\nThese spaces, combined with the enhancements to public transport, including improved public transport routes, targeted investment in communities with poorer public transport and the Scottish Government’s investment in the new Fastlink scheme, which will introduce direct links from three main sites in the city centre (Buchanan Bus Station, Queen Street Station and Central Station) to the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus, will collectively provide a range of travel options for staff, patients and visitors.\r\nThe board recognises that public transport connections are crucial – for example, people in the west of the city will connect via Partick Interchange to Govan Underground where they will connect with the Fastlink to the main door of the new hospital.\r\nThis combination of arrangements balances ease of access to the new hospitals with encouraging sustainable transport and managing pollution and congestion in the local area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:11.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297449,"EventID":"S4W-22647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:11.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:33:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a workforce travel plan for the new South Glasgow Hospitals site and, if so, whether it considers it adequate.","AnswerText":"Yes there is a workforce travel plan for the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is investing a further £5.2 million in this plan. The detailed travel plan includes close working with service providers to increase the frequency of public transport services and promote the use of travel hubs/mini interchanges for staff travelling by car from outwith the city. The board are working in partnership with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council to ensure that investment is targeted at communities where there are poorer public transport links and with Renfrewshire Council to ensure that the Fastlink scheme is extended to Braehead to support better public transport connectivity for staff who reside in that area.\r\nStaff can access up to date information via the staff side travel advisory group and the board have undertaken roadshows and drop in sessions for staff on transport issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:11.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297450,"EventID":"S4W-22648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T13:46:11.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T11:33:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what concerns have been raised about the safety of staff who cannot park at the new South Glasgow Hospitals site or in the surrounding streets.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have given the Scottish Government assurances that as part of the new South Glasgow Hospitals development there is a well-established staff advisory transport group comprising of managers and trade union representatives that staff can take any safety and security issues to.\r\nThe Scottish Government is aware that some concerns have been raised and has taken this issue very seriously. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have responded to the following concerns:\r\nPersonal safety (especially in the evening) when walking to/from their vehicles parked off-site: \r\nGlasgow City Council have made (or are currently in the process of making) a number of improvements in respect of street lighting and general improvements to various underpasses that would be used by staff. Furthermore, the introduction of community warden services throughout the area and specifically concentrating on known ‘hotspots’ has resulted in demonstrable improvements.\r\nPersonal safety regarding waking to/from, and within car parks on the new South Glasgow Hospitals campus:\r\nCar parks will be well lit and will be covered by CCTV. In addition, pathways from the new hospitals and the existing retained site buildings will also be illuminated and, given the size of the campus, are likely to be busy for the majority of the time. Furthermore, the site will have a dedicated security team.\r\nPersonal safety if cycling to work - notably through Clyde tunnel and areas of Govan:\r\nIn addition to the comments noted at point (1), there have been a number of significant improvements in the Clyde tunnel thoroughfares, including controlled access, extensive CCTV coverage, enhanced communication links and various cosmetic improvements. We have also organised specific events inviting staff to collectively view the improvements first hand and take the opportunity to walk through the tunnel routes.\r\nPersonal safety using public transport - especially late at night:\r\nCCTV coverage is extensive in all Strathclyde Partnership for Transport infrastructure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T13:46:11.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297456,"EventID":"S4W-22649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:16.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:46.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the gender pay gap has been for (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in each year since 2007-08.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides information about the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations. The latest data provides a snapshot of earnings as at 17 April 2013. The gender pay gap is calculated using median hourly earnings excluding overtime.\r\nGender pay gap for full-time and part-time employees:\r\nYear\r\nGender pay gap: full-time employees\r\nGender pay gap: part-time employees\r\n2007\r\n11.9%\r\n-2.2%\r\n2008\r\n10.8%\r\n-10.9%\r\n2009\r\n8.5%\r\n-7.2%\r\n2010\r\n7.4%\r\n-8.3%\r\n2011a\r\n5.8%\r\n-10.4%\r\n2011b\r\n6.6%\r\n-10.3%\r\n2012\r\n8.4%\r\n-10.3%\r\n2013\r\n7.6%\r\n-10.9%\r\nSource: ASHE, April 2007–April 2013, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Covers employees aged 16+ on the PAYE system on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence\r\n2. There are two sets of results for 2011. Estimates for 2007-2011a are based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000 and are directly comparable. Estimates for 2011b-2013 are based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010 and are directly comparable. The results for 2007-2011a and 2011b-2013 should not be directly compared.\r\n3. The gender pay gap of 7.6% in 2013 for full-time employees can be interpreted as, for those working full-time, women earning 7.6% less than men. The gender pay gap of -10.9% in 2013 for part-time employees can be interpreted as, for those working \r\npart-time, women earning 10.9% more than men.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:17.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297457,"EventID":"S4W-22650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:18.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:46.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help reduce the gender pay gap.","AnswerText":"One of the strategic aims of the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy is to ensure that pay is fair and non-discriminatory and to protect jobs and services. All public bodies covered by this policy are expected to review their pay systems annually and carry out an equality impact assessment of their reward policies and practices every three years.\r\nTo ensure the implementation of the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 is as effective as possible, the Scottish Government introduced a specific duty that places a requirement on relevant public authorities to publish gender pay gap information and a duty to publish statements on equal pay.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s submission to the Smith Commission calls for the devolution of employment and employability policy, including responsibility for setting the minimum wage; all employability programmes; and equal opportunities and equality policy. This would allow the Scottish Government to take more action to tackle the gender pay gap, including undertaking a review of the costs and benefits of mandatory gender pay audits.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:18.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297458,"EventID":"S4W-22651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:19.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:46.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on tackling the gender pay gap in each year since 2007-08.","AnswerText":"Since 2007-08 the Scottish Government has committed £3,912,003 to fund projects aimed at tackling the gender pay gap and occupational segregation which is a cause of the gender pay gap. Funding is provided to a range of organisations including: Close the Gap, Equate Scotland (formerly the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology), Women@work, Women onto Work and the Career Wise Initiative.\r\nFunding provided to each organisation in each of the years from 2007 to 2015 is contained in the following table.\r\n\r\n2007-2008\r\n2008-2009\r\n2009-2010\r\n2010-2011\r\n2011-2012\r\n2012-2015\r\nTotal\r\nClose the Gap\r\n£110,000\r\n£183,206\r\n£203,182\r\n£208,342\r\n£205,000\r\n£615,000\r\n£1,524,730\r\nWomen @work\r\n£64,500\r\n£89,164\r\n£95,455\r\n£95,456\r\n£95,405\r\n£292,295\r\n£732,275\r\nWomen onto Work\r\n£130,000\r\n£159,204\r\n£129,948\r\n£132,848\r\n\r\n£225,000\r\n£777,000\r\nEquate Scotland\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n£26,000\r\n£601,998\r\n£627,998\r\nCareer Wise Initiative\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n£250,000\r\n£250,000\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n£3,912,003\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:19.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297459,"EventID":"S4W-22652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:19.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:46.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether equal pay audits are required as part of the public sector equality duties.\r\n","AnswerText":"Equal pay audits are not required as part of the public sector equality duties. However, the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require listed authorities with more than 150 employees to publish a statement on equal pay. The statement must specify the authority’s policy on equal pay among its employees and occupational segregation among its employees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:19.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297460,"EventID":"S4W-22653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:20.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:46.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, how it monitors the effectiveness of equal pay statements as part of the public sector equality duties.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the enforcement body for the public sector equality duties. During 2013 it undertook monitoring of Scottish public authorities’ performance of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, including the requirement to publish equal pay statements. Its reports can be access at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/devolved-authorities/commission-scotland/public-sector-equality-duty-scotland/monitoring-and-enforcement\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:20.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297461,"EventID":"S4W-22654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:20.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:51.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people live in overcrowded dwellings in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"Over the 2010 to 2012 period, it is estimated there were on average:\r\n(a) 2,000 overcrowded households in Aberdeen City\r\n(b) 3,000 overcrowded households in Aberdeenshire\r\nThese estimates are from the Scottish House Conditions Survey, based on the bedroom standard definition.\r\nThese are the best available estimates, derived from survey data with a combined sample size over three years of 290 households in Aberdeen City and 233 households in Aberdeenshire. This means these estimates are subject to a degree of sampling error and have margins of error associated with them.\r\nCorresponding estimates of the number of people in overcrowded households is not readily available, as this would require an alternative weighting methodology to raise the sample data into population estimates.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:20.78","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297462,"EventID":"S4W-22655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:21.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:51.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) nurses and (b) consultants have been employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information regarding how many (a) nurses and (b) consultants have been employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years can be found in the following tables.\r\nTable 1: Whole time equivalent nursing staff in post employed in NHS Grampian from 30 September 2009 to 30 June 2014.\r\n\r\nSep 10\r\nSep 11\r\nSep 12\r\nSep 13\r\nJun 14\r\nNursing\r\n4,828.6\r\n4,561.4\r\n4,602.6\r\n4,704.2\r\n4,758.3\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\n\r\nTable 2: Whole time equivalent consultant staff in post employed in NHS Grampian from 30 September 2009 to 30 June 2014.\r\n\r\nSep 10\r\nSep 11\r\nSep 12\r\nSep 13\r\nJun 14\r\nConsultants\r\n448.6\r\n463.8\r\n467.3\r\n464.5\r\n480.5\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\n\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:21.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297463,"EventID":"S4W-22657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:21.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:51.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for support under the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme have been (a) made and (b) granted in (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"The number of applications under the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire as at 30 September 2014 are set out in the following table:\r\n\r\nAberdeen City\r\nAberdeenshire\r\nApplications\r\n156\r\n392\r\nApproved applications\r\n130\r\n354\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:21.457","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297464,"EventID":"S4W-22658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:21.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:35:51.323","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many banned items have been seized from prisoners in the Grampian area in each of the last five years, broken down by item.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘The SPS does not have a list of banned items. Instead, section 2 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 defines prohibited articles and includes controlled drugs, weapons, alcohol and mobile phones.\r\nThe following tables provide a breakdown of prohibited articles recovered from prisoners within Grampian prisons over the last five years.’’\r\nDrugs\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\nAberdeen\r\n1\r\n66\r\n59\r\n75\r\n96\r\nGrampian\r\n31\r\n \r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n26\r\n16\r\n0\r\n1\r\n \r\nWeapons\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\nAberdeen\r\n0\r\n3\r\n8\r\n5\r\n7\r\nGrampian\r\n8\r\n \r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n3\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n \r\nMobile Telephones\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\nAberdeen\r\n1\r\n10\r\n29\r\n62\r\n77\r\nGrampian  \r\n9\r\n \r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n5\r\n15\r\n0\r\n0\r\n \r\nAlcohol\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\nAberdeen\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n3\r\n3\r\nGrampian\r\n4\r\n \r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n7\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:21.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297465,"EventID":"S4W-22659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:22.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:37:08.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all health and social care partnerships in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will be subject to a 10% reduction in budget for (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.","AnswerText":"No, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that health and social care partnerships will not be subject to a 10% reduction in 2015-16 or 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:22.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297466,"EventID":"S4W-22660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:22.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:37:08.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what financial challenge West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership will have in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17 in light of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde projecting a 10% budget reduction over those years.","AnswerText":"This is primarily a matter for the individual health board, although NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has indicated that the opening budget for the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership is still in the process of being finalised.\r\nThe board and local authority are currently working to confirm the budgets from which the health and social care partnership budgets will be derived.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:22.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297467,"EventID":"S4W-22661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:23.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:37:08.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the budget will be for each new health and social care partnership in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.","AnswerText":"In each partnership area, it is the responsibility of the health board and local authority to delegate functions to the integration joint board, and budgets relating to those functions.\r\nEach health board and local authority will agree an integration scheme, setting out their integrated arrangements for health and social care, and this will include their method for determining budgets to be delegated to the integration joint board. The integration scheme is subject to ministerial approval.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:23.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297468,"EventID":"S4W-22662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:23.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:39:46.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position on whether activity at the medical assessment unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital should be (a) reduced or (b) removed before April 2017 and whether it is aware of any plans to do so.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not aware of any plans from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to materially change the services currently provided from the Vale of Leven Hospital, including the medical assessment unit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:23.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297469,"EventID":"S4W-22663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:24.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:39:46.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have attended the (a) minor injuries and (b) medical assessment unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"a) The numbers of new and unplanned return attendances to the minor injuries unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital for financial years from June 2007 to June 2014 are shown in the following table:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nNumber of Attendances at Vale of Leven Minor Injuries Unit\r\nJune 2007 to March 2008\r\n12112\r\n2008-09\r\n14786\r\n2009-10\r\n15783\r\n2010-11\r\n15197\r\n2011-12\r\n14602\r\n2012-13\r\n14492\r\n2013-14\r\n15073\r\nApril 2014 to June 2014\r\n4151\r\nSource: A&E data mart, ISD Scotland.\r\n\r\nb) Information on the number of attendances at the medical assessment unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital is not available centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:24.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297470,"EventID":"S4W-22664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:24.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:39:46.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to run the medical assessment unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital in each year since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:24.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297471,"EventID":"S4W-22665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:25.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:39:46.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the recently leaked paper suggesting that the NHS will have to meet a funding gap of up to £450 million.\r\n","AnswerText":"As has been stated previously, this paper is part of the regular discussions among NHS leaders to plan proactively for future healthcare provision, so as to ensure that we maintain the delivery of quality care and treatment within boards’ allocated funding. Budget planning enabled NHS to make efficiency savings of 3% per year for the last six years – releasing more than £1.5 billion to be redirected to fund frontline NHS services.\r\nFor 2015-16 there is a planned overall increase of £256 million in health resource spending. This will see the resources allocated to territorial NHS boards, those who deliver direct patient care, increase by 2.7 per cent. This is an above real terms increase, and represents the sixth above-inflation increase in a row. Every territorial board will see their budgets increased.\r\nAdditional capital funding will take the overall increase to £288 million in 2015-16, bringing the total health budget to £12.16 billion.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:25.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297472,"EventID":"S4W-22666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:25.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:39:46.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing's comments in the Lennox Herald on 19 September 2014 regarding the medical assessment unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital in which he is reported to have said, “I give you a guarantee now that services in the Vale will continue and we are actually looking at improvements we can make north of the river in terms of accident and emergency services. I can assure your readers that this is not going to affect the Vale hospital. It will have absolutely no impact on the Vale whatsoever” are accurate and, if so, reflect Scottish Government policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22662 on 28 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:25.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297473,"EventID":"S4W-22667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-01T16:47:26.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T14:59:05.993","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many drug finds there have been in prisons in Grampian in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘The following table provides a breakdown of drug finds within prisons in the Grampian area over the last five years.’’\r\n\r\n2014\r\n2013\r\n2012\r\n2011\r\n2010\r\nAberdeen\r\n1\r\n74\r\n64\r\n101\r\n108\r\nGrampian\r\n36\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n57\r\n24\r\n0\r\n1\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-29T16:47:26.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297481,"EventID":"S4W-22638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:40.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T17:27:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people aged 18 to 21 claim jobseekers allowance in Scotland, the amount claimed and the average award.","AnswerText":"The information requested for the 18 to 21-year-old age group is not held centrally. From the information published by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the closest age group is for those aged 18-24.\r\nBased on the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, in February 2014 there were 28,200 18 to 24-year-olds claiming jobseekers allowance in Scotland. The average weekly amount of benefit received by persons in this group was £58.29.\r\nDWP only publish data for average weekly amount of benefit – no separate information is published for amount claimed and average award.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:42.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297482,"EventID":"S4W-22639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:42.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T17:27:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people aged 16 to 21 have been out of work for more than six months and what that figure was in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey provides the preferred measure for detailed labour market information for subsets of the population in Scotland. The latest data covers the period July 2013 to June 2014.\r\n‘Out of work’ has been categorised as those who are ‘unemployed’ according to the internationally agreed definition of unemployment by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO definition of unemployment covers people who are:\r\nWithout a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks; or \r\nOut of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks.\r\nThe following table provides information for the number of people aged 16 to 21 who were unemployed for six months or more for July 2011-June 2012 to July 2013-June 2014.\r\nNumber of People aged 16 to 21 who were Unemployed for 6 months or more\r\nTime Period\r\nUnemployed for 6 months or more\r\nJuly 2011 to June 2012\r\n                      23,600 \r\nJuly 2012 to June 2013\r\n                        22,400 \r\nJuly 2013 to June 2014\r\n                        21,400 \r\nSource: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Levels based on population aged 16-21.\r\n2. Levels rounded to nearest hundred.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:42.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297483,"EventID":"S4W-22640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:43.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-30T17:27:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people aged 16 to 21 in Scotland claim housing benefit.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to housing benefit and this information is not held centrally.\r\nStatistics on housing benefit are published by the Department for Work and Pensions and are publicly available at the following website: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:43.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297484,"EventID":"S4W-22668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:43.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T16:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that its guidance on blacklisting in relation to public procurement contracts is adhered to.\r\n","AnswerText":"The blacklisting guidance, published in November 2013, contains a commitment to meet with the Scottish Trades Union Congress and interested trade unions on a quarterly basis to review how the blacklisting guidance is being applied and to exchange information about compliance. These meetings are continuing.\r\nAs part of our ongoing work to develop the regulations and statutory guidance which will fully implement the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, we plan to review the effectiveness of the blacklisting guidance, with a view to placing it on a statutory footing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:43.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297485,"EventID":"S4W-22669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:43.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T16:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of each hubCo region's preferred contractors.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on each hubCo region’s supply chain is included in its respective website, links for which can be found at the following website:\r\nwww.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/our-work/sft-build/hub/hub-delivery/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:43.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297486,"EventID":"S4W-22670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:44.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-01T16:23:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of each (a) fully and (b) partly publicly-funded project that has been procured by each hubCo region, also broken down by the (i) name of funder and (ii) amount of funding.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on the hub pipeline, which includes the relevant hubCo participant organisation (funder) and capital value for each project, is published by the Scottish Futures Trust and can be found on the following website:\r\nwww.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/hub-projects-pipeline-september-2014/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:44.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297487,"EventID":"S4W-22672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:44.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:01:11.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions Scotland's enforcement and social service agencies can draw from the findings of the report, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997–2013).\r\n","AnswerText":"Clearly all of us working to keep children safe in Scotland are considering what lessons are to be learned from Professor Jay’s report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, to ensure child protection measures are as robust and responsive as they can be.\r\nThe Cabinet Secretary for Justice and I held a round table discussion with Professor Alexis Jay, the author of the Rotherham report, to consider its findings on 2 October 2014. This discussion included Jackie Brock, DCC Iain Livingstone, ACC Malcolm Graham and Sarah Blackmore of the Care Inspectorate, as well as Crown Office and Scottish Government officials.\r\nThe Scottish Government is absolutely committed to protecting children and young people’s wellbeing. A ministerial working group (chaired by Jackie Brock, Chief Executive of Children in Scotland, and made up of representatives from Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Care Inspectorate and the third sector) was established to specifically examine the issue of child sexual exploitation and to develop a national action plan by examining the recommendations from the Public Petitions Committee, alongside their own expertise in child protection. The conclusions of the Jay Report are also informing that work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:44.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297488,"EventID":"S4W-22673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:44.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:03:10.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) decision-making process and (b) timescale is for an application for a windfarm in a national scenic area.","AnswerText":"Wind farm proposals of up to and including 50 megawatts will require an application for planning permission.\r\nThe exact planning application process, and the time it takes, will depend on the specific nature and location of the proposal. Planning authorities must consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) where they intend granting permission for certain types of development within national scenic areas. Where an authority wishes to grant consent contrary to the advice of SNH, they must notify the application to Scottish Ministers who will consider whether the application should be called in for their determination.\r\nWhere a decision is not issued within the prescribed period, or an extended period agreed by the applicant and planning authority, the applicant can appeal to Scottish Ministers or seek local review as appropriate. The prescribed periods are two months for local development and four months for major development.\r\nProposals over 50 megawatts require consent from Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Scottish Government has an aspirational nine month target for determining applications under section 36, where these do not require a public inquiry or information additional to the original application.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:44.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297489,"EventID":"S4W-22674","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:45.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:09:27.85","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has allocated to tackling child sexual exploitation in each of the last five years, and what priority it gives the issue.","AnswerText":"Child sexual exploitation is an abhorrent crime and can have a devastating impact on its victims and their families. We have implemented a range of work with our partners to ensure we remain vigilant to abuse and are able to offer support to survivors.\r\nThis includes the establishment of a ministerial working group and the development of a national action plan, which includes looking at the recent recommendations from the Public Petitions Committee. This is in addition to the welcome initiative of Police Scotland in establishing a new national taskforce to address the serious issue of child abuse which includes child sexual exploitation. The National Child Abuse Investigation Unit will lead and co-ordinate complex inquiries.\r\nIt is not possible to draw out figures for total spending on this issue as it sits within a range of agencies including not least the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and social work departments across Scotland. I can assure the Chamber, however, that this issue is a real priority for this government and we will soon seek to update Parliament on further steps we plan to take in this area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:45.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297490,"EventID":"S4W-22675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:45.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:16:04.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the recovery of historic (a) community charge and (b) council tax arrears and whether they have indicated that they will pursue these.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is engaged in ongoing discussions with representatives of COSLA and local authorities on the implementation of the commitment to end recovery of Community Charge debts. Further detail on the legislation which will fulfil this commitment will be made available in due course.\r\nLocal authorities will continue to be able to use current information to assess council tax liability, as part of their administration and collection of the council tax.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:45.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297491,"EventID":"S4W-22677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:45.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:18:25.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make resources available to people facing demands for historic (a) community charge and (b) council tax arrears.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes the electoral registers should not be used to collect debts from the defunct community charge – something which is even more important given the unprecedentedly high levels of democratic engagement seen recently.\r\nThe Scottish Government therefore intends to bring forward legislation which will mean local authorities no longer have the ability to collect community charge debts. Local authorities will be compensated in line with current collection rates in respect of outstanding amounts of community charge which would have been collected.\r\nLocal authorities will continue to be able to use current information to assess council tax liability, as part of their administration and collection of the council tax.\r\nIt is for each local authority to determine the most appropriate means for recovery of council tax debts, though ministers would expect that they would decide how to pursue their debts in a way which is sympathetic to the needs and circumstances of the debtor.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:45.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297492,"EventID":"S4W-22678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T13:44:46.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T11:22:24.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it gave to each valuation joint board to ensure that the procedures for the voter registration process in the run-up to the referendum were followed correctly.\r\n","AnswerText":"The costs of electoral registration in Scotland are normally met through local authority budgets.\r\nFor the purposes of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the Scottish Government agreed to reimburse electoral registration officers for any additional costs associated with extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds. These additional costs include the printing and distribution of young voter registration forms and the costs of the necessary adaptations to electoral management software to facilitate the addition of the register of young voters.\r\nWhen the referendum legislation was introduced to Parliament last year, the Scottish Government estimated the total cost associated with implementing the provisions of the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act to be £434,000. The final amount to be paid to each valuation board will not be known until the consideration of any further claims from electoral registration officers is completed in early 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T13:44:46.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297505,"EventID":"S4W-22616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:17.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has made to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers in each year since 2005.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has continuously made arrangements to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers since 2005 through a range of activities and interventions which include:\r\nYear\r\nActivity\r\n2005\r\nThe Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 to support the rights of breastfeeding mothers.\r\n2006\r\nHealth Improvement, Efficiency, Access to Treatment (HEAT) target 7 to increase the proportion of new-born children exclusively breastfed at 6–8 weeks from 26.6% in 2006-7 to 33.3% in 2010-11.\r\nFunding provision for 200 DVDs which include two Health Scotland breastfeeding adverts.\r\n2008-2011\r\nChief Executive Letter (CEL) 36 – funding provided, part of which is to support delivery of the HEAT 7 target on breastfeeding.\r\nNational Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Review of public health guidance (PH11) - Improving the nutrition of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children in low-income households provides an evidence base for use of the funding: http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH011\r\nRecruitment of an infant nutrition coordinator to implement an infant nutrition strategy for Scotland. The coordinator’s strategic role is to assist and coordinate activities, which will include breastfeeding, in Scotland.\r\n2011-2012\r\n\r\nImproving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action (the framework) is the first framework which looks at the nutrition of mothers before and during pregnancy. The framework has an action plan of activities for all key partner organisations and seven out of the 30 actions focus on breastfeeding. We provide funding to health boards annually in order for them to carry out the work of the framework.\r\nA breastfeeding social marketing campaign was run in January 2011 and was repeated in June/July 2012 (the latter to coincide with the National Breastfeeding Week). The campaign was targeted at mums in lower socio economic groups aged between 19 and 35 as research shows that this group is much less likely to attempt or maintain breastfeeding due to a lack of confidence in their own abilities and the perceived stigma in communities where bottle feeding is commonplace. The campaign comprised of a television advert, outdoor posters and an updated feedgood factor website which provides help and support to breastfeeding mothers (http://www.feedgoodfactor.org.uk/)\r\n2014\r\nFunding provided to UNICEF to deliver the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation in maternity hospitals and community settings in Scotland.  The BFI is a worldwide programme of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF which works with the health-care system to ensure a high standard of care related to infant feeding and very early child development. Support is provided for health-care facilities that are seeking to implement best practice, and an assessment and accreditation process recognises those that have achieved the required standard.\r\nWe also fund the role of Professional Officer for Scotland which allows UNICEF to provide dedicated support to NHS boards in achieving and maintaining BFI accreditation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:17.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297506,"EventID":"S4W-22617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:19.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to police officers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"The training of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:19.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297507,"EventID":"S4W-22618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:20.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to companies in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government produced a leaflet on the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 which was issued to all employers in Scotland in 2006. It explains the implications of the Act for employers and employees. The leaflet is available online:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/135079/0033433.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:20.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297508,"EventID":"S4W-22619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:20.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to mothers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"There are universal resources, available to all pregnant women, which include reference to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. These are:\r\nThe Ready Steady Baby! book provided at initial booking with maternity services. There is also a Ready Steady Baby website: http://www.readysteadybaby.org.uk/\r\nThe booklet Off to a good start: All you need to know about breastfeeding your baby is provided at 28 weeks' gestation: \r\nhttp://www.healthscotland.com/documents/120.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:20.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297509,"EventID":"S4W-22620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:21.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.\r\nGuidance on offences under the Act is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes which is outlined in the answer to S4W-22621 on 21 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:21.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297510,"EventID":"S4W-22621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:21.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to Procurator Fiscal Deputes when dealing with cases relating to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.\r\nFull guidance is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes on the offence under the Act in section 1, how vicarious liability can apply as provided for in section 2 and how officials of a body corporate and partners can be personally liable as provided for in section 3.\r\nInternal guidance and case marking instructions provide information on the action which should be taken in cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal under this section of the legislation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:21.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297511,"EventID":"S4W-22622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:21.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:21.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297512,"EventID":"S4W-22623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:21.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many employers have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:21.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297513,"EventID":"S4W-22624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:22.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bodies corporate and partnerships have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.\r\n","AnswerText":"There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:22.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297514,"EventID":"S4W-22628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:22.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many alternatives to prosecution have been pursued each year in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by (a) employers, (b) individuals and (c) bodies corporate and partnerships.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.\r\nThere has been one case reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service since the commencement of the Act in 2009. The case against the accused company as an employer was dealt with by way of a warning letter which is an alternative to prosecution.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:22.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297515,"EventID":"S4W-22629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:22.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many warning letters have been issued to (a) employers, (b) individuals and (c) bodies corporate and partnerships in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by year.\r\n","AnswerText":"Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.\r\nOne case has been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service since the commencement of the Act which was in 2009. I refer the member to the answer to S4W-22628 on 21 October 2014 – a company as employer was issued with a warning letter for one offence under section 1.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:22.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297516,"EventID":"S4W-22630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:23.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-09-25T16:56:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made to the police in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by year.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:23.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297517,"EventID":"S4W-22696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-02T16:55:23.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T15:04:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been (a) made and (b) granted each year under the community sex offender disclosure scheme, Keeping Children Safe.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your question and I have asked him to reply to you direct.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-30T16:55:23.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297530,"EventID":"S4W-22722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T13:35:11.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T12:37:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the Vale of Leven Hospital inquiry will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"I am pleased to be able to inform Parliament that the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report will be published on Monday 24 November 2014.\r\nFurther details will be available on the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry website in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T13:35:11.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297531,"EventID":"S4W-22702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:06.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many individual patient treatment requests were or have been approved by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) since April 2014, also broken down by requests from residents of other NHS board areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012-13, 125 requests were made and 84 approved. In 2013-14, 83 requests were made and 60 approved. From 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014, 52 requests were made and 44 were approved.\r\nThis data relates to the number of individual patient treatment requests approved for patients resident in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board area and does not include requests approved for residents of other NHS board areas. Information on requests approved is held by NHS board residency.\r\nIn NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board area and throughout Scotland there has been a significant increase in the approval rate of individual patient treatment requests in the transitional period ahead of a body of decisions by the Scottish Medicines Consortium under their new process. In 2011-12, the approval rate for individual patient treatment requests in Scotland was 66%. From 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014, the approval rate of individual patient treatment requests in Scotland was 92%.\r\nData for 2014 is subject to further verification at the end of 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:06.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297532,"EventID":"S4W-22703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:07.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many individual patient treatment requests were or have been approved by NHS Lothian in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) since April 2014, also broken down by requests from residents of other NHS board areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012-13, 41 requests were made and 18 approved. In 2013-14, 73 requests were made and 67 approved. From 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014, 80 requests were made and 80 were approved.\r\nThis data relates to the number of individual patient treatment requests approved for patients resident in the NHS Lothian board area and does not include requests approved for residents of other NHS board areas. Information on requests approved is held by NHS board residency.\r\nIn NHS Lothian board area and throughout Scotland there has been a significant increase in the approval rate of individual patient treatment requests in the transitional period ahead of a body of decisions by the Scottish Medicines Consortium under their new process. In 2011-12, the approval rate for individual patient treatment requests in Scotland was 66%. From 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014, the approval rate of individual patient treatment requests in Scotland was 92%.\r\nData for 2014 is subject to further verification at the end of 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:07.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297533,"EventID":"S4W-22706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:07.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many individual patient treatment requests that were or have been approved by NHS Lothian in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) since April 2014 were for medicines for treating end of life or rare conditions that had been declined by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.","AnswerText":"Data received by the Scottish Government does not categorise treatment of patients in this way.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:07.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297534,"EventID":"S4W-22707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:08.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many individual patient treatment requests that were or have been approved by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) since April 2014 were for medicines for treating end of life or rare conditions that had been declined by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data received by the Scottish Government does not categorise treatment of patients in this way.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:08.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297535,"EventID":"S4W-22708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:09.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its new guidance on access to medicines.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to provide any appropriate guidance for NHSScotland as and when necessary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:09.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297536,"EventID":"S4W-22709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:10.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the delay in publishing its new guidance on access to medicines, which was due to be published in May 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not said that it would publish new guidance on access to medicines in May 2014. As part of implementation of policy changes to increase access to new medicines for patients in Scotland, the Scottish Government will continue to provide any appropriate guidance for NHSScotland as and when necessary.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:10.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297537,"EventID":"S4W-22710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:11.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T16:35:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the delay in publishing its new guidance on access to medicines has disadvantaged any patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"No. Changes to access to medicines policy have already been introduced and hundreds more patients throughout Scotland are already accessing new treatments. These changes are being closely monitored to determine what further action may be required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:11.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297538,"EventID":"S4W-22712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:12.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T10:56:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what secure provision is available in Scotland for children and young people with mental health issues.","AnswerText":"Young people receiving secure care in one of the five secure care centres in Scotland (Edinburgh Secure Services; the Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton; Kibble Education and Care Centre, Paisley; Rossie Secure Accommodation Service, Montrose; St Mary’s Kenmure, Bishopbriggs) who require specialist mental health services will have their needs met by local child and adolescent mental health services working with secure care staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:12.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297539,"EventID":"S4W-22713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:13.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T10:56:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many inpatient psychiatric units there are in Scotland for children and young people with (a) mental health issues and (b) severe learning difficulties.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the three regional adolescent inpatient units operating across Scotland based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee:\r\nUnit\r\nNo. of beds\r\nArea served\r\nRoyal Edinburgh Hospital\r\n12\r\nSouth East of Scotland\r\n(Lothian, Fife and Borders)\r\nSkye House, Stobhill, Glasgow\r\n24\r\nWest of Scotland (Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire and Arran)\r\nDudhope House, Dundee\r\n6\r\n (a further six beds will be available from mid-2015).\r\nNorth of Scotland (Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles)\r\nSevere psychiatric conditions are rare in children under 12, but those who require intensive support and treatment can be cared for in the nine bedded specialist units within the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill.\r\nAdmission for children with a learning disability would be considered on a case-by-case basis, normally only being required in the most severe and complex cases. One specialist bed is provided for children and young people with severe learning disability in Lothian, at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, staffed when required, by the intensive learning disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services team.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:13.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297540,"EventID":"S4W-22715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:13.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T10:56:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what inpatient psychiatric provision there is in mental health services for children with autism who do not have learning difficulties.\r\n","AnswerText":"Mental health services for all children and young people, including those with autism, will be met by child and adolescent mental health services from the appropriate NHS board. Children and young people who require psychiatric care and who have autism would normally be cared for in the adolescent inpatient units.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:13.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297541,"EventID":"S4W-22716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:13.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T10:56:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people with (a) mental health issues, (b) challenging behaviour and (c) learning difficulties are sent to England for treatment, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) NHS board, and who pays for such placements.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS National Services Scotland (National Services Division) funds placements of children and young people with mental health problems who require secure inpatient care. The following table below shows placements over the last three years and includes young people with challenging behaviour and learning disability. The information is not disaggregated to help maintain patient confidentiality.\r\nInformation about placements arranged by individual NHS boards or local authorities is not held centrally. \r\nYear\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nNumber of placements\r\n7\r\n2\r\n7\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:13.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297542,"EventID":"S4W-22720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:14.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T10:56:32.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what specialist child and adolescent mental health service provision there is in Scotland for people with complex autism and learning difficulties.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ensuring that child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) meet the needs of their local population is the responsibility of NHS boards. This includes meeting the needs of children and young people with mental illness and learning disability and autism. In the national mental health strategy we include a commitment to work with clinicians in Scotland to identify good models of learning disability CAMHS from across Scotland and the UK which could be used as tests in Scotland. That work, being undertaken by the University of Glasgow, is well underway, and will inform service development.\r\nThe Scottish Strategy for Autism aims to enable people with autistic spectrum disorder to access mainstream services that are appropriate to meet individual needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:14.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297543,"EventID":"S4W-22721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T14:10:14.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T12:01:58.033","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22383 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 September 2014, what input it has had to plans to reduce the number of divisions in Police Scotland.","AnswerText":"As I stated in my previous reply to your question I meet regularly with Police Scotland to discuss a range of issues, including local policing.\r\nI understand that Police Scotland regularly reviews and checks whether its approaches and structures provide the most efficient and effective mechanisms to ensure that the high quality delivery of policing in Scotland is maintained and enhanced. Any future changes to local policing structures will, of course, be progressed through engagement and discussion with the Scottish Government and relevant stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T14:10:14.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297553,"EventID":"S4W-22724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T15:33:39.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T15:28:17.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered to Pride Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerText":"Statements of support were provided to Pride Glasgow by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in 2008, 2010 and 2012 which underlined the government’s commitment to equality, our support for LGBT people, and our belief in a fair, inclusive society.\r\nIn 2014, Glasgow hosted what is being hailed as one of the most successful and inclusive Commonwealth Games, and was the first Commonwealth Games to host a Pride House. Pride Glasgow, alongside many other Scottish LGBT organisations, was involved in making Pride House the success it was widely recognised to be.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T15:33:39.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297554,"EventID":"S4W-22725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T15:33:39.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T15:28:17.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to LGBT organisations to host events celebrating LGBT equality.","AnswerText":"A process for allocating funding to organisations for equality work in 2015-16 is currently underway, the results of which will be published on the Scottish Government’s website in advance of the funding commencing in April 2015. LGBT organisations are currently in receipt of over £2.3 million of funding from the equality budget, and will be able to apply for funding in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T15:33:39.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297555,"EventID":"S4W-22726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-03T15:33:39.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T15:28:17.173","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to continue supporting LGBT people following the reported success of Pride House during the Commonwealth Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to move equality for all of Scotland’s people forward in a positive direction. For LGBT people specifically, the clearest demonstration of this will be in December 2014 when same sex couples can get married in Scotland for the first time.\r\nOn 10 October 2014, More Powers for the Scottish Parliament: Scottish Government Proposals was published. One proposal for extending devolution in Scotland is that equal legislation should be devolved. This, in addition to providing funding to LGBT organisations and continuing to work closely with LGBT stakeholders and communities, will help progress equality for LGBT people in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-10-31T15:33:39.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297558,"EventID":"S4W-22755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T11:27:44.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:24:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the review into spectator safety at motor sport events following the deaths of three spectators at the Jim Clark Rally on 31 May 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The review group on motor sport event safety began work in June 2014 following the tragic deaths of three spectators and injuries to several others at the Jim Clark Rally this year. A spectator had also been killed and another injured at the Highland Snowman Rally the previous year.\r\nThe group was established by the Scottish Government to ‘Examine safety, specifically spectator safety, at motor sport events in Scotland and make recommendations to improve safety for future events.’\r\nThe group is chaired by the Scottish Government and has a wide membership including representatives of the Motor Sports Association, Scottish Auto Cycle Union, Police Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive and a local authority. The group also benefits from expert advice from Sir Jackie Stewart.\r\nThe immediate priority was to consider safety at rallies and the group has now reached some early views on safety at multi-venue stage rallies in Scotland (those rallies where linked sections of forest or public roads are used, covering many miles - the majority of rallies, including the Jim Clark rally). The emerging findings are set out below. Further detailed work is being done on these and other recommendations around stage rallies. The group will also move on to consider other areas of two, three and four wheeled motor sport with final recommendations expected around the end of the year.\r\nI asked the review group to ensure that their findings were communicated to the organisers of the Mull Rally that takes place on 10 October 2014 on the Isle of Mull. The Mull Rally and Jim Clark Rally are the only two rally events in Scotland that take place on public roads. I am pleased to say, that the clerk of the course to the Mull Rally, Iain Campbell, is a member of the review group and has put some additional measures in place that reflect the emerging work of the group.\r\nI look forward to the further work of the group to ensure that the safety of spectators is absolutely integral to the planning and running of motor sport events in Scotland.\r\nStatement by the Review Group – Multi-venue Stage Rallies:\r\n“Rallying in Scotland has a long history and is enjoyed by hundreds of dedicated individuals as spectators, drivers, co-drivers and volunteers. Scottish drivers and co-drivers have reached the highest levels of competition, for example, winning the World Rally Championship and building on Scotland’s motor sport tradition.\r\nMotor sport in the UK operates in a heavily regulated environment. In addition, many rally events have a long history and have developed their own standards. However, the tragic events at the Jim Clark Rally this year and at the Highland Snowman Rally in 2013, where spectators were killed and others injured, and the devastating consequences for their families and friends, mean that it is appropriate to review the existing arrangements with a particular and important emphasis on spectator safety. Spectator safety has developed considerably since the mid-1990s and the Motor Sports Association (MSA) as UK governing body has led the development of a number of initiatives aimed at improving safety. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has also led some important developments at international level that the group has considered in the Scottish context.\r\nMotor sport can never be 100 per cent safe for those taking part or those spectating at events. However, the review group considers that more can be done to improve safety at rallies.\r\nThe existing sports governing body regulations (‘the regulations’) can be improved upon, and, in some cases, good practice at events exceeds those regulations. This can lead to a lack of consistency across Scotland in implementing safety standards at multi-venue stage rally events and work should be taken forward to address this proportionately.\r\nGood communication with the public about the risks and the rules in attending rally events is absolutely fundamental to safety and the current arrangements should b","AnswerDate":"2014-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T11:27:44.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297575,"EventID":"S4W-22679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:15.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) Chief Medical Officer approved the issuing of the letter by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer dated 16 July 2014 to all medical directors encouraging them to get women to sign up to a clinical trial investigating the best type of synthetic mid-urethral slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.","AnswerText":"The letter from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer to medical directors, dated 16 July 2014, reaffirms the guidance issued to medical directors by the Acting Chief Medical Officer on 20 June 2014, which stated:\r\n“If women are being considered for entry into clinical trials then use of mesh can be approved for women being entered into the arm(s) of the trial using this option. The Cabinet Secretary endorses this position”.\r\nThe clinical trials in question have appropriate ethical approval from the National Institute of Health Research for the procedures being used, including the necessary fully informed consent processes. They are funded from the public sector and are not funded by any manufacturer or supplier.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:15.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297576,"EventID":"S4W-22680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:16.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the letter dated 16 July 2014 from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer to medical directors is consistent with the advice of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing that NHS boards suspend the use of mesh devices pending the results of an independent review.","AnswerText":"The decision to request that boards consider suspending the routine use of synthetic mesh implants for these procedures does not prevent individual women and their clinicians agreeing on the need for a particular service – this is still available.\r\nThe letter reaffirmed my statement that for the improvement of our future evidence and where women fully consent, if they are being considered for entry into clinical trials then use of mesh for the conditions affected (pelvic organ prolapse) can be approved for those entered into the arm(s) of the trial using this option.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:16.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297577,"EventID":"S4W-22681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:16.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what clinical trials and studies into synthetic mesh products are being conducted in Scotland; how many have taken place since 1998, and how much each (a) NHS board and (b) doctor was paid for participating.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. The independent review of transvaginal mesh implants will appraise the current research evidence on synthetic mesh implants. The review will report early next year and will publish all clinical trials and studies appraised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:16.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297578,"EventID":"S4W-22682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:16.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government where the centres of excellence for the removal of defective mesh products are in Scotland; how many doctors are trained and able to remove such products, and what type of procedure is most commonly used to do so.","AnswerText":"Pathway documents have been developed by the expert group and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer is now working with healthcare planners to implement the necessary changes to deliver this new service.\r\nCurrently NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian have accredited subspecialist surgeons and are developing multi-disciplinary teams that are able to provide clinical support to women experiencing complications. The Glasgow team has consistently demonstrated adequate expertise accompanied with relevant workload and success rates in dealing with advanced mesh complications requiring highly specialised surgical techniques.\r\nDepending on individual conditions, some patients will require treatment in the local hospital, some will need referral to the regional centre and some will require referral to the national centre. The pathway document details the referral criteria specific to each patient presentation and guides patients and their surgeons to the best place to provide further treatment tailored to their individual condition.\r\nThe Deputy Chief Medical Officer has written to all NHS boards requesting information on current practice in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, including confirmation of the number of subspecialist urogynaecologists.\r\nNHS boards are in the process of collating this information, which will be published once available.\r\nThe most common procedure used to treat women experiencing complications is partial removal of mesh device (or excision of mesh erosion). This procedure is performed by a number of surgeons around the country and, in most situations, no further treatment is required. However, if further partial removal is required and/or if complete removal is being considered, the pathway document developed by the expert group indicates forward referral to the national centre where expertise will be concentrated to provide such highly-specialised service to patients. This service will also deal with patients who have developed complications such as fistula tracts or bladder or bowel involvement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:16.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297579,"EventID":"S4W-22683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:17.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are for the independent review of the safety of mesh devices; who the members or the review group are; what the criteria for membership are, and whether it considers that the composition of the group represents a fair range of views.","AnswerText":"The terms of reference and membership of the independent review group will be published on the ‘Independent Review of Transvaginal Mesh Implants’ website, which will be available from mid November 2014. The website address is as follows:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Review/Transvaginal-Mesh-Implants\r\nMembership of the group is reviewed periodically and additional members invited to attend when necessary. This is to ensure the appropriate level of expertise and range of opinion is represented. The composition of the group has been developed to represent all interested parties, including:\r\nOne chairperson (retired public health consultant)\r\nTwo patients who have experienced complications\r\nTwo patients who have experienced a positive outcome\r\nFour clinicians with a special interest in urogynaecology practicing in Scotland\r\nOne public health consultant\r\nOne researcher\r\nThree professional bodies\r\nThree Scottish Government officials (two clinicians and one policy officer)\r\nOne medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency official\r\n\r\nMembers attending periodically:\r\nOne physiotherapist\r\nTwo clinicians (unique device identifier project lead)\r\nOne Scottish Government public health consultant\r\n\r\nMembers to be confirmed:\r\nOne pain management consultant\r\nOne general practitioner\r\nOne clinician with a special interest in urogynaecology\r\nOne Information Services Division consultant in public health\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:17.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297580,"EventID":"S4W-22685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:17.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review into mesh devices will publish all minutes and notes of its activity.","AnswerText":"Yes, the Scottish Government intends to publish all minutes and relevant documents relating to the independent review, where appropriate.\r\nAll documents, once published, can be viewed at the following web address from mid November 2014:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Review/Transvaginal-Mesh-Implants\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:17.35","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297581,"EventID":"S4W-22686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:17.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering new coding procedures for the recording of mesh-related adverse incidents and, if so, what procedures.","AnswerText":"The independent review has invited a consultant in public health from NHS Information Services Division to support the group when considering coding of procedures.\r\nThe UK working group, chaired by Professor Keith Willett, on surgery using vaginal mesh is considering how data collection can be improved. This will include coding of mesh procedures.\r\nThe Deputy Chief Medical Officer is representing the Scottish Government on this group.\r\nAdditionally, NHS National Services Scotland is reviewing the national adverse incident reporting system in light of the under-reporting of pelvic floor mesh incidents. This has already resulted in the introduction of a new code specifically for recording and monitoring mesh-related adverse incidents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:17.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297582,"EventID":"S4W-22687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:17.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to form and resource a (a) self-help group and (b) helpline for victims of mesh devices.","AnswerText":"The Deputy Chief Medical Officer is exploring options that will offer additional support for women who are experiencing complications.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:17.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297583,"EventID":"S4W-22688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:18.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has informed the European Commission (EC) of its advice to NHS boards regarding suspending the use of mesh devices pending the results of the independent review and whether it has contacted the EC Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks working group looking at the safety of surgical meshes used in urogynecological surgery in relation to this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government wrote to the Chair of the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks in May and June 2014 regarding the regulation of mesh implants.\r\nThe correspondence outlined the concerns raised by women who have experienced serious complications as a result of mesh implants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:18.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297584,"EventID":"S4W-22689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:18.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding any conflicts of interest in relation to the EC Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks working group on the safety of surgical meshes used in urogynecological surgery.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government received one representation regarding a conflict of interest.\r\nThe European Commission has confirmed that all experts participating in the Scientific Risk Assessment Advisory Structure need to declare commitment, confidentiality, and interests in the subject matter before participating in the work. Declarations of interests are updated orally at each meeting. The declarations will be published once the work on the particular subject matter has been concluded. Likewise, the composition of a working group is published only once an opinion has been approved by the scientific committee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:18.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297585,"EventID":"S4W-22690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:18.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency regarding the independent review of mesh products initiated by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks working group looking at the safety of surgical meshes used in urogynecological surgery.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had specific discussions regarding the independent review with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). I met with Sir Gordon Duff, Chairman of the MHRA, in June 2014 and following this meeting formally invited a representative of the MHRA to participate in the independent review, sharing the draft terms of reference.\r\nThe Scottish Government has corresponded with the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks to acknowledge that the commission is seeking further research and expert opinion on ‘The safety of surgical meshes used in urogynaecologial surgery’ and that we look forward to receiving the results in January 2015.\r\nThe Deputy Chief Medical Officer has also corresponded to seek reassurance of the declared interests of members of the working group and that any declared interests of members will not influence the work of the group or of its recommendations when the opinion is published. The European Commission have provided this reassurance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:18.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297586,"EventID":"S4W-22691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:19.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government from what manufacturers NHS boards have purchased mesh devices and what information it has on whether any manufacturers found liable of providing defective devices in US courts have supplied mesh devices to NHS boards in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:19.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297587,"EventID":"S4W-22692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:19.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many pending litigations there are in Scotland in relation to defective mesh implants and against whom.\r\n","AnswerText":"As at 22 October 2014, the Scottish Government has been made aware of the following potential or pending litigations against NHSScotland.\r\n314 claims and summonses, of which 139 summonses have been served and 12 of which have been lodged.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:19.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297588,"EventID":"S4W-22693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:19.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the manufacturers of mesh devices and (b) NHS boards about the potential financial implications of litigation.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not discussed the potential financial implications with mesh manufactures or NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:19.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297589,"EventID":"S4W-22694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:19.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what concerns it has regarding the potential financial implications of litigation in relation to defective mesh devices.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has put patient safety first and taken action to investigate concerns regarding transvaginal mesh implants. It has not discussed the financial implications of litigation in respect of mesh implants with NHS boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:19.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297590,"EventID":"S4W-22695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:20.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the discussion of the matter at the meeting of the Working Group on Transvaginal Mesh Implants on 18 June 2013, whether discussions have taken place with NHS management regarding the potential financial resource implications in relation to the multi-disciplinary approach to complications with mesh surgery.","AnswerText":"The Deputy Chief Medical Officer is currently developing a pathway for women experiencing complications and has met with a healthcare planner. Any resource implications will be considered as part of this process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:20.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297591,"EventID":"S4W-22699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:20.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T15:41:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 would have on the Scotland Act 2012 and the Scottish Government's human rights strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scotland Act 2012 (the 2012 Act) amends the Scotland Act 1998 (the 1998 Act). Repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) would have implications for the 1998 Act, as amended by the 2012 Act, because the concept of “Convention rights”, which is of central importance in relation to the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and the executive competence of the Scottish Government, is defined in the 1998 Act by reference to the HRA.\r\nRepeal of the HRA would also have implications for the arrangements introduced by the 2012 Act for determining “compatibility issues” in criminal proceedings – including whether a public authority has acted unlawfully under the HRA or whether provision in an Act of the Scottish Parliament is incompatible with the Convention rights.\r\nThe precise implications of repeal of the HRA would depend on the detail of the repealing legislation.\r\nThe Scottish Government is committed to creating a modern, inclusive Scotland which protects, respects and realises internationally recognised human rights, for the benefit of all. That commitment is reflected in our support for Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) and the shared vision, which SNAP establishes, of a Scotland in which everyone is able to live with human dignity. SNAP is being taken forward as a collaborative process, which focuses and co-ordinates action by a wide range of partners in pursuit of that overall vision.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:20.487","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297592,"EventID":"S4W-22723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:20.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T13:51:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a register of interests for all members of the independent review group considering the safety of mesh devices.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes, all declarations of interest(s) submitted by members will be circulated to the review group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:20.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297593,"EventID":"S4W-22727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:21.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T15:41:18.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of rural crime in 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect cost data specifically in relation to rural crime. Recorded crime data for 2013 for Scotland may be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0042/00427834.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:21.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297594,"EventID":"S4W-22739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:21.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the health of track workers when setting the deadline of 1 January 2020 for effluent retention tanks to be fitted to all rolling stock in the invitation to tender for the ScotRail franchise.\r\n","AnswerText":"From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\nThe issue of discharging toilet effluent was recognised in preparation of the specification for the next Scotrail franchise that commences on 1 April 2015.\r\nThe deadline of 1 January 2020 to fit controlled emission tanks was chosen to provide a practically sufficient period to allow the ScotRail franchisee the time to be able to remove vehicles from service for the fitment of controlled emission tanks without adversely affecting their ability to operate the rail services in Scotland.\r\nUntil then, Network Rail remains actively engaged with track working front line staff and operators to remove existing waste and to minimise the locations on the network where such effluent is deposited. Network Rail has advised that they have secured specialist contractors to support a programme of deep cleaning at key site locations and this work remains ongoing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:21.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297595,"EventID":"S4W-22740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:21.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) trade unions and (b) Network Rail regarding effluent discharge on the tracks from (i) ScotRail and (ii) cross-border rolling stock since May 2011 and what remedies have been discussed.","AnswerText":"This matter was first raised in a letter from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) to Transport Scotland on 25 September 2014 and discussions with Network Rail and the RMT are ongoing. Network Rail continues to work with their maintenance teams and operators to remove existing waste and to minimise the locations on the network where such effluent is deposited. Specialist contractors have been deployed at key site locations to undertake a programme of deep cleaning of affected areas.\r\nLooking forward, from December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\nThe specification of East Coast cross-border services is the responsibility of the UK Government although we have been advised that there is a commitment for those services currently operated by diesel trains without storage tanks to use the next generation of rolling stock which will have these fitted as standard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:21.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297596,"EventID":"S4W-22741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:21.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding effluent discharge on the tracks in Scotland from rolling stock operated on cross-border passenger rail services since May 2011 and what remedies have been discussed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The specification of rolling stock for cross-border services is a reserved matter for the UK Government. I have written to the UK Secretary of State for Transport to confirm that from December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track and I have asked if the Secretary of State intends to accelerate a similar plan on cross-border passenger rail services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:21.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297597,"EventID":"S4W-22742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:22.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons rolling stock operated under contract with Transport Scotland will be allowed to discharge effluent on the tracks until 1 January 2020.","AnswerText":"From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\nThe original deadline of 1 January 2020 was chosen to provide a practically sufficient period to allow the ScotRail franchisee the time to be able to remove vehicles from service for the fitment of controlled emission tanks without adversely affecting their ability to operate the rail services in Scotland.\r\nUntil then, Network Rail remains actively engaged with track working front line staff and operators to remove existing waste and to minimise the locations on the network where such effluent is deposited. Network Rail has advised that they have secured specialist contractors to support a programme of deep cleaning at key site locations and this work remains ongoing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:22.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297598,"EventID":"S4W-22743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:22.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many carriages fitted with passenger toilet facilities licensed to operate on the ScotRail franchise are fitted with controlled emission toilets that are (a) connected and (b) not connected to effluent retention tanks and what proportion of the ScotRail rolling stock this represents.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of carriages fitted with passenger toilet facilities operated by the ScotRail franchisee is 527.\r\nThe number of carriages with passenger toilet facilities connected to effluent retention tanks is 479.\r\nThe number of carriages with passenger toilet facilities not connected to effluent retention tanks is 48 – this represents 9% of the carriages fitted with passenger toilet facilities.\r\nFrom December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:22.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297599,"EventID":"S4W-22745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:22.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on which ScotRail routes the rolling stock is not fitted with effluent retention tanks.","AnswerText":"The routes on which rolling stock which is not fitted with effluent retention tanks operate, according to the December 2013 rolling stock unit diagrams, are:\r\nGlasgow Queen Street to Alloa, Oban, Fort William, Mallaig and Anniesland;\r\nGlasgow Central to Kilmarnock, East Kilbride, Stranraer, Dumfries, Carlisle; Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts;\r\nEdinburgh to Newcraighall;\r\nEdinburgh to Fife\r\nFrom December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:22.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297600,"EventID":"S4W-22746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:23.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to require all ScotRail rolling stock to be fitted with effluent retention tanks before 1 January 2020.","AnswerText":"From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\nThe invitation to tender issued by Transport Scotland for the ScotRail franchise competition specified that the fitment of controlled emission tank equipment for all rolling stock to be used on the ScotRail franchise must be installed before 1 January 2020.\r\nThis forms an obligation on the franchisee and is contracted in the franchise agreement contract for the franchise commencing on 1 April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:23.14","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297601,"EventID":"S4W-22747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:23.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many bidders for the ScotRail franchise have explained in the Rolling Stock Improvement Delivery Plan how they will fit effluent retention tanks on all rolling stock and how many have committed to complete this improvement before 1 January 2020.","AnswerText":"This was an issue that was recognised in preparation of the specification for the next Scotrail franchise that commences on 1 April 2015. An obligation is included in the new franchise contract for all rolling stock, with on-train toilets, to be fitted with controlled emission tanks.\r\nFrom December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:23.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297602,"EventID":"S4W-22748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:23.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions with rolling stock companies it had regarding the design of the invitation to tender for ScotRail services published in January 2014 and whether it discussed the deadline for connecting rolling stock toilets to effluent retention tanks.\r\n","AnswerText":"During early 2013, Transport Scotland held a series of market briefings with the rail industry about the franchise procurement exercise and the franchise objectives. The draft invitation to tender (ITT) was issued to pre-qualified bidders in November 2013 with the final ITT issued to bidders in January 2014.\r\nFrom December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:23.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297603,"EventID":"S4W-22749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:23.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether ScotRail rolling stock used during the Commonwealth Games 2014 was fitted with effluent retention tanks and what discussions it had with the operator regarding the discharge of effluent on the tracks on ScotRail routes prior to the start of the Games.\r\n","AnswerText":"All ScotRail rolling stock used during the Commonwealth Games were fitted with effluent retention tanks with the exception of class 156 trains and class 314 trains. The class 314 trains are not fitted with toilets. No discussions were held regarding the discharge of effluent on the tracks prior to the start of the Games.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:23.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297604,"EventID":"S4W-22750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:24.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:18:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance on passenger toilet facilities it issued to the operator of ScotRail services prior to the Commonwealth Games 2014.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland engage regularly with ScotRail on rolling stock and station improvements to passenger facilities. The current ScotRail franchise requires that ScotRail passenger toilet facilities are fully functional including all lights, locks and seats.\r\nRecent discussions on passenger toilet facilities included the ongoing refurbishment of the class 318 trains which are being fitted with new compliant passenger toilet facilities and the upgrade to the toilets at Glasgow Queen Street station.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:24.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297605,"EventID":"S4W-22751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:24.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T10:28:28.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated economic impact of the 2014 Commonwealth Games was for (a) Glasgow, (b) the west of Scotland and (c) Scotland during the Games.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the benefits and creating a lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. These Games have provided the entire country with an excellent opportunity for regeneration, innovation and sustainable economic growth.\r\nAs part of the Games legacy evaluation, we are working with Games partners to deliver a robust economic assessment of the Games. This report will be available for Glasgow and Scotland in spring 2015, however early indications from the pre-Games report, published on 28 April 2014, show that:\r\nConstruction and refurbishment of the venues and Athletes’ Village, over the six years leading to 2014, has contributed (on average) £52 million to Scotland’s gross value added, and supported 1,000 jobs each year.\r\nAs of the end of June 2014, Scottish companies had been awarded 484 Games-related contracts, worth £290 million.\r\nTo date, 37 national and international events have been secured using the Games venues, with an estimated economic impact of over £14 million. \r\nBy the time of the opening ceremony, over 50 national Legacy 2014 programmes and over 80 Supporting Legacy 2014 projects were already in place, benefitting people, communities and organisations across Scotland, including the West of Scotland. For example, in the West of Scotland, over 100 trainees have taken up employment through the Legacy 2014 Employer Recruitment Incentive programme, and more than 150 young people have received training and volunteering opportunities through the Legacy 2014 Scotland’s Best programme. Additionally, businesses in the West of Scotland were awarded 66 of the contracts associated with the Games.\r\nAn XX Commonwealth Games Highlight Report was published on 14 August 2014. We also expect to produce a post-Games report in 2015, an interim legacy report in 2017 and a final legacy report in 2019, detailing the benefit of these Games to Glasgow and the whole of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:24.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297606,"EventID":"S4W-22752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:24.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T10:28:28.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Glasgow City Council is providing sufficient nursery places within walking distance.","AnswerText":"Glasgow City Council, like all local authorities, has a statutory duty to secure early learning and childcare (ELC) for eligible children whose parents wish it. All eligible children are now entitled to a minimum of 600 hours per year.\r\nWhen a child becomes eligible for their early learning and childcare place, local authorities will do their best to meet the needs of each parent, and can offer places through their own settings or through private and third sector providers. However, this cannot always be guaranteed to be at a parent or carer’s first choice of nursery.\r\nThe Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 also puts flexibility on a statutory footing for the first time. Local authorities are now required to consult with groups of parents at least once every two years on patterns of ELC provision. This will increase parental choice and better meet the needs of families.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:24.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297607,"EventID":"S4W-22753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:25.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T10:28:28.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Glasgow City Council is giving parents enough choice of nursery places for their children.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22752 on 28 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:25.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297608,"EventID":"S4W-22754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:25.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-02T15:41:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 would have on Scottish legislation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) would have a range of potential implications for the making, interpretation and implementation of Scottish legislation. The precise implications for Scotland would depend on the detail of the legislation which repealed the HRA.\r\nSuch effects could be both direct and indirect. There would, for example, be a direct impact if the operative provisions of the HRA ceased to have effect in relation to the activities of public authorities in Scotland. An indirect effect might arise, in the event of repeal, because the Scotland Act 1998 defines the concept of “Convention rights” by reference to the HRA. That concept is, in turn, of central importance in defining the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and the executive competence of the Scottish Government.\r\nRepeal of the HRA in Scotland would represent a radical and unwelcome upheaval in the fundamental constitutional structure of Scotland’s devolution settlement, and could potentially mean people in Scotland being deprived of legal remedies and human rights safeguards that exist in other modern democracies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:25.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297609,"EventID":"S4W-22756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T14:19:25.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:44:19.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22556 by Alex Neil on 1 October 2014, what decision regarding Prostate Cancer UK’s call for a national cancer patient experience survey that will carry analysis by (a) region, (b) ethnicity and (c) age was reached at the October meeting of the Scottish Cancer Taskforce.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cancer Taskforce agreed to develop a Scottish cancer patient experience survey in collaboration with third sector partners when they met on 3 October 2014. This commitment was announced on 12 October 2014. \r\nDetails on the specific methodology that would allow any analysis to be comparable to the Welsh, English and Northern Irish surveys is still to be finalised, however it is hoped that a Scottish cancer patient experience survey will be available by the end of 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T14:19:25.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297610,"EventID":"S4T-00803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:28.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:49:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Conservative Party's plans to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:28.877","MeetingDate":"2014-10-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297611,"EventID":"S4T-00804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:29.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:49:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking regarding the future of Longannet power station. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:29.22","MeetingDate":"2014-10-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297612,"EventID":"S4T-00805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:29.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:58:03.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in ensuring the safety of nuclear power stations.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:29.47","MeetingDate":"2014-10-07T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297613,"EventID":"S4F-02316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:04:58.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T09:20:51.853","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:04:58.347","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297614,"EventID":"S4F-02317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:04:59.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T09:41:01.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:04:59.097","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297615,"EventID":"S4F-02319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:04:59.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T10:22:57.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health issues.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:04:59.687","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297616,"EventID":"S4F-02321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:00.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T10:42:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:00.327","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297617,"EventID":"S4F-02325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:02.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:26:54.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to tackle overcrowding and understaffing in accident and emergency departments.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:02.29","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297618,"EventID":"S4F-02326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T13:05:02.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T11:27:07.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that ScotRail has recorded nearly £100 million in profit since 2008, with £95 million of that being paid to shareholders.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T13:05:02.73","MeetingDate":"2014-10-09T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297619,"EventID":"S4W-22757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T16:43:50.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T12:39:40","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards (a) are and (b) will be put in place to ensure that the SNP representatives on The Smith Commission and their advisers cannot use the services of Scottish Government (i) staff and (ii) resources.","AnswerText":"It is Scottish Government policy to engage with The Smith Commission’s consideration of proposals for the devolution of further powers to the Scottish Parliament. Ministers, including the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in his role as a participant in The Smith Commission discussions, may therefore draw upon the resources of the Scottish Government in the usual way.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T16:43:50.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297620,"EventID":"S4W-22758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T16:43:50.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T13:10:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the successful bidder for the ScotRail franchise and on what date it will publish the franchise agreement.","AnswerText":"On 8 October 2014, Scottish Ministers announced the intention to award the new ScotRail franchise to Abellio ScotRail Limited.\r\nThe ScotRail franchise agreement will be published in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T16:43:50.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297621,"EventID":"S4W-22759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T16:43:51.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T13:10:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) service level, (b) station and (c) infrastructure improvements it has achieved on each franchised ScotRail passenger route in each year since 2012 and how each was funded.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since 2012 the Scottish Government has worked with ScotRail to achieve many improvements to service level, stations and infrastructure. The improvements and funding is set out in the following table by Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) area.\r\nRTP\r\nImprovement since 2012\r\nFunded\r\nSPT area routes - Paisley Canal, Anniesland, Whifflet, East Kilbride, Neilston, Newton, Barrhead, Kilmarnock, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Shotts\r\n \r\n \r\n(a) service level\r\nSunday service on Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts\r\n \r\nNo increase to franchise payments\r\nNew two hourly service between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh via Carstairs\r\nScottish Goverment - franchise\r\nPaisley Canal electrification has provided journey time improvements\r\nNetwork RailRegulatory Asset Base (RAB)\r\nIncreased frequency and reduced journey time between Glasgow and Ayr – Monday to Saturday (from two to four trains per hour)\r\nScottish Government – franchise\r\n \r\nIncreased frequency of service between Glasgow and Ayr on Sundays (from hourly to half hourly with earlier start and later finish)\r\nNo increase to franchise payments\r\n \r\nIntroduction of a two hourly service between Ayr and Edinburgh via Glasgow Central between peak periods;\r\nIncreased frequency of service between Glasgow and Gourock (from three to four per hour)\r\nScottish Government - franchise\r\n \r\nSunday service introduced to call at Dalmarnock station;\r\nSunday service introduced to call at Anderston station;\r\nNew hourly Sunday service between Glasgow and Anniesland\r\nNo increase to franchise payments\r\nElectrification of the Cumbernauld route has enabled three services per hour to be provided (previously two per hour); two extended from Dalmuir to Springburn and one service between Glasgow Queen Street and Falkirk Grahamston via Cumbernauld\r\nScottish Government - franchise\r\nIncreased frequency between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate providing a half hourly service from start of service;\r\nRecast of Argyle Line services with improved journey time on some routes;\r\nIntroduction of electrified services on the Whifflet route (some routes have also been improved with early morning, later services or additional station calls)\r\nNo increase to franchise payments\r\n \r\n(b) station\r\nCumbernauld redevelopment\r\nNetwork Rail RAB\r\nDalmarnock redevelopment\r\n \r\nThird party funding with RAB contribution\r\nNewton - new lifts and footbridge;\r\nHyndland - new lifts and footbridge;\r\nMilliken Park – ramp\r\nNetwork Rail RAB\r\n \r\nIrvine – car park expansion\r\n \r\nScottish Government budget – shovel ready\r\nGlasgow Central High level, Low Level, Charing Cross, Anderston and Argyle Street – Gateline\r\nNetwork Rail RAB\r\nGlasgow Queen Street toilet refurbishment\r\nScottish Government - franchise\r\nPollokshaws West – disused station building: cycle hire/repairs; \r\nNew Cumnock – disused station building: café/youth hub;\r\nHelensburgh Central – mixed martial arts gym\r\nScottish Government – Station Community Regeneration Fund (SCRF)\r\nA package of station enhancements have also been carried out at a large number of stations in the SPT area such as new customer information screens, new shelters, cycle racks, ticket vending machines, wi-fi, seating, automatic ticket doors, adjustable counters, environmental improvements etc.\r\nScottish Government – franchise/ third party\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n(c) infrastructure\r\nRutherglen and Coatbridge (Whifflet electrification);\r\nCumbernauld electrification;\r\nPaisley corridor improvements;\r\nPaisley Canal electrification;\r\nNewton junction re-doubling to provide improved line speed;\r\nBusby Junction doubling;\r\nWhitecraigs turnback\r\nRAB\r\nSWESTRANS routes – Stranraer, Carlisle and Newcastle\r\n \r\n \r\n(a) service level\r\nEarly morning service from Dumfries to Glasgow;\r\nAdditional Sunday evening Glasgow to Stranraer service\r\nNo increase to franchise payments\r\n(b) station\r\nA package of station enhancements have also been carried out at a number of stations in the area such as new customer information scree","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T16:43:51.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297622,"EventID":"S4W-22760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T16:43:51.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T13:10:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits to passengers of the next franchised ScotRail contract, broken down by (a) passenger service route and (b) region.\r\n","AnswerText":"The evaluation criteria for franchise award was 65% price, 35% quality. The winning bidder’s quality submission contained a variety of benefits to passengers. Details of these benefits by route and by region may be found here: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/scotrail-franchise/scotrail-franchise-renewal-programme\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T16:43:51.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297623,"EventID":"S4W-22761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-06T16:43:51.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T13:10:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits to rail freight (a) volumes and (b) services of the next franchised ScotRail contract, broken down by (i) route and (ii) region.","AnswerText":"We have a very clear expectation as part of our overall strategy that Abellio ScotRail will work closely with the rail freight sector, Network Rail and other stakeholders to maximise the economic and social impact of Scotland’s railways. For example, in the efficient delivery of major projects such as the Highland Main Line improvements and the identification, development and delivery of high value, opportunity led interventions through the CP5 funds.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-03T16:43:51.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297641,"EventID":"S4W-22728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:22.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the invitation to tender for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers intend to publish a contract notice in early 2015, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified organisations to tender for the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\nFollowing a pre-qualifying assessment exercise, Scottish Ministers intend to issue qualifying organisations with a formal invitation to tender at the end of 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:22.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297642,"EventID":"S4W-22729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:22.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland last met trade unions to discuss conditions and pensions in the proposed invitation to tender for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract; when it will next meet them, and what the reason is for any delay.\r\n","AnswerText":"I last met with the STUC, and a number of trade unions with an interest, on 29 July 2014. A broad range of issues were discussed including conditions and pensions relating to the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\nI also wrote to the Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) on 7 October 2014, explaining that the tendering team for the contract was now in place and that officials from the team would contact the STUC to discuss those elements of the contract relating to conditions and pensions. I am also planning to meet the Acting General Secretary of the RMT on 6 November 2014 to discuss a range of issues relating to rail and ferries.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:22.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297643,"EventID":"S4W-22730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:23.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress Transport Scotland has made with regard to the content of the documents in the proposed invitation to tender for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers intend to publish a contract notice in early 2015, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified organisations to tender for the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\nFollowing publication of the contract notice, the required documentation will be prepared and issued to qualifying organisations inviting them to participate in the competition for the award of contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:23.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297644,"EventID":"S4W-22732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:23.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to ensure that the invitation to tender for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract will not be published prior to substantive discussions taking place with trade unions about conditions and pensions, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. The Scottish Government is committed to full and open engagement with all key stakeholders throughout the tendering process for the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:23.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297645,"EventID":"S4W-22733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:23.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what stage it has reached in the transposition of the directive (a) 2014/23/EU, (b) 2014/24/EU and (c) 2014/25/EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new EU procurement directives must be transposed into Scots law by 18 April 2016. The Scottish Government is planning to launch a public consultation exercise towards the end of 2014, seeking views on the policy principles and options available to Scottish Ministers when implementing the directives and will also seek views on the regulations required to fully implement the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:23.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297646,"EventID":"S4W-22734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:23.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the directive (a) 2014/23/EU, (b) 2014/24/EU and (c) 2014/25/EU will have on the (i) invitation to tender for the 2016-22 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract and (ii) length of public sector contracts in the (A) maritime and (B) rail sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"The three new procurement directives must be transposed into Scots law by 18 April 2016. The Scottish Government expects Scottish regulations to be in place towards the end of 2015.\r\nThe preliminary arrangements for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service are underway and it is expected that the formal procurement process will commence in early 2015 and will therefore be subject to the existing, and not the forthcoming, regulations.\r\nThe duration of public contracts is not an issue that is governed by the procurement directives. In respect of maritime contracts, guidance issued by the European Commission on Council Regulation No. 3577/92 (maritime cabotage) advises a duration of six years, which may now be extended up to 12 years where justified.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:23.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297647,"EventID":"S4W-22736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:24.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the (a) shipping sector, (b) rail sector, (c) STUC and (d) trade unions regarding the impact of the directive (i) 2014/23/EU, (ii) 2014/24/EU and (iii) 2014/25/EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is planning to launch a public consultation exercise towards the end of this year seeking views on the policy principles and options available to Scottish Ministers when implementing the directives and as part of this process we intend to commence engagement with key stakeholders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:24.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297648,"EventID":"S4W-22738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:24.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-03T16:03:16.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21149 by Keith Brown on 29 May 2014, whether the information is now available and, if not, whether it will be published prior to the publication of the invitation to tender.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland officials are currently preparing estimates on the cost of tendering for the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract. These estimated costs are expected to be available by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:24.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297649,"EventID":"S4W-22763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:24.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-06T16:58:52.89","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on its poverty strategy of the UK Government's proposal to include a seven-day waiting period before entitlement to universal credit commences, and what representations it has made about this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The increase in waiting days will cause more hardship and worry for newly unemployed people and their families.\r\nActions such as this will have negative impacts on the ability of families to manage household budgets, which is a key outcome of the revised Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland.\r\nThe Deputy First Minister has written to the Prime Minister requesting a halt to the roll out of universal credit in Scotland pending the conclusion of the process to deliver substantial new powers to the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:24.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297650,"EventID":"S4W-22764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:24.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T09:11:01.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has made available to support the development and implementation of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in each of the last four years.","AnswerText":"Since the launch of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in 2011 the Scottish Government has made £28.7 million available each year to support sexual health, HIV and viral hepatitis work. £26.7 million of this funding has been directly allocated to NHS boards annually. This funding is in addition to the investment NHS boards make in these services through their own core budgets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:24.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297651,"EventID":"S4W-22765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:25.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T09:11:01.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has made available to address hepatitis C as part of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in each of the last four years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided £28.7 million funding each year towards the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework since 2011. Of this, approximately £14.5 million has been allocated annually to support activities on viral hepatitis. This funding is in addition to the investment in hepatitis C services NHS boards make through their own core budgets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:25.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297652,"EventID":"S4W-22766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:25.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T09:11:01.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will make available for the development and implementation of the revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework due to be published in the summer of 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is currently in development and no decisions about funding will be made until that is finalised. However, the plan at present is to maintain funding at existing levels to ensure that current activity can continue.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:25.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297653,"EventID":"S4W-22767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:25.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T09:11:01.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will make available for addressing hepatitis C in the revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework due to be published in the summer of 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is currently in development and no decisions about funding will be made until that is finalised. However, the plan at present is to maintain funding at existing levels to ensure that current activity can continue.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:25.78","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297654,"EventID":"S4W-22782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:26.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:38:09.32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether a patient who is moved from an accident and emergency department to (a) a clinical decision unit, (b) a clinical assessment unit, (c) an acute assessment unit and (d) a unit that is not designated as part of a traditional ward for admitting patients remains designated as a patient of the accident and emergency department or as an admission to the new unit, and what guidance it provides on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Guidance on how patients who are moved from an accident and emergency department to another facility is available on the Information Services Division data dictionary:\r\nhttp://www.ndc.scot.nhs.uk/Dictionary-A-Z/Definitions/index.asp?Search=A&ID=53&Title=Acute Assessment Unit (AAU)&Title2=Acute Medical Unit (AMU) \r\nAll patients are subject to the four hour wait standard when they are in the accident and emergency department until they are either discharged, transferred to another hospital or the patient is formally admitted to a bed outwith A&E.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:26.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297655,"EventID":"S4W-22784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:26.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:38:40.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the difference in reduction or increase in alcohol consumption between Scotland and England has been in each year since the ban on discounting for alcohol was introduced.","AnswerText":"NHS Health Scotland carried out a study of the impact of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010 on off-trade sales in Scotland which included a quantity discount ban, and found that the Act was associated with a 2.6% decrease in per adult off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland. The report, Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy: The impact of the Alcohol Act on off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland, May 2013 is available at: \r\nhttp://www.healthscotland.com/uploads/documents/21101-Alcohol%20Act%20Report%20May%202013.pdf.\r\nEngland and Wales were included in the analysis to enable a comparison to be made with Scotland. NHS Health Scotland found that similar changes were not observed in England and Wales, where the Act does not apply, lending weight to the hypothesis that the changes witnessed in Scotland were as a result of the Act rather than due to other unmeasured factors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:26.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297656,"EventID":"S4W-22785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:26.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:38:40.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what reduction in alcohol consumption the University of Sheffield econometric study and reports to the Scottish Government predicted would arise from ending discounting alone.","AnswerText":"The econometric modelling carried out by the University of Sheffield estimated a reduction in overall alcohol consumption of 3% with the introduction of a total ban on off-trade discounting. A total ban is assumed to prohibit all forms of price-based promotion, including straight discounting from list price in addition to quantity discounts. Further information can be found at: \r\nhttps://www.shef.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.156503!/file/scotlandjan.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:26.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297657,"EventID":"S4W-22786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:27.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:39:23.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 11,122 people who started their first drug or alcohol treatment, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Waiting Times Report that was published on 30 September 2014, had also started in the previous (a) six and (b) 12 months or at any time previously.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held on the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Database. The database records episodes of care, as opposed to client journey, for the purpose of measuring waiting times.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:27.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297658,"EventID":"S4W-22787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:28.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:39:23.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 11,122 people who started their first drug or alcohol treatment, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Waiting Times Report that was published on 30 September 2014, had never previously started on treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held on the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Database. The database records episodes of care, as opposed to client journey, for the purpose of measuring waiting times.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:28.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297659,"EventID":"S4W-22788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:28.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:39:23.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 11,122 people who started their first drug or alcohol treatment, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Waiting Times Report that was published on 30 September 2014, were discharged from treatment in the previous 12 months.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held on the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Database. The database records episodes of care, as opposed to client journey, for the purpose of measuring waiting times.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:28.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297660,"EventID":"S4W-22789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:28.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:39:46.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman report 201301611, which examined a failure by NHS professionals to engage in communication with a carer about her husband, despite her having financial and welfare power of attorney for him and being his designated named person, and what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS staff receive appropriate training on all legislation with regard to adults with incapacity.\r\n","AnswerText":"The principles of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 are clear in their requirement for a named person, carer and any guardian or welfare attorney of an individual who has to be given care or treatment to be informed and consulted upon aspects of the individual’s care.\r\nThe responsibility to ensure NHS staff are appropriately trained on legislative requirements regarding adults with incapacity rests with health boards as employers. The Staff Governance Standard applies to all staff employed by, or officials of, NHS boards. Specifically, the standard requires all NHS boards to demonstrate that staff are well informed and appropriately trained and developed. To assist boards meet their training and educational responsibilities for their staff, NHS Education for Scotland provides a range of educational and learning resources on this important matter, including a learning resource to support and prepare health and social care practitioners in the practical application of legislation with regard to adults with incapacity entitled Respecting and Protecting Adults with Incapacity: \r\n(http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-theme-initiative/mental-health-and-learning-disabilities/publications-and-resources/publications-repository/respecting-and-protecting-adults-with-incapacity.aspx), and a resource for staff in acute general hospital settings aimed at safeguarding the rights of people who lack capacity to consent to treatment entitled Think Capacity Think Consent (http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-theme-initiative/mental-health-and-learning-disabilities/publications-and-resources/publications-repository/think-capacity-think-consent.aspx).\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government has been supporting a project to improve awareness of the support and protection of adults at risk of harm presenting in NHS Accident and Emergency settings: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00458759.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:28.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297661,"EventID":"S4W-22792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:29.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:40:39.707","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government by how much the salaries of NHS (a) senior managers, (b) nurses and (c) health visitors changed in April 2014, also expressed as a percentage.\r\n","AnswerText":"No decision has been taken yet on the pay award for 2014-15 for NHSScotland senior management posts. Their pay award will be agreed by Scottish Ministers in due course, in line with our public sector pay policy and the annual pay and performance cycle for this staff group. Nurses and health visitors are both covered by the Agenda for Change pay and conditions package and their settlement is detailed in pay circular PCS(AFC)2014/1, published on 14 March 2014 and available at: www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2014(AFC)01.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:29.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297662,"EventID":"S4W-22793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T13:53:29.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:40:39.707","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many junior doctor posts in accident and emergency departments were (a) filled and (b) unfilled in August 2014, broken down by grade.\r\n","AnswerText":"For purposes of clarity, we assume the term junior doctors to mean all doctors in recognised training programmes prior to the gaining of a Certificate of Completion of Training.\r\nA range of junior doctor posts will, as part of their training programmes, spend time within A&E departments. In terms of recruitment into junior doctor posts for the August 2014 intake, the following table provides information following the conclusion of national recruitment on those posts that will predominantly work in A&E departments.\r\nSpecialty\r\nLevel\r\nType\r\nVacancies\r\nFilled\r\nFill (%)\r\nACCS* – Acute Medicine\r\n1\r\nCT\r\n10\r\n10\r\n100\r\nACCS – Anaesthetics\r\n1\r\nCT\r\n17\r\n17\r\n100\r\nACCS – Emergency Medicine\r\n1\r\nCT\r\n30\r\n30\r\n100\r\nAnaesthetics Core\r\n1\r\nCT\r\n49\r\n49\r\n100\r\nAnaesthetics\r\n3\r\nST\r\n43\r\n32\r\n74\r\nAnaesthetics/ICM Dual\r\n3\r\nST\r\n12\r\n9\r\n75\r\nIntensive Care Medicine Dual\r\n4\r\nST\r\n2\r\n2\r\n100\r\nEmergency Medicine\r\n4\r\nST\r\n21\r\n6\r\n29\r\n* ACCS = Acute Care Common Stem\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T13:53:29.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297663,"EventID":"S4W-22797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T15:12:10.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T15:09:24.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the development of plans for rail services.","AnswerText":"I can confirm that after rigorous evaluation it is our intention to award the ScotRail franchise to Abellio ScotRail Limited. The franchise will be of ten years duration with a break point exercisable on the fifth anniversary of its commencement. The new franchise will commence on 1 April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T15:12:10.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297664,"EventID":"S4W-22768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T17:11:14.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:32:03.7","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions were or have been secured in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014 under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012, also broken down by club.","AnswerText":"Statistics relating to people convicted of offences under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 are available on page 79 of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2012-13 statistical bulletin. This is available via the following web link: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/2711\r\nInformation held centrally does not enable these convictions to be broken down by club.\r\nComparable information for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published in December 2014.\r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798\r\nDetailed information on charges under the Act, including the sporting affiliation of those charged (where known), is included in Charges reported under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 for 2012-13 (including the one month of 2011-12 for which the Act was in force) and 2013-14. Both reports are available via the following web links: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/06/4590\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/8566/0\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T17:11:14.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297665,"EventID":"S4W-22794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T17:11:14.623","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T14:54:13.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction companies were registered in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of construction enterprises registered in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2009 until 2013. Not all construction businesses operate as limited companies - many are sole traders or partnerships. \r\nThese data are taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register and are rounded to the nearest five.\r\nTable 1: The number of VAT/PAYE registered1 construction2 enterprises, registered \r\nin Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas, March 2009 to March \r\n2013\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAberdeen City\r\n640\r\n625\r\n620\r\n625\r\n610\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n1,430\r\n1,440\r\n1,445\r\n1,420\r\n1,395\r\nSource: Inter-Departmental Business Register, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Data refers to VAT/PAYE registered enterprises only. Unregistered enterprises, sole traders and partnerships who are not registered for PAYE or VAT are not included.\r\n2. Construction - section F according to Standard Industrial Classification (UK SIC 2007).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T17:11:14.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297666,"EventID":"S4W-22795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T17:11:14.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T14:54:13.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction workers there have been in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of employment jobs in the construction sector for the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2009 until 2013. These data are taken from the Business Register and Employment Survey, published annually by the Office for National Statistics, and are rounded to the nearest hundred.\r\n\tTable 1: Construction1 sector employment jobs2 in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas, 2009-13\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAberdeen City\r\n7,200\r\n6,800\r\n6,600\r\n5,600\r\n5,800\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n8,100\r\n7,700\r\n8,600\r\n8,800\r\n8,500\r\nSource: Business Register and Employment Survey, Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Construction - section F according to Standard Industrial Classification (UK SIC 2007).\r\n2. Employment jobs include all employee jobs within VAT/PAYE registered enterprises, and also working owners of VAT/PAYE registered enterprises. The employment jobs estimate does not include those that are self-employed in enterprises that are not registered for VAT/PAYE i.e. the smallest sole proprietors or partnerships.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T17:11:14.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297667,"EventID":"S4W-22796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-07T17:11:15.28","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T14:54:13.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many new business start-ups there have been in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"New business start-ups are measured using new business VAT/PAYE registration figures.\r\nTable 1 shows the number of new business VAT/PAYE registrations in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2008 until 2012. These figures, which are taken from the Office for National Statistics Business Demography - 2012 publication, are the most up to date data available but do not include start-ups which are below the VAT/PAYE threshold.\r\nTable 1: New business VAT/PAYE registrations in the Aberdeen City and \r\nAberdeenshire local authority areas, 2008-12\r\n\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\nAberdeen City\r\n935\r\n790\r\n1,035\r\n1,215\r\n1,285\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n1,045\r\n820\r\n880\r\n1,175\r\n1,205\r\nSource: Business Demography - 2012, Office for National Statistics\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-04T17:11:15.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297681,"EventID":"S4W-22798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-08T13:35:30.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T17:30:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been referred to the Edinburgh transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) centre since October 2012; how many were approved to receive TAVI; how many reverted to conventional surgery, and how many reverted to no procedure and palliative care.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following table:\r\nTable 1: People referred to the national TAVI service since October 2012\r\nTotal referrals for consideration of TAVI\r\n317\r\nThose who need assessed               \r\n22\r\nThose who need tests\r\n26\r\nThose who have had TAVI\r\n127\r\nThose suitable for TAVI\r\n12\r\nThose suitable for conventional surgery\r\n45\r\nThose not suitable for TAVI  \r\n85\r\nSource: National TAVI service, October 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-05T13:35:31.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297682,"EventID":"S4W-22799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-08T13:35:31.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T11:08:16.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provisions have been made to set aside land for the future dualling of the Highland Main Line railway in accordance with the A9 dualling programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Strategic Transport Projects Review formed a multi-modal appraisal of the Perth to Inverness corridor and concluded that both road and rail interventions should be brought forward. The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness and upgrade the Highland Main Line are programmed to be completed by 2025 and will significantly reduce the journey times between Perth and Inverness. Transport Scotland officials are working closely together to ensure that the optimum solution is found for both projects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-05T13:35:31.787","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297688,"EventID":"S4W-22800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-08T16:41:57.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T11:41:36.583","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether people opting for (a) full and (b) part self-directed care must open a bank account specifically to receive their payments and, if so, what guidance it provides on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The self-directed support national guidance advises that local authorities will request service users make arrangements to open a bank account, specifically for receipt of self-directed support direct payments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-05T16:41:57.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297697,"EventID":"S4W-22801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:43.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T13:23:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which (a) museums and (b) art galleries it provides revenue funding for.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides direct revenue funding to the National Museums of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, V&A Dundee, Scottish Maritime Museum, Scottish Fisheries Museum and National Mining Museum of Scotland. The Scottish Government also provides Museums Galleries Scotland with revenue funding for disbursement across the museums and galleries sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:44.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297698,"EventID":"S4W-22802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:45.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T15:42:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it plans with Abellio regarding opening railway stations at (a) Reston and (b) East Linton.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new ScotRail franchise contains revised timetables which can accommodate future calls at Reston and East Linton. However, the responsibility to demonstrate the need for the new stations remains the responsibility of the promoters. The joint Scottish Stations Fund application from the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership and East Lothian and Scottish Borders councils is still being assessed as further development work is required to ascertain the total cost of each station.\r\nA decision on the application will be made, in line with the governance of the Scottish Stations Fund, by the Scottish Route Investment Review Group which comprises representatives from Transport Scotland, Network Rail and passenger and freight operators once the development work has been completed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:45.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297699,"EventID":"S4W-22803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:45.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T17:04:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of defective title deeds there have been in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"Title to land follows from either the recording of a deed in the Register of Sasines or the registration of the title in the Land Register of Scotland. The two registers currently hold around 2.5 million titles, and the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland keeps both registers.\r\nA person affected by the registration of a title in the land register following a defective title deed may apply to the keeper for rectification of the title. The numbers of applications for rectification in the period from 1 April 2012, including applications by such persons, is as follows:\r\nPeriod\r\nNumber of applications\r\n1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012\r\n549\r\n1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013\r\n1260\r\n1 January 2014 to 10 October 2014\r\n1175\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:45.867","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297700,"EventID":"S4W-22804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:46.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T17:04:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many title deeds have been defective in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22803 on 6 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:46.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297701,"EventID":"S4W-22805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:46.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-08T17:09:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) SFA Performance Schools and (b) the provision of 3G synthetic pitches.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not provide financial support or other support to SFA Performance Schools, either directly or through sportscotland.\r\nOn the provision of 3G synthetic pitches, financial support is accessible from sportscotland through its Sport Facilities Fund.\r\nSince 2007, sportscotland has supported the development of 77 full sized and small sized 3G pitches through its funding programmes and the Scottish Government's Cashback for Communities programme including the 3G pitch at Broadwood stadium in Cumbernauld.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:46.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297702,"EventID":"S4W-22808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T13:46:46.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T11:45:54.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many unfilled vacancies there are across the NHS in radiology and neurology.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information on vacancies within NHS Scotland in the radiology and neurology medical specialties can be found in the following table:\r\nWhole time equivalent (WTE) of consultant vacancies as at 30 June 2014\r\n \r\nClinical radiology\r\nNeurology\r\nScotland\r\n26.4\r\n7.0\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, Information Services Division Scotland.\r\nIncreases in numbers of established posts often result in a small increase in vacancies – it should be noted that the combined number of established posts within these staff groups has increased by 34.3 WTE since September 2011.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T13:46:46.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297716,"EventID":"S4W-22809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-09T16:42:37.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T15:42:22.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22577 by Margaret Burgess on 3 October 2014, whether it will issue guidance to local authorities on cancelling arrears of the so-called bedroom tax arising in 2013/14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to issue guidance to local authorities on cancelling arrears arising due to the so-called bedroom tax in 2013-14 or arrears as a result of any other aspect of welfare reform. The management of arrears remains a matter for landlords.\r\nThe Scottish Government provided local authorities with £20 million to compensate tenants affected by the bedroom tax through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in 2013-14 and £35 million in 2014-15. Local authorities may top up their DHP accounts in the current year to make payments in line with local priorities, including payments in respect of legacy arrears, if they choose to do so. The Department for Work and Pensions are responsible for producing the guidance manual on DHPs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-06T16:42:38.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297729,"EventID":"S4W-22810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:13.66","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T15:57:45.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the performance of BT in rolling out superfast broadband.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are two contracts with BT for the deployment of fibre broadband. The first is for the Highlands and Islands and is managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The second covers the rest of Scotland and is managed by the Scottish Government.\r\nAn established governance procedure of consistent reporting and meetings applies across both contracts. These monitor operational progress of each project and include key stakeholders at a senior level to monitor strategic performance across Scotland.\r\nPayments are only made to BT upon the delivery of agreed milestones. BT’s performance is tracked across a number of milestone types, including premises connected to fibre broadband, to ensure that the project plan is delivered.\r\nThe Scottish Government and HIE each have their own dedicated contract management resources. These teams are continually reviewing how they access and use additional information to increase performance and standards. They also work closely with Broadband Delivery UK to apply standard tools, guidance and benchmarking as other broadband infrastructure projects across the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:13.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297730,"EventID":"S4W-22811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:14.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T15:57:45.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether BT is required to inform it of any delay or inability to deliver superfast broadband.","AnswerText":"BT is required to notify the Scottish Government if it does not or is unlikely to deliver key contractual milestones that are part of the agreed project plan.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working closely and proactively with BT and local authorities to identify and resolve broadband deployment challenges. A dedicated resource exists within the Scottish Government for this reason.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:14.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297731,"EventID":"S4W-22812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:14.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T15:57:45.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether BT is required to inform communities of any delay or inability to deliver superfast broadband in their area.","AnswerText":"The nature of the engineering challenges of broadband deployment means that plans will change. In addition, the quality of information at a granular level improves during the latter stages of the build process. Therefore, BT is not contractually required to inform communities of changes to the project plan.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s website provides up to date information about the deployment plans. This uses information from BT’s ongoing works programme. Further improvements are planned to the website to ensure that communities have the most up to date and accurate information possible.\r\nThe Scottish Government continues to work closely and share information with all 27 local authorities and the two national parks covered by the project’s intervention area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:14.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297732,"EventID":"S4W-22813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:15.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T15:57:45.09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the roll-out of superfast broadband by BT will ensure that communities in Aberdeen City are fully able to access superfast broadband.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are on track to deliver our commitment that 85% of premises across Scotland have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2015. Using over £280 million of public sector funding and £125 million of private sector funding across two projects, we intend to provide fibre broadband access to over 750,000 premises across Scotland. This significant investment will deliver the 2015 target and, by the end of 2017, 95% of premises in Scotland will have access to fibre infrastructure.\r\nIt is estimated that the programme will increase coverage to the communities of Aberdeen City from 72% (provided by the private sector) to over 96% when the programme is complete.\r\nThe following exchange areas of Aberdeen City have already been announced to receive investment from the programme, and more will follow as the programme continues:\r\nAberdeen Denburn\r\nAberdeen Kincorth\r\nAberdeen Lochnagar\r\nAberdeen West\r\nAberdeen Bieldside\r\nAberdeen Bucksburn \r\nAberdeen Dyce \r\nAberdeen Kingswells\r\nCulter\r\nDunecht\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:15.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297733,"EventID":"S4W-22814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:15.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be allocated for mitigation of the so-called bedroom tax in 2015-16, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Draft Budget 2015-16 on 9 October 2014 included increased support for welfare reform mitigation. In 2015-16 the Scottish Government, for the second year in a row, has budgeted for £35 million to fully mitigate the so-called bedroom tax. The breakdown by individual local authority is not yet available as it has still to be discussed and agreed with COSLA.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:15.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297734,"EventID":"S4W-22815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:16.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the underspend on the Scottish Welfare Fund was in 2013-14, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The most recent Scottish Welfare Fund statistics contain a breakdown of underspend by local authority for 2013-14. This information is contained in table 25 of the publication which is available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf/SWF30Jun2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:16.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297735,"EventID":"S4W-22816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:16.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be allocated to the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2015-16, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Draft Budget 2015-16 proposes that £33 million is allocated to the Scottish Welfare Fund. Following consideration by the joint COSLA/Scottish Government settlement and distribution group, the distribution methodology for 2015-16 will be the same as for 2014-15. The most recent Scottish Welfare Fund statistics contain a breakdown of funding which has been allocated to local authorities for 2014-15. This information is contained in table 25 of the publication which is available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf/SWF30Jun2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:16.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297736,"EventID":"S4W-22817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:17.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much is allocated to local authorities for the administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2015-16, also broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The funding allocation for administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund has not yet been decided. Following consideration by the joint COSLA/Scottish Government settlement and distribution group, the distribution methodology for 2015-16 will be the same as for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:17.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297737,"EventID":"S4W-22818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:18.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate to describe the Scottish Welfare Fund as mitigation in relation to the so-called bedroom tax, in light of community care grants and crisis grants being devolved.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Welfare Fund is part of a range of measures that are being taken by the Scottish Government to mitigate the adverse impacts of UK Government welfare reforms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:18.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297738,"EventID":"S4W-22819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:18.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about the council tax reduction scheme and its financial contribution to it for 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and local government worked in partnership to provide an extra £40 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15 to mitigate the 10% cut in funding from the UK Government for council tax benefit successor arrangements.\r\nThis commitment has enabled us to protect entitlement which existed under council tax benefit within the council tax reduction scheme - meaning that, from April 2013, vulnerable people have had the same net liability for council tax as if council tax benefit were still in place, providing that their circumstances have remained the same.\r\nThe Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2015-16 includes a commitment to roll forward that contribution of £23 million in 2015-16, with an expectation that local government will again contribute £17 million towards filling the funding gap. This joint commitment will enable us to maintain support for the most vulnerable households in Scotland through the council tax reduction scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:18.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297739,"EventID":"S4W-22820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:19.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of the additional funding that it has provided to tackling child poverty and to what areas this will be applied.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Draft Budget 2015-16 is a budget for fairness and opportunity with a clear and decisive focus on tackling inequality and on making Scotland a more prosperous country. The scrutiny phase will enable all members of Parliament to feed in views on whether these are the right priorities for Scotland.\r\nTackling child poverty remains a key commitment for this government and this funding will help us to provide additional support for kinship carers, care leavers and looked after children. It will also allow us to increase support for the Early Years Collaborative and Raising Attainment for All. \r\nFurther details will be announced in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:19.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297740,"EventID":"S4W-22821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:19.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-09T16:00:14.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with COSLA to extend financial support to kinship carers.\r\n","AnswerText":"I met with Councillor Chapman on 14 October 2014 to discuss the ongoing investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in Scotland into local authorities’ policies and payment of allowances to support looked after children in kinship and foster care. We now plan to reconvene the kinship care financial review group with a view to completing the review and publishing our findings as soon as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:19.8","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297741,"EventID":"S4W-22822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:20.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T11:33:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what statutory duties local authorities have to maintain the buildings of their special needs schools to a safe standard.","AnswerText":"Section 17 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places the responsibility for the maintenance of all school buildings with the local authority. Local authorities also have responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure - as far as is reasonably practicable - the health and safety of pupils in school. The Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960 places the responsibility with those in control of the land or premises (in this case local authorities) to maintain or repair the premises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:20.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297742,"EventID":"S4W-22823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T13:43:20.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T12:12:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how and where Transport Scotland advertises trunk road closures arising from community events.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland publish information notices in relation to temporary traffic regulation orders providing for trunk road closures (including those closures which are necessary in connection with the holding of a community event) in line with relevant current legislative requirements.\r\nThese notices are published in at least one local and/or national newspaper circulating in the area in which any road to which the order relates is situated.\r\nIn appropriate cases, a notice can also be displayed at each end of the length of road in question and at the points at which it will be necessary to diverge from the road.\r\nIt is the responsibility of the event organiser to consult, plan and organise wider publicity for the event.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T13:43:20.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297743,"EventID":"S4W-22824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:20.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:25:21.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what framework it uses to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of amenity housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is the responsibility of local authorities to determine these matters based on guidance issued by the Scottish Government including Age, Home and Community: A Strategy for Housing for Scotland's Older People: 2012 – 2021, housing need and demand assessments, local housing strategies and other housing and planning policies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:20.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297744,"EventID":"S4W-22825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:20.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:25:21.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the cost of the independence referendum.\r\n","AnswerText":"When the referendum legislation was introduced to Parliament in 2013 the Scottish Government estimated the cost to be around £13.7 million. The final total will not be known until all claims and invoices have been finally settled in early 2015. \r\nThe financial memorandum which was published alongside the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill provides a breakdown of estimated costs. The financial memorandum estimated that the cost of delivering and regulating the referendum would be around £13.3 million. Costs associated with extending the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds were estimated at around £440,000.\r\nThe financial memorandum can be accessed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/61076.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:20.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297745,"EventID":"S4W-22826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:21.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:25:21.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the (a) remit and (b) membership of the West of Scotland Oil and Gas Workshop.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials are in discussion with Heriot-Watt University’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society; the Natural Environment Research Council and the oil and gas industry, regarding the delivery of the West of Scotland Oil and Gas Workshop.\r\nThe workshop will be held in the spring of 2015. This allows for the findings of the UK Government’s fiscal review to be announced and for the establishment of the new Oil and Gas Authority to be finalised. Both are critical in helping to increase exploration activity.\r\nAttendees will be confirmed nearer the time, but invitations will be extended to experts in petroleum geology from both industry and academia, along with bodies including the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the British Geological Survey.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:21.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297746,"EventID":"S4W-22827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:21.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:25:21.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03535 by Angela Constance on 25 September 2014 (Official Report, c.4), whether it will confirm how many high-skilled, high-quality jobs will be secured in West Scotland as a result of the so-called new oil boom, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the economic recovery of oil and gas and ensuring that the total value of the sector is maximised both for the economy and society as a whole.\r\nThe sector is facing a number of issues at the moment, not least the unpredictable and uncertain fiscal regime that has seen numerous changes over the past decade. I recently wrote to George Osborne recommending the findings from the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas as evidence for the UK Government fiscal review for the oil and gas sector.\r\nWith exploration at unsustainably low levels, largely due to the UK Government’s unpredictable tax regime, the Scottish Government is doing what it can to encourage exploration.\r\nWe announced a West of Scotland Oil and Gas Workshop earlier this year, to be co-hosted with Heriot-Watt University’s Institute of Petroleum Engineering. Supporting exploration and recovery will ensure that Scotland continues to benefit, not least through the creation of high quality jobs.\r\nThe Scottish Government believes that devolution of the oil and gas fiscal regime would maximise the economic return from the sector and we have set out our position in More Powers for the Scottish Parliament.\r\nRecent announcements, including that of Heriot-Watt University’s low-salinity water injection indicate that that there is a positive future for oil and gas in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:21.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297747,"EventID":"S4W-22828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:21.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:48:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is in discussions with the UK Statistics Authority on the continued use of National Statistics accreditation for its publication, Higher Education Student Support in Scotland, and whether any other Scottish Government publications are subject to similar discussions.","AnswerText":"The Higher Education Student Support in Scotland publication is now produced by the Student Awards Agency For Scotland (SAAS). Prior to 2014, the Scottish Government published the report. SAAS released the 2013-14 publication on 28 October 2014.\r\nThe publication was covered by the UK Statistics Authority assessment of Scottish Government Lifelong Learning statistics in December 2010 (Report No. 75) and designated as National Statistics.\r\nSAAS contacted the UK Statistics Authority to confirm the retention of the National Statistics designation given responsibility for the publication was transferring from the Scottish Government to SAAS. The UK Statistics Authority confirmed the publication should retain its National Statistics designation.\r\nThere are no other publications whose National Statistics status is under discussion following transfer of the publication from the Scottish Government to another public body. The Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician is responsible for ensuring that all Scottish Government statistical publications adhere to high professional standards required by the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Most of the statistics produced and published by the Scottish Government are National Statistics. The UK Statistics Authority has an ongoing programme of assessment of statistics, and the Scottish Government works closely with them to ensure that National Statistics standards are met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:21.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297748,"EventID":"S4W-22829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-10T15:40:21.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T14:48:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it will undertake before deciding whether its publication, Higher Education Student Support in Scotland, should continue to have National Statistics accreditation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Higher Education Student Support in Scotland publication is now produced by the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS).\r\nSAAS contacted the UK Statistics Authority to confirm the retention of the National Statistics designation given responsibility for the publication was transferring from the Scottish Government to SAAS. The UK Statistics Authority confirmed the publication should retain its National Statistics designation. \r\nIt is, of course, the case that all National Statistics products are routinely assessed and, where appropriate, consulted upon.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:40:21.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297756,"EventID":"S4W-22837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:46.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-11T17:19:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities in planning for owner-occupied housing for (a) older and (b) disabled people, as set out in paragraph 132 of Scottish Planning Policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides a framework of housing and planning policies, including Scottish Planning Policy and guidance on local housing strategies, to support local authorities, who have strategic responsibility for housing within their areas, to determine the appropriate mix of new housing. It is therefore for local authorities to decide the type, tenure, size and location of new housing for their areas and to take a view on the level of housing required for older and disabled people though their Local Development Plans and local housing strategies in accordance with national guidance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:47.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297757,"EventID":"S4W-22838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:47.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-11T17:19:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role the private sector has in helping to provide owner-occupied retirement housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"Many organisations are involved in the delivery of housing and support services to older people. These include local authorities which have strategic responsibility for identifying local housing need and demand, housing associations, as well as private and voluntary sector providers. Age, Home and Community, the national strategy for housing for Scotland’s older people, recognises that owner occupancy remains higher among older people than the general population. It is therefore important that new housing for sale in Scotland is accessible and adaptable and meets the requirements of an aging population. Private developers provide a variety of housing for sale for older people from retirement properties (similar to sheltered housing) to assisted living developments akin to very sheltered housing. We will continue to work closely with public and private sector housing providers to ensure the needs and choices of older people are met, enabling them to live safely and independently at home for as long as possible. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:47.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297758,"EventID":"S4W-22839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:47.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-11T17:19:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent statistics suggesting that the number of sheltered and very sheltered homes has decreased by 2,000 since 1996 and the expected increase in the number of older people, whether it has or will set targets for local authorities to construct owner-occupied retirement housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a longstanding policy of shifting the balance of care by supporting people to remain at home independently for as long as possible, rather than in care homes or hospitals.\r\nWe recognise that only a small proportion of older people will live in new build housing but that it is important that new housing makes the maximum impact, meeting the needs of an ageing population.\r\nScottish Planning Policy requires local authorities to set a housing supply target (HST) within their Local Development Plans which is a realistic estimate of the number of houses which will be delivered in their areas over the periods of these plans. The HST should also be reflected in the authority’s Local Housing Strategy.\r\nIt is for local authorities to determine the appropriate level of housing required for older people within the HST based on guidance issued by the Scottish Government including Age, Home and Community: A Strategy for Housing for Scotland's Older People: 2012 – 2021, Scottish Planning Policy, housing need and demand assessments guidance, local housing strategies guidance and other housing and planning policies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:47.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297759,"EventID":"S4W-22840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:47.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-11T17:19:51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure fair application of affordable housing policy for specialised housing for older people, as set out in paragraph 129 of Scottish Planning Policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for local authorities to determine whether developer contributions towards affordable housing are required, taking into account the level of affordable housing that can be delivered in the current economic climate as part of a viable housing development.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:47.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297760,"EventID":"S4W-22841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:48.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-13T11:15:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17160 by Kenny MacAskill on 25 September 2013, how many (a) investigations have been carried out and (b) control notices have been issued by each local authority under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 since 26 February 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information is contained in the following table:\r\n\r\nInvestigations\r\nDog control notices\r\nLocal authority\r\n27 Feb 2011 to 26 Feb 2012\r\n27 Feb 2012 to 26 Feb 2013\r\n27 Feb 2013 to 26 Feb 2014\r\n27 Feb 2011 to 26 Feb 2012\r\n27 Feb 2012 to  26 Feb 2013\r\n27 Feb 2013 to  26 Feb 2014\r\nAberdeen City \r\n207\r\n317\r\n412\r\n4\r\n4\r\n5\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n89\r\n198\r\n107\r\n3\r\n14\r\n10\r\nAngus\r\n27\r\n80\r\n144\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n28\r\n43\r\n68\r\n7\r\n5\r\n9\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n30\r\n51\r\n46\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n24\r\n17\r\n41\r\n2\r\n4\r\n14\r\nDundee City\r\n97\r\n136\r\n174\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n24\r\n17\r\n19\r\n8\r\n9\r\n4\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n24\r\n20\r\n22\r\n10\r\n0\r\n5\r\nEast Lothian\r\n14\r\n5\r\n58\r\n12\r\n4\r\n17\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nEdinburgh City\r\n32\r\n164\r\n228\r\n0\r\n4\r\n5 \r\nFalkirk\r\n33\r\n82\r\n150\r\n0\r\n4\r\n14\r\nFife\r\n55\r\n159\r\n195\r\n10\r\n37\r\n48\r\nGlasgow City \r\n12\r\n5\r\n56\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\nHighland \r\n16\r\n38\r\n97\r\n2\r\n8\r\n14\r\nInverclyde \r\n0\r\n3\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\nMidlothian \r\n24\r\n39\r\n52\r\n1\r\n1\r\n4\r\nMoray \r\n36\r\n99\r\n119\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\nNorth Ayrshire \r\n29\r\n24\r\n18\r\n1\r\n1\r\n2\r\nNorth Lanarkshire \r\n18\r\n13\r\n18\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nOrkney \r\n3\r\n1\r\n6\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\nPerth and Kinross \r\n40\r\n36\r\n19\r\n0\r\n1\r\n10\r\nRenfrewshire \r\n36\r\n89\r\n107\r\n0\r\n9\r\n26\r\nScottish Borders \r\n16\r\n35\r\n79\r\n4\r\n8\r\n10\r\nShetland Islands \r\n32\r\n9\r\n4\r\n4\r\n2\r\n0\r\nSouth Ayrshire \r\n3\r\n21\r\n29\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nSouth Lanarkshire \r\n43\r\n48\r\n79\r\n0\r\n4\r\n3\r\nStirling \r\n19\r\n8\r\n15\r\n1\r\n1\r\n6\r\nWest Dunbartonshire \r\n41\r\n55\r\n57\r\n0\r\n7\r\n0\r\nWest Lothian \r\n159\r\n206\r\n213\r\n18\r\n22\r\n26\r\nWestern Isles \r\n1\r\n53\r\n21\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3\r\nTotal\r\n1213\r\n2072\r\n2654\r\n88\r\n151\r\n244\r\nOverall figures for the period 27 Feb 2011-26 Feb 2014\r\n\r\n5939\r\n483\r\n\r\nThis table contains the most up-to-date figures provided by local authorities. Please note that some of the figures contained in the table for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13 may vary from those provided in previous parliamentary questions as a result of updated information being provided to the Scottish Government by individual local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:48.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297761,"EventID":"S4W-22842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-13T15:10:48.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-13T13:14:32","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the salary has been of each (a) university and (b) college principal or chief executive officer in each of the last five years, and what the annual change in salary has been expressed as a percentage.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T15:10:48.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297775,"EventID":"S4W-22776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:53.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the equivalent in Scotland of the monitoring of general practices by the Care Quality Commission will begin; how practices will be selected; who will be responsible for the monitoring, and what the reporting mechanism will be.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are no current plans to follow NHS England by appointing a GP inspector.\r\nThe Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) rewards contractors for the provision of quality care and helps to standardise improvements on the delivery of primary medical services and the contractor must co-operate fully with any reasonable inspection or review (including the health board’s QOF annual review) that the health board or another relevant statutory authority wishes to undertake in respect of the achievement points to which it says it is entitled.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:53.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297776,"EventID":"S4W-22777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:53.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that every general practice or network of practices should have a patient participation group.","AnswerText":"Effective collaboration between clinicians, patients and others is a priority for Scottish Government and GP practices should have arrangements in place, where applicable, to ensure that patient participation groups operate in a meaningful way. Practices should be able to demonstrate that patient or lay involvement is welcomed, encouraged and enabled in all aspects of the delivery and planning of services. One way to achieve this is to establish a patient participation group (PPG) and the Scottish Health Council continues to offer support to primary care practitioners to help them develop existing PPGs or set up new groups in areas where they do not yet exist.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:53.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297777,"EventID":"S4W-22778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:54.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the development of networked general practices.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18621 on 12 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:54.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297778,"EventID":"S4W-22779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:54.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many general practices are being supported by NHS boards either by directly employing GPs or paying for locums.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18616, on 12 December 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:54.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297779,"EventID":"S4W-22780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:55.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many branch GP surgeries have (a) closed and (b) reduced opening hours or services in the last seven years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for individual health boards. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:55.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297780,"EventID":"S4W-22781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:55.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:37:43.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the GP practices that are supported by NHS boards either by directly employing GPs or paying for locums or where branch surgeries have (a) closed or (b) reduced opening hours or services in the last seven years were dispensing practices where a requirement to dispense was terminated.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for individual health boards. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\nHow a practice responds to the withdrawal of its dispensing income is a decision for the practice partners. Configuring practice services and resources to deliver the general medical services required by its contract, and for which the practice continues to be funded, is for practice partners to manage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:55.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297781,"EventID":"S4W-22790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:55.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:40:17.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that directive 2011/7/EU, on enabling late payment in commercial transactions, is followed by all public sector bodies and is a requirement for any business tendering for government contracts.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging prompt payment of commercial debt. The Scottish Government implemented directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions through the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Scotland) Regulations 2013 which strengthened and revised the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. This legislation requires public authorities to pay commercial debts within 30 days. The Scottish Procurement Policy Handbook also separately confirms that public bodies are bound by that late payment legislation. The policy handbook applies to all Scottish contracting authorities governed by public law. Compliance with it is expected to feature prominently in any audit scrutiny. A standard ‘prompt payment’ clause was also introduced for all Scottish Government contracts in 2009, which specifies that valid invoices must be paid within 30 days of receipt at all stages of the supply chain relating to the contract.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:55.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297782,"EventID":"S4W-22791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:56.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-07T10:40:17.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to promote the publication of payment records by businesses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Regulation of the publication of payment records by businesses is reserved to the UK Government. A significant improvement in payment practice is required in the UK and I therefore welcome the provisions in the UK Government's Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill which allows regulations to be made to require businesses to report on payment policies and practices. It is important that the UK Government introduces strong regulations which will make a difference to companies suffering the consequences of late payment of debts and I have written to the UK business minister, Matthew Hancock MP, about this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:56.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297783,"EventID":"S4W-22845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:56.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-13T15:21:24.36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent and how provision has been met in providing locum perfusion cover across all NHS boards with cardiac surgical units from the date of the removal of the retention and recruitment premia.","AnswerText":"Whilst the Scottish Government sets policy for NHSScotland, it is for NHS boards to plan and manage services for the populations they serve. The information requested is therefore not collected centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:56.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297784,"EventID":"S4W-22846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T13:54:57.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-13T17:27:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the new entrants scheme will be extended into the coming year as part of its new common agricultural policy arrangements.","AnswerText":"In 2013 I announced funding of £2 million for new entrants. The two year scheme saw successful individuals being given an initial payment in October 2013 and a second in April 2014.\r\nFrom January 2015 Scotland will be implementing a new common agricultural policy, which means that the current new entrant scheme will not be needed. Instead current and future new entrants will be able to apply to a new national reserve for funding. The ability to top up basic payment values and to perform future deductions to replenish the national reserve were major negotiating wins for Scotland. It was a vital goal for Scotland that we secured a fair deal for new entrants.\r\nIn addition the new Scottish Rural Development Programme will provide a number of benefits to new entrants and young farmers including start up support of up to £55,000 and separate capital support of up to £25,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:54:57.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297793,"EventID":"S4W-22847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T15:04:12.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-14T14:33:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set aside money to form a community capacity and resilience fund and, if so, how much.\r\n","AnswerText":"We will be investing £2.5 million over 2014-15 and 2015-16 to build the capacity and resilience of communities and local third sector organisations, helping them to respond to the worst effects of welfare reform.\r\nA stakeholder group, formed of a partnership of Scottish Government, community and third sector representatives, have worked together to co-design the direction, objectives and delivery of the funding. This co-production will continue throughout the planning, delivery and evaluation of the funding over 2014-16.\r\nWe are close to finalising the details on the delivery of the funding, and will make these known in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T15:04:12.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297794,"EventID":"S4W-22848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T15:04:13.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-14T14:33:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money it will set aside for community capacity and resilience funding.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22847 on 7 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T15:04:13.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297795,"EventID":"S4W-22849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T15:04:13.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-14T14:33:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what organisations will be eligible to apply for community capacity and resilience funding.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22847 on 7 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T15:04:13.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297796,"EventID":"S4W-22850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-14T15:04:14.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-14T14:33:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what processes it has put in place for the disbursement of money held in the community capacity and resilience fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22847 on 7 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T15:04:14.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297804,"EventID":"S4W-22851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:46.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-15T13:32:05.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possible resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian and who was involved in those discussions.\r\n","AnswerText":"I informed Paul Gray, Director-General of Health and Social Care Directorates and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, shortly after he received Bill Howatson’s letter of resignation on 14 October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:46.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297805,"EventID":"S4W-22852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:47.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-15T13:32:05.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possible resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian.\r\n","AnswerText":"I was notified of the resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian when I received his resignation letter by email on 14 October 2014. The First Minister was made aware shortly after.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:47.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297806,"EventID":"S4W-22853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:47.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-15T13:32:05.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions laid out in Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2014-15 regarding lower paid staff have been met by all relevant public bodies and whether it will list any public bodies that have not delivered these provisions in full.","AnswerText":"The Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits provides for a Scottish Living Wage and a minimum pay uplift of £300 for those earning under £21,000. All public bodies subject to the pay policy in 2014-15, who have settled their pay, have met the low pay requirements in that pay policy. Pay progression is a matter for individual public bodies and nothing in the pay policy is intended to interfere with arrangements, nor to constrain discussions between employers and staff. Further details of the pay policy and pay data is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/publicsectorpay.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:47.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297807,"EventID":"S4W-22854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:47.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-15T13:32:05.64","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions laid out in Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2014-15 regarding pay progression have been met by all relevant public bodies and whether it will list any public bodies that have not delivered these provisions in full.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22853 on 28 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:48.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297808,"EventID":"S4W-22855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:48.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-15T15:30:14.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Forth Crossing Act 2011 on riders of motorcycles of between 50cc and 125cc displaying learner plates and how many motorists it estimates will be affected by the legislation.","AnswerText":"No assessment, at this stage, has been made of the impact of the Forth Crossing Act 2011 on riders of motorcycles of between 50cc and 125cc displaying learner plates.\r\nNo objections to the Forth Crossing Bill were received in relation to the proposed policy regarding motorcycles and the Forth Crossing Bill was passed in full view of the policy set out in the policy memorandum.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:48.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297809,"EventID":"S4W-22856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:48.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T08:53:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how far it considers reasonable for a cancer patient to travel to receive chemotherapy services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government would expect local health boards to take all appropriate steps to ensure that people can receive the support and care they need, wherever they wish to receive it.\r\nWith this in mind, it is important to note that it is for health boards to plan and prioritise the delivery of healthcare services based on the needs of local people and as informed by national policies, frameworks and guidelines, with patient safety being of paramount concern. Given the complexity of the treatment of some cancers not all treatments are available outside of the five cancer centres in Scotland. This means that, in some cases, travel will be essential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:48.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297810,"EventID":"S4W-22857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:48.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T08:53:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it considers an NHS board should use when deciding which hospitals will offer outreach chemotherapy services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects health boards to plan and prioritise the delivery of healthcare services, including outreach chemotherapy services, based on the needs of local people and as informed by national policies, frameworks and guidelines, with patient safety being of paramount concern.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:48.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297811,"EventID":"S4W-22858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:49.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T08:53:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the delivery of chemotherapy services by hospitals with areas of significant deprivation in their catchment areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for health boards to plan and prioritise the delivery of healthcare services based on the needs of local people, including the consideration of local socio-economic conditions, taking into account national policies, frameworks and guidelines, with patient safety being of paramount concern.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:49.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297812,"EventID":"S4W-22859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:49.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T08:53:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use the experience of the delivery of more chemotherapy services to local communities by NHS Orkney as a template for services in other communities to reduce the travel time and burden for cancer patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"We fully expect health boards to share good practice and learn from each other in order to improve cancer services and outcomes in Scotland. However, it is for health boards to plan and prioritise the delivery of healthcare services based on the needs of local people and as informed by national policies, frameworks and guidelines, with patient safety being of paramount concern.\r\nIt is worth noting that the service provided by NHS Orkney is only one example of rural chemotherapy services being provided in Scotland, with others being Western Isles Hospital and the community hospital in Lochgilphead. These services are developed and supported to facilitate access to simple and safe cancer treatments for the local communities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:49.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297813,"EventID":"S4W-22860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:49.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T08:53:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the restoration of an outreach chemotherapy service by Stobhill Hospital.","AnswerText":"It is for health boards to plan and prioritise the delivery of healthcare services based on the needs of local people and as informed by national policies, frameworks and guidelines. Patient safety is of paramount concern.\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has kept the provision of local chemotherapy services under review to ensure they are of the highest quality. This has included specific consideration of the provision of outpatient chemotherapy services at Stobhill Hospital. Such services have not been provided at Stobhill for over a decade. The health board currently believes that the provision of this service would be unsafe and unsustainable but have committed to keeping the position under review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:49.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297814,"EventID":"S4W-22861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:50.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T10:51:27.387","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) greenfield and (b) agricultural land that it owns has been used for (i) building and (ii) other developments in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"This information is not recorded.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:50.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297815,"EventID":"S4W-22862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T13:03:29.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:15:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist mental health officers there have been in each local authority area in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"For each of the three financial years to 31 March 2012 information on the number of mental health officers in each local authority area was published on the Scottish Government’s website as part of the Mental Health Officers Survey.\r\n2011-12: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/3674 (Page 17) \r\n2010-11: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/27145626/0 (Page 18);\r\n2009-10: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/08/30114721/0 (Page 16);\r\nThe Scottish Social Services Council now publishes this information in its Mental Health Officers (Scotland) Report on a year to 31 December basis:\r\n2013: http://data.sssc.uk.com/images/MHO/Mental%20Health%20Officers%20Report%202013.pdf (page 44)\r\n2012: http://data.sssc.uk.com/images/publications/MentalHealthOfficersReport2012.pdf (Page 27)","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297816,"EventID":"S4W-22863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:50.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:15:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. The Mental Welfare Commission publishes (http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/) statistical monitoring reports – the most recent being Mental Health Act monitoring 2013-2014 - which contain information on interventions under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which are reported to the commission.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:50.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297817,"EventID":"S4W-22864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:50.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:15:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 have been detained in non-specialist units in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:50.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297818,"EventID":"S4W-22865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:51.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:15:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist mental health officers have been recruited in each of the last five years; what support local authorities receive to assist with recruitment, and what the Scottish Government has done to increase recruitment.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of mental health officers recruited is not held centrally. However, the Scottish Social Services Council may hold this data for 2012 and 2013 and they can be contacted at: dataenquiries@sssc.uk.com.\r\nSection 32 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on local authorities to appoint a sufficient number of mental health officers to discharge functions under the relevant legislation. Whilst the Scottish Government sets national policy and provides funding, it is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on the number of mental health officers appointed in their area taking into account local needs and circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:51.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297819,"EventID":"S4W-22883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-16T13:37:51.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T12:34:18.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities has carried out in Aberdeen since 5 September 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"I carried out two ministerial engagements within the local authority area of Aberdeen City during the period specified.\r\nDetails of all ministerial engagements are proactively published on the Scottish Government website at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngagements\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:37:51.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297835,"EventID":"S4W-22830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:21.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T16:17:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006 and, if so, how it complies with the provisions of article 33.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK Government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2009 on behalf of all administrations in the UK. The Scottish Government Equality Unit is the designated focal point for facilitating and co-ordinating the implementation of the UNCRPD in Scotland, for devolved matters. We work closely with the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland who have been appointed by the UK Government to be part of the independent mechanism, with a formal role to monitor implementation in Scotland.\r\nWe developed our approach to implementing UNCRPD in partnership with the three national disabled people’s organisations, and they are working with us to support the development of our disability delivery plan which we intend to publish for consultation at a disability summit in spring 2015. We have also provided funding to Inclusion Scotland to enable them to develop a single report from disabled people in Scotland to the UN committee. \r\nIn addition, the Independent Living in Scotland project – funded by the Scottish Government – is delivering a seminar on the UNCRPD for MSPs in the Scottish Parliament on 14 January 2015. As minister with responsibility for equality I will be attending the seminar and providing my assistance to secure the participation of other members from across all parties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:21.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297836,"EventID":"S4W-22832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:22.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T16:17:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many homes were built by (a) the Scottish Special Housing Association and (b) Scottish Homes in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Special Housing Association ceased to exist from 31 March 1989.\r\nThe following table shows the number of homes delivered with funding provided by Scottish Homes in each year since 1999, until it ceased to exist on 31 March 2001:\r\nYear\r\nNo. of completed homes\r\n1999-00\r\n5210\r\n2000-01\r\n6338\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:22.22","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297837,"EventID":"S4W-22834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:22.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T16:17:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding was given to (a) the Scottish Special Housing Association annually and (b) Scottish Homes in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Special Housing Association ceased to exist from 31 March 1989.\r\nScottish Homes existed from 1 April 1989 to 31 March 2001. The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how much public funding was given to Scottish Homes.\r\nWe can however provide details of funding provided by Scottish Homes to others to build and improve homes in each year since 1999, as follows:\r\nYear\r\nFunding (£million)\r\n1999-00\r\n209.522\r\n2000-01\r\n215.824\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:22.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297838,"EventID":"S4W-22836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:22.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-10T16:17:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made each year to the Homeowner Housing Panel and how many enforcement notices were issued.\r\n","AnswerText":"A total of 18 applications were received in the year 2012 (commencement of the Homeowner Housing Panel was on 1 October 2012) and no Property Factor Enforcement Orders (PFEOs) were issued. \r\nA total of 333 applications were received in the year 2013 and 12 PFEOs were issued.\r\nA total of 164 have been received so far in the year 2014 with 22 PFEOs being issued so far.\r\nThese figures are from 1 October 2012 to 4 November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:22.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297839,"EventID":"S4W-22884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:23.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T15:42:11.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the eligibility criteria is for medicines to be funded by the New Medicines Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The New Medicines Fund provides additional support to NHS boards for the cost of medicines approved under the new process implemented by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in line with the Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee and related individual and group patient treatment requests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:23.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297840,"EventID":"S4W-22885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:23.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T15:42:11.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether medicines approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium will be eligible for funding by the New Medicines Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes, the expansion of the previous funding commitment means that the New Medicines Fund provides additional support to NHS boards for the cost of medicines approved under the new process implemented by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in line with the Task and Finish Group report provided to me and published by the Health and Sport Committee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:23.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297841,"EventID":"S4W-22886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-17T14:53:23.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T15:42:11.023","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the New Medicines Fund will be funded by the pharmaceutical industry rebate payment made through the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The total £40 million commitment to the New Medicines Fund in 2014-15 is funded from Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme payments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T14:53:23.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297856,"EventID":"S4W-22866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:21.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many practices affected by the cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance at £80,000 have over (a) 75%, (b) 80%, (c) 85%, (d) 90% and (e) 95% of their income from the NHS.","AnswerText":"The number of practices affected by the cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance at £80,000, broken down as requested is:\r\n(a) over 75% - 1\r\n(b) over 80% - 4\r\n(c) over 85% - 9\r\n(d) over 90% - 14\r\n(e) over 95% - 25\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:21.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297857,"EventID":"S4W-22867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:21.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) practices and (b) NHS patients have been affected by the cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance.\r\n","AnswerText":"60 practices in Scotland have been affected by the cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance (GDPA).\r\nThe cap was one element in a much wider settlement for 2013-14. In the last financial year, 2013-14, and the current 2014-15 financial year, item of service fees (including capitation) for independent dentists have increased by 2.51 per cent and 1.71 per cent respectively. This constitutes a cumulative increase of 4.26 per cent. The effect of the cap needs to be seen in the context of a significant award for independent dentists.\r\nWe are not aware of any negative impact on NHS patients as a direct result of the GDPA cap.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:21.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297858,"EventID":"S4W-22869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:22.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance was not set proportionally for practices that were partially or non-committed.","AnswerText":"The decision to implement a cap on the General Dental Practice Allowance (GDPA) was taken as part of a wider settlement for independent dentists providing NHS general dental services in Scotland. \r\nThe GDPA pays NHS committed dental practices 12 per cent on top of other fees and allowances. A practice can therefore earn £670,000 plus £80,000 in GDPA payments before the cap would come into effect.\r\n In arriving at the view that the cap on GDPA should fall on larger practices, we have recognised the greater likelihood of economies of scale in larger practices.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:22.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297859,"EventID":"S4W-22870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:22.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has recovered through the clawback of overpayments to dentists as a result of duplicate patient registrations; how much remains to be recovered, and what this process has cost.","AnswerText":"To date £3.24 mililon has been recovered with approximately £100k outstanding.\r\nThe responsibility for identifying, notifying dentists and recovering any overpayments rests with Practitioner Services Division (PSD), as a division of NHS National Services Scotland responsible for making payments to dentists.\r\nThe cost for the process is a matter for PSD. However, we understand that the majority of the activity linked to the recovery process was provided by existing staff and that costs additional to baseline for the recovery exercise were approximately £25,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:22.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297860,"EventID":"S4W-22871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:22.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dental practices have opted (a) in and (b) out of the government-sponsored defibrillator programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"As at 23 October 2014, 814 independent dental practices had signed up for the defibrillator scheme, and 29 had chosen not to participate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:22.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297861,"EventID":"S4W-22872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:23.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to identify the reasons for practices opting out or not opting in to the government-sponsored defibrillator programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not requested this information in view of the small numbers of practices that have chosen not to participate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:23.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297862,"EventID":"S4W-22873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:23.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has provided dental practices with defibrillators and washer/disinfectors free of charge without any remission for the level of NHS commitment.","AnswerText":"The equipment was limited to those practices with NHS activity and both defibrillators and washer/disinfectors were procured centrally for the Scottish Government through NHS National Services Scotland. These procurement exercises were able to secure sufficient numbers of defibrillators and washer/disinfectors to ensure that those practices without these items, and with some degree of NHS involvement, were able to benefit.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:23.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297863,"EventID":"S4W-22874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:24.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been registered with community dental health services in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Patients did not register with the community dental service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:24.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297864,"EventID":"S4W-22875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:24.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are over 50,000 registrations to Personal Dental Services in the NHS Highland region.\r\n","AnswerText":"The community dental service and the salaried general dental service merged from 1 January 2014 to become the Public Dental Service (PDS).\r\nThe main role of the PDS is to provide NHS general dental services for people, including those with special care needs, who cannot access care from independent high street dentists. The PDS also provides treatment for patients referred by other dentists.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:24.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297865,"EventID":"S4W-22876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:24.96","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Personal Dental Services, a referral service, registers patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22875 on 4 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:24.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297866,"EventID":"S4W-22877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:25.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Personal Dental Services receives continuing care and capitation for registered patients.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Dental Service does not receive continuing care and capitation payments for patients registered under NHS general dental services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:25.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297867,"EventID":"S4W-22878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:25.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is per patient for (a) Personal Dental Services and (b) General Dental Services for equivalent treatments, broken down by NHS board in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:25.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297868,"EventID":"S4W-22879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:26.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the Personal Dental Services budget has been for each NHS board area in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Dental Service (PDS) was established on 1 January 2014. 2014-15 is the first full financial year since the establishment of this service. The PDS is funded from two sources, the NHS Board’s own baseline allocation and a separate allocation from the Scottish Government. The total budget is agreed after an annual service planning process with the Scottish Government.\r\nFor the financial year 2014-15 the total funding allocated for the PDS in each NHS board area is shown in the following table:\r\nPublic Dental Service 2014-15 - Anticipated Budget\r\nNHS Board\r\nPDS Budget\r\n£,000\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n3,501\r\nBorders\r\n4,192\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n1,895\r\nFife\r\n4,524\r\nForth Valley\r\n2,104\r\nGrampian\r\n9,481\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n8,426\r\nHighland\r\n16,116\r\nLanarkshire\r\n4,939\r\nLothian\r\n9,953\r\nOrkney\r\n2,264\r\nShetland\r\n3,591\r\nTayside\r\n4,004\r\nWestern Isles\r\n3,630\r\nTotal\r\n78,620\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:26.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297869,"EventID":"S4W-22880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:26.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Personal Dental Services has claimed on GP17 forms in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Dental Service (PDS) was established on 1 January 2014. GP17 forms are submitted to record NHS general dental services activity undertaken by PDS dentists and do not generate any payments to the PDS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:26.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297870,"EventID":"S4W-22881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:26.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Personal Dental Services (PDS) has collected in patient charges in each NHS board area in each of the last three years; what the policy is on how this money is spent, and whether this causes a reduction in the PDS budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Dental Service (PDS) was established on 1 January 2014. The first full-year patient charge income will not be known until the end of the financial year 2014-15. Patient charge income is offset against the cost of running the PDS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:27.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297871,"EventID":"S4W-22882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:27.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-16T11:23:25.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Personal Dental Services budget underspend has gone back into each NHS board budget to be spent outwith dentistry in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Public Dental Service (PDS) was established on 1 January 2014. 2014-15 is the first full financial year since the establishment of this service and it is too early to know whether any NHS board will have an underspend. Any planned variations by NHS boards in their PDS will be reflected in future board allocations. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:27.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297872,"EventID":"S4W-22888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:27.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-17T18:21:06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it defines adjacency in relation to planning policy.","AnswerText":"There is no single definition of adjacency with regard to development planning within the Scottish Planning Policy. Subject to review by the courts, it is for the decision maker to interpret and apply policy, having regard to the wording of the policy, the justification for it, and any other material considerations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:27.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297873,"EventID":"S4W-22893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:28.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:42:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the discharge rates for maternity units have been in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The total number of maternity discharges from hospitals, including women discharged after delivery, and all antenatal and postnatal discharges.\r\n\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13p\r\nAll discharges\r\n128,492\r\n124,604\r\n121,303\r\n123,025\r\n118,607\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Excludes home births and births at non-NHS hospitals\r\n2. A mother is counted once when a multiple birth occurs\r\n3. Includes live and stillbirths\r\np = provisional\r\nSource: SMR02, Information Services Division, October 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:28.267","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297874,"EventID":"S4W-22894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:28.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:42:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have given birth in wards other than maternity units in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:28.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297875,"EventID":"S4W-22895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:29.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:42:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what training opportunities there are for midwives to gain specialist experience in bereavement care.","AnswerText":"There are a number of ways in which midwives gain knowledge and training in bereavement care. There is considerable input on this topic in the pre-registration midwifery programmes at all three higher education institutions in Scotland.\r\nPost-registration, there are a number of approaches to continuing professional development and education in this area open to all midwives, including a range of interactive workbooks, a suite of e-learning resources provided by The Scottish Grief and Bereavement Hub and regular conferences and specialist training by the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:29.03","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297876,"EventID":"S4W-22896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:29.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:42:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on recruitment and training of the closure of the Glasgow Caledonian, Dundee and Stirling midwifery schools.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to ensure an appropriate supply of registered midwives to meet future workforce requirements and to ensure a sustainable model of pre-registration and post-registration midwifery education provision.\r\nThe pre-registration midwifery programme provision across all Scottish universities is reviewed annually as part of the intake modelling, funding and performance management processes. This has allowed ongoing review of programme delivery, recruitment, progression and completion on all programmes. \r\nTo support the transition process, Scottish Government provided funding to all three remaining midwifery schools. \r\nReviewing the impact, NHS Education for Scotland annual data demonstrates a strong and sustained pattern of recruitment, progression and completion at the three remaining providers and an appropriate level of support to any students remaining on programmes at the three other institutions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:29.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297877,"EventID":"S4W-22897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:29.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:42:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in the implementation of the Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision.","AnswerText":"Good progress is being made in the implementation of the Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision. \r\nNHS boards have developed local plans to address the actions in the implementation plan 2014-15 and as an early priority are embedding shared NHSScotland values. At national level all actions are being actively progressed and are on track to be delivered in 2014-15 as planned.\r\nIn 2015-16, NHS boards, the Scottish Government and others will build on the work undertaken so far, to take forward the actions in the Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision Implementation Plan 2015-16 (published on 3 November 2014) with an increased focus on quality improvement and leadership.\r\nFurther information on the Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision and implementation plans is available on the website: www.workforcevision.scot.nhs.uk \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:29.623","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297878,"EventID":"S4W-22898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:29.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:44:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the current processing time for power of attorney applications to be acceptable.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:29.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297879,"EventID":"S4W-22899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:30.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:44:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the Office of the Public Guardian in reducing the processing time for power of attorney applications.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:30.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297880,"EventID":"S4W-22900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:30.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:44:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Office of the Public Guardian for (a) power of attorney and (b) guardianship and intervention orders in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:30.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297881,"EventID":"S4W-22901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-20T15:21:30.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T10:44:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to families affected by a delay in processing an application for power of attorney or guardianship.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T15:21:30.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297900,"EventID":"S4W-22902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-21T14:08:45.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T14:45:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement deposit and return schemes under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to achieve its aim of zero waste.","AnswerText":"We are carefully considering a range of options to improve collection rates for packaging and reduce the amount of this material that ends up as litter. A deposit and return scheme for beverage containers is one of the options being considered and we have commissioned an independent study on this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T14:08:45.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297901,"EventID":"S4W-22910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-21T14:08:46.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T13:33:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the report by the Western Isles Poverty Action Group that customers in the north and north east of Scotland are being charged higher rates for their electricity and what action it will take to address these.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware that customers in the Highlands and Islands face some of the highest electricity prices in the country. This is due to a combination of factors including higher costs associated with delivering electricity in remote areas.\r\nThe power and responsibility for energy policy in respect of consumer protection rests not with the Scottish Parliament but Westminster. They and Ofgem have the duty to provide protection to the consumer. They have not discharged that duty well. We are doing all we can with the powers we currently have to address this issue, providing £79 million funding this year for our home energy efficiency programme that will help people manage their fuel bills better and give them warmer homes.\r\nWe engage regularly with energy companies on a range of issues and consumer energy bills are frequently discussed. We are aware that Scottish and Southern Energy has publicly called for a system of national pricing to remove the regional variation in fuel bills.\r\nThe Scottish Government has long argued for greater fairness in the way network charges are applied. While we recognise the measures already in place to reduce the burden of higher network costs in the north of Scotland (the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme) and the potential balance of winners and losers of a national pricing regime, we are keen to explore the proposal further.\r\nWe have set our proposals for further devolution in More Powers for the Scottish Parliament which includes having control over the full scope of regulation relating to energy efficiency and which would enable us to tailor policies to the specific needs of Scottish households, particularly to tackle fuel poverty in remote and rural areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T14:08:46.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297902,"EventID":"S4W-22912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-21T14:08:46.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T13:33:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to ensure that customers in the north and north east of Scotland are not charged disproportionately higher amounts for their energy than customers elsewhere.","AnswerText":"A number of underlying factors influence regional price variations including the different transmission and distribution costs associated with delivering electricity in remote areas. Network related costs make up around 23 per cent of the average electricity bill in the UK and are regulated by Ofgem. The costs associated with the distribution of electricity in the north Scotland region are expected to fall by £27 per domestic customer in 2015-16. It is up to individual electricity suppliers to set the tariffs they offer to consumers, incorporating these regulated network costs.\r\nI have recently met the Chief Executive of Ofgem to discuss this matter and welcomed his commitment to investigate fully and report back to the Westminster Energy and Climate Change Select Committee. The Scottish Government has also had discussions with the Department for Energy and Climate Change to understand how it plans to investigate this issue and to ensure that officials work together to reach an acceptable outcome.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T14:08:46.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297903,"EventID":"S4W-22909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-21T15:07:24.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T11:12:11.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to reduce the level of crime on the streets in Glasgow.","AnswerText":"Recorded crime in Scotland is at a 39 year low and in Glasgow it fell by almost 30% between 2006-07 and 2012-13.\r\nThe Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help reduce the level of crime on the streets in Glasgow:\r\nWe continue to deliver our commitment to 1,000 additional police officers; \r\nWe have invested over £5 million through our CashBack for Communities scheme between 2008-09 and 2013-14 to deliver 161,236 free sporting, cultural and educational activities for children and young people in Glasgow; \r\nWe are investing £0.85 million over the next three years in two new cash back projects being delivered by Action for Children and Celtic FC Foundation which focus on helping young offenders or at-risk youngsters in Glasgow into guaranteed employment opportunities;\r\nWe have provided £2.25 million (with a further £0.5 million to March 2015) to fund Link Up, a partnership between Inspiring Scotland and charities to build resilience and capacity in 10 deprived communities across Scotland, including Possilpark and the Gorbals; and\r\nWe are investing £9 million over three years to tackle sectarianism. \r\nWe are working closely with Police Scotland and other partners to promote further innovation through the Building Safer Communities Programme in order to significantly reduce the number of victims of crime in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T15:07:24.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297905,"EventID":"S4W-22906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:20.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T17:28:04.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed human trafficking bill will ensure a legal right to assistance for people who have been trafficked.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government commitment, given on 17 March 2014, to bring forward a human trafficking bill confirmed that specific provisions would be included within the bill to enhance the rights of victims to access support and assistance.\r\nThis will build on the current arrangement under which the Scottish Government provides grant funding of £723K to those agencies that provide direct support to potential and confirmed victims of human trafficking.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:21.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297906,"EventID":"S4W-22907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:22.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T17:28:04.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed human trafficking bill will provide independent and statutory arrangements for decisions on (a) the formal identification of, (b) assistance for and (c) monitoring of outcomes in relation to people who have been trafficked.","AnswerText":"The competent authority for decisions on the identification of individuals as potential victims of trafficking is through the UK wide National Referral Mechanism. Identification through this process affords victims access to support services which is provided on a needs assessment basis.\r\nThe National Referral Mechanism process is under review by the UK Government. The Scottish Government has participated actively in the review and will consider carefully the conclusions from the review and in particular the implications for potential and confirmed victims of trafficking recovered in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:22.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297907,"EventID":"S4W-22908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:22.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T17:28:04.437","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be opportunities for people who have been trafficked to be involved in the development, implementation and review of its proposed anti-trafficking strategy.","AnswerText":"It is the intention that Scottish Ministers will work with all relevant agencies to prepare, implement and review an anti- trafficking strategy. As part of this process we will engage closely with those organisations who provide assistance and support to potential and confirmed victims of trafficking. In developing, implementing and reviewing the strategy we will seek the views of these organisations about how best to take account of the experiences of those potential and confirmed victims of trafficking.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:22.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297908,"EventID":"S4W-22913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:23.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T15:44:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made since the introduction of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Strategy for Autism in November 2011 and announced an investment of £13.4 million over four years to improve autism services, and access to those services.\r\nThis is a 10 year strategy and much has been achieved in the first three years. Key highlights include:\r\n£4.8 million funding to an Autism Development Fund which has supported local and national organisations to deliver local autism services on the ground. 53 organisations across Scotland – ranging from local autism support groups to third sector organisations - have benefited from the fund.\r\n£1.12 million funding to local authorities to develop local autism strategies and associated action plans to improve local autism service provision. An autism coordination team has been appointed to support local authorities to implement their autism strategies and associated action plans.\r\nPublication of Menu of Interventions – a guide to supports available for people with autism and their families. The guide has been rolled out across Scotland through a series of road shows throughout the year.\r\nA network of One Stop Shops across Scotland that provide autism support services that are tailored to local need, including advocacy and sign-posting.\r\nA new training and education framework, developed by NHS Education for Scotland, to raise awareness of and build capacity in autism within mainstream services.\r\nAn Autism Toolbox to help teachers and educational support staff to meet the needs of children with autism.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:23.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297909,"EventID":"S4W-22914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:23.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T15:44:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to (a) local authorities and (b) the NHS in the last four years to assist in providing services for people with autism.","AnswerText":"Whilst the Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities and NHS boards, it is up to local authorities and NHS boards to deliver services and allocate resources according to local pressures and priorities. We therefore do not hold information on how services have used that funding to assist in providing services to people with autism.\r\nHowever, in November 2011 the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Strategy for Autism and announced an investment of £13.4 million over four years to improve autism services.\r\nThe strategy supports several wide-ranging initiatives to increase available support to people with autism. Key highlights include: \r\n£4.8 million to an Autism Development Fund supporting 53 local and national organisations across Scotland to deliver local autism services on the ground, including £1.15 million to local authorities and £98,000 to NHS boards.\r\n£1.12 million to local authorities to develop and publish local autism strategies and associated action plans to improve local autism service provision.\r\n£2.1 million to One Stop Shops across Scotland to provide autism support services that are tailored to support local statutory services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:23.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297910,"EventID":"S4W-22916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:23.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T15:44:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people with autism aged (a) under and (b) over 18 have been sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in the last four years and how many were assessed in a hospital outside of (i) their NHS board area and (ii) Scotland, broken down by (A) NHS board and (B) location of hospital.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:23.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297911,"EventID":"S4W-22918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:23.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T09:46:37.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the development of the administration of the Scottish Independent Living Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"Significant progress has been made to a tight timetable, this includes, formation of a project board, representing a range of partners. The first meeting took place in October 2014. The board’s role is to ensure the smooth operational transition of current Independent Living Fund (ILF) funding for existing Scottish ILF users and overseeing the delivery of new arrangements.\r\nCapacity to facilitate a co-produced approach has been created in partnership with Self Directed Support Scotland.\r\nOfficials continue on-going dialogue with the UK ILF and have negotiated an agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions to continue to use the existing bespoke ILF IT system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:23.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297912,"EventID":"S4W-22919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:24.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T09:46:37.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with possible recipients of the Scottish Independent Living Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has worked and will continue to work with the Independent Living Fund (ILF) to communicate with existing users of the ILF.\r\nWe are developing a communication strategy to ensure regular updates on the progress of the Scottish ILF are communicated to all relevant parties.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:24.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297913,"EventID":"S4W-22920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:55:24.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T11:51:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to make an announcement on the findings of the consultation, Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures.","AnswerText":"An independent report of the analysis of over 2,000 responses to the consultation on Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures was published on 31 October 2014.\r\nAs noted in the recent oral question on this topic (S4O-03626), the government is now carefully considering these views and will seek to announce our response and next steps in the near future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:24.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297922,"EventID":"S4W-22915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:22:51.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T15:44:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent in the last four years on delivering specialist autism care.","AnswerText":"Whilst the Scottish Government provides funding to NHS boards, it is up to the boards to deliver services and allocate resources according to local pressures and priorities.\r\nWe do not centrally hold information regarding how boards have used that funding to assist in providing services to people with autism.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:22:51.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297923,"EventID":"S4O-03601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:31.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T16:14:33.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages cooperation across local authorities on equality issues.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:31.567","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297924,"EventID":"S4O-03603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:31.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:02:54.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the level of the single tier pension.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:31.88","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297925,"EventID":"S4O-03604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:32.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T11:00:02.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures the fair treatment of disabled people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:32.143","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297926,"EventID":"S4O-03605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:32.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:02:54.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve the uptake of the pension credit scheme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:32.457","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297927,"EventID":"S4O-03606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:32.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:02:55.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate tax breaks for sports clubs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:32.8","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297928,"EventID":"S4O-03607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:33.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:02:55.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the legacy of the Commonwealth Games will be for disadvantaged young people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:33.173","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297929,"EventID":"S4O-03608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:33.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T12:04:42.36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the Sport and Legacy budget in the next financial year.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:33.453","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297930,"EventID":"S4O-03609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:33.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:02:55.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding equalities issues.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:33.813","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297931,"EventID":"S4O-03610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:34.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T10:33:01.753","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its equalities campaign, One Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:34.063","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297932,"EventID":"S4O-03611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:34.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:08.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported 11% fall in employment of people of working age in Dundee between 2011-12 and 2013-14 has had on women and young people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:34.36","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297933,"EventID":"S4O-03612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:34.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T12:31:24.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to stem the reported decline in the number of female students studying part time vocational courses.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:34.703","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297934,"EventID":"S4O-03614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:09.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address youth unemployment in Dumfries and Galloway.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:35","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297935,"EventID":"S4O-03615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:35.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:09.693","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it helps young people with learning disabilities into employment.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:35.42","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297936,"EventID":"S4O-03616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:35.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T17:10:29.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Employability Fund supports women into work.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:35.873","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297937,"EventID":"S4O-03617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:36.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:10.227","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports women in taking up places on training courses.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:36.183","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297938,"EventID":"S4O-03618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:36.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:10.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the skills needs are of the west of Scotland economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:36.683","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297939,"EventID":"S4O-03619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:36.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:10.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young people have access not only to employment, but to \"decent work\" as promoted by the STUC.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will publish and implement a refreshed youth employment strategy later this year. It is committed to providing opportunities that allows all of Scotland’s young people to realise their full potential.\r\nIt is clear that our policies are driving a recovery in all labour market measures but we want more people working in better jobs and for employers that value their efforts.\r\nEarlier this year the government set up the independent Working Together Review. Based on the report’s recommendations, published in August 2014, the First Minister confirmed on 15 October 2014 that a fair work convention would be established. The Scottish Government’s view is that fair work in Scotland can and should be enhanced by devolution of powers relating to employment rights and duties and industrial relations which are currently reserved to the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:36.98","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297940,"EventID":"S4O-03620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:37.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:11.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the gender pay gap.\r\n","AnswerText":"From 2007 to date the Scottish Government has committed £3.9 million to fund projects aimed at tackling the gender pay gap and occupational segregation.\r\nUnder the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010, the Scottish Government introduced a specific duty to place a requirement on relevant public authorities to publish gender pay gap information and statements on equal pay.\r\nThe devolution of equality and employment law, as set out in our proposals to the Smith Commission, would enable us to introduce further measures to reduce the gender pay gap.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:37.447","MeetingDate":"2014-10-29T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297941,"EventID":"S4O-03621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:37.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:23.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA to discuss care charges.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials participate in COSLA’s non-residential charging working group, which last met in September 2014.\r\nWe have worked with COSLA to produce new guidance to local authorities, which was agreed in September 2014, so that people in the last six months of a terminal illness are not charged for the social care they receive at home.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:37.837","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297942,"EventID":"S4O-03622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:38.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:23.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect people from the impact of revenge pornography.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:38.29","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297943,"EventID":"S4O-03623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:38.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T10:43:31.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:38.727","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297944,"EventID":"S4O-03624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:39.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:24.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will take forward the recommendations of the Wild Fisheries Review.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:39.023","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297945,"EventID":"S4O-03625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:39.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-21T15:19:31.35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered employees affected by Tata Steel's sale of its Long Products division, which has operations in Dalzell and Clydebridge.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:39.43","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297946,"EventID":"S4O-03626","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:39.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T11:10:45.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what control measures it is considering introducing following its recent consultation on promoting responsible dog ownership.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:39.693","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297947,"EventID":"S4O-03627","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:40.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:25.67","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in introducing a direct rail service from Kilmarnock to Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:40.24","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297948,"EventID":"S4O-03628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:40.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:25.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the use of transvaginal mesh implants.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:40.553","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297949,"EventID":"S4O-03629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:41.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T10:43:31.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress local authorities have made in settling equal pay claims.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:41.02","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297950,"EventID":"S4O-03630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T13:58:41.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-20T12:03:26.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it will make to the law in relation to stalking.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place in Scotland for stalking or harassment of any kind. This Parliament led the way across the UK by introducing a specific stalking offence in 2010. Our justice system also provides for non-harassment orders to allow protections for victims and improvements to the system of non-harassment orders have been made in recent years.\r\nWe always keep legislation under review and we are considering whether the law on non-harassment orders needs to be adjusted following a recent court case.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:58:41.38","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297956,"EventID":"S4W-22922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:11:10.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T12:24:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16783 by Fergus Ewing on 21 August 2013, what its position is on whether the issuing of underground coal gasification licences is in the best interests of the population.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK Coal Authority is the licensing authority for underground coal gasification in Scotland and the UK.\r\nThe Scottish Government will take a cautious, responsible, evidence-based approach to the development of new energy technologies, such as underground coal gasification. This should give security and confidence to the people of Scotland that such resources would only be developed if it can be done in an environmentally safe and satisfactory way.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:11:10.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297957,"EventID":"S4W-22923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:11:10.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T12:24:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16783 by Fergus Ewing on 21 August 2013, what its position is on the reported concerns regarding a possible link between underground coal gasification and water contamination.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is clear that the deployment of new energy technologies like underground coal gasification can only happen if they are in line with our environmental objectives and regulatory requirements. Protection of the environment is of prime importance.\r\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency has statutory responsibility for the protection of Scotland’s water environment. It has powers under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to regulate activities that interact with our water environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:11:10.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297958,"EventID":"S4W-22924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:11:10.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T12:24:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16783 by Fergus Ewing on 21 August 2013, what its position is on the Australian Government's decision to ban underground coal gasification.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is the Scottish Government’s understanding that no decision has been taken by the Australian Government to ban underground coal gasification developments.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:11:10.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297959,"EventID":"S4W-22925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:11:10.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T12:45:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Emergency Food Fund was allocated to (a) Fife and (b) Dunfermline.","AnswerText":"The Emergency Food Fund is supporting one project in Fife. That project is run by the East Neuk Recovery Group Initiative and has been allocated £10,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:11:10.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297960,"EventID":"S4W-22926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-22T15:11:10.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-22T12:45:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used in selecting projects to receive support from the Emergency Food Fund in the recent allocation round.","AnswerText":"The application form for the Emergency Food Fund set out five criteria, which were:\r\nProjects which will help respond to immediate demands for emergency food aid and help address the underlying causes of food poverty;\r\nProjects which can demonstrate a partnership approach;\r\nProjects that build more sustainable local solutions to food poverty;\r\nProjects that adopt an assets-based approach; \r\nProject costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:11:10.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297961,"EventID":"S4W-22927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:28.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T09:26:42.137","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11500 by Keith Brown on 4 December 2012, whether it will provide an update on when work on Dalcross railway station at Inverness Airport will (a) start and (b) be completed.","AnswerText":"The Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements works have commenced with site and ground investigations on the infrastructure necessary to provide for a new station at Dalcross.\r\nNetwork Rail, Transport Scotland, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership and Highland Council met in October 2014 to progress detailed planning and preparatory works for the proposed Dalcross station. This should encourage promoters to accelerate their plans for the station which requires third party funding. Accordingly, the package of works remains on schedule for completion by March 2019 as specified in the government’s High Level Output Specification, published on 21 June 2012.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:28.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297962,"EventID":"S4W-22928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:28.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T10:34:12.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of the public sector bid for the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry contract and whether there are any outstanding freedom of information requests on this matter.","AnswerText":"The cost of the public sector bid, from David MacBrayne Limited, for the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry services contract is considered to be commercially sensitive.\r\nTransport Scotland have no outstanding freedom of information requests on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:28.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297963,"EventID":"S4W-22929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:29.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T10:34:12.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of David MacBrayne Ltd’s bid for the contract to operate Swedish ferry services in the Baltic Sea.","AnswerText":"The cost of bidding for this contract, and any similar future contracts, will be met from the company’s own reserves and any financial returns accrued from these contracts will be reinvested in the company. It is considered that these costs are commercially sensitive and, as such, David MacBrayne Ltd do not intend to release them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:29.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297964,"EventID":"S4W-22930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:29.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T10:34:12.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all ferries operated by Serco NorthLink as part of the 2012-18 Northern Isles contract already comply with the limits relating to the sulphur dioxide content of marine fuel contained in the regulations due to come into effect on 1 January 2015.","AnswerText":"The ferries operated by Serco NorthLink as part of the 2012-18 Northern Isles contract do not currently comply with the limits relating to the sulphur dioxide content of marine fuel contained in the regulations due to come into effect on 1 January 2015.\r\nHowever, Serco Northlink ferries will fully comply with the limits contained in the regulations effective from 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:29.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297965,"EventID":"S4W-22931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:29.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T10:34:12.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether all ferries operated by Shetland Line (1984) Limited as part of the contract for freight services to the Northern Isles already comply with the limits relating to the sulphur dioxide content of marine fuel contained in the regulations due to come into effect on 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The six year freight contract between Scottish Ministers and Shetland Line (1984) Limited commenced on 31 May 2008 and expired on 30 May 2014. \r\nThe service now being provided by Shetland Line (1984) Limited is now a fully commercial operation. As such they are solely responsible for complying with the regulations due to come into effect on 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:29.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297966,"EventID":"S4W-22932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-23T15:24:29.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T10:34:12.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on ferry services in Scotland of the regulations due to come into effect on 1 January 2015 regarding the sulphur dioxide content of marine fuel.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has written twice to the UK Government on this issue. The Scottish Government has provided a full response to the consultation on the draft Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) and Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 implementing EU directive 2012/33/EU on the sulphur content of marine fuel.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T15:24:29.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297980,"EventID":"S4W-22935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-24T15:09:21.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-23T16:25:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available in the Scottish Draft Budget 2015-16 for infrastructure that supports active travel. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Draft Budget 2015-16 includes funding to build, maintain and promote infrastructure for active travel within the following budget lines:\r\n£25 million in the support for sustainable and active travel budget; and\r\n£8 million ring fenced funding for cycling, walking and safer streets within the local government settlement.\r\nIn addition, a proportion of the £20.25 million for the Future Transport Fund will be allocated to active travel infrastructure. Ministers will make an announcement on this in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:09:23.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":297981,"EventID":"S4W-22936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-24T15:09:24.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-24T10:22:34.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS spent on overtime payments in each month of 2013, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) speciality.","AnswerText":"Whilst the Scottish Government sets policy for NHSScotland, it is for NHS boards to plan and manage services for the benefit of the patients they serve. The information requested is therefore not collected centrally and should be sought directly from boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-07T15:09:24.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298003,"EventID":"S4T-00808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:27.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T10:30:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent Audit Scotland reports on the financial management of NHS Orkney and NHS Highland in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:27.72","MeetingDate":"2014-10-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298004,"EventID":"S4T-00814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:29.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T11:37:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place to help deal with the current weather conditions.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:29.577","MeetingDate":"2014-10-28T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298005,"EventID":"S4F-02336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:00.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T09:21:15.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:01.33","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298006,"EventID":"S4F-02337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:01.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T09:32:13.043","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:01.657","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298007,"EventID":"S4F-02338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:01.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T09:35:29.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:01.983","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298008,"EventID":"S4F-02345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:05.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T11:21:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to reduce road accidents and casualties.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:05.417","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298009,"EventID":"S4F-02343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:04.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T10:42:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what resources the Scottish Government has in place to assist service personnel and their families who have been affected by the conflict in Afghanistan.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:04.357","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298010,"EventID":"S4F-02351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T12:35:07.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T11:56:50.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on concerns regarding the impact that charging for SQA exam marking reviews could have on students.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T12:35:07.287","MeetingDate":"2014-10-30T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298011,"EventID":"S4W-22933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-27T16:33:34.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-24T09:36:18.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent in each of the last four years on procuring drugs, broken down by pharmaceutical company.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table provides NHS Scotland level expenditure on drugs for the latest four years available. Expenditure broken down by pharmaceutical company is not centrally available.\r\nNHS drugs expenditure for family health service, community and hospital sectors\r\nNHS Sector\r\n2009-10 (outturn) (£)\r\n2010-11 (outturn) (£)\r\n2011-12 (outturn) (£)\r\n2012-13 (outturn) (£)\r\nFamily Health Service\r\n945,637,038\r\n970,843,000\r\n981,642,398\r\n925,282,936\r\nHospital \r\n\r\n292,962,476\r\n302,877,338\r\n296,067,870\r\n313,928,729\r\nCommunity \r\n\r\n96,013,009\r\n104,183,396\r\n120,938,380\r\n130,588,354\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n1,334,612,523\r\n1,377,903,734\r\n1,398,648,648\r\n1,369,800,019\r\nSource: Scottish Health Service Costs (known as the Costs Book)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-10T16:33:34.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298018,"EventID":"S4W-22938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-28T13:35:30.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T10:07:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is for promoting and developing tourism in the Scottish Borders.","AnswerText":"The Government Economic Strategy identifies tourism as a growth sector. The Scottish Government is assisting public bodies to support tourism via the industry-led Scottish Tourism Alliance ‘Tourism Strategy 2020’ by way of joined up working between the public agencies, especially (in the Scottish Borders) VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, and the relevant local authority.\r\n29 Homecoming 2014 events have taken place in the Scottish Borders, four of which have received funding of £112,000 in total. The breakdown of funding is:\r\nMelrose Sevens\r\n£20,000\r\nReturn to the Ridings\r\n£37,000\r\nTweedLove Bike Festival\r\n£35,000\r\nBorders Book Festival\r\n£20,000\r\nTotal\r\n£112,000\r\nVisitScotland promotes the Scottish Borders to millions of consumers through the national visitscotland.com website, with over 700 Scottish Borders business listings and a wealth of information and inspiration on what to see and do in the region. VisitScotland also operates five VisitScotland Information Centres in the Scottish Borders, at Hawick, Melrose, Peebles, Jedburgh and Kelso with two further Information Points in Partnership in Eyemouth and Selkirk.\r\nThe VisitScotland Growth Fund has to date supported two projects within the Scottish Borders, one of which was a national campaign through Scottish Racing promoting Kelso Racecourse and the other the Jedburgh Events Forum. VisitScotland’s Conference Bid Fund supported the Scottish Borders to secure the Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland conference 2014, to be hosted at Peebles Hydro Hotel from 11-13 November 2014. \r\nEventScotland holds regular strategic meetings with Scottish Borders Council to discuss event strategy, as well as meeting on a project basis to discuss specific events. EventScotland has invested almost £790,000 in events taking place in the Scottish Borders over the last three years. \r\nName of Event\r\nStart date\r\nEnd date\r\nAmount of EventScotland Funding\r\nMelrose Sevens\r\n08-04-2011\r\n09-04-2011\r\n15,000.00\r\nTweedLove Bike Week\r\n11-06-2011\r\n19-06-2011\r\n12,500.00\r\nTraquair Fair\r\n06-08-2011\r\n07-08-2011\r\n5,637.00\r\nFloors Massed Pipe Band Day\r\n28-08-2011\r\n28-08-2011\r\n4,000.00\r\nDoors Open Days*\r\n03-09-2011\r\n30-09-2011\r\n13,500.00\r\nTour of Britain\r\n11-09-2011\r\n11-09-2011\r\n100,000.00\r\nCount Us In\r\n27-10-2011\r\n27-10-2011\r\n8,630.99\r\nMelrose Sevens\r\n14-04-2012\r\n14-04-2012\r\n20,000.00\r\nTraquair Shakespeare Festival\r\n26-05-2012\r\n27-05-2012\r\n4,000.00\r\nTweedlove Bike Festival\r\n26-05-2012\r\n05-06-2012\r\n15,000.00\r\niXS Downhill Cup Innerleithen\r\n16-06-2012\r\n17-06-2012\r\n9,900.00\r\nTour of Britain\r\n11-09-2012\r\n11-09-2012\r\n105,000.00\r\nScottish Ploughing Championships\r\n27-10-2012\r\n28-10-2012\r\n4,000.00\r\nMelrose Sevens\r\n13-04-2013\r\n13-04-2013\r\n20,000.00\r\nTour o' the Borders\r\n14-04-2013\r\n14-04-2013\r\n8,000.00\r\nTweedLove Bike Festival\r\n24-05-2013\r\n02-06-2013\r\n15,000.00\r\nTraquair Medieval Fayre\r\n25-05-2013\r\n26-05-2013\r\n4,500.00\r\nJim Clark Rally\r\n31-05-2013\r\n02-06-2013\r\n8,000.00\r\nDancing Dreams\r\n01-06-2013\r\n31-08-2013\r\n10,000.00\r\nBorder Union Show\r\n26-07-2013\r\n27-07-2013\r\n10,000.00\r\nTraquair Fair\r\n27-07-2013\r\n28-07-2013\r\n8,800.00\r\nTour of Britain\r\n15-09-2013\r\n15-09-2013\r\n100,000.00\r\nScotland Sings*\r\n29-11-2013\r\n01-12-2013\r\n6,000.00\r\nMelrose Sevens\r\n11-04-2014\r\n12-04-2014\r\n20,000.00\r\nTweedLove Bike Festival\r\n24-05-2014\r\n08-06-2014\r\n35,000.00\r\nReturn to the Ridings\r\n01-06-2014\r\n08-08-2014\r\n37,000.00\r\nBorders Book Festival\r\n12-06-2014\r\n15-06-2014\r\n20,000.00\r\nHaka Hawick\r\n18-06-2014\r\n18-06-2014\r\n10,000.00\r\nGeneration*\r\n26-06-2014\r\n31-10-2014\r\n150,000.00\r\nTour o' the Borders\r\n10-08-2014\r\n10-08-2014\r\n10,000.00\r\nTotal\r\n\r\n\r\n£789,467.99\r\n* denotes that the event occurs across more than one local authority and the value is therefore divided accordingly (i.e. if an event spans two local authorities, the total award is divided by two).\r\nScottish Enterprise continues to work closely with partners to develop and promote the tourism offering across the Scottish Borders in specific key projects that have both","AnswerDate":"2014-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:35:30.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298019,"EventID":"S4W-22939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-28T13:35:30.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T10:32:28.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances NHS boards may determine that a dispensing doctor should continue to dispense for part of their practice area when a licence is granted under the new regulations governing the licensing of community pharmacists.","AnswerText":"Following the opening of a community pharmacy in an area, the NHS board will review whether there are exceptional circumstances, and take a decision on whether the GP practice is required to continue to dispense to some or all of its patients.\r\nThere is nothing explicit in the regulations to say that a dispensing GP practice must stop dispensing following the opening of a community pharmacy but the board will need to be satisfied that the criteria set out in the regulations is being met. If a health board makes a decision to remove dispensing rights from a GP practice, there is nothing to prevent a future reversal of that decision by the board provided they can identify a change of circumstances as set out in the regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:35:31.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298020,"EventID":"S4W-22940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-28T13:35:31.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T11:22:59.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the closure of the A83 trunk road on 28 October 2014 due to landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful, Glen Kinglas and Ardgarten and what additional action it will take at each of these locations to minimise the occurrence of further landslides.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has already invested nearly £7.5 million on the A83 around the Rest and be Thankful and this is a clear sign of our intent to find solutions to keep the A83 open and operational. The landslide on the 28 October 2014 was the largest in the last 10 years. The works carried out so far included debris netting, which was successful in stopping large boulders ending up on the A83 and the Old Military Road diversion, which was opened as fast as possible after two other landslides were cleared on other areas of the A83 on either side of the Rest. Work is in progress to increase the resilience of the A83 to the west of the Rest and be Thankful in Glen Kinglas, where a further £750,000 is being invested this financial year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:35:31.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298021,"EventID":"S4W-22941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-28T13:35:31.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T11:48:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards will be brought to parity with the sums identified by the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula by 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerText":"The NRAC formula is a funding approach agreed by all boards and the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation that oversees the formula is a group made up of representatives from across the NHS. It is accepted that the NRAC formula will always be subject to refinement and development. In 2014-15, an update to the NRAC formula to more closely reflect remoteness and rurality came into effect.\r\nThe NRAC formula has been phased in since 2009-10. It has been made clear that any adjustments made to the 14 territorial health boards’ funding would be phased in over a number of years by way of ‘differential growth’ as has been the practice under both the previous SHARE and Arbuthnott formulae, and that no board would receive a cut in funding.\r\nThrough a combination of the revised data informing the 2014-15 NRAC formula and current forward financial planning assumptions, it is expected that no NHS board will be below one per cent from funding parity by 2016-17.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T13:35:31.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298032,"EventID":"S4W-22942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-28T17:06:52.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T15:32:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many drug rehabilitation beds have been available in NHS Tayside in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-11T17:06:52.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298044,"EventID":"S4W-22943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:25:21.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:33:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases the police have presented to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in the last five years. \r\n","AnswerText":"In addition to standard prosecution reports received from the Police, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) receives standard prosecution reports from specialist reporting agencies such as the Department of Work and Pensions and Her Majesties Revenue and Customs.\r\nIn total, the Procurator Fiscal has received the following number of cases from both the police and the other specialist reporting agencies in the last five years:\r\n2009–10 \r\n289,001\r\n2010–11\r\n278,942\r\n2011–12\r\n287,751\r\n2012–13 \r\n291,963\r\n2013–14\r\n303,221\r\n \r\nOf these the police have reported the following number of cases to the COPFS:\r\n2009-10\r\n251,404\r\n2010-11\r\n239,953\r\n2011-12\r\n247,343\r\n2012-13\r\n247,813\r\n2013-14\r\n265,620\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:25:22.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298045,"EventID":"S4W-22944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:25:23.71","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:33:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service uses when deciding whether to pursue cases presented by the police.\r\n","AnswerText":"In any case reported the prosecutor must firstly be satisfied that there is sufficient admissible evidence available to justify proceedings. If so the prosecutor must consider what action is in the public interest.\r\nThe full criteria applied by prosecutors when deciding whether to take action in cases, is outlined in the Prosecution Code which is published at:\r\nhttp://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Prosecution_Policy_Guidance/Prosecution20Code20_Final20180412__1.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:25:23.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298046,"EventID":"S4W-22945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:25:23.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:33:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what public engagement processes it undertakes to provide feedback to communities when cases are not pursued by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is committed to providing victims and witnesses with the information they need and when they need it about the decisions taken in individual cases. This information is provided pro-actively in certain categories of cases, which includes cases involving vulnerable victims and witnesses. In all other cases this information would be provided on the request of the victim.\r\nCOPFS also publish statistics to provide information to the public on the numbers of cases in which no action is taken and this can be accessed via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Statistics/No%20Action%20cases%20Reported%20to%20COPFS%202009-14.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:25:23.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298047,"EventID":"S4W-22946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:25:24.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:33:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases the Scottish Court Service has discontinued in the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"From the information held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service it is not possible, without manual checking of files incurring disproportionate costs, to find out how many criminal court cases have been discontinued as a result of a judicial decision rather than as a result of prosecutor’s decision, which can occur as a result of further information becoming available to the prosecutor after proceedings are raised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:25:24.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298048,"EventID":"S4W-22947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:25:24.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:33:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cases have been time-barred from proceeding to court in the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of cases in which Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have taken no action because the case was time barred at the time of receipt by COPFS from the relevant specialist reporting agency or the police is as follows:\r\n2009-10\r\n305\r\n2010-11\r\n352\r\n2011-12\r\n325\r\n2012-13\r\n426\r\n2013-14\r\n446\r\nCOPFS do publish statistics on the numbers of cases in which no action is taken and this can be accessed via the following link:\r\nhttp://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Statistics/No%20Action%20cases%20Reported%20to%20COPFS%202009-14.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:25:24.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298060,"EventID":"S4W-22948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T13:53:43.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T13:50:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use in determining the suitability of proposals for the location of the national headquarters of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will assess proposals from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the criteria which have been published on the Scottish Government’s website at:\r\nhttp://www.Scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/policies/police-fire-rescue/fire/HQ-location\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-10-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T13:53:43.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298061,"EventID":"S4O-03631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:31.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:26:48.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the opposition parties to discuss the reform of local government taxation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:31.54","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298062,"EventID":"S4O-03632","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:31.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T15:04:37.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth had with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment regarding the Carbon Assessment of the 2015-16 Draft Budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:31.803","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298063,"EventID":"S4O-03633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:32.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:22.807","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has received from the UK Government regarding the extra £100 million of funding to be available for household energy efficiency.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:32.07","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298064,"EventID":"S4O-03634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:32.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:23.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many active business improvement districts there are.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:32.537","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298065,"EventID":"S4O-03635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:32.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T09:18:06.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scottish Enterprise.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:32.817","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298066,"EventID":"S4O-03636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:33.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:23.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent under the non-profit distributing model and on how many projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:33.177","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298067,"EventID":"S4O-03637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:33.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:24.24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on people in the Highlands and Islands having to pay a 2p-per-unit electricity transmission surcharge.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:33.61","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298068,"EventID":"S4O-03638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:33.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:24.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest figures on manufactured exports in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:33.923","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298069,"EventID":"S4O-03639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:34.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:40:31.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact exiting the EU would have on the Scottish economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:34.233","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298070,"EventID":"S4O-03640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:34.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:25.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward the proposals in Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:34.547","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298071,"EventID":"S4O-03641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:34.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:42:58.51","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase employment opportunities in the west of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:34.81","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298072,"EventID":"S4O-03642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:35.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:25.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that local authorities should have the power to begin pursuit of tax debt up to 20 years after the liability arose.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:35.107","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298073,"EventID":"S4O-03643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:35.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:26.017","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact air passenger duty is having on Scotland's tourism sector.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:35.373","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298074,"EventID":"S4O-03644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:35.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:23:50.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of the recently announced Land and Buildings Transaction Tax on domestic and non-domestic property sales in the Scottish Borders.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:35.637","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298075,"EventID":"S4O-03645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:35.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T10:12:00.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on recent reports regarding the additional cost in energy prices for people in the Highlands and Islands.","AnswerText":"The member will have heard my answer to the question S4O-03637 from Dave Thompson MSP on this matter but I am happy to respond to any additional points. \r\nWe believe a fairer approach is to permanently remove the cost of delivering the Energy Companies Obligation and Warm Home Discount from consumers’ electricity bills to help hard-pressed families, rather than the UK Government’s one-off £12 rebate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:35.917","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298076,"EventID":"S4O-03646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:36.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:54:43.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact budget reductions in the college sector will have on the Scottish economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 delivers an increase in college funding to £526 million in 2015-16.\r\nCollege reform, together with our plans for developing Scotland’s young workforce, means that colleges are now more focussed than ever before on supplying our economy with the skills it needs to grow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:36.29","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298077,"EventID":"S4O-03647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:36.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:27.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the chief economist of the Bank of England's comment that the fall in real wages since their pre-recession peak is “unprecedented since at least the mid-1800s.”\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the continued economic recovery in Scotland, with employment now at a record high level. However, the impact of the recession is still being felt, particularly through the continued pressure on real pay growth. In fact, forecasts suggest that it may be at least 2016 before wages recover to their pre-recession levels.\r\nThis is why in the Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 we continued to prioritise the pay of the lowest earners in Scotland’s public sector, ensuring all workers covered by our pay policy receive at least the living wage. Our continued commitment to a no compulsory redundancy policy provides employees with economic stability and job security.\r\nIt is also why initiatives such as the core elements of our social wage – the council tax freeze, abolition of tuition fees, free prescription charges and eye examinations and extension of our investment in early learning and childcare provisions – are vital in helping support household budgets at a time of wage and income pressure. \r\nIt is also why it is important that this Parliament gains greater access to key economic powers – including the minimum wage – to allow us to do more to create high value jobs and boost prosperity across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:36.54","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298078,"EventID":"S4O-03648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:37.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:27.557","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much Registers of Scotland has spent on IT since April 2014.","AnswerText":"Registers of Scotland spent £5.5 million on IT between 1 April 2014 and 30 September 2014. £4.9 million of this was operational expenditure and £600,000 was capital expenditure. Last month, Registers of Scotland successfully launched new digital products through an enhanced e-services portal. These will support the implementation of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 on 8 December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:37.053","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298079,"EventID":"S4O-03649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:37.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T11:38:37.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism has had with EDF regarding its application to transport radioactive waste to Hunterston for storage.","AnswerText":"This application is a matter for SEPA, who are giving it full consideration, and will test its compatibility with Scottish Government policy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:37.663","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298080,"EventID":"S4O-03650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:37.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:25:29.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth had with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning regarding the proposals for college funding that have been set out in the 2015-16 draft budget.","AnswerText":"Ahead of the Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 I had a number of discussions with all cabinet colleagues, including the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, about their portfolio interests.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:37.913","MeetingDate":"2014-11-05T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298081,"EventID":"S4O-03651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:38.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:41.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many problem drugs users there are.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:38.147","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298082,"EventID":"S4O-03652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:38.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:41.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Glasgow City Council’s decision to award a house in multiple occupation licence to the Bellgrove Hotel and whether it considers this an appropriate level of regulation for a building housing over 140 people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:38.41","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298083,"EventID":"S4O-03653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:38.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:13:33.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that disabled people and their families are able to access cultural and leisure opportunities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:38.707","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298084,"EventID":"S4O-03654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:39.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T16:45:31.193","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:39.017","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298085,"EventID":"S4O-03655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:39.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:39:20.78","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a joint traffic assessment with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding long-term pressures on the three main western road approaches to the city.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:39.313","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298086,"EventID":"S4O-03656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:39.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:42.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that sex offenders are appropriately rehoused.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:39.563","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298087,"EventID":"S4O-03657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:39.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:42.77","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Woodlot Association submission to The Smith Commission that full powers over forestry must be devolved. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:39.873","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298088,"EventID":"S4O-03658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:40.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T11:57:27.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the weather defences following the launch of the Ready for Winter campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:40.14","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298089,"EventID":"S4O-03659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:40.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-28T15:26:30.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with train operating companies regarding timetables.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has recently met with train operators as part of the regular meeting schedules to discuss timetables.\r\nThose discussions have included both the December 2014 and May 2015 timetable changes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:40.483","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298090,"EventID":"S4O-03660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T14:04:40.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-27T12:01:43.657","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving NHS Dumfries and Galloway to help prepare for winter.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have worked closely with all NHS boards to develop winter planning guidance which was made available to boards on 23 September 2014. This guidance supports boards so that they have robust plans and contingency measures in place to maintain safe and effective services during the winter period.\r\nWe provide a range of support to NHS boards, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway, to assist them to meet the challenges winter places upon them. For example, we have provided over £480,000 to NHS Dumfries and Galloway so far (2013-15) under the Unscheduled Care Action Plan to help improve A&E performance. In addition the Scottish Government is providing £152,000 to help drive reductions in delayed discharges in Dumfries and Galloway ahead of the coming winter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T14:04:40.827","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298091,"EventID":"S4W-22949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T16:46:13.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T14:30:36.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in response to the increase in domestic rape cases reported to police from 197 in 2012-13 to 357 in 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to further strengthening the justice system’s response to tackling crimes of rape and all forms of sexual and domestic violence. The Scottish Government has strengthened the law against sex crimes by bringing in the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.\r\nSince its establishment in 2013, Police Scotland has improved the investigation of rape and other sexual crimes, setting up a new National Rape Task Force and Rape and Sexual Crime External Advisory Group. The rollout of the Domestic Abuse Taskforce (DATF) across Scotland has resulted in a number of historical victims (of domestic rape) being traced and reporting it, as a result of having confidence in the DATF. Victims of previously unreported domestic abuse have also contacted the DATF direct to report domestic rape, which demonstrates the confidence victims have in this service.\r\nPolice Scotland is also leading a multi-agency group to pilot a disclosure scheme for domestic abuse – often referred to as “Clare’s Law” - which will be launched this month. The Crown Office, under the leadership of the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General, has developed a team of expert prosecutors in the National Sexual Crimes Unit, which specialises in the investigation and prosecution of serious sexual crime across Scotland.  \r\nScottish Government funding to victims organisations has also increased by 62% from 2007-08 levels to £34.5 million during 2012-15. This includes funding for Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland. Funding will be maintained at the same level for 2015-16 (£11.5 million) in spite of the extreme pressures on the Scottish budget due to Treasury cuts. \r\nThe joint initiative ‘Support to Report’ run by Police Scotland and Rape Crisis Scotland is currently operating in Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrew areas. The initiative will better support victims through the criminal justice process and is designed to provide an improved service by allocating a support worker to victims during the initial stage of making a report to the police. \r\nEqually Safe, Scotland’s Strategy for Eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls, published in June 2014, committed the Scottish Government to working with law enforcement and other organisations to explore further options to strengthen the law and justice response to sexual and domestic offences, sending a clear message that this criminal and destructive behaviour has no place in modern Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T16:46:13.357","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298092,"EventID":"S4W-22950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T16:46:13.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T16:03:58.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the Patient Transport Service has (a) cancelled a patient's journey on the day of their medical appointment and (b) failed to notify patients that their journey has been cancelled in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service; the information requested in not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T16:46:13.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298093,"EventID":"S4W-22951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-29T16:46:13.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-29T16:03:58.34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital appointments have been missed as a result of the Patient Transport Service cancelling journeys in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-12T16:46:13.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298107,"EventID":"S4W-22952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T13:57:53.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T11:19:58.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Herald and Times Group and (b) NUJ regarding proposals to make posts in Glasgow redundant and transfer sub-editing of its titles to Wales and what support it will provide to the staff affected.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has recently met the Scottish Organiser of the National Union of Journalists, along with other trade union representatives, to discuss a range of matters relating to media. In that meeting, the potential redundancies were brought to our attention. The Scottish Government stands ready to discuss this further with the Herald and Times Group. In the event of redundancies, through the Scottish Government's Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative, we will provide support to those employees who may be affected by redundancy. Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time people, affected by redundancy, are out of work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:57:53.837","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298108,"EventID":"S4W-22954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T13:57:54.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T11:18:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be saved when Dingwall Court closes in January 2015 and what future plans it has for the building.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T13:57:54.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298121,"EventID":"S4W-22956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:36.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T13:39:03.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many child psychiatric beds there are, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the three regional adolescent in-patient units operating across Scotland based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and the number of beds available in each unit.\r\nUnit\r\n\r\nNo of beds\r\n\r\nArea served\r\n(NHS Board)\r\n\r\nRoyal Edinburgh Hospital\r\n12\r\nSouth East of Scotland\r\n(Lothian, Fife and Borders).\r\nSkye House, Stobhill, Glasgow\r\n24\r\nWest of Scotland (Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire and Arran)\r\nDudhope House, Dundee\r\n6\r\nA further six beds will be available from mid-2015.\r\nNorth of Scotland (Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles)\r\nSevere psychiatric conditions are rare in children under 12, but those who require intensive support and treatment can be cared for in the nine bedded specialist unit within the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:36.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298122,"EventID":"S4W-22957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:37.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T13:39:03.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help diagnose Asperger syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Strategy for Autism (which includes Asperger syndrome) in November 2011 and announced an investment of £13.4 million over four years to improve autism services, and access to those services.\r\nIt is the responsibility of NHS boards to provide services that meet local needs, however, access to timely autism diagnosis is a key priority under the strategy.\r\nStrategy funding has supported several initiatives to improve autism diagnosis:\r\nA new training and education framework, developed by NHS Education, to raise awareness of and build capacity in autism within mainstream services; and a three-day autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule diagnosis training event, run by autism practitioners and diagnosticians to update diagnostic practice\r\nA network of One Stop Shops across Scotland that provides autism support services tailored to local needs, including sign-posting diagnostic services\r\nPublication of a Menu of Interventions - a guide to diagnostic and other supports available for people with autism and their families. The guide has been rolled out across Scotland through a series of road-shows throughout the year\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:37.093","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298123,"EventID":"S4W-22958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:37.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T14:20:05.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) adults and (b) children with Asperger syndrome.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Strategy for Autism (which includes Asperger syndrome) in November 2011 and announced an investment of £13.4 million over four years to improve autism services, and access to those services for people across the whole lifespan.\r\nThis is a 10 year strategy and much has been achieved in the first two years. Key highlights include:\r\n£4.8 million funding to an Autism Development Fund which has supported local and national organisations to deliver local autism services on the ground. 53 organisations across Scotland – ranging from local autism support groups to third sector organisations have benefited from the fund\r\n£1.12 million funding to local authorities to develop local autism strategies and associated action plans to improve local autism service provision\r\nPublication of a Menu of Interventions – a guide to supports available for people with autism and their families. The guide has been rolled out across Scotland through a series of road-shows throughout the year\r\nA network of One Stop Shops across Scotland that provide autism support services that are tailored to local need, including advocacy and sign-posting\r\nA new training and education framework, developed by NHS Education, to raise awareness of and build capacity in autism within mainstream services\r\nAn ‘Autism Toolbox’ to help teachers and educational support staff to meet the needs of children with autism\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:37.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298124,"EventID":"S4W-22959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:37.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T15:06:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the policy advice in The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has just recently received a copy of The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland. The report and the recommendations within it will be considered as part of our refresh of our youth employment strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:37.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298125,"EventID":"S4W-22960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:38.527","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T15:06:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking that will help address the recommendations in The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has just recently received a copy of The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland. The report and the recommendations within it will be considered as part of our refresh of our youth employment strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:38.543","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298126,"EventID":"S4W-22961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-30T16:36:38.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T15:06:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement the recommendations in the final report of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.","AnswerText":"We share the ambitions of the report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce. That is why we responded quickly to the final report of the commission in June 2014, and have allocated £5 million of a £12 million budget in 2014-15 for early action:\r\n£1 million to support the establishment of new regional employer partnerships; \r\n£3 million for a skills package including pilots of foundation apprenticeships, allowing young people to start training while still at school; pilots of advanced apprenticeships in key skills sectors; developing our careers service; addressing gender segregation; and assisting young disabled people and minority groups with training and employment programmes;\r\n£0.5 million to enable Education Scotland to bring a sharper focus on supporting young people towards work; and £0.5 million as part of a new £1 million government fund for establishing Investors in Young People accolade for business.\r\nOur 2015-16 draft Budget includes a further £16.6 million for Young Workforce implementation, building on our work to create a world class vocational education system, for example, the programme has already engaged around 800 primary head teachers through national events. Most recently, on 9 November 2014, we announced that Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV, will chair our National Invest in Young People Group.\r\nAll this illustrates our close working with delivery partners, particularly local government, and employers, and that we are making good progress. We will publish a full implementation plan in the context of a refreshed youth employment strategy by the end of the year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-13T16:36:38.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298139,"EventID":"S4W-22962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-31T15:36:26.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T16:46:30.373","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason fuel used by Marine Scotland when carrying out surveillance has been excluded from its carbon reduction targets.\r\n","AnswerText":"Paragraph three of the ‘conclusions and summary of findings’ section of the Scottish Government Carbon Management Plan 2014 explains the reasons behind surveillance activities being excluded from our target setting: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/10/8057/7\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T15:36:26.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298140,"EventID":"S4W-22968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-31T15:36:27.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T14:55:30.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many 101 non-emergency calls to the police are received on average each month.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Police Scotland. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T15:36:27.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298141,"EventID":"S4W-22969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-31T15:36:27.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T14:55:30.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate that a private operator should profit from calls to Police Scotland's non-emergency number.\r\n","AnswerText":"The contract and charges for the 101 number were set and are regulated by the Home Office.\r\nThere has always been a cost associated with non-emergency calls to the police. The introduction of the 101 number has allowed this cost to become consistent across the country, and between landline and mobile phone users. In many cases the single, flat rate charge of 15p replaces previous higher charges.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T15:36:27.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298142,"EventID":"S4W-22970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-10-31T15:36:27.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T14:55:30.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland plans to make representations to the Home Office to ask for the cost of calling the 101 non-emergency number to be reviewed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The contract and charges for the 101 number were set and are regulated by the Home Office.\r\nThe Scottish Government currently has no plans to make representations to the Home Office to ask for the cost of calling the 101 police non-emergency number to be reviewed.\r\nThe position of Police Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-14T15:36:27.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298147,"EventID":"S4F-02352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:26.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-30T15:36:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on the economy of the recent fall in crude oil prices.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:27.037","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298148,"EventID":"S4F-02353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:27.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T14:43:17.63","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:27.963","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298149,"EventID":"S4F-02354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:28.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T09:28:27.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:28.507","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298150,"EventID":"S4F-02363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:29.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T11:08:16.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the KPMG study that indicates that more than 400,000 workers in Scotland are being paid less than the living wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:29.113","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298151,"EventID":"S4F-02365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:29.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T11:13:55.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:29.513","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298152,"EventID":"S4F-02370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:01:51.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T11:52:54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on families in which at least one family member is in employment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:01:51.57","MeetingDate":"2014-11-06T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298153,"EventID":"S4T-00818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":85,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:02:03.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T08:06:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the decision to hold a vote on the future of the European Arrest Warrant before 20 November could impact on justice in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:02:03.27","MeetingDate":"2014-11-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298154,"EventID":"S4T-00820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T13:02:04.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T10:51:49.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that patients are being put at risk by its failure to adequately fund GPs.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T13:02:04.12","MeetingDate":"2014-11-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298155,"EventID":"S4W-22963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:51.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T11:39:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether legal staff with expertise in employment law are employed in the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Police Authority has a permanent corporate structure in place which covers a number of areas including provision of legal services. The employment of staff is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:51.98","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298156,"EventID":"S4W-22964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:52.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T11:39:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is an appropriate use of public funds for the Scottish Police Authority to employ the services of a QC in a staff wages dispute and what its reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Police Authority receives funding from the Scottish Government to enable the effective delivery of the statutory policing principles and functions set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.\r\nIn doing so, it is for the Scottish Police Authority to decide how the funding is to be used within the terms set out in the agreed strategic plan, the Governance and Accountability Framework, the Scottish Public Finance Manual, and any relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:52.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298157,"EventID":"S4W-22965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:53.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T11:39:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been used to fund the services of a QC to resolve a wages dispute on behalf of the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is for the Scottish Police Authority to decide on how the funding it receives from the Scottish Government is to be used within the terms set out in the agreed strategic plan, the Governance and Accountability Framework, the Scottish Public Finance Manual, and any relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:53.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298158,"EventID":"S4W-22971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:53.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-02T12:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that organisations receiving grants from Creative Scotland pay staff at least the living wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government fully supports the Living Wage campaign. We recognise the real difference the living wage makes to the people of Scotland. (The current rate is £7.65 per hour for pay settlements from 1 April 2014. On 3 November 2014 it was announced that this will increase to £7.85 per hour for pay settlements from 1 April 2015.)\r\nThe Scottish Government is not able to set pay levels in the private sector, or indeed the wider public sector in Scotland where employees are not covered by our pay policy, however we encourage all public, private and third sector organisations to ensure all staff on lower incomes receive a fair level of pay.\r\nGrants awarded by Creative Scotland use public money. Any grant payments Creative Scotland make need to be compatible with state aid rules which requires Creative Scotland to consider the merits of each case individually.\r\nCreative Scotland is working to encourage the organisations that it funds to develop clear policies to ensure that trained, practicing artists and creative practitioners are always paid fairly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:53.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298159,"EventID":"S4W-22972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:53.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-02T12:47:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19780 by Fiona Hyslop on 28 February 2014, when it will announce the location of a film studio for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are committed, together with our partners Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland, to secure a permanent film studio for Scotland. We are also considering how we can build on our existing support for the film sector and will make an announcement as soon as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:53.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298160,"EventID":"S4W-22974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:54.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T09:55:07.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on the Electoral Commission voter registration campaign for the independence referendum.","AnswerText":"The financial memorandum which was published alongside the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill estimated that the Electoral Commission would incur expenditure of around £2.2 million for discharging its statutory functions in relation to the referendum. This amount included an estimate of around £1.8 million for undertaking a public awareness campaign. The final amount will be confirmed once all accounts have been settled.\r\nThe financial memorandum can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/61076.aspx and a full breakdown of the Electoral Commission’s estimated costs can be found at paragraph 58.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:54.133","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298161,"EventID":"S4W-22976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-03T17:04:54.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T13:03:50.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on the community, whether it has discussed with the Ministry of Defence the reported explosion-like noises heard in the South Uist area on 29 October 2014 and, if so, what information it has on the cause of these and, if they had been planned, for what reason residents received no prior warning.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has contacted the Ministry of Defence in connection with these reports and we await their response. I will write to the member as soon as further information is available and a copy of that letter will be placed in the Scotish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib number 56400).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T17:04:54.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298162,"EventID":"S4W-22977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:01:53.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T13:43:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19276 by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 January 2014, how many snare users, having attended the required training, had obtained an identification number from their local police force or from Police Scotland by 1 October 2014.","AnswerText":"By 1 October 2014, 1131 snare users, having attended the required training had obtained their snaring identification number from the chief constable of their local police force or, since 1 April 2013 when Police Scotland was formally established, from the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. This represents an increase of 16 since January 2014.","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298180,"EventID":"S4W-22979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T13:49:18.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T16:30:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what statutory duties local authorities have regarding how school mergers can impact on pupils' health and safety when travelling to school.\r\n","AnswerText":"The statutory responsibility for the provision of education in Scotland rests with local authorities, including changes to their school estate such as school closures or mergers and consideration of any impact of the change on pupils’ journeys to school.\r\nLocal authorities have a duty to make arrangements as they consider necessary for the transport between home and school of pupils residing and attending schools in their area. All authorities provide free school transport for pupils living more than the statutory walking distance from the school that is identified as the nearest suitable school, which is defined as two miles for children under the age of eight and three miles for those aged eight and over. In considering these arrangements, authorities are required to have regard to the safety of the pupil.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:18.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298181,"EventID":"S4W-22980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T13:49:19.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T17:05:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many foreign trawlers were identified as being illegally inside the 12 nautical mile territorial limit of the mackerel fishery around Shetland in each of the last three months; how many were subsequently (a) approached, (b) contacted and (c) boarded by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, and where they were registered.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have not identified any foreign trawlers as illegally fishing inside the 12 nautical mile limit around Shetland in each of the last three months.\r\nA foreign trawler being present within the 12 nautical mile territorial limit is not illegal as long as it is not conducting fishing operations, although there are limited exceptions to this.\r\nOn 31 October 2014 a Faroese trawler was identified as being within the 12 mile limit and, following contact via VHF radio from Marine Protection Vessel Hirta, was confirmed to be sheltering from the weather.\r\nIn addition to this, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provides a right to free passage for vessels through UK territorial waters.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:19.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298182,"EventID":"S4W-22981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T13:49:19.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:20:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been disciplined in relation to phone use in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not collated centrally.\r\nIn November 2013 the Scottish Government published Guidance on Developing Policies to promote the Safe and Responsible Use of Mobile Technology in Schools. The purpose of this guidance is to provide schools and local authorities with advice on how to develop local policies that encourage the safe and responsible use of personal mobile technology in school, and beyond. These policies should help schools to secure the potential benefits for learning and teaching whilst protecting staff and children and young people from harassment and abuse which can arise from the misuse of such technology.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:19.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298183,"EventID":"S4W-22982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T13:49:19.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:20:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of new road it has opened in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the equivalent road lane length of new trunk road constructed or opened in each year since 1999:\r\nYear\r\nLane-miles (estimated)\r\n1999-00\r\n15\r\n2000-01\r\n20\r\n2001-02\r\n3\r\n2002-03 \r\n6\r\n2003-04 \r\n15\r\n2004-05\r\n55\r\n2005-06\r\n67\r\n2006-07 \r\n4\r\n2007-08 \r\n0\r\n2008-09 \r\n36\r\n2009-10\r\n0\r\n2010-11 \r\n32\r\n2011-12 \r\n82\r\n2012-13 (provisional)\r\n0\r\nThe figures are derived from table 4.3 in the publication Scottish Transport Statistics 2013 which can be found at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/statistics/j285663-00.htm\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:19.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298184,"EventID":"S4W-22983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T13:49:19.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:20:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of new rail line it has opened in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of miles of rail line open in Scotland in each year since 1999:\r\n\r\nTotal miles of rail lines\r\nChange since previous year (miles)\r\n1999-00\r\n1,696\r\n-\r\n2000-01\r\n1,696\r\n0\r\n2001-02\r\n1,696\r\n0\r\n2002-03\r\n1,696\r\n0\r\n2003-04\r\n1,696\r\n0\r\n2004-05\r\n1,696\r\n0\r\n2005-06\r\n1,700\r\n4\r\n2006-07\r\n1,700\r\n0\r\n2007-08\r\n1,700\r\n0\r\n2008-09\r\n1,706\r\n6\r\n2009-10\r\n1,714\r\n9\r\n2010-11\r\n1,717\r\n2\r\n2011-12\r\n1,717\r\n0\r\nSource: Network Rail\r\nNote: Rounded to the nearest mile; annual changes may not sum due to rounding.\r\nThe figures are derived from table 7.14 in the publication Scottish Transport Statistics 2013 Edition which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/statistics/j285663-00.htm\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:19.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298203,"EventID":"S4W-22984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:30.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:29:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding displaying the number of nurses on duty.","AnswerText":"Application of the Nursing and Midwifery Workload and Workforce Planning tools has been mandatory since April 2013, and all NHS boards are expected to use the tools to inform local nursing and workforce planning.\r\nAs part of the wider mandating process, NHS boards are required to develop annual workforce plans and Local Delivery Plans (LDPs). LDPs should set out the approach that the board is taking to ensure the mandatory application of the nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools, how this process is informing workforce planning and how the board is communicating information to key stakeholders.\r\nNHS boards are reviewing processes and developing systems to ensure transparency in terms of reporting nurse staffing numbers and special educational needs and disabilities serves as a forum for sharing best practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:30.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298204,"EventID":"S4W-22985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:31.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:29:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when data from Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s indicators for palliative and end of life care will be reported (a) at NHS board level and (b) nationally.","AnswerText":"Healthcare Improvement Scotland palliative and end of life care indicator data is not available at an NHS board or national level. \r\nScottish Government officials have been working with colleagues from Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, NHS boards and universities to inform improvements in national level measurement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:31.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298205,"EventID":"S4W-22986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:31.62","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:29:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many cleaning staff have been directly employed by each NHS board in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"Information on how many cleaning staff have been directly employed by each NHS board in each year since 1999 is not centrally held.\r\nCleaning duties for the hospital environment and patient equipment in NHSScotland are routinely carried out as part of the duties of a number of healthcare professionals which may include domestic staff and nurses, amongst others. Prior to the introduction of Agenda for Change in 2006, catering, domestic, laundry and other services would have been recorded as ancillary staff under the Whitley system. These sub job families are now recorded under hotel services.\r\nPublished information on the pre Agenda for Change ancillary staff group from 30 September 1999 to 30 September 2006 can be found by following the link:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Historic-Data/WFG01_HB_REG.xls\r\nPublished information on the number of hotel services from 30 September 2007 to 30 June 2014 can be found on the following link:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-08-26/Non-Medical_Trend_J2014.xls?44849140\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:31.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298206,"EventID":"S4W-22987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:31.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:29:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on ministerial car journeys in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table details the yearly cost of the government car service since 1999.\r\nYear\r\nTotal cost (1)\r\n1999-2000\r\n£388,607   (2)\r\n2000-01\r\n£532,389   (2)\r\n2001-02\r\n£589,412   (2)\r\n2002-03\r\n£705,933   (2)\r\n2003-04\r\n£636,882   (2)\r\n2004-05\r\n£47,298     (2)\r\n2005-06\r\n-                (2)\r\n2006-07\r\n£854,571\r\n2007-08\r\n£962,142\r\n2008-09\r\n£980,985\r\n2009-10\r\n£995,658\r\n2010-11\r\n£974,678\r\n2011-12\r\n£1,074,714\r\n2012-13\r\n£1,204,864\r\n2013-14\r\n£1,156,208\r\n1. Total costs include staff salaries, employer’s contributions, fuel, vehicle maintenance, private hire and travel and subsistence.\r\n2. Partial costs; no complete data available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:31.933","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298207,"EventID":"S4W-22988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:32.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T14:00:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a review of signage in relation to speed limits on the A9 between Perth and Inverness, in light of the implementation of average speed cameras on the road.","AnswerText":"The A9 Safety Group runs extensive publicity campaigns to heighten speed limit awareness on the A9. The A9 between Perth and Inverness is subject to the national speed limit, with the standards for signing contained within the Traffic signs manual published by the Department for Transport. These standards ensure the speed limit signing is consistent across all roads within the UK and complies with current legislation. The A9 is fully compliant with this guidance and current legislation. The Highway Code clearly highlights the responsibility of drivers to know the speed limit for the class of vehicle they are driving and this responsibility is the focus of the current publicity campaign. In addition, the A9 Safety Group website contains detailed information on the subject.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:32.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298208,"EventID":"S4W-22989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:33.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T14:00:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider whether average speed cameras are located a suitable distance from dual carriageways to allow drivers the opportunity to adapt their speed.","AnswerText":"The average speed camera system was designed to cover the single carriageway sections between Perth and Inverness, with drivers having clear and unrestricted site lines of all camera locations as they approached them. The design was based on best practice developed from similar schemes in the UK and the movement from dual to single carriageway and the associated change in speed limit has been considered within the operational management of the system. Each camera location is also clearly signed but the responsibility remains with the driver to ensure that they are driving within the speed limit for their class of vehicle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:33.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298209,"EventID":"S4W-22990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:33.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T14:00:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to assess any reduction in driving speeds on the A9 and increased travel time between Perth and Inverness following the implementation of average speed cameras on the road.\r\n","AnswerText":"Average speed cameras have already proven effective in reducing excess speed whilst having a limited impact on overall journey times. The Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) speed limit pilot, which raises the limit from 40 mph to 50 mph on the single carriageways between Perth and Inverness, is expected to save 150,000 vehicle hours per year for HGVs alone. A robust monitoring programme to assess the before and after impact of the cameras is also in place covering a number of key indicators incorporating casualties, speed and journey time. The A9 Safety Group is committed to reporting quarterly on these key indicators. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:33.587","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298210,"EventID":"S4W-22994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-04T17:01:34.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:09:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are eight whole-time Duty System Station Manager vacancies, 34 whole-time Duty System Watch Manager vacancies and 338 Retained Duty System Firefighter vacancies across the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and what impact these vacancies have on performance and response times.","AnswerText":"The recruitment of firefighters is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). The SFRS is under a statutory duty to ensure adequate arrangements for fire and rescue services in all 32 of Scotland’s local authority areas.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-18T17:01:34.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298220,"EventID":"S4W-23008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T10:11:41.763","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T10:00:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what opportunity the integration of health and social care provides to strengthen and promote public health.\r\n","AnswerText":"The integration of health and social care will provide a number of specific opportunities for us to strengthen public health services in Scotland, with much greater opportunities for joined-up working and preventative, person-centred care. I believe that public health work, with its strong prevention focus, is one of the most important activities of our health service. The current work around obesity, alcohol and tobacco are clear examples of this. We must ensure public health services in Scotland continue to work well and that they have the profile they deserve. I have therefore asked for a review of public health in Scotland. This review will cover health services, health protection, health improvement and health inequalities. It will identify future priorities and challenges, and will seek to make recommendations for how best we can respond. I am establishing a group of experts to undertake this review and they will report back to me next year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T10:11:42.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298221,"EventID":"S4O-03663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:02.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:30.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many community groups have received support from the Climate Challenge Fund.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:02.63","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298222,"EventID":"S4O-03664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":120,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:02.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T10:22:03.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the livestock haulage industry regarding maximum driving hours and staffing challenges for livestock transporters.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:03.003","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298223,"EventID":"S4O-03665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:03.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T09:35:34.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the details of future common agricultural policy payments to farmers and crofters will be known.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:03.507","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298224,"EventID":"S4O-03666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:04.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T09:40:28.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing its low emissions strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:04.043","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298225,"EventID":"S4O-03667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:04.307","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T14:44:46.76","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on EDF’s application to SEPA that would allow it to transport intermediate-level radioactive waste from other sites to Hunterston to be stored.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:04.323","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298226,"EventID":"S4O-03668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:04.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T15:53:34.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the food industry is to the Scottish economy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:04.623","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298227,"EventID":"S4O-03669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:04.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T09:22:08.353","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will use the National Reserve to ensure that farmers who were disadvantaged under the previous common agricultural policy are put on regional average support payments from 2015.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:04.93","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298228,"EventID":"S4O-03670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:05.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:33.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the environmental impacts are of fracking and coalbed methane extraction.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:05.407","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298229,"EventID":"S4O-03671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:05.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:33.393","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.\r\n","AnswerText":"The scientific evidence could not be clearer. Climate change is happening now and greenhouse gas emissions from mankind are extremely likely to be the dominant cause.\r\nIt is essential that a new global climate treaty is agreed in Paris in 2015, given this is crucial to limiting the average global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius. The Scottish Government is committed to playing its part by working with partners, as it has done since the 2009 Climate Change Scotland Act, to deliver on Scotland’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets. As highlighted by the Committee on Climate Change, there are clear economic benefits and long term cost savings from Scotland taking, as it has, early action to cut emissions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:05.753","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298230,"EventID":"S4O-03672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:06.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:33.753","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been set aside in the 2015-16 draft budget for measures to help tackle climate change.\r\n","AnswerText":"A summary detailing the principal lines within the Scottish Government’s draft budget, which support the delivery of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), and has been published on the Scottish Government website yesterday.\r\nHowever, our Second Report on Proposals and Policies, published in 2013 set out necessary investment in terms of investment across the whole economy. This is because achieving Scotland’s emissions reduction targets is not just about Scottish Government expenditure. Costs will fall across central and local government, business, communities, households and on the part of individuals.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:06.16","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298231,"EventID":"S4O-03673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:06.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:50:55.907","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the legal aid system is operating.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:06.72","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298232,"EventID":"S4O-03674","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:07.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:47.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to speed up access to domestic abuse courts.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:07.127","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298233,"EventID":"S4O-03675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:07.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T10:58:55.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of youth antisocial behaviour in western Edinburgh including joyriding and motorcycle theft.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:07.55","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298234,"EventID":"S4O-03677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:07.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:48.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action Police Scotland is taking to address the issue of puppy farms and puppies being imported illegally.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:07.8","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298235,"EventID":"S4O-03678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:08.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:48.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on changes to the workload of officers and support staff since the establishment of Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:08.153","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298236,"EventID":"S4O-03679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:08.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:33:43.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on holding a public inquiry on historic child abuse allegations.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:08.673","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298237,"EventID":"S4O-03680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:08.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T09:27:42.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish domestic abuse courts across the country.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:08.963","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298238,"EventID":"S4O-03681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:09.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:40:14.197","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward proposals to tackle revenge pornography and what timescales will apply.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:09.237","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298239,"EventID":"S4O-03682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:09.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:06:49.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact in rural and island areas of the proposed reduction in the drink driving limit.","AnswerText":"The new limit and the benefits of improved road safety will apply across all parts of Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish Government undertook a public consultation in late 2012 on the proposal to reduce the drink drive limit. 74% of respondents supported the proposal, including Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, the Highland Council, the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service and the Shetland Community Partnership.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:09.537","MeetingDate":"2014-11-12T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298240,"EventID":"S4O-03683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:09.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:10.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers are in post and how this compares with May 2007.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:09.927","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298241,"EventID":"S4O-03684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:10.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T10:19:36.333","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the construction industry in North East Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:10.177","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298242,"EventID":"S4O-03685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:10.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:37:36.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that anyone who may need help with a mental health problem can access appropriate help easily and receive treatment quickly.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:10.55","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298243,"EventID":"S4O-03686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:10.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:11.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many civil service jobs it has transferred to Dundee, or has established in the city, since 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:10.787","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298244,"EventID":"S4O-03687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:11.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:11.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on the delivery of a high quality music experience for primary school children.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:11.07","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298245,"EventID":"S4O-03688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:11.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:12.273","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the provision of a grade separated junction for the A937/A90 at Laurencekirk.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:11.503","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298246,"EventID":"S4O-03689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:11.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:59:04.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage and support small businesses to pay employees the living wage.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:11.843","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298247,"EventID":"S4O-03690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:12.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve transport links for patients and their families between East Renfrewshire and the Southern General Hospital.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is investing £40 million in the new Fastlink scheme which will see, for the first time, direct transport from three main sites in the city centre (Buchanan Bus Station, Queen Street and Central Station) to the South Glasgow University Hospital campus. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are also investing a further £5.2 million as part of a detailed travel plan, which will improve accessibility to the new South Glasgow University Hospital campus. Improved public transport routes, traffic controls in the surrounding area and upgrading works to the local road network are all being implemented.\r\nNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises that public transport connections are crucial and that is why it is working closely with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to ensure that investment is targeted at communities where there is currently poorer public transport links. As well as the new Fastlink service, the board recognises that a bus service is key to improving access to the site from South Glasgow and East Renfrewshire and intends to commission a new version of an existing bus service to continue directly into the site when the new hospital opens.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:12.197","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298248,"EventID":"S4O-03691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:12.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:01:32.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports Creative Scotland in supporting talent and diversity among the arts and creative industries in South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will provide over £48 million in core and \r\nring-fenced funding to Creative Scotland in the 2015-16 budget for support for the arts, screen and creative industries across Scotland.\r\nFunding decisions about individual projects are a matter for Creative Scotland.\r\nCreative Scotland recently announced regular funding support for organisations in South Scotland including Ayr Gaiety, The Stove Network, Wigtown Festival Company and Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:12.627","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298249,"EventID":"S4O-03692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T14:18:12.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T12:07:13.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is delivering on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. \r\nIn 2013 Scotland generated 46.4% of its equivalent electricity needs from renewables – in fact, Scotland generated 32% of total UK renewable generation in 2013 and our ambition is to deliver the equivalent of at least 100% of gross electricity consumption from renewables by 2020.\r\nThere is continued progress towards the renewable heat target of 11% by 2020 – in 2012 we produced 3% of Scotland’s non-electrical heat demand for that year from renewables. This grew from 1% in 2009. \r\nAnd we are on track to meet the Scotland-wide target to reduce energy consumption by at least 12% by 2020. Energy consumption in 2012 was 11.8% lower than the 2005-07 baseline against which the 12% energy efficiency target is measured.\r\nOur ambitious renewables targets and climate change targets and our policies on electricity generation, renewable heat and energy efficiency are progressively reducing our use of fossil fuels and new technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage will also help the Scottish Government in its ambitions to decarbonise electricity generation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T14:18:12.903","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298250,"EventID":"S4W-22978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":142,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:24.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T13:57:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include court disposals for people who have received (a) fiscal fines, (b) fiscal direct penalties and (c) police antisocial behaviour fines in its next Reconviction Rates in Scotland bulletin.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recently started a consultation process with the users of its Reconviction Rates in Scotland bulletin, which aims to determine whether the bulletin currently meets their needs, and also to identify whether additional analyses should be included in future editions.\r\nThe next bulletin is due to be released in spring 2015, with work starting on it shortly. The consultation process will not be concluded before the work starts on the bulletin, so it is unlikely that the analyses in the 2015 bulletin will be significantly different to those in the 2014 bulletin.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:24.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298251,"EventID":"S4W-22995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:25.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the agreement with COSLA to \"maintain teacher numbers in line with pupil numbers\" remained its policy for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:25.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298252,"EventID":"S4W-22996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:26.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has held back funding from local authorities for not maintaining teacher numbers in line with pupil numbers for 2013-14.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s statistical bulletin, Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No.4: 2013 Edition, published on 11 December 2013, confirmed that the pupil-teacher ratio in all publicly funded schools remained the same as in 2012 at 13.5.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:26.55","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298253,"EventID":"S4W-22997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:27.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason music instructors in school are paid less than classroom teachers.","AnswerText":"Pay and conditions of service for instrumental music instructors are matters for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers to determine.\r\nThere are separate arrangements in place for instrumental music instructors due to the fact that they do not undertake the full range of duties required of fully registered teachers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:27.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298254,"EventID":"S4W-22998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:28.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the increasing number of primary school pupils, how many additional teachers will be recruited to maintain the pupil teacher ratio.","AnswerText":"The 2014 pupil and teacher censuses, the results of which are scheduled to be published on 10 December 2014, will confirm the scale of any increases or decreases in pupil and teacher numbers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:28.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298255,"EventID":"S4W-22999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:29.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the 18% of schools in a poor or bad condition, as noted in the June 2014 Audit Scotland report, School education.","AnswerText":"Through the £1.8 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme the government is fully committed to tackling poor condition schools across the country in partnership with local authorities.\r\nThe recently announced fourth phase of the programme will specifically target replacing those schools which are in the poorest condition and schools projects to be supported through this additional investment will be announced by end November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:29.983","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298256,"EventID":"S4W-23000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:30.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:14:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of the recommendations from the June 2013 report, Instrumental Music Tuition in Scotland, have been implemented and which remain to be addressed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Four recommendations from the June 2013 report have already been implemented as follows:\r\nRecommendation 1 – National Vision Statement – this was adopted on 29 October 2014 as: ‘Music: Enhancing Learning, Enriching Living’; \r\nRecommendation 5 – charges for instrumental music tuition for pupils sitting SQA music exams have been rescinded; \r\nRecommendation 17 – an instrumental music implementation group was set up on 28 November 2013; \r\nRecommendation 16a) – a national music conference was held on 26 February 2014; and\r\nRecommendation 16b) - a statement on instrumental music tuition has been included in Education Scotland’s report of inspection findings for schools since September 2013.\r\nThe remaining 13 recommendations are being addressed and taken forward. Of these there has been substantial progress on the following seven as follows:\r\nThe review of charging policies (recommendation 3); \r\nImprovements for pupils with additional support needs (recommendation 4); \r\nAudit of provision and repairers apprenticeship scheme (recommendation 7); \r\nA user guide (recommendation 8);\r\nYouth Music Initiative clarification (recommendation 10); \r\nBenchmark framework (recommendation 14) and new guidelines for heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (recommendation 15).\r\nFurther information can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/InstrumentalMusic/InstrumentalMusicImplementationGroup \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:30.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298257,"EventID":"S4W-23001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:31.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:31:11.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14009 by Michael Matheson on 18 April 2013, whether it will provide an update on the European Food Safety Authority’s review of caffeine risk.\r\n","AnswerText":"The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) opinion on the safety assessment of caffeine is now expected to be published in April 2015. EFSA intend to undertake a public consultation on their draft opinion in the next few months and details will be available on the EFSA website in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:31.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298258,"EventID":"S4W-23002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:31.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:31:11.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought regarding the potential health risks of combined energy drink and alcohol consumption.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government asked the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) to carry out a review of the current international evidence on the effects of mixing alcohol and caffeine on health and behaviour in 2010. Advice from the FSAS concluded that the majority of studies from the available literature on caffeine and alcohol suggest that caffeine would not exacerbate the adverse effects of alcohol. The FSAS continues to monitor any new emerging scientific evidence in this area.\r\nFurther, the Committee on Toxicity advised in 2012 that the current balance of evidence does not support a harmful toxicological or behavioural interaction between caffeine and alcohol.\r\nThe Scottish Government is aware that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently reviewing the existing scientific data on the potential link between caffeine intakes from all sources, including in combination with alcohol, and possible adverse health effects. This work is expected to be completed by April 2015 and we will be considering it in detail. EFSA intends to undertake a public consultation on its draft opinion in the next few months and details will be available on the EFSA website in due course.\r\nWe have consistently said that we will keep an open mind on this issue and should sufficient evidence be brought forward, we remain open to act upon it.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:31.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298259,"EventID":"S4W-23003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T13:55:32.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:31:11.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Food Standards Agency in Scotland should have the power to introduce limits on the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children.\r\n","AnswerText":"Restricting the sale of food and drink in Scotland is not a matter for the Food Standards Agency in Scotland. The agency provides advice on food safety and standards; it is for ministers or other public bodies to take action accordingly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T13:55:32.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298272,"EventID":"S4W-23028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T15:56:23.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T15:47:42.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether there are proposals to install a bank ATM in the public area of the Parliament.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has no plans to install a bank ATM in the public area of the Parliament. For the convenience of visitors we accept credit and debit cards in the Parliament shop and the public café.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T15:56:24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298273,"EventID":"S4W-22992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:18.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T15:43:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure the welfare of lions and tigers being kept at the Circus High School in Aberdeenshire, and whether the animals remain exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in close contact with Aberdeenshire Council, the local authority responsible. Both the welfare of the big cats and public safety have been considered and continue to be of paramount importance. A number of visits have been made by the council to inspect the facilities being used to house the animals and all welfare requirements have been met and recommendations followed.\r\nThe animals are not exempt from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 as they are not currently attached to a circus. The Circus High School applied for a licence under the Act as soon as the requirement for the current arrangements became apparent. The licence was issued on 11 November 2014 after a short delay due to planning considerations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:18.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298274,"EventID":"S4W-23009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:19.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the dualling of the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead and, if so, when it will take place.","AnswerText":"We recognise that the A90 north of Aberdeen is an important route for businesses along the north east coast and Transport Scotland has been working with Nestrans as they develop a brief for the ‘Energetica corridor - all modes study’ which will consider the problems, opportunities and options for the strategic transport connections from Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen. A consultant team has now been appointed by Nestrans to take the study forward, and we will continue to work with the client group as work progresses.\r\nThe Scottish Government is already delivering the dualled upgrade of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty along with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route which will improve safety and cut congestion for road users and local communities.\r\nQuite rightly our current focus is on ensuring that these existing projects currently underway for the north east are delivered to the revised timeline and budget, and we are seeking to accelerate these deadlines where possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:19.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298275,"EventID":"S4W-23011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:19.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential benefit to the local economy of the dualling of the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23009 on 13 November 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:19.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298276,"EventID":"S4W-23012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:19.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to accelerating the shingles catch-up programme for all eligible 70 to 79-year-olds.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation reviewed all the available medical, epidemiological and economic evidence as well as vaccine safety and recommended a universal herpes zoster vaccination programme for adults aged 70 years up to and including 79 years to commence in September 2013.\r\nThe Scottish Government announced that there would be a routine programme for \r\n70-year-olds, and a catch-up for those aged 79 years in 2013. The current programme includes vaccination of 70 year olds as routine, with catch-up cohorts of 78 and 79 year olds.\r\nA decision has still to be taken for the programme next year, but this will include \r\n70-year-olds, as well as a minimum of one catch-up cohort. Once a decision has been made the programme will be announced through a Chief Medical Officer letter early in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:19.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298277,"EventID":"S4W-23013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:20.23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the around 600 hospital admissions for shingles and postherpetic neuralgia has been in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:20.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298278,"EventID":"S4W-23014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:20.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T11:53:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that all eligible 70 to 79-year-olds are aware that they are entitled to be vaccinated against shingles and whether it would consider a public awareness campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"Those eligible for the shingles vaccine receive a letter from their GP practice inviting them to attend for immunisation. GPs can if they wish offer the shingles vaccination at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine.\r\nIn 2013, following feedback from members of the target audience, a poster and leaflet were developed to support the introduction of the shingles vaccine in Scotland. As well as providing the key messages about the vaccine, the leaflet and poster provide details of the NHS inform helpline should members of the public want to phone up to find out more about the vaccine/how to access it. The offer of the vaccine also has a dedicated section on the national immunisation website: www.immunisationscotland.org.uk/shingles\r\nCopies of the materials are distributed to all GP practices in Scotland, along with a link to a template letter to help GP practices call up their eligible patients. \r\nThe Scottish immunisation programme coordination group monitors uptake of this vaccine and will consider further publicity if required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:20.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298279,"EventID":"S4W-23016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:20.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T13:10:37.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported increase in Glasgow of purchases of illegal tobacco.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our most recent Tobacco Control Strategy, Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation, recognises that enforcement continues to have a key role in our overarching ambition for a smokefree Scotland.\r\nUnder the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Scheme all Scottish councils receive funding of £1.5 million per year to rigorously enforce tobacco sales law, including test purchasing and joint working with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Each council decides how their allocation of the £1.5 million funds are spent.\r\nTrading standards determination to tackle this important safety issue has involved the service working with partners including the police, and HMRC. To date, in Glasgow, trading standards have carried out a number of operations at markets and shop premises that have resulted in the seizure of illicit tobacco products. These seizures have then been the subject of reports to the Procurator Fiscal.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:20.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298280,"EventID":"S4W-23017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:21.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T13:45:05.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014 will be allocated to primary care providers in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The precise allocation of this funding will be announced in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:21.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298281,"EventID":"S4W-23018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:21.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T13:45:05.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to identify the primary care providers that will receive funding from the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23017 on 13 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/39875.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:21.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298282,"EventID":"S4W-23019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:21.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T13:45:05.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of primary care providers that will receive funding from the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014, broken down by the amount to be allocated.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23017 on 13 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:21.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298283,"EventID":"S4W-23024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:22.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:53:46.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the safety inspection standards applied to helicopters used in the transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s review of offshore helicopter safety which includes detailed consideration of inspection regimes and practices for aircraft. We have had no discussions with the UK Government on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:22.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298284,"EventID":"S4W-23025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:22.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:53:46.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. Progress is being made on implementing these recommendations in conjunction with the oil and gas industry, helicopter operators and trade unions. The Scottish Government reserves the right to pursue the UK Government to hold an inquiry if we have any concerns about progress being made in implementing the CAA’s review.\r\nThe Scottish Government has not discussed with the UK Government representations to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee that suggested commercial pressure from customers affects the safety of operations. We note the UK Government’s view that neither the CAA industry nor government has seen any evidence to suggest that safety is being compromised as a result of commercial pressure from the industry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:22.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298285,"EventID":"S4W-23026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:22.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:53:46.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding an independent public inquiry into commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. Progress is being made on implementing these recommendations in conjunction with the oil and gas industry, helicopter operators and trade unions. While the Scottish Government has not discussed a public inquiry with the UK Government, we reserve the right to pursue the UK Government to hold an inquiry if we have any concerns about progress being made in implementing the CAA’s review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:22.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298286,"EventID":"S4W-23027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-05T16:48:23.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:53:46.75","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the recent consultation on its proposed reforms to the fatal accident inquiry process.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing its analysis of the responses to the consultation on proposals to reform fatal accident inquiries (FAI) legislation. The government remains committed to introducing a Bill to implement Lord Cullen’s review of the FAI legislation during the 2014-15 parliamentary session.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-19T16:48:23.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298299,"EventID":"S4W-23041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T12:00:57.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:54:23.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Edinburgh Tram inquiry. \r\n","AnswerText":"Lord Hardie, the Inquiry Chair, is progressing the inquiry with work under way to set up inquiry premises and office space, to make contact with potential interested parties and to collect documentation. Lord Hardie advises me that the inquiry has not received all of the participation it requires. In response to this advice, I have instructed the conversion of the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry from a non-statutory to a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. Making the inquiry statutory will allow Lord Hardie to compel the production of evidence and the participation of witnesses and enable a robust final report to be prepared. Lord Hardie has given me assurances that neither the costs nor the amount of time required to run this inquiry will be increased by a change to operating on a statutory basis. I continue to attach great importance to an inquiry that is quick, efficient and cost effective.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T12:00:58.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298300,"EventID":"S4O-03661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:16.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T10:46:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what building and maintenance projects it plans for 2014-15 and 2015-16 and what the projected costs are.\r\n","AnswerText":"Linda Fabiani (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) plans to spend in the region of £3.2 million on maintenance and building related projects in 2014-15. These are either maintenance and asset replacement projects (from the SPCB’s long term maintenance plan) or emerging building needs. \r\nFigures for 2015-16 will be available following review by the Finance Committee on 26 November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:17.1","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298301,"EventID":"S4O-03662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:17.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-10-31T15:14:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of recent events at other parliaments, whether it plans to carry out a security assessment of the campus.\r\n","AnswerText":"David Stewart (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Reviews of the security arrangements at the Parliament estate are carried out on a regular basis including the parliamentary infrastructure, security policies, issuing of passes, policing response and a security education programme. These are in line with the advice received from the security services. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:17.563","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"David Stewart","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298302,"EventID":"S4O-03693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:17.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-03T17:05:00.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what resources it provides to allow members to scrutinise the Scottish Government's budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:17.963","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298303,"EventID":"S4O-03694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:18.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T12:57:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to commemorating and celebrating the contribution of Margo MacDonald to the Parliament.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:18.207","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298304,"EventID":"S4O-03695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:18.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T16:24:09.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on offering a small discount or other incentives to encourage the use of cashless payments in the Garden Level Restaurant.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:18.833","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298305,"EventID":"S4O-03696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:19.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:55:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review the number of passes issued to people who do not work in the parliamentary complex.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:19.293","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298306,"EventID":"S4O-03697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:19.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T15:21:15.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what proportion of the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme is invested in the fossil fuel, defence and tobacco industries.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:19.697","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298307,"EventID":"S4O-03698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:20.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T15:37:32.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what decision it has made on the employment of family members of MSPs and whether this complies with the requirements of European laws on employment, discrimination and human rights and the legal requirements of any consequent redundancies will be complied with.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:20.063","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298308,"EventID":"S4O-03699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:20.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T15:41:13.987","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking to clean the wall and hanging glass panels in the chamber.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:20.38","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298309,"EventID":"S4O-03700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":3,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:36:20.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T16:17:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many journeys between mainland Scotland and London were made by road, rail, coach and air in the last year for which figures are available.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:36:20.693","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298310,"EventID":"S4W-23042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:52:42.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T12:43:58.243","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it has taken to ensure that all contracted suppliers to the Parliament pay the living wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is actively considering this matter and we intend to make an announcement shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:52:42.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Liam McArthur","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298326,"EventID":"S4W-23029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:43.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T16:38:32.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive or the UK Government regarding proposals to increase the number of offshore oil and gas workers sharing an accommodation cabin in North Sea installations and what assessment it has made of the impact that these changes will have on the health and safety of offshore workers.  \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had discussions with UK Ministers and officials in respect of this. I regularly meet with the unions representing offshore workers, and through doing so I am able to listen to any concerns raised, and I am committed to continuing with this approach.\r\nThe regulation of workplace health and safety is currently reserved to the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:43.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298327,"EventID":"S4W-23033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:44.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T10:30:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many people have been employed in and (b) much money has been generated by the film industry in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how many people have been employed and how much money has been generated by the film industry each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:44.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298328,"EventID":"S4W-23035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:44.723","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:34:02.967","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how long people should wait for their self-directed support budget to be agreed following the completion of an assessment and support plan.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 came into force in April 2014, alongside the Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014.\r\nNeither the Act nor the regulations specify a timeframe between a social care assessment being carried out and a social care budget being agreed.\r\nThis responsibility lies within each local authority and will be determined by each authority’s local self-directed support implementation plans.\r\nThe Scottish Government is aware that due to the number of social care assessments being carried out, the impact is resulting in delays in some local authority areas.\r\nThe Scottish Government, in partnership with organisations, is carrying out ongoing monitoring and evaluation during the first year of implementation of the self-directed support legislation.\r\nAs part of this monitoring, I have asked my officials to discuss this particular topic during local authority engagement visits.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:44.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298329,"EventID":"S4W-23036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:45.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:34:02.967","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the use of waiting lists for social care services is part of its national strategy for self-directed support.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to developing self-directed support as a way of giving individuals and their families flexibility, choice and control over the support services they receive. The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 gives people a range of options for how their social care is delivered and places firm duties on local authorities to give people informed choice as to how they will receive their support.\r\nThe 10 year self-directed support strategy was launched in November 2010 jointly with COSLA. Implementation of the national strategy is backed by significant investment of £39.5 million up to 2015 and includes a programme of work which aims to provide local authorities with the resources they need to successfully implement self-directed support as well as helping to develop support and provider organisations so that they have sufficient knowledge, expertise and capacity to deliver genuine choice and control to people.\r\nLocal authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess a person’s community care needs and determine whether or not they are eligible for social care support. If eligible, local authorities then have a duty to offer individuals the four self-directed support options. Individual local authorities are responsible for managing demand for services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:45.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298330,"EventID":"S4W-23037","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:45.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:34:02.967","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if a self-directed support assessment recommends a plan that costs more than the local authority is willing to pay, whether it expects that the council should carry out further assessments of the person's social care needs.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess a person’s community care needs and determine whether or not they are eligible for social care support.\r\nIf eligible, local authorities then have a duty under the Social Care (Self-directed support) (Scotland) Act 2013 to give individuals a range of options for how their social care is delivered. The 2013 Act also places firm duties on local authorities to give people informed choice as to how they will receive their support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:45.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298331,"EventID":"S4W-23038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:46.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:37:07.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made since April 2014 on the establishment of the Scottish Independent Living Fund. \r\n","AnswerText":"Significant progress has been made to a tight timetable – this includes:\r\nFormation of a project board, representing a range of partners. The first meeting took place in October 2014. The board’s role is to ensure the smooth operational transition of current Independent Living Fund (ILF) funding for existing Scottish ILF users and overseeing the delivery of new arrangements.\r\nCapacity to facilitate a co-produced approach has been created in partnership with Self Directed Support Scotland.\r\nOfficials continue ongoing dialogue with the UK ILF and have negotiated an agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions to continue to use the existing bespoke ILF IT system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:46.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298332,"EventID":"S4W-23039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T13:57:46.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:37:07.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities will be required to continue to match fund payments to recipients of the Scottish Independent Living Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expect to adopt the same existing criteria that is currently in place for existing users of the UK Independent Living Fund on the establishment of the new Scottish Independent Living Fund by 1 July 2015. The project board will make a number of recommendations to ministers during development and I expect that the criteria will be included within these.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T13:57:47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298333,"EventID":"S4W-23030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:01.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T19:28:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it received for disabled students' allowance and how many were successful in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. \r\n","AnswerText":"Disabled students’ allowance (DSA) is needs-led funding based on demand which helps support equality for individual students.\r\nThe following table shows the number of DSA applications received by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and how many of them were successful in receiving funding.\r\n\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nDSA applications\r\n5,125\r\n4,820\r\n5,280\r\nDSA supported students\r\n4,900\r\n4,575\r\n5,060\r\nNotes: Any published statistics on DSA only look at figures created in September each year so will exclude applications for that academic year received after that point. Any published statistics on DSA only include full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. The data provided in this question also includes part-time students and students supported under the Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:01.037","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298334,"EventID":"S4W-23031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:01.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T19:28:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for disabled students' allowance were referred for an assessment and how many resulted in a payment in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"All students applying for disabled students’ allowance (DSA) for the first time must undergo a needs assessment by a qualified individual at an approved university or college recommending the type of support and equipment a student needs to undertake their course. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will refer all new students for a needs assessment where a report is not already present with their DSA application.\r\nThe following table shows the number of students who were referred for a needs assessment by SAAS for the purposes of applying for DSA. The table also shows how many of these students were successful in receiving funding.\r\n\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nStudents referred for a needs assessment\r\n925\r\n705\r\n850\r\nSupported students who were referred\r\n835\r\n635\r\n765\r\nNotes: Any published statistics on DSA only include full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. The data provided in this question also includes part-time students and students supported under the Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:01.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298335,"EventID":"S4W-23040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:01.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T11:40:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to each local authority for public art projects in each year since 1999, also broken down by project.\r\n","AnswerText":"This government does not believe in micromanaging how local authorities spend their money as it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate their own financial resources on the basis of local needs and priorities. The majority of Scottish Government funding to local authorities, including the support of cultural services, is provided by means of a block grant. In 2014-15 the local government finance settlement amounts to over £10.6 billion and in 2015-16 this is increasing to almost £10.8 billion.\r\nCreative Scotland are the public body that supports Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries so you may wish to write to the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, Janet Archer, to request what funding it has provided for public art projects. For that purpose the address is:\r\nJanet Archer\r\nChief Executive \r\nCreative Scotland\r\nWaverley Gate\r\n2-4 Waterloo Place\r\nEdinburgh EH1 3EG\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:01.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298336,"EventID":"S4W-23043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:01.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T14:19:36.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with First TransPennine Express regarding how the proposed timetable changes to its services in Scotland might impact on Motherwell station.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have had no direct discussion with First TransPennine Express on this issue.\r\nHowever, we have raised the issue with First TransPennine Express. The company has explained that its proposed changes to the December 2014 timetable deliver enhanced journey times between Glasgow and Manchester. Further to that, other operators will provide alternative re-timed services between Glasgow and Motherwell in the evening peak.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:02.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298337,"EventID":"S4W-23044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:02.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T14:19:36.797","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Office of Rail Regulation regarding First TransPennine Express's proposed timetable changes to its services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have had no discussion with the Office of Rail Regulation regarding First TransPennine Express’s proposed changes to its services in Scotland in December 2014.\r\nThe changes proposed do not constitute a track access conflict between First TransPennine Express and ScotRail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:02.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298338,"EventID":"S4W-23045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:02.523","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T15:18:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) child and (b) adult psychiatric inpatient care places there are, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the average number of a) child and adolescent beds and b) adult psychiatric inpatient beds available by NHS board.\r\nAverage available staffed beds broken down by NHS board -financial year ending 31 March 2014\r\n(a) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services\r\nScotland\r\n46\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n27\r\nHighland\r\n1\r\nLothian\r\n12\r\nTayside\r\n6\r\n(b) Adult Psychiatry\r\nScotland\r\n4334\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n290\r\nBorders\r\n69\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n105\r\nFife\r\n330\r\nForth Valley\r\n224\r\nGrampian\r\n411\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n1167\r\nHighland\r\n198\r\nLanarkshire\r\n478\r\nLothian\r\n654\r\nTayside\r\n390\r\nWestern Isles\r\n19\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:02.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298339,"EventID":"S4W-23047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-06T16:46:02.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T15:18:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children and (b) adults requiring a psychiatric inpatient care place have been sent to other parts of the UK for treatment in each year since 1999, broken down by the NHS board area in which they reside.\r\n","AnswerText":"Placements are arranged by individual NHS boards or local authorities. This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-20T16:46:02.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298355,"EventID":"S4W-23049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:02.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:28:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what feedback Creative Scotland provides to organisations that bid unsuccessfully for regular funding.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland provides a detailed written assessment of the outcome of the decision-making process to those organisations which were unsuccessful in their applications for regular funding.\r\nCreative Scotland also offers face to face meetings to all unsuccessful applicants for regular funding to explain the decision and to explore next steps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:02.853","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298356,"EventID":"S4W-23050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:03.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:28:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what alternative funding routes are available to organisations that bid unsuccessfully for regular funding from Creative Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"A number of alternative funding routes are available to organisations that bid unsuccessfully for regular funding from Creative Scotland. These include:\r\nCreative Scotland’s new open project fund \r\n(http://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-project-funding), which opened to applications on 31 October 2014 and will disburse around £30 million over the next three years on a rolling basis. Some organisations unsuccessful in the regular funding round have already applied for these funds.\r\nCreative Scotland’s suite of targeted funds \r\n(http://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding),\r\n if appropriate. Targeted funding addresses specific activities and development needs in a sector, specialism, and/or geographic area, and can be shaped in response to a sectoral review, strategic planning or consultation with external partners. These include a number of ‘devolved funds’ which are delivered by Creative Scotland’s partner organisations. Examples include the National Youth Arts Fund, the Creative Place Awards and the Film and Television Funding Programme.\r\nCreative Scotland’s website also offers information on other sources of funding, including Arts & Business Scotland, Central Station and Business Gateway \r\n(http://www.creativescotland.com/resources/professional-resources/other-sources-of-support) and funds delivered by partners, including the CashBack for Creativity Open Arts Fund, Live Literature and Starter for 6, to mention only a few \r\n(http://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/funds-delivered-by-partners).\r\nExternal funding officers in local authorities, whose contact details are available on the relevant local authority’s website, can also advise organisations on further alternative sources of funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:03.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298357,"EventID":"S4W-23051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:03.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:28:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support Creative Scotland makes available to youth arts organisations.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland provides significant support to youth arts organisations in Scotland in the following ways:\r\nOn 14 November 2014 the Scottish Government announced a £1 million package of public and private funding to engage more young people in culture and the arts. The three year investment will support the Scottish Youth Theatre, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and YDance to deepen youth arts participation in the run up to Scotland’s Year of Young People in 2018. This will secure the future of the Scottish Youth Theatre. The funding will strengthen and support the national youth arts companies’ work to deliver the ambitions set out in Scotland’s first ever youth arts strategy, Time to Shine. Creative Scotland will take this work forward alongside its other work on youth arts.\r\nThrough implementation of Time to Shine, Scotland’s youth arts strategy which is supported by funding of £5 million from the Scottish Government. Since the launch of the £3.5 million Hub Development Fund earlier this year, nine new Youth Arts Hubs have been established to improve youth arts provision in 10 regions of Scotland and to engage with over 40,000 children and young people.\r\nOn 2 October 2014 a new fund was launched which seeks to nurture young artistic talent. The £40,000 Nurturing Talent - Time to Shine Fund will offer awards to young people aged 14-20 years who demonstrate ambition, enthusiasm or talent in their chosen art form and require financial support to develop this further.\r\nFunding of over £4.9 million over the next three years across those organisations in Creative Scotland’s portfolio of Regularly Funded Organisations, announced on 30 October 2014, which are dedicated to working with young people across a range of art forms such as Drake Music Scotland, YDance, the National Youth Choir, National Youth Orchestra and Youth Theatre Arts Scotland as well as organisations dedicated to creating work for presentation to younger or multi-generational audiences such as Visible Fictions, Catherine Wheels and Imaginate.\r\nAlongside this, many of the most established and vital building based organisations across Scotland also have extensive youth arts programmes, including the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Dundee Rep Theatre and Dundee Contemporary Arts in Dundee, as well as the Centre for the Moving Image and Glasgow Film who also deliver programmes for young people and film. Creative Scotland will provide over £18 million to these organisations over the next three years to support their full programmes of work, part of which reaches young people.\r\nThrough the delivery of the Youth Music Initiative, for which the Scottish Government provides £10 million per annum to Creative Scotland to manage, which gives many young people their first opportunity to engage in music-making.\r\nThrough youth arts initiatives as part of CashBack for Communities and through Creative Scotland’s creative learning strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:03.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298358,"EventID":"S4W-23052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:03.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:37:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Creative Scotland to publish a list of all organisations that unsuccessfully applied for regular funding for 2015-18.\r\n","AnswerText":"No. Creative Scotland do not publish details of unsuccessful applicants to any of its funding programmes and this includes applicants to the regular funding programme for 2015-18. Creative Scotland advised applicants that they would not publish a list of all organisations that were unsuccessful in this process. We respect that position as publishing details of unsuccessful applicants may impact on their ability to source funding from elsewhere. In some cases, these organisations may be successful with a subsequent application following feedback.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:03.943","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298359,"EventID":"S4W-23053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:04.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:37:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Creative Scotland should provide an analysis of its decisions concerning the awarding of regular funding.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland’s website provides a comprehensive summary of its decisions by art form and regional impact with commentary at:\r\nhttp://www.creativescotland.com/funding/latest-information/funded-organisations/regularly-funded-organisations-2015-18/the-portfolio \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:04.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298360,"EventID":"S4W-23054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:04.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T16:45:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether benefit appointees will be able to act on behalf of recipients of the Scottish Independent Living Fund or whether power of attorney or guardianship will be required.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has held discussions on guardianship with the Office of the Public Guardian. A decision on the outcome of these discussions will be outlined in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:04.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298361,"EventID":"S4W-23055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:04.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T17:49:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) vacancies there are and (b) members there should be on each prison visiting committee.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs Cornton Vale and Polmont). Responsibility for making these appointments lies with Scottish Ministers.\r\nAn audit of visiting committee vacancies was recently undertaken between June to October 2014. This identified that there were 46 vacancies at that time from 223 visiting committee appointment places across the 16 visiting committees operating in Scottish prisons.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:04.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298362,"EventID":"S4W-23056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:05.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T17:49:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prison visiting committee members there have been in each year since 2006-07.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n‘‘Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs Cornton Vale and Polmont). Responsibility for making these appointments lies with Scottish Ministers.\r\nRecords identifying actual numbers in post in each year are not held centrally. The following table details the number of visiting committee posts for the period requested: \r\nVisiting committee membership as detailed in Schedule 2 of the\r\nPrisons and Young Offenders (Scotland) Rules 2006 and 2011\r\n\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nAberdeen*\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n6\r\n0\r\nAddiewell*\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\nBarlinnie*\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\n28\r\nCastle Huntly*\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n16\r\n16\r\n16\r\n16\r\nCornton Vale (adult)\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\nCornton Vale (YOI)\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\nDumfries\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\n11\r\nEdinburgh\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\nGlenochil\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\n14\r\nGrampian\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n15\r\nGreenock\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\nInverness\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\n10\r\nKilmarnock*\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n15\r\n25\r\n25\r\n25\r\n25\r\nLow Moss*\r\n10\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n13\r\n13\r\n13\r\nNoranside*\r\n8\r\n7\r\n7\r\n7\r\n7\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nPerth\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\n19\r\nPeterhead*\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n8\r\n0\r\nPolmont\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\n12\r\nShotts\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\n17\r\nTotal:\r\n229\r\n218\r\n218\r\n218\r\n218\r\n229\r\n242\r\n242\r\n243\r\n*Notes:\r\nAberdeen closed in December 2013 and was replaced by Grampian.\r\nIn practice Aberdeen had eight visiting committee members as this was deemed a suitable quorum to undertake the range of duties.\r\nAddiewell opened in December 2006.\r\nIn practice Barlinnie has 25 visiting committee members as the three appointments from Dundee City Council were not filled as this does not represent the prison's prisoner catchment area.\r\nCastle Huntly and Noranside formed the open estate visiting committee from June 2008 to Oct 2011 when Noranside closed. This reduced the combined number of visiting committee members from 16 to 15.\r\nGrampian opened March 2014.\r\nIn practice Kilmarnock continued with 15 visiting committee members after March 2011 when Schedule 2 was changed to 25 members. The additional 10 were not deemed necessary by the committee and didn't represent the prison's prisoner catchment area.\r\nLowmoss closed in May 2007 and reopened in March 2012.\r\nNoranside closed in October 2011. Castle Huntly continued as the open estate from that date.\r\nPeterhead closed in December 2013 and was replaced by Grampian.\r\nIn practice 223 is currently the actual total number of visiting committee posts for 2014-15. The 243 total in Schedule 2 is reduced by three at Barlinnie, 10 at Kilmarnock and seven at the open estate (see notes above).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:05.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298363,"EventID":"S4W-23057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:05.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-06T17:49:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which prison visiting committees have reported problems recruiting members since 2006-07 and on what dates.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“Appointments to prison visiting committees are made by local authorities, with the exception of young offender institutions (HMYOIs Cornton Vale and Polmont). Responsibility for making these appointments lies with Scottish Ministers.\r\nIn general, SPS notes that visiting committees have for the most part operated near to full complement but often with vacancies as individuals leave the role and new members are recruited.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:05.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298364,"EventID":"S4W-23058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:05.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T09:12:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in the last year a trial has been abandoned following a psychiatric report on the accused and what protection is available to the victims in such cases.\r\n","AnswerText":"From the information held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service it is not possible, without manual checking of files and incurring disproportionate costs, to find out how many criminal court cases have been discontinued following a psychiatric report on the accused but this is not a common occurrence.\r\nThe protection available to victims where a case has been discontinued will depend on the nature of the case, the reasons for the discontinuation and the level of protection required. Within the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 there are differing procedures and processes which can be utilised in addition to other civil protection remedies.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:05.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298365,"EventID":"S4W-23060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:06.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T11:28:15.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made in taking forward the business rates incentivisation scheme and how much it expects Aberdeen City Council will receive from it.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and COSLA leaders have agreed the basis of a revised business rates incentivisation scheme (BRIS). Officials are now agreeing the final details and we expect to announce the revised scheme for 2014-15, including confirmation of the individual local authority targets, shortly.\r\nAberdeen City Council will retain 50 per cent of any new business rates generated over and above their agreed local BRIS target.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:06.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298366,"EventID":"S4W-23061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:06.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T11:28:15.283","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce an interim chair for NHS Grampian and when the post will be filled on a permanent basis.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recruitment process to appoint a new permanent chair for NHS Grampian is currently underway. It is expected that the successful candidate will take up post on 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:06.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298367,"EventID":"S4W-23062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:07.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T11:32:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to destitute (a) migrants and (b) asylum seekers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to tackling poverty in an effort to remove the barriers that stand in the way of individuals realising their full potential. The Scottish Government Equality Unit is providing just under £1 million in the period 2014-15 to several organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government provides no direct support to destitute non-EEA migrants and asylum seekers because immigration and asylum are issues fully reserved to the UK Government under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998. People who are not nationals of an EEA state and not settled in the UK, are generally excluded from access to publicly funded support, by the terms of their UK visa or by their immigration status.\r\nEEA nationals who meet EU ‘right to reside’ rules may be able to access public financial support, depending on their individual circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298368,"EventID":"S4W-23064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:07.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T11:45:53.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have a responsibility to (a) house and (b) give financial support to destitute (i) migrants and (ii) asylum seekers.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tackling and preventing homelessness and destitution is a priority for the Scottish Government and we recognise the particular risk for vulnerable groups. The Scottish Government Equality Unit is providing just under £1 million in the period 2014-15 to several organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.\r\nHowever, immigration and asylum are issues reserved to the UK Government under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998. Adults who are not nationals of an EEA state and not settled in the UK, are generally excluded from access to local authority housing and financial support, by the terms of their UK visa or by their immigration status.\r\nLocal authorities are responsible for providing support to unaccompanied asylum seeker children. They also have very limited duties to support destitute asylum seekers who have care needs. Otherwise local authorities have no responsibility to provide housing or financial support to destitute asylum seekers.\r\nEEA nationals who meet EU ‘right to reside’ rules may be able to access local authority housing and assistance, depending on their individual circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298369,"EventID":"S4W-23065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:07.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on remote and rural communities of the transfer of delivery of national training programmes from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to Skills Development Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Government supported training programme data indicates an increase in the number of starts in Highlands and Islands local authority areas (Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands) from 2007-08, the year before Skills Development Scotland was formed, to the present day.\r\nThe starts – which include Modern Apprentices, Get Ready for Work, Training for Work and the Employability Fund – totalled 1,760 in 2007-08 (before the formation of Skills Development Scotland) compared to 3,069 in 2013-14.\r\n2007-08 figures are based on Highlands and Islands Enterprise data prior to the creation of Skills Development Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298370,"EventID":"S4W-23066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:07.823","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the rationale was for paying enhanced training rates to training providers in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area from 2008 until the introduction of the Employability Fund and for what reason the practice ended.\r\n","AnswerText":"Prior to the establishment of Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Get Ready for Work (GRfW) was delivered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). In the SE area GRfW included ‘lifeskills’ provision to support those needing additional help towards employment which HIE did not include within their GRfW provision. Following the establishment of SDS, enhanced rates were paid to providers in the HIE area to support the transition from the HIE administered GRfW programme to include a lifeskills component which had not previously been available.\r\nThis enhancement was discontinued when the Employability Fund was introduced. The development of the Employability Fund identified the opportunity to achieve increased progressions for participants towards and into employment through better alignment of funded provision at a national and regional level. The aim of the fund is to improve learner progressions along the skills and employability pipeline by funding provision which:\r\nIs responsive to differing client needs, employer demand and other funded training at regional level; \r\nEnables learners to demonstrate their achievements to employers; and\r\nApplies funding levels which better reflect learner, rather than learning provider, requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298371,"EventID":"S4W-23067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:08.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on remote and rural communities of the Employability Fund paying a flat rate to training providers regardless of where the training is delivered.","AnswerText":"The development of the Employability Fund identified the opportunity to achieve increased progressions for participants towards and into employment though better alignment of funded provision at a national and regional level. The aim of the fund is to improve learner progressions along the skills and employability pipeline by funding provision which:\r\nIs responsive to differing client needs, employer demand and other funded training at regional level; \r\nEnables learners to demonstrate their achievements to employers; and\r\nApplies funding levels which better reflect learner, rather than learning provider, requirements.\r\nA formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will include feedback from providers across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298372,"EventID":"S4W-23068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:08.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing additional funds to encourage the development and delivery of work-based training in remote and rural communities.","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has recently published a Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan, developed in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands and local authorities. \r\nSDS will work in partnership with those bodies in delivering the actions set out in this plan including increasing the uptake of Modern Apprenticeships, establishing industry-led skills provision and meeting the immediate needs of employers in key economic sectors across the region.\r\nIn addition, we are using the findings from the report on developing Scotland’s young workforce to transform the way we work with young people, employers, schools and colleges to ensure that all our young women and men have the choices and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.\r\nWe have committed £12 million for early implementation in the year 2014-15 and £16.6 million for 2015-16. £5 million has already been allocated this year for early action including:\r\n£1 million to support the establishment of new regional employer partnerships \r\n£3 million for a skills package including: piloting foundation apprenticeships, allowing young people to start training while still at school; piloting advanced apprenticeships in key skills sectors; developing Scotland’s careers advisory service; addressing gender segregation and assisting young disabled people and minority groups in relation to training and employment programmes\r\n£0.5 million to enable Education Scotland to be more focused on supporting young people towards work \r\n£0.5 million as part of a new £1 million government fund for establishing the Investors in Young People accolade for business (announced 2008/07) \r\nFurther details on action we will be taking to develop the young workforce across all of Scotland will be set out later in the year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.38","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298373,"EventID":"S4W-23069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:08.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to assess the impact on remote and rural communities of the modern apprenticeship and Employability Fund programmes.","AnswerText":"A formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will look at how the fund is being delivered across different areas of Scotland.\r\nSkills Development Scotland (SDS) has recently published the Highlands and Islands Skills Investment Plan, developed in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands and local authorities \r\nSDS will work in partnership with those bodies in delivering the actions set out in this plan including increasing the uptake of Modern Apprenticeships, establishing industry-led skills provision and meeting the immediate needs of employers in key economic sectors across the region.\r\nAction against this plan will be reviewed in due course to ensure it is continuing to meet the needs of the local economy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298374,"EventID":"S4W-23070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:08.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reintroducing funding arrangements such as those that applied under Highlands and Islands Enterprise's delivery of national training programmes, to reflect the costs of delivering training in remote and rural communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Employability Fund, which replaced the previous national training programmes, has only been in operation since 2013-14.\r\nThe development of the Employability Fund identified the opportunity to achieve increased progressions for participants towards and into employment though better alignment of funded provision at a national and regional level. The aim of the fund is to improve learner progressions along the skills and employability pipeline by funding provision which:\r\nIs responsive to differing client needs, employer demand and other funded training at regional level; \r\nEnables learners to demonstrate their achievements to employers; and\r\nApplies funding levels which better reflect learner, rather than learning provider, requirements.\r\nA formative evaluation of the Employability Fund is underway which is expected to report later in the year. This will look at how the fund is being delivered and will include feedback from training providers from across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298375,"EventID":"S4W-23071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:09.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Skills Development Scotland to assess the impact on remote and rural communities of any review of contribution rates for modern apprenticeships.","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertook a review of Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates in 2013 which resulted in initial changes to the contribution offered for those starting on a small number of frameworks in 2014-15. The review was supported by the external advisory group which included membership from learning providers, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, COSLA, Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Government.\r\nSDS will shortly publish revised contribution rates with stakeholders invited to comment. This includes a specific question on how SDS could better address rural issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298376,"EventID":"S4W-23072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:09.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of concerns regarding a review by Skills Development Scotland that could result in a further reduction of the contribution rate for modern apprenticeships in the hospitality sector and the impact that this could have on recruitment and retention in remote and rural communities.","AnswerText":"Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertook a review of Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates in 2013 which resulted in initial changes to the contribution offered for those starting on a small number of frameworks, including hospitality, in 2014-15.\r\nSDS will shortly publish revised contribution rates with stakeholders invited to comment. This includes a specific question on how SDS could better address rural issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298377,"EventID":"S4W-23073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:09.69","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T12:31:12.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to discuss with Skills Development Scotland the implications for unemployed adults of courses previously offered at stage 4 of the Employability Fund no longer being considered financially viable to deliver in remote and rural areas.","AnswerText":"Officials have discussed this issue with Skills Development Scotland (SDS). SDS has raised this matter with its Highlands and Islands advisory group who report that this has not been raised by local partners.\r\nI have asked SDS to add this to the agenda for the next meeting of the Highlands and Islands advisory group which is due to meet on 25 November 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298378,"EventID":"S4W-23074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:09.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:08:56.833","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been rejected by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years, broken down by the reason for rejection.\r\n","AnswerText":"Year\r\nNumber of authorisations rejected\r\nReason for rejection\r\n2010-11\r\n4\r\nNo evidence of damage (4)\r\n2011-12\r\n2\r\nNo evidence of damage (2)\r\n2012-13\r\n3\r\nNo evidence of damage (1); general authorisation applied (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)\r\n2013-14\r\n9\r\nDeer welfare (1); no evidence of damage (1); could have taken other reasonable means (2); general authorisation applied (5)\r\n2014-15\r\n3\r\nDeer welfare (1); other reasonable means (1); covered by section 7 control agreement/negotiation (1)\r\nNote: A further 99 applications were voluntarily withdrawn over the five year period following discussion between the applicant and Scottish Natural Heritage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.01","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298379,"EventID":"S4W-23076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:10.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:08:56.833","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been approved by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last five years but with restrictions set on the number of deer that could be culled, broken down by the reason for setting a restriction.\r\n","AnswerText":"Two authorisations have been issued which have specified limits on the number of deer to be taken, both in 2014-15. One limited the number of female deer plus calves to be taken with an agreement having been reached between the applicant and owners of neighbouring properties. The second authorisation limited the number of adult male deer to be taken following ongoing discussions within the deer management group about the sustainable harvest of stags and the potential socio-economic impacts of repeated close season culling.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298380,"EventID":"S4W-23078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:10.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:08:56.833","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish Natural Heritage determines the socio-economic impact of applications for close season culling licences under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996. \r\n","AnswerText":"Although the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 does not place a specific requirement on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to consider the socio-economic impact of authorisations for close season culling, when making such decisions SNH applies the balancing duty under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 to take account of the need for social and economic development in Scotland, the regulators’ duty under the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 to contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth, and the balancing duty in the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to take account of factors including the size and density of the deer population and its impact on the natural heritage, and the interests of owners and occupiers of land. Decisions by SNH to issue licences to cull deer will also be taken with regard to the Code of Practice on Deer Management, which sets out actions intended to support the environment, sustainable economic development and social well-being, as well as safeguarding the welfare of wild deer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298381,"EventID":"S4W-23079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:10.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:40:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many students applied to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for support under the pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 and how many are receiving support, broken down by institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"Currently, 10 students applied to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland under the pilot scheme to study in Europe in 2014-15.\r\nSeven students are receiving support. All of the students are studying in the Netherlands – six at Maastricht University and one at the University of Groningen.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.883","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298382,"EventID":"S4W-23080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:11.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:40:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 in (a) repayable and (b) non-repayable support to students and (c) other costs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The expected spend on (a) repayable support to students on the pilot scheme for study in Europe in 2014-15 is £31,500.\r\nThe expected spend on (b) non-repayable support to students on the pilot scheme for study in Europe in 2014-15 is £2,900.\r\nThe expected spend on (c) other costs for the pilot scheme to study in Europe in 2014-15 is £1,782. This cost was spent on marketing materials for the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:11.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298383,"EventID":"S4W-23081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-07T15:48:11.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-07T14:40:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any students awarded support under its pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 have ceased their involvement with the scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"None of the students who were awarded support under the pilot scheme in 2014-15 have ceased their involvement with the scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:11.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298385,"EventID":"S4W-22991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:02.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T15:19:38.793","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which orchestras it provides funding to; how much it has provided each orchestra in each year since 2011, and what conditions are attached regarding where the orchestras perform.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government directly provides grant funding to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO), two of five Scottish Government–funded National Performing Companies.\r\nThe following core revenue funding has been provided:\r\n\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nRSNO\r\n£4.14 million\r\n£4.14 million\r\n£4.09 million\r\n£4.08 million\r\nSCO\r\n£2.08 million\r\n£2.08 million\r\n£2.06 million\r\n£2.05 million\r\nIn addition the following has been provided from the International Touring Fund:\r\n\r\n2013-14\r\n2014-15\r\nRSNO\r\n£30,000 - Touring in France                                        \r\n£8,000 - Commonwealth Games Activity\r\nSCO\r\n£77,000 - Touring in Far East and Austria               \r\n£125,000 - European Tour and Commonwealth Games Activity\r\nThe Scottish Government has also provided over £8.5 million for RSNO’s Glasgow Royal Concert Hall capital project.\r\nAll of the companies are required to perform nationally across Scotland.  This is set out in the criteria to be a National Performing Company and reinforced through their funding agreements. The full criteria can be found at \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/04/7232/7 \r\nand these include, specifically, that the bodies ensure “that a range of high quality performances take place across the country (including full-scale where it can be accommodated), working with local authorities and others”.\r\nAdditionally, in 2013-14, the Scottish Government provided a grant of £18,000 to support the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s participation in the India 2014 tour with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:02.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298386,"EventID":"S4W-23082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:03.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T09:54:41.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it was represented at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in London and, if so, who attended.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not invited to the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in London, which is arranged by the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport in consultation with the Royal Household. Members of the UK Cabinet, opposition party leaders, former Prime Ministers, certain other ministers and the Mayor of London are invited to attend the ceremony. Representatives of the Armed Forces, Merchant Air and Navy and Fishing Fleets, members of faith communities and High Commissioners from Commonwealth countries also attend and lay wreaths. This is the usual arrangement, which has been in place for many years, including under previous administrations.\r\nThe Scottish Government was represented at a wide range of commemorative events across Scotland on Remembrance Sunday. The First Minister laid a wreath at the newly refurbished war memorial in Peebles on Friday. On Remembrance Sunday he participated in a parade, laid a wreath and attended Scotland’s national Remembrance Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.\r\nThe Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attended a Remembrance service at Glasgow City Chambers on Sunday.\r\nCulture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who oversees the Scottish commemorations of the centenary of the First World War, laid wreaths at Remembrance services in Linlithgow and Bathgate.\r\nFinance Secretary John Swinney attended a Remembrance service in Blairgowrie.\r\nHealth Secretary Alex Neil participated in a Remembrance service in Airdrie.\r\nEducation Secretary Mike Russell attended a Remembrance parade in Bute.\r\nShona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights laid wreaths at two Remembrance events in Dundee.\r\nAngela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment took part in a Remembrance parade in Livingston.\r\nJustice Secretary Kenny MacAskill attended the annual opening ceremony of Legion Scotland’s Garden of Remembrance at the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens on Monday 3 November 2014, and attended the Erskine Home Remembrance Service in Gilmerton on Remembrance Sunday. He also participated in an event to commemorate the centenary of the First World War at Portobello High School. \r\nEnvironment Secretary Richard Lochhead attended a Remembrance service in Forres. \r\nI attended Remembrance services in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan on Remembrance Sunday. On 10 November 2014 I was in Alloa to unveil a plaque at Lornshill Academy’s Remembrance Garden for the First World War. On 11 November 2014 I also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the First and Second World Wars at Glasgow Central Station.\r\nOther Scottish Ministers attended Remembrance events in Irvine, Dundee, Inverness, Renfrew, Crieff, Hawick, Eyemouth, Falkirk, Denny and Bonnybridge.\r\nThe Permanent Secretary, Sir Peter Housden, led the Scottish Government’s annual Remembrance Sunday service on 9 November 2014 at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh. A two minute silence was also observed at Scottish Government buildings on 11 November 2014 at 11 a.m.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:03.24","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298387,"EventID":"S4W-23083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:04.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:44:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how spouse or partner contributions can impact on eligibility for the state pension and the impact that this might have for people in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government on this matter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:04.097","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298388,"EventID":"S4W-23084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:04.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:44:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to people who do not receive the full state pension because of the impact of divorce or separation on their contributions.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a reserved matter under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998. As such, the Scottish Government is currently unable to provide benefits to top up a partial state pension. Pension credit is available for pensioners on a low income.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government does support pensioners in a range of ways within its devolved competencies. We are protecting household resources through free personal care for the elderly, the scrapping of prescription charges, free eye examinations, as well as concessionary bus passes and much more.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:04.567","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298389,"EventID":"S4W-23085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:04.877","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:44:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland do not receive the full state pension and the reasons for this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Office for National Statistics data suggest that, in September 2012 at UK level, 80% of men and 46% of women of pensionable age were in receipt of the full basic state pension. Scotland level data is not available. Women receive lower state pension payments than men in part because those with caring responsibilities were disadvantaged by the system pre-2002. There have been improvements since then, and the new single-tier pension is expected to improve state pension provision further for new female pensioners from 2016.\r\n(Source: Office for National Statistics, Pension Trends Chapter 5: State Pensions, 2013.)\r\n(Source: Scottish Government, Pensions in an Independent Scotland, 2013)\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:04.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298390,"EventID":"S4W-23086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:05.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:44:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, if the appropriate powers were devolved, whether it would change the rules regarding the relationship between eligibility for the state pension and spouse or partner contributions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has submitted its proposals for further devolution to The Smith Commission, which are available at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/10/2806/0\r\nAs this sets out, we believe that decisions on welfare, including pensions, are best made by the Scottish Parliament, in line with the needs of Scottish pensioners. If powers over the state pension are devolved, future Scottish governments will have the ability to look at how the system is designed, including eligibility rules, and the role of spouse or partner contributions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:05.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298391,"EventID":"S4W-23087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:05.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:01:17.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the minimum distance required is between a wind turbine and a (a) community and (b) single property.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no minimum distance between individual wind turbines or wind farms and communities or individual properties. \r\nScottish Planning Policy Table 1, Group 2 provides the policy on community separation.\r\nTable 1: Spatial Frameworks \r\nGroup 1 – Areas where wind farms will not be acceptable: National Parks and National Scenic Areas.\r\nGroup 2 – Areas of significant protection: Recognising the need for significant protection, in these areas wind farms may be appropriate in some circumstances. Further consideration will be required to demonstrate that any significant effects on the qualities of these areas can be substantially overcome by siting, design or other mitigation.\r\nNational and international designations\r\nWorld Heritage Sites\r\nNatura 2000 and Ramsar sites\r\nSites of Special Scientific Interest\r\nNational Nature Reserves\r\nSites identified in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes\r\nSites identified in the Inventory of Historic Battlefields\r\nOther nationally important mapped environmental interests\r\nAreas of wild land as shown on the 2014 Scottish Natural Heritage map of wild land areas\r\nCarbon rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat.\r\nCommunity separation for consideration of visual impact\r\nAn area not exceeding two kilometres around cities, towns and villages identified on the local development plan with an identified settlement envelope or edge. The extent of the area will be determined by the planning authority based on landform and other features which restrict views out from the settlement.\r\nGroup 3 – Areas with potential for wind farm development: Beyond groups 1 and 2, wind farms are likely to be acceptable, subject to detailed consideration against identified policy criteria.\r\nOther impacts on communities and individual dwellings including visual impact, residential amenity, noise and shadow flicker can also be considered at the development management stage.\r\nThe planning process itself offers the opportunity for comments to be made on planning applications before a decision is made.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:05.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298392,"EventID":"S4W-23088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:06.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:24:22.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the additional £3 million in 2015-16 to support community-based initiatives to tackle sectarianism and further develop understanding through research it will make available solely for antisectarian initiatives.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2015-16, published on 9 October 2014, stated that in 2015-16 the budget for promoting equality will be £20.3 million. It also stated we will invest over £3 million to support community based initiatives to tackle sectarianism and further develop our understanding through research, while continuing to support work to tackle racial or ethnic hatred.\r\nThe detail and breakdown of the funding for initiatives in 2015-16 will be confirmed in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:06.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298393,"EventID":"S4W-23089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:06.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:24:22.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue its equality funding stream in 2015-16 and, if so, at what level of funding.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23088 on 20 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:06.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298394,"EventID":"S4W-23090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:06.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:24:22.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue its tackling sectarianism funding stream in 2015-16 and, if so, at what level of funding.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23088 on 20 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:06.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298395,"EventID":"S4W-23091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T14:06:07.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:24:22.447","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland has met representatives of football clubs, governing bodies or player trade unions and, if so, whom and when.","AnswerText":"The Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland has held a number of meetings and attended events in relation to football, specifically:\r\nDate\r\nOrganisation\r\nIn attendance\r\n07-12-2012\r\nFootball Coordination Unit Scotland (FoCUS)\r\nSuperintendent \r\nStephen McAllister\r\nInspector Marian Maclean\r\n28-11-2012\r\nFootball Match Observation (Heart of Midlothian FC versus Celtic FC)\r\nFacilitated by FoCUS\r\n10-01-2013\r\n\r\nScottish Football Association\r\nStewart Regan\r\nScottish Football League\r\nDavid Longmuir\r\nScottish Premier League\r\nNeil Doncaster\r\nIan Blair\r\n19-01-2013\r\nFootball Match Observation (Celtic FC versus Heart of Midlothian FC)\r\nFacilitated by FoCUS\r\n27-02-2014\r\nRangers Football Club\r\nDavid Martin, \r\nDominic Sharkey\r\n31-07-2014\r\nScottish Football Association\r\nStewart Regan, \r\nDaryl Broadfoot, \r\nAndrew McKinlay\r\nScottish Professional Football League\r\nIain Blair\r\nRod McKenzie\r\n31-07-2014\r\nFootball Coordination Unit Scotland (FoCUS)\r\nInspector Marian Maclean\r\nSergeant Neil McLeod\r\n\r\nI am aware that the advisory group is keen to meet with both Rangers FC and Celtic FC at boardroom level and is actively pursuing although no meetings have taken place to date. The advisory group has not met with the players’ trade unions.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T14:06:07.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298403,"EventID":"S4T-00822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:52:02.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-08T17:20:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Scottish Borders Council's decision not to allow the Jim Clark Rally to take place in 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:52:02.953","MeetingDate":"2014-11-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298404,"EventID":"S4T-00823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:52:03.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-09T23:53:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to ban circuses from using wild animals.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:52:03.28","MeetingDate":"2014-11-11T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298405,"EventID":"S4F-02376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:32.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T09:39:14.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:32.537","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298406,"EventID":"S4F-02378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:34.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:15:49.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what response he has received from the Prime Minister to his recent correspondence regarding European Council fisheries negotiations.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:34.067","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298407,"EventID":"S4F-02379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:34.363","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T10:22:05","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that the devolution of health and safety legislation would lead to more prosecutions where serious injury or death has occurred.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:34.377","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298408,"EventID":"S4F-02386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:36.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:32:39.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Law Society of Scotland’s discussion paper, Legal Assistance in Scotland, which says that the current system is not fit for purpose.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:36.92","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298409,"EventID":"S4F-02392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:39.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T11:57:48.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on underground coal gasification and whether any licences have been granted for exploration.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:39.4","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298410,"EventID":"S4F-02375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T12:51:32.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T09:10:47.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T12:51:32.223","MeetingDate":"2014-11-13T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298411,"EventID":"S4W-23096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T16:53:50.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T14:07:10.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many objections have been filed against applications to build wind farms with turbines greater than 50 mw in each of the last five years, and how many were upheld.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table sets out the numbers of objections and support by calendar year:\r\nYear\r\nPublic Objections\r\nObjections relating to an application subsequently refused\r\n\r\nPublic Support\r\n2010\r\n7764\r\n0\r\n1737\r\n2011\r\n1371\r\n0\r\n689\r\n2012\r\n5718\r\n2814\r\n1129\r\n2013\r\n2951\r\n2631\r\n2156\r\n2014 (to date)\r\n5942\r\n370\r\n1120\r\nIt is important to note in this context that of the applications determined during this period, a majority of the applications consented were subject to some sort of change before determination as a result of consultation responses received.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T16:53:50.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298412,"EventID":"S4W-23097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-10T16:53:50.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T14:11:20.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many trees have been planted under the initiative that it launched in 2010 to plant 100 million trees by 2015, broken down by (a) species and (b) acreage.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2010 Scottish Ministers pledged to plant 100 million trees by 2015 as part of the Climate Group’s States and Regions Alliance Billion Trees initiative. This Scottish figure of 100 million trees was based on achieving 50,000 hectares of woodland creation over that period at an average stocking of 2,000 trees per hectare.\r\nOn this basis, planting over the period 2010-14, to date, equates to 66 million trees – 9,300ha of conifers (18.6 million trees) and 23,700ha of broadleaves (47.4 million trees).\r\nI note that planting in Scotland, over the period 2010-14, constituted 65% (33,000 hectares) within a total of 50,900 hectares (101.8 million trees) planted across the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-24T16:53:50.627","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298421,"EventID":"S4W-23099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-11T13:49:07.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T16:45:28.883","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage women into public life.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to creating a culture and environment that allows us to harness the talents of women, enabling and promoting their participation in public life. We are working across a number of fronts to achieve this, including requesting additional legislative powers are transferred to the Scottish Parliament which would allow us to take action to ensure that at least 40% of public boards makeup is female.\r\nAs a priority we established our Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme of work, which aims to provide strong leadership and a commitment to this agenda and seeks to influence the wider public, third and private sectors to improve the representation of women and other under-represented groups in public life more generally. And in partnership with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland we have worked to streamlining the public appointments application process.\r\nWe are also working to grow a more diverse supply of candidates for board appointments, using opportunities such as the ‘developing board experience’ initiative – developed by the Scottish Government and the Institute of Directors.\r\nWork is also being progressed with women’s business networks, which include women who have experience of the process of applying for board positions, to help us ensure that we are improving the support and information that women need to become board-ready.\r\nThe Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Women’s Convention and Engender to help ensure women have equal access to participation in Scotland’s civic society.\r\nWe have also included ‘improving opportunities for employment, representation and participation in public and democratic life’ as one of the themes of work we would wish to promote through our current equality funding round. Applications to the equality fund are to be received by 5 December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-25T13:49:08.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298422,"EventID":"S4W-23102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-11T13:49:08.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T12:15:49.937","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle homophobia in schools, and whether it plans to take additional action in light of the findings of The Teachers' Report 2014 by Stonewall Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We want every child and young person in Scotland to grow up free from bullying and to develop mutually respectful, responsible and confident relationships with other children, young people and adults.\r\nOur national approach to anti-bullying sets out a common vision and aims to make sure that work across all agencies and communities is jointly focussed on tackling bullying, including homophobic bullying. We are committed to refreshing the national approach to ensure that it remains current and reflects policy developments around children’s rights, Getting it right for every child, and relationships and behaviour.\r\nIn addition, we expect that all schools develop and implement an anti-bullying policy, which should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.\r\nTo support this we have established and wholly fund respectme, a national anti-bullying service, to build confidence and capacity to tackle all bullying, including prejudice-based bullying, effectively. We have also developed and published resources for schools to support school staff in dealing effectively with homophobic bullying.\r\nI will meet with Stonewall Scotland shortly to explore the issues raised in the report.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-25T13:49:08.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298426,"EventID":"S4W-23103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-11T16:49:49.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:22:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice and guidance it provides to (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) Marine Scotland and (c) local authorities regarding the obligations set out in the the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland), particularly in relation to the protection of bat species.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) sets out national planning policies reflecting Scottish Ministers' priorities for operation of the planning system and for the development and use of land including the natural environment. More specifically, SPP supports the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (the Habitats Regulations) with particular regard to Natura 2000 sites and European Protected Species (which includes all bat species). SPP is available via the following web link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/5823\r\nScottish Natural Heritage publishes a suite of guidance (some of which was developed in conjunction with the Scottish Government) on the requirements of the Habitats Regulations, which is available via the following web links:\r\nhttp://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/environmental-assessment/habitat-regulations-appraisal/\r\nhttp://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/species-licensing/\r\nMarine Scotland is a directorate of the Scottish Government and as such is not the recipient of advice or guidance from the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-25T16:49:49.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298439,"EventID":"S4W-23004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:35:58.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:06:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that sufficient, appropriate owner-occupied housing for older people is constructed.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides a framework for planning and housing through Scottish Planning Policy and guidance on undertaking housing need and demand assessments (HNDAs) and developing local housing strategies. This framework supports local authorities, who have strategic responsibility for housing within their areas, to determine the appropriate mix of new housing to be delivered. It is for local authorities to decide the type, tenure, size and location of new housing for their areas, based on the HNDA evidence, including giving full consideration to the needs of older people through their development plan and local housing strategy, in accordance with national guidance.\r\nFurthermore, current Scottish building regulations and supporting guidance mean new homes across all tenures are the most accessible in the UK. Measures introduced in 2007 focus on assisting those with a disability, however these can also benefit older people, enabling them to stay in their homes for longer.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:35:58.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298440,"EventID":"S4W-23005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:35:59.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:06:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that local authorities prepare policies to support the delivery of appropriate owner-occupied housing for older people and allocate specific sites, as specified in paragraph 132 of the Scottish Planning Policy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides a framework for planning and housing policy, which includes Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and guidance on housing need and demand assessments (HNDAs) and local housing strategies. This framework supports local authorities, who have strategic responsibility for housing within their areas, to determine the appropriate mix of new housing. It is therefore for local authorities to decide the type, tenure, size and location of new housing for their areas and to ensure that the needs of older people are taken into account though their development plans and local housing strategies in accordance with national guidance.\r\nIn its role in commenting on the form and content of development plans, the Scottish Government makes informal comments and/or representations to ensure compliance with national planning policy, including that stated in SPP paragraph 132 as appropriate.\r\nAll local authorities use the HNDA guidance (2014) that requires them to include an assessment of specialist housing provision, which includes giving consideration to the needs of older people. Authorities also estimate what future housing will be required, including for owner-occupation, to meet the needs of all household types, including for older people.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:35:59.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298441,"EventID":"S4W-23006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:35:59.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:06:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that sufficient numbers of social rented housing projects are identified in local plan allocations for specific sites.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides a framework for planning and housing through Scottish Planning Policy and guidance on undertaking housing need and demand assessments (HNDAs) and developing local housing strategies. This framework supports local authorities, who have strategic responsibility for housing within their areas, to determine the appropriate mix of new housing to be delivered. It is for local authorities to decide the type, tenure, size and location of new housing for their areas, based on the HNDA evidence.\r\nThe HNDA will show the requirement for new affordable housing, including the number of social rented homes needed, in the local authority area.\r\nTaking cognisance of the HNDA evidence and the local authority’s policy for the provision of affordable housing (including social rent), the development plan will set out the scale and distribution of the affordable housing requirement for the area.\r\nAdvice on the range of options for provision of affordable housing is set out in Planning Advice Note 2/2010. Part of the consideration undertaken will be whether it is appropriate to allocate some small sites specifically for affordable housing, including social rent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:35:59.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298442,"EventID":"S4W-23007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:35:59.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-04T17:06:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authorities identifying a proportion of social rented properties for older people when major developments are proposed by private developers.","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy requires consideration in development plans of the housing requirement across all tenures, including affordable. The development plan will also consider the provision of a range of specialist housing as evidenced in the housing need and demand assessments whilst also reflecting local housing policy.\r\nWhere a shortage of affordable housing (including social rent), has been identified, the development plan should show the role that planning will take to try to address this. Planning authorities should consider whether it is appropriate to allocate some small sites specifically for affordable housing (including for social rent). Advice on the range of possible options for provision of affordable housing is set out in Planning Advice Note 2/2010.\r\nPlans should identify any expected private developer contributions towards the delivery of affordable housing (including social rent). The level of affordable housing required as a contribution within a market site should generally be no more than 25% of the total number of houses.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:35:59.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298443,"EventID":"S4W-23020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:00.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:17:42.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the change in ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard in Germany had on the completion time of the MV Loch Seaforth.\r\n","AnswerText":"Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd took overall control of the MV Loch Seaforth on 10 October 2014. The vessel’s completion date was not impacted by negotiations over the acquisition of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:00.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298444,"EventID":"S4W-23021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:00.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:17:42.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether recent negotiations over the ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard have delayed the final fitting out and preparation of systems on the MV Loch Seaforth.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23020 on 20 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:00.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298445,"EventID":"S4W-23022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:00.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:17:42.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the MV Loch Seaforth to enter commercial service on the Stornoway to Ullapool route.\r\n","AnswerText":"The construction of the MV Loch Seaforth has now been completed and was handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd on 24 October 2014. \r\nThe necessary infrastructure works to enable the MV Loch Seaforth to berth at Stornoway have to be completed before the new vessel can enter service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:00.91","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298446,"EventID":"S4W-23023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:01.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-05T14:17:42.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how overdue the MV Loch Seaforth is in entering (a) sea trials and (b) service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The original delivery date of the MV Loch Seaforth was 30 June 2014. Owing to a number of factors, including storm damage to the yard, dry docking of the vessel to resolve a problem with the propeller system and partial sea trials, the delivery date was delayed. The vessel was finally completed and handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd on 24 October 2014. \r\nThe MV Loch Seaforth is currently undergoing further sea trials and following the completion of harbour works at Stornoway she will shortly be entering service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:01.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298447,"EventID":"S4W-23104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:01.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:33:07.837","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) regulatory and (b) business and regulatory impact assessments have been produced in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"Data held by the Regulatory Review Group Secretariat provides the following:\r\nRegulatory Impact Assessments completed\r\nMay 1999 to March 2000\r\n16\r\nApr 2000 to March 2001\r\n75\r\nApr 2001 to March 2002\r\n26\r\nApr 2002 to March 2003\r\n60\r\nApr 2003 to March 2004\r\n63\r\nApr 2004 to March 2005\r\n67\r\nApr 2005 to March 2006\r\n67\r\nApr 2006 to March 2007\r\n58\r\nApr 2007 to March 2008\r\n66\r\nApr 2008 to March 2009\r\n50\r\nApr 2009 to March 2010\r\n75\r\n\r\nBusiness and Regulatory Impact Assessments completed\r\nApril 2010 to March 2011\r\n65\r\nApril 2011 to March 2012\r\n49\r\nApril 2012 to March 2013\r\n68\r\nApril 2013 to March 2014\r\n100\r\nApril 2014 to October 2014\r\n48\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:01.503","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298448,"EventID":"S4W-23105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:01.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T17:31:10.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the block grant adjustment for 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"I wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 3 October 2014 and 6 November 2014 seeking to make urgent progress with agreeing a block grant adjustment mechanism for the devolved taxes, but have not received any response from the UK Government to date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:01.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298449,"EventID":"S4W-23106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:02.22","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T17:31:10.417","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what working assumption it is using, in terms of value, for the block grant adjustment in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government set out in the draft budget for 2015-16 that we have assumed that the block grant in 2015-16 will be reduced by a sum that will enable us to meet the funding requirements of the budget and potentially establish the first payment into the cash reserve. The forecast receipts for the devolved taxes in 2015-16 is £558 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:02.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298450,"EventID":"S4W-23107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:02.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:37:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programme to all 12 and 13-year-old boys in advance of any recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The main aim of the current HPV vaccination programme is to protect girls against cervical cancer, rather than protecting against the risks associated with HPV overall. Vaccinating girls also helps to stop the spread of HPV to boys. When enough people are immunised this generates herd immunity and helps to protect vulnerable members of the community.\r\nAs with all vaccination programmes, the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to monitor all available evidence in respect of recommendations and advice can be updated if new information or evidence becomes available. The JCVI has agreed that further work is required to consider the vaccination of adolescent males. Modelling work and the impact of cost effectiveness of this programme will be taken forward in early 2015 by Public Health England and the JCVI will provide recommendations in due course. The Scottish Government, as with other UK health departments, takes advice on immunisation from the JCVI and will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of HPV vaccination for adolescent males.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:02.517","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298451,"EventID":"S4W-23108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:02.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:37:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme to all 12 and 13-year-old boys before 2017 on the grounds of equality of public health protection.\r\n","AnswerText":"The main aim of the current HPV vaccination programme is to protect girls against cervical cancer, rather than protecting against the risks associated with HPV overall. Vaccinating girls also helps to stop the spread of HPV to boys. When enough people are immunised this generates herd immunity and helps to protect vulnerable members of the community.\r\nAs with all vaccination programmes, the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to monitor all available evidence in respect of recommendations and advice can be updated if new information or evidence becomes available. The JCVI has agreed that further work is required to consider the vaccination of adolescent males. Modelling work and the impact of cost effectiveness of this programme will be taken forward in early 2015 by Public Health England and the JCVI will provide recommendations in due course. The Scottish Government, as with other UK health departments, takes advice on immunisation from the JCVI and will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of HPV vaccination for adolescent males.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:02.89","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298452,"EventID":"S4W-23109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:03.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:37:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the submission by Cancer Research UK to the Public Petitions Committee in August 2013, which expressed concern about possible health inequalities arising through the current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, whether it will write to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding changing the programme to include all 12 and 13-year-old boys.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil, wrote to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in August 2013 regarding HPV vaccination for boys. The JCVI recognises the importance of ongoing assessment of HPV vaccination for adolescent boys and has responded positively to the need to consider HPV vaccination more widely by establishing an HPV sub-committee. Modelling work and the impact of cost effectiveness of HPV vaccination for boys will be taken forward in early 2015 by Public Health England and the JCVI will provide recommendations in due course. The Scottish Government, as with other UK health departments, takes advice on immunisation from the JCVI and will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of HPV vaccination for adolescent boys.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:03.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298453,"EventID":"S4W-23110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:03.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T16:37:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the submission by Cancer Research UK to the Public Petitions Committee in August 2013, which stated that \"the most effective option for improving public health would be to offer [the human papillomavirus] HPV vaccination to both boys and girls at age 12/13\", whether it will commit to introducing such vaccinations at the earliest opportunity.\r\n","AnswerText":"The main aim of the current HPV vaccination programme is to protect girls against cervical cancer, rather than protecting against the risks associated with HPV overall. Vaccinating girls also helps to stop the spread of HPV to boys. When enough people are immunised this generates herd immunity and helps to protect vulnerable members of the community.\r\nAs with all vaccination programmes, the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to monitor all available evidence in respect of recommendations and advice can be updated if new information or evidence becomes available. The JCVI has agreed that further work is required to consider the vaccination of adolescent males. Modelling work and the impact of cost effectiveness of this programme will be taken forward in early 2015 by Public Health England and the JCVI will provide recommendations in due course. The Scottish Government, as with other UK health departments, takes advice on immunisation from the JCVI and will of course consider carefully any future JCVI recommendations in respect of HPV vaccination for adolescent males.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:03.467","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298454,"EventID":"S4W-23111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:03.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T10:35:44.207","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 in the last three years and how many of those received (a) a fine, (b) a custodial sentence and (c) a fine and a custodial sentence.","AnswerText":"In the last three financial years for which information is available, 2010-11 to 2012-13, where the main offence was under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, (a) 66, 86 and 59 received a fine and (b) 96, 107 and 97 people received a custodial sentence where these were the main results.\r\nThe information held centrally cannot provide data on people receiving a fine and a custodial sentence.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on \r\n16 December 2014. \r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:03.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298455,"EventID":"S4W-23112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:04.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:28:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that employers are aware of new qualifications that have been introduced as part of the curriculum for excellence. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been working in partnership with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework to share information and raise awareness amongst employers about the new National Qualifications. Information has been shared through the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry Scotland, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and other business networks. The SQA’s employer’s guide to the National Qualifications has formed part of this package of information.\r\nThe Scottish Government and our partners will continue to work with these business networks to share further material and information with employers as required. This has formed part of a wider engagement strategy with employers to raise awareness and understanding of the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:04.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298456,"EventID":"S4W-23113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:04.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:28:41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that third sector workers receive the living wage. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government fully supports the Living Wage Campaign and recognise the real difference the living wage can make to the people of Scotland. Although the Scottish Government is not able to set pay levels in the third sector, or indeed the private and wider public sector in Scotland where employees are not covered by our pay policy, we actively encourage all organisations to ensure all staff on lower incomes receive a fair level of pay.\r\nIn line with this, the Scottish Government has funded a pilot by the Poverty Alliance with the aim of increasing the number of employers across all sectors in Scotland paying the living wage. Since the launch of this pilot in April 2014, the number of living wage accredited employers has tripled. This includes a number of third sector organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:04.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298457,"EventID":"S4W-23114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:04.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T12:31:39.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprentices are being trained in the installation of household energy efficiency measures.","AnswerText":"Sector Skills Councils and standards setting bodies are responsible for developing Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks, responding to the needs and demands of industry. While there is no MA framework specifically dedicated to the installation of household energy efficiency measures, energy efficiency measures are included in a number of frameworks.\r\nSummitSkills has included a unit, ‘Working Principles, Installation Options and Regulatory Requirements for Micro-Renewable Technologies, Water Harvesting and Recycling Technologies’, in its plumbing MA. As this is not a mandatory unit within the plumbing framework, we are unable to report on uptake of this individual unit. However, on the overall plumbing framework there were 920 MAs in training and there had been 221 starts by the end of quarter two in this financial year.\r\nAnother example of the incorporation of energy efficiency into MA frameworks is the electrical installation MA, which contains the mandatory unit ‘Apply Environmental Legislation, Working Practices and Principles (Electrotechnical Services)’. This year’s published figures reveal there were 1,492 MAs in training on the framework and there had been 414 starts by the end of quarter two.\r\nEnergy and Utility Skills have also recently developed a level 3 MA framework in Gas Heating and Energy Efficiency and we expect to see uptake of the framework in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:04.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298458,"EventID":"S4W-23115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T13:36:04.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T12:31:39.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how energy efficiency skills are included in the training for modern apprentices in the construction industry.","AnswerText":"Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks are developed by Sector Skills Councils in response to demand from employers. Energy and Utility Skills have recently developed a level 3 MA framework in Gas Heating and Energy Efficiency and the Electrical Installation framework contains the mandatory unit ‘Apply Environmental Legislation, Working Practices and Principles (Electrotechnical Services)’.\r\nOur national skills body, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), raises awareness of energy efficiency across a number of key sectors and in order to meet industry led demand is proactively working with sector skills councils, employers and the Energy Skills Partnership/Scotland’s Colleges to stimulate training.\r\nBeyond the MA programme, SDS also provides funding assistance through the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF), which gives Scottish businesses with up to 250 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £12,500 towards employee training costs. By increasing expertise in this growth area we can harness the opportunities offered by our natural resources to make Scotland a world leader in sustainable energy. Eligible training includes:\r\nRenewable energy, low carbon technologies and microgeneration\r\nEnergy efficiency, environmental and clean technologies\r\nWaste management and re-use\r\nReducing carbon in supply and energy management.\r\nThere had been 2,837 training opportunities approved since LCSF began until the end of 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T13:36:04.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298469,"EventID":"S4O-03702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:47.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:06.613","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will use technology to improve access to primary healthcare services. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:47.32","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298470,"EventID":"S4O-03703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:47.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:06.867","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the health budget in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:47.69","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298471,"EventID":"S4O-03704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:48.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T13:13:38.16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the benefits of organ donation.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:48.097","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298472,"EventID":"S4O-03705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:48.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:07.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Healthcare Environment Inspectorate report on Hairmyres Hospital.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:48.397","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298473,"EventID":"S4O-03706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:48.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:07.627","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the facilities being similar, what the reason is for the difference in the costs of building the Murray Royal, Gartnavel Royal and New Craigs psychiatric units.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:48.72","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298474,"EventID":"S4O-03707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:49.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:07.913","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Medicines Consortium decision not to make the drugs Kadcyla and Perjeta available for breast cancer patients, in light of these being available in England under the Cancer Drugs Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:49.083","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298475,"EventID":"S4O-03708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:49.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:00:40.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits of the project, General Practitioners at the Deep End, which is being carried out in deprived communities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:49.533","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298476,"EventID":"S4O-03709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:49.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:08.71","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of the mandatory workforce and workload planning tool for nursing has had on the number of nurses in NHS Fife.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:49.943","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298477,"EventID":"S4O-03710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2487,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:50.253","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:08.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help rural NHS boards recruit and retain clinical staff.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:50.28","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298478,"EventID":"S4O-03711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:50.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:09.15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how important local authority care homes are in the provision of care for older people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:50.587","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298479,"EventID":"S4O-03712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:50.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:09.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve support for carers.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:50.967","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298480,"EventID":"S4O-03713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:51.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:09.613","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that hospitals in West Scotland maintain cleanliness standards.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:51.293","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298481,"EventID":"S4O-03714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:51.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T15:26:19.303","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for people and their families living with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:51.63","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298482,"EventID":"S4O-03715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:52.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:10.343","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Grampian.","AnswerText":"I met with patients, staff, their representatives and management within NHS Grampian on 17 November 2014 to discuss a range of issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:52.077","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298483,"EventID":"S4O-03716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:52.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:10.663","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the recent RCN Scotland poll on health inequalities.\r\n","AnswerText":"We welcome the recent poll from the Royal College of Nursing as tackling the injustice of inequalities in health remains a priority for the Scottish Government. Earlier this year, we published the third review of the Equally Well policy. This highlighted that much more can be done at the local level, building on the assets that communities already have. \r\nWe also know that to effectively tackle health inequalities we need a shift in emphasis from dealing with the consequences to addressing the underlying causes by ending poverty, paying fair wages, supporting families and improving our physical and social environments, which we are doing by driving investment in affordable housing, free school meals and continuing the social wage commitments including free prescriptions, concessionary travel and free personal care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:52.517","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298484,"EventID":"S4O-03717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:52.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T13:39:12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it accepts the European Commission Director General for Trade’s statement that \"the net effect of the EU’s approach is that nothing in TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] will lead to privatisation of the NHS\".","AnswerText":"I welcome the director general’s statement. However, there needs to be much greater transparency in the TTIP negotiations and until the Scottish Government and the public see the final legal text of any agreement we cannot be fully assured that such statements hold weight. We remain concerned that TTIP may threaten the public ownership of the NHS and could undermine the democratic decisions of the Scottish people. That is why the First Minister has written to the Prime Minister asking him to ensure that the NHS is clearly and fully exempted from TTIP and to address concerns about investor-state dispute mechanisms.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:52.863","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298485,"EventID":"S4O-03718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:53.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T10:43:10.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of women suffering with endometriosis.\r\n","AnswerText":"At a parliamentary reception for Endometriosis UK in March 2014, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing pledged the Scottish Government’s support to review and improve endometriosis services in Scotland.\r\nSubsequently, a meeting was held with Endometriosis UK and linked staff at the Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health to discuss their proposals for service improvement for endometriosis in Scotland.\r\nThe National Planning Forum has now established a working group to bring together clinicians, NHS planners and patient representatives, to consider the evidence and make recommendations for improving services and outcomes for patients.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:53.193","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298486,"EventID":"S4O-03719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:53.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:11.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its preference is for NHS general dental services to be provided by independent contractors rather than salaried dentists employed by the NHS and, if so, for what reason.","AnswerText":"It is the policy of the Scottish Government that patients receive the treatment most appropriate to their needs. In the main this is delivered by independent contractors providing NHS services, complemented by the public dental service for patients with complex treatment needs.\r\nThis has been the case for successive governments over many decades.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:53.51","MeetingDate":"2014-11-19T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298487,"EventID":"S4O-03721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:53.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:21:10.717","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who want to train as educational psychologists. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:54","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298488,"EventID":"S4O-03722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:54.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:39.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the proposal to reconsider the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route fastlink/A90 junction design.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:54.337","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298489,"EventID":"S4O-03723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:54.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-11T12:48:20.773","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the use of subordinated debt in procurement projects by the hubCos and the Scottish Futures Trust. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:54.74","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298490,"EventID":"S4O-03724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:55.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:39.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reform the private rented sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:55.137","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298491,"EventID":"S4O-03725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:55.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:39.99","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the power to set the penalties for drink driving being devolved.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:55.43","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298492,"EventID":"S4O-03727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:55.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:03:01.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with The Highland Council about the A890 Stromeferry bypass.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:55.71","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298493,"EventID":"S4O-03728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:56.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:40.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with football authorities regarding youth football contracts.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:56.157","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298494,"EventID":"S4O-03729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:56.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T12:57:41.19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:56.547","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298495,"EventID":"S4O-03730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:00:56.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T11:53:12.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been published of the impact of welfare reform across Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:00:57.02","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298496,"EventID":"S4W-23126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:33:33.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:45:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many full-time or full-time equivalent staff have been employed in the Events and Exhibitions Team in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"A dedicated Events and Exhibitions Team was established in 2007 to support all events and exhibitions in the Parliament. The figures broken down by year are as follows:\r\nYear\r\nStaff Numbers\r\n2007-08\r\n7\r\n2008-09\r\n7\r\n2009-10\r\n10\r\n2010-11\r\n10\r\n2011-12\r\n10\r\n2012-13\r\n9\r\n2013-14\r\n11\r\n \r\n(Figures correct as at 31 December each year for 2007-2013)\r\nThe Events and Exhibitions Team currently deliver over 440 events and exhibitions annually.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:33:33.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani ","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298497,"EventID":"S4W-23127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:33:34.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:45:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many non-MSP-sponsored events have been held in the Parliament in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"No centralised record of events held exists prior to the Events and Exhibitions Team being established in 2007.For the last full year, 2013/14, the total number of events managed, organised and delivered by the Team was 370, of which 347 were Member-sponsored events and 23 were non-Member sponsored events. \r\nA table containing figures for previous years is as follows:\r\nFull Year\r\nNon MSP Sponsored\r\nEvents\r\nApril 2007 – March 2008\r\n68\r\nApril 2008 – March 2009\r\n82\r\nApril 2009 – March 2010 \r\n78\r\nApril 2010 – March 2011\r\n75\r\nApril 2011 - March 2012*\r\n25\r\nApril 2012 - March 2013\r\n30\r\nApril 2013 - March 2014\r\n23\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:33:34.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298498,"EventID":"S4W-23128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T15:33:35.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:45:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how the costs of non-MSP-sponsored events is met.\r\n","AnswerText":"All non-MSP sponsored events supported and delivered by the Events and Exhibitions Team in support of the Parliament include events approved annually by the SPCB as part of the Major Events and Exhibitions Programme aimed at engaging with the public and Scotland’s Futures Forum events aimed at Members, academia and research. These events can be held in partnership with external organisations.\r\nThe hospitality, catering and audio visual equipment costs for any non-MSP sponsored event are either met from the SPCB’s approved budget or by external organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T15:33:35.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298499,"EventID":"S4W-23116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:52.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T13:49:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times since 1 January 2008 it has been advised by the Freedom of Information Commissioner that the Scottish Ministers failed to (a) provide a response to and (b) comply with a request for a review of a freedom of information request within the statutory period 20 day period.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as we do not have this data in the format requested. Information on the Scottish Government’s performance in responding on time to freedom of information (FOI) requests is available in the annual reports on information request handling at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Information/FOI/Reporting\r\nThe Scottish Government is working to increase the proportion of FOI and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 requests and reviews which are responded to on time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:52.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298500,"EventID":"S4W-23119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:52.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:27:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how often the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change plans to meet each year, and what contact the sub-committee has had with the (a) Public Sector Climate Leaders' Forum and (b) Climate Change Delivery Board since June 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Sub Committee on Climate Change plans to meet three to four times annually. The committee met for the first time in October 2014 and a further meeting is planned for December 2014.\r\nThe Climate Change Delivery Board (CCDB) and Public Sector Leaders’ Forum (PSLF) have not met formally with the Cabinet Sub Committee. However, they all have an important role to play in ensuring Scotland delivers its world leading climate change targets. The work of the CCDB and PSLF will inform discussion at the Cabinet Sub Committee who will then ensure coordination of important climate change issues at the highest level in government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:52.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298501,"EventID":"S4W-23121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:53.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:39:25.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many lives will be saved by the introduction of its legislation on drink driving.\r\n","AnswerText":"Around one in 10 deaths on Scotland’s roads each year involve drivers over the legal drink drive limit. The estimates of lives to be saved from a lower limit can vary as they are often made on different bases for different countries. Sir Peter North’s Report of the Review of Drink and Drug Driving Law, published in 2010, stated at paragraph 4.17:\r\n‘‘…The estimates of the potential for a lower limit of 50 mg/100 ml to save lives vary. On the one hand, Professor Richard Allsop estimates, with conservative assumptions, that 43 lives could be saved in Great Britain annually, NICE [the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] on the other hand makes more ambitious estimates based on the experience of research conducted in Europe and in Australia. NICE applies their model to all road traffic casualties in England and Wales rather than just those reported as drink drive-related. Based on the Albalate study of European countries, although without a defined time horizon, 77 to 168 lives could be saved each year in England and Wales whereas, based on the Australian experience, 144 lives could be saved after the first year in England and Wales, progressively increasing by the sixth year to a total of up to 303 deaths avoided. These estimates for England and Wales take no account of the possible casualty savings for Scotland. It should be noted that Scotland represented 7% of all drink drive-related casualties in Great Britain in 2008.’’\r\nA range of studies are mentioned in the North report and analysis applied to England and Wales figures. In 2012, prior to consulting on the proposal to reduce the drink drive limit, the Scottish Government apportioned these figures to Scotland and estimated that reducing the drink drive limit to 50mg/100ml blood, as recommended by Sir Peter North, could result in between three and 17 fewer deaths on Scotland’s roads each year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:53.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298502,"EventID":"S4W-23122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:53.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:39:25.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Stirling Council regarding mental health provision for people over 65.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no discussions specifically with Stirling Council regarding their provision of mental health services for over 65s.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:53.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298503,"EventID":"S4W-23123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:53.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:39:25.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many journeys have been made under the concessionary bus pass scheme in each local authority area in the last year.","AnswerText":"We do not hold information on the number of journeys made in each local authority area under the national concessionary bus travel scheme for older and disabled people. However, a total of just under 147 million journeys throughout Scotland were made under the scheme in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:53.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298504,"EventID":"S4W-23124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:54.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:39:25.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the concessionary bus pass scheme has cost in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The cost of reimbursing operators for carrying concessionary passengers under the national concessionary bus travel scheme in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 was £180 million, £187 million and £188.6 million respectively. In addition, a further £10 million was provided in 2012-13 by way of support for the transition to a new, lower payment rate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:54.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298505,"EventID":"S4W-23125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:54.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:41:01.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the concessionary bus pass scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The terms of reimbursement for operators carrying concessionary passengers are subject to periodic discussion with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), informed by an economic model agreed in January 2013. We are currently discussing reimbursement rates for 2015-16 onwards. The January 2013 agreement with CPT also provides for a fuller review of reimbursement arrangements by January 2018.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:54.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298506,"EventID":"S4W-23129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:54.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:50:26.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the (a) production and (b) use of counterfeit money, and whether it plans to introduce any special initiatives in the run-up to the festive season.","AnswerText":"Currency and bank notes are reserved under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. However, the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, set up by this government, provides direction and co-ordination for all organisations involved in tackling organised crime in Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish banks and Police Scotland work very closely with the Economic Crime Command of the National Crime Agency to detect trends, identify counterfeiting groups, and share intelligence at all times of the year. Where problems are identified, appropriate action is taken at both local and national levels.\r\nWe would encourage anyone who has any information on counterfeit notes to contact Police Scotland immediately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:54.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298507,"EventID":"S4W-23130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:54.917","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on scallop dredging.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the dredged scallop fishery to Scotland. However, we are aware of its environmental impact and have and are taking steps to help manage this.\r\nScotland has a long tradition of commercial scallop dredging and it provides important employment opportunities in many coastal communities, not just fishing, but in processing and secondary industries. Of the 17,518 tonnes caught by Scottish vessels last year, 16,966 were caught by dredge.\r\nMarine Scotland is currently consulting on introducing new management measures into the king scallop fishery. In addition it was recently announced that the ability to target king scallops by mechanical dredge would be suspended to those vessels with a scallop entitlement that had not targeted the fishery in the past six years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:54.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298508,"EventID":"S4W-23131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T13:53:26.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage plays in setting the parameters of a marine protected area.","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage provides advice to Marine Scotland on Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for territorial waters. This includes advice on the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs, how the conservation objectives of an MPA may be achieved and activities which can damage a natural feature of an MPA, as well as providing advice on the recommended boundary of an MPA. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee provides equivalent advice for waters outside the 12 nautical mile limit and Historic Scotland leads on Historic MPAs.","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298509,"EventID":"S4W-23132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:55.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish Technical Report: Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland (the Radford report).","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:55.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298510,"EventID":"S4W-23133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:55.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Marine Protected Areas apply fishing restrictions to certain species rather than managing the overall ecology of the designated areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 under which the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been designated provide powers to designate MPAs for the conservation of marine flora or fauna, marine habitats and geological features. The powers in the Acts relate to the protection of features for which an MPA has been designated. By protecting the features that support the overall ecology of the MPA, we are better able to design management and develop monitoring tailored to the conservation of particular species and habitats and this can also provide effective conservation benefits for the ecosystem.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:55.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298511,"EventID":"S4W-23134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:55.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to assess the impact of Norway's ban on scallop dredging.","AnswerText":"There are no immediate plans to assess the Norwegian model of scallop management as scallop fishing in Norway is not analogous to scallop fishing in Scotland.\r\nIn Scotland, scallop fishing is targeted principally by dredgers alongside a small but important, on a localised basis, dived sector. Scottish vessels operate right around the coast of the British Isles and in 2012 Scottish vessels landed 17,092 tonnes of scallops (with a first landing value of £31.3 million).\r\nThe king scallop fishery in the other nations of the British Isles has a similar tradition and occurs along similar lines. However, in Norway the fishery is prosecuted on a much smaller scale (676 tonnes landed in 2012) and is prosecuted by divers.\r\nIn 2013 Marine Scotland commissioned a review of the Scottish scallop fishery; the review concluded in 2014 and made recommendations about scallop management. As part of the review process the consultants looked at the management frameworks in place in other parts of the British Isles to inform the process.\r\nMarine Scotland is currently consulting on new management measures in its king scallop fishery which can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:56.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298512,"EventID":"S4W-23135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:56.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on jobs if the three mile fisheries limit for all mobile gear around the Scottish coast were reinstated.","AnswerText":"We have commissioned independent research from the consultants Grid Economics to assess options for management of Scotland's inshore fisheries, including the socio-economic impact of applying a three mile limit on mobile fishing gear. We expect this research to be published early in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:56.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298513,"EventID":"S4W-23136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-12T16:52:56.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T15:08:00.98","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the membership of the board of Marine Scotland.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland was established on 1 April 2009 as a directorate of Scottish Government by merging together the functions and resources of the previous Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.\r\nMarine Scotland is directly accountable to Scottish Ministers and does not have a statutory board. An internal board of senior management including two non-executives provide challenge on processes, financial management and risk.\r\nThere are no plans to review the membership in the near future but in line with normal practices Marine Scotland will be reviewed in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-26T16:52:56.537","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298531,"EventID":"S4W-23143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T11:51:30.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T11:45:36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's recent visit to Chile.","AnswerText":"I visited Chile between 21 and 26 October 2014 to undertake a series of engagements aimed at strengthening Scotland’s international position as a major salmon producer, a world leader in tackling climate change, and an innovative centre for developing wave and tidal renewable energy. I also took the opportunity to promote cultural issues.\r\nDuring my visit to the Aqua Sur aquaculture conference I held bilateral talks with Mr Raul Sunico, Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Ms Elisabeth Aspaker, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Minister for Coordination of Nordic Affairs. I also met informally with Mr Ingi Johannsson, Icelandic Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources and Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture. The focus of our discussions was on strengthening links and securing the best interests of a sustainable and flourishing aquaculture sector. My officials will be taking forward a number of action points from these meetings with the aim of achieving closer cooperation and stronger international relations. I also met with a number of Scottish companies which are looking to get a foothold and then establish themselves in the Chilean market to explore ways in which the Scottish Government and its agencies can assist them.\r\nIn Santiago I met with Ms Jimena Jara, Undersecretary of Energy and elected officials, including Ms Carolina Toha, Mayor of Santiago, and Senator Ossandon, Chair of the Senate’s Transport Committee to discuss areas of mutual interest which included climate change, renewable energy, sustainable transport and economic development. I also met with Mr Eduardo Bitran, Executive Vice President of CORFO, Chile’s Economic Development Agency, as well as chief executives of leading businesses from across a range of sectors to explain Scotland’s position regarding renewable energy, particularly onshore wind and wave and tidal technologies. I believe that there is real potential for promoting Scotland’s interests and our expertise and research and development capabilities in what is a significant emerging market. Recent studies suggest that Chile has the greatest potential for wave power of any nation globally.\r\nAt the end of my visit I was honoured to attend a concert which had been arranged in a refuge, Villa Jorge Yarur Banna, for abused girls aged 6-18 who have survived abuse, with the performance provided by the third sector organisation Musica Para Todos, which is modelled on the Scottish charity Live Music Now. This organisation puts on concerts to audiences who would have no other means of hearing live musical performances and it was truly inspirational to see the positive impact it had on the residents of the villas. Finally, I attended the Homeless World Cup to show my support for the Scotland team, one of many nations represented in the tournament and was delighted to watch them win 6-4 against Austria.\r\nThroughout my visit I was greatly encouraged and heartened by the level of interest in Scotland and what Scotland is achieving across many sectors of relevance to Chile. I am optimistic that these first steps towards establishing closer ties will bear much fruit in the future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T11:51:30.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298532,"EventID":"S4W-23117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:29.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:01:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money it gives to each mountain rescue service.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides annual grant funding to Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) of £312,000 and is the only Government in the UK to do so. The Scottish Government has provided £300,000 or more, in grant funding, direct to SMR, every year for this administration, despite budgetary constraints. The funding is distributed by SMR to the 27 voluntary (civilian) teams across Scotland, according to a formula agreed by the teams and the SMR committee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:30.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298533,"EventID":"S4W-23118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:30.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T14:01:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the funding requirements of the mountain rescue services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) funding requirements, together with SMR, on an annual basis and, in addition to the annual grant funding of £312,000 provided in the current year, assists further if it is able to meet specific additional requests, subject to the availability of funds. For example in previous years this has included provisions of specialist stretchers, project management support, and support to the Scottish Mountain Rescue conference. The Scottish Government is the only government in the UK that provides annual grant funding to support the work of its voluntary mountain rescue teams.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:30.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298534,"EventID":"S4W-23137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:31.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T18:00:34.287","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the promotion of tourism in Falkirk district.\r\n","AnswerText":"Falkirk Council sought advice from Scottish Government officials regarding joint tourism promotional activity with the local business improvement district in relation to state aid.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:31.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298535,"EventID":"S4W-23138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:31.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-12T17:02:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many police (a) officers and (b) civilian staff have been absent due to sickness in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) length of absence and (ii) sickness.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recording and management of sickness absence for police officers and staff is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Police Scotland. Sickness absence is reported to the SPA board regularly, with papers published on the SPA website.\r\nExamples are:\r\nhttp://www.spa.police.uk/assets/126884/252938/item-15 (annualised absence rates on pages eight and nine) and\r\nhttp://www.spa.police.uk/assets/126884/232805/item18 (proportion of working time lost to sickness absence, page nine).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:31.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298536,"EventID":"S4W-23139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:31.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T10:47:17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been prosecuted for (a) breeding dogs in social rented properties and (b) running puppy farms in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information on action taken by councils or other landlords regarding people contravening tenancy conditions by breeding dogs in social rented properties.\r\nFrom the information available from the Scottish Government court proceedings database, one person was prosecuted in each of the periods 1998-99, 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2010-11 where the main charge was under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.\r\nIt should be noted that court proceedings statistics are based on the year in which the person's case is disposed of. People are counted once for each occasion on which they are proceeded against. If a person is proceeded against more than once on the same day, each proceeding will be counted separately. Where a person is proceeded against for more than one crime or offence in a single proceeding, only the main charge is counted.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:31.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298537,"EventID":"S4W-23141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:32.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T11:16:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances a hospital should consider carrying out a complete evacuation and what guidance it provides on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"There are a number of incidents that may require the evacuation of hospital premises. These can include a fire, structural damage or collapse, but any disruptive incident that impacts on the safety of staff and patients could result in evacuation.\r\nAll NHS boards would deal with an evacuation as they would to any disruption to their activities or buildings, as part of their business continuity management plans and processes. Strategic guidance has been issued to health boards in Scotland and business continuity is an essential activity in establishing an organisation’s resilience. Evacuation of premises and the scale of the evacuation will be based on a risk assessment of each hazard or disruption.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:32.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298538,"EventID":"S4W-23142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:32.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T11:16:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which hospitals have or are developing plans on how to carry out a complete evacuation, and which have decided that such a plan is not required.\r\n","AnswerText":"All NHS boards would deal with an evacuation, as with any disruption to their activities or buildings, as part of business continuity management arrangements. Strategic business continuity management guidance has been issued to NHS boards in Scotland and is an essential activity in establishing an organisation’s resilience. Evacuation of premises and the scale of the evacuation will be based on a risk assessment of each hazard or disruption. NHS boards are also required to carry out regular training and exercising based on the hazards and risks likely to cause disruption to their services and buildings.\r\nAlong with guidance on business continuity management, guidance aimed at ensuring that adequate provision is made for the conduct of evacuations from hospital premises was issued to NHS boards in 2011.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:32.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298539,"EventID":"S4W-23144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:32.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T12:50:27.25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on projections from the National Records of Scotland that, by 2037, a third of all households will be headed by someone aged over 65 and the number of people living alone is set to rise by 51%.\r\n","AnswerText":"At the annual Scottish Older People's Assembly in the Scottish Parliament on 31 October 2014, the then Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights reiterated the Scottish Government's commitment to improving the lives of older people in Scotland, and our recognition that older people make a significant contribution to Scotland and play a crucial role in our society. Age, Home and Community: A Strategy For Housing For Scotland's Older People: 2012-21 (December 2011) is our national strategy for housing for older people, and it sets out a clear vision of enabling older people to live independently at home for as long as they wish to. We also recognise the importance of tackling loneliness and social isolation, and are funding initiatives such as Age Scotland's Silverline (launched in October 2013) to help address this issue. We will continue to work with key partners including COSLA, Age Scotland, the Scottish Older People's Assembly and others, to improve the lives of older people in Scotland in line with demographic developments over the years and decades to come.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:32.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298540,"EventID":"S4W-23145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:33.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:07:38.713","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23043 by Keith Brown on 13 November 2014, what discussions it has had with First TransPennine Express regarding service delivery in Scotland. \r\n","AnswerText":"We maintain a regular dialogue with First TransPennine Express (FTPE), most recently on enhanced service provision to support travel to the Commonwealth Games, and on the reliability of the class 350 trains introduced on Anglo-Scottish routes earlier in 2014. However, we have not been made aware through industry processes of the company's proposals to remove two of the Motherwell calls introduced in its timetable in May 2014.\r\nThese additional calls were introduced by FTPE, beyond the service requirement stipulated by the Department for Transport (DfT). As FTPE services are franchised by DfT, we have no locus to specify any aspect of its operations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:33.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298541,"EventID":"S4W-23146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:33.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:21:52.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possibility of Richard Carey taking early retirement as Chief Executive of NHS Grampian, and who was involved in those discussions.","AnswerText":"The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. The possibility of Mr Carey seeking access to the early retirement scheme was first notified to Scottish Government officials on 22 October 2014. The officials who were made aware were the Director General Health and Social Care, the Director Health Workforce and Performance and the Deputy Director Health Workforce.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:33.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298542,"EventID":"S4W-23147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:33.943","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:21:52.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possibility of Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen taking early retirement as Medical Director of NHS Grampian, and who was involved in those discussions.","AnswerText":"The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. Dr Dijkhuizen’s decision to take early retirement was not discussed with the Scottish Government until agreement had been reached, at which point the Scottish Government was notified in the normal way and ministers were informed immediately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:33.977","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298543,"EventID":"S4W-23148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:34.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:21:52.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possibility of Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen taking early retirement as Medical Director of NHS Grampian.","AnswerText":"The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. Dr Dijkhuizen’s decision to take early retirement was not discussed with the Scottish Government until agreement had been reached, at which point the Scottish Government was notified in the normal way and ministers were informed immediately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:34.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298544,"EventID":"S4W-23149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T14:02:34.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:21:52.703","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possibility of Richard Carey taking early retirement as Chief Executive of NHS Grampian.","AnswerText":"The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. The possibility of Mr Carey seeking access to the early retirement scheme was first notified to Scottish Government officials on 22 October 2014 and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the First Minister were notified immediately.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T14:02:34.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298563,"EventID":"S4W-23150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:24.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:46:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the Scottish Youth Theatre in future years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The outgoing First Minister announced on 14 November that £1 million funding was being provided by the Scottish Government and Clyde Blowers to support the Scottish Youth Theatre and allow all the national youth companies to take centre stage in the countdown to the Year of Young People in 2018. This secures the future of Scottish Youth Theatre and delivers improved engagement of young people in culture and the arts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:24.847","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298564,"EventID":"S4W-23151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:25.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:46:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Creative Scotland has decided not to provide the Scottish Youth Theatre with regular funding.\r\n","AnswerText":"These are decisions for Creative Scotland to make; Scottish Ministers are prevented by legislation from playing any part in their artistic or cultural decision making. Creative Scotland has not made any of their detailed assessments public, having assured applicants that they would not do so. However, individual organisations could choose to publish their own assessments if they wished.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:25.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298565,"EventID":"S4W-23152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:25.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:46:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Creative Scotland's decision not to provide the Scottish Youth Theatre with regular funding.","AnswerText":"Creative Scotland’s funding decisions are a matter for the Creative Scotland board and we accept those decisions made following a robust assessment process. Difficult decisions had to be made with £212 million worth of applications for a final fund of just under £100 million over three years.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with Creative Scotland to implement new funds of £1 million to secure the future of the Scottish Youth Theatre and ensure all the national youth companies deepen youth arts participation in the run up to Scotland’s Year of Young People in 2018. Scottish Ministers are prevented by statute from interfering in the artistic decisions of Creative Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:25.707","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298566,"EventID":"S4W-23153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:25.987","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:46:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what other sources of funding it would recommend to the Scottish Youth Theatre in light of it not receiving regular funding from Creative Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Youth Theatre will be eligible for support from the new £1 million that the First Minister announced on 14 November 2014. In addition, they remain eligible for Open Project Funding from Creative Scotland, worth up to £150,000 per project. They are currently supported by Glasgow City Council through Glasgow Life, and could apply as a national organisation for support from other local authorities, independent trusts and foundations. Creative Scotland could provide them with advice on further sources of funding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:26.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298567,"EventID":"S4W-23155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:26.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:14:49.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has modelled the cost implications of its proposed regulation of energy efficiency in private sector housing in (a) urban and (b) rural areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has commissioned modelling work to look at how the energy performance of Scotland’s least energy efficiency private sector housing stock can be improved. This will include archetypes relevant to both urban and rural areas and will look at the modelled cost of improvement work. This modelling will support the regulation of energy efficiency in private sector homes stakeholder working group’s work to identify proposals for Scottish Ministers to consider ahead of public consultation planned for spring 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:26.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298568,"EventID":"S4W-23156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:26.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:14:49.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it anticipates it would cost for a typical detached off-gas grid household to meet a minimum energy performance rating (EPC) rating of D under its proposed regulation of energy efficiency in private sector housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"Proposals for the level at which regulations may be set and what homes may be affected by the standard will be set out in a public consultation expected to be published in spring 2015. Modelling work to inform this consultation is currently underway and we will also take account of incentives when developing proposals for regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:26.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298569,"EventID":"S4W-23157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:27.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:14:49.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what trigger points it is considering for its proposed regulation of energy efficiency in private sector housing.  \r\n","AnswerText":"Proposals for minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector housing are being developed with stakeholders for proposed public consultation in spring 2015. This will include proposals for trigger points for regulation, for example potentially at the point of sale or rental.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:27.36","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298570,"EventID":"S4W-23158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:27.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:14:49.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions it is considering on homeowners if they do not meet the requirements under its proposed regulation of energy efficiency in private sector housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"Proposals for draft regulations are planned to be published for public consultation in spring 2015. The consultation will set out proposals for the operation of the regulations. The final decision on the enforcement of regulations, including any sanctions, would take into account responses received through the public consultation process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:27.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298571,"EventID":"S4W-23159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:28.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:15:31.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21011 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 May 2014, how many energy efficiency measures were installed in 2013-14, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities are currently submitting final details of Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) delivery for 2013-14 to the Scottish Government. Subject to receiving the relevant data we will publish details of energy efficiency measures delivered via HEEPS by the end of the year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:28.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298572,"EventID":"S4W-23160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:29.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:15:31.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21011 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 May 2014, when it will publish a monitoring report on all of the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) schemes across all local authorities for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23159 on 27 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:29.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298573,"EventID":"S4W-23161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:29.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T14:38:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in reopening the Solway cockle fishery.","AnswerText":"Following a series of consultative meetings with stakeholders, Marine Scotland has drawn up innovative management measures and these have been recently trialled as part of a cockle management study.\r\nThe study was operated by a local contractor and enabled controlled, exclusive fishing activity for a limited period. Unfortunately, in August 2014, the contractor withdrew due to the inconsistent quality of the cockles and low prices available at the time and, as we were unable to reallocate the contract, the study was closed.\r\nAlthough the study did not run its course, we believe we have gathered enough information to draw conclusions and we are currently analysing our findings. This analysis will help us devise robust proposals for the long term management of the cockle fishery which we will discuss with local stakeholders in due course.\r\nIt remains our aim to open the Solway cockle fishery in a safe, controlled and sustainable way which brings economic benefit to the local area. I can assure you that I see this as a priority and will be doing what I can to secure a fully opened fishery as soon as possible, hopefully around September 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:29.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298574,"EventID":"S4W-23162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:30.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:08:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22902 by Richard Lochhead on 13 November 2014, when the (a) interim and (b) final report of the independent study will be published, and when it will issue its response.\r\n","AnswerText":"We expect Zero Waste Scotland to publish the outcomes of its deposit and return study early in 2015, as part of our broader engagement on the opportunities of a more circular economy for Scotland. We will consider our approach as part of that process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:30.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298575,"EventID":"S4W-23163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:30.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:55:40.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22861 by Derek Mackay on 13 November 2014, whether it considers that it can meaningfully contribute to a debate on land use and food production.\r\n","AnswerText":"A wide range of Scottish Government policies have the potential to influence land use and food production. In 2011, the Scottish Government published Scotland's first Land Use Strategy, which sets out a number of objectives and principles in support of achieving a better integrated strategic approach to land use. The strategy was based on extensive stakeholder consultation, and the Scottish Government has continued to work with stakeholders and a range of interested parties on its implementation, including with Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Borders Council who are piloting regional land use frameworks. The Scottish Government has a number of policies in place to support the effective, efficient and sustainable production of food, and in particular has lobbied the European Union to ensure that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy does not lose sight of food production as the central purpose of agriculture.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:30.293","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298576,"EventID":"S4W-23164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:30.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:55:40.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a moratorium on the disposal of land that it owns or controls pending the development of a land use and food production policy that includes details of the assets that it has held, the disposal of such assets and their subsequent use.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s policy is that property holdings, including land, should be kept under regular review. As part of our forthcoming consultation on land reform we are exploring ways to ensure public sector land is proactively managed in the public interest, to ensure land under our control delivers the best economic, social and environmental outcomes.\r\nWhere property is identified as surplus it should be sold by one of the following methods: obtaining the best possible price on the open market, disposing of the property at less than market value in order to deliver wider public benefits consistent with the principles of best value, or by transferring the property to another public sector body under the Guidelines for the Transfer of Property within the Scottish Public Sector.\r\nRural communities already have a right to register an interest in land under the community right to buy and the Scottish Government have made proposals to the Scottish Parliament, through the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, that this should be extended to all communities across Scotland. The Scottish Government have also, through this Bill, proposed new powers for communities to request the transfer of any land owned or leased by a public sector authority, including land owned or leased by the Scottish Ministers. \r\nThe Minister for Local Government and Planning has stated (in a letter to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee dated 6 November 2014) that he believes there is benefit in requiring authorities subject to such requests to publish registers of assets, and officials are considering how such a requirement should be constructed.\r\nIn May 2014, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change also announced that Registers of Scotland had been asked to prepare to complete Scotland's land register within 10 years, with all public land registered within five years. Work is underway across the Scottish Government to do so.\r\nThe Scottish Government would welcome discussions with any community interested in taking ownership of land currently under the control or ownership of the Scottish Ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:30.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298577,"EventID":"S4W-23165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:30.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:55:40.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will produce a register of all land assets in its ownership or control.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23164 on 27 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:30.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298578,"EventID":"S4W-23166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:31.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:55:40.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of its directorates are responsible for (a) greenfield and (b) agricultural land in its ownership or control.","AnswerText":"Responsibility for agricultural land in the ownership or control of the Scottish Government lies with the Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate (under the management of the Rural Payments and Inspections Division).\r\nThe Scottish Government has landholdings which could come under the definition of greenfield, however responsibility lies with the directorate under whose banner that land is held. The information requested is thus not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:31.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298579,"EventID":"S4W-23167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-13T16:56:31.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T15:55:40.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who would deal with a complaint from a member of the public about the misuse of greenfield and agricultural land in its ownership or control.","AnswerText":"Any complaint would be to the appropriate Scottish Government directorate. In the case of agricultural land, that would be the Rural Payments and Inspections Division. No directorate has overall responsibility for greenfield land so any complaint would have to be directed to the directorate which owns the land in question.\r\nAny member of the public who has a complaint about the misuse of greenfield and agricultural land in the Scottish Government’s ownership or control should, in the first instance, contact either the Scottish Government’s Central Enquiry Unit (CEU) to be directed to the correct business area or follow our complaints process. Contact details for the CEU as well as information on how to make a complaint can be found on our website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Contacts\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-27T16:56:31.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298580,"EventID":"S4W-23154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:47.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T13:57:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much each local authority is being allocated to meet the £39 million capital investment that the 2015-16 draft budget asserts will be required to fund the expansion of early learning and childcare, and how the allocations have been calculated.\r\n","AnswerText":"The attached table sets out how much each local authority is being allocated. This allocation has been calculated on the basis of the estimated number of two-year-olds who are in households that are in receipt of out of work benefits in each local authority area, and includes a measure of rurality.\r\nThis allocation method was agreed by the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Settlement and Distribution Group on 5 November 2014 and endorsed by council leaders at their meeting on 21 November 2014.\r\nLocal Authority\r\nAllocation\r\nAberdeen City\r\n£1,017,275\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n£1,681,208\r\nAngus\r\n£797,299\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n£805,096\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n£453,190\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n£1,490,485\r\nDundee City\r\n£1,197,693\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n£1,041,496\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n£364,627\r\nEast Lothian\r\n£618,102\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n£334,922\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n£2,394,251\r\nEilean Siar\r\n£386,934\r\nFalkirk\r\n£1,093,493\r\nFife\r\n£2,772,023\r\nGlasgow City\r\n£5,179,927\r\nHighland\r\n£2,409,075\r\nInverclyde\r\n£595,091\r\nMidlothian\r\n£652,160\r\nMoray\r\n£625,208\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n£1,242,158\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n£2,605,037\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n£236,967\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n£976,755\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n£1,162,669\r\nScottish Borders\r\n£966,208\r\nShetland Islands\r\n£265,277\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n£793,416\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n£2,173,205\r\nStirling\r\n£535,503\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n£836,854\r\nWest Lothian\r\n£1,296,396\r\nTotal\r\n£39,000,000\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:48.08","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298581,"EventID":"S4W-23168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:48.443","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-13T23:37:10.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on progress being made by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership in setting up schemes to boost economic growth on both sides of the Border. \r\n","AnswerText":"I met regularly with the Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to consider areas of common interest and identify projects where Scotland and the North East of England can work together for mutual benefit.\r\nAt our most recent meeting on the 8 October 2014 it was agreed to focus on promoting initiatives which build on shared strengths in the energy sector, both in terms of offshore renewables and through oil and gas related activities and services, before extending the collaborative approach to other sectors with joint economic and employment growth opportunities. Engagement with the LEP is ongoing to develop these opportunities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:48.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298582,"EventID":"S4W-23169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:48.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T09:54:06.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in the NHS Grampian area have had operations in (a) private hospitals and (b) the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in order to meet waiting times targets in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14, broken down by hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number of NHS Grampian patients who had an operation in a private hospital and at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital is provided in the following table. This information relates to acute surgical specialties and is derived from the Information Services Division Scottish Morbidity Return for inpatient and day case.\r\nHospital of Treatment\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nGolden Jubilee National Hospital\r\n125\r\n235\r\nFernbrae Hospital\r\n127\r\n152\r\nKirk’s Park Hospital\r\n*\r\n*\r\nMurrayfield Hospital\r\n*\r\n*\r\nRoss Hall Hospital\r\n310\r\n699\r\n*Indicates values where the information has been suppressed as less than five patients were recorded, this prevents the potential risk of disclosure and helps to maintain patient confidentiality.\r\nNHS Grampian have been investing to build additional capacity in their own services by making available £18 million in 2013-14 to build new theatres and employing more doctors and a further £7 million in 2014-15 to support improvements, including in the specialties of orthopaedics, general surgery and urology.\r\nThe Scottish Government policy is that NHS boards should use NHS funding to build sustainable capacity. The use of the private sector should only be used in the margins to deal with short-term capacity issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:48.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298583,"EventID":"S4W-23170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:49.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T09:54:06.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the costs have been to (a) NHS Grampian and (b) it of treating patients from the NHS Grampian area in private hospitals in order to meet waiting times targets in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information obtained from NHS Grampian indicates that they spent £5.2 million in 2012-13 and £4.1 million in 2013-14. That equates to 0.73% of the NHS Grampian’s resource budget in 2012-13, falling to 0.55% in 2013-14. This is in the independent sector to help deliver the inpatient and day case legal treatment times guarantee and other waiting time standards.\r\nThe Scottish Government policy is very clear that NHS boards should use NHS funding to build sustainable capacity. The use of the private sector should only be used in the margins to deal with short-term capacity issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:49.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298584,"EventID":"S4W-23171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:49.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T09:54:06.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector jobs were based in Aberdeen in 2013 and how this compares with other cities in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Business Register and Employment Survey provide estimates of employee jobs in the public and private sector at local authority level.\r\nThe following table provides the number of people employed in the public sector in Scottish cities for 2013.\r\nPublic sector employees in Scottish cities, 2013\r\nLocal Authority\r\nPublic Sector Employees\r\nAberdeen City\r\n33,100\r\nDundee City\r\n23,300\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n87,300\r\nGlasgow City\r\n85,500\r\nHighland\r\n30,800\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n12,800\r\nStirling\r\n9,100\r\nSource: Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) and the Office for National Statistics\r\nNotes: \r\n1. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred.\r\n2. Estimates available at local authority level only, therefore estimates for the cities of Perth, Stirling and Inverness are included within the larger local authority areas of Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Highland. \r\n3. BRES does not include employment within HM Forces.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:49.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298585,"EventID":"S4W-23172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:49.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T09:54:06.46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it allocated to alcohol support services in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government allocates funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) via NHS boards. In those areas where there is more than one ADP, the NHS board should agree with ADPs how this funding should be distributed between them.\r\nInformation on funding allocations to each of the three Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships (Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray) in NHS Grampian is not held centrally.\r\nIn 2013-14 a total of £3,029,458 was allocated to NHS Grampian for the funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:49.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298586,"EventID":"S4W-23173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:50.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T13:25:17.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for how long the Lowit Unit at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital has been closed; for what reason NHS Grampian closed the unit; whether the closure will be permanent and, if so, (a) whether and (b) when a replacement will be introduced.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Grampian closed the Lowit Unit to inpatients on 12 September 2014. NHS Grampian is reviewing its Tier 4 services with a view to supporting the pathway and proposed transitions in care as part of the overall preparation for the new Regional Young Peoples Unit that is scheduled to open in summer 2015.\r\nAll existing resources will be used to provide sustainable and modern services for patients in NHS Grampian requiring high levels of Tier 4 care and treatment for their complex and severe mental health conditions. This will be via the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services based at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and the Young Peoples Department in Aberdeen.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:50.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298587,"EventID":"S4W-23178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:50.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T14:22:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many fires were recorded as having broken out in (a) domestic homes and (b) other types of residence in each year since 2009, also broken down by (i) how many led to and (ii) the number of fatalities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government publishes data on key fire statistics on an annual basis. The latest figures were published in the data tables for the Fire Statistics Scotland 2012-13 publication (published on 8 October 2013). These tables contain trend data from 2003-04 to 2012-13 on the number of fires and fatal casualties by building type.\r\nThe dataset can be found at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/10/5284/downloads\r\nThe published data does not include the number of fires which led to fatalities by building type. Scottish Government is able to provide this data from 2009-10 to 2012-13 below. Data for 2013-14 can be provided following the publication of Fire and Rescue Statistics Scotland 2013-14 (formerly Fire Statistics Scotland) later in 2014.\r\n\r\nDwelling\r\nOther building\r\nYear\r\nFires leading to fatalities\r\nFatalities\r\nFires leading to fatalities\r\nFatalities\r\n2009-10\r\n50\r\n53\r\n3\r\n4\r\n2010-11\r\n41\r\n45\r\n3\r\n3\r\n2011-12\r\n50\r\n52\r\n4\r\n4\r\n2012-13\r\n41\r\n41\r\n1\r\n1\r\nWhilst the recording categories ‘domestic homes’ and ‘other types of residence’ do not exist within the Fire and Rescue Service’s incident recording system, the data reports the number of fatalities which occurred at ‘dwelling’ and ‘other building’ fires. ‘Other building’ fire fatalities will include fire fatalities at non-domestic residences. Whilst ‘dwelling’ fires are exclusively residential, ‘other building’ fires will include some fires at non-residential buildings. As such, it cannot be assumed that none of the fatalities in other building fires occurred in residential premises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:50.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298588,"EventID":"S4W-23180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:50.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T14:22:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) support and (b) guidance it provides to local authorities regarding the installation of fire sprinkler systems in (i) domestic homes and (ii) other types of residence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides guidance through building regulations (see: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/resource/buildingstandards/2013Domestic/chunks/ch03s16.html) on the buildings which should have automatic fire suppression systems (including fire sprinkler systems), or where automatic suppression can be used to allow for design freedoms such as open plan living spaces within flats and houses. The Scottish Government provides support on the requirements of building regulations but interpretation is ultimately a matter for the courts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:50.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298589,"EventID":"S4W-23181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:51.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T14:22:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with the Welsh Government regarding the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011, which enables ministers to call for the mandatory installation of fire sprinkler systems in certain properties, and what its position is on (a) consulting on and (b) introducing similar legislation that will cover (i) (A) new and (B) converted residential properties, (ii) social housing and (iii) houses of multiple occupation.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23184 on 27 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:51.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298590,"EventID":"S4W-23184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-14T15:39:51.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T14:22:48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by Angela Constance on 24 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 30126), what steps it is taking to progress its “targeted approach to [the installation of] sprinklers”.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scotland Together 2009 report concluded that the installation of sprinklers in all Scottish homes was not cost-effective, however it found that 40% of accidental dwelling fire deaths occurred within social rented housing, and 31% in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 15% most deprived areas.\r\nAs a result of this, a targeted approach to sprinkler installation for social rented, council or housing association owned dwellings has been adopted by some providers.\r\nThe position of the Scottish Government is that it supports a targeted approach, based on cost-benefit evidence and robust risk assessment, across a range of risk reduction initiatives of which sprinklers are only one.\r\nThe Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Welsh Government and is fully aware of the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011. The Scottish Government has no plans to consult or introduce legislation for the mandatory installation of automatic fire suppression systems in new and converted residential properties, social housing and houses of multiple occupation. However, the Scottish Government has recently commissioned further research from Optimal Economics Ltd to provide an updated position on the cost effectiveness of residential sprinklers using the most up-to-date Scottish fire statistics and installation costs. This will cover the cost effectiveness of the fire suppression functions in houses, flats, houses in multiple occupation and halls of residence. The Scottish Government will review the research findings when they are known.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-11-28T15:39:51.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298599,"EventID":"S4T-00837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:09:54.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T09:51:02.157","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that over 3,000 patients were boarded in the wrong hospital department for their condition because of capacity shortages.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:09:54.297","MeetingDate":"2014-11-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298600,"EventID":"S4T-00839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:09:55.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T11:19:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its state of readiness is for dealing with bird flu, in light of the recent outbreak in Yorkshire, and what priority it now gives this disease.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:09:55.137","MeetingDate":"2014-11-18T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298601,"EventID":"S4F-02394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:30.94","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T08:56:19.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when she will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:30.967","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298602,"EventID":"S4F-02395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:31.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T09:16:30.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:31.267","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298603,"EventID":"S4F-02396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:31.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T09:18:12.29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:31.567","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298604,"EventID":"S4F-02397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:32.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T09:32:10.983","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to ensure that all children receive their full two years entitlement of nursery provision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:32.31","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298605,"EventID":"S4F-02402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5042,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:34.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T10:39:47.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:34.31","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298606,"EventID":"S4F-02404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T13:10:35.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T10:59:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to address child sexual exploitation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T13:10:35.067","MeetingDate":"2014-11-20T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298607,"EventID":"S4W-23092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:50.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T13:20:14.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Guidance on Free Personal and Nursing Care in Scotland 2003 remains valid.","AnswerText":"Circular CCD5/2003 provides guidance on the operation of free personal and nursing care and remains in operation.\r\nWe are aware of an inconsistency between this guidance and the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance, around the availability of the integrated route of purchasing care and will seek to resolve this at an early opportunity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:51.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298608,"EventID":"S4W-23093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:51.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T13:20:14.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are obliged to follow the recommendations outlined in the Guidance on Free Personal and Nursing Care in Scotland 2003.","AnswerText":"Circular CCD5/2003 provides guidance on the operation of free personal and nursing care to local authorities. Local authorities are required by Section 5 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to act under the general guidance of Scottish Ministers.\r\nWe are aware of an inconsistency between this guidance and the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance, around the availability of the integrated route of purchasing care and will seek to resolve this at an early opportunity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:51.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298609,"EventID":"S4W-23094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:52.45","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T13:20:14.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the Guidance on Free Personal and Nursing Care in Scotland 2003 pertaining to local authorities on contractual routes for care is fully implemented.","AnswerText":"Circular CCD5/2003 provides guidance on the operation of free personal and nursing care to local authorities. The Scottish Government does not collect data on the uptake of the separate contractual routes for residential care.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:52.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298610,"EventID":"S4W-23095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:52.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-10T13:20:14.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it collects on the uptake of the three routes for contractual arrangements outlined in the Guidance on Free Personal and Nursing Care in Scotland 2003.","AnswerText":"32% of care home clients aged 56 or over are self-funders. Data on this is published in the Free Personal and Nursing Care statistics at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/Data/FPNC. \r\nThe Scottish Government does not collect data on the uptake of the separate contractual routes for residential care.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:52.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298611,"EventID":"S4W-23185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:53.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-14T16:49:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether any grant support is available to assist homeowners who have responsibility for the upkeep of private roads and pavements.","AnswerText":"The upkeep and maintenance of a private road is the responsibility of the owner. Under the Road (Scotland) Act 1984, a local roads authority has the power to instruct owners to maintain it to a reasonable standard in certain circumstances. It would be for the local roads authority to consider whether it would contribute to the associated costs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:53.163","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298612,"EventID":"S4W-23186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:53.64","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T10:27:38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the research paper, Scottish adolescents’ sun-related behaviours, tanning attitudes and associations with skin cancer awareness: a cross-sectional study, that (a) \"urgent action is required to promote positive sun-related behaviour and increase skin cancer awareness among Scottish adolescents\" and (b) \"further research is needed to inform the development of effective sunsafe interventions.\"\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the research which was supported though the Scottish Government funded Detect Cancer Early programme partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust and we applaud the work that the charity does in raising awareness of the importance of early detection of cancer. The Scottish Government has worked with a number of partners and charities on previous and ongoing awareness raising campaigns which aim to educate young people and adults about the risk and harms of sun exposure and sunbed use. This includes the ‘R UV Ugly?’ campaign run in partnership with Cancer Research UK. The Scottish Government is also working with the Teenage Cancer Trust, schools, NHS and other cancer charities to develop a sun awareness education programme to be used in schools or other youth group settings. Key messages on sun safety will be delivered with the emphasis on the point that young people can and do get skin cancer but it can be prevented.\r\nIn addition, Scotland has led the way in the UK by being the first country to introduce legislation for sunbed use. This prohibits under-18s from using sunbeds and requires sunbed operators to provide customers with health information on the health risks associated with sunbed use.\r\nIn relation to further research, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is a major funder of clinical research in Scotland, including research into the causes and treatment of cancer. Scottish-based researchers can apply for funding to the CSO’s Experimental and Translational Research Committee, and its Health Services and Population Health Research Committee. The CSO will contact the lead author of the current study to discuss the findings and to ensure that he is aware of the funding opportunities referred to above.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:53.663","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298613,"EventID":"S4W-23190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:53.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T11:26:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the prevalence of autism in Scotland; whether it is increasing, and whether it considers that the Scottish Strategy for Autism will have an impact on it.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government focus is on support for people with autism and autism service delivery. We are ensuring the visibility of the population with autism in routinely collected data is a priority and we have commissioned the newly established Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory to specifically support data collection in this regard. This work is at an early stage.\r\nA key priority under the Scottish Strategy for Autism is improving access to diagnosis and, as a priority, work is underway to develop an improvement programme with diagnostic services to explore ways of improving capacity and ensuring individuals with autism have timely access to diagnostics and thereafter post diagnostic support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:54.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298614,"EventID":"S4W-23193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:54.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T11:42:55.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many child and adolescent mental health service outpatient units there are, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The provision of outpatient units for child and adolescent mental health is the responsibility of the relevant NHS health board. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:54.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298615,"EventID":"S4W-23195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:54.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T14:08:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides toward the training of HGV drivers.\r\n","AnswerText":"Professional training of drivers of vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers is a mandatory requirement under EC Directive 2003/59/EC. This seeks to raise the standards of new drivers and to maintain and enhance the professionalism of existing lorry and bus drivers throughout the European Union, through a continuous update of their capabilities.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not provide financial support towards the cost of mandatory training. However, we are aware of the difficulties facing the sector as a whole, and are working in partnership with industry stakeholders – such as the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association – on how these can best be addressed.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises that an enthusiastic and trained workforce underpins Scotland's ambition for economic success. Modern apprenticeships support this goal by providing individuals with the opportunity to secure industry recognised qualifications while earning a wage. There are several modern apprenticeship opportunities available within the field of transport, specifically in the area of freight logistics.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:54.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298616,"EventID":"S4W-23196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:55.147","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T14:29:53.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths per 1,000 of population in the NHS Grampian area were attributable to (a) alcohol and (b) other substance misuse in the latest year for which information is available, and how this compares with the national average.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data on deaths per 1,000 population which were attributable to (a) alcohol and (b) other substance misuse are provided in the following table.\r\nDeaths registered in 2013, per 1,000 population, by underlying cause\r\n\r\n\r\nNHS Grampian\r\nScotland\r\nAlcohol-related\r\n0.15\r\n0.21\r\nDrug-related \r\n0.09\r\n0.10\r\nNational statistics on both alcohol and drug related deaths, broken down by NHS board, are published annually by the National Records of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:55.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298617,"EventID":"S4W-23197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:55.58","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T14:29:53.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17876 by Keith Brown on 6 November 2013, whether a further estimate of the cost of the Haudagain roundabout improvements has been carried out and, if so, (a) when and (b) how much was calculated.\r\n","AnswerText":"The STAG Report prepared by Aberdeen City Council estimated that Option 5 would cost in the region of £14.5 million (May 2007 prices, and excluding VAT).\r\nThe independent cost review undertaken by Transport Scotland as part of the Stage 2 Route option confirmation process in April 2014 identified the updated construction cost for Haudagain to be in the region of £26 million (2014 prices, excluding land and VAT).\r\nThe scheme cost estimate will continue to be refined and updated as the detailed design develops.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:55.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298618,"EventID":"S4W-23198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:55.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T14:29:53.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many offences of wasting police time were recorded in the former Grampian Police force area in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:55.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298619,"EventID":"S4W-23199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-17T16:58:56.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T16:06:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark the surrender of Scottish regiments in 1940 following the battle for St Valéry-en-Caux.","AnswerText":"Commemorative events marking the defensive battles leading to the ultimate evacuation of UK Expeditionary Forces from the Pas-de-Calais area in France in 1940 are arranged and managed by individual regimental associations and veterans’ groups, working closely with the French civic authorities.\r\nScottish ministers have not as yet received an invitation to attend any event planned to mark the 75th anniversary of the battle for St-Valéry-en-Caux. However, consideration will be given to sending a representative if a suitable opportunity arises, as when the then Minister for Parliamentary Business attended on behalf of the Scottish Government commemorative events in France that marked the 70th anniversary of the battle for St-Valéry-en-Caux in 2010 as a guest of the North East Scotland Disabled Veterans Association.\r\nThe North East Scotland Disabled Veterans Association has no plans to attend, though that position could change at some point in the run up to June 2015. The association is also unaware of any other veterans’ group planning to make the trip. Similarly, Legion Scotland is unaware of any Scottish legion branch planning a trip to France to mark the 75th anniversary of the battle.\r\nThe Scottish Government appointed the Scottish Commemorations Panel in March 2013 to recommend a programme of events to commemorate the centenary of World War One. The panel, which is chaired by former military Chaplain Professor Norman Drummond CBE FRSE, were tasked with creating a programme of events that would honour the sacrifice of Scottish servicemen and women, reflect on the global impact of WWI and on the domestic impact of the war during 1914-18. It is the panel’s responsibility to ensure that these commemorations achieve a balance of remembrance as well as encouraging a spirit of research and inquiry in educational and genealogical terms, thus leaving a lasting legacy.\r\nThe eight key dates that Scotland will mark nationally are:\r\n10 August 2014 - The Drumhead Service.\r\n25 April 2015 - Gallipoli \r\n22 May 2015 - The train crash at Quintinshill, near Gretna\r\n25 September 2015 - Battle of Loos\r\n31 May 2016 - Battle of Jutland\r\n9 April 2017 - Battle of Arras\r\n11 November 2018 - Armistice Day and Celebration of Peace\r\n1 January 2019 - Loss of HMY Iolaire\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-01T16:58:56.253","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298654,"EventID":"S4W-23200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:54.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T16:52:47.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds any unpublished reports by Alan Radford on marine matters and, if so, when it plans to publish them. \r\n","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland has commissioned consultants Grid Economics (Geoff Riddington and Alan Radford) to produce an economic analysis of the impacts of possible new management measures in Scotland’s inshore fisheries. We have received a draft report which is currently being finalised. We expect to be able to publish early in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:54.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298655,"EventID":"S4W-23201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:54.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:56:08.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation's recent report that recommends offering the human papillomavirus vaccine at sexual health clinics to men who have sex with men, whether it will introduce such a programme and, if so, when this will begin, whether it will be accompanied with a public awareness campaign and what schedule of vaccinations will be required.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) consultation on its interim findings in relation to human papillomavirus vaccination for men who have sex with men. These JCVI findings are interim only at this stage. The Scottish Government will carefully consider the final advice from the JCVI once this is available, following the committee’s consultation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:54.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298656,"EventID":"S4W-23202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:55.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:56:08.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its consideration of plain packaging for tobacco includes the cigarette wrappers.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes I can confirm that the provisions set out in Part 5 of the UK Children and Families Act 2014 refers to the regulation of retail packaging etc. of tobacco products including cigarette wrappers. This includes the definition of packaging in subsection 15: “packaging”, in relation to a tobacco product, means—\r\n(a) the external packaging of that product,\r\n(b) any internal packaging of that product,\r\n(c) any wrapper of that product, or\r\n(d) any other material attached to or included with that product or anything within paragraphs (a) to (c).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:55.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298657,"EventID":"S4W-23203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:55.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:56:08.277","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) serious and (b) other accidents there have been in each of the last seven years at the Keir roundabout on the M9, broken down by (i) the number of fatalities and (ii) how often the roundabout had to be repaired.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of reported personal injury accidents at and within 300 metres of the Keir roundabout, on the trunk roads, in the last seven full calendar years, 2007-2013.\r\nYear\r\nFatal\r\nSerious\r\nSlight\r\nTOTAL\r\n2007\r\n0\r\n3\r\n5\r\n8\r\n2008\r\n0\r\n0\r\n7\r\n7\r\n2009\r\n0\r\n1\r\n4\r\n5\r\n2010\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n5\r\n2011\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n2\r\n2012\r\n0\r\n0\r\n8\r\n8\r\n2013\r\n1\r\n1\r\n5\r\n7\r\nTOTAL\r\n1\r\n5\r\n36\r\n42\r\n\r\nThere have been 1 fatal, 5 serious and 36 slight injury accidents. The fatal accident took place in November 2013 and resulted in 1 person being killed.\r\nIn the same period, our operating company recorded 17 instances of damage requiring repair at the roundabout.\r\nThe figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:55.62","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298658,"EventID":"S4W-23204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:56.027","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:56:46.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding to special NHS boards other than the NHS National Waiting Times Centre and the State Hospitals Board for Scotland is allocated to (a) clinical frontline functions and (b) non-clinical functions.\r\n","AnswerText":"Figures for clinical services costs and non-clinical services costs are detailed in NHSScotland board annual accounts. Total expenditure by all special boards for clinical services costs and non-clinical services costs, with the exception of the National Waiting Times Centre and the State Hospitals Board for Scotland, taken from the boards’ annual accounts for 2013-14 are as follows:\r\nNHS special health boards clinical and non-clinical services costs from annual accounts 2013-14\r\nTotal clinical services costs\r\n£835,098\r\nTotal non-clinical services costs\r\n£309,293\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:56.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298659,"EventID":"S4W-23205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:56.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:56:46.667","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last carried out modelling of the traffic density and speed and the design suitability on the Keir roundabout on the M9.","AnswerText":"No detailed traffic modelling has been undertaken by Transport Scotland of Keir roundabout. However, as part of the A9 Keir to Luncarty study, details of the junction and the traffic using it have been included in the economic evaluation model of improvements between Keir and Perth.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:56.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298660,"EventID":"S4W-23206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:57.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:06.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what studies it has conducted of the flow of traffic travelling (a) north and (b) south at the Keir roundabout on the M9.\r\n","AnswerText":"As part of the A9 Keir to Luncarty study, a detailed survey of traffic movements was undertaken in October 2012. This provided an understanding of all traffic movements approaching the roundabout, including details of turning traffic to/from the A9 to the M9. An additional queue length and duration survey was undertaken on the A9 southbound approach in September/October 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:57.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298661,"EventID":"S4W-23207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:57.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:06.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had legal advice or advice from the Scottish Human Rights Commission on whether the proposed data entry and collection system for the proposed drug and alcohol information system (DAISy) is compliant with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether it complies.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ensuring all aspects of information governance are addressed is an important element of the drug and alcohol information system (DAISy) project and there is a dedicated subgroup in place to deal with these matters. The subgroup will advise on whether DAISy is compliant with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:57.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298662,"EventID":"S4W-23209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:57.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:06.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether, when designing the new drug and alcohol information system (DAISy), the steering group (a) consulted a Caldicott guardian, (b) consulted the Scottish Drugs Forum and (c) examined the findings of The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report.\r\n","AnswerText":"The drug and alcohol information system (DAISy) is governed by a project board which has a range of subgroups tasked to deal with specific issues.\r\nThe DAISy information governance subgroup ensures necessary approvals are gained from Caldicott guardian and information governance leads. Consultation has taken place with Caldicott guardians and will continue throughout the duration of the project.\r\nThe Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) has been consulted throughout the duration of the DAISy project. The SDF is now a member of the DAISy project board in addition to both the DAISy dataset and information governance subgroups.\r\nThe findings of The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report will be examined to ensure we are complying with any recommendation that may affect the dataset.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:57.94","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298663,"EventID":"S4W-23210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:58.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:06.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what process of consent will be incorporated into the proposed drug and alcohol information system (DAISy).\r\n","AnswerText":"Ensuring all aspects of information governance are addressed is an important element of the drug and alcohol information system (DAISy) project and there is a dedicated subgroup in place to deal with these matters. Addressing the process of consent is one of its key deliverables, which will be built into the DAISy system as the project develops.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:58.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298664,"EventID":"S4W-23211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:58.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:06.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the new drug and alcohol information system (DAISy) will replace all existing systems including (a) SMR 25a, (b) waiting time data collection and (c) data entry on individual NHS board patient recording systems.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy) will replace two existing data collection systems: (a) the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) that collects SMR25a/b and (b) the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times database. It will also gather information on alcohol treatment and outcomes which is not currently collected.\r\nDAISy will be made available to all Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and specialist services to facilitate data collection. It is not expected to replace all local systems in use by ADPs and services. A facility will be provided where data can be uploaded from these local systems to DAISy to prevent double data entry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:58.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298665,"EventID":"S4W-23212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:59.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:16.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported rise in reports of illegal hare coursing. \r\n","AnswerText":"Hare coursing, like many other types of poaching is largely a seasonal activity. Hare coursing takes place predominantly in spring and autumn, and this is reflected in increased reports from late August through to the end of November. The Wildlife Crime Annual Report published on 20 October 2014 shows that numbers of recorded crimes involving hunting with dogs have remained relatively constant over the last four years.\r\nHare coursing is a barbaric sport that not only involves cruelty to hares, but also those taking part often threaten and intimidate members of rural communities. Specific police operations to counter hare coursing will take place as and when appropriate, depending on the level and quality of any information received. The Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime has a sub-group dedicated to combating poaching and coursing. This group works closely with farmers and other stakeholders to tackle hare coursing through awareness raising and advice on reporting coursing incidents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:59.27","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298666,"EventID":"S4W-23213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:59.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:16.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of its energy efficiency schemes (a) provide assistance to homes in the private rented sector and (b) encourage the uptake of double glazing for windows.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) and Green Homes Cashback schemes provides support for householders across all tenures, including the private rented sector. Double glazing is eligible through our HEEPS: Area Based Schemes and can typically only be installed alongside other insulation measures. Installation of double glazing is eligible for support through the UK Government’s Energy Company Obligation.\r\nI would encourage all householders to call the Home Energy Scotland hotline free on 0808 808 2282. Home Energy Scotland offers free and impartial advice to all householders in Scotland and ensures they can be referred through the most appropriate scheme specific to their personal circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:59.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298667,"EventID":"S4W-23215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:49:59.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:58:16.54","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what restrictions there are on the installation of double glazing in conservation areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"The permitted development rights for works to dwelling houses and flats, which would allow such installation without needing planning permission, do not apply in conservation areas.\r\nThe determination of applications for planning permission, and the development plan policies against which they are considered, are primarily matters for the planning authority.\r\nThe Scottish Planning Policy (paragraph 143) and Planning Advice Note 71: 'Conservation Area Management' contains national planning policy and guidance on conservation areas. These can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/5823 \r\nand http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/12/20450/49052 repectively.\r\nHistoric Scotland (HS) also produce guidance documents relating to the repair, upgrading or replacement of windows. These can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/managing-change-consultation-windows.pdf \r\nHS guidance on windows for planning authorities and other interested parties;\r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/informguide-sashandcase.pdf \r\nHS guidance on maintaining sash windows:\r\nhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/thermal-windows.pdf \r\nHS report on improving the thermal performance of traditional windows; and HS report on the use of slim-profile double glazing:\r\nhttp://conservation.historic-scotland.gov.uk/techpaper9.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:49:59.923","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298668,"EventID":"S4W-23216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:50:00.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:07.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provides details of each (a) leadership and (b) training course open to (i) doctors, (ii) nurses, (iii) midwives, (iv) allied health professionals and (v) social workers that it has supported in each of the last three years, broken down by the funding it has (A) provided and (B) will provide in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"Providing the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:50:00.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298669,"EventID":"S4W-23217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:50:00.613","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:07.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in The Sunday Post on 2 November 2014 that 900 NHS employees have been accused of breaching the Data Protection Act 1998 and what information it has on how many cases have subsequently been reported to the Scottish Information Commissioner.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s position is that any security incident in NHSScotland that leads to breach of patient confidentiality is unacceptable. But it must be stressed that the vast majority of information security incidents reported internally by boards are at the negligible or minor end of the spectrum. These all require investigation and action such as changes in process, advice and/or discipline of staff, but do not necessarily lead to any impact on patient confidentiality. For this reason the high number of cases reported in The Sunday Post would bear no relation to the number of cases that actually require reporting by boards to the Scottish Information Commissioner. The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on cases reported directly by health boards to the Information Commissioner’s Office, but since August 2014 has introduced a new approach to categorising incidents, and has started to record figures and details on significant information security incidents (the figure is 1 for the period August 2014 to present).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:50:00.64","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298670,"EventID":"S4W-23218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:50:01.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:07.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its target for two hours of physical education for every school class will be achieved by the end of 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 2014 Healthy Living Survey, published in June 2014, shows 96% of schools are delivering at least two hours physical education in primary schools and at least two periods in secondary schools, in S1-S4. With the new school term having started in August 2014 that figure is expected to increase to 98%, which demonstrates remarkable progress since 2004-05 when less than 10% of schools were meeting this target.\r\nEducation Scotland continue to work with local authorities and schools to make progress towards meeting the target. Physical education statistics for the 2015 Healthy Living Survey will be collected in February and published in June 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:50:01.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298671,"EventID":"S4W-23219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T13:50:01.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:07.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive reply to the letter from Roger Livermore of 14 September 2014 regarding health and safety legislation in the NHS, which was acknowledged on 17 September.\r\n","AnswerText":"Roger Livermore has written to the Scottish Government several times regarding health and safety legislation in NHSScotland.\r\nHe has received five substantive replies and three more informing him that the Scottish Government had nothing further to add to previous responses.\r\nMr Livermore did not raise any new points in his letter of 14 September 2014 and a reply was sent to him informing him that any future correspondence sent on the same subject would be put on file with no response being issued.\r\nIf he raises new points, a substantive reply will be sent.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T13:50:01.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298678,"EventID":"S4W-23220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:06.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:42.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the cost of cancer in Scotland from the 2003 analysis on the Information Services Division website.","AnswerText":"In April 2012, the Scottish Government published a methodology paper describing the pilot application of Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis in Scotland, using 2007-08 data. Section 4.2 of this document contains information on the estimated costs of cancer services. We are hoping to publish updated programme budgeting analysis, based on 2011-12 data, in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:06.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298679,"EventID":"S4W-23221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:06.893","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:42.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to pay GPs the £55 fee for each diagnosis of dementia as announced for GPs in England.","AnswerText":"An accurate, timely dementia diagnosis is the gateway to effective care, treatment and support. The GP contract in Scotland already supports the dementia care pathway by incentivising appropriate clinical activity through the quality and outcomes framework.\r\nThe last comparable UK-wide dementia diagnosis data, published by the UK Alzheimer Society in 2013, showed that, nationally, Scotland’s diagnosis rate was 20% higher than England and 26% higher than Wales. This in large, part reflects the success of our 2008-11 national diagnosis target, which was achieved by working collaboratively with local teams including GPs on the value of diagnosis.\r\nDecisions regarding the care and treatment of individual patients are always a matter of professional judgement for the clinician responsible for the patient’s care.\r\nGPs follow national clinical guidelines as well as locally agreed referral pathways to manage a patient’s healthcare, referring them for the appropriate diagnostic tests and to specialist services for their condition.\r\nFunding to improve dementia services continues to be drawn from the overall funds allocated to NHS Scotland and local authorities by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:06.92","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298680,"EventID":"S4W-23222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:07.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T11:59:42.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the target net income for GPs will be for (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"The vast majority of GP practices in Scotland operate as independent contractors with funding provided to the GP practice, not to individual GPs, for the delivery of primary medical services.\r\nIt is for the practice partners to determine the best use of that funding in order to meet the contracted care requirements of their patients and to deliver the services required by its contract, as well as their own pay.\r\nFor 2014-15 the Scottish Government implemented the recommendations of the doctor and dentists’ pay review body in full, investing an additional £1.8 million in to GP services and allowing for a 1% increase in GP pay. In addition we have invested a further £4.2 million into the contract and fully funded the 2013-14 population growth of over 30,000, bringing the total increase in funding for the GP contract to £8.2 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:07.343","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298681,"EventID":"S4W-23223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:07.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:01:15.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost for (a) paracetamol and (b) aspirin to be prescribed by (i) GPs and (ii) the minor ailment service in 2013-14 and what the estimated cost is for 2014-15, also broken down by the average cost per prescription.\r\n","AnswerText":"The 2013-14 gross ingredient cost (GIC) of paracetamol and aspirin (i) dispensed in the community and (ii) dispensed through the minor ailment service is published on the National Services Scotland Information Services Division website at:\r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Prescribing-and-Medicines/Publications/2014-06-24/PCA_2014.xls?82035012 and:\r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Prescribing-and-Medicines/Publications/2014-06-24/MAS_Treatments_2014.xls?68869579\r\nThe data cannot be disaggregated to show items prescribed by GPs alone. The GIC data for the minor ailment service is a subset of the total cost of items dispensed in the community.\r\nInformation on the estimated cost for 2014-15 is not available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:07.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298682,"EventID":"S4W-23226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:08.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:01:15.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many 16 to 65-year-olds are ineligible for treatment under the minor ailment service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The eligibility criteria for the minor ailment service (MAS) are set out in the Health Board Additional Pharmaceutical Services (minor ailment service) (Scotland) Directions 2011, which can be found on the Scotland’s Health on the Web website at:www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2011(P)06.pdf\r\nInformation on the number of people aged between 16 and 65 who are not eligible for MAS is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:08.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298683,"EventID":"S4W-23227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:08.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:01:15.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it advertises eligibility for treatment under the minor ailment service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government publishes a patient information leaflet which includes details about who the minor ailment service is for (eligibility), how to register and how registration works, and the advice and treatments available through the service.\r\nThe leaflet is available in the English, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu languages, and is distributed to GP practices and pharmacy premises for public display and retention.\r\nA copy of the current leaflet is available on the Scottish Government website at:-\r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/09/5918/downloads\r\nInformation is also available on the NHS 24 website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:08.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298684,"EventID":"S4W-23228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:09.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:01:15.177","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increase in GP workloads, whether it will reintroduce the requirement for a prescription exemption application form to be completed in order to be eligible for treatment under the minor ailment service.\r\n","AnswerText":"Patients with a valid medical exemption certificate can apply to register for the minor ailment service. The medical conditions by which a patient qualifies for a medical exemption certificate are set out in the NHS (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, which can be found at:www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/55/contents/made\r\nThese arrangements remain in place, and there are no current plans for review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:09.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298685,"EventID":"S4W-23229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:09.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:02:00.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have registered for the chronic medicines prescription scheme and what action it is taking to encourage registration, other than literature being made available in community pharmacies.\r\n","AnswerText":"As at week commencing 24 November 2014, there were 417,200 patients registered for the chronic medication service (CMS) in community pharmacies across Scotland. In the context of Prescription for Excellence, the Scottish Government is working with health boards to further promote and strengthen the clinical benefits of the service to people with long terms conditions.\r\nThere will also be an increased emphasis on promoting the serial prescribing and dispensing element of the service which, as well as improving the patient’s overall experience of CMS, helps to facilitate shared care between the patient’s GP and pharmacist.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:09.487","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298686,"EventID":"S4W-23231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:09.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:02:00.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which body inspects hospital food and whether its reports are publicly available.\r\n","AnswerText":"Health Facilities Scotland report every six months on compliance with the NHSScotland Food in Hospitals National Catering and Nutrition Specification, based on self-assessment by health boards. The most recent report, published in August 2014, showed that compliance had increased by 0.4% to 96.7% and that all health boards in Scotland achieved overall compliance of over 90%. These reports are made public and can be found on the Health Facilities Scotland website.\r\nIn addition, Healthcare Improvement Scotland are also undertaking a programme of inspections of care for older people in acute hospitals. The inspection programme focuses on several key areas, including nutritional care and hydration. These reports are made public and can be found on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website.\r\nOn 17 November 2014, the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced new measures to improve the quality of food in hospitals, including improved nutrition and catering standards introduced in the new year, supported by increased inspections of hospital meals and a move away from self-reporting.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:09.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298687,"EventID":"S4W-23232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:10.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:02:00.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent surveys have been carried out of patients' views of hospital food and whether these are publicly available.\r\n","AnswerText":"All NHS boards carry out an annual survey of patient satisfaction with hospital food. The results are collated by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) to provide a view for NHS Scotland. The most recent results were collated in November 2014.\r\nResults of the patient satisfaction surveys are not published, but where low or falling scores are registered, HFS develop an improvement plan with the board in order to raise patient satisfaction. As part of the hospital food and nutrition improvement measures announced last month, the Scottish Government will be reviewing inspection and public reporting on the quality of food, including considering how patients’ views are best reflected and reported.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:10.31","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298688,"EventID":"S4W-23233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:10.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:03:08.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a report prepared on the prior management of every mentally-ill person who has committed homicide and, if so, who is responsible for ensuring that the report is carried out and who audits the (a) reports and (b) quality of the guidance.\r\n","AnswerText":"A homicide by a patient in touch with mental health services would constitute a ‘Category 1 adverse event’, which should trigger a comprehensive review by local health services, in terms of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) guidance –Learning from adverse events through reporting and review: A National Framework for NHSScotland September 2013. HIS may choose to share any lessons from such investigations across the system.\r\nAn incident such as this would also be investigated by the procurator fiscal, both as a crime, and as part of the Crown’s responsibility to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths, potentially triggering a fatal accident inquiry.\r\nThe Mental Welfare Commission have made it clear that they should be notified of such events, and can choose to investigate further under section 11 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. They can also be invited to do so by Scottish Ministers. The commission expects a summary of the case to include diagnosis, brief history, outline of charges and the service’s intended action to further investigate the care the patient received. Examples of such investigations include the report Too Close to See – Mr F, into the care and treatment of Mr F, and the inquiry into the Care and Treatment of Mr L and Mr M which are available on their website at: http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/publications/investigation-reports/\r\nFinally, Scotland continues to part fund the UK wide National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide. One aspect of the work of this project is that every patient convicted of murder, culpable homicide or not found criminally responsible for murder, or unfit to plead to a charge of murder but found at an examination of the facts to have committed the offence who has been in contact with mental health services in the 12 month period preceding the offence is identified and a questionnaire sent to the local service to be completed by the consultant psychiatrists:http://www.hqip.org.uk/national-confidential-inquiry-into-suicide-and-homicide/\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:10.76","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298689,"EventID":"S4W-23235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:11.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:03:08.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have been transferred to units in England for treatment since the State Hospital stopped admitting female patients and how much this has cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since the State Hospital stopped admitting female patients in 2009, 21 female patients have been sent to England for treatment. Of these, only a very small number (actual number suppressed to protect patient confidentiality) were sent to a high-secure facility. This figure does not include those patients who were being repatriated to England. \r\nInformation on costs is held by each individual health board and is not provided to the Scottish Government as a matter of course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:11.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298690,"EventID":"S4W-23237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:11.6","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:03:08.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many women have received a forensic mental health assessment since the State Hospital stopped admitting female patients and at what locations.\r\n","AnswerText":"Forensic mental health assessments are carried out on patients in a variety of settings, for example as voluntary patients or by GPs, and this information would not be passed to the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:11.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298691,"EventID":"S4W-23238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:12.003","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T14:31:33.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects hourly train journeys between Inverness and Aberdeen to be introduced by 2019.","AnswerText":"The £170 million package of phase one improvements, announced on 28 March 2014, is the first stage to facilitate the introduction of the hourly service, a half hourly service from Elgin to Inverness and Aberdeen to Inverurie, as well as journey time reductions of up to 20 minutes and extra commuter services by 2030.\r\nHowever as individual infrastructure enhancements are completed, a review of timetables will analyse opportunities for possible service improvements and identify opportunities for offering incremental benefits to passengers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:12.027","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298692,"EventID":"S4W-23239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-18T16:38:12.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T14:31:33.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the cost of introducing hourly train journeys between Inverness and Aberdeen is included in its £177 million rail infrastructure investment plan.","AnswerText":"The £170 million package of phase one improvements to be delivered by 2019, announced on 28 March 2014, includes: redoubling of track between Aberdeen and Inverurie; signalling enhancements; platform extensions at Insch and Elgin; Forres station relocation; and, track improvements and infrastructure to support two new stations at Dalcross and Kintore.\r\nThis is the first step of the long term aim of the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements project to facilitate the delivery of an hourly service, journey time reductions of up to 20 minutes and enhanced peak-time services and connectivity at either end of the route by 2030.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-02T16:38:12.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298693,"EventID":"S4W-23248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:23","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will fund testing for the BRAF marker in people with malignant melanoma when the current external funding support comes to an end.","AnswerText":"Molecular pathology testing for BRAF mutations in melanoma samples is currently undertaken in laboratories in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, which are funded as part of a national service agreement.\r\nThe laboratory in Glasgow is currently developing this test and will be providing it from January 2015. This will mean from that date all four molecular pathology laboratories in Scotland will offer the test.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:23.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298694,"EventID":"S4W-23249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:23.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the shovel-ready projects submitted to the UK Government are progressing.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government initially provided the UK Government with a list of projects totalling £302 million on 2 March 2012. A further detailed list of projects totalling £820.8 million was subsequently provided on 23 November 2012. The majority of the projects within these lists have been taken forward despite significant cuts to our capital budgets. Information relating to the status of the projects is provided in the following two tables:\r\nList of projects provided to the Prime Minister on 2 March 2012\r\nProject Name\r\nFunding required (£million)\r\nStatus\r\nUllapool Pier – passenger access system, traffic management, new berthing dolphin and replacement linkspan \r\n4\r\nIn construction\r\nGourock-Dunoon Pontoons \r\n2\r\nCancelled \r\nKennacraig Phase 2 \r\n4\r\nCompleted\r\nA75 Hardgrove to Kinmount \r\n10\r\nCompleted\r\nA96 Threapland \r\n6\r\nStatutory procedures complete\r\nA68 Pathhead to Tynehead Junction \r\n6\r\nStatutory procedures complete\r\nA95 Lackgie \r\n4\r\nStatutory procedures complete\r\nA702 Candymill Bend and Edmonstone Brae \r\n4\r\nStatutory procedures complete\r\nA737 Head Street Roundabout \r\n1.5\r\nSuperseded by A737 Improvements at Beith project which is currently in preparation.\r\nA876 Kincardine Bridge Refurbishment \r\n14\r\nStatutory procedures complete\r\nM8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements: Advance Public Utilities \r\n37.8\r\nIn construction\r\nTransport\r\n\r\n\r\nHealth maintenance to ensure assets are safe, effective and patient centred \r\n50\r\nProjects which formed this inclusion are all completed.\r\nHealth\r\n\r\n\r\nAccelerating Schools for the Future \r\n30.8\r\nFive projects formed this inclusion. One secondary school, two primary schools and one additional special needs school are completed and one primary school is currently in construction.\r\nSchools\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Glasgow - Centre for Virology Research \r\n13\r\nCompleted \r\n\r\nUniversity of Dundee - Phases 2 and 3 - refurbishment of Duncan of Jordanstone\r\n8\r\nCompleted \r\n\r\nUniversity of Abertay/ Dundee College - Dundee Academy of Sport \r\n6\r\nIn Preparation\r\nUniversity of Edinburgh – Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences \r\n8\r\nCompleted\r\nFurther and higher education\r\n\r\n\r\nDundee Central Waterfront \r\n4.5\r\nIn construction\r\nFife Energy Park – Site Development \r\n3.5\r\nIn construction\r\nITREZ Technology Innovation Centre \r\n4\r\nIn construction\r\nATOS Building – Forres Enterprise Park \r\n3\r\nCompleted\r\nInverness Campus \r\n6\r\nCompleted \r\nForres Enterprise Park – Extension of Roads \r\n2\r\nCompleted\r\nForres Enterprise Park – Provide 2 Units \r\n3\r\nCompleted \r\nEuropean Marine Science Park – Ground  works \r\n3.5\r\nCompleted \r\nCreative Clyde \r\n1.7\r\nIn construction\r\nNational Renewable Infrastructure Plan – Hunterston Quay Upgrade \r\n2\r\nIn preparation\r\nEnterprise\r\n\r\n\r\nPriority investments within Local Authority Strategic Housing Investment Plans \r\n15\r\nMajority of projects which formed this inclusion are completed.\r\nHousing\r\n\r\n\r\nClyde Gateway developments at Bridgeton Cross, Dalmarnock Cross, Rutherglen and Shawfield \r\n37\r\nFive projects formed this inclusion.  One is completed, two are currently in construction and two are in preparation.\r\nAyr Gaiety regeneration\r\n1\r\nIn preparation\r\nRegeneration\r\n\r\n\r\nNational Records of Scotland – Thomas Thomson House – urgent roof repairs \r\n1.5\r\nCompleted\r\nHistoric Scotland – Abbotsford House – restoration to bring into public use \r\n0.7\r\nCompleted\r\nHistoric Scotland – Lews Castle development \r\n1\r\nThe elements which formed this inclusion are completed.\r\nCulture and heritage\r\n\r\n\r\nForestry Commission Scotland – upgrade of visitor facilities at David Marshall Lodge, Aberfoyle and Queen's View, Perthshire \r\n1\r\nCompleted\r\n\r\nNational Parks - visitor facility improvements within the National Parks \r\n1\r\nCompleted\r\nRoyal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh – commence replacement of the Garden's ageing glasshouses \r\n1.5\r\nCompleted\r\n\r\nRural and environment\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n302\r\n\r\n\r\nList of projects provided to the UK Chancellor on 23 November 2012\r\nProject Name\r\nFunding required (£million)\r\nStatus\r\nA96 Threapland\r\n6.0\r\nStatutory procedures ","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:23.967","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298695,"EventID":"S4W-23250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:24.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many secure inpatient care places there are for children with mental health conditions in each NHS board.","AnswerText":"There is no provision within NHS Scotland for children and young people with mental health conditions who require secure inpatient care.\r\nWhere secure inpatient care is required for children who have mental health conditions, NHS boards will use the Nation Services Division nationally funded-service for secure mental health services for adolescents or make individual arrangements with other providers in NHS England or specialist private sector providers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:24.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298696,"EventID":"S4W-23251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:24.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many child and adolescent mental health service beds there are for people (a) up to 18, (b) who are severely intellectually disabled, (c) who are moderately intellectually disabled, (d) with a severe autistic spectrum disorder and (e) requiring low secure beds, also broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Where appropriate, children and adolescents who are severely and intellectually disabled, or moderately intellectually disabled, or with a severe autistic spectrum disorder may be treated in a child or adolescent mental health inpatient unit. The units provide treatment for a range of issues. The units will treat children and young people with a wide range of needs who require inpatient care, and the beds and staffing will be used flexibly to meet those needs.\r\nThe following table shows the three regional adolescent in-patient units operating across Scotland based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and the number of beds available in each unit.\r\n\r\nNo of beds\r\n\r\nArea served\r\n(NHS Board)\r\n\r\n\r\n12\r\nSouth East of Scotland\r\n(Lothian, Fife and Borders).\r\n\r\n24\r\nWest of Scotland (Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire and Arran)\r\n\r\n6 (a further six beds will be available from mid-2015).\r\nNorth of Scotland (Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles)\r\nSevere psychiatric conditions are rare in children under 12, but those who require intensive support and treatment can be cared for in the 9 bedded specialist unit within the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow.\r\nYoung people in secures facilities in Scotland can access their local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). There are no secure inpatient child and adolescent mental health beds in Scotland.\r\nWhere very specialist inpatient care is required which cannot be provided by the CAMHS inpatient units, NHS Boards will use the National Services Division nationally-funded service for secure mental health services for adolescents or make individual arrangements with other providers in NHS England or the specialist private sector providers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:24.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298697,"EventID":"S4W-23252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:24.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that it provides 24 to 40 child and adolescent mental health service beds per 1 million total population up to the age of 18.","AnswerText":"Children and young people referred to child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) will be generally treated in the community.\r\nA new model of 'hospital at home' type care and treatment has been introduced across many NHS boards. This new approach creates new capacity. In the areas where the new approaches are most advanced this has been demonstrated to have had the effect of significantly reducing the need for unscheduled and temporary admissions of under 18s to adult psychiatric hospital beds.\r\nThe new approach emphasises the child's strengths and uses the expertise within the family and the local community to maximise the support available - the theory being that a small change in a child's familiar environment will be more significant in their recovery than a larger change in a setting alien to them. When provided in conjunction with practices such as proactive discharge (planning discharges from the date of decision to admit) and flexible approaches to in-reach and out-reach work, a number of benefits have been demonstrated. Some admissions are avoided altogether. Many are significantly shortened. Where evaluation and research has been undertaken, good patient outcomes have been demonstrated.\r\nThere may however be times when it is necessary to admit them to hospital for specialist treatment. Should this be the case they would be admitted to one of the three regional CAMHS inpatient units.\r\nThe three regional units are located in: \r\nEdinburgh, which has 12 beds and covers the South East of Scotland health boards (NHS Lothian, NHS Fife and NHS Borders);\r\nGlasgow, which has 24 beds and covers the West of Scotland (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Ayrshire and Arran);\r\nDundee, which has six beds, with a further six beds becoming available in early 2015, and covers the North of Scotland (NHS Tayside, NHS Highland, NHS Grampian, NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles).\r\nThe additional six beds in Dundee will increase the bed base from 42 to 48 and improve the quality of the estate and help ease pressure on regional services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:24.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298698,"EventID":"S4W-23253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:25.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:15:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that it provides (a) 3-4 beds per 1 million total population for severely intellectually disabled young people, (b) 2-3  beds per 1 million total population for moderately intellectually disabled young people and (c) 1 low secure bed per 1 million total population.","AnswerText":"It is the responsibility of NHS boards to ensure there is adequate provision for severely intellectually disabled young people and to keep arrangements under review. In the national mental health strategy we include a commitment to work with clinicians in Scotland to identify good models of learning disability child and adolescent mental health service from across Scotland and the UK which could be used as tests in Scotland. That work, being undertaken by the University of Glasgow, is well underway, and will inform service development.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:25.2","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298699,"EventID":"S4W-23254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:25.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T17:38:50.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from the Fossil Fuel Levy has been paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.\r\n","AnswerText":"A cash payment of £206 million was paid by Ofgem into the Scottish Consolidated Fund in financial year 2012-13. With the agreement of HM Treasury the Scottish Government’s capital budget for 2012-13 was increased by £103 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:25.527","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298700,"EventID":"S4W-23255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:25.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T17:38:50.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how all Fossil Fuel Levy monies have been spent, broken down by (a) financial year and (b) project.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government contributed £103 million from the Fossil Fuel Levy funds to support the creation of the Green Investment Bank and will use the remaining £103 million to promote the use of renewable energy in Scotland. This commitment was reaffirmed by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy at a meeting of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on 12 November 2014.\r\nThe Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) has been established as the main vehicle for investing and securing leverage from the Fossil Fuel Levy monies. The expenditure profile for REIF has already been extended to March 2016 to respond to the uncertainty caused by regulatory reform at a UK level and to give projects more time to come to fruition. Whilst at this time we cannot give a commitment to extend REIF further, as this would go beyond the current spending review period, we will be closely monitoring take-up. \r\nDetails of support offered to date under REIF are shown in the following table:\r\nRecipient\r\nFinancial Year\r\nInvestment\r\nGigha Green Power Limited\r\n12-13\r\n£49,000\r\nBarra and Vatersay Wind Energy Limited\r\n12-13\r\n£140,000\r\nPoint and Sandwick Power Limited\r\n12-13\r\n£133,000\r\nPelamis Wave Power Limited\r\n12-13\r\n£1,050,000\r\n \r\nTotal 2012-13\r\n£1,372,000\r\nGigha Green Power Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£10,000\r\nBarra and Vatersay Wind Energy Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£160,000\r\nPoint and Sandwick Power Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£552,391\r\nCallander Community Hydro Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£311,000\r\nGalson Energy Ltd\r\n13-14\r\n£400,000\r\nPelamis Wave Power Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£3,250,000\r\nAquamarine Power Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£2,000,000\r\nAtlantis Resources (Scotland) (formerly ARC Ventures (UK) Limited)\r\n13-14\r\n£1,500,000\r\nOcean Flow Energy Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£150,024\r\n2-B Energy Limited\r\n13-14\r\n£436,207\r\n \r\nTotal 2013-14\r\n£8,769,622\r\nBarra and Vatersay Wind Energy Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£250,000\r\nPoint and Sandwick Power Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£1,564,609\r\nIslay Energy Community Benefit Society\r\n14-15\r\n£652,306\r\nFintry Renewable Energy Enterprise \r\n14-15\r\n£615,000\r\nGreen Energy Mull Ltd (Garmony)\r\n14-15\r\n£160,000\r\nPelamis Wave Power Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£1,800,000\r\nAquamarine Power Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£3,400,000\r\nAWS Ocean Energy Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£203,000\r\nAtlantis Resources (Scotland) (formerly ARC Ventures (UK) Limited)\r\n14-15\r\n£500,000\r\nTidal Power Scotland Holdings Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£5,269,493\r\n2-B Energy Limited\r\n14-15\r\n£804,276\r\nNorth Hoo Field Limited\r\n14/15\r\n£610,000\r\n \r\nTotal (30.10.14)\r\n£15,828,684\r\n \r\nTOTAL\r\n£25,970,306\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:25.917","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298701,"EventID":"S4W-23256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:26.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:37:47.413","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported increase in prisoners using drugs that have been smuggled in.","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The Scottish Prison Service is committed to reducing all types of illicit articles entering prisons. To meet this outcome the SPS takes a dual approach to:\r\nEnsure that effective security measures are in place to reduce the supply of illegal drugs and to prevent the trafficking of drugs within the prison setting; and support individuals to address their addiction problem by delivering services which are broadly equivalent to what is available in the community.\r\nThe SPS focus is on operational security and individual treatment and care. \r\nOperational security and control measures in place include: high security walls, x-ray equipment, CCTV cameras, tactical dog teams, searching of staff, prisoners and visitors.\r\nAdditionally at all closed establishments there are staff whose role is to patrol the perimeter of the establishment to deter and detect illicit articles that have been thrown over the wall.\r\nPolice Intelligence Officers are now located in every prison based Intelligence Management Unit. Information in relation to illegal activity is readily shared and assistance provided where appropriate to prevent illegal packages being introduced.\r\nThe SPS further supports a ‘Prison Watch’ scheme that requests members of the public to inform the prison if they notice any suspicious behaviour on the perimeter of the prison wall, the prison then liaise with Police Scotland.\r\nTreatment and individual intervention is also part of the strategy; all offenders are assessed on admission by the NHS and an individual substance misuse care plan (detoxification or stabilisation) is developed. The initial aim of this treatment programme is to stabilise the offender to ensure that they have no need for illegal substances of misuse.\r\nA number of drug testing processes are carried out in prisons, with particular emphasis on progression and suspicion testing, as well as local voluntary drug testing processes, which help support prisoners who have misused substances within the prison. When identified they are either supported into a treatment programme or have to comply with a more restricted regime to curtail their substance misuse.”\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:26.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298702,"EventID":"S4W-23257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:26.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:46:37.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15277 by Alex Neil on 13 June 2013, what consideration it has given to whether there is a need to introduce a regional model of service or extend the service to two sites.","AnswerText":"The National Planning Forum will consider whether to extend the provision of transcatheter aortic valve implantation beyond a single site at its meeting on 4 December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:26.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298703,"EventID":"S4W-23258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:26.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:46:37.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people were (a) treated and (b) refused treatment by the national transcatheter aortic valve implantation service in 2013-14, broken down by parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nThe information in the following table shows referrals to the national transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) service during its first two years of operation.\r\nTable 1: People referred to the national TAVI service, from October 2012 to 24 October 2014, by NHS board.\r\nHealth board\r\nThose who need assessed\r\nThose who need tests\r\nThose who have had TAVI\r\nThose suitable for TAVI\r\nThose suitable for conventional surgery\r\nNot suitable for TAVI/ surgery\r\nTotal\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n8\r\n11\r\n36\r\n5\r\n18\r\n33\r\n111\r\nLanarkshire\r\n1\r\n1\r\n5\r\n0\r\n3\r\n2\r\n12\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n1\r\n1\r\n6\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n11\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\nLothian\r\n2\r\n3\r\n30\r\n1\r\n10\r\n25\r\n71\r\nTayside\r\n2\r\n2\r\n11\r\n0\r\n5\r\n9\r\n29\r\nFife\r\n1\r\n1\r\n14\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n17\r\nForth Valley\r\n2\r\n2\r\n8\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n17\r\nBorders\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n5\r\nGrampian\r\n2\r\n3\r\n6\r\n3\r\n7\r\n7\r\n28\r\nHighlands and Islands\r\n2\r\n2\r\n5\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\n12\r\nTotal\r\n22\r\n26\r\n127\r\n12\r\n45\r\n85\r\n317\r\nSource: National TAVI Service, October 2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:26.823","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298704,"EventID":"S4W-23260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:27.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:46:37.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is of Transport Scotland's expenditure on the tendering process for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract from 2016, and how much has been spent to date.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22738 on 30 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\nThe spend to date is some £45,000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:27.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298705,"EventID":"S4W-23261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:27.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T10:55:41.887","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what dealings it has with Community Pharmacy Scotland in relation to prescription medication.","AnswerText":"The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, as amended, require Scottish Ministers to consult an organisation which they recognise as representative of community pharmacy contractors across Scotland before issuing the drug tariff.\r\nScottish Ministers currently recognise Community Pharmacy Scotland for this purpose, and consult with them in writing and through meetings when relevant issues arise, which require decisions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:27.383","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298706,"EventID":"S4W-23262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:27.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T12:14:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need to improve road safety measures at the Oyne Fork junction on the A96.","AnswerText":"Our records do not indicate a particular problem at this junction, however we will continue to monitor the whole of the A96 to see where improvements are required and react accordingly.\r\nYears of under-investment in north east transport infrastructure are being addressed through the dualling of the A96 and the Inveramsay Bridge improvement scheme as well as the dualled upgrade of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty.\r\nIn addition, we have the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and we are designing the Haudagain improvement scheme, which will address one of the north east’s most notorious bottlenecks. Only last week we started the ground investigations on site to inform this design.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:27.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298707,"EventID":"S4W-23263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:28.117","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T12:14:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the dualling of the A96 will begin.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to completing the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030 through a phased programme of schemes from 2017 onwards.\r\nThe preferred option for the 30km A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme was announced on 3 October 2014. The Scottish Government will appoint a design consultant early next year to take forward the design, assessment and promotion of the preferred option for the scheme with a view to publishing draft Orders and environmental statement in 2016 for formal public comment and feedback. Progress thereafter will depend on the nature and level of objections received to the published draft Orders.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:28.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298708,"EventID":"S4W-23264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:47:28.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T12:18:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many leisure facilities have been closed by each local authority in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is a matter for local authorities as they have a statutory responsibility to determine the provision of facilities based on local need.\r\nAs the national agency for sport, sportscotland takes part in strategic discussions with local authorities about local provision and generally presumes against the loss of outdoor sports facilities except in certain defined circumstances, including where the facility to be lost will be compensated for.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:47:28.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298722,"EventID":"S4O-03731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:05.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:17.14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the regional allocation of funding by Creative Scotland to support cultural events.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:05.117","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298723,"EventID":"S4O-03732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:05.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:47:23.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what arts and culture events it has planned for the West Scotland parliamentary region.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:05.553","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298724,"EventID":"S4O-03733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:05.897","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T11:53:11.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to assist the development of the project, Helensburgh Heroes.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:05.927","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298725,"EventID":"S4O-03734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:06.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:18.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on establishing a film studio complex.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:06.55","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298726,"EventID":"S4O-03735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:07.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T11:20:37.767","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government following the recent G20 meeting.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:07.067","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298727,"EventID":"S4O-03736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:07.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:19.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government about EU matters.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:07.47","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298728,"EventID":"S4O-03737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5060,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:07.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:08:59.83","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the use of fair trade footballs.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:07.767","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298729,"EventID":"S4O-03738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:08.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:21:04.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of goods sold in Scotland can be considered fair trade and what it is doing to increase the sale of fair trade goods.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:08.11","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298730,"EventID":"S4O-03740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:08.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:20.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it protects and supports sites of historic importance.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:08.453","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298731,"EventID":"S4O-03741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:08.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T12:20:44.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting the living wage as part of its anti-poverty strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:08.783","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298732,"EventID":"S4O-03742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:09.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T10:57:29.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle high rents in the private sector.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:09.11","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298733,"EventID":"S4O-03743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:09.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:27.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to reach agreement with Orkney Islands Council on the replacement of the islands' internal ferry fleet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:09.437","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298734,"EventID":"S4O-03744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":76,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:09.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T11:07:34.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging local authorities to explore ways of increasing housing stock. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:09.843","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298735,"EventID":"S4O-03745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:10.247","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T11:54:25.58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to promote affordable public transport for vulnerable groups.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:10.263","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298736,"EventID":"S4O-03746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:10.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T15:44:09.757","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:10.67","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298737,"EventID":"S4O-03747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1742,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:10.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:28.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress made with the Forth Replacement Crossing project.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:10.997","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298738,"EventID":"S4O-03748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:11.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:29.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what help and support are available to help veterans access housing.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:11.31","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298739,"EventID":"S4O-03749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:11.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:29.39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the Dundee Port Railhead as recommended in the Tactran strategy.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:11.667","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298740,"EventID":"S4O-03750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:12.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T15:39:21.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been discussions regarding bringing forward work on the rollout of superfast broadband for Kirkliston and South Queensferry scheduled for late 2015.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:12.137","MeetingDate":"2014-11-26T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298741,"EventID":"S4O-03751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:12.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:35.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with antisocial behaviour on quad bikes.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:12.493","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298742,"EventID":"S4O-03752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:12.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T09:46:42.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on tackling rural crime.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:12.93","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298743,"EventID":"S4O-03753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:13.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T13:25:44.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic benefits of immigration from the EU are to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:13.477","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298744,"EventID":"S4O-03754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:13.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T13:48:30.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in respect of the non-domestic rates system.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:13.9","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298745,"EventID":"S4O-03755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:14.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:37.12","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the integration of health and social care.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:14.337","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298746,"EventID":"S4O-03756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:14.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T11:03:57.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its legacy plans from the Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:14.787","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298747,"EventID":"S4O-03757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:15.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:37.84","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the development of energy storage technologies.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:15.1","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298748,"EventID":"S4O-03758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1793,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:15.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T10:14:33.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle negative perceptions of immigration in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government firmly rejects negative rhetoric around immigration that can fuel fear and misunderstanding. Migrants are vital for our economy and society and make an enormous contribution to Scotland.\r\nThe Scottish Government Equality Unit is providing just under £1 million in the period 2014-15 to several organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:15.507","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298749,"EventID":"S4O-03759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:15.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T10:11:30.06","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the voluntary sector.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 will enable us to continue to significantly invest in the third sector as a key social partner, maintaining funding of £24.5 million towards direct support of the third sector. This only represents our direct third sector budget – areas across the Scottish Government contribute funding to the third sector. We have not previously produced an amalgamated figure, but work is being finalised on tracking total Scottish Government third sector spending. We have also begun a discussion with the sector about what approach might be taken going forward, to secure a buoyant and sustainable third sector.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:15.817","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298750,"EventID":"S4O-03760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T13:50:16.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-17T12:03:38.82","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the restoration of coal sites in East Ayrshire.\r\n","AnswerText":"Restoration is underway at the Netherton and Duncanziemere sites and a restoration plan for the large House of Water Complex has been prepared and submitted to the council for approval. \r\nOther sites such as Pennyvennie, Chalmserton, Powharnall, Mainshill and Spireslack sites are currently undergoing care and maintenance services in order to manage existing health and safety and environmental obligations whilst draft restoration schemes are being developed.\r\nRestoration activity is also helping to support jobs in the sector and from a position of over 700 redundancies announced in 2013 there are now 505 people who have gained employment in the coal sector in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T13:50:16.223","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298751,"EventID":"S4W-23274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:05:30.637","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:43:01.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S4O-03661 by Linda Fabiani on 13 November 2014, what projects relate to “emerging building needs”.\r\n","AnswerText":"Emerging building needs projects already delivered or planned for delivery in 2014/15 include:\r\n \r\nUpgrade of lift 2 in the MSP building to a fire evacuation lift\r\nNew external CCTV camera for the public entrance\r\nInstallation of an induction loop and panic alarm in the shop\r\nDesign and installation of new lighting in the main hall\r\nRelocation of the Room for Contemplation\r\nCommittee room 2 heating improvements\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:05:30.73","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298760,"EventID":"S4W-23265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:23.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T13:21:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dog control orders have been issued by each local authority under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22841 on 27 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:23.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298761,"EventID":"S4W-23266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:23.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T13:21:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many dogs have been fitted with a transponder under the terms of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, broken down by local authority.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold centrally, figures relating to the number of dogs that have been fitted with an electronic transponder under the terms of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.\r\nHowever, the issue of a Dog Control Notice (DCN) under the Act places a statutory requirement for the ‘proper person’ to have an electronic transponder implanted in their dog within 14 days after the effective date of a DCN or provide the issuing local authority with information that shows a transponder was implanted in the dog before the DCN was issued. As this is a statutory requirement, the number of DCNs issued by each local authority can therefore be used as an indication of the number of electronic transponders that have been fitted in terms of the Act. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22841 on 27 October 2014 which provides this information. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:23.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298762,"EventID":"S4W-23267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:24.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T14:01:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the funding for the Support and Connect Fund for 2015-16.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Big Lottery Fund. The information requested is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:24.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298763,"EventID":"S4W-23270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:24.507","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:10:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what agencies in Scotland use cost-generating telephone numbers such as 0845 numbers for public services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not use cost generating phone numbers and its agencies are informed in their use of 0300 and 0845 numbers, which are also non-cost-generating, by best practice as recommended by the industry regulator OFCOM.\r\nDisclosure Scotland utilises a 0870 national rate number for an externally hosted helpdesk. No income is generated for Disclosure Scotland as these numbers are provided by BT Global Services as part of a business and technology outsourcing agreement. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:24.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298764,"EventID":"S4W-23271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:24.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:10:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much income is generated by calls from members of the public to its agencies using cost-generating telephone numbers.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23270 on 11 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:24.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298765,"EventID":"S4W-23272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:25.037","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:10:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what policies it has in place or could introduce to reduce the cost of telephone calls to its agencies.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government uses a non-geographic 0300 as its published central contact number for the Scottish Government and its directorates. Use of this number ensures that calls are charged at no more than the national rate. The Scottish Government and its agencies are informed in their use of 0300 and 0845 numbers, which are also non-cost-generating, by best practice as recommended by the industry regulator OFCOM.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:25.067","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298766,"EventID":"S4W-23273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-19T16:43:25.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:10:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that members of the public who rely on making telephone calls to government agencies can experience financial hardship as a result of the cost and what plans it has to tackle the costs of such calls.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and associated agencies have a varied approach to encourage contact from the people of Scotland. This includes email and web forums as well as telephone contact. The Scottish Government does not use cost generating phone numbers and its agencies are informed in their use of 0300 and 0845 numbers, which are also non-cost-generating, by best practice as recommended by the industry regulator OFCOM.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:25.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298783,"EventID":"S4W-23240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:30.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09388 by Alex Neil on 13 September 2012, whether the Health and Safety Executive has submitted its report on the Legionnaire's disease outbreak to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and, if so, (a) on what date it was submitted and (b) when it will be made publically available.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:30.507","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298784,"EventID":"S4W-23242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:30.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding the reason that the HSE report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service about the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012 is yet to be made public.  \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:30.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298785,"EventID":"S4W-23243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:31.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the victims of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012 receive justice.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:31.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298786,"EventID":"S4W-23244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:31.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when (a) it and (b) its agencies last met with (i) victims and (ii) families of victims of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:31.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298787,"EventID":"S4W-23245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:31.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had in the last 12 months regarding the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:31.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298788,"EventID":"S4W-23246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:31.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012, what steps it has taken to ensure that there are no public health concerns about industrial units.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:32.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298789,"EventID":"S4W-23247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5109,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":101,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:32.273","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-18T16:07:31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Edinburgh in 2012, what steps it has taken to ensure that there are no public health concerns in the Gorgie area of the city.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:32.297","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298790,"EventID":"S4W-23268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:32.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:31:02.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage all public bodies to measure the extent of any equal pay gap and publish their findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 were made by Scottish Ministers in May 2012 and are designed to enable the better performance of the public sector equality duty at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The regulations require listed public authorities with more than 150 employees to publish gender pay gap information and to publish an equal pay statement containing details of the organisation’s equal pay policy and occupational segregation.\r\nThe regulations also place a duty on the Scottish Ministers to publish proposals for activity to enable listed authorities to better perform the public sector equality duty.\r\nScottish Ministers’ proposals were published in December 2013 and include a commitment that the Scottish Government will work with Close the Gap, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, relevant Scottish public authorities and others to support better pay gap and occupational segregation reporting.\r\nScottish Ministers will report on progress on their proposals by the end of 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:32.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298791,"EventID":"S4W-23269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:33.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-19T15:31:02.617","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to monitor equal pay gaps in public bodies.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 were made by Scottish Ministers in May 2012 and are designed to enable the better performance of the public sector equality duty at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The regulations require listed public authorities with more than 150 employees to publish gender pay gap information and to publish an equal pay statement containing details of the organisation’s equal pay policy and occupational segregation.\r\nThe Regulations also place a duty on the Scottish Ministers to publish proposals for activity to enable listed authorities to better perform the public sector equality duty.\r\nScottish Ministers’ proposals were published in December 2013 and include a commitment that the Scottish Government will work with Close the Gap, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, relevant Scottish public authorities and others to develop better pay gap and occupational segregation reporting, and support national training to build skills specific to pay gap calculation and occupational segregation reporting.\r\nScottish Ministers will report on progress on their proposals by the end of 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:33.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298792,"EventID":"S4W-23275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:33.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:23:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff have reported (a) facing abusive behaviour and (b) being attacked in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"While the data requested is not held centrally, the 2013 NHSScotland staff survey asked this question and the following link is provided to the results: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4235/18\r\nThis data provides an indicative measure only as the staff response rate was 28%. The results show 9% of survey respondents indicated they had experienced physical violence from patients/service users or other members of the public in the past 12 months, and 32% said they had experienced emotional/verbal abuse from patients/service users or other members of the public in the past 12 months.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:33.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298793,"EventID":"S4W-23276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:34.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:23:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for (i) abusive behaviour toward and (ii) attacking NHS staff in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.\r\n","AnswerText":"While we do not hold this information centrally, we do hold the following information under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005. \tThe 2005 Act was extended in 2008 to enhance the protections provided to NHS staff by extending it to GP, other doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community.\r\nPersons proceeded against in Scottish Courts for offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 20051, 2005-06 to 2012-13.\r\nSection of Act\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nSection 1(1)\r\n12\r\n47\r\n44\r\n76\r\n117\r\n140\r\n164\r\n148\r\nSection 2(1)\r\n14\r\n78\r\n96\r\n79\r\n39\r\n42\r\n34\r\n39\r\nSection 3(1)\r\n0\r\n3\r\n2\r\n4\r\n2\r\n5\r\n1\r\n2\r\nSection 5(1)\r\n31\r\n84\r\n145\r\n150\r\n132\r\n149\r\n173\r\n160\r\nTotal\r\n57\r\n212\r\n287\r\n309\r\n290\r\n336\r\n372\r\n349\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n\r\nPersons convicted in Scottish Courts for offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 20051, 2005-06 to 2012-13.\r\nSection of Act\r\n2005-06\r\n2006-07\r\n2007-08\r\n2008-09\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nSection 1(1)\r\n11\r\n44\r\n40\r\n74\r\n113\r\n136\r\n159\r\n139\r\nSection 2(1)\r\n14\r\n74\r\n90\r\n76\r\n37\r\n39\r\n34\r\n36\r\nSection 3(1)\r\n0\r\n3\r\n2\r\n4\r\n2\r\n4\r\n1\r\n2\r\nSection 5(1)\r\n29\r\n79\r\n143\r\n147\r\n129\r\n144\r\n162\r\n153\r\nTotal\r\n54\r\n200\r\n275\r\n301\r\n281\r\n323\r\n356\r\n330\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:34.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298794,"EventID":"S4W-23277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:34.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:31:37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided no funding to Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland over the last three years.\r\nScottish Government funding for the arts is routed through Creative Scotland, Scotland’s public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland.\r\nCreative Scotland has provided the following funding to Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland over the last three years:\r\nFinancial Year\r\nCreative Scotland Award to Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland\r\n2011-12\r\n£9,600 \r\n2012-13 \r\n£138,750\r\n2013-14 \r\n£148,250 \r\n2014-15 \r\n£158,768\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:34.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298795,"EventID":"S4W-23278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:34.747","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:42:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a police officer should be based as close as possible to the area that the officer patrols.\r\n","AnswerText":"The area where an officer patrols is an operational matter for Police Scotland and its Chief Constable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:34.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298796,"EventID":"S4W-23279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:35.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:42:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a community police officer should be based in the area that the officer patrols.\r\n","AnswerText":"The decision on where officers carry out patrols is an operational matter for Police Scotland and its Chief Constable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:35.12","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298797,"EventID":"S4W-23280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:35.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:42:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers should be the maximum distance that a police officer’s base should be from the area that the officer patrols.\r\n","AnswerText":"The distance from an officer’s base to where he patrols is an operational matter for Police Scotland and its Chief Constable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:35.463","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298798,"EventID":"S4W-23281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:35.77","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T11:42:18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out of the impact on communities of its decision to close some police stations and reduce the opening hours of others.\r\n","AnswerText":"Police Scotland regularly review and check whether its approaches and structures provide the most efficient and effective mechanisms to ensure that the high quality delivery of policing in Scotland is maintained and enhanced.\r\nPolice Scotland undertook a review of front counter provision across Scotland in 2013. No police stations were closed as a result of this review. Any future assessment of the community impact of this decision is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:35.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298799,"EventID":"S4W-23282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T14:21:36.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T13:37:55.683","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the establishment number for educational psychologists was in each local authority and how many were in post in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and what the figures are for 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"Establishment numbers for educational psychologists are a matter for education authorities and are not held centrally. Numbers of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent) in post are collected annually by the Scottish Government as part of the teacher census and shown for 2012 and 2013 in the following table:\r\n\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\nAberdeen City\r\n22\r\n22\r\nAberdeenshire\r\n23\r\n22\r\nAngus\r\n7\r\n8\r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n7\r\n8\r\nClackmannanshire\r\n6\r\n6\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n9\r\n10\r\nDundee City\r\n11\r\n10\r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n7\r\n8\r\nEast Lothian\r\n7\r\n7\r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n12\r\n12\r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n37\r\n42\r\nEilean Siar\r\n2\r\n2\r\nFalkirk\r\n10\r\n8\r\nFife\r\n24\r\n26\r\nGlasgow City\r\n51\r\n46\r\nHighland\r\n12\r\n10\r\nInverclyde\r\n7\r\n8\r\nMidlothian\r\n7\r\n6\r\nMoray\r\n6\r\n4\r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n12\r\n12\r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n28\r\n28\r\nOrkney Islands\r\n2\r\n2\r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n10\r\n9\r\nRenfrewshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nScottish Borders\r\n8\r\n8\r\nShetland Islands\r\n2\r\n2\r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n8\r\n8\r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n26\r\n25\r\nStirling\r\n8\r\n9\r\nWest Dunbartonshire\r\n9\r\n9\r\nWest Lothian\r\n14\r\n14\r\nScotland\r\n411\r\n407\r\nSource: Teacher Census Supplementary data 2012 and 2013\r\nNote: All full-time equivalents are rounded separately and breakdowns may consequently not sum to Scotland figures.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T14:21:36.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298808,"EventID":"S4W-23283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:36.21","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many drones (a) it and (b) each of its agencies (i) owns, (ii) leases and (iii) contracts and for what purposes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government neither owns nor leases any unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).\r\nHistoric Scotland owns two UAVs for the purposes of survey work and assessing buildings.\r\nThe Forestry Commission Scotland has contracted the use of two UAVs for the purpose of forest planning, disease monitoring, wind blow mapping and vegetation monitoring.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:36.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298809,"EventID":"S4W-23284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:36.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what power it has to control how drones are operated in Scotland and under what legislation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Regulation of airspace is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is directed by the UK Parliament to manage UK airspace in the Transport Act 2000 and the Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) Directions issued by the Department for Transport. In January 2010 the CAA introduced regulations that require operators of small unmanned aircraft used for aerial work purposes and those equipped for data acquisition and/or surveillance to obtain permission from the CAA before commencing a flight within a congested or in proximity to people or property.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:36.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298810,"EventID":"S4W-23285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:36.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with the (a) Office of Surveillance Commissioners and (b) Police Scotland regarding the use of drones.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has held no discussions with either the Office of Surveillance Commissioners or Police Scotland regarding the use of drones.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:36.867","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298811,"EventID":"S4W-23287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:37.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports Police Scotland's use of drones for (a) overt and (b) covert surveillance and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Surveillance is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Where that surveillance is covert, Police Scotland must comply with the requirements of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:37.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298812,"EventID":"S4W-23288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:37.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 applies to the use of surveillance drones.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 applies to surveillance that is covert and is undertaken for the purpose of a specific investigation or operation; in such a manner as is likely to result in the obtaining of private information about an individual; and otherwise then by way of an immediate response to events or circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:37.487","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298813,"EventID":"S4W-23289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:37.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and its agencies regarding the use of drones in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government and its agencies regarding the use of drones.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:37.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298814,"EventID":"S4W-23290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:38.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether forces other than Police Scotland could be permitted to operate surveillance drones in Scotland and, if so, which.\r\n","AnswerText":"The regulation of airspace is a reserved matter. The Civil Aviation Authority is directed by the UK Parliament to manage UK airspace in the Transport Act 2000 and the Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) Directions issued by the Department for Transport.\r\nThe public bodies which are able to authorise covert surveillance are provided in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:38.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298815,"EventID":"S4W-23291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:38.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to assess the level of surveillance that people in Scotland can be subjected to.\r\n","AnswerText":"The use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act is subject to continual and ongoing assessment by the independent Office of Surveillance Commissioners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:38.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298816,"EventID":"S4W-23292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:38.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many miles ministers have travelled on official business by bicycle in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.\r\nThe Scottish Government continually looks for ways to minimise the use of cars for official journeys and ministers take their responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport whenever possible.\r\nWhere practicable, ministers are encouraged to use public transport or walk to their engagements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:38.677","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298817,"EventID":"S4W-23293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:38.937","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T14:09:50.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made for cyclists on the planned dualled section of the A96\r\n","AnswerText":"Suitable provision for non-motorised users, including cyclists, is an important part of the A96 dualling programme. The preferred option for the A96 Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) was announced on 3 October 2014. Non-motorised user facilities will be developed as part of the design development of the preferred option, including consultation with relevant local interest groups.\r\nThe Scottish Government expects to appoint a design consultant early next year to take forward the design, assessment and promotion of the preferred option for the scheme with a view to publishing draft Orders and Environmental Statement in 2016 for formal public comment and feedback.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:38.963","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298818,"EventID":"S4W-23294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:39.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:28:00.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22729 by Keith Brown on 30 October 2010, how many times it has met the Expert Ferry Group to discuss this and what future meetings with the group are planned.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Expert Ferry Group has met on four occasions, and the next meeting is due to take place in February 2015. This issue has not been discussed to date, and is not due to be discussed at the meeting planned for February 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:39.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298819,"EventID":"S4W-23296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:39.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:28:00.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Expert Ferry Group about the draft budget 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has had no discussions with the Expert Ferry Group about the draft budget 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:39.533","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298820,"EventID":"S4W-23297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:39.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:28:00.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the roll-out of the Road Equivalent Tariff for (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry services will cost.\r\n","AnswerText":"When the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme is rolled out to the entire Clyde and Hebrides network, the estimated total annual cost will be between £13.4 million and £15.2 million. Final outturn costs will be contingent on the levels of patronage.\r\nAs noted in the Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, implementing RET for the Northern Isles ferry services, now or in the next few years, would mean an increase on a range of fares currently available. The Ferries Plan made clear our intention to phase in the introduction of RET fares over a much longer time-frame so that no one will pay more for a RET fare their current standard single fare. Estimated costs are not therefore available for the Northern Isles ferry services at this stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:39.813","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298821,"EventID":"S4W-23298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:40.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:28:00.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the increase in private expenditure in the ferries sector outlined in the draft 2015-16 budget is not used to encourage private sector bids for the 2016-22 contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service.\r\n","AnswerText":"The increase in expenditure in 2015-16 is to (a) cover the rising costs of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, including implementation of the Ferries Plan and the rollout of the Road Equivalent Tariff and (b) provide additional capital investment in vessels and harbours across the network.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:40.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298822,"EventID":"S4W-23301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:40.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:28:00.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22734 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 October 2014, what the EU's deadline is for the transposition of  directive 2014/24/EU.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22734 on 30 October 2014. The three new procurement directives must be transposed into Scots law by 18 April 2016. The Scottish Government expects Scottish regulations to be in place towards the end of 2015.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:40.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298823,"EventID":"S4W-23302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:40.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:39:06.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much time will be added to or saved from journey times by each of the works budgeted for on the A82 trunk road.","AnswerText":"A total saving of around four to five minutes will be achieved between Glasgow and Fort William when the improvements at Pulpit Rock, Crianlarich Bypass and between Tarbert and Inverarnan are completed. These improvements will also reduce the likelihood of unforeseen delays due to accidents on these sections of the route.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:40.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298824,"EventID":"S4W-23303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:41.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:39:06.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the west Highlands a disadvantaged area in terms of transport and communication infrastructure in relation to (a) Scottish, (b) UK and (c) European standards.\r\n","AnswerText":"No. The Scottish Government has invested over £350 million since 2007 to ensure Scotland’s trunk roads in the north west are safe, efficient and effective. Transport Scotland has worked with local authorities via the National Roads Maintenance Review to ensure all road authorities can manage and maintain Scotland’s roads more efficiently. The Scottish Government is also committed to maintaining air links to Scotland’s remote communities through our funding of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. Recent significant investment in Inverness airport includes £1.4 million to upgrade the runway and a further £961,000 on a taxiway extension. For ferries, it has committed over £68 million in procuring the new MV Loch Seaforth and upgrading the harbour infrastructures at Stornoway and Ullapool which will offer an improved lifeline ferry service to the Western Isles. With regard to the communication infrastructure, the contract between Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT, part of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, aims to deliver next generation broadband services to 84% of homes and businesses across the whole of the Highlands and Islands by the end of 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:41.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298825,"EventID":"S4W-23304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:41.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:39:06.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the west Highlands becomes more accessible and improve the standard of its transport and communication infrastructure.","AnswerText":"In addition to the ongoing maintenance of the road network, a further £14 million is being invested to improve journey times and reduce congestion on the A82 through the improvement project at Pulpit Rock and the new Crianlarich bypass which are currently under construction. This will benefit accessibility to and from the west Highlands. Furthermore, since May 2014 more train services have been running between Oban and the Central Belt. The West Highland Line will also benefit from being part of the ‘great scenic railways of Scotland’, an initiative to be delivered by the new ScotRail franchisee Abellio. With regard to digital access and in addition to the deployment of next generation broadband delivered through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, Community Broadband Scotland is working with 11 communities covering over 2,000 premises across the west Highlands with a view to developing community broadband projects. It will run until at least March 2018.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:41.58","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298826,"EventID":"S4W-23305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-20T16:47:41.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T15:39:06.28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate the impacts of planned and potential improvements to transport and communication infrastructure on the sustainability of communities and businesses in the west Highlands.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that a safe, efficient and effective transport system is essential for Scotland and the Scottish economy. The Strategic Transport Projects Review recommendations, including improvements to the A82 and other road safety improvements across the area, will improve links between the west Highlands and Central Scotland which will make the region a more attractive destination for business as well as contributing to improved safety, reliability and efficiency of transport. Similarly modern digital connectivity is widely recognised as a driver of increased productivity, innovation and international trade. Its impacts will be both social and economic. Benefits are likely to include increased opportunities for our most remote and rural areas, a potential boost to economic development, more flexible ways of working, improved retention rates of our young people as well as helping attract new residents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-04T16:47:41.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298827,"EventID":"S4W-23316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:41.88","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards it has given directions to regarding the performance of their duties under section 14 subsections (1) and (4) of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Feedback, Comments, Concerns and Complaints) (Scotland) Directions 2012 came into force in April 2012. No directions have been issued to individual boards. A number of directions that all boards have to comply with were included in the updated Can I Help You? guidance which was issued to boards by the Scottish Government in March 2012.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:42.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298828,"EventID":"S4W-23317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:42.59","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken under section 14 subsection (5) of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.","AnswerText":"Through The Patient Rights (Feedback, Comments, Concerns and Complaints) (Scotland) Directions 2012, the Scottish Government has required each relevant NHS body to publish annual reports which provide evidence that action has been taken, or is planned, as a result of feedback, comments, concerns and complaints. The reports are required to be sent to Scottish Ministers.\r\nThe Scottish Government issued additional guidance to NHS boards in May 2014, to assist them with their reports for 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:42.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298829,"EventID":"S4W-23318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:43.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what reports it has (a) requested and (b) received and from which NHS boards regarding the performance of their duties under section 14 subsections (1) and (4) of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.","AnswerText":"In addition to the answer provided for S4W-23317 on 3 December 2014, the first round of annual complaints and feedback reports were published in 2013. They informed an analysis of key themes published in the Scottish Health Council’s Review of NHS Boards’ Annual Reporting on Feedback, Comments, Concerns and Complaints 2012/13, in January 2014.\r\nNHS boards annual complaints and feedback reports for 2013-14 have been received by the Scottish Government and are publicly available on boards’ websites.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:43.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298830,"EventID":"S4W-23319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:43.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the recording and management of patient feedback is being incorporated into the operation of, or aligned with, sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Feedback, Comments, Concerns and Complaints) (Scotland) Directions 2012 require NHS boards to gather, review and report information on complaints from their own service and health service providers on a quarterly basis, with a view to identifying areas of concern and any actions that could be taken to improve services.\r\nThe directions also require boards to produce the annual reports outlined in the answer to question S4W-23317 on 3 December 2014.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:43.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298831,"EventID":"S4W-23320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:43.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will report to the Parliament on the operation of sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS boards’ reporting arrangements are described in the answers to S4W-23317 and S4W-23318 on 3 December 2014.\r\nNHS National Services Scotland’s Information Services Division publishes an annual report on NHS complaints statistics, which is available online at: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Quality-Indicators/NHS-Complaints-Statistics/\r\nThe Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) lays investigation reports before Parliament, in some cases that meet their public interest criteria. They also publish an annual report on SPSO’s performance, and a health sector specific report.\r\nThe Scottish Government has no additional plans to report to Parliament on the operation of sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:43.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298832,"EventID":"S4W-23321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:44.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:25:46.087","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that NHS board staff are trained in the operation of sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided funding since 2012-13 to support NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to develop and deliver a suite of learning, education and workforce development opportunities for NHS staff and other NHS service providers, in order to equip them to respond effectively to feedback, comments, concerns and complaints in line with the requirements of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011. These include masterclasses, e-learning modules, workshops, a webinar, a leaflet and series of factsheets. The Scottish Government is also supporting the Person-Centered Health and Care Collaborative to spread best practice in person-centered care, with a focus on learning from all types of feedback.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:44.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298833,"EventID":"S4W-23324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:44.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that seafarers on vessels contracted by Transport Scotland receive the (a) rate of pay, (b) pension rights and (c) terms and conditions of employment agreed through the ferry industry's collective bargaining process.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has public service contracts with operating companies to provide ferry services in the, Clyde, Hebrides and Northern Isles. The operating companies are responsible under the contracts for providing the vessel crew and for setting the rates of pay, pension rights and terms of conditions of employment for the seafarers they employ. However, the Scottish Government is currently exploring to what extent it can legitimately, in compliance with EU law, include matters relating to seafarers’ rates of pay, pension rights and terms and conditions of employment in the public service contracts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:44.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298834,"EventID":"S4W-23325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:45.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that contracts for ferry services chartered by Transport Scotland stipulate that the owners of the vessels must abide by the (a) rates of pay, (b) pension rights and (c) terms and conditions of employment agreed through the ferry industry's collective bargaining process.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has public service contracts with operating companies to provide ferry services in the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides Islands. The owners of the vessels operating on these routes, Royal Bank of Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd respectively, lease these vessels to the operating companies. Under these arrangements, it is the operating companies who are the employers of the crew.\r\nOperators of the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services may also sub-contract with other operators for vessels on a time charter basis to provide freight services. Under these arrangements, it is the sub-contracted operating companies who are responsible for the crewing of the vessels. The Scottish Government ensures that its contracts with the operators for the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides ferry services comply with relevant EU, UK and Scots law and regulations, including those relating to rates of pay, pension rights and terms of conditions. The Scottish Government is currently exploring to what extent it can legitimately, in compliance with EU law, include matters relating to seafarers’ rates of pay, pension rights and terms and conditions of employment in the public service contracts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:45.16","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298835,"EventID":"S4W-23326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:45.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to charter ferries on the (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides ferry route in each year since 1993-94.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23331 on 3 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:45.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298836,"EventID":"S4W-23327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:45.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) ratings and (b) officers are employed on ferries chartered on the (i) Northern Isles and (ii) Clyde and Hebrides ferry route.\r\n","AnswerText":"Operators of the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) sub-contract with Seatruck on a time charter basis to provide freight services on these networks. As the Scottish Government does not contract with Seatruck to provide ferry services on the Northern Isles or the CHFS ferry routes, this information is not held.\r\nThe Scottish Government has public service contracts with operating companies to provide ferry services in the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides Islands. The number of crew required to man each vessel is a matter for the operating company, therefore this information is not held by Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:45.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298837,"EventID":"S4W-23328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:46.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average rate of pay is for ratings employed on ferries chartered from Seatruck on the (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides ferry route and what (i) employment and (ii) pension rights they have.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23327 on 3 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:46.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298838,"EventID":"S4W-23331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:46.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of the contract for each ferry service chartered from Seatruck, also broken down by how much has been spent on each to date.\r\n","AnswerText":"The cost of chartering vessels from Seatruck on the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides networks is commercially confidential.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:46.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298839,"EventID":"S4W-23339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:46.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:33:47.9","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the seafarers employed on the ferry services chartered from Seatruck are Scottish.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23327 on 3 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:46.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298840,"EventID":"S4W-23340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:47.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it secured commitments for the (a) employment and (b) training of Scottish seafarers on freight vessels operated by DFDS on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that it has signed with the company and Forth Ports regarding the future of services on that route, and whether it will publish a copy of the MOU.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DFDS and Forth Ports to continue to work together to secure the future of the service for both those employed on the route and its many customers. The MOU remains confidential to the three parties at this time.\r\nThe service is a commercial operation and issues around employment and training of seafarers on its vessels are a matter for DFDS to consider.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:47.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298841,"EventID":"S4W-23341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:47.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the annual value is of the contract managed by DFDS for maritime freight services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge and how many (a) sailings and (b) freight movements there have been on the route in each month since 2010-11.","AnswerText":"As Rosyth to Zeebrugge is a commercial freight ferry route operated by DFDS, there is no contract for its operation.\r\nThere are currently three timetabled sailings per week in each direction. Given the commercial nature of the operation we do not hold records of the numbers of sailings nor retain details of monthly freight movements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:47.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298842,"EventID":"S4W-23342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:47.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the public contribution has been to the contract managed by DFDS for maritime freight services on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route and what the contribution will be in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no contract to manage the service as this is a commercial route operated by DFDS, although the Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the operation.\r\nThe Scottish Government awarded a Waterborne Freight Grant of €2 million (payable over three years) to Norfolkline/DFDS in May 2009. This grant, whose purpose is to encourage the transfer of freight from road to sea, funds the additional freight costs of shipping over that of the road alternative – in this case accessing mainland Europe via one of the English east coast ferry ports.\r\nThe Scottish Government has offered a one-off payment of €200 thousand de minimis funding to DFDS, to be paid in January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:47.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298843,"EventID":"S4W-23343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:48.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scottish (a) seafarers, (b) dockers and (c) operators of the sulphur dioxide emissions limits for commercial ships operating in the North Sea that come into force on 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government in January, July, September and October 2014 regarding the impact of the EU sulphur directive on ferry routes in Scotland.\r\nScottish Ministers noted concern about the potential impact of increased fuel costs on ferry services and cruise ship tourism, the potential for modal reverse for freight, compliance and enforcement of the directive, and the significantly higher costs for peripheral routes within the emission control zone.\r\nWe asked the UK Government to confirm its support for any application for EU funding to address or mitigate these issues as well as explore what further measures can be taken to ensure Scottish shipping services and the wider industry are not disproportionately affected by these regulations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:48.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298844,"EventID":"S4W-23344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:48.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the cost of converting vessels on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route to comply with the sulphur dioxide emissions limits for commercial ships operating in the North Sea that come into force on 1 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government in September and October 2014 regarding the impact of the EU sulphur directive on ferry routes in Scotland, including asking the UK Government to explore with the EU Commission whether any EU funding was available for ferry operators to ensure vessels were compliant. John Hayes MP, Minister of State, replied on 29 October 2014 noting that the Department for Transport had written to the European Commission and we await the EU Commission’s reply.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:48.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298845,"EventID":"S4W-23345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T14:20:48.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T10:02:57.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought assurances regarding the terms and conditions of employment of seafarers working on the Finlandia Seaways between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in its discussions with DFDS and Forth Ports on the future of maritime freight services on that route and whether it confirmed that these seafarers are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers are not party to any of the details regarding the terms and conditions of seafarers on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge Route. These are a matter for DFDS as the commercial operator of the service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T14:20:48.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298858,"EventID":"S4W-23346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:05.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:19:14.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving was in 2013-14 for people who used the national concessionary travel scheme.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people the average saving in 2013-14 for the 1.286 million National Entitlement Card holders was around £244 each. This is based on figures for 2013-14 in which the total number of journeys made was just under 147 million and the average fare per journey was £2.14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:05.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298859,"EventID":"S4W-23347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:06.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:19:14.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people it expects to become entitled to a concessionary bus pass in 2015-16.","AnswerText":"We expect around 66,000 people aged sixty to become entitled to a concessionary bus pass under the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people in 2015-16. About 12% of passes are issued on the grounds of disability and there will be small numbers of people becoming eligible or ceasing to be eligible through disability throughout the year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:06.28","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298860,"EventID":"S4W-23348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:06.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:19:14.07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an estimate of the number of bus journeys made by holders of a concessionary bus pass in the last year.","AnswerText":"A total of about 146.8 million journeys were made by National Entitlement Card holders under the Scotland wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people in 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:06.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298861,"EventID":"S4W-23349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which agency has responsibility for (a) investigating and (b) securing prosecutions in cases of fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government takes all crimes, including fraud, seriously, and all allegations of fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to fraud should be reported to the police. Ultimately, it is for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to decide whether it is in the public interest to proceed with prosecutions where police investigations reveal evidence of alleged criminal activity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:07.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298862,"EventID":"S4W-23350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:07.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to tackle fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to disrupting all types of serious organised crime and has brought together law enforcement and public and private sector organisations to form the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, whose intention is to disrupt and dismantle groups involved in organised criminality in Scotland.\r\nThe Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, the strategy against serious organised crime in Scotland and the creation of the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh bring partner organisations such as Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, HM Revenue and Customs, and the National Crime Agency, together to tackle this type of fraud.\r\nIn addition, Police Scotland and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre provide online information on how individuals can protect themselves from fraud.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:07.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298863,"EventID":"S4W-23351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to public agencies on fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Public Finance Manual provides comprehensive guidance to all Scottish public bodies on the prevention, detection, reporting and handling of fraud. The guidance is equally applicable to all public sector organisations to which the Scottish Public Finance Manual is directly applicable, including constituent parts of the Scottish administration and bodies sponsored by the Scottish Government. NHS boards (including all special boards and agencies) are subject to the specific arrangements set out in the Scottish Government Strategy to Combat NHS Fraud in Scotland and the Partnership Agreement between NHS boards and NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services.\r\nThe Scottish Government is leading work on sharing counter-fraud information and good practice across public bodies in Scotland with the establishment of the Cross Sector Counter Fraud Forum in 2013. The forum includes delegates from local authorities, NHS Scotland, agencies, non-departmental public bodies, the Department for Work and Pensions, Trading Standards, Audit Scotland and Police Scotland’s Counter Corruption Unit.\r\nWith these partners we are building on the work already undertaken to raise awareness and improve fraud prevention. The forum is chaired by the Scottish Government’s counter fraud champion, and links into the UK Government’s taskforce work on fraud, error, debt and grants. Meetings focus on how to share good practice effectively across the public sector in Scotland; and also look at key actions to improve the use of data in preventing fraud. This work encompasses all types of fraud prevention within the public sector and not just cyber/internet-based fraud.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:08.073","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298864,"EventID":"S4W-23352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure effective coordination with other governments or public agencies, elsewhere in the UK or in other states, on fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23350 on 5 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:08.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298865,"EventID":"S4W-23353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:08.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which agency has responsibility for (a) investigating and (b) securing prosecutions in cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"In 2011, HM Revenue and Customs launched a tobacco smuggling strategy, targeting organised crime groups and taking hard-hitting action against offenders to deter and punish those involved. The UK ‘tackling tobacco smuggling strategy’ aims to tackle smuggling and reduce the illicit tobacco market across the whole of the UK. The characteristics and vulnerabilities of internet-selling of illicit products are the same regardless of the target market.\r\nUltimately it is for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to decide whether it is in the public interest to proceed with prosecutions where an investigation reveals evidence of alleged criminal activity in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:08.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298866,"EventID":"S4W-23354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.023","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to tackle cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to disrupting all types of serious organised crime, and the unique partnership working between agencies in Scotland through the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce ensures a strategic and more sophisticated approach.\r\nThe newly completed Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh provides a purpose-built facility bringing together a range of key law enforcement bodies under one roof, which will enable them to share information better and work in a more co-ordinated way. Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, HM Revenue and Customs, and the National Crime Agency are all located at the campus.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:09.04","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298867,"EventID":"S4W-23355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to public agencies on cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:09.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298868,"EventID":"S4W-23356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:50:14.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure effective coordination with other governments or public agencies, elsewhere in the UK or in other states, on cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23354 on 5 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:09.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298869,"EventID":"S4W-23357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:09.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in cases where the main charge had a domestic abuse aggravator recorded in each year since 2011-12, also broken down by (i) disposal and (ii) how many were sent to a prison or young offenders institution.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information is given in the following table.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will be available after the publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014. \r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798\r\nA person may be convicted more than once in the same year, and if so, they will appear in these figures more than once.\r\nPeople proceeded against for an offence with a domestic aggravator recorded1, 2011-12 to 2012-13\r\nDisposal\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nNot guilty\r\n1,629\r\n1,617\r\nPrison\r\n1,050\r\n1,155\r\nYOI2\r\n55\r\n68\r\nRecall to prison – YOI2\r\n-\r\n1\r\nCommunity sentence\r\n2,253\r\n2,486\r\nMonetary\r\n2,685\r\n2,516\r\nAdmonished\r\n2,738\r\n2,979\r\nAbsolute discharge\r\n77\r\n68\r\nOther\r\n14\r\n19\r\nTotal proceeded against\r\n10,501\r\n10,909\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n2. Young offenders institution.\r\nSource: Scottish Government Court Proceedings Database.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:09.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298870,"EventID":"S4W-23358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.257","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions for offences with a domestic abuse aggravator in each year since 2011-12 have been for a repeat offence.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of unique individuals convicted of a crime/offence with a domestic abuse aggravator between 2011-12 to 2012-13, and includes the number and percentage of these individuals that had at least one previous conviction with a domestic abuse aggravator.\r\nTable: Number of unique individuals convicted of a crime/offence with a domestic abuse aggravator, 2011-12 to 2012-13\r\nFinancial Year\r\nTotal Individuals\r\nIndividuals with at least one previous conviction with a domestic abuse aggravator (percentage of total individuals)\r\n2012-13\r\n8,456\r\n2770 (33%)\r\n2011-12\r\n8,247\r\n2549 (31%)\r\n\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will be available after the publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due for publication on 16 December 2014.\r\nRecording of offence aggravators has been improving over time and it is deemed that recording has only reached a sufficient level of consistency from 2009-10. Any apparent increase in the number of previous offences is likely to be the product of improved recording and an increase in the counting base. Therefore, any comparisons of aggravator information made over time should be made with caution and in particular the number of individuals with at least one previous conviction is not comparable year on year.\r\nA domestic abuse offence aggravator could be recorded for an offence against any domestic abuse victim, not necessarily just for offences against victims of inter-partner domestic abuse. A previous conviction is counted as any previous conviction with a domestic abuse aggravator, so this measure of a ‘repeat offence’ does not necessarily mean that it was against the same victim.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:10.273","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298871,"EventID":"S4W-23359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had regarding the establishment of guidance on the referral to and provision of restorative justice services, and on what date it will be published.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ministers have not had any meetings specifically relating to the establishment of guidance on restorative justice services. However, Scottish Government officials met representatives from Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, and the Scottish Restorative Justice Forum (including Sacro) on 3 September 2014 to discuss the development of such guidance under section 5 of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014.\r\nIt was agreed that a collaborative approach should be taken in developing guidance, with input from current providers of restorative justice services and organisations representing victims’ interests. Our intention is to begin work on this in early 2015 with a view to publishing guidance later that year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:10.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298872,"EventID":"S4W-23360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:10.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Saturday courts working group has met and when it will (a) complete its work and (b) publish its findings.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Extended Courts Working Group had its inaugural meeting on 13 January 2014. It has met on eight subsequent occasions.\r\nThe group submitted a preliminary feasibility assessment report to the Justice Board in October 2014. The board endorsed the recommendations included within this report and reached agreement on further work to be progressed.\r\nThe next multi-agency meeting for the Extended Courts Working Group is due to take place in early 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:10.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298873,"EventID":"S4W-23361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:11.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) justice of the peace cases was dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at the courts in (i) Arbroath, (ii), Cupar, (iii) Stonehaven, (iv) Forfar, (v) Dundee and (vi) Aberdeen in each (A) year since 2006-07 and (B) month since May 2013, and what the average time taken was.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tables showing the information requested on the percentage of sheriff summary and justice of the peace cases dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at courts has been prepared and a copy of this table is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 56443).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:11.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298874,"EventID":"S4W-23362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:11.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T13:56:52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) sheriff summary and (b) justice of the peace cases was dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at the courts in (i) Annan, (ii) Cumbernauld, (iii) Irvine, (iv) Motherwell, (v) Portree, (vi) Stornoway, (vii) Wick, (viii) Dornoch, (ix) Kirkcudbright, (x) Rothesay, (xi) Dumfries, (xii) Coatbridge, (xiii) Kilmarnock, (xiv) Hamilton, (xv) Tain and (xvi) Greenock in each (A) year since 2006-07 and (B) month since November 2012, and what the average time taken was.\r\n","AnswerText":"Tables showing the information requested on the percentage of sheriff summary and justice of the peace cases dealt with within 26 weeks from caution and charge to verdict at courts has been prepared and a copy of this table is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 56443).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:11.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298875,"EventID":"S4W-23363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":146,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:11.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:11:57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who the members are and what organisations are represented on the Scottish Independent Living Fund Project board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Independent Living Fund Project board was set up to ensure the needs of Independent Living Fund (ILF) recipients are represented as users transition to the new Scottish ILF. It will have an important role in shaping a fund for new users in Scotland. It is jointly chaired by the Scottish Government and Self Directed Support Scotland. As well as COSLA and Social Work Scotland, membership is drawn from a number of third sector organisations. These are as follows: \r\nSelf Directed Support Scotland\r\nDundee Carers Centre\r\nPAMIS\r\nInclusion Scotland\r\nScottish Disability Equality Forum\r\nScottish Consortium for Learning Disability\r\nGlasgow Centre for Inclusive Living\r\nENABLE\r\nScottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber\r\nMembership will be kept under review and may change as the work evolves. Full details, including, the board's terms of reference and membership will be made available on the independent living pages of the Scottish Government's website shortly.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:11.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298876,"EventID":"S4W-23364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:12.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:19:04.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government  whether it will provide a breakdown of the buildings in its estate by energy performance certificate rating.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04170 on 7 December 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\nThe Scottish Government is committed to improving the environmental performance of its estate and this is reflected in its success in achieving the Carbon Trust Standard award during 2012. Recertification is underway and we hope to achieve the Carbon Trust Level 2 Standard in January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:12.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298877,"EventID":"S4W-23365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-21T15:48:12.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:19:04.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the renewable energy sources installed in the buildings in its estate and the dates of installation.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently has two sites with renewable energy sources: Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh (Solar Hot Water) installed 2011 and Tweedbank, Cotgreen Road, Galashiels (Solar Hot Water) installed 2012\r\nThere are three renewable projects in the pipeline for 2015: \r\nLongman House, 28 Longman Road, Inverness (Solar PV) 2015 subject to planning,\r\nFaskally, Pitlochry, Perthshire (Biomass Boiler) 2015 subject to planning and \r\nThainstone Court, Inverurie (Biomass Boiler) 2015 subject to planning.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-05T15:48:12.473","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298891,"EventID":"S4W-23306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:13.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:23:06.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many category (a) A and (b) B patients are receiving NHS continuing care in a care home; how much this costs and, in light of its reported plan not to treat such patients outside hospital, what assessment it has made of how many would (i) subsequently have to be moved to hospital for treatment and (ii) be unable to move to their domestic home.\r\n","AnswerText":"At the latest NHS continuing healthcare census (March 2014) there were 385 category A patients in care homes and 12 category B patients. Costs are not collected centrally.\r\nIn announcing our acceptance of the recommendations of the Independent Review of NHS Continuing Healthcare on 8 May 2014, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing made it clear that anyone currently eligible would not be disadvantaged. It is anticipated that these patients will, subject to review, remain where they are currently being cared for and therefore not move home or to a hospital.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:13.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298892,"EventID":"S4W-23311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:14.313","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:23:06.057","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of patients in NHS continuing care in Scotland is reported to be proportionately lower than that in England.\r\n","AnswerText":"Policy and guidance on NHS continuing healthcare is different between Scotland and England and the data is not therefore comparable.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:14.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298893,"EventID":"S4W-23312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:14.687","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:24:40.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03707 by Alex Neil on 19 November 2014 (Official Report, c. 9) when the new patient access scheme started in each area and when it will be able to assess whether the new scheme is working better than either of the preceding schemes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The new approach by the Scottish Medicines Consortium, including an additional opportunity to offer a patient access scheme, was put in place for submissions received after noon on 7 April 2014. The first decisions made under this new approach were published in October 2014. A review of the operation of the new process, as recommended in the Task and Finish Group Report, will be undertaken in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:14.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298894,"EventID":"S4W-23313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:15.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:24:40.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Patient Rights (Complaints Procedure and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 is not included in the Model Integration Scheme (Body Corporate) 09 October 2014 Version 1.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Complaints Procedure and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 continues to apply to all health services, including those within the integration scheme. The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Scheme) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 require health boards and local authorities to agree a process for complaints in relation to integrated services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:15.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298895,"EventID":"S4W-23314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:15.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:24:40.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will provide to ensure that there is a single feedback/complaint system for service users under section 11 of  the Model Integration Scheme (Body Corporate) 09 October 2014 Version 1.","AnswerText":"Each health board and local authority must include within their integration scheme a description of how they will manage complaints, and the process by which a service user may make a complaint, in relation to service delivery under integration. The integration scheme is subject to ministerial approval. The model integration scheme provides guidance on the completion of the integration scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:15.453","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298896,"EventID":"S4W-23315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:15.81","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:24:40.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken under section 15 subsection (1) of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a culture of openness and transparency within our NHS services, which actively welcomes all forms of feedback as a tool for continuous improvement. We have therefore taken a number of actions to support NHS boards to encourage, handle and respond to feedback and complaints. The Scottish Government has:\r\nIssued updated guidance Can I Help You? on handling and learning from feedback, comments, concerns or complaints about NHS services.\r\nProvided funding for staff training, and to encourage and promote all forms of feedback, including complaints.\r\nEstablished the independent Patient Advice and Support Service to advise and support people to provide feedback, make comments, raise concerns or make a complaint, and continued to fund the Scottish Mediation Network. \r\nFollowing receipt of the first round of boards’ annual feedback and complaints reports, the Scottish Government commissioned the Scottish Health Council’s Listening and Learning report published on 30 April 2014. The report’s recommendations have been accepted and are being actioned by boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:15.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298897,"EventID":"S4W-23322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:16.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:26:08.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and (b) Scottish Human Rights Commissioner about the implementation of sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government meets regularly with the office of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) and the Scottish Human Rights Commissioner to discuss areas of mutual interest. The most recent meeting with SPSO was held on 21 November 2014, to discuss the recommendations from the Scottish Health Council’s Listening and Learning report. There have been no specific meetings with the SHRC to discuss sections 14 and 15 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:16.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298898,"EventID":"S4W-23323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:16.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:26:08.383","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what Health Protection Scotland's position is on whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on prophylactic antibiotic prescribing remain appropriate.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Scotland uses the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines to inform clinical practice. In the area of antibiotic prophylaxis this would be SIGN guideline 104: Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery which was first published in 2008 and recently revised in April 2014. Please see the following link: http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign104.pdf\r\nHealthcare Improvement Scotland has a strategic relationship with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and is the lead health board for NICE outputs in NHS Scotland. While Healthcare Improvement Scotland does provide advice for NHS Scotland on NICE single technology appraisals and NICE multiple technology appraisals, no advice is provided on NICE clinical guidelines and quality standards and these have no status in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:16.56","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298899,"EventID":"S4W-23332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:16.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand any concessionary travel scheme for disabled and older people to include travel on the Edinburgh trams.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans to extend the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme for older and eligible disabled people to the Edinburgh trams. Local authorities can decide whether to provide additional concessions for their own residents, as the City of Edinburgh Council has chosen to do for the tram.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:16.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298900,"EventID":"S4W-23333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:17.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a financial analysis on expanding the national concessionary travel scheme to include (a) other forms of transport and (b) the Edinburgh trams.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government made clear that its support for the Edinburgh trams was limited to £500 million for its construction, and that no funding would be provided for its operation. We have not therefore commissioned a financial analysis of extending the national bus scheme to include trams or other forms of transport.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:17.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298901,"EventID":"S4W-23334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:18.277","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered implementing a voucher system similar to that for Scotland’s island residents for disabled or older people to travel on (a) ScotRail, (b) the Glasgow Subway, (c) the Edinburgh trams or (d) similar services.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not considered the use of such a voucher system. Local authorities have discretion to operate concessionary travel schemes in their area, or joint schemes with neighbouring local authorities, for modes of transport other than bus. The terms and extent of any such schemes are for local authorities to determine taking into account local needs and circumstances.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:18.29","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298902,"EventID":"S4W-23335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:18.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the increase in budget and decrease in reimbursement rates for concessionary fares, for what reason it has not yet expanded concessionary travel schemes to other forms of transport.\r\n","AnswerText":"The budget and the reimbursement rate used to fund concessionary travel on buses are designed to ensure that bus operators are no better and no worse off than they would have been in the absence of such a scheme. The reimbursement rate is now set on the basis of an economic model agreed with the sector in 2012-13. Although the rate is lower than previously, the combination of inflation and patronage growth means that the budget is still fully utilised and not available for extension to other forms of transport.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:18.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298903,"EventID":"S4W-23336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:19.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has contributed to allow blind or visually impaired people to travel free on the Edinburgh trams.","AnswerText":"The cost of allowing blind and visually impaired people to travel free on the Edinburgh tram is borne by the City of Edinburgh Council, which receives substantial funding from the Scottish Government as part of its three year 2012-15 settlement for local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:19.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298904,"EventID":"S4W-23337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:20.04","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-20T16:49:54.367","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council about extending the national concessionary travel scheme to the Edinburgh trams.","AnswerText":"In early 2013, the Scottish Government confirmed in discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council that the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme would not be extended to include the Edinburgh trams.\r\nThis was on the basis that such an extension would have to be financed from funds intended to support bus services, including concessionary bus travel, across Scotland. It was also noted that destinations served by the tram would continue to be served by conventional bus services, on which national concessions would be available.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:20.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298905,"EventID":"S4W-23366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:20.553","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the additional £10 million active travel infrastructure announced in the budget speech is included in the draft budget 2015-16.","AnswerText":"Yes. As stated on page 124 of the Draft Budget 2015-16 we have committed an additional £10 million in 2015-16 to support the delivery of improved cycling and walking infrastructure, and to support its use and help people make smarter travel choices.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:20.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298906,"EventID":"S4W-23367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:20.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what publications it considers constitute the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy in terms of  section 2(1) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.","AnswerText":"Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy, Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands, was published in 2004. The 2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity was published in June 2013. The two strategy documents together comprise the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:20.82","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298907,"EventID":"S4W-23368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:21.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that improved ecosystem service delivery and performance against natural capital indices would, in themselves, constitute the successful conservation of biodiversity in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"We are at the early stages in both measuring natural capital and understanding the role of biodiversity in the delivery of ecosystem services. There is a lot of evidence that supports the idea that biodiversity is critical to ecosystem resilience and hence to both ecosystem health and its capacity to deliver high quality services now and into the future. We are continuing to develop the indices to ensure that they capture the critical aspects of that complexity.\r\nThe Scottish Biodiversity Strategy defines success in relation to its three aims, and uses a range of indicators to monitor progress. The Natural Capital Asset Index is one of these, but there are a number of other indices - including the breeding bird index, seabird index etc. Taken together, these define success in conserving Scotland’s biodiversity.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:21.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298908,"EventID":"S4W-23369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:21.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) policies and (b) plans it has to underpin delivery (i) of ecosystem service targets under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and (ii) against the Aichi species and habitats targets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will shortly publish its route map for biodiversity. This will set out our ‘big steps for nature’. These are the priority actions which are required to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss. They will assist in meeting our obligations in terms of the Aichi targets, particularly the ecosystem restoration target. Delivery agreements are being developed with key delivery partners. The first of these will be published early in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:21.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298909,"EventID":"S4W-23371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:21.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what scientific research on species ecology and management it is commissioning to inform delivery against the Aichi species and habitats targets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, as part of its rural affairs, food and environment strategic research for 2011-16, funds a wide range of scientific research on species ecology and management that will inform delivery against the Aichi targets. This is mainly being taken forward by research scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and The James Hutton Institute.\r\nExamples of projects include:\r\nStudying Scottish rare plants at risk from climate change to assess their ability to adapt over time (ecological genetics research)\r\nEcological monitoring of elements of the Scottish Beaver Trial (woodland habitats research)\r\nEcological assessments of Scottish invertebrates (e.g. bees and beetles) in relation to their resilience to land-use changes\r\nEcological studies of Scottish peat bogs to assess restoration benefits\r\nEcological research on capercaillie and pine plantations\r\nScientific research on Scottish lichen species to assess the possibility of translocation\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:21.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298910,"EventID":"S4W-23372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:21.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its research strategy delivers the information needed to help implement the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.","AnswerText":"The importance of biodiversity is recognised in the Scottish Government’s current research strategy and key outputs from all the research funded are communicated to target audiences in Scotland and beyond through a knowledge exchange programme. This is co-ordinated by our world leading research institutes as part of the rural affairs, food and environment strategic research programme for 2011-16. Ecosystems and biodiversity research will also feature in the 2016-21 strategic research portfolio.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:21.927","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298911,"EventID":"S4W-23373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:22.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:59:23.633","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what funds it (a) has allocated in each of that last five years and (b) will allocate in the next five years to species and habitats-focused research to inform the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and global Aichi targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government spend on species and habitats-focused research in each of the last five years can be broken down as follows:\r\nYear\r\nAmount\r\n2009-10\r\n£3.0 million\r\n2010-11\r\n£3.0 million\r\n2011-12\r\n£4.0 million\r\n2012-13\r\n£3.8 million\r\n2013-14\r\n£3.7 million\r\n\r\nThe future strategic direction of the Scottish Government’s rural affairs, food and environment research was consulted upon earlier this year. Preparatory work is now underway on arrangements for the next funding period (2016-21) but recommendations on the amount and distribution of funding in this period will not be made until late 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:22.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298912,"EventID":"S4W-23374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:22.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T16:33:03.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times hyperbaric chambers have been used in emergencies in each year since 2009, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following tables:\r\n\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n2014\r\n2009-13\r\n\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nTotal\r\nFrom outwith UK\r\n5\r\n11\r\n3\r\n4\r\n3\r\n0\r\n26\r\nFrom rest of UK\r\n24\r\n16\r\n25\r\n14\r\n18\r\n10\r\n97\r\nAyrshire and Arran\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n2\r\nBorders\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n2\r\n4\r\nFife\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n2\r\nForth Valley\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n3\r\n0\r\n5\r\nGrampian\r\n2\r\n3\r\n1\r\n2\r\n4\r\n3\r\n12\r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde\r\n3\r\n4\r\n0\r\n3\r\n3\r\n4\r\n13\r\nHighland\r\n3\r\n1\r\n3\r\n1\r\n0\r\n5\r\n8\r\nLothian\r\n4\r\n3\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n2\r\n11\r\nLanarkshire\r\n1\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n4\r\nOrkney\r\n1\r\n1\r\n2\r\n2\r\n1\r\n0\r\n7\r\nTayside\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\n7\r\nShetland\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\nWestern Isles\r\n0\r\n4\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n5\r\nUnknown\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n1\r\n4\r\n0\r\n5\r\nTotal\r\n48\r\n47\r\n36\r\n29\r\n49\r\n29\r\n209\r\n\r\n2009-13\r\nAberdeen\r\nMillport\r\nOban\r\nOrkney\r\n2\r\n0\r\n4\r\n20\r\n23\r\n4\r\n15\r\n55\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n3\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n6\r\n2\r\n1\r\n3\r\n2\r\n4\r\n6\r\n1\r\n3\r\n0\r\n5\r\n0\r\n6\r\n0\r\n3\r\n2\r\n3\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n2\r\n0\r\n0\r\n5\r\n4\r\n0\r\n1\r\n2\r\n1\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n0\r\n4\r\n1\r\n0\r\n1\r\n0\r\n4\r\n58\r\n17\r\n41\r\n93\r\nSource: National Services Division\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:22.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298913,"EventID":"S4W-23375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:22.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T16:33:03.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities offer junior individual savings accounts to looked-after children, and what information it has on the take-up rate.","AnswerText":"28 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have signed up to the UK junior individual savings accounts scheme for looked-after children. The four who have not are East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and Stirling. The Scottish Government understands that discussions are ongoing about signing up to the scheme. There is no deadline for registration.\r\nLocal authorities and The Share Foundation (the body contracted by the UK Government to administer the scheme until the end of March 2015) have the latest information on take-up rate.\r\nThe Scottish Government considers the scheme as a core function of a local authority’s corporate parenting responsibilities as set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and would expect them to comply for the interests of looked-after children within their care to get maximum benefits from this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:22.723","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298914,"EventID":"S4W-23377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:23.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T16:33:03.03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what percentage of (a) further and (b) higher education students has (i) autistic spectrum disorder, (ii) Asperger syndrome, (iii) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (iv) social or emotional behavioural difficulties and (v) learning difficulties.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) produces statistics for further education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on students in further education is for the academic year 2012-13.\r\nTable 1 shows the number and percentage of further education enrolments at Scottish colleges split by disability type. \r\nTable 1: Enrolments in further education (FE) in Scottish colleges by disability type: 2012-13\r\n\r\nNumber of FE enrolments\r\nPercentage of all FE enrolments\r\nBlind/partially sighted\r\n660\r\n0.3%\r\nDeaf/have a hearing impairment\r\n1,415\r\n0.6%\r\nWheelchair user/have mobility difficulties\r\n1,260\r\n0.5%\r\nPersonal care support\r\n230\r\n0.1%\r\nMental health difficulties\r\n3,515\r\n1.4%\r\nUnseen disability, e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, asthma\r\n5,960\r\n2.4%\r\nMultiple disabilities\r\n3,040\r\n1.2%\r\nDyslexia\r\n10,415\r\n4.2%\r\nA disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above (1)\r\n6,845\r\n2.7%\r\nTotal FE enrolments with disability\r\n33,345\r\n13.3%\r\nTotal FE enrolments\r\n249,795\r\nSource: SFC\r\nNotes:\r\n(1) For colleges, students with an autistic spectrum disorder are included in the category ‘a disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above’ as they are not reported separately.\r\nEnrolment numbers are rounded to the nearest five.\r\nSome further education courses have a duration of less than one academic year, therefore students can enrol more than once per year. The number of FE enrolments will be higher than the number of students. Enrolments have been provided in this table to ensure comparability with the higher education (HE) enrolment numbers provided below.\r\n\r\n(b) The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) produces statistics for higher education students in higher education institutions (HEIs). The SFC produces statistics for higher education students in colleges. The latest data on students in higher education is for the academic year 2012-13.\r\nTable 2 shows the number and percentage of higher education enrolments split by disability type.\r\nTable 2: Enrolments in higher education in Scottish HEIs and colleges by disability type: 2012-13\r\n\r\nNumber of HE enrolments\r\nPercentage of all HE enrolments\r\nBlind or a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses\r\n465  \r\n0.2%\r\nDeaf or a serious hearing impairment\r\n735  \r\n0.3%\r\nA physical impairment or mobility issues, such as difficulty using arms or using a wheelchair or crutches\r\n885  \r\n0.3%\r\nPersonal care support\r\n5  \r\n0.0%\r\nA mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder\r\n2,890  \r\n1.0%\r\nA long standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy\r\n3,455  \r\n1.2%\r\nTwo or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions\r\n2,530  \r\n0.9%\r\nA social/communication impairment such as Asperger syndrome/other autistic spectrum disorder (1)\r\n455  \r\n0.2%\r\nA specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder\r\n10,240  \r\n3.7%\r\nA disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above (1)\r\n3,055  \r\n1.1%\r\nTotal HE enrolments with disability\r\n24,715\r\n8.9%\r\nTotal HE enrolments\r\n278,765\r\n\r\nSource: HESA and SFC.\r\nNotes:\r\n(1) For colleges, students with an autistic spectrum disorder are included in the category ‘a disability, impairment or medical condition not listed above’ as they are not reported separately.\r\nStudent numbers are rounded to the nearest five.\r\nHE students enrol once in each year of their course. The number of HE enrolments is therefore broadly comparable to the number of HE students for each academic year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:23.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298915,"EventID":"S4W-23379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:23.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T17:16:57.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with Ineos over the last six months and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have met with INEOS on one occasion in the last six months, which was requested by INEOS to discuss matters relating to recent announcements from the company.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:23.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298916,"EventID":"S4W-23380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:23.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T17:16:57.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding licensing for unconventional gas extraction.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have not held discussions with the UK Government regarding licensing for unconventional gas extraction. However, the member will be aware that The Smith Commission has recommended the devolution of licensing powers over onshore oil and gas to the Scottish Parliament.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:23.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298917,"EventID":"S4W-23381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:24.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T17:16:57.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the announcement by Ineos of its intended investment in shale gas extraction in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government endorses, the robust regulation of onshore drilling techniques associated with the extraction of shale gas, such as fracking. The Scottish Government approach is underpinned by the principle that the highest levels of environmental protection must be enforced. The Scottish Government has strengthened Scottish planning policy in relation to onshore unconventional gas activities through the introduction of buffer zones and additional risk assessments; and ministers will bring forward further guidance to empower potentially affected communities, ensuring that the views of local communities are taken into account. This will deliver rigorous scrutiny and regulation; strengthen monitoring; and will be particularly directed at any proposals which involve hydraulic fracturing.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:24.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298918,"EventID":"S4W-23393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:24.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T17:17:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the proposed strategic framework for action on palliative and end-of-life care that it announced in February 2014.","AnswerText":"The palliative and end-of-life care strategic framework for action will be published in spring 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:24.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298919,"EventID":"S4W-23394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:24.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T17:17:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult stakeholders and the public regarding the content of its proposed strategic framework for action on palliative and end-of-life care.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has asked the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care to develop plans to engage with stakeholders about the framework. The recently established person-centred stakeholder group, whose membership is drawn from service users, carers, the voluntary sector and staff across health and social care, will provide input in 2015.\r\nWe are also engaging widely including with the newly established palliative and end of life care national advisory group and its wider health and care networks, NHS board executive leads for palliative and end of life care, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, universities, NHS Education Scotland, independent adult hospices and the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:24.687","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298920,"EventID":"S4W-23395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:24.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T10:43:04.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many air quality management areas there are in the Falkirk Council area and where they are.","AnswerText":"There are four air quality management areas in the Falkirk Council area:\r\nLocation\r\nPollutants\r\nDescription\r\nGrangemouth \r\nSulphur dioxide\r\nAn area encompassing Grangemouth petrochemical complex and adjacent areas.\r\nHaggs\r\nNitrogen dioxide\r\nAn area encompassing parts of Banknock and Haggs around the junction of the A803 and M80.\r\nFalkirk \r\nNitrogen dioxide, particulate matter\r\nAn area encompassing part of Falkirk town centre.\r\nBanknock \r\nParticulate matter\r\nAn area to the west of Banknock.\r\n\r\nFurther information on these air quality management areas, and on air quality in general, can be found on the Scottish air quality website: \r\nwww.scottishairquality.co.uk\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:24.97","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298921,"EventID":"S4W-23396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:25.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T11:20:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) deadline it has set for local authorities to set autism strategies and (b) information it holds on how many (i) draft and (ii) completed autism strategies have been developed.","AnswerText":"The deadline set by the Scottish Government was March 2014. The autism coordination team – based within the University of Strathclyde and funded under the autism strategy – are supporting local authorities to further develop and implement their local autism strategies.\r\nAll local autism action plans and strategies (completed and draft) are published on the Scottish Strategy for Autism website at: http://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:25.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298922,"EventID":"S4W-23398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:25.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T11:20:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how groups and organisations can bid for support from the Scottish Strategy for Autism. \r\n","AnswerText":"A broad range of local and national third sector organisations, local authorities and NHS health boards were invited to bid for funding from the autism programme fund from financial year 2011-12 to present. The opportunities are promoted via existing autism service networks, voluntary and third sector networks as well as statutory organisation relevant networks.\r\nA further invitation for additional funding has just been issued (November 2014). Existing autism projects have been asked to consider how they can upscale and increase activity in current projects and services, the aim being to increase local activity and make a bigger impact on local services that deliver outcomes for people with autism in the financial year 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:25.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298923,"EventID":"S4W-23399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:25.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T11:20:49","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a progress report on the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.\r\n","AnswerText":"A progress report for years zero to two of the strategy was published on the Scottish Strategy for Autism website:\r\nhttp://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk/ and on the Scottish Government website: \r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/10/7066 in November 2014.\r\nA progress report for year three will be published in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:25.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298924,"EventID":"S4W-23400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T14:05:26.17","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T11:47:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03630 by Kenny MacAskill on 30 October 2014, whether it has reached a conclusion with regard to amending the law on non-harassment orders and what other action it will take to protect the victims of stalking.","AnswerText":"Following a recent court case, the Scottish Government is continuing to consider whether changes are required to the law on non-harassment orders so as to ensure that they can be granted by a court in all appropriate circumstances.\r\nThere is a wide range of actions being taken to protect victims of stalking. For example, victims of stalking are referred to the dedicated Victim Information and Advice service of Crown Office, which ensures that victims are informed, engaged and supported through the criminal justice process. They can also assist in referring victims of stalking offences to other agencies who can provide specialist support or assistance.\r\nSpecial measures are available to assist victims and witnesses in giving their evidence in court. The Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 extends the automatic entitlement to certain special measures to victims of stalking. Prosecutors will assess the level of risk to the victim taking all of the circumstances into account and will ask the court to impose the measures considered necessary to protect the victim until the conclusion of the case, which can include asking for the accused to be remanded in custody or to be subject to additional bail conditions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T14:05:26.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298925,"EventID":"S4T-00853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:06:14.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T11:29:59.737","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the development of wave power technology will be affected by the company, Pelamis, entering administration.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:06:14.413","MeetingDate":"2014-11-25T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298926,"EventID":"S4F-02419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:47.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T12:59:30.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:47.787","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298927,"EventID":"S4F-02421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:48.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T09:12:46.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when she will next meet the Prime Minister. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:48.287","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298928,"EventID":"S4F-02423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:49.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T09:43:26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the RCN report on mental health services.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:49.247","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298929,"EventID":"S4F-02424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:49.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T09:46:50.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:49.863","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298930,"EventID":"S4F-02425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:50.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T09:50:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Trussell Trust report indicating that the number of people in Scotland visiting foodbanks has doubled.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:50.6","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298931,"EventID":"S4F-02428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T13:05:51.92","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T10:18:39.027","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will respond to Save the Children's Read On, Get On report on child literacy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T13:05:51.947","MeetingDate":"2014-11-27T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298937,"EventID":"S4W-23382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:03.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-21T15:37:28","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22893 by Alex Neil on 11 November 2014, what the average length of stay for patients was, and how many were discharged after (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven and (h) more than seven days.\r\n","AnswerText":"The average length of stay (days) for patients in maternity units in Scotland for all discharges for each of the last five years 2008-09 to 2012-13 are as follows:\r\nNumber of women discharged from hospital for all discharges, including discharges after delivery and antenatal/postnatal discharges1,2,3,4 and length of stay in days5, financial years 2008-09 to 2012-13\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLength of stay (days)5\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n<1\r\n1\r\n2\r\n3\r\n4\r\n5\r\n6\r\n7\r\n8 or more\r\nMean\r\n2008-09\r\n128,492\r\n57,942\r\n23,329\r\n18,636\r\n12,325\r\n6,925\r\n3,733\r\n2,039\r\n1,146\r\n2,417\r\n1.5\r\n2009-10\r\n124,600\r\n53,830\r\n24,156\r\n19,314\r\n12,338\r\n6,508\r\n3,334\r\n1,922\r\n1,085\r\n2,113\r\n1.5\r\n2010-11\r\n121,301\r\n50,460\r\n24,850\r\n19,837\r\n11,977\r\n6,207\r\n3,240\r\n1,756\r\n1,012\r\n1,962\r\n1.5\r\n2011-12\r\n123,020\r\n51,910\r\n25,212\r\n19,768\r\n11,810\r\n6,257\r\n3,365\r\n1,789\r\n1,040\r\n1,869\r\n1.5\r\n2012-13\r\n118,634\r\n49,160\r\n24,966\r\n19,164\r\n11,253\r\n6,164\r\n3,302\r\n1,759\r\n1,026\r\n1,840\r\n1.5\r\n\r\n1 Excludes home births and births at non-NHS hospitals.\r\n2 A mother is counted once when a multiple birth occurs.\r\n3 Includes live and stillbirths.\t\t\r\n4 Completeness of SMR02 for antenatal and postnatal records may be much lower for some boards.\r\n5 Length of stay is calculated using date of admission and date of discharge. Where the date of admission and the date of discharge are \r\nthe same day the length of stay is calculated as zero days. \r\nSource: SMR02, ISD\t\t\t\r\nExtracted: November 2014\r\nRef: IR2014-02051 (S4W-23382)\t\t\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:03.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298938,"EventID":"S4W-23401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:04.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:10:36.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on dredging the River Isla in Perthshire to prevent flooding.\r\n","AnswerText":"Dredging can have a role to play in flood risk management, but carried out in the wrong way and in the wrong place can result in significant environmental damage, and increased flooding and erosion downstream.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Water and the other responsible authorities, to deliver strategic flood risk management plans for Scotland. These will set out objectives for reducing flood risk in potentially vulnerable areas across Scotland, and the best combination of measures to achieve this. These measures may include dredging where it is appropriate and is part of a sustainable, long-term catchment solution to sediment management issues.\r\nWe believe this is the best approach to managing flood risk across the whole of Scotland, rather than focussing on one single issue which is not a ‘cure all’ for flooding.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:04.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298939,"EventID":"S4W-23402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:04.72","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:10:36.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the dredging of rivers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). A joint meeting was held with National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) earlier this year, which resulted in the publication of detailed guidance on dredging for land managers. This can be obtained by visiting the following link:\r\nhttp://www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_regulation/guidance/river_clearance_and_dredging.aspx.\r\nNot all works require a SEPA licence: large and complex projects in larger rivers do, but simpler rules apply to activities like ditch clearance and silt removal from already straightened burns.\r\nFor more significant engineering works permission may be required. As these, if carried out in the wrong place and in the wrong way, can result in serious environmental damage and a risk of increased erosion and flooding elsewhere. SEPA assesses licence applications for dredging on a case by case basis, and encourages applications to be part of sustainable, long-term catchment solutions to sediment management issues. However, SEPA staff are always available to discuss any river management work, and to provide appropriate advice.\r\nBoth the Scottish Government and SEPA are aware of the challenges facing farmers and land managers during spells of extreme wet weather, and SEPA continues to liaise closely with NFUS on this important issue.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:04.733","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298940,"EventID":"S4W-23403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:05.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:10:36.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) plans to prevent farmland being flooded in winter 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working to reduce flood risk across the whole of Scotland through the implementation of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. We are committed to building up flood resilience in rural communities and the farming sector, and we continue to provide funding through the local government settlement for local authorities to invest in flood protection schemes. We have also invested significantly in improving Scotland’s flood warning service, which is resulting in better flood forecasting and warning information being made available to the public throughout Scotland. We are also supporting the public and others to take practical actions through our additional funding for the Scottish Flood Forum.\r\nThe interaction between agriculture, river dredging and flooding is complex, and the Scottish Government is keen to ensure the most sustainable balance between agricultural production, environmental protection and flood risk management.\r\nFollowing representations from NFUS, among others, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has reviewed the issue of maintaining agricultural flood embankments, and is seeking to raise awareness among farmers of the regulatory and licensing requirements that pertain to repair work carried out by land managers. This should give the farming community greater confidence in carrying out necessary repairs to flood defences.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:05.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298941,"EventID":"S4W-23404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:05.373","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:32:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take as a result of its consultation on the Draft Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2011, which closed on 8 June 2012.\r\n","AnswerText":"(a) Submissions to the consultation on the Draft Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2011 were received but no steps have been taken to amend the existing rules.\r\n(b) The Scottish Government will keep the matter under review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:05.39","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298942,"EventID":"S4W-23405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:06.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:32:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many public inquiries there have been from 1999, broken down by (a) completed and (b) ongoing inquiries, showing the (i) cost and (ii) duration of each.","AnswerText":"There have been five statutory public inquiries established since 1999, all under the Inquiries Act 2005 and Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007. Details of the cost and duration of each inquiry are in the following table, including whether it is completed or ongoing:\r\nInquiry\r\nStatus*\r\nCost\r\nDuration**\r\nICL Inquiry\r\ncompleted\r\n£1.9 million\r\n1 year 5 months\r\nFingerprint Inquiry\r\ncompleted\r\n£4.75 million\r\n3 years 9 months\r\nVale of Level Hospital Inquiry\r\ncompleted\r\n£10.3 million (as at 1 October 2014) with final costs still to be published\r\n5 years 1 month\r\nPenrose Inquiry\r\nongoing\r\n£11.3 million (as at June 2014) with a projected cost of £11.7 million (estimate provided by the inquiry team July 2014)\r\nCommenced January 2012\r\nEdinburgh Tram Inquiry\r\nongoing\r\nNot known\r\nBecame a statutory inquiry November 2014\r\n*completed means final report has been issued\r\n**duration from when inquiry set up to report published\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:06.107","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298943,"EventID":"S4W-23406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:06.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:50:12.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22893 by Alex Neil on 11 November 2014, how it monitors the discharge of patients from maternity units.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is no formal routine monitoring of discharges from maternity unit. Maternity units manage their own capacity as they have a defined cohort of patients which is not impacted upon by other hospital pressures. They do not take patients from other specialities and women are not boarded in other wards or departments. Maternity services do not have the same issues as other specialities as the majority of women are healthy to start with. Discharge from hospital is not a discharge from care, as care is continued in the community by the maternity team.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:06.747","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298944,"EventID":"S4W-23407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":141,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:07.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T14:50:12.44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22893 by Alex Neil on 11 November 2014, what guidance it issues on the discharge of patients from maternity units.","AnswerText":"All women who are admitted to maternity units are discharged in line with the needs of mother and baby. The length of a mother’s stay in hospital following the birth of their child is influenced by a number of factors, including the type of delivery, the condition of mother and child and professional judgement, taking into consideration the wishes of the mother.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:07.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298945,"EventID":"S4W-23408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:07.357","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:02:55.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support with mobility it provides to people with cerebral palsy who are over 50.\r\n","AnswerText":"Cerebral palsy is a condition where birth injury results in damage to the brain leading to impairment of movement in the limbs, sometimes problems with speech and language, and sometimes associated learning difficulties which may impact on daily activities and independence. These can persist into adulthood, and may require ongoing help with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and where appropriate help with benefits and social support.\r\nPhysiotherapy can offer assessment and advice which may be followed by treatment and/or equipment provision, however it is for local NHS boards to determine the level of service they provide based on local priorities and clinical need.\r\nServices for adults with cerebral palsy fall within core local authority social work service functions generally supported by the Scottish Government. Access to services is based on an individual assessment of need.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:07.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298946,"EventID":"S4W-23409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:07.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:02:55.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to establish a clinical pathway for adults with cerebral palsy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government funds the National Neurological Advisory Group (NNAG), whose aim is to improve the patient journey from the point of referral into the service, and to ensure that every patient with a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy experiences a quality of care that gives confidence to the patient, clinician and carer.\r\nThe NNAG is currently looking at pathways across neurological conditions with a view to publishing a library of good practice pathways that can be adapted to meet the needs of individual boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:07.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298947,"EventID":"S4W-23419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:08.09","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:11:20.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the New Medicines Fund will provide funding only for medicines approved via the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) process or also for licensed medicines that are not yet approved by the SMC.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22884 on 11 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-11-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:08.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298948,"EventID":"S4W-23420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T16:46:08.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:11:20.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been to the New Medicines Fund and how many have been approved.","AnswerText":"The New Medicines Fund provides additional support to NHS boards on the basis of their expenditure, following clinical decisions on prescribing.\r\nThe Scottish Government plans to publish details of the additional support provided to NHS boards in 2014-15 and 2015-16 following the end of each of these financial years, and reporting mechanisms are being put in place to support this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T16:46:08.48","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298949,"EventID":"S4W-23418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-24T17:00:54.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:11:20.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme rebate allocation has been calculated for 2013-14 and what the forecast for the rebate is for each of the next two years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) payments are calculated on the basis of the scheme in operation at that time. The PPRS is agreed by the Department of Health in England and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry.\r\nFor planning purposes, the 2015-16 draft budget currently includes £40 million from PPRS receipts to be utilised for the New Medicines Fund for both 2014-15 and 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-08T17:00:54.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298951,"EventID":"S4W-23410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:20.977","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the equality impact assessment of the decision by Historic Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, not to schedule the Tinkers’ Heart in Argyll as a monument of national importance.\r\n","AnswerText":"The requirements for equality impact assessment are laid out in The Equality Act (2010) Specific Duties (Scotland) Regulations 2012. In line with the regulations, the equality impact assessment is applicable to new or revised plans, policies and strategies, but it is not required for individual operational decisions, such as, which monuments and structures to designate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:21.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298952,"EventID":"S4W-23411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:21.32","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22276 by Shona Robison on 19 August 2014, what plans it has to assess the effectiveness of how it consults the Gypsy/Traveller community. \r\n","AnswerText":"We have no plans to formally assess the effectiveness of the Scottish Government consultation with the Gypsy/Traveller community. However, implementation of the forthcoming strategy for Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland may include further work on methods of engagement with the Gypsy/Traveller community.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:21.333","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298953,"EventID":"S4W-23412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:21.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it consults the Roma community.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides funding to Friends of Romano Lav, an organisation working to develop capacity among the Roma community in Glasgow. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with representatives from Friends of Romano Lav to discuss progress.\r\nThe membership of the Gypsy/Traveller Strategy Development Group includes a Friends of Romano Lav representative, as a capacity building opportunity and to maintain links between work on Gypsy/Travellers and the migrant Roma community.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:21.583","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298954,"EventID":"S4W-23413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:21.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government, (b) Welsh Government, (c) Northern Ireland Executive and (d) Government of Ireland about how Gypsy/Traveller traditions should be recognised.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have not had any discussions with the governments mentioned about how Gypsy/Traveller traditions should be recognised as yet.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:21.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298955,"EventID":"S4W-23414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:22.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that Historic Scotland takes due regard of the traditions of (a) the Gypsy/Traveller community and (b) other groups in its decision-making.\r\n","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland addresses and celebrates the full spectrum of cultural diversity in all of its activities, the Gypsy/Traveller community falls within this. The success of this approach is endorsed by the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, which states on its website that: “Historic Scotland is fully compliant with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. As a main agency of the Scottish Government, Historic Scotland contributes towards the Scottish Government's equality outcomes and mainstreaming report which is published on their website”. Diversity is a key principle in all of Historic Scotland’s developmental programmes and is covered specifically in its induction package for new staff.\r\nHistoric Scotland’s decision-making on which monuments and structures merit designation is governed by criteria set out in Scottish Historic Environment Policy. These criteria were produced after public consultation and align closely with those used in systems for protecting important historic assets elsewhere in the UK and across most of Europe.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:22.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298956,"EventID":"S4W-23415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:23.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to recognise the role of the language, Scottish Cant, in Scotland's culture and history.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the important role that languages such as Scottish Cant play in Scotland’s culture and heritage and in the identity of indigenous communities. There are a number of initiatives in place which aim to make progress with priorities identified by the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller community, including the development of a strategy and action plan which will build on a number of recommendations from earlier reports. This strategy is being prepared with input from the Gypsy/Traveller community, and will be published in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:23.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298957,"EventID":"S4W-23416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:23.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many Historic Scotland staff have received awareness training about the traditions of (a) the Gypsy/Traveller community and (b) other groups.\r\n","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland approaches diversity from a broad perspective, seeking to address and celebrate the full spectrum of cultural diversity. Historic Scotland consistently retains this as a core principle throughout its development programmes in seeking to enhance understanding.\r\nReflecting this position, Historic Scotland’s approach to diversity in its developmental programmes is to ensure that the topic is a theme which is addressed throughout. There are specific sessions on disability and diversity in Historic Scotland’s induction package for new staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:23.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298958,"EventID":"S4W-23417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:24.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T15:58:54.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government to what extent ministers are accountable to the Parliament for the actions of its agencies and non-ministerial departments.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers are accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the functions and performance of agencies. The chief executives of agencies are answerable to ministers for the operation of agencies, their day-to-day management and for planning their future development.\r\nThe office-holders of non-ministerial departments (NMDs), who may be individuals or boards, are directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the discharge of their statutory functions and duties, although, as with other public bodies, NMDs work co-operatively with ministers to deliver policies and priorities in accordance with their statutory responsibilities and the framework document agreed between them and ministers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:24.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298959,"EventID":"S4W-23421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:24.33","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:16:06.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many admissions to specialist inpatient units there have been under section 23 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in each year since 2011, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. The Mental Welfare Commission publishes annual statistical monitoring reports at: http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/publications/statistical-monitoring-reports/. The most recent being Mental Health Act Monitoring 2013-2014 - which contains some information on admissions section 23 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:24.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298960,"EventID":"S4W-23422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:24.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:16:06.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the level of secure inpatient care provision for children and young people with mental health issues.  \r\n","AnswerText":"There are three inpatient mental health facilities for children and adolescents (over the age of 12), and one inpatient mental health facility for children (under the age of 13) in Scotland.\r\nWe are working with NHS directors of planning to determine the most appropriate and clinically effective and safe model of secure Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services inpatient care in Scotland.\r\nWe have also been working with NHS boards to develop a new model of ‘hospital at home’ type care and treatment which has now been introduced across many NHS boards. This new approach creates new capacity. In the areas where the new approaches are most advanced this has been demonstrated to have had the effect of significantly reducing the need for unscheduled and temporary admissions of under 18s to adult psychiatric hospital beds.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:24.72","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298961,"EventID":"S4W-23423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:25.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T16:16:06.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards provide child and adolescent mental health services up to age (a) 16 and (b) 18.\r\n","AnswerText":"Details of the service provision for child and adolescent mental health services is publicly available and can be found in the Information Services Division (ISD) publication Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NHS Scotland: Characteristics of the workforce supply (table 8), which was published on 25 November 2014 and covers the period up to 30 September 2104.\r\nhttps://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-11-25/2014-11-25-CAMHS-Report.pdf?51534670592\r\nNHS Scotland CAMHS Service Age Provision as at 30 September 2014 by NHS Board.\r\n\r\nNHS Board\r\nService Age Provision as at 30 September 2014\r\n\r\nAyrshire and Arran \r\nUp to 18th birthday if still in full time education. \r\nBorders \r\nUp to 18th birthday. \r\nDumfries and Galloway \r\nUp to 18th birthday, but occasionally beyond. Child Clinical Psychology Service; up to 18th birthday provided in full-time secondary education (not tertiary i.e. not college), up to 16 if not in school. \r\nFife \r\nUp to 18th birthday. \r\nForth Valley \r\nCore CAMHS is up to 18th birthday, Learning Disabilities CAMHS is up to 16th birthday. \r\nGrampian \r\nUp to 18th birthday. \r\nGreater Glasgow and Clyde \r\nUp to 18th Birthday across all services. \r\nHighland \r\nUp to 18th birthday if in full-time secondary education otherwise up to age 16 years. Learning Disabilities CAMHS up to 19th birthday provided still in full-time education \r\nLanarkshire \r\nTier 3 Child & Family Clinic Teams: up to 16th birthday, up to 18th birthday if referred before 16th birthday or at a point before 18th birthday when it is suitable to discharge them (currently under review). CAMHS Learning Disabilities, Primary Mental Health & CAMHS for Accommodated Young People (CAYP) Teams: up to 18th birthday. \r\nLothian \r\nUp to 18th Birthday across all areas. \r\nOrkney \r\nUp to 18th birthday. \r\nShetland \r\nUp to 18th Year if in full time education, and up to 16th Year if not in full time education. \r\nTayside \r\nUp to 18th birthday provided in full-time secondary education (not tertiary i.e. not college). Learning Disability and Tier 4 services are up to 18years \r\nWestern Isles \r\nUp to 18th birthday \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:25.063","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298962,"EventID":"S4W-23424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:25.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T11:42:24.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22278 by Alex Neil on 19 August 2014, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.\r\n","AnswerText":"My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014, asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report.\r\nA reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on-going but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as it is complete.\r\nAs the member will be aware, the Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and it is for the Chairman, Lord Penrose, to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:25.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298963,"EventID":"S4W-23425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:26.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T11:42:24.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19629 by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014, what discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.","AnswerText":"The warning letters stage of the Penrose Inquiry, which is a complex and detailed part of the process, is not yet complete. I have recently received a letter from Lord Penrose providing a progress update on the work of the inquiry. Lord Penrose has advised that the warning letter process is still ongoing, but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as that process is complete.\r\nAll persons who may be the subject of significant or explicit criticism in the report will receive warning letters. There is a duty of confidence in relation to the warning letters, so disclosure of the contents is not permitted. The obligation of confidentiality only ends when the final report is published, which prevents any discussion of the content with the Department of Health at this stage.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:26.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298964,"EventID":"S4W-23426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-25T13:50:26.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T11:42:24.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19628 by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014, what steps it has taken in light of the delay in the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV, and what further steps it will take.","AnswerText":"My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014 asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report.\r\nA reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on-going but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as it is complete.\r\nAs the member will be aware, the Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and it is for the Chairman, Lord Penrose, to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-09T13:50:26.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298987,"EventID":"S4O-03761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:47.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:18.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the teaching of foreign languages in schools.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:47.377","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298988,"EventID":"S4O-03762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:47.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:19.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to combat bullying in schools.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:47.783","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298989,"EventID":"S4O-03763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:48.08","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:39:06.047","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address teachers' workload issues.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:48.11","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298990,"EventID":"S4O-03764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:48.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:20.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding its obligation to provide a flexible approach to parental choice for early learning and childcare.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:48.533","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298991,"EventID":"S4O-03765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:48.797","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:20.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce software engineering as part of the school curriculum.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:48.83","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298992,"EventID":"S4O-03766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2215,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":125,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:49.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:32:36.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the Raising Attainment for All programme is raising the standards of education in schools.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:49.093","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298993,"EventID":"S4O-03767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:49.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:15:27.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it assists general teaching staff in helping them to ensure that pupils with autistic spectrum disorders receive full support.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:49.5","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298994,"EventID":"S4O-03768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:49.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T17:04:36.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the accompanying guidance for the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:49.78","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298995,"EventID":"S4O-03769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:50.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T15:53:58.817","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy regarding the 2015-16 draft budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:50.06","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298996,"EventID":"S4O-03770","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:50.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T09:27:32.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the Getting It Right for Every Child strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:50.327","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298997,"EventID":"S4O-03771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:50.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:22.643","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to attend further education courses.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:50.59","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298998,"EventID":"S4O-03772","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:50.903","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T09:50:24.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the budget priorities are for the Education and Lifelong Learning portfolio in 2015-16.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:50.933","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":298999,"EventID":"S4O-03773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:51.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:23.267","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be invested in the programme, Scotland’s Schools for the Future.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:51.2","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299000,"EventID":"S4O-03774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:51.48","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:23.493","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making school inspections without giving prior notice.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:51.513","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299001,"EventID":"S4O-03775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:51.84","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:23.93","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what agreements are in place with COSLA regarding the funding of education services. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:51.87","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299002,"EventID":"S4O-03776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5119,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":110,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:52.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T16:42:36.637","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authority schools having to pay full rates on their buildings while the majority of private and independent schools pay discounted rates.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:52.307","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299003,"EventID":"S4O-03777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:52.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:24.56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Access to Education Fund it has received, how many were successful and how much has been awarded in grants.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:52.603","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299004,"EventID":"S4O-03778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:52.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:24.787","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether modern studies should be made available at all secondary schools if 16 and 17-year-olds have the right to vote in elections.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:52.917","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299005,"EventID":"S4O-03779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:53.18","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:25.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will tackle the link between child poverty and educational attainment.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:53.213","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299006,"EventID":"S4O-03780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:53.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:10:12.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the expansion of funded early learning and childcare will benefit the most disadvantaged people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:53.51","MeetingDate":"2014-12-03T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299007,"EventID":"S4O-03781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:53.757","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:48.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on the payment of the living wage in public contracts.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:53.79","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299008,"EventID":"S4O-03782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:54.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T08:59:38.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to improve customer awareness of the dangers of rogue traders in the construction industry.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:54.087","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299009,"EventID":"S4O-03783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:54.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T10:49:57.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to support local authorities in meeting demand for care home provision.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:54.367","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299010,"EventID":"S4O-03784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:54.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:49:11.007","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Fife and what issues were discussed. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:54.71","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299011,"EventID":"S4O-03785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:54.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:41:49.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to rail services for disabled people.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:55.023","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299012,"EventID":"S4O-03786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:55.317","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:50.38","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions there are on developers that make significant changes to the inside or outside of listed buildings without applying for listed building consent. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:55.333","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299013,"EventID":"S4O-03787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:55.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:30:33.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is developing statutory guidance for minimum standards in temporary accommodation and, if so, when it will be published.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:55.66","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299014,"EventID":"S4O-03788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:55.91","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T10:36:19.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the UK Government to discuss the future of RAF Leuchars.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:55.927","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299015,"EventID":"S4O-03789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:56.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-24T12:03:51.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle inequality. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is determined to tackle all forms of inequality, including poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.\r\nA wide range of measures is in place to help us to do this and our commitment runs throughout the new programme for government, through our 2015-16 budget proposals and through our legislative programme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:56.207","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299016,"EventID":"S4O-03790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T13:28:56.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T09:22:01.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to raise parents' awareness of the role that they can play in young driver safety.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that younger drivers can be particularly at risk on the roads and drivers aged 17-25 are one of the priorities for action within Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020.\r\nEarlier this year Road Safety Scotland issued a national guide for parents and guardians giving advice on helping young people stay safe before, during and after the driver training and testing process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T13:28:56.487","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299017,"EventID":"S4W-23428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:34.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-25T16:53:29.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Football Association to encourage young people to take up the sport.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the important role football plays in communities across Scotland and believes grass roots football is a key area in helping the Scottish Government achieve several sporting, health, community and educational ambitions. \r\nThe most recent sportscotland investment in Scottish Football Association (SFA) activities and programmes is £1.656 million, covering a 15 month period from 1 Jan 2014 to 31 March 2015, of which £1 million contributes towards the delivery of the SFA’s 10-year youth action plan. As the current investment represents the final year of a 10-year support commitment, the SFA are in the process of submitting a new four-year development plan for funding consideration by the sportscotland board, which would run from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2019. The new development plan will identify SFA plans and priorities in the area of youth football, along with other SFA development activities and programmes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:34.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299018,"EventID":"S4W-23429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:34.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:41:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what right of appeal a resident has when a local authority refuses to enforce the conditions of a planning application on a neighbouring property.","AnswerText":"Failing to comply with a condition subject to which planning permission has been granted constitutes a breach of planning control.\r\nThere is no right of appeal to Scottish Ministers where a planning authority does not take formal enforcement action in any specific case.\r\nIt is a matter for the planning authority concerned whether to take enforcement action against such breaches, having regard to the provisions of the development plan and any other material considerations. However, an authority may also decide to take no formal action where they consider it is not in the public interest to do so.\r\nPlanning authorities are required to publish an enforcement charter setting out their policy on enforcement issues and detailing how a person who is dissatisfied with their handling of a specific case can complain. It is open to a person to take the matter to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman if they believe there has been maladministration in the planning authority handling of a specific case.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:34.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299019,"EventID":"S4W-23430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:35.36","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T11:41:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what actions a local authority can take when a person does not adhere to the conditions of a planning permission.\r\n","AnswerText":"Local authorities have the discretion to decide how, and whether, to take action when it comes to light that planning conditions are not or have not been adhered to.\r\nThe Scottish Government planning guidance as set out in Planning Circular 10/2009: Planning Enforcement, is that an informal resolution of any breach of planning control should be considered in the first instance. Depending on the circumstances, planning authorities also have formal powers to require a breach of control to be corrected, prohibit the carrying out of activities, require compliance with conditions, apply for an interdict to restrain breaches of control, or require abatement of activities that are adversely affecting the amenity of the area.\r\nAny action taken has to be appropriate to the scale and impact of the breach of planning control. It is for the relevant authority to assess, in each case, which power (or mix of powers) is best suited to dealing with any particular suspected or actual breach of control to achieve a satisfactory, lasting and cost-effective remedy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:35.387","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299020,"EventID":"S4W-23431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:35.787","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T14:38:55.593","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many diabetes patients have been refused prescriptions for blood-testing strips in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\nWe expect clinicians to refer to SIGN guideline 116 on the management of diabetes, which makes it clear who would benefit from self-monitoring of blood glucose.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:35.81","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299021,"EventID":"S4W-23432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:36.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T14:38:55.593","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to NHS boards about the circumstances in which prescriptions for blood-testing strips for diabetes patients might be restricted.\r\n","AnswerText":"We expect clinicians to follow national guidelines. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guideline 116 on the management of diabetes, makes it clear who would benefit the most from self-monitoring of blood glucose. The guidelines also set out recommendations to help support people in self-managing their diabetes, including access to appropriate education.\r\nAppropriate access to blood testing strips for self-monitoring is a matter for each individual in discussion with the healthcare practitioner responsible for their care, and will be based on an assessment of the individual’s clinical needs.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:36.137","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299022,"EventID":"S4W-23433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-26T16:55:36.42","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-26T14:38:55.593","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what help it provides to diabetes patients who have been refused prescriptions for blood-testing strips. \r\n","AnswerText":"We expect any decisions made on a person’s self-management regimen to be determined on the basis of an assessment of their needs and made in close consultation with the person living with diabetes. In addition to this we would also expect patients to have access to appropriate structured education in order to support the self-management of their diabetes.\r\nIf patients have any concerns with their treatment or care then they should discuss this with the healthcare practitioner responsible for their care in the first instance.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-10T16:55:36.443","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299069,"EventID":"S4W-23437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:48:58.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T13:53:41.95","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to assist the development of the project, Helensburgh Heroes.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not directly support projects like Helensburgh Heroes and their plans for a digital academy and entertainment centre. Where such projects contribute to economic development, skills or culture they are eligible to apply for support from agencies such as Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Creative Scotland. Helensburgh Heroes applied for support from Creative Scotland but were unsuccessful. Creative Scotland work on the ‘arms-length’ principle, whereby ministers are prevented by legislation from intervening in artistic decisions.\r\nCreative Scotland is currently accepting applications for open project funding for projects which meet the published funding guidelines.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:48:58.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299070,"EventID":"S4W-23438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:48:59.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T14:58:33.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs there have been in NHS Grampian in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.\r\n","AnswerText":"The number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013 is included in Table 1.\r\nTable 1: Number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013\r\nYear\r\nAberdeen City Council\r\nAberdeenshire Council\r\nMoray Council\r\n\r\nNHS Grampian\r\n\r\n2009\r\n247\r\n227\r\n85\r\n559\r\n2010\r\n247\r\n231\r\n89\r\n567\r\n2011\r\n239\r\n230\r\n81\r\n550\r\n2012\r\n237\r\n225\r\n86\r\n548\r\n2013\r\n239\r\n227\r\n83\r\n549\r\nSource: Information Services Division Scotland\r\nRef: IR2014-02107\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:48:59.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299071,"EventID":"S4W-23439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:48:59.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T14:58:33.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate of flu vaccine has been for (a) under fives, (b) five to 17-year-olds, (c) 18 to 24-year-olds, (d) 25 to 60-year-olds, (e) people over 60 and under 75 and (f) people aged 75 and over in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Influenza vaccine uptake is monitored by Health Protection Scotland based on aggregate level data for all population groups eligible for free influenza vaccine in Scotland. These population groups (as defined by their age and/or by the presence of underlying chronic health conditions) are listed in table 1. These groups have been identified as being at increased risk of influenza infection and severe presentation or complications of influenza infections, and/or as posing an increased risk of transmitting influenza to vulnerable individuals. Data are collected at the aggregate level and a breakdown by the age groups requested in the question is not routinely available. We have therefore provided the standard data for the eligible groups. The population groups recommended to receive the influenza vaccine have changed over the years as new evidence is considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the eligible groups are stated annually as part of the Chief Medical Officer's seasonal influenza vaccination letter. Vaccine uptake for the different groups is derived from a number of data sources, which are described in more detail below.\r\nTable 1: Cumulative influenza vaccine uptake in Scotland by eligible group over the last five influenza seasons (October to mid-May).\r\nEligible group\r\n2010-11 \r\n(end of season)\r\n2011-12 \r\n(end of season)\r\n2012-13 \r\n(end of season)\r\n2013-14 (end of season)\r\n2014-15 (to week ending 30 November 2014)\r\n65 years and older1\r\n76.2%\r\n76.6%\r\n77.4%\r\n77.0%\r\n71.1%\r\nUnder 65-year-old in a clinical at risk group2\r\n56.1%\r\n59.7%\r\n59.2%\r\n60.5%\r\n46.2%\r\nPregnant women in a clinical at risk group3\r\n74.8%\r\n60.0%\r\n68.7%\r\n65.0%\r\n56.5%\r\nPregnant women not in a clinical at risk group3\r\n64.9%\r\n39.6%\r\n52.9%\r\n47.9%\r\n39.4%\r\nTwo and three year-old children4\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\n50.6%\r\nNA\r\nTwo to under five-year-old children not yet in school5 \r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\n45.1%\r\nPrimary school pilots6\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\n67.2%\r\nNA\r\nFull primary school implementation7 \r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nNA\r\nCumulative uptake was 53.7% \r\n(average uptake of 71.2% per school session already held)\r\n1. End of season vaccine uptake for seasons 2010-11 to 2013-14 for the 65 years and older group is based on GP claims for payments for influenza vaccinations. In season vaccination uptake estimates for season 2014-15 for this group is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.\r\n2. End of season vaccine uptake for seasons 2011-12 to 2013-14 for the under 65-year-olds in a clinical at risk group (excluding pregnant women without clinical risk group and carers) is based on GP claims for payments for influenza vaccinations. End of season vaccine uptake for season 2010-11 and in season vaccination uptake estimates for 2014-15 for this group is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.\r\n3. End of season vaccine uptake estimates for seasons 2010-11 to 2013-14 and in season vaccine uptake estimates for season 2014-15 for pregnant women in a clinical risk group and pregnant women not in a clinical risk group are based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. Particularly high uptake of vaccination in season 2010-11 was associated with media coverage of cases of severe influenza infections in pregnant women, some with fatal outcome.\r\n4. In 2013-14 all two and three-year-old children (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1 September 2013) were eligible for influenza vaccination, as partial implementation of the extension of the seasonal influenza programme to all children. End of season vaccine uptake estimates for season 2013-14 is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.\r\n5. In season 2014-15 eligibility for influenza vaccination was extended to all two to five-year-old children not yet in school (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1 September 2013). End of season vaccine uptake estimates for seasons 2014-15 based on weekly automated extracts from GP s","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:48:59.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299072,"EventID":"S4W-23440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:00.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T14:58:33.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time is for an ambulance in the NHS Grampian area.","AnswerText":"The average response time for an ambulance in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14 is 7.2 minutes for Category A incidents and 8.9 minutes for all emergency incidents (including Category A and B incidents). This excludes incidents where an ambulance had been dispatched but then stood down.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:00.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299073,"EventID":"S4W-23441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:01.013","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T14:58:33.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency ambulance incidents were responded to in NHS Grampian in 2013-14.","AnswerText":"42,859 emergency incidents were attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14. This excludes urgent and routine incidents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:01.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299074,"EventID":"S4W-23443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:01.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T15:00:10.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a licence being granted to a community pharmacy that did not produce a business plan in its application, and how the viability or sustainability of such a pharmacy can be determined.\r\n","AnswerText":"Applications relating to community pharmacies are considered by NHS boards’ Pharmacy Practices Committees (PPCs) under provisions set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, as amended. PPCs will consider each application on an individual basis in accordance with the terms of the Regulations, taking into account the specific factors and local circumstances relating to that application.\r\nFurther amendments to the Regulations came into force on 28 June 2014 and explicitly require PPCs to consider the likely long-term sustainability of any proposed pharmacy in their deliberations. The Scottish Statutory Instrument can be found at:\r\nwww.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2014/148/contents/made\r\nIn addition, the Scottish Government issued guidance to NHS boards alongside the amendments on 30 June 2014, which can be found at:\r\nwww.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2014(P)15.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:01.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299075,"EventID":"S4W-23445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:02.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T15:00:10.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be the minimum (a) number of patients and (b) size of population needed for a pharmacy to be viable and sustainable.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23443 on 10 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nwww.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:02.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299076,"EventID":"S4W-23447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:03.073","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T15:00:10.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what factors NHS boards must consider before issuing a notice for a dispensing practice to cease all or most of its prescribing, and what guidance it issues on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Before issuing a notice to cease all or most of its dispensing, NHS boards must consider whether or not their decision would lead to patients having difficulty in obtaining drugs from a pharmacist or another dispensing practice in the local area because of distance, inadequacy of means of communication or other exceptional circumstances.\r\nIf this doesn’t apply, paragraph 44(3)(b) of Schedule 5 to The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 obliges health boards to give the dispensing practice reasonable notice that the supply of drugs, medicines and appliances is to be discontinued.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:03.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299077,"EventID":"S4W-23448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:03.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T15:00:10.21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it, (b) community councils and (c) NHS boards can take if a pharmacy does not meet the terms and conditions of its licence. \r\n","AnswerText":"The terms of service for contractors providing NHS pharmaceutical services are set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, as amended. The principal Regulations can be found at:\r\nwww.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2009/183/contents/made\r\nThe action which NHS boards can take against contractors who fail to comply with their terms of service are set out in the NHS (Discipline Committees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, as amended. The principal Regulations can be found at:\r\nwww.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2006/330/contents/made\r\nComplaints against NHS contractors can be made through the NHS complaints procedure. Further information, and details of the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities, can be found on the Health Rights Information Scotland website at:\r\nwww.hris.org.uk/index.aspx?o=1025\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:03.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299078,"EventID":"S4W-23452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:04.383","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:01:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that every child is taught the Andrew Carnegie story as part of the school curriculum.","AnswerText":"The school curriculum in Scotland is non-statutory and decisions about what topics are covered and how they are covered, are left to the professional judgement of teachers and not government ministers. Education Scotland provides support for teachers and schools to ensure that the curriculum remains relevant, engaging and inspiring for all learners. Their Studying Scotland website contains a section on Great Scots, which includes historical figures, modern day and past entrepreneurs, performers and sports men and women. An entry on Andrew Carnegie will appear very shortly on the website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:04.4","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299079,"EventID":"S4W-23454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:04.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:29:40.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next edition of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.","AnswerText":"The next edition of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is now planned for 2016. The publication date will be announced in due course through the official statistics forthcoming publication scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:04.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299080,"EventID":"S4W-23455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:05.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:29:40.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not yet published the redrawn data zone boundaries based on the 2011 census, which were due to be published in mid-2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The redrawn data zone boundaries and supporting consultation report are both published on the Scottish Government website; these were published on 6 November 2014.\r\nThere was a slight delay from mid-2014 to allow more thorough consultation about boundaries with individual local authorities and their partners, such as NHS health boards and Community Planning Partnerships.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:05.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299081,"EventID":"S4W-23456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-11-27T16:49:06.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:29:40.61","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish interim updates for the (a) employment and (b) income domain of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) team will continue to work with colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC to provide interim updates to the SIMD 'employment' and 'income' domains. Publication dates will be announced in due course through the official statistics forthcoming publication scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-11T16:49:06.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299083,"EventID":"S4W-23453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:46.01","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:17:20.527","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22920 by Richard Lochhead on 13 November 2014, whether its response will consider introducing legislation for the compulsory microchipping of dogs.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is carefully considering all of the views expressed through the consultation and will seek to announce our proposed next steps early in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:46.057","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299084,"EventID":"S4W-23457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:46.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T17:44:30.553","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what research the Medical Research Council has funded in the last 10 years into the role of deciliation in the onset of autistic spectrum disorder.","AnswerText":"Details of Medical Research Council funding are not routinely held by the Scottish Government. The Medical Research Council will hold the relevant information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:46.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299085,"EventID":"S4W-23458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:46.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-28T11:06:53.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the revised timetable for works on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will have on the completion date for work on the Haudagain roundabout.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government are committed to making improvements at the Haudagain roundabout once work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route scheme is finished, and are reviewing the programme in light of the new completion date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:46.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299086,"EventID":"S4W-23459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:47.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-28T11:06:53.69","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated timescale for works on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.\r\n","AnswerText":"As I announced last week following the issue of the intention to award letter to Connect Roads, the project is now scheduled to be completed ahead of programme in winter 2017.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:47.103","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299087,"EventID":"S4W-23460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:47.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-28T14:58:58.003","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on delivering the commitment in the SNP 2011 manifesto regarding an environmental court.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of environmental justice. It is wholly committed to having appropriate structures in place to protect our environment which enable the best decisions to be made around activities that affect it.\r\nAs regards to the SNP manifesto commitment to publish an options paper on an environmental court, the Scottish Government will meet this commitment before the end of this parliamentary term in 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:47.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299088,"EventID":"S4W-23461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:47.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-11-27T16:36:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Global Campaign for Education.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have not had direct discussions with the UK Government about the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), although I have recently written to Golfhill Primary School to congratulate them on joining the ‘Send My Friend to School’ campaign which is part of GCE. In addition, the Scottish Government currently funds education projects in Malawi and Pakistan through our International Development Fund in line with the campaign’s aim to achieve universal education for all.\r\nGlobal citizenship is also central to our approach to teaching and learning in Scotland through Curriculum for Excellence and we are currently investing £300,000 per annum in the Development Education Centres to support global citizenship education here in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:47.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Humza Yousaf","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299089,"EventID":"S4W-23462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:48.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T10:09:51.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government in how many residential properties renewables have been installed in (a) existing and (b) newbuild properties in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information.\r\nHowever, partial information can be provided relating to the UK Government’s feed-in-tariff scheme. The following table and shows the cumulative numbers of domestic installations that are receiving a feed-in-tariff for a renewable generation project, as at the end of September 2014. No breakdown is available between (a) existing and (b) new build properties.\r\nCumulative installations confirmed on the central feed-in-tariff register by local authority, as at end of September 20141\r\nLocal Authority\r\nDomestic Installations\r\nAberdeen City\r\n702 \r\nAberdeenshire\r\n3,794 \r\nAngus\r\n1,292 \r\nArgyll and Bute\r\n1,057 \r\nClackmannanshire\r\n327 \r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n2,297 \r\nDundee City\r\n448 \r\nEast Ayrshire\r\n814 \r\nEast Dunbartonshire\r\n509 \r\nEast Lothian\r\n683 \r\nEast Renfrewshire\r\n343 \r\nEdinburgh, City of\r\n1,112 \r\nEilean Siar\r\n297 \r\nFalkirk\r\n695 \r\nFife\r\n2,894 \r\nGlasgow City\r\n1,449 \r\nHighland\r\n3,193 \r\nInverclyde\r\n205 \r\nMidlothian\r\n398 \r\nMoray\r\n1,198 \r\nNorth Ayrshire\r\n818 \r\nNorth Lanarkshire\r\n1,275 \r\nOrkney Islands\r\n884 \r\nPerth and Kinross\r\n1,769 \r\nRenfrewshire\r\n741 \r\nScottish Borders\r\n1,802 \r\nShetland Islands\r\n140 \r\nSouth Ayrshire\r\n850 \r\nSouth Lanarkshire\r\n1,848 \r\nStirling\r\n1,253 \r\nWest Lancashire\r\n732 \r\nWest Lothian\r\n1,095 \r\nTOTAL\r\n36,914\r\nSource: Department of Energy and Climate Change sub-regional feed-in-tariffs statistics\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Data are sourced from the central feed-in-tariff register maintained by Ofgem as extracted on 3 July 2014. The register is continually being updated and revised, so statistical reports extracted at a later date may not exactly match the totals presented here.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:48.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299090,"EventID":"S4W-23463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:48.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T10:09:51.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties have been retrofitted for energy efficiency through the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland scheme, broken down by (a) year and (b) local authority.","AnswerText":"The Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) were launched in April 2013. We will shortly publish the first annual report on HEEPS, including the number of energy efficiency measures installed in properties across Scotland in 2013-14, at national and local authority level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:48.46","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299091,"EventID":"S4W-23464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:48.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T11:47:22.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the value of sporting rates collected was in the last full year of their operation, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"An exemption from business rates for ‘shootings, deer forests, fishing and fish counters’, often referred to as ‘sporting rates’ has been in place since 1995-96.\r\nThe Scottish Government does not hold records of the amount of sporting rates collected, broken down by local authority area, but notes that UK Ministers advised the UK Parliament in 1994 that annual sporting rates income in Scotland were estimated at £2 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:48.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299092,"EventID":"S4W-23466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T14:18:49.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T11:58:22.253","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that the single room design of the new South Glasgow University Hospital may have a detrimental impact on patient safety at night.","AnswerText":"Single room accommodation provides a quiet, healing environment for patients. Results from the Better Together patient experience survey have shown that in the current ward areas (multi-bedded rooms) patients are often disturbed at night by noises staff make, noises from equipment, noises in the environment and noises other patients make.\r\nIn the design phase work was undertaken with patient groups, carers etc. to determine how the design could be influenced and adapted to meet their aspirations, and their feedback was used by the design team. The design of the wards in the new South Glasgow University Hospital maximises observation and recent mock-up ward sessions have provided nurses with reassurance about the layout.\r\nConcerns about single room provision were raised in 2013 by GPs and were fully addressed by highlighting that the design of wards promotes good patient observation, and conversely ensures that patients can see staff. Users undertook benchmarking site visits across the UK, including the Department of Health single room pilot and the Bevan Ward at Hillingdon.\r\nAs a direct result, the wards at the New South Glasgow University Hospital have been designed with interlocking ensuites which allows large vision panels into the ward corridor, allowing nursing and other staff good visibility of the patient, and the patient good sight of staff. There are also vision panels in each of the bedroom doors further enhancing visibility.\r\nIntentional rounding, as part of our nursing model of care, is a structured process where nurses on the ward carry out regular checks with individual patients throughout the 24 hour period. The more unwell the patient the more frequent these checks occur. During these intentional rounding checks nursing staff carry out scheduled care or simply observe their patients. What is critical to this approach to care is that it brings with it the confidence of staff and patients alike.\r\nFurther the model of nursing care used is also supported by a number of staff ‘touchdown’ spaces throughout the ward. This means instead of returning to a central staff base for administration/handovers staff will use a local touchdown space as their support, thereby remaining closer to the patient.\r\nThere are numerous studies that document that single rooms reduce noise, improve lighting, provide better ventilation, better ergonomic designs and improved layout which can help reduce errors, reduce stress, improve sleep, reduce pain and improve other outcomes.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T14:18:49.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299110,"EventID":"S4F-02440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:42.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T09:05:12.59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when she will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:43.003","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299111,"EventID":"S4F-02444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:44.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T09:39:27","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what response the Scottish Government has received to its representations to the UK Government regarding the implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership for health services in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:44.527","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299112,"EventID":"S4F-02445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:44.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T09:45:52.747","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:44.877","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299113,"EventID":"S4F-02448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:46.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T10:28:21.293","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the accuracy of the reporting of crime statistics.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:46.057","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299114,"EventID":"S4F-02455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:48.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T11:53:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and its impact on the Scottish budget.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:48.62","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299115,"EventID":"S4F-02459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-01T13:03:49.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T11:53:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to tackle in-work poverty.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-15T13:03:50","MeetingDate":"2014-12-04T17:30:00","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299122,"EventID":"S4W-23465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:05.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T11:48:01.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21576 by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 June 2014, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government about producing a plan to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on matters concerning air quality, although we have not had any specific recent discussions on this particular issue.\r\nWe are still awaiting feedback from the European Commission on the UK response to the European Commission’s Article 258 letter of formal notice on infraction proceedings. This response outlined the various actions being undertaken across the UK to ensure compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit values as soon as possible.\r\nOnce feedback has been received, which is expected early in 2015, the UK administrations will consider whether any updates to these actions are required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:05.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299123,"EventID":"S4W-23468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:05.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T16:49:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much out-of-authority (a) foster care, (b) residential care, (c) residential school, (d) secure care placements, (e) placements for people with complex learning difficulties and (f) other specialist placements  have cost each local authority in each of the last five years for which information is available.","AnswerText":"Costs incurred by local authorities for the out of authority placements listed in the question are not held centrally by the Scottish Government but can be obtained from each individual local authority.\r\nHowever the Children’s Social Work Statistics 2012-13 report :\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/PubChildrenSocialWork/ChildrensSocialWorkStatistics2012-13Additional which was published on the Scottish Government website provides information on numbers of children living in each different type of placement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:05.87","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299124,"EventID":"S4W-23474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:06.187","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T16:49:43.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much out-of-authority care placements supported or funded by the Scottish Government have cost in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by type of placement.","AnswerText":"Scottish local authorities have a duty under Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to provide social care services within their area, as they may consider suitable and adequate. Placements by local authorities for care outside their area would be arranged and paid for by local authorities.\r\nInformation on care placements outside each local authority area is not held centrally. This would be a matter for individual local authorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:06.21","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299125,"EventID":"S4W-23475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:06.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11650  by Kenny MacAskill on 13 December 2012, how many fines were issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for selling alcohol to a drunk person in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"One person was given a non-court disposal of a fiscal fine in 2012-13 under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 section 113: sale of alcohol to a drunk person.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014.\r\nI will write to the member as soon as the information for 2013-14 is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56488).\r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798\r\nThe government has always called for the full enforcement of the law. Enforcement and prosecution remain operational matters for the police and procurator fiscal. As an alternative to prosecution, the Police can report concerns to licensing boards who have powers to take tough action against those who sell alcohol irresponsibly. Sanctions include suspension and even revocation of a licence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:06.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299126,"EventID":"S4W-23476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:06.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11654 by Aileen Campbell on 12 December 2012, how many people disputed information from a criminal record check carried out by Disclosure Scotland in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14, broken down by whether the dispute was based on (i) identity, (ii) accuracy or (iii) irrelevancy.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2012-13, Disclosure Scotland received a total of 373 disputes, equivalent to 0.03 per cent of all applications processed. 181 (49 per cent) were upheld. A breakdown of the disputes is shown in the following table:\r\n2012-13\r\nDispute by Type\r\nUpheld\r\nIdentity\r\n77\r\n40\r\nAccuracy\r\n180\r\n82\r\nOther Relevant Information\r\n116\r\n59\r\nTotal\r\n373\r\n181\r\nIn 2013-14, Disclosure Scotland received a total of 276 disputes, equivalent to \r\n0.02 per cent of all applications processed. 107 (39 per cent) were upheld. A breakdown of the disputes is shown in the following table:\r\n2013-14\r\nDispute by Type\r\nUpheld\r\nIdentity\r\n34\r\n10\r\nAccuracy\r\n152\r\n67\r\nOther Relevant Information\r\n90\r\n30\r\nTotal\r\n276\r\n107\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:06.803","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299127,"EventID":"S4W-23477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:07.053","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11649 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 December 2012, how many reports of animal cruelty were recorded in each police area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 and how many led to a (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.\r\n","AnswerText":"Please note that police recorded crime statistics are not directly comparable with statistics on action taken against offenders, as one offence may lead to several persons being charged. Equally, an offender may be charged with several offences. In addition, an offence could be recorded in one financial year, but action could be taken in another.\r\nThe offence categories included in these tables all involve cruelty to animals. However, other offence categories exist that will include small proportions of animal cruelty offences.\r\nInformation on prosecutions and convictions for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014.\r\nI will write to the member as soon as the information for 2013-14 is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56502).\r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798\r\nThe following tables provide data on offences of animal cruelty recorded by the police in 2012-13, broken down by police force area and in 2013-14 for Scotland. \r\nCruelty to animals (excluding dogs) including killing and maiming cattle\r\n\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-141\r\nCentral\r\n2\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n5\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n4\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n4\r\n-\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n6\r\n-\r\nNorthern\r\n2\r\n-\r\nStrathclyde\r\n9\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n2\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n34\r\n28\r\n1. Following the establishment of Police Scotland on 1 April 2013, figures for 2013-14 are provided for Scotland and not by legacy police force area. \r\nSource: Scottish Government Recorded Crime in Scotland statistical bulletin \r\n\r\nCruelty to dogs\r\n\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-141\r\nCentral\r\n7\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n3\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n17\r\n-\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n9\r\n-\r\nNorthern\r\n1\r\n-\r\nStrathclyde\r\n5\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n2\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n44\r\n48\r\n1. Following the establishment of Police Scotland on 1 April 2013, figures for 2013-14 are provided for Scotland and not by legacy police force area.\r\nSource: Scottish Government Recorded Crime in Scotland statistical bulletin\r\n \r\nCruelty to wild animals\r\n\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-141\r\nCentral\r\n10\r\n-\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\n0\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n0\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n5\r\n-\r\nLothian and Borders\r\n7\r\n-\r\nNorthern\r\n3\r\n-\r\nStrathclyde\r\n2\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n0\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n27\r\n22\r\n1. Following the establishment of Police Scotland on 1 April 2013, figures for 2013-14 are provided for Scotland and not by legacy police force area. \r\nSource: Scottish Government Recorded Crime in Scotland statistical bulletin\r\n\r\nTotal offences of animal cruelty\r\n\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-141\r\nCentral\r\n19\r\n-\r\nDumfries & Galloway\r\n5\r\n-\r\nFife \r\n7\r\n-\r\nGrampian\r\n26\r\n-\r\nLothian & Borders\r\n22\r\n-\r\nNorthern\r\n6\r\n-\r\nStrathclyde\r\n16\r\n-\r\nTayside\r\n4\r\n-\r\nScotland\r\n105\r\n98\r\n1. Following the establishment of Police Scotland on 1 April 2013, figures for 2013-14 are provided for Scotland and not by legacy police force area. \r\nSource: Scottish Government Recorded Crime in Scotland statistical bulletin\r\n\r\nThe following tables provide data on people prosecuted for offences of cruelty to animals in 2012-13, broken down by police force area.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014.\r\nCruelty to animals including killing and maiming cattle1,2\r\nForce\r\nResult\r\n2012-13\r\nCentral\r\nNot guilty\r\n3\r\nGuilty\r\n10\r\nProsecuted\r\n13\r\nDumfries and Galloway\r\nNot guilty\r\n0\r\nGuilty\r\n7\r\nProsecuted\r\n7\r\nFife\r\nNot guilty\r\n1\r\nGuilty\r\n8\r\nProsecuted\r\n9\r\nGrampian\r\nNot guilty\r\n2\r\nGuilty\r\n9\r\nProsecuted\r\n11\r\nLothian and Borders\r\nNot guilty\r\n1\r\nGuilty\r\n7\r\nProsecuted\r\n8\r\nNorthern\r\nNot guilty\r\n1\r\nGuilty\r\n5\r\nProsecuted\r\n6\r\nStrathclyde\r\nNot guilty\r\n12\r\nGuilty\r\n49\r\nProsecuted\r\n61\r\nTayside\r\nNot guilty\r\n0\r\nGuilty\r\n4\r\nProsecuted\r\n4\r\nScotland\r\nNot gu","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:07.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299128,"EventID":"S4W-23478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:07.337","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08131 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, how many people convicted of possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) amphetamines and (e) ecstasy in each of the last two years received (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a community payback order including a requirement to carry out a drug programme, (iii) a drug treatment and testing order and (iv) a fine or other disposal.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information for the last two financial years, 2011-12 and 2012-13, is given in the following table.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014.\r\nI will write to the member as soon as the information for 2013-14 is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56505).\r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798 \r\nPeople with a charge proved for possession1,2 of selected drugs, by result, 2011-12 and 2012-13\r\nDrug\r\nResult\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nHeroin\r\nCustody\r\n99\r\n78\r\n\r\nCommunity payback order\r\n56\r\n95\r\n\r\nDrug treatment and testing order\r\n39\r\n23\r\n\r\nMonetary\r\n582\r\n467\r\n\r\nOther\r\n359\r\n276\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n1,135\r\n939\r\nCocaine\r\nCustody\r\n12\r\n14\r\n\r\nCommunity payback order\r\n50\r\n73\r\n\r\nDrug treatment and testing order\r\n1\r\n0\r\n\r\nMonetary\r\n840\r\n843\r\n\r\nOther\r\n102\r\n102\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n1,005\r\n1,032\r\nCannabis\r\nCustody\r\n25\r\n37\r\n\r\nCommunity payback order\r\n59\r\n84\r\n\r\nDrug treatment and testing order\r\n5\r\n2\r\n\r\nMonetary\r\n794\r\n640\r\n\r\nOther\r\n246\r\n236\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n1,129\r\n999\r\nAmphetamines\r\nCustody\r\n8\r\n3\r\n\r\nCommunity payback order\r\n5\r\n8\r\n\r\nDrug treatment and testing order\r\n1\r\n3\r\n\r\nMonetary\r\n74\r\n39\r\n\r\nOther\r\n23\r\n19\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n111\r\n72\r\nEcstasy\r\nCustody\r\n1\r\n0\r\n\r\nCommunity payback order\r\n5\r\n7\r\n\r\nDrug treatment and testing order\r\n0\r\n1\r\n\r\nMonetary\r\n135\r\n133\r\n\r\nOther\r\n16\r\n16\r\n\r\nTotal\r\n157\r\n157\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n2. The Criminal History System (CHS), from which these data are derived, contains an offence modifier code for a crime or offence which provides additional information for the specific incident as opposed to the actual charge. This code has been used here to identify the type of drug involved in drugs possession offences, however it should be noted that only around half the records on the CHS for drugs offences contain details of the drug(s) involved.\r\nSource: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:07.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299129,"EventID":"S4W-23479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:07.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08133 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, what the average fine was for possessing (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy, (d) cannabis and (e) amphetamines in each of the last three years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The available information for the last three financial years, 2010-11 to 2012-13, is given in the following table.\r\nInformation for 2013-14 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2013-14 statistical bulletin. This is due to be published on 16 December 2014.\r\nI will write to the member as soon as the information for 2013-14 is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56507).\r\nThe dates of all Scottish Government official and national statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/18798 \r\nAverage (mean) fine (£) for possession of selected drugs1,2, 2010-11 to 2012-13\r\n\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\nDrug\r\nNumber\r\nMean\r\nNumber\r\nMean\r\nNumber\r\nMean\r\nCannabis\r\n996\r\n138\r\n794\r\n146\r\n640\r\n148\r\nHeroin\r\n775\r\n174\r\n582\r\n182\r\n467\r\n187\r\nCocaine\r\n903\r\n206\r\n840\r\n240\r\n843\r\n233\r\nAmphetamines\r\n99\r\n183\r\n74\r\n177\r\n39\r\n187\r\nEcstasy\r\n73\r\n156\r\n135\r\n193\r\n133\r\n221\r\n1. Where main offence.\r\n2. The Criminal History System (CHS), from which these data are derived, contains an offence modifier code for a crime or offence which provides additional information for the specific incident as opposed to the actual charge. This code has been used here to identify the type of drug involved in drugs possession offences, however it should be noted that only around half the records on the CHS for drugs offences contain details of the drug(s) involved.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:07.627","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299130,"EventID":"S4W-23480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:07.873","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T17:04:18.957","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08134 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 June 2012, how many prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have been reported in each prison since the beginning of 2013.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:\r\n“The following table illustrates the total number of prisoner on prisoner assaults broken down by establishment since the beginning of 2013. Included are serious assaults and minor/non-injury assaults. The data is as of 4 December 2014.”\r\nEstablishment\r\nSerious Assaults\r\nMinor/Non-Injury Assaults\r\nAberdeen\r\n1\r\n18\r\nAddiewell\r\n5\r\n29\r\nBarlinnie\r\n17\r\n75\r\nCornton Vale\r\n0\r\n39\r\nDumfries\r\n0\r\n17\r\nEdinburgh\r\n13\r\n82\r\nGlenochil Prison\r\n9\r\n46\r\nGrampian\r\n1\r\n25\r\nGreenock\r\n1\r\n18\r\nInverness\r\n2\r\n27\r\nKilmarnock\r\n7\r\n63\r\nLow Moss\r\n22\r\n76\r\nOpen Estate\r\n0\r\n2\r\nPerth\r\n9\r\n102\r\nPeterhead\r\n0\r\n7\r\nPolmont\r\n16\r\n335\r\nShotts\r\n10\r\n33\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:07.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299131,"EventID":"S4W-23481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:08.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T09:41:15.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government in how many cases it has intervened as a result of a monthly report on NHS posts that have been vacant for more than three months in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"While the data requested is not held centrally, data on vacant posts in NHSScotland is collected and published on a quarterly basis by Information Services Division Scotland for nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and consultants. The most recently published data is from 2 December 2014 and is available here:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables.asp\r\nPublished data for both nursing and midwifery and allied health professions present the number of posts vacant for three months or more, and consultant posts vacant for six months or more. This data is published from March 2006 onwards for nursing and midwifery and allied health professions, and from September 2006 onwards for consultants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:08.187","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299132,"EventID":"S4W-23482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:08.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T09:41:15.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent on temporary staff in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The definition of ‘temporary staff’ is not clear as this could include staff employed by a board on a short and/or fixed term contract as well as agency/locum staff. Expenditure on ‘temporary’ staff is not reported by boards or held by the Scottish Government. Expenditure on ‘agency’ staff is recorded in the annual accounts. The definition of agency staff is: “The gross cost of all payments to employment agencies, including the self-employed, for the provision of agency staff of all disciplines.” Prior to 2004, financial reporting rules required NHS boards to disclose a combined total cost for ‘agency and recharged staff’. This means that a comparison of agency costs prior to this is not possible.\r\nThe document has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56546).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:08.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299133,"EventID":"S4W-23483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:08.783","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T09:48:06.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on private (a) ambulances, (b) nurses and (c) contractors in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"Information relating to agency nurses is published by NHS Information Services Division. Whilst information concerning the years prior to 2004-05 is not held, data relating to years 2004-05 to 2010-11 are available here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/Bank_and_Agency_comp_M2014.xls?63103885 \r\nMore recent data are available here: \r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2011-06-28/Agency%20Nurses.xls?36075551\r\nInformation relating to NHS spend on private ambulances and private contractors is not held centrally and is a matter for individual health boards.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:08.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299134,"EventID":"S4W-23486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:09.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T11:41:35.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of animals injured by air weapons have been made to Police Scotland since the beginning of 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"The recording and reporting of criminal offences, including offences against animals, is a matter for Police Scotland. I understand that details on air weapons injuries to animals are not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:09.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299135,"EventID":"S4W-23487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:09.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T11:41:35.503","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland plans to improve how it records and collates data on offences against animals.","AnswerText":"The systems and processes in place to record criminal offences, including offences against animals are matters for the Police Scotland. I understand that all crimes are recorded in accordance with the Scottish Crime Recording Standard.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:09.447","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299136,"EventID":"S4W-23488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:09.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T12:03:27.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported increase of almost 600% in foodbank users in Glasgow in the last year.","AnswerText":"The Emergency Food Fund is providing over £500,000 of funding to 26 projects across Scotland. This includes five projects in the city of Glasgow.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:09.697","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299137,"EventID":"S4W-23489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:09.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T11:49:09","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 202 children and young people admitted to non-specialist mental health settings in 2013-14 were admitted to (a) adult and (b) paediatric wards and how many of those were under 16.","AnswerText":"Data from the Mental Welfare Commission Young Person Monitoring 2013-14 document published in October 2014 shows that:\r\nThere were 202 admissions to non-specialist inpatient facilities involving 179 young people.\r\nThe number of children under 16 admitted to an adult psychiatric ward for the period 2013-14 was 63.\r\nThere were 28 admissions to paediatric wards.\r\nFurther information can be obtained at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/203515/young_person_monitoring_2013_2014.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:09.973","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299138,"EventID":"S4W-23490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:10.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T12:29:58.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding the fee charged for processing an application for a high hedges notice to be served.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government issued guidance on the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 to all local authorities ahead of the Act’s commencement on 1 April 2014. The guidance document covers all aspects of the application and decision making process, including the setting of fees. The setting of fees is a matter for local authorities, covered on pages 13 and 14 of the guidance document.\r\nThe guidance stipulates the legislation is intended to be cost neutral for local authorities and not a source of excess revenue. The high hedges legislation does not set a flat national fee, as the Scottish Government recognises each local authority has its own individual circumstances to take into account when determining the reasonable costs of deciding an application under the Act.\r\nIn addition to setting fees, the legislation also grants local authorities the discretion to vary or refund fees depending on the circumstances of individual applicants. Information on the circumstances under which local authorities will refund fees must be published.\r\nA copy of the Scottish Government’s guidance to local authorities on the Act is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib reference number 56484.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:10.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Marco Biagi","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299139,"EventID":"S4W-23491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:10.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T13:15:59.4","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in each of the lowest three income deciles are in receipt of a council tax reduction, also expressed as a percentage of each group.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:10.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299140,"EventID":"S4W-23492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:10.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T13:02:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date average speed cameras became operational on the A9.","AnswerText":"The average speed camera system on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness became operational on 28 October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:10.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299141,"EventID":"S4W-23493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:11.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T13:02:24","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many speeding incidents it has recorded on the stretches of the A9 covered by average speed cameras; how many resulted in (a) a fine, (b) a custodial sentence and (c) penalty points, and what the total value is of any fines issued.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:11.323","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299142,"EventID":"S4W-23495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:11.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T14:57:52.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Glasgow City Council's decision to reduce the budget of the Glasgow Association for Mental Health by 40% and what it can do to ensure that its services can continue.","AnswerText":"This is a local matter for Glasgow City Council. The council has a responsibility to work with its partners to ensure all those who need to access mental health services can do so quickly and effectively, in line with Scottish Government policy and their statutory duties under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:11.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299143,"EventID":"S4W-23496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:11.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:04:15.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of oil prices for the next five years.","AnswerText":"A range of institutions have published forecasts for oil prices in recent months. The recent dip in prices has been driven by a number of factors, many of which are anticipated to be temporary, and the majority of forecasters expect prices to start rising again next year. For example, in their 2014 World Oil Outlook report published last month, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries assumes a nominal oil price of $110 over the period to 2020. This is in line with the price assumption used in Scotland’s Future.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:12.007","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299144,"EventID":"S4W-23497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:12.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:04:15.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the effect of a falling oil price on (a) jobs and (b) the economy in (i) the north east and (ii) Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is carefully monitoring the oil price given the importance of the oil and gas sector in Scotland. The fall in oil prices will be beneficial in terms of reduced transport costs – helping individuals and businesses. We are aware that the falling oil price has the potential to impact on levels of investment in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and that is why we have repeatedly pressed the UK Government to ensure a competitive and stable fiscal regime. The steps announced last week are a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to secure the long term investment in the UKCS that we need to recover the potential 24 billion barrel of oil equivalent.\r\nNevertheless, a range of forecasters estimate that prices are to rebound in 2015. In this line, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in their 2014 World Oil Outlook (published on 6 November 2014) assume a nominal price of $110 in the period up to 2020.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:12.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299145,"EventID":"S4W-23498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:12.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:04:15.893","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the methodology used to predict oil prices in its white paper on independence.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23496 on 16 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:12.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299146,"EventID":"S4W-23499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:13.02","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:33:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to renewing or replacing the New Medicines Fund after April 2016.\r\n","AnswerText":"We anticipate that there will be an ongoing need for mechanisms such as the New Medicines Fund beyond April 2016. The Scottish Government is closely monitoring the impact of the New Medicines Fund and the associated changes to access to medicines policies and will review the impact of the fund to inform future budgetary decisions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:13.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299147,"EventID":"S4W-23500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-02T17:24:13.39","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:33:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the New Medicines Fund allows for the procurement of products that have not been recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for routine use and, if so, under what circumstances.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22884 on 11 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-16T17:24:13.417","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299178,"EventID":"S4O-03791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:18.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:30.203","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it assists apprentices in securing new modern apprenticeship opportunities when their employers go out of business.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:18.3","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299179,"EventID":"S4O-03792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4956,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":106,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:18.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T16:27:01.877","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the youth employment trends are in the Edinburgh Western constituency.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:18.793","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299180,"EventID":"S4O-03793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3101,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:19.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:26:22.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all workers in the education sector are being paid at least the living wage.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:19.25","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299181,"EventID":"S4O-03794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:19.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:31.08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to youth employment training in the last year.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:19.527","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299182,"EventID":"S4O-03795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5038,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:19.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T16:48:33.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the implementation of the findings of the report of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:19.893","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299183,"EventID":"S4O-03796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:20.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T10:29:58.62","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed a recruitment incentive package to equip and support smaller and microbusinesses to recruit and train more young people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:20.19","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299184,"EventID":"S4O-03797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:20.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:08:16.2","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support devolving to local authorities delivery of the work currently carried out under the Department for Work and Pensions' Work Programme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:20.463","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299185,"EventID":"S4O-03798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:20.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T17:11:09.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the extension of the Department for Work and Pensions' Work Programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:20.783","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299186,"EventID":"S4O-03799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:21.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:32.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on implementing the recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce.","AnswerText":"We have already made excellent progress since publication of the report in June 2014. £5 million of the initial funds of £12 million in 2014-15 are supporting measures such as new regional employer partnerships, pilots of ‘foundation’ and ‘advanced’ apprenticeships, and a new Investors in Young People accolade for business.\r\nAs I said moments ago, I look forward to saying more about how we plan to implement the recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce next week in the Chamber.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:21.07","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299187,"EventID":"S4O-03800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:21.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:32.777","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing a fair work convention.","AnswerText":"Following the debate on progressive workplace policies the Working Together Review was given overwhelming support by this Parliament.\r\nMy predecessor Ms Constance announced in Parliament on 13 November 2014 that the government will give its final response in January 2015 which will include mapping out the way forward. \r\nEngagement and consultation with business, trade unions and other key stakeholders is a vital part of the process. Both my predecessor and I have held a number of meetings and events as part of this ongoing consultation process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:21.413","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299188,"EventID":"S4O-03801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:21.643","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:58.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage more new homes to be built in town centre locations.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:21.657","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299189,"EventID":"S4O-03802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2673,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":114,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:21.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T13:06:10.187","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Local Data Company’s recent report on empty shop numbers.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:21.977","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299190,"EventID":"S4O-03803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:22.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:36:10.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of an aging population on pensioners' rights.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:22.247","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299191,"EventID":"S4O-03804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:22.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:02:59.55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what benefit it expects the additional £10 million being invested in funding and empowering communities to bring.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:22.583","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299192,"EventID":"S4O-03805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:22.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:39:45.113","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the high level of democratic participation seen in the referendum continues.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:22.847","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299193,"EventID":"S4O-03806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:23.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T14:30:42.477","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights last met representatives of Glasgow City Council and what matters were discussed. \r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:23.133","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299194,"EventID":"S4O-03807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:23.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T13:22:45.127","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what specific anti-poverty measures it considers are needed to support people in the Highlands.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:23.49","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299195,"EventID":"S4O-03808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:23.777","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:00.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights last met North Lanarkshire Council.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:23.8","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299196,"EventID":"S4O-03809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4965,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:24.033","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:00.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the equalities impact will be in Scotland of the UK Government’s decision not to honour the legal entitlement for paternity leave for fathers who are in receipt of jobseekers allowance and are in mandatory work or community placements.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:24.057","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299197,"EventID":"S4O-03810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:24.293","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:00.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting town centre regeneration in Dumfries and Galloway.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Town Centre Action Plan – One Year On Report, published on 4 November 2014 provides a progress update on work underway to support the regeneration of town centres. The report reiterates our ongoing commitment to put in place the right conditions to support local activity and delivery, in collaboration with the wider public, private and community sectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:24.313","MeetingDate":"2014-12-10T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299198,"EventID":"S4O-03811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":93,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:24.76","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:28.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed land commission will identify landowners and plan diversity of ownership.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:24.783","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299199,"EventID":"S4O-03812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4955,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":105,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:25.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:29.1","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Citizens Advice Scotland report, Working at the Edge...Childcare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:25.063","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299200,"EventID":"S4O-03813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:25.343","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:29.36","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to Unison’s campaign to bring ancillary services in-house at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:25.37","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299201,"EventID":"S4O-03814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":81,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:25.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:29.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to NHS Lanarkshire with recruiting medical staff for emergency and general medicine services.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:25.823","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299202,"EventID":"S4O-03815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":135,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:26.113","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:30.02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask when the Scottish Government what plans it has to boost the economy in East Ayrshire.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:26.137","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299203,"EventID":"S4O-03816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:26.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T16:07:53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with pension fund administrators regarding investment opportunities to support capital infrastructure projects.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:26.423","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299204,"EventID":"S4O-03817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:26.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-02T15:19:17.053","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve public transport in South Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:26.693","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299205,"EventID":"S4O-03818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:26.95","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:30.763","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in relation to Pelamis Wave Power since it went into administration.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:26.963","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299206,"EventID":"S4O-03819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:27.223","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T10:29:36.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the Scottish business development bank.\r\n","AnswerText":"The First Minister announced on 26 November 2014 that we will establish a business development bank. It will work with small and medium enterprises, investors and others, to support growing businesses, boosting innovation and international competitiveness. The next steps are to work with a range of stakeholders and partners as we develop the bank, finding the best structure and positioning for it. We will need to consider budgeting and accounting issues and HM Treasury requirements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:27.24","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299207,"EventID":"S4O-03820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:28:27.5","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-01T12:03:31.3","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a specific warning system for coastal flooding at Stonehaven and the coast north and south of Stonehaven.\r\n","AnswerText":"All flood warning schemes planned as part of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) Flood Warning Strategy 2012-2016, have been prioritised and targeted where the benefits of investment are greatest. While the current strategy does not include a specific flood warning scheme for the Stonehaven coastline, it did provide for a flood warning scheme for the River Carron.\r\nA new improved coastal flood warning scheme for Stonehaven and Southern Aberdeenshire will be considered by SEPA in 2015 as part of an overarching strategy to continue to expand its flood warning service. Any new scheme will be assessed on a risk-based approach, taking into consideration both technical and financial aspects.\r\nIn the meantime, I would strongly recommend that all concerned residents register with Floodline to receive free notification of regional flood alerts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:27.523","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299208,"EventID":"S4W-23501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:38:24.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:01:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to Fife Council in 2014-15 for the provision of free school meals, and how much will be provided in each of the next five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"Revenue funding of £70.5 million over two years has been agreed and confirmed to deliver the commitment to free school meals for p1-p3 and in September 2014, we were pleased to agree with COSLA capital funding for local government of £24.8 million in 2014-15.\r\nThese figures are confirmed by the latest local government finance circular, which was published on 11 December 2014, and provides a breakdown by local authority: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:38:25.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299209,"EventID":"S4W-23502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:38:25.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:08:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) median time is between (i) a sudden and (ii) an unexplained death and a post mortem at the Southern General Hospital.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths in Scotland. COPFS may instruct post mortem examinations in all these categories of deaths but is not responsible for the timing of that examination.\r\nThe information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:38:25.327","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299210,"EventID":"S4W-23504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:38:25.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:08:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many pathologists the Southern General Hospital employs and how many vacancies there are, broken down by grade.","AnswerText":"Information on how many pathologists the Southern General Hospital employs is not centrally held.\r\nHowever, information on the number of pathologist staff in post, broken down by grade, in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is available and can be found in the following table. These figures include both histopathologists and chemical pathologists.\r\nThe number of pathologist vacancies, which is available for consultant pathologists only, in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is 1.0 whole time equivalent.\r\nWhole time equivalent pathologist staff1 employed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde \r\nas at 30th September 2014.\r\n\r\nConsultant grades\r\nCareer Grades\r\nTraining Grades\r\nOther Grades\r\nAll staff\r\nConsultant2\r\nDirector3\r\nSpecialty doctor\r\nFoundation Year 1\r\nFoundation year 2\r\nDoctor in Training (with NTN4)\r\nDoctor in Training (no NTN4)\r\nOther\r\n68.5\r\n45.2\r\n-\r\n5.1\r\n-\r\n1.0\r\n17.2\r\n-\r\n-\r\n1.Includes both histopathologists and chemical pathologists.\r\n2.Includes directors of public health.\r\n3.Clinical, medical and dental.\r\n4.National Training Number.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:38:25.643","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299211,"EventID":"S4W-23506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:38:25.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:08:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it considers an acceptable period of time that may elapse between (a) a sudden and (b) an unexplained death and a post mortem and what guidance it produces on this.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is a matter for the Procurator Fiscal whether or not a post mortem examination is required following the report of a sudden and unexplained death to The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).\r\nThe Procurator Fiscal will instruct a post mortem examination for all suspicious deaths; all deaths which remain unexplained after further initial investigation; and in a number of other situations where there are concerns about the circumstances or cause of the death. There is guidance to the Procurator Fiscal in relation to the extent and nature of the investigations which should take place in Chapter 12 of the Book of Regulations published at: \r\nhttp://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Prosecution_Policy_Guidance/Book_of_Regulations/Book%20of%20Regulations%20-%20Chapter%2012%20-%20Deaths%20-%20Part%201.PDF\r\nA post mortem examination should take place as soon as possible after the report of a death to the Procurator Fiscal and will often take place within a few days of the date of death. In the majority of cases we would expect a post mortem examination to occur within three to five working days of the date of instruction of the post mortem examination.\r\nIt is not always the case that a sudden and unexplained death occurs around the same time as the death is reported to the Procurator Fiscal. For example a body may be discovered some time after the death, and the death then reported to the Procurator Fiscal who will determine whether a post mortem examination should be instructed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:38:25.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Lesley Thomson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299212,"EventID":"S4W-23507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T13:38:26.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T11:08:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards use the pathology department at the Southern General Hospital for post mortems.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. It is for individual boards to assess how best to deliver hospital post mortems which will allow them to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T13:38:26.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299217,"EventID":"S4W-23509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:12.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T12:33:50.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many babies would be eligible each year for the meningitis B vaccine if it was included in the national immunisation programme. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that there should be a national meningococcal B immunisation programme for infants using a three dose schedule of Bexsero (at two, four and 12 months of age), subject to the vaccine being available at a cost-effective price.\r\nIf the vaccine can be procured at a cost-effective price, and the meningitis B vaccine is introduced into the routine infant immunisation programme, then at the point of introduction all babies in Scotland attending for their routine two month vaccination appointment would also receive the meningitis B vaccine. We estimate around 60,000 babies will be eligible each year.\r\nThe JCVI has also advised that if the programme is introduced there should be a one-off, opportunistic catch-up programme for babies aged three and four months who would have not had the opportunity to receive the vaccine at two months of age.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:12.957","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299218,"EventID":"S4W-23513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:13.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T14:25:54.083","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including the meningitis B vaccine in the national immunisation programme.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is delighted that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has identified the importance of introducing a vaccine against meningitis B and welcomes the JCVI’s recommendation to introduce a meningitis B vaccination programme to the primary infant immunisation schedule at two, four and 12 months of age.\r\nThe first step involves determining whether the vaccine can be procured at a cost-effective price, as the JCVI is recommending. This is a matter for negotiation with the manufacturers. The UK Department of Health procures vaccine on behalf of all four UK countries and is currently in negotiations with the manufacturer Novartis to seek to agree a cost-effective price for the supply of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:13.237","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299219,"EventID":"S4W-23514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2615,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":143,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:13.503","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T14:50:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the average Scottish student in Scotland (a) saved in 2013-14 and (b) has saved in 2014-15 compared with studying in England as a result of the policy of free tuition; how many students were affected, and how much was saved in total.\r\n","AnswerText":"In academic year 2013-14, the Scottish Government’s policy of free tuition meant that over 120,000 eligible undergraduate students did not have to pay fees. \r\nIf studying in England, the same group of students would have had to pay fees of up to £9,000 to cover their tuition.\r\nAs not all higher education institutions in England charge £9,000 per annum for tuition, it is not possible to provide an exact total for the notional savings made by all Scottish domiciled students in 2013-14.\r\nHowever, if 120,000 students had been obliged to pay the average fee of £7,860 charged in England during 2013-14, this would total £940 million.\r\nFinal student numbers for eligible Scottish domiciled undergraduates are not yet available for 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:13.53","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299220,"EventID":"S4W-23515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:13.793","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T15:12:23.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors SQA attainment levels for (a) looked-after and (b) vulnerable children.\r\n","AnswerText":"Qualifications in Scotland are part of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, which is administered by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership.\r\nThe tariff scores of looked after children are obtained by linking their data (as collected by the Children and Families Analysis statistics team) to the overall attainment data (which is collected and published by the Pupil and School Statistics team in Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/06/9242 using Scottish candidate numbers of looked after school leavers where available. This information is published annually in Education outcomes for Scotland's looked after children http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/09/6499.\r\nThese figures represent a snapshot of the attainment of this group, capturing only children looked after on a particular day, and by extension excluding those children who had left care by that date.\r\nThere is no single definition of a vulnerable child; no specific group of ‘vulnerable children’ is monitored in this way. However, the annual publication “Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living” contains summaries of attainment based on various demographic variables including deprivation, based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, which could be adapted for use as a broad proxy measure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:13.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299221,"EventID":"S4W-23516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:14.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T15:50:03.487","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the next Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin will be published and whether it will contain updated illustrative projections for Scottish North Sea tax receipts.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to publishing analysis on the oil and gas sector and its contribution to the Scottish economy. Officials are currently considering options to provide full and comprehensive coverage of the sector for users.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:14.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299222,"EventID":"S4W-23517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4948,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-03T16:43:14.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T16:10:38.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS (a) consultants specialising in emergency care, (b) emergency services technicians and (c) paramedics there were in September (i) 2006 and (ii) 2014, and what the change was expressed as a percentage.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information on how many NHS (a) consultants specialising in emergency care, as at (i) 2006 and (ii) 2014, can be found in Table 1.\r\nInformation on Scottish Ambulance Service staff for 2006 is not available so data as at 30 September 2007 has been provided for ambulance services technicians and paramedics in Table 2. \r\nTable 1: Number of consultants in emergency medicine in NHS Scotland\r\n \r\nSeptember 2006\r\nSeptember 2014\r\nPercentage change from September 2006 to September 2014\r\n \r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nConsultants in emergency medicine\r\n75.8\r\n76\r\n203.4\r\n213\r\n168.5%\r\n180.3%\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\nTable 2: Number of ambulance services technicians and paramedics in NHS Scotland \r\n \r\nSeptember 2007\r\nSeptember 2014\r\nPercentage change from September 2007 to September 2014\r\n \r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nWhole time equivalent\r\nHeadcount\r\nAmbulance services technicians\r\n999.7\r\n1010\r\n1,152.9\r\n1,169\r\n15.3%\r\n15.7%\r\nParamedics\r\n1,233.9\r\n1,247\r\n1,365.9\r\n1,393\r\n10.7%\r\n11.7%\r\nSource: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System, ISD Scotland\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-17T16:43:14.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299230,"EventID":"S4W-23521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T13:56:07.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:21:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving has been for band D households since the introduction of the council tax freeze.\r\n","AnswerText":"The average Band D household has saved over £900 since the introduction of the council tax freeze in 2008-09. By extending the freeze into 2015-16 the same household will have benefited by around £1,200 in total based on an additional £70 million being provided by the Scottish Government each year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T13:56:07.617","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299231,"EventID":"S4W-23522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T13:56:08.067","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:21:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many small businesses have received support from the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2014 and what was the (a) average and (b) overall saving was.\r\n","AnswerText":"Recent statistics have revealed record numbers of business properties in Scotland are receiving rates relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, with 96,265 properties (over two in five) being supported by the initiative in 2014-15 – up four per cent from 2013-14 and an increase of 50 per cent since the scheme’s introduction in 2008-09. The average saving for a property is £1,724 with the overall savings to business properties in Scotland estimated to be £166 million in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T13:56:08.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299232,"EventID":"S4W-23523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T13:56:08.35","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:21:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many new businesses have been established in 2014.\r\n","AnswerText":"New business start-ups are measured using new business VAT/PAYE registration figures. The latest figures available are for 2013. In 2013, there were 21,540 new business start-ups in Scotland. Note that these figures do not include business start-ups which are below the VAT/PAYE threshold.\r\nThese figures are taken from the Office for National Statistics Business Demography 2013 publication. Figures for 2014 are due to be published in November 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T13:56:08.363","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299233,"EventID":"S4W-23524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T13:56:08.647","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:21:21","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much tourism revenue has been generated in 2014, also broken down by revenue generated by the (a) Commonwealth Games and (b) Ryder Cup.\r\n","AnswerText":"Provisional figures for the 12 months, July 2013 to June 2014, show combined domestic and overseas visitor expenditure of £4.6 billion, a 6% increase in the same period in 2012-13 (£4.3 billion). The Scottish Government does not provide data for periods shorter than a year due to the small sample sizes.\r\nIn terms of the positive impact of the Commonwealth Games, the XX Commonwealth Games Visitor Impact Study: Interim Report \r\n(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0046/00463511.pdf) stated that day visitors to the Games spent a total of £66 million, and overnight visitors a total of £216 million.\r\nThe economic impact of the 2014 Ryder Cup is being evaluated post-event by independent researchers at the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. The economic impact study will estimate the event’s overall economic impact and capture the impacts on tourism, among other impacts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T13:56:08.66","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299246,"EventID":"S4W-23508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:22.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T12:15:25.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the people appointed named persons under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 are in place and, if so, whether it will provide a breakdown by gender.","AnswerText":"The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act places a duty on the local authority and health board to make available the named person service to all children from birth up to 18 or school leaving age (whichever is later). The named person statutory requirement is scheduled for implementation in August 2016, and we are working with stakeholders towards that date.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:22.987","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen Campbell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299254,"EventID":"S4W-23519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:23.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:01:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people covered by its pay policy will be affected by the increase in the living wage on 1 April 2015 and what their average pay increase will be.","AnswerText":"Addressing low pay is an explicit objective of our public sector pay policy.\r\nAlmost 640 individuals covered by our public sector pay policy will directly benefit from the increase in living wage from £7.65 per hour to £7.85 per hour. The increase will normally be applied as part of each public body’s annual pay settlement which may be 1 April 2015 or later. Details of individual settlement dates are available in the submission timetable available at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-sector-pay/staff-pay\r\nThe average annual pay increase will depend upon individual hours worked but for a full-time employee it will be in the region of £390.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:23.263","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299255,"EventID":"S4W-23520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:23.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T19:02:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children received free school meals in 2014 and how many will receive them in 2015 following the extension in January.\r\n","AnswerText":"In 2014, 126,388 (18.8%) children and young people in Scottish schools were registered to receive a free school meal. This includes a very small number of children in primary 1-3, who might not meet the eligibility criteria prescribed in statute, but registered for free school meals as part of local initiatives designed to promote healthy eating in the early years. Take up of these is higher than any year since 2005 (85% of those registered and present).\r\nFrom January 2015, all primary 1-3 pupils will become entitled to a free school meal. It is not possible to predict precisely what the impact will be on the uptake of free school meals for primary 1-3, however, free school meal pilots in 2007-08 resulted in an increase in uptake from 53% to 75% of primary 1-3 pupils. The evaluation of that pilot forms the starting point for our estimates. We have agreed to monitor the uptake of free school meals with COSLA but estimate that the measure is expected to benefit an additional 135,000 pupils across Scotland and will save families of every eligible child at least £330 a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:23.493","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299256,"EventID":"S4W-23527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:23.73","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T17:23:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Beer and Pub Association and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials last met with the Scottish Beer and Pub Association on 8 December 2014 as part of the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership meeting. Various issues around tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland were discussed at that meeting.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:23.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299257,"EventID":"S4W-23528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:24.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T17:23:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the UK Government's Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill on UK businesses that use the tied pub model in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Since the measures of this Bill do not apply to Scotland, no assessment has been made on the potential impact of the UK Government’s Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill on the seven Pub Co. Companies that the legislation will apply to. Only four of these seven Pub Co Companies operate in Scotland, with their ownership accounting for around 10% of all pubs in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:24.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299258,"EventID":"S4W-23529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:24.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T17:23:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make changes to the tied pub model.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government have no current plans to make changes to the tied pub model. Scottish Ministers met last year with representatives, who expressed an interest in making changes to the current tied pub arrangements. At that meeting Scottish Ministers encouraged the attendees to provide evidence that there was a need for change. We remain open to receive such evidence.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:24.32","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299259,"EventID":"S4W-23530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:24.583","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T14:04:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many instances have been reported of the NHS misreporting cases of Clostridium difficile infection in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. NHS boards are expected to report all cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to Health Protection Scotland, following the established guidelines.\r\nHealth Protection Scotland publishes methods and reporting for quarterly surveillance which is outlined in the following link:\r\nhttp://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/cdi/2014/methods-caveats-q1.pdf\r\nHealth Protection Scotland also publishes Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Care Settings in Scotland (revised October 2014) which outlines procedures in the reporting of outbreaks (see following link):\r\nhttp://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-hps/hpn/clostridium-difficile-infection-guidelines-v2.1.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:24.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299260,"EventID":"S4W-23531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:24.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T14:04:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that NHS boards are properly reporting cases of Clostridium difficile infection.","AnswerText":"NHS boards are expected to report all cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to Health Protection Scotland, following the established guidelines.\r\nHealth Protection Scotland publishes methods and reporting for quarterly surveillance which is outlined in the following link:\r\nhttp://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/cdi/2014/methods-caveats-q1.pdf\r\nHealth Protection Scotland also publishes Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Care Settings in Scotland (revised October 2014) which outlines procedures in the reporting of outbreaks (see following link):\r\nhttp://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-hps/hpn/clostridium-difficile-infection-guidelines-v2.1.pdf\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:24.937","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299261,"EventID":"S4W-23532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:25.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T14:54:08.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people in each of the lowest three Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles are in receipt of a council tax reduction.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information is collected on how many ‘households’ in each of the lowest three Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles are in receipt of a council tax reduction.\r\nI refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23533 on 15 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:25.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299262,"EventID":"S4W-23533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":91,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:25.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T14:54:08.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many households in each of the lowest three Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles have at least one inhabitant who is in receipt of a council tax reduction, also expressed as a percentage of the households.\r\n","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of chargeable dwellings in each of the lowest three Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles, the number of council tax reduction (CTR) recipients, and the number of CTR recipients as a % of chargeable dwellings.\r\n\r\nDecile 1\r\nDecile 2\r\nDecile 3\r\nNumber of chargeable dwellings\r\n 253,864 \r\n 245,281 \r\n 244,841 \r\nNumber of council tax reduction recipients \r\n127,740 \r\n95,450 \r\n77,710 \r\nCouncil tax reduction recipients as a % of chargeable dwellings\r\n\r\n50.3%\r\n\r\n38.9%\r\n\r\n31.7%\r\nNotes:\r\n1. Decile 1 refers to the 10 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland; Decile 2 the next 10 per cent most deprived areas; and so on, as measured by the SIMD. \r\n2. Number of chargeable dwellings refers to dwellings that are on the valuation list and are not exempt from council tax liability, as at September 2013. \r\n3. Number of CTR recipients is as at March 2014; the most recent statistics where a breakdown by SIMD decile has been published.\r\n4. Council tax is payable in respect of any dwelling which is not an exempt dwelling. CTR reduces the liability on a dwelling, depending on the circumstances of people inhabiting the dwelling. The CTR caseload statistics count ‘recipients’ in terms of the number of dwellings that benefited from a CTR. This means that a CTR recipient can be a single person or a couple, with or without children. \r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:25.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299263,"EventID":"S4W-23534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:25.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T15:46:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many civil service pensioners in Scotland have recently experienced difficulties in receiving pension payments from MyCSP.\r\n","AnswerText":"The payment of civil service pensions is currently a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Government. The Scottish Government is aware of a number of ex-employees who are experiencing on-going delays in receiving their first pension payment from MyCSP after retirement.\r\nA participation agreement exists between the Cabinet Office and MyCSP which covers standards of service for all civil service departments including the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is writing to the Cabinet Office to express concern at the standard of service currently being delivered by MyCSP.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:25.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299264,"EventID":"S4W-23535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:26.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T15:46:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that civil service pensions are paid (a) on time and (b) in the correct amount.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23534 on 22 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:26.223","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299265,"EventID":"S4W-23536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-04T16:43:26.577","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T15:46:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions it can impose on MyCSP when it makes incorrect payments to pensioners.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23534 on 22 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-18T16:43:26.6","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299271,"EventID":"S4W-23510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T10:51:52.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T14:20:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people saved money in 2014 because of the abolition of prescription charges for long-term illnesses, broken down by the (a) average and (b) overall saving. ","AnswerText":"There are around two million people in Scotland living with long-term medical conditions. A number of those would have qualified for free prescriptions because of their condition.\r\nHowever, there are many conditions which might be thought of as long-term illnesses, such as coeliac disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, as well as asthma, and people suffering from those conditions did not automatically qualify for free prescriptions. The Scottish Government has previously estimated that around 65% of paid for prescriptions were for people living with a long-term condition.\r\nAs an illustration of the money potentially saved by such a patient, someone with asthma who may require ten prescriptions a year will be saving £80.50 compared with a similar patient in England, where charges remain in place. Following the anticipated increase in England in April 2015, that saving will increase to £82.50. Any patient who would benefit from a pre-payment certificate will be saving £104 compared with a similar patient in England.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299272,"EventID":"S4W-23561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:39.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T14:16:09.87","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23257 by Shona Robison on 27 November 2014, what consideration the National Planning Forum gave to whether there is a need to extend the provision of transcatheter aortic valve implantation beyond a single site at its meeting on 4 December 2014.","AnswerText":"The National Planning Forum has agreed that the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) service at The Royal Infirmary Edinburgh continues to deliver a high-quality service with excellent outcomes.\r\nThere is currently no evidence of unmet demand for TAVI. Based on the current and predicted volume of patients that are suitable for TAVI, there is no requirement to expand the service at this time.\r\nExpansion will not be ruled out in future, should unmet demand be identified, and a safe and sustainable route to expansion can be found.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:39.177","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299273,"EventID":"S4W-23511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:55.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T14:20:31.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people saved money in 2014 because of free personal and nursing care, broken down by the (a) average and (b) overall saving.\r\n","AnswerText":"Over 77,000 people in Scotland benefit from the Scottish Government’s policy of free personal care, consisting of more than 30,000 people in care homes and over 47,000 living in their own home.\r\nThe latest Free Personal and Nursing Care Services figures published are for 2012-13. These are published on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/health/data/fpnc.\r\nThe weekly rate for free personal care is £169, and for those requiring both free personal and nursing care is £246.\r\nPersonal care provided by a local authority is free for over 65s. For those receiving direct payments or receiving contributions to the personal and nursing care elements of residential care fees, over the course of a full year, an individual in receipt of free personal care would be eligible to payments of £8,788, and an individual in receipt of free personal and nursing care would be eligible to payments of £12,792.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:55.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299274,"EventID":"S4W-23512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:56.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-03T14:20:31.963","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many people saved money in 2014 because of free eye tests, broken down by the (a) average and (b) overall saving.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information Services Division, part of NHS National Services Division, collects information on NHS General Ophthalmic Service activity carried out by eye care professionals in Scotland. It reports a total of 1,913,565 eye care examinations were carried out in Scotland in 2012-13.\r\nSight tests in England, where universal free tests have not been introduced, cost in the region of £20-£30 for people who are not exempt from payment, depending on their circumstances.\r\nThe overall collective saving to the people of Scotland from having entirely free sight tests can therefore be estimated at around £40 million.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:56.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299275,"EventID":"S4W-23544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:56.497","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:48:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a newbuild film/TV studio or expanding existing facilities.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, in partnership with Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, is committed to taking whatever action is possible to provide support to Scotland’s screen sector. This includes a rigorous and detailed approach to exploring any options that help to improve and enhance Scotland’s offer in terms of studio facilities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:56.513","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299276,"EventID":"S4W-23545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:57.197","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:48:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are state aid issues in relation to the establishment of a newbuild film/TV studio.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. Any proposal to invest public sector funding in a film studio would need to be state aid compliant which is, in effect, the requirement to meet the Market Economy Investor Principle (MEIP). In order to meet the MEIP requirement, a robust case would have to be made which demonstrates that any investment will achieve a commercially acceptable return. The state aid issue is particularly sensitive as the European Commission determined in 2008 that state aid was granted to the Spanish film studio complex by Ciudad De La Luz (in effect the Valencia Regional Government) who funded it entirely by the public sector and that the MEIP had not been met. This decision was upheld in July 2014 by the EU General Court.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:57.213","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299277,"EventID":"S4W-23546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:57.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:48:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what budget is available for the establishment of a film/TV studio.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its partners, Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland, have already stated that we are able to provide support for the establishment of a film studio in Scotland. Any opportunities for doing so would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis and ensure that the relevant EU state aid rules are adhered to.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:57.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299278,"EventID":"S4W-23547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:58.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:48:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for deciding the location of a film/TV studio.\r\n","AnswerText":"The process involves assessing what private sector opportunities are available and what if any public support might be required. Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers; any investment of public funding to support studio infrastructure developments must meet EU state aid rules.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:58.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299279,"EventID":"S4W-23548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:58.9","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what process it used to choose the directors of Scottish Rural Action and which (a) people and (b) groups it consulted as part of this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament took place in Oban on 6-8 November 2014 and was attended by over 400 delegates from across rural Scotland. The event was organised by Scottish Rural Action, an independent, not-for-profit organisation.\r\nFurther information relating to the key themes discussed at the Rural Parliament, the delegate invitation process as well as information on funding, costs, administration and governance can either be found on the Rural Parliament website: http://www.scottishruralparliament.org.uk/ or by contacting Scottish Rural Action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:58.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299280,"EventID":"S4W-23549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:59.163","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to select the people whom it invited to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:59.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299281,"EventID":"S4W-23550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:59.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to (a) set up and (b) run the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and what its annual operating costs will be.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:59.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299282,"EventID":"S4W-23551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:46:59.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations it approached for assistance in funding the running costs of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which contributed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:46:59.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299283,"EventID":"S4W-23552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:47:00.007","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations it has approached for assistance in funding the annual running costs of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which have (a) made and (b) indicated that they will make a contribution.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:47:00.023","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299284,"EventID":"S4W-23553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:47:00.27","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T09:55:48.74","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which (a) people and (b) organisations assisted in deciding the key themes of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:47:00.303","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299285,"EventID":"S4W-23554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:47:00.537","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T10:27:13.247","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what legislation governs electrical safety in care homes.\r\n","AnswerText":"Electrical safety in care homes would be covered by:\r\nHealth and Safety at Work Act 1974\r\nThe Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999\r\nElectricity at Work Regulations 1989\r\nThe Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998\r\nBS 7671 2008 (including amendments)- this is not legislation but can be used to show compliance with the preceding Acts/Regulations\r\nScottish Building Standards (Non Domestic Buildings).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:47:00.553","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299286,"EventID":"S4W-23555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-05T15:47:00.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T10:50:15.48","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries have been attributed to drink driving incidents in each year since 2011, and how many cases involved a driver with a blood-alcohol level of between 50 and 80 mg per 100 ml.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on the blood/alcohol level of drivers involved in road traffic accidents. However, the Department for Transport (DfT) annually estimates the number of reported drink drive casualties: i.e. those casualties in reported injury road accidents involving drivers with illegal alcohol levels (above the drink-drive limit of 80 milligrams (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood or 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath which was in force at that time). \r\nDfT estimates for Scotland were published in Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2013 in October 2014 and are provided in the following table: \r\nEstimated number of reported drink drive casualties, Scotland\r\nKilled\r\nSerious\r\nSlight\r\nTotal\r\n2011\r\n20\r\n90\r\n570\r\n680\r\n2012\r\n10\r\n100\r\n470\r\n580\r\n2008-12 average\r\n20\r\n130\r\n630\r\n780\r\nSource: Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2013 (based on DfT estimates)\r\nNote: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; columns may not sum due to rounding.\r\nThere are no estimates for Scotland of the number of alcohol-related injury road accidents which involve legal alcohol levels (i.e. alcohol levels up to and including the drink-drive limit in force at that time of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood).\r\nEvidence cited in the North report on drink and drug driving, published in 2010, found that a driver was approximately three times more likely to be involved in an accident with a blood alcohol concentration of 50mg per 100ml than with zero blood alcohol. The North report also highlighted that evidence shows a driver is approximately 10 times more likely to be involved in an accident with a blood alcohol concentration of 80mg per 100ml than with zero blood alcohol.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2014-12-19T15:47:00.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299287,"EventID":"S4W-23570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T11:41:15.543","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T11:37:02.223","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"On 28 November 2014, the twenty third meeting of the British-Irish Council was held in Douglas, Isle of Man. The summit was attended by ministers from all eight member administrations. The Scottish Government was represented by the First Minister and myself.\r\nThe British Irish Council remains an important forum and provides an opportunity for members to meet and discuss the future direction of change in these islands. Scotland’s relations with the other members becomes even more important as the powers of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government increase.\r\nThe meeting began with a significant discussion on the economy where the First Minister informed the Council that the economic picture in Scotland is increasingly positive. Scotland’s economy has grown continually for two years, GDP is above pre-recession levels and the economic outlook is the strongest it has been in the post-crisis period. Against a back drop of events like the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, this year has been a remarkable one for the Scottish economy, showcasing Scotland to the world. The First Minister also advised the council of the improving picture in the labour market in Scotland, but stressed that challenges remain. Many Scottish jobs depend upon our membership of the EU and the uncertainty of a possible EU exit is causing widespread concern.\r\nThe council also had a very interesting discussion on digital inclusion, during which all Members agreed the importance of ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to share in the benefits of technology and the internet. I informed the council about Scotland’s Digital Participation Strategy called ‘A National Framework for Local Action’ highlighting some of the projects where we have made important progress including £300k for wifi in public libraries and £1.5 million for free wifi in key public buildings.\r\nThe communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council, after the meeting, can be found on the website at: http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/. I am also arranging for a copy the document to be placed in SPICe (BIB number 56500).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T11:41:15.763","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299290,"EventID":"S4W-23525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:47.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T10:12:49.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment, what estimate it has made of how much statutory maternity pay would be in 2015-16 if it had been uprated by Consumer Price Index inflation since 2011-12 and how this compares with the actual amount.","AnswerText":"The move to uprating by 1% means that in 2015-16 statutory maternity pay is estimated to be £139.56 per week. If statutory maternity pay had been uprated by Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation it is estimated that it would have been in the region of £144.73. By 2015-16 a mother claiming statutory maternity pay would therefore be approximately £170 worse off than if maternity pay had been uprated by the CPI measure of inflation.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:47.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299291,"EventID":"S4W-23526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:48.16","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-04T10:12:49.153","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on the health of pregnant women, what estimate it has made of the financial impact of the discontinuation of the Health in Pregnancy Grant in 2011.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government analysis Impact of the UK Welfare Reforms on families – Autumn 2014 update, published on 13 October 2014, suggests that, if the Health in Pregnancy Grant had remained at its 2011-12 level, expectant mothers would be £190 worse off per pregnancy. This paper can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/analysis/Impactonfam2014\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:48.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299292,"EventID":"S4W-23562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:48.423","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T14:25:11.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many apprenticeships lasting a year or less have been completed in each year since 2008-09.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the information you have requested is not included in the statistical information SDS routinely publish in line with official statistics guidance.\r\nI will ask the Chief Executive of SDS to respond to your question.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:48.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299293,"EventID":"S4W-23563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:48.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T14:25:11.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a legal reason preventing it from using its budget to ensure that its contractors pay the living wage, in a similar process to that employed by Renfrewshire Council.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has made it clear throughout, that any requirement as part of a public procurement process or public contract, on contractors to pay their employees a living wage set at a higher rate than the UK’s national minimum wage is unlikely to be compatible with EU law. However, it is possible to encourage contractors to pay the living wage and the Scottish Government has shown leadership by doing just that. We encouraged bidders to offer bids that were based on paying their staff the living wage when we recently tendered our catering contract and we have worked with our existing cleaning contractor to ensure that its staff who work on our core premises will also receive at least the living wage. We are encouraging all public bodies to follow our lead.\r\nThe most effective way of ensuring that all workers receive at least the living wage would be for responsibility for the legal minimum wage to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, which is why, unlike the Labour Party, this government called on The Smith Commission to recommend devolution of the national minimum wage to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:48.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Marco Biagi","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299294,"EventID":"S4W-23564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:49","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T14:25:11.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many motorists Police Scotland stopped in Crown Street in Glasgow during the drink driving exercise on 5 December 2014; how many were stopped while the Cabinet Secretary for Justice was present, and how many were charged with drink driving.","AnswerText":"Police Scotland has advised that they do not collate data on breath testing of motorists at the level of detail requested. They will however publish figures on a national basis on the Monday of each week throughout the festive period. In the first week of the festive anti-drink drive campaign, 71 drivers were caught for drink or drugs driving.\r\nMore generally, Police Scotland has advised that the annual festive safety campaign makes maximum use of road checks to ensure that Police Scotland officers engage with as many motorists as possible over the festive period. These checks take place in both urban and rural locations and have been a major feature of police activity around drink driving for more than 30 years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:49.017","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299295,"EventID":"S4W-23565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:49.267","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T14:25:11.783","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many motorists Police Scotland stopped across the country on 5 December 2014 in relation to its drink driving initiative between (a) midnight and 6.00am, (b) 6.00am and 9.00am and (c) 9.00am and midday.","AnswerText":"Police Scotland has advised that they do not collate data on breath testing of motorists at the level of detail requested. They will however publish figures on a national basis on the Monday of each week throughout the festive anti-drink drive campaign period. In the first week of the campaign (5 December to 12 December 2014), Police Scotland figures show that just under 5,000 drivers were breath tested and 71 drivers were caught for drink or drugs driving.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:49.283","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299296,"EventID":"S4W-23566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:49.547","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T16:54:13.483","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement that the UK Government will fund income-contingent loans of up to £10,000 for postgraduate students on taught masters courses from 2016-17, whether it will match per capita funding for postgraduate students in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Prior to the UK Government’s announcement in the Autumn Statement 2014, the Scottish Government announced the formation of a working group to review support for taught postgraduate education in Scotland. The group, to be chaired by Professor Bryan MacGregor, will consider the barriers to participation in taught postgraduate study by Scottish domiciled students and identify options for how these might be overcome. The group will produce a report by summer 2015.\r\nFrom academic year 2012-13, all eligible Scottish domiciled and EU postgraduate students undertaking courses on a prescribed list have been able to apply for non means-tested fee loan funding of up to £3,400. From 2015-16, eligible Scottish domiciled students on an eligible taught postgraduate course can also apply for a maintenance support loan of up to £4,500.\r\nThere are no immediate plans to change this package of support for taught postgraduate students prior to the issue and consideration of the report from the working group.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:49.563","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299297,"EventID":"S4W-23567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:49.827","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T18:21:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) injections to treat bladder cancer are readily available to all NHS boards.","AnswerText":"Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) injections to treat bladder cancer are used in NHS Scotland and advice on using BCG is contained in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline number 85 – Management of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. A copy of the guideline can be found using the following link: \r\nhttp://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign85.pdf?UNLID=79427299920141126171040 \r\nWe are aware that there are temporary supply issues affecting BCG bladder installation products in the UK. This is due to issues being encountered by manufacturers and we are in regular contact with the Department of Health who have responsibility for medicine supply under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:49.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299298,"EventID":"S4W-23568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:50.093","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T10:15:30","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which elected representatives were invited to the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.\r\n","AnswerText":"The inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament took place in Oban 6-8 November 2014 and was attended by over 400 delegates from across rural Scotland. The event was organised by Scottish Rural Action, an independent, not-for-profit organisation.\r\nAll political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament were invited to nominate a delegate and members of the Scottish Cabinet with a rural portfolio interest were also invited to attend. Additionally some elected representatives registered independently as attendees in their capacity as councillors, MPs or MSPs.\r\nFurther information relating to the Rural Parliament can either be found on the Rural Parliament website: http://www.scottishruralparliament.org.uk/ or by contacting Scottish Rural Action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:50.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299299,"EventID":"S4W-23569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:50.467","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T11:29:04.217","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many times and (b) for how long on average the (i) A9, (ii) A85, (iii) A90, (iv) A92 and (v) M90 has been closed as a result of a crime scene investigation due to an accident in the last three years, and what factors affect the time it takes to reopen the roads for managed traffic flow.\r\n","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland does not hold definitive data that indicates when Police Scotland have carried out a crime scene investigation.\r\nThe following table signifies a closure on the route concerned where police attendance was reported and which may or may not have involved a crime scene investigation. It should also be noted that Police Scotland do on occasion close roads for crime scene investigation without notifying Transport Scotland.\r\nRoad\r\nYear\r\nTotal Number of Incidents Involving Closure\r\nAverage Closure Time in Hours/Minutes\r\nA9\r\n2012\r\n38\r\n3:17\r\n2013\r\n47\r\n3:19\r\n2014\r\n35\r\n3:23\r\nA85\r\n2012\r\n9\r\n1:47\r\n2013\r\n11\r\n5:18\r\n2014\r\n7\r\n1:58\r\nA90\r\n2012\r\n12\r\n2:04\r\n2013\r\n20\r\n4:05\r\n2014\r\n14\r\n4:47\r\nA92 (excludes Tay Bridge)\r\n2012\r\n12\r\n2:32\r\n2013\r\n12\r\n2:17\r\n2014\r\n18\r\n3:05\r\nM90\r\n2012\r\n7\r\n2:06\r\n2013\r\n11\r\n2:16\r\n2014\r\n3\r\n2:46\r\n\r\nThe average closure time does not necessarily reflect how long the police investigation and subsequent clear up takes. Some incidents involve detailed complex investigations while others can be fairly straightforward. In some cases road closures are maintained overnight to allow a more thorough examination in daylight hours. Crime scene investigation does not always relate to road traffic collisions. Vehicle recovery and infrastructure repair can also influence closure times.\r\nThe decision by Police Scotland to close a road is never taken lightly and only occurs when the incident itself requires closure to manage an ongoing incident, or where there is a need to protect those who might already have been injured and the emergency service staff who are dealing with the incident.\r\nThe impact on local communities and the wider economy is always at the forefront of investigators' minds, but there is a need to ensure that incidents are investigated thoroughly to ensure that families of those killed or seriously injured receive the support and information that they deserve and also to ensure that any safety issues are identified and addressed.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:50.483","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299300,"EventID":"S4W-23571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:50.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:09:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Transport Scotland’s recent review of the speed limits on the A85.\r\n","AnswerText":"Following completion of the Speed Limit Review on the trunk road network, including the A85, Scottish Ministers are satisfied that a number of recommendations are being implemented to improve road safety. These recommendations can be accessed on Transport Scotland’s website at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/road-safety/speed-limit-review.\r\nThe statutory process is underway for three sections of the A85 as a result of the Speed Limit Review. These draft Road Orders can be accessed at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/road-and-traffic-orders/north-west-traffic-orders .\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:50.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299301,"EventID":"S4W-23572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:50.983","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:09:19","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which sections of trunk roads have had their speed limits reduced in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The introduction or varying of speed limits on the trunk road network is made through the promotion of Traffic Regulation Orders. Made trunk road orders from 2007, can be found on the Office of the Queen’s Printers for Scotland website at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi and those from 2008 can also be viewed on the Transport Scotland website at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road-and-traffic-orders. Orders made prior to 2007 can be obtained from the National Archives of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:50.997","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299302,"EventID":"S4W-23573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:52:51.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:19:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22402 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 August 2014, whether it has now issued a consultation on its draft Low Emissions Strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Low Emissions Strategy consultation will be issued by late January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:52:51.233","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299303,"EventID":"S4T-00866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:34.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T09:23:05.107","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support hospital emergency departments in light of reports of increased waiting times and concerns that GP closures over the festive period will exacerbate the situation.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:34.913","MeetingDate":"2014-12-09T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299304,"EventID":"S4T-00870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":99,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:36.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T11:58:23.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that disruption as a result of cold weather this week is kept to a minimum.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:36.147","MeetingDate":"2014-12-09T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299305,"EventID":"S4F-02461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:17.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-05T19:11:04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to meet its national waiting time guarantees for gastroenterology.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:17.503","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299306,"EventID":"S4F-02462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:18.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T09:19:39.733","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:18.12","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299307,"EventID":"S4F-02463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:18.43","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T09:39:53.093","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when she will next meet the Prime Minister.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:18.457","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299308,"EventID":"S4F-02464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:18.753","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T09:39:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government anticipates the lower drink-driving limit will have on driver behaviour this festive season.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:18.78","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299309,"EventID":"S4F-02465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:19.097","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T09:46:20.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:19.123","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299310,"EventID":"S4F-02471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T13:03:21.617","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T11:21:56","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will respond to the findings of the all-party UK parliamentary inquiry into hunger in the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T13:03:21.643","MeetingDate":"2014-12-11T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299311,"EventID":"S4W-23574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T16:54:06.737","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T14:21:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate funding in the 2015-16 budget to its Low Emissions Strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with all UK administrations on air quality matters of mutual interest. The focus of work to develop the forthcoming Low Emissions Strategy, which will be the first Scottish air quality strategy, has been working with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders who can, and do, make a substantive contribution to promoting air quality across Scotland.\r\nThe Low Emissions Strategy is designed to support a wide range of partners in promoting air quality, e.g. guidance on low emission zones. One of the purposes of the forthcoming consultation will be to get feedback on that guidance.\r\nThe strategy will also highlight the range of actions that can support air quality, not all of which require funding. The Scottish Government will continue to support specific air quality monitoring and action projects. Air quality is a responsibility of local authorities who continue to be able to allocate funding according to local needs and priorities.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T16:54:06.757","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299312,"EventID":"S4W-23575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T16:54:07.103","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T14:21:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support local authorities in introducing key measures to improve air quality, including low emission zones, and what funding will be involved.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23574 on 5 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T16:54:07.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299313,"EventID":"S4W-23576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T16:54:07.403","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T14:21:08","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding its Low Emissions Strategy. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23574 on 5 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T16:54:07.427","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299314,"EventID":"S4W-23577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":128,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-08T16:54:07.697","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T16:13:35","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the figures from NHS Ayrshire and Arran on worsening ambulance response times.\r\n","AnswerText":"Both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service are committed to driving continuous improvement in the care provided to patients. A range of annually agreed targets are the subject of on-going performance management, including the Ministerial Annual Review meeting which is held in public.\r\nThe average Category A response time in 2013-14 in Ayrshire and Arran was 73.1% in 8 minutes. The average Category A response time from April 2014 to November 2014 is 73.9% in 8 minutes. \r\nThe average response time to all emergency incidents in Ayrshire and Arran in 2013-14 was 8 minutes 35 seconds. The average response time for April to November 2014 is 9 minutes and 4 seconds.\r\nThe slight improvement to date in response times for Category A, life-threatening calls indicates that the Service is focused on responding to those patients most in need, however, the Scottish Government continues to work with the service in order that performance can be improved and sustained on a consistent basis.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-05T16:54:07.783","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299323,"EventID":"S4W-23578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:21.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:04:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent requests it has received from NHS Lothian for additional funding and what its position is on granting this.\r\n","AnswerText":"Officials from The Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate met with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Finance from NHS Lothian on 18 November 2014. The focus was on NHS Lothian delivering a balanced outturn for 2014-15, with early planning for 2015-16 also being discussed. A further meeting is scheduled for 8 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:22.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299324,"EventID":"S4W-23579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:22.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:04:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding PFI contracts.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials liaise regularly with NHS Lothian on a range of financial and performance issues and any issues relating to PFI contracts can be raised and discussed through this route.\r\nOfficials also attend the NHS Scotland PPP Joint Board and PPP Practitioners Group, on which NHS Lothian are represented, and which provide a forum for the discussion of PFI and other PPP arrangements.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:22.41","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299325,"EventID":"S4W-23580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:22.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:04:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the closure of hospitals.\r\n","AnswerText":"NHS Lothian has not discussed the closure of hospitals with the Scottish Government.\r\nThe Scottish Government met with NHS Lothian on 2 October 2014 to carry out the board’s mid-year review. This included discussion on the NHS Lothian Draft Strategic Plan 2014-2024. Part of the strategic planning process is a review of the Board’s estate so that it can best meet the needs of the people of Lothian over the next 10 years. Any concrete proposals regarding major changes to patient services would be subject to full public engagement in line with CEL(4) 2010.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:22.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299326,"EventID":"S4W-23581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:23.127","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:04:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the financial position is of each NHS board.\r\n","AnswerText":"For the current financial year, 2014-15; the latest figures submitted by all NHS boards is to the end of October 2014. Of the 22 health boards, 21 are currently projecting financial balance for 2014-15, with NHS Orkney currently forecasting a year end deficit of under 1% of its total resource budget.\r\nThe Scottish Government is working with NHS Orkney to determine options for recovering this forecast and to enable the board to achieve financial balance.\r\nThe Scottish Government remains constantly engaged with all boards via a well-established process of performance management to consider options and support as appropriate.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:23.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299327,"EventID":"S4W-23582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:23.44","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:04:14","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to NHS boards that have a budget deficit.\r\n","AnswerText":"All NHS boards have a statutory requirement to deliver a balanced financial outturn and have an agreed financial plan with the Scottish Government to deliver this.\r\nWhere an NHS board is experiencing financial challenges the Scottish Government has a well establish cycle of performance management and will, if necessary agree a package of tailored support. The format of that support is dependent upon the particular circumstances behind the challenges the board faces.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:23.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299328,"EventID":"S4W-23588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:23.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:53:39.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards can use the New Medicines Fund to meet the costs of products that have been rejected by the Scottish Medicines Consortium but for which funding requests have been or will be made using the (a) individual patient treatment request and (b) peer approved clinical system process.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22884 on 11 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:23.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299329,"EventID":"S4W-23589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:24.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:53:39.533","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to the New Medicines Fund in each of its first five years, and for how long the fund will operate.\r\n","AnswerText":"For planning purposes, the 2015-16 draft budget currently includes £40 million to be utilised for the New Medicines Fund for both 2014-15 and 2015-16. We anticipate that there will be an ongoing need for mechanisms such as the New Medicines Fund beyond April 2016. The Scottish Government is closely monitoring the impact of the New Medicines Fund and the associated changes to access to medicines policies and will review the impact of the fund to inform future budgetary decisions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:24.033","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299330,"EventID":"S4W-23591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:24.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T11:15:55","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) whole-time equivalent and (b) headcount places were available in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at each college in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.\r\n","AnswerText":"Data on students in colleges in Scotland are collected by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). \r\nThe SFC Baseline Report for Academic Year 2013-14 shows that the number of funded full-time equivalent (FTE) students at college in 2013-14 increased by three per cent over the year to 119,636, again exceeding the 116,000 commitment.\r\nTable 1 contains the number of students studying on STEM courses, expressed as headcount and FTE, for 2012-13 and 2013-14. \r\nFor the purposes of this answer the following superclass summary groups are counted as STEM:\r\nC – Information technology and information\r\nR – Science and mathematics\r\nX – Engineering\r\nNote that the Scottish Government is currently working with partners to develop a more detailed definition of STEM, as a focus on these subjects sits at the heart of the development of Scotland’s young workforce.\r\nTable 1 – Number of students studying on STEM courses at colleges in Scotland, 2012-13 and 2013-14\r\nCollege\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nHeadcount\r\nFTE\r\nHeadcount\r\nFTE\r\nAberdeen College\r\n3,144\r\n2,235\r\n3,260\r\n2,388\r\nAdam Smith College\r\n4,693\r\n1,611\r\n4,807\r\n1,450\r\nAngus College\r\n1,491\r\n549\r\n1,475\r\n569\r\nAnniesland College\r\n1,292\r\n789\r\n1,135\r\n833\r\nAyr College\r\n1,205\r\n617\r\n1,095\r\n649\r\nAyrshire Kilwinning College\r\n-\r\n-\r\n651\r\n553\r\nBanff and Buchan College of Further Education\r\n3,019\r\n842\r\n3,126\r\n881\r\nBarony College\r\n26\r\n0.7*\r\n0\r\n0\r\nBorders College\r\n343\r\n118\r\n393\r\n140\r\nCardonald College\r\n1,187\r\n748\r\n1,015\r\n754\r\nCarnegie College\r\n3,469\r\n1,472\r\n3,529\r\n1,114\r\nCity of Glasgow College\r\n-\r\n-\r\n2,220\r\n1,584\r\nClydebank College\r\n1,288\r\n497\r\n-\r\n-\r\nCoatbridge College\r\n504\r\n347\r\n517\r\n369\r\nCumbernauld College\r\n729\r\n464\r\n818\r\n484\r\nDumfries and Galloway College\r\n914\r\n421\r\n949\r\n465\r\nDundee College\r\n2,342\r\n1,176\r\n1,874\r\n1,159\r\nEdinburgh College\r\n-\r\n-\r\n3,452\r\n2,720\r\nEdinburgh's Telford College\r\n682\r\n465\r\n-\r\n-\r\nElmwood College\r\n157\r\n19\r\n29\r\n3\r\nForth Valley College\r\n2,694\r\n1,542\r\n3,226\r\n1,803\r\nGlasgow Metropolitan\r\n2,520\r\n1,746\r\n-\r\n-\r\nInverness College\r\n883\r\n436\r\n1,036\r\n543\r\nJames Watt College of Further and Higher Education\r\n2,697\r\n1,226\r\n-\r\n-\r\nJewel and Esk College\r\n1,147\r\n797\r\n-\r\n-\r\nJohn Wheatley College\r\n6,025\r\n644\r\n6,609\r\n529\r\nKilmarnock College\r\n1,034\r\n528\r\n974\r\n539\r\nLangside College\r\n898\r\n454\r\n746\r\n646\r\nLews Castle College\r\n197\r\n61\r\n164\r\n91\r\nMoray College\r\n665\r\n277\r\n606\r\n295\r\nMotherwell College\r\n2,690\r\n1,616\r\n2,941\r\n1,718\r\nNorth Glasgow College\r\n532\r\n362\r\n529\r\n327\r\nNorth Highland College\r\n1,189\r\n343\r\n943\r\n382\r\nOatridge College\r\n26\r\n0.5*\r\n18\r\n0*\r\nOrkney College\r\n173\r\n33\r\n108\r\n20\r\nPerth College\r\n889\r\n377\r\n975\r\n391\r\nReid Kerr College\r\n2,334\r\n805\r\n-\r\n-\r\nShetland College of Further Education\r\n532\r\n73\r\n404\r\n67\r\nSouth Lanarkshire College\r\n132\r\n49\r\n123\r\n16\r\nStevenson College Edinburgh\r\n1,152\r\n747\r\n-\r\n-\r\nStow College\r\n1,195\r\n776\r\n1,344\r\n863\r\nWest College Scotland\r\n-\r\n-\r\n5,074\r\n1,918\r\nWest Lothian College\r\n728\r\n449\r\n733\r\n506\r\nTotal\r\n56,815\r\n25,709\r\n56,897\r\n26,770\r\nSource: SFC\r\nNotes:\r\n*At some specialist colleges, general STEM subjects are not part of the core range of subject areas. However, these colleges do offer specialist courses in subjects which are classified as STEM (e.g. welding). Such courses are often very short in duration. For some colleges in the table above this gives rise to a relatively small headcount and an FTE between 1 and 0.\r\n- Data not available\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:24.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Angela Constance","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299331,"EventID":"S4W-23592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:24.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T11:18:13.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the level of support available under the croft house grant scheme and, if so, when.\r\n","AnswerText":"Public consultation on a review of the croft house grant scheme was launched on 6 January 2015. The consultation period will conclude on 31 March 2015 and we would encourage as many contributions as possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:24.61","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299332,"EventID":"S4W-23593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:24.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T11:31:41.647","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the level of support available under the croft house grant scheme has not increased since 2005.\r\n","AnswerText":"In the years of its operation, this valuable support has helped enable the construction of over 900 new croft houses and the improvement of a further 200 existing croft houses.\r\nThe Scottish Government has held informal discussions with a number of crofting stakeholders and these have informed the terms of a review of the croft house grant scheme launched on 7 January 2015. The Scottish Government’s proposals include a significant increase in the level of support to be offered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:24.907","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299333,"EventID":"S4W-23594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:25.173","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:13:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many loans it has provided from its £2 million loan fund to assist the film and television production sector.","AnswerText":"The £2 million loan for studio development remains available and has not yet been utilised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:25.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299334,"EventID":"S4W-23595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:25.47","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:13:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been linked to the film and television production sector in Scotland in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how many jobs have been linked to the film and television production sector, or how much it has contributed to the economy each since 1999 as the statistics have breaks in the series due to changes in definition and methodology made by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).\r\nInformation on recent employment rates can be found in the ONS publication Business Register and Employment Survey at:\r\nhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/taking-part-in-a-survey/information-for-businesses/a-to-z-of-business-surveys/business-register-and-employment-survey--bres-/index.html.\r\nInformation on turnover and Gross Value Added can be found in the ONS publication The Annual Business Survey at:\r\nhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/index.html.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:25.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299335,"EventID":"S4W-23596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T13:42:25.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:13:07","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much the film and television production industry has contributed to the Scottish economy in each year since 1999.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23595 on 20 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T13:42:25.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299345,"EventID":"S4W-23583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:45.677","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:07:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) timescale and (b) criteria will be for applications to the agri-environment climate fund in March 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"Our current plan is to launch the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in January 2015 and customers will be invited to apply online from March 2015, with contracts issued from late 2015.\r\nHigh level guidance was available on-line from 15 December 2014, and detailed scheme guidance will be available to customers for January 2015. We will also be running pillar 2 roadshows around Scotland from February 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:45.743","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299346,"EventID":"S4W-23585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:45.993","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:07:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NFU Scotland's view that the application period for the agri-environment climate fund in March 2015 should be three months.\r\n","AnswerText":"A final decision on the length of the application period has not yet been made.\r\nWe will need to take into account the time required:\r\na) For applicants to prepare their applications.\r\nb) For our case officers to assess applications.\r\nc) For the approving officer (or national expert panel) to approve or reject applications.\r\nd) To create and issue contracts.\r\ne) For applicants to return signed contracts.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:46.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299347,"EventID":"S4W-23586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:46.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:07:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on its proposed Succession Bill.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Law Commission (the Commission) reviewed the law of succession and issued a report in 2009 - Report on Succession (Scot Law Com No 215). The report made recommendations on a range of succession issues including:\r\nIntestacy (where a person dies without making a will), protection against disinheritance, protection for cohabitants, bonds of caution (a form of indemnity insurance) for executors-dative and a range of technical issues on jurisdiction, choice of law: wills and survivorship.\r\nThe Scottish Government carried out a period of informal pre-consultation dialogue with a number of stakeholders on the report’s key recommendations. There was a lack of consensus amongst those stakeholders consulted as to some of the recommendations in relation to the first three bullet points above. Given this and in order to avoid delay in reforming the largely technical law on the administration of estates and succession, on 14 August 2014 the Scottish Government issued a consultation on technical issues relating to succession:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/08/1185. This consultation sought views on the technical issues relating to succession law and bonds of caution. The consultation closed on 7 November 2014. Responses are currently being analysed and will inform the Succession Bill announced in the Programme for Government on 26 November 2014.\r\nA second consultation on the more complex and substantive proposals for reform of succession will follow in 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:46.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299348,"EventID":"S4W-23587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:46.557","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T09:07:10","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) categories and (b) criteria will be for its proposed new entrants scheme under the incoming common agricultural policy.\r\n","AnswerText":"New entrants in Pillar 1 of the common agricultural policy will fall into two categories, those that started in 2013 or later and those who can provide verifiable evidence they were already actively farming in 2013.\r\nThose starting in 2013 or later will be able to apply to the National Reserve for an allocation of payment entitlements that will be paid at the regional average value.\r\nThe others will be able to apply for payment entitlements in the new basic payment and receive an allocation based on the amount of land they declare in 2015. If the value of those entitlements is below the regional average and the farmer is eligible to apply to the National Reserve, they may request the value to be topped up to the regional average.\r\nThe categories for the National Reserve are:\r\nNew entrants and young farmers who start farming in 2013 or later;\r\nFarmers not allocated entitlements to the single farm payment (SFP) or only allocated SFP entitlements through new entrant or investor categories of the previous National Reserve in 2005;\r\nFarmers who have been subject to force majeure.\r\nIn order to receive Pillar 1 payments the criteria for all farmers is that they meet the active farmer requirements.\r\nUnder Pillar 2, the new Scottish Rural Development Programme will include assistance mainly through two dedicated funding schemes.\r\nFirst, there will be start-up aid of up to £55,000 to support new entrants who have set up as head of a holding in the 24 months before submitting an application. Applicants will also need to comply with the European Regulation definition of a young farmer:\r\nLess than 41 years of age;\r\nHave set up for the first time as head of an agricultural business; and \r\nPossess adequate occupational skills.\r\nSecond, there will be funding of up to £25,000 (for individuals) and £125,000 (for groups) over any two-year period for capital business improvement projects. This scheme will be open to new entrants of any age who:\r\nHave set up for the first time as head of an agricultural business for up to five years before the application for support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:46.57","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299349,"EventID":"S4W-23597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:46.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:17:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on (a) preventing and (b) tackling homelessness in prisoners and their families in each of the last five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to addressing homelessness amongst prisoners and their families. All those assessed as unintentionally homeless by local authorities, including prisoners upon liberation, are entitled to settled accommodation as a legal right.\r\nThe Scottish Government is prioritising the prevention of homelessness through the funding of five regional local authority led Housing Options Hubs. In June 2010 the Scottish Government provided £500,000 of 'enabling funding' to the Housing Options Hubs over a 14-month period. This funding assisted local authorities to make the changes needed to move towards the housing options approach through commissioning research, funding joint training, work shadowing, and sharing practice. Since April 2012 the Scottish Government has provided ongoing support funding of £150,000 per annum to the hubs to assist with their continuing development, with a commitment to 2015-16.\r\nThe Scottish Government also provides grants for the voluntary sector to work with prisoners through the Housing Voluntary Grant Scheme. In 2014-15, £8,000 was made available to a third sector organisation to support a prison leaver peer support project for HMP Edinburgh.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognises the particular challenges that may be faced by prisoners and their families at risk of homelessness and the support that may be required to help sustain tenancies. Local authorities work with prisoners through the housing options approach to homelessness prevention which looks at all an individual’s circumstances. Housing options may consider issues of particular importance in preventing homelessness amongst prisoners and their families, such as employability, the need for mediation, life skills needed to cope in society including basic DIY, cooking, shopping and financial capability training.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:46.84","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299350,"EventID":"S4W-23598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:47.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:17:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many ex-offenders have presented as homeless in each of the last five years, broken down by gender, and how many were ex-service personnel.","AnswerText":"During 2013-14, 2,156 ex-offenders presented as homeless, of which 1,951 were male and 205 were female. A total of 47 were ex-service personnel. Figures for the last five years are shown in the following table.\r\n\r\n2009-10\r\n2010-11\r\n2011-12\r\n2012-13\r\n2013-14\r\nEx-Offenders presenting as homeless\r\n     2,438 \r\n     2,262 \r\n     2,250 \r\n     2,226 \r\n     2,156 \r\nMale\r\n     2,246 \r\n     2,088 \r\n     2,043 \r\n     2,009 \r\n     1,951 \r\nFemale\r\n        192 \r\n        174 \r\n        207 \r\n        217 \r\n        205 \r\nEx - service personnel\r\n          50 \r\n          58 \r\n          58 \r\n          58 \r\n          47 \r\nNot ex - service personnel\r\n     2,388 \r\n     2,204 \r\n     2,192 \r\n     2,168 \r\n     2,109 \r\nSource: Scottish Government HL1 Dataset.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:47.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299351,"EventID":"S4W-23599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:47.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:17:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been (a) placed in foster care, (b) placed in kinship care and (c) classed as homeless as a result of parental imprisonment in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect data on the sub-reasons for children becoming looked after, so it is not possible to provide specific data on the numbers of children being placed in kinship and foster care due to parental imprisonment.\r\nThe annual totals of children becoming looked after in foster care and kinship care (some of whom may have entered the care system due to parental imprisonment) are presented here:\r\n\r\n2008-2009\r\n2009-2010\r\n2010-2011\r\n2011-2012\r\n2012-2013\r\nStarting to be looked after in kinship care\r\n850\r\n822\r\n842\r\n967\r\n960\r\nStarting to be looked after in foster care\r\n1,451\r\n1,261\r\n1,097\r\n1,404\r\n1,421\r\nAll children starting to be looked after\r\n5,201\r\n4,859\r\n4,746\r\n4,811\r\n4,470\r\n\r\nThe most relevant figures to homelessness available are in the following table, which details the number of children in households applying as homeless, where the main applicant had previously been in prison:\r\n\r\n2008-2009\r\n2009-2010\r\n2010-2011\r\n2011-2012\r\n2012-2013\r\n2013-2014\r\nMale Children\r\n69\r\n75\r\n88\r\n94\r\n65\r\n42\r\nFemale Children\r\n69\r\n81\r\n73\r\n85\r\n74\r\n34\r\nAll Children\r\n138\r\n156\r\n161\r\n179\r\n139\r\n76\r\nIt should be noted that the applicant’s earlier imprisonment may only be one of a number of factors leading to a homelessness application.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:47.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299352,"EventID":"S4W-23600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:47.673","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T12:17:43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of a potential increase in the rail network in Renfrewshire.","AnswerText":"In the next ScotRail franchise there will be no diminution of service and throughout the life of the franchise, we will continue to work closely with the franchisee in the review of current service levels and demand as we seek to identify even more improvements for passengers.\r\nScotRail have an obligation under the franchise contract to undertake passenger counts on each of its rail service. The passenger count data are used to inform decision making around future service levels, rolling stock investment and overcrowding.\r\nWe will also work closely with and offer advice to third party promoters who have aspirations to add new stations or increase accessibility on the network in Renfrewshire.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:47.7","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299353,"EventID":"S4W-23601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:47.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T13:29:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to NHS Grampian has been of delayed discharges in the Aberdeen City Council area in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"We have estimated the full cost of delayed discharges to the NHS at £150 million. We have asked NHS Information Services Division (ISD) to do a more detailed piece of work.\r\nISD is now working with NHS boards to develop a costing methodology to apply to this activity and we expect that this will be completed, and publicly available from April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:47.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299354,"EventID":"S4W-23602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:48.41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T13:29:47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the current cost to NHS Grampian is of delayed discharges in the Aberdeen City Council area.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23601 on 6 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:48.437","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299355,"EventID":"S4W-23603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:48.75","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T15:05:14.843","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the development of a financial capability strategy.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s approach to financial capability is set out in the revised Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland which identified a number of priorities for future work across a variety of policy areas and placed a focus on financial capability through the ‘pockets’ outcome.\r\nThe Scottish Government recognise that access to appropriate financial services, information and advice can make a significant impact on the material wellbeing of families. The focus on financial capability as a means of tackling one of the causes of poverty and deprivation rather than the symptoms, underpins the wide range of activity underway.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:48.773","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299356,"EventID":"S4W-23604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-09T17:01:49.03","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T15:05:44.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the financial capability of young people.\r\n","AnswerText":"Within Curriculum for Excellence, financial education forms part of a wider focus on numeracy. All teachers have responsibility for developing young people’s numeracy skills in all areas and levels of the curriculum. Financial education helps young people develop money management skills, budgeting and understanding of credit and debt. Expected outcomes include the development of skills to assess and evaluate financial risk, and gauge the impact of financial decision making.\r\nEducation Scotland facilitates the Scottish Financial Education Forum. The forum comprises representatives from the financial services sector in Scotland, the Scottish Government and its agencies, local authorities, the credit union movement and the voluntary sector. It aims to build capacity, develop professional competence and support the financial capability of young people. In addition, Education Scotland produce learning and teaching resources, in the form of case study and other materials aimed at stimulating classroom discussion about “real life” issues such as debt, money management and responsible financial behaviour.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-06T17:01:49.053","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299369,"EventID":"S4W-23616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T11:33:21.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:15:00","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final report of the Agricultural Holding Legislation Review Group.\r\n","AnswerText":"I am delighted to announce that the work of the Agricultural Holding Legislation Review Group will be completed before Christmas 2014 and that we will be publishing the final report early in 2015. \r\nThe report will be available on the Scottish Government website. Copies will be sent to the main industry representative bodies and a copy lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 56510). Copies will also be available to anyone on request to the Scottish Government’s agricultural holdings team.\r\nI would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on the review group for the hard work and effort they have brought to this review over the past year. Their experience and knowledge of the tenant farming sector has been invaluable to our work.\r\nI am also grateful to the main industry bodies, the National Farmers Union Scotland, the Scottish Tenant Farmer’s Association and Scottish Land and Estates as well as to the many individuals who have engaged so effectively with this process. \r\nI am confident our recommendations lay the road for a vibrant and sustainable future for the tenant farming sector and I look forward to continuing to work with the industry as we consider how best to implement the review’s recommendations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T11:33:21.75","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299370,"EventID":"S4W-23605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":86,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T13:39:01.19","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T09:12:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government who will be responsible for deciding how the £1 million pound fund for youth arts that was announced by the then First Minister in November 2014 will be disbursed between the country’s youth arts organisations; how this will be done, and what criteria will be used to determine the method.\r\n","AnswerText":"In recognition of the value we place on Scotland’s youth arts, the then First Minister announced on 14 November 2014 a package of public and private sector funding to engage more of Scotland’s young people in culture and the arts through Time to Shine, Scotland’s Youth Arts Strategy. This new £1 million funding package will be a three year investment programme to support the national youth performing companies – the National Youth Choir of Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, YDance and Scottish Youth Theatre to contribute to the youth arts strategy as we count down to the 2018 Year of Young People. £250k of the fund will be generously provided by Clyde Blowers specifically for Scottish Youth Theatre.\r\nCreative Scotland will administer and determine how best to allocate this fund and will monitor its delivery over the course of this period.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T13:39:01.217","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299371,"EventID":"S4W-23608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T13:39:01.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:29:37.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02812 by the Lord Advocate on 22 January 2014 (Official Report, c. 26845), what progress has been made by the investigation on the use of Scotland's airports for rendition flights and whether the terms of the investigation will be amended in light of the publication of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's report, Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program.\r\n","AnswerText":"Since I last commented on the investigation on the use of Scotland's airports for rendition flights, I can confirm that an interim report has been provided by Police Scotland, outlining the information they have gathered to date in particular in relation to the rendition project's report. Further investigations have been instructed. This includes consideration of the recent findings from the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Study of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program, the executive summary of which was published on 9 December 2014. This report includes reference to rendition flights and it is important to look at this source of information to check whether there is any evidence disclosed in the report of Scottish airports being used for such flights. This is a complex investigation and is international in scope which requires detailed and thorough investigation and consideration. Once the final report is submitted to the Crown it will be considered by Crown Counsel who will make any decision on criminal proceedings. Crown Counsel's decision will be made public.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T13:39:01.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299372,"EventID":"S4W-23614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T13:39:02.077","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:07:05.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee sub-group on sustainable moorland management will (a) complete and (b) publish its report.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee plan to consider their report in March 2015 and to publish shortly thereafter.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T13:39:02.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299373,"EventID":"S4W-23615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T13:39:02.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:07:05.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18470 by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 December 2013, whether it will provide an update on the information regarding mountain hares.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the James Hutton Institute and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, acting on the advice of several mountain hare experts, have started work on field trialling a range of methods of assessing mountain hare numbers, to develop a better monitoring strategy and to improve the quality of the information used to assess population status and the sustainability of hare management measures. This programme of work is due to be completed in 2017.\r\nUntil this study is complete, and because of recent concerns about the status of mountain hares, SNH has developed a joint position statement on the subject of hare culling following consultation with key stakeholders representing moorland managers, namely Scottish Land & Estates and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. The statement is evidence-based and argues that large scale culls of mountain hares to reduce tick loads, and thus to benefit grouse and other bird survival, are only effective when other tick-carrying animals are removed as well, or where they are absent. The intention is to work with estates to put in place effective but sustainable management of mountain hares. More information about the joint position statement can be found on the SNH website\r\nhttp://snh.presscentre.com/News-Releases/SNH-GWCT-SL-E-position-on-large-scale-culls-of-mountain-hares-to-reduce-louping-ill-15f.aspx\r\nIn addition, a review of sustainable moorland management is currently being undertaken by a sub-group of experts from SNH’s Scientific Advisory Committee chaired by Professor Alan Werritty. This includes the management of mountain hares as one of a number of issues connected with sustainable moorland management practices. This review is due to be completed by March 2015.\r\nEarlier in 2014, SNH was provided with additional hare count data, collected over many years in some cases. These quantitative data are potentially very useful, as previous evidence of local declines was largely based on anecdote. This information has been made available to the above SNH Scientific Advisory Committee sub-group as part of the review process.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T13:39:02.43","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299385,"EventID":"S4O-03821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:09.847","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:42.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how its ministers helped promote Small Business Saturday and what its position is on supporting such events in the future.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:10.073","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299386,"EventID":"S4O-03822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5034,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:10.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:42.357","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what planning it is doing to keep the jobs and opportunities of decommissioning the oil and gas industry in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:10.577","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299387,"EventID":"S4O-03823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5075,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":112,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:10.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:42.563","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is giving the renewables sector to develop new technology.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:10.823","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299388,"EventID":"S4O-03824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:11.14","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T18:57:07.073","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government to what extent small businesses in Aberdeen have benefitted from the small business bonus scheme.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:11.157","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299389,"EventID":"S4O-03825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:11.38","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:59:39.673","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government where it foresees future jobs growth in the offshore energy sector in the North Sea.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:11.397","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299390,"EventID":"S4O-03827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:11.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T15:50:46.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the economy of abolishing air passenger duty for young people.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:11.673","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299391,"EventID":"S4O-03828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:11.99","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:43.863","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact on Scotland is of the recent fall in crude oil prices.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:12.007","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299392,"EventID":"S4O-03829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5074,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":104,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:12.26","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:44.123","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the piloting of project bank accounts will impact on small businesses in the construction sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:12.277","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299393,"EventID":"S4O-03830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:12.593","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:44.347","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support enterprise and business across the South Scotland parliamentary region.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:12.61","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299394,"EventID":"S4O-03831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:12.853","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T09:37:35.33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support employment and the economy in the north east in response to Oil & Gas UK's report, Fuelling the next generation.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:12.87","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299395,"EventID":"S4O-03832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":132,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:13.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:44.96","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of recent developments at Pelamis Ltd and Aquamarine Ltd.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:13.23","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299396,"EventID":"S4O-03833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:13.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:13:21.52","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what response it has received to requests to the UK Government to meet to discuss the impact of passport control procedures on the cruise liner sector and tourism in Scotland.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:13.583","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299397,"EventID":"S4O-03834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:13.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:44:44.873","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the independent commission to examine council tax alternatives will begin its work, and what timetable it will work to.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:13.82","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299398,"EventID":"S4O-03835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:14.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T11:06:10.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what detail the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy can provide regarding the allocation of the Barnett consequentials arising from the recent increase in UK Government health spending.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:14.09","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299399,"EventID":"S4O-03836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:14.457","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:46.163","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy has had with colleagues regarding the allocation in the 2015-16 draft budget for housing adaptations for older and disabled tenants of registered social landlords.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:14.473","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299400,"EventID":"S4O-03837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":89,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:14.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:46.507","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the Scottish budget method of consultation and committee deliberation compares with that of the UK.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:14.717","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299401,"EventID":"S4O-03838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:14.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T16:21:51.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that it should establish a Scottish exchequer to accommodate further tax and spending powers going forward.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:14.963","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299402,"EventID":"S4O-03839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":5107,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":124,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:15.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:46.94","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in promoting business tourism.\r\n","AnswerText":"VisitScotland estimate that the expected gross value added impact of events attracted through the Business Tourism Unit support since May 2012 is £73 million, supporting 1,330 full time equivalent jobs.\r\nThe Scottish Government launched the Conference Bid Fund in 2012 which provided £2 million in match-funding, over three years, to attract conferences to Scotland. \r\nBy the end of October 2014, the Conference Bid Fund had helped secure 72 conferences – an expected 84,000 delegates with an estimated gross delegate spend of £143 million by 2021. Based on pending bids VisitScotland, which administers the fund, is forecasting that just over £2 million match funding will deliver an estimated gross delegate spend of over £200 million by 2024.\r\nWe have now secured funding for a new Conference Bid Fund for 2015-16, ensuring a further £1 million of new money will be available to provide match-funding to continue to attract conferences to Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:15.2","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299403,"EventID":"S4O-03840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:15.54","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:05:47.213","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost the economy of North East Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:15.557","MeetingDate":"2014-12-17T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299404,"EventID":"S4O-03841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:15.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:13.677","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet its fuel poverty eradication target.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:15.81","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299405,"EventID":"S4O-03842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:16.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T16:23:01.097","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the recruitment of consultants in Scotland could be affected by any move to privatise NHS services in England.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:16.103","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299406,"EventID":"S4O-03843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:16.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:14.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about trends in the use of foodbanks in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:16.387","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299407,"EventID":"S4O-03844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:16.717","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:14.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Lanarkshire’s out-of-hours service.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:16.733","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299408,"EventID":"S4O-03845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3824,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:16.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-09T14:40:15.973","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what road improvements in North Ayrshire are planned over the next five years.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:16.997","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299409,"EventID":"S4O-03846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4984,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:17.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T09:43:24.513","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce initiatives to encourage cycling beyond its present commitments.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:17.3","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299410,"EventID":"S4O-03847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:17.517","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:15.17","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Falkirk Council and West Lothian Council regarding the upgrading of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:17.533","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299411,"EventID":"S4O-03848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:17.843","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:15.407","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how local government services impact on various social groups.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:17.857","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299412,"EventID":"S4O-03849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:18.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:15.623","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Glasgow City Council provision in the west of the city is meeting the government's aim of providing expanded funded early learning and childcare.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:18.147","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299413,"EventID":"S4O-03850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":103,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T14:26:18.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-08T12:06:15.977","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian about its financial situation.\r\n","AnswerText":"Officials from the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate met with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Finance from NHS Lothian on 18 November 2014. The focus was on NHS Lothian delivering a balanced outturn for 2014-15, with early planning for 2015-16 also being discussed. A further meeting is scheduled for 8 January 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T14:26:18.477","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299414,"EventID":"S4W-23617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-10T16:40:52.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T14:37:26.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle xenophobia in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government launched the One Scotland campaign ‘Scotland believes in equality’ in July 2014 to promote equality in Scotland and celebrate Scotland’s diversity. A new phase of the campaign was launched on 6 November 2014 with a focus on race and LGBTI equality. The race phase of the campaign includes radio and press advertising, partnership work, PR and social media to emphasise the contribution that people from minority ethnic communities make to Scotland, as well as celebrate the progress Scotland has made in the promotion of equal rights and opportunities. The campaign also reflects that, while progress has been made, there is still work to be done to ensure equality for all.\r\nThe One Scotland campaign follows our high profile Speak Up Against Hate Crime campaign, which was launched in February 2014 to empower victims of and witnesses to hate crime to report all incidents to Police Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-07T16:40:52.17","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299421,"EventID":"S4W-23610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:43.733","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:34:02.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to ensure that the new franchise for the East Coast rail route will provide a higher level of hot food availability for passengers north of Edinburgh on the Highland Chieftain service between King's Cross and Inverness.\r\n","AnswerText":"In December 2012 the Scottish Government provided a letter of advice to the UK Government on its requirements of the InterCity East Coast franchise. This included advice on the need for continued and improved catering provision for passengers travelling north of Edinburgh.\r\nThe advice notes ‘the particular requirements of the long distance market in terms of catering and passenger comfort and amenity’, and that ‘services to Scotland (particularly to Aberdeen and Inverness) are amongst the longest passenger rail services in the UK, and notes the need for enhanced luggage space and catering over these routes’.\r\nIn summary, the advice argues that ‘it is important that a full catering offer is retained on services to Scotland, and that offer recognises that some services extend more than three hours beyond Edinburgh’.\r\nHowever, the Scottish Government does not have the powers to direct the franchisee. The InterCity East Coast franchise is specified and let by the UK Government.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:43.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299422,"EventID":"S4W-23611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:44.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:34:02.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will raise with the new East Coast franchisee the need for all InterCity Express trains to be used between King's Cross and Inverness to be built with the galley option to service hot food to all passengers.\r\n","AnswerText":"As noted in my response to the answer to question S4W-23610 on 23 December 2014, we have provided comprehensive advice to the Department for Transport on this issue. Officials have also discussed this requirement with all bidders for the InterCity East Coast franchise in advance of their bids.\r\nInformation received from the Department for Transport indicates that InterCity Express trains will be built with a galley to provide hot food to all passengers, although we have not seen the full detail of the winning bid for InterCity East Coast, and await confirmation of this point.\r\nWe will pursue this issue directly in discussions with the new franchisee.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:44.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299423,"EventID":"S4W-23612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:44.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:34:02.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek assurances from the new rail franchisee that the new InterCity Express trains will be sufficiently powerful to climb the gradients between Perth and Inverness at the same speed as the current models on this route.\r\n","AnswerText":"We do not currently have information on the sectional running times of the InterCity Express trains over the Perth to Inverness route. We are aware of concerns about the performance of these trains, as you have highlighted, and have sought clarification from the Department for Transport.\r\nWe will raise the performance of these trains in discussion with the new franchisee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:44.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299424,"EventID":"S4W-23613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:44.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T10:34:02.037","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will demand that the Highland Chieftain Inverness to King's Cross service will be allocated a nine coach set throughout the year once the new InterCity Express trains are introduced and not limited to a five coach set in winter.\r\n","AnswerText":"Yes. We have had broad assurance from the Department for Transport (DfT) that the current levels of service provision will be maintained in the new InterCity East Coast franchise.\r\nSpecific advice from DfT, however, is that there is no specific obligation on the new East Coast franchisee to deploy specific set formations on any given route; the new franchise agreement will place an obligation on the franchise operator to utilise the Intercity Express Programme fleet in a way that best meets demand.\r\nWe will reiterate our view that current levels of provision must be fully maintained in our discussions with the new franchisee.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:44.713","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299425,"EventID":"S4W-23619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:44.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T16:45:56.997","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework to be published in 2015 will include a requirement to respond to the reported increasing number of people growing older with HIV who also have (a) cardiovascular disease, (b) mental health disease and (c) dementia.\r\n","AnswerText":"The refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is still in the early stages of development and evaluation of the existing framework is ongoing. No decisions have been made on any recommendations to be included in the refreshed framework, however the needs of people living with HIV, including those who are ageing or who have other health conditions will continue to be a priority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:45.043","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299426,"EventID":"S4W-23623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5041,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:45.493","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T16:34:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many consultants Scottish Water employed in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 and has employed in 2014-15 and at what cost in each year.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Water purchases consultancy services through framework contracts. The level of expenditure is reported for the last four years through the Scottish Water website in line with the Public Sector Reform Act. This information can be found by clicking on this link: https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information/public-sector-reform-act.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:45.51","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299427,"EventID":"S4W-23624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:45.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T17:10:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the revised Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework to be published in 2015 will introduce opt-out testing and screening of prisoners on commencement of their custodial sentences.\r\n","AnswerText":"The refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is still in the early stages of development and evaluation of the existing framework is ongoing. No decisions have been made on any recommendations to be included in the refreshed framework, however those at increased risk of blood borne viruses, including prisoners, remain a priority.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:45.777","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299428,"EventID":"S4W-23625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:46.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T17:10:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a pilot of screening and treating inmates with hepatitis C in Scottish Prison Service facilities in light of new treatment regimens with reported cure rates in excess of 90% with a 12 or eight week treatment period.","AnswerText":"The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework recognises the importance of ensuring prisoners in Scotland can access hepatitis C treatment. Around 10% of all new treatment initiations in Scotland every year are amongst those in prison.\r\nIn May 2012, the Scottish Prison Service published a report of a study carried out by the University of the West of Scotland and others, Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence amongst Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management. The report found that health indicators including hepatitis C testing and treatment were all higher or similar to coverage achieved in the community.\r\nIn 2013, a total of 578 prisoners in prisons within Scotland’s four largest NHS board areas were tested for hepatitis C, and in 2013-14 a total of 141 prisoners within all Scottish prisons were initiated on hepatitis C treatment. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:46.197","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299429,"EventID":"S4W-23652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:46.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:39:20.81","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S4W-20451 and S4W-20452, which received holding answers on 28 April 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:46.603","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299430,"EventID":"S4W-23654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:46.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:16:23.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will receive recommendations from NHS chief executives regarding the future funding of hyperbaric services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government received recommendations on hyperbaric medicine services in Scotland in October 2014.\r\nScottish Ministers have agreed the recommendations, which will see the nationally designated service extended to include independent hyperbaric chambers in Scotland, including Orkney. This will ensure the continued provision of a safe and sustainable hyperbaric service for those who need it.\r\nThe new arrangements are expected to be in place by April 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:46.947","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299431,"EventID":"S4W-23655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T14:18:47.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:16:23.427","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take a decision on the future funding of hyperbaric services in time for any changes to take effect in 2015-16.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23654 on 19 December 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T14:18:47.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299447,"EventID":"S4W-23622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:17.657","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-10T17:47:25.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many whistleblowing incidents have been recorded by the NHS in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"In 2013-14, as part of the newly introduced annual staff governance standard monitoring Framework, we sought assurance from all health boards that local whistleblowing policies are in place and for the number of reported whistleblowing incidents. All boards confirmed that local policies had been implemented. Information provided via the staff governance monitoring returns indicated that a total of 13 whistleblowing cases had been raised. \r\nThe Scottish Government do not centrally hold information on the number of whistleblowing incidents recorded in NHSScotland for previous years.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:17.68","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299448,"EventID":"S4W-23626","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:18.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:15:41.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS staff can be downgraded while a case arising from a whistleblowing incidence is being investigated.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Implementing & Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN was introduced in 2011. The policy makes clear that if a member of staff raises a genuine whistleblowing concern under this policy, they will not be at risk of losing their job or suffering any detriment as a result.\r\nIndividual cases are contractual matters which, by law, remain between the employee and their employer, i.e. individual health boards. Some cases are complex requiring the application of a range of policies. It would be for the relevant health board to consider the specific circumstances of each whistleblowing case and, where necessary, to take appropriate action to protect patient safety.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:18.18","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299449,"EventID":"S4W-23627","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:18.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:15:41.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has carried out of staff trust and confidence in the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line, and what the outcome was.\r\n","AnswerText":"The purpose of the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line is to complement local whistleblowing policies and provide an additional level of support to NHSScotland Staff.\r\nDuring the pilot phase of the line, we engaged with a range of stakeholders, to gather views on the value of the service and to help develop recommendations on its future. This included gathering views from staff, via a wageslip survey, where 67% of respondents agreed that the service was important and that they would consider using it.\r\nPublic Concern at Work, the service providers, carried out a more detailed six month evaluation of the service, which can be accessed at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00446682.pdf \r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:18.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299450,"EventID":"S4W-23628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:19.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:15:41.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to ensure that the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line is independent and impartial.\r\n","AnswerText":"The contract to run the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line (NCAL) was awarded to Public Concern at Work (PCaW) following an open and transparent competitive tendering process. A specific requirement of this contract is “to provide confidential and impartial advice”.\r\nPCaW is an independent whistleblowing charity and legal advice centre set up over 20 years ago to encourage workplace whistleblowing. NCAL provides a bespoke service to NHSScotland staff who have any doubt about how or whether to raise a whistleblowing concern, or worry about doing so. Advice is provided by impartial staff who are legally trained, and where appropriate, concerns can be passed to the health board or appropriate regulatory body on behalf of callers.\r\nThe Scottish Government continue to monitor performance to ensure contract deliverables are met.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:19.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299451,"EventID":"S4W-23630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:19.603","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:15:41.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to NHS staff who want to give evidence in disciplinary cases but whose views might differ from that of their managers.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Management of Employee Conduct PIN Policy sets out the rights and responsibilities of boards, managers, employees and trade unions/professional organisations in respect of employees who are subject to disciplinary action resulting from misconduct relating to their employment.\r\nThe policy sets out the relevant support mechanisms available for staff such as the role of human resources and relevant trade unions/professional organisations in providing support and advice to employees.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:19.63","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299452,"EventID":"S4W-23631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:20.083","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:15:41.923","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff are (a) suspended or (b) on \"gardening leave\" because of  ongoing (i) investigations and (ii) disciplinary cases.\r\n","AnswerText":"As at 16 December 2014 the Scottish Government has been notified of 14 NHS medical staff who are currently suspended. In relation to these medical staff we do not have information on the reason for the suspension.\r\nRelevant statistics for suspensions relating to other staffing groups in NHSScotland are not collected centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:20.11","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299453,"EventID":"S4W-23632","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:20.563","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether fish farms are included among the “barriers to fish migration” that are to be removed.\r\n","AnswerText":"Fish farms are not included among the ‘barriers to fish migration’ that are to be removed. In the answer to question S4W-22462, the “removal of barriers to fish migration” referred to the removal of physical obstacles to fish migration within rivers such as weirs and dams, either by physical removal of the structure or by the installation of a fish pass.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:20.593","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299454,"EventID":"S4W-23633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:21.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether the research that is being conducted includes sea lice.","AnswerText":"The research referred to in the answer to question S4W-22462 is solely to identify the host salmonid species of particular freshwater pearl mussel populations. As such, the research is focused on the freshwater environment and does not examine sea lice or any other marine issues.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:21.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299455,"EventID":"S4W-23634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:21.727","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether the information and guidance arising from the research has been published.","AnswerText":"The research commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage is due to be published in March 2015. It is understood that the research conducted by the Integrated Aquatic Resources Management between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland project has yet to be finalised, although initial results are available here: \r\nhttp://www.loughs-agency.org/ibis/the-project/research/13-conservation-ecology-of-the-freshwater-pearl-mussel\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:21.753","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299456,"EventID":"S4W-23637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:22.25","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17646 by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 September 2013, whether the good practice guide has been published and, if so, what analysis it has carried out on whether it is being adhered to.\r\n","AnswerText":"The proposed good practice guide on Ranunculus management for river managers has not been produced. Following the literature review of herbicides that could be used to control Ranunculus, Scottish Natural Heritage felt that the preparation of a good practice guide was not a high priority at present. The demand for a good practice guide will be revisited once the outcome of on-going work to identify a possible chemical control for Ranunculus is complete.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:22.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299457,"EventID":"S4W-23640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:22.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-15017 and S4W-15018 by Derek Mackay on 28 May 2013, what guidance is being given to (a) the planning authorities, (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (c) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding planning applications that might threaten freshwater pearl mussels.","AnswerText":"Scottish Planning Policy is the Scottish Government’s policy on how nationally important land use planning matters should be addressed across the country. As a statement of ministers’ priorities, we expect it to carry significant weight in the preparation of development plans and to be a material consideration in decisions on planning applications.\r\nThe policy states: The presence (or potential presence) of a legally protected species is an important consideration in decisions on planning applications. If there is evidence to suggest that a protected species is present on site or may be affected by a proposed development, steps must be taken to establish their presence. The level of protection afforded by legislation must be factored into the planning and design of the development and any impacts must be fully considered prior to the determination of the application. Certain activities – for example those involving European Protected Species as specified in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and wild birds, protected animals and plants under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – may only be undertaken under licence. Following the introduction of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, Scottish Natural Heritage is now responsible for the majority of wildlife licensing in Scotland.\r\nScottish Natural Heritage (SNH) guidance referred to in the answer to question S4W-14153 on 1 May 2013 remains relevant.\r\nMore recently, the Guide to Hydropower Construction Best Practice by SNH, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Renewables published in October 2014 is also relevant, particularly sections 2 and 3:\r\nhttp://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A1443033.pdf.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:22.737","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299458,"EventID":"S4W-23641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:23.177","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many freshwater pearl mussel reports have been recorded in the Environmental Impact Register in each year since 2006.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not aware of the Environmental Impact Register.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:23.203","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299459,"EventID":"S4W-23642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:23.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, what information it has on where the illegally-acquired freshwater pearls are sold; what action the police has taken to tackle such sales; how many cases have been reported to the Crown Office, and how many subsequent (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Wildlife Crime Unit carried out an operation to look at the trade in freshwater pearls. This operation confirmed that pearl fishers do not appear to be selling illegally taken pearls to jewellery outlets within the UK.\r\nHistorically, freshwater pearl markets existed in Paris and South America. Alerts to the UK Border Force to report back individuals carrying pearls out of the UK on these routes failed to confirm that these markets still exist. Auctioneers have advised Police Scotland that Scottish freshwater pearls are currently undervalued (with salt water pearls commanding the world markets) and that items of historic Scottish pearl jewellery, thought to be worth thousands of pounds, are only commanding values in the hundreds of pounds. It is therefore considered that pearl fishers are keeping illegally taken pearls for themselves and that no markets currently exist.\r\nIn light of the above, no actionable intelligence has yet been raised to activate enforcement action with regard to illegal pearl markets and sales. However, work continues to identify possible pearl fishers where reports are received by Police Scotland.\r\nThe Crown Office has received no reports involving offences under S9(5)(a) and S9(5)(b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, concerning freshwater pearl mussels, since 28 May 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:23.673","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299460,"EventID":"S4W-23645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:24.137","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14154 by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 May 2013, what further reintroduction of freshwater pearl mussel beds has been carried out. ","AnswerText":"Since the response to question S4W-14154 on 2 May 2013, there have been no further reintroductions of freshwater pearl mussels in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage remains unclear why some previous reintroductions have been unsuccessful and intend to investigate this issue in 2015. Since 2011, when the last reintroduction took place, efforts have been focused on protecting and restoring existing freshwater pearl mussel populations, particularly through partnership projects such as ‘Pearls in Peril’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:24.153","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299461,"EventID":"S4W-23646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:24.57","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14153 by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 May 2013, what plans there are to hold further \"sharing good practice\" events aimed at regulators and developers of hydro electric schemes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The programme of ‘Sharing Good Practice’ events organised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for 2015 is still to be finalised. However, SNH plan to hold an event in March 2015 focused on the monitoring and enforcement of conditions associated with renewable energy schemes. This will be aimed at regulators and developers of onshore renewable energy schemes, including hydro electric schemes. While not specific to freshwater pearl mussels, it is intended that improving awareness about the importance of both monitoring and enforcing planning and other conditions that are in place to protect the environment will lead to a reduced risk of damage to the water environment and freshwater pearl mussels.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:24.597","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299462,"EventID":"S4W-23647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:25.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14153 by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 May 2013, whether the good practice guidance has been published and, if so, what sanctions can be imposed on those who damage freshwater pearl mussels because they have not followed it.\r\n","AnswerText":"The good practice guidance on Constructed tracks in the Scottish uplands was published in June 2013 and is available here:\r\nhttp://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=513\r\nThe sanctions that could be imposed on those who damage freshwater pearl mussels because they have not followed the guidance will vary depending on the circumstances. However, sanctions associated with damaging freshwater pearl mussels and/or causing pollution may be the most serious and could include prosecution under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 or the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. Other sanctions may include enforcement action by a planning authority for breach of conditions in a planning permission. Enforcement action could also be taken, should the damage be particularly severe, under the Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:25.07","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299463,"EventID":"S4W-23648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:25.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S4W-14151 and S4W-14155 by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 April 2013, how many of the 72 suspected criminal incidents were reported as wildlife crime and, in light of only two of the incidents being reported to the Crown Office, whether it considers this reflects that sufficient resources are being allocated to dealing with the issue, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is unknown how many of the 72 suspected criminal incidents were reported as wildlife crime over the past 14 years. This statistic was sourced from the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) when the unit recorded incident data. Since 2012, the unit has recorded intelligence logs only to reflect their core business; the police continue to record incident data and crimes.\r\nPrior to the start of Scottish Natural Heritage’s 2013-14 freshwater pearl mussel survey, guidelines were established for the surveyors to report incidents of pearl mussel kills to Police Scotland and the NWCU. In addition, processes are in place with Scottish Natural Heritage and the ‘Pearls in Peril’ project to report all pearl mussel kills to Police Scotland and the NWCU.\r\nProcesses are also in place through the Scottish Crime Recording Standard for Police Scotland to accurately capture and record reported incidents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:25.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299464,"EventID":"S4W-23653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:26.463","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T10:40:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17646 by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 September 2013, whether the review of literature on use of herbicide for the control of ranunculus has been completed and, if so, what the outcome was.\r\n","AnswerText":"The literature review on the use of herbicide to control aquatic plants, including ranunculus in rivers, was commissioned by the Spey Fishery Board. The Spey Fishery Board has published the review on their website: \r\nhttp://www.speyfisheryboard.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/12/412815-Control-of-Ranunculus-on-the-Rivers-Spey-Dee-and-Don_FINALv2.pdf.\r\nThe review concluded that no chemical solution currently exists that is specifically recommended for the control of submerged aquatic plants such as ranunculus.\r\nThe review did identify a product that appears to offer some potential to treat ranunculus in rivers. The Dee, Don and Spey District Salmon Fishery Boards collaborated and conducted a trial during summer 2014 in the River Don to test the effectiveness of the product. The results of the trial are unknown at present. Once the results become available, they will help determine if there is value in undertaking further experimental and field trials.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:26.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299465,"EventID":"S4W-23656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:26.98","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:19:23.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what help it has provided to each local authority to ensure that all bus and train services are accessible to wheelchair users.","AnswerText":"The primary responsibility for ensuring bus and train services are accessible rests with the operators of such services.\r\nLegislation governing technical standards for buses and the obligations of bus operators in relation to disability is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) require new vehicles to have low floor boarding devices and state that any regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with no less than one wheelchair space. All buses carrying more than 22 passengers and used on local services are required to be fully PSVAR compliant by 2015, 2016 and 2017.\r\nLocal authorities have powers to support bus services to meet local needs where the market is not doing so on a commercial basis and are also primarily responsible for the provision of infrastructure such as bus stops and bus stations. Funding for this comes from their general funding settlement.\r\nSimilarly, there is a requirement for all mainline trains to be accessible by 2020.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:27.003","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299466,"EventID":"S4W-23657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:27.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:19:23.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that wheelchair users are given priority in designated wheelchair-user bays on all bus and train services.\r\n","AnswerText":"Legislation governing the obligations of bus and train operators in relation to disability has not been devolved to Scottish Ministers and remains a matter that is reserved to the UK Government.\r\nThe Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers Regulations 2002, place specific obligations on drivers, including allowing a wheelchair user to board a bus where there is an unoccupied wheelchair space, unless the wheelchair is too large or otherwise unsuitable or the carrying capacity of the vehicle would then be exceeded. Where other able-bodied passengers are occupying the wheelchair space, the driver should ask them to move. Passengers are not compelled to move in response to such a request.\r\nThe Technical Specification for Interoperability: Persons with Reduced Mobility requires train operators to provide manual wheelchair spaces on trains and ensure that these can be reserved in advance. Where an advance reservation has been made, any unauthorised person occupying that space will be compelled to vacate it. If however if no reservation has been made, whilst any able-bodied persons occupying the space will be asked to move, they are not compelled to move in response to such a request.\r\nWe are not aware of any plans for the UK Government to change these regulations. The Scottish Government will consider with operators and disability groups whether there is more that could be done within existing legislation to encourage able-bodied passengers to act responsibly when requested to make way for a wheelchair-using passenger.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:27.573","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299467,"EventID":"S4W-23658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:27.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:19:23.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) has provided and (b) will provide information to the public regarding public transport etiquette in relation to disabled people.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not currently provide information to the public regarding public transport etiquette in relation to disabled people. Encouraging good behaviour on buses is primarily a matter for operators, including through their conditions of carriage.\r\nThe Scottish Government will continue to consider with operators and disability groups whether more could usefully be done regarding attitudes and behaviour towards disabled bus users.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:27.893","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299468,"EventID":"S4W-23659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:28.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:19:23.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a system limiting styles and sizes of buggies and mobility scooters on buses and trains.","AnswerText":"Legislation governing the obligations of bus and train operators in relation to disability has not been devolved to Scottish Ministers and remains a matter that is reserved to the UK Government.\r\nAny wheelchair, mobility scooter or buggy larger than the reference wheelchair dimensions in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 may be too large to travel safely in the allocated space. In these circumstances, passengers should contact bus operators before travelling to confirm their policy in this respect as permission to board may be refused if the operator or driver considers there may be a risk to health and safety.\r\nA number of major bus operators have signed up to a code of practice published by the Confederation of Passenger Transport which requires them on request to assess mobility scooter users and their vehicles and issue a photo ID providing a permit to travel if the scooter meets standard requirements in the code.\r\nThe Technical Specification for Interoperability: Persons with Reduced Mobility requires train operators to provide manual wheelchair spaces on trains large enough to accommodate a reference wheelchair, the maximum dimensions of which, including the occupant are 1200mm long, 700mm wide and 1350mm high.\r\nTrain operators are not required to carry class two electrically powered motability scooters, but some, including ScotRail do, provided these are not excessively large or heavy. Details are provided on request to ScotRail.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:28.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299469,"EventID":"S4W-23660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:28.477","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T11:19:23.803","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an authorisation system for disabled people or people with a disabled baby allowing them to take non-folding buggies on buses.\r\n","AnswerText":"Legislation governing technical standards for buses and the obligations of bus operators in relation to disability is reserved to the UK Parliament. The UK Government has no plans for changes to legislation to introduce such an authorisation system.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:28.523","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299470,"EventID":"S4W-23661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:28.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T14:48:38.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23410 by Fiona Hyslop on 11 December 2014, whether it will nonetheless carry out an equality impact assessment of the decision of Historic Scotland not to schedule the Tinkers’ Heart as a monument of national importance, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"As I explained previously, equality impact assessment is applied to new or revised plans, policies and strategies, but is not normally applied to individual operational decisions, such as which monuments and structures to designate.\r\nHowever, the Chief Executive of Historic Scotland has undertaken to consider this matter further and I will offer an update in due course.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:28.827","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299471,"EventID":"S4W-23662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:29.087","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T14:48:38.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to calculate the figures set out in its document, Scotland Government Travel Strategy 2011-2016, and how much it would cost to collate similar information for travel by bicycle.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government Travel Strategy 2011-2016 document does not hold figures itself. The cost of the document’s production will therefore be the staff hours taken to draft it. It is therefore not possible to put a cost on the collation of similar information for travel by bicycle.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:29.113","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299472,"EventID":"S4W-23663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:29.37","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T14:48:38.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many bicycles and what (b) cycling training it provides for (i) ministers and (ii) its staff. \r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government runs a salary sacrifice scheme for staff to purchase bikes to commute to work. We also offer bicycle maintenance appointments free of charge to staff in our main buildings twice a year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:29.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299473,"EventID":"S4W-23665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:29.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T14:48:38.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in achieving its aspiration set out in A More Active Scotland: Building a Legacy from the Commonwealth Games to become “an exemplary employer in encouraging staff to be more physically active” and how it measures this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to the vision of A More Active Scotland in ensuring that the people of Scotland, including Scottish Government employees, will enjoy more active and healthier lives.\r\nWe have created a physical activity hub that provides guidance, links and advice about free healthy living opportunities, sports and fitness clubs, active volunteering, active travel, Scottish Government physical activity policies, cycle and walking routes and more. It also sets out information about organised challenges across all ability levels which employees can consider getting involved in.\r\nThe Scottish Government Sports and Social Association (SGSSA) and court sport are responsible for the promotion and development of recreational, sporting and social facilities and activities for employees and retired employees of the Scottish Government and its agencies, providing access to a range of workplace based facilities including workplace gymnasiums, swimming pool and instructor led classes to increase levels of personal activity and fitness.\r\nAs part of our employee assistance, contract staff have access to a Help Health and Wellbeing Service – a unique web-based health management resource that offers a combination of personally tailored programmes and general health information and support, including personal training programmes, weight management planning, healthy eating and nutritional advice, stress management solutions and a general advice centre.\r\nIn addition, we participate in and promote initiatives and schemes such as Fit in ’14, Physical Activity Awareness Week, Walk to Work Week and Cycle 2 Work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:29.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299474,"EventID":"S4W-23666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:29.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T14:48:38.57","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the level of active travel carried out by its staff when travelling to and from work.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government carried out a staff travel survey in 2012. The survey results can be viewed online:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/01/2595\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:29.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299475,"EventID":"S4W-23667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2134,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":82,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-11T16:52:30.167","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T15:34:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has as to the number and adequacy of fire risk assessments in NHS premises in Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"NHS Lanarkshire uses the NHS Scotland Estates Asset Management System (EAMS) for recording all fire risk assessments, as mandated by the Scottish Government and in accordance with NHS Scotland Fire Safety Policy CEL 11 (2011).\r\nThe current total number of fire risk assessments covering NHS Lanarkshire’s estate is 392, all of which are completed and entered into EAMS.\r\nThe total number of fire risk assessments is subject to change as new premises are acquired, old premises disposed of, and operational changes are made within existing premises.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-08T16:52:30.19","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299480,"EventID":"S4W-23635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:30.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22147 by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 August 2014, in order to avoid infraction proceedings, what further measures it plans to introduce to reverse the deteriorating trend and status of freshwater pearl mussels in the River Spey, which was designated with EU special area of conservation status in 2004.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) recently published the results of its most recent condition assessment of the freshwater pearl mussel feature in the River Spey Special Area of Conservation. The Report of Site Condition Monitoring survey of freshwater pearl mussels in the River Spey during 2013 and 2014 is available via the following weblink: http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A1478200.pdf.\r\nThe report contains a number of recommendations which SNH will progress through the Spey Catchment Initiative.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:30.45","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299481,"EventID":"S4W-23636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:30.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20170 by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 March 2014, given the proposed increased abstraction of water from the River Spey for housing developments, whether it will publish the scientific evidence stating that there will be \"no significant adverse impact\" on freshwater pearl mussels.\r\n","AnswerText":"All applications are assessed using criteria agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage. In determining the River Spey abstraction application, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, using the agreed criteria, undertook a hydrological assessment of the potential impact on flows in the River Spey. This assessment concluded that the proposal would not cause a breach of ‘good’ river flow standards within the River Spey and would not be likely to have a significant adverse impact on the water environment or its species.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:30.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299482,"EventID":"S4W-23643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:31.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, what the outcome of the survey was and what subsequent action has been taken by the police, including how many additional cases were reported to the Crown Office.\r\n","AnswerText":"The national survey that has been underway since 2013 is due to report by the end of March 2015, with the outcomes published later in the year.\r\nDuring the survey a number of potential incidents were reported to Police Scotland, which have been, or are being, investigated. An intelligence-led operation regarding pearl fishers also took place in the River Spey in July 2014, supported by local water bailiffs and Scottish Natural Heritage. No incidents were identified, but it was the first joint operation undertaken for freshwater pearl mussels and has laid the foundations for further such operations.\r\nOne of the outcomes of the national survey relating to the River Spey, was published ahead of schedule on 12 December 2014:\r\nhttp://snh.presscentre.com/News-Releases/Action-to-create-better-conditions-for-freshwater-pearl-mussels-153.aspx). This survey found wildlife crime is one amongst several pressures that are contributing to the local decline in pearl mussel numbers.\r\nThe Crown Office has received no reports concerning relevant offences in respect of freshwater pearl mussels since 28 May 2013.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:31.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299483,"EventID":"S4W-23644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:31.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T09:21:38.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, in light of the freshwater pearl mussel being considered one of the world's most endangered species and numbers in the River Spey and other Scottish rivers deteriorating, whether it considers that Scottish Natural Heritage's decision to employ one staff member to cover the whole country for three years offers adequate protection, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The staff member referred to in the question is working for the ‘Pearls in Peril’ (PIP) project. Although Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is leading the project, the person is employed by the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland, who are a key partner in this project. SNH supports work to address wildlife crime affecting freshwater pearl mussels in many other ways. Examples include providing staff to support the work of the priority delivery group for freshwater pearl mussel and staff support for police investigating wildlife crimes affecting freshwater pearl mussels (e.g. SNH employs a Wildlife Crime Project Officer whose work includes freshwater pearl mussels, and operational and advisory staff members also support police investigations). SNH also provides grant funds to the National Wildlife Crime Unit to employ a Scottish Investigative Support Officer, who prioritises freshwater pearl mussel crime.\r\nSNH and other organisations also devote considerable resources to protecting and restoring the status of freshwater pearl mussels by means other than tackling wildlife crime. Within the PIP project, the bulk of the £3.5 million budget is spent on measures such as reducing diffuse pollution, improving and creating riparian woodlands and restoring high quality river habitat to benefit freshwater pearl mussels. SNH and other organisations, including Forest Enterprise Scotland, are also surveying a range of watercourses across Scotland to better understand and target conservation measures. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency have also used their Water Environment Fund to fund river restoration projects such as the removal of dams, that will help restore this critically endangered species.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:31.807","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299484,"EventID":"S4W-23668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:32.213","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T16:58:51.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community hospitals.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published the refreshed community hospital strategy in April 2012. This included a commitment that we would ‘support NHS Education for Scotland to develop a national network to facilitate education, sharing of good practice, exchange of knowledge and clinical skills to provide an improvement forum’.\r\nTo meet this commitment, in 2012 we provided funding to NHS Education Services to establish the Community Hospitals Improvement Network.\r\nThe network supports NHS boards and community hospital staff to develop the skills and processes required to provide joined up care in community hospitals. They are currently working on developing the use and spread of telemedicine, improvements in data collection, and a range of dementia training days for hospital staff.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:32.243","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299485,"EventID":"S4W-23669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":133,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:32.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T16:58:51.66","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many community hospitals have closed in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:32.65","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299486,"EventID":"S4W-23672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:32.883","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T17:50:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government which of the key actions and recommendations in the National Review of Town Centres External Advisory Group Report it will not adopt and for what reason.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published the Town Centre Action Plan as a direct response to the External Advisory Group (EAG) report. The action plan format reflects that of the EAG report including the introduction of an underpinning ‘Town Centre First’ principle and it sets out the range of cross-government activities under each of the six key themes, which that group established.\r\nFor solutions outlined in the EAG report which are not for central government to undertake directly, we continue to invite those in the wider public, private and community sectors to discuss their ideas and thoughts on their own contribution in taking forward the plan.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:32.9","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299487,"EventID":"S4W-23676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:33.1","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T11:06:54.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial engagements have taken place in the (a) Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and (b) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency since May 2007.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information relating to ministerial engagements since May 2007 in the constituencies of Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (Kilmarnock and Loudoun prior to May 2011) and Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley are in the following table.\r\nDetails of all ministerial engagements are proactively published on the Scottish Government website at:\r\nhttp:--www.Scotland.gov.uk-About-People-14944-Events-Engagements-MinisterialEngagements\r\nDate\r\nTitle\r\nEngagement\r\nConstituency\r\n10-07-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nEast Ayrshire area visit\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n10-07-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nVisit to North West Kilmarnock Area Centre\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n10-07-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nSchool visit and announcement of free school meals\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n18-07-2007\r\nCabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth\r\nLocal authority seminar \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n25-07-2007\r\nCabinet Secretary for Justice\r\nNorth West Youth Project\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n28-08-2007\r\nMinister for Schools and Skills\r\nMeet director and convenor\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n31-08-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nMeeting with Kay Gilmour, East Ayrshire Council\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n21-09-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nOpening of Daldorch senior campus\r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n24-11-2007\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nAttendance at Kilmarnock v Motherwell match\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n21-01-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nVisit to Daldorch House School\r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n23-01-2008\r\nFirst Minister\r\nAndrew Barclay Railway Heritage Centre\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n25-01-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nMore Choices, More Chances visit, Kilmarnock College\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n25-01-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nMeeting with East Ayrshire Council\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n25-01-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nFormal opening of Mauchline Primary School\r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n28-01-2008\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nMeeting with Councillor Douglas Reid\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n01-02-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nVisit to Crosshouse Primary School re free school meals\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n25-02-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nVisit to PEACE childcare facility \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n26-02-2008\r\nMinister for Environment\r\nOpening of recycle unit\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n29-02-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nThe Lighthouse Foundation \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n06-03-2008\r\nMinister for Community Safety\r\nVisit to Girvan Academy\r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n06-03-2008\r\nMinister for Community Safety\r\nVisit to Grange Academy\r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n20-03-2008\r\nMinister for Public Health\r\nNHS board allocations for alcohol services \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n01-05-2008\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nMeeting at Dumfries House \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n01-05-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nMeeting with East Ayrshire Council \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n01-05-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nLaunch of rural schools consultation \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n09-05-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nAttendance at Girvan horizons conference \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n19-05-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nVisit to Doon Academy \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n19-05-2008\r\nCabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning\r\nVisit to Doon Academy \r\nCarrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley\r\n31-05-2008\r\nMinister for Children and Early Years\r\nLaunch of Story of Art in South West Scotland \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n01-06-2008\r\nMinister for Communities and Sport\r\nScottish Citylink Junior Cup Final \r\nKilmarnock and Loudoun\r\n02-06-2008\r\nCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing\r\nSenior charge nurse and equalities indicator \r\nKilmarnoc","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:33.117","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299488,"EventID":"S4W-23677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5057,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:33.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T11:06:54.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial engagements are planned for the (a) Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley and (b) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency from 15 December 2014 to 31 March 2015.\r\n","AnswerText":"Ministers intend to carry out numerous official visits across Scotland in the coming months. Local MSPs, including regional list members, are informed in advance of visits by ministers to their area.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:33.397","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299489,"EventID":"S4W-23678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5556,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":111,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:33.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T11:13:42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated an additional £10 million next year for cycling and walking infrastructure as announced in the budget speech on 9 October 2014 (Official Report, c. 43) or £5 million as maintained by Spoke, the Lothian Cycling Campaign.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have allocated an additional £10 million in 2015-16 to support the delivery of improved cycling and walking infrastructure, and to support its use and help people make smarter travel choices.\r\nWe will make further announcements on this funding in due course and have written to Spokes confirming the 2015-16 budget for cycling and walking.\r\n\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:33.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299490,"EventID":"S4W-23679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T14:20:33.867","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T11:50:31.953","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, until a decision is made about their future, whether it will give an assurance that the two fields that it plans to dispose of at its farm at Knocknagael, Inverness will remain in agricultural use.","AnswerText":"Discussions are on-going as to the future of this land and until such time as a decision is made, the two fields in question will remain in agricultural use.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T14:20:33.88","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299491,"EventID":"S4W-23680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-12T15:32:36.51","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T14:44:20.257","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its policies on pets and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"As noted in response to parliamentary question S4W-21706 on 24 June 2014, the Scottish Government has begun an initial review of existing companion animal welfare legislation and intends to develop long-term options for further work in this area.\r\nWhile the current priority on companion animals is responsible dog ownership, a wider review of Scottish Government policies on pet legislation will be undertaken in due course with assistance from stakeholders. We will then consider how best to proceed; any new or revised legislation would need to be preceded by full public consultation.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-09T15:32:36.79","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299492,"EventID":"S4W-23681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:45.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T14:42:58","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Ambulance Service not responding to correspondence sent by an MSP on 3 October, 4 November and 1 December 2014 about patient transport services in the Killin area.","AnswerText":"It is understood that the correspondence referred to was addressed to 23 Tipperlinn Road, Edinburgh EH10 5UU. The Scottish Ambulance Service relocated to South Gyle Square, 1 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9EB on 9 December 2011. Mail was being redirected to the new premises up until the end of December 2012.\r\nI understand the Scottish Ambulance Service have been in touch with your office directly regarding this and are in the process of investigating your concerns. They will provide you with a full reply, and I have asked to be kept informed of this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:45.95","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299493,"EventID":"S4W-23682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:46.387","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T16:37:56.403","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants belong to its Defence Policy Unit and what its remit is.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government Defence Policy Unit was established in June 2011. Its remit is to provide support to ministers, to the Armed Forces, veterans and our communities across a range of defence activity in Scotland. This includes: ensuring that Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans in Scotland can access inclusive, quality services as outlined in the Scottish Government’s Our Commitments paper; supporting the relationship between defence bases and the communities that host them; liaising with the UK Government and the Armed Forces on defence issues and impacts in Scotland; and advising ministers on relevant aspects of defence issues.\r\nThe unit currently comprises seven officials, who report mainly to me, in line with my ministerial responsibility for Armed Forces and veterans’ issues. In addition, I have appointed a Veterans Commissioner who has an independent role of improving outcomes for veterans in Scotland, by engaging with, listening to and acting on the experience of veterans, to help public services focus on veterans’ experience of their service provision and improve where possible.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:46.403","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299494,"EventID":"S4W-23683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:46.653","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-12T16:05:02","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no date has yet been set for the introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs and when such a decision will be taken.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is carefully considering all of the views expressed through the consultation and will seek to announce our proposed next steps early in 2016.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:46.67","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299495,"EventID":"S4W-23684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:47.043","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much of its international development budget is spent on HIV treatment and education programmes.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government's international development budget does not provide funding for any projects whose sole function is to deliver HIV education/awareness raising. The budget does fund projects which contain an element of HIV education/awareness raising as part of their overall remit.\r\nAn example is the Karonga Girls and Boys Empowerment Project in Malawi, to which the Scottish Government is contributing nearly £400,000. The project addresses issues that can have a wide range of negative impacts, including exacerbation of problems related to HIV and AIDS. These include: harmful cultural practices; low household income; and increased exposure to HIV.\r\nFunding for this and other projects is provided for the projects in their entirety and specific amounts are not allocated to the HIV education/awareness raising aspects. It is therefore not possible to calculate the spend on this element of each project.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:47.06","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299496,"EventID":"S4W-23685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:47.353","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the interim results of the PROUD Study's report on pre-exposure prophylaxis.\r\n","AnswerText":"Whilst the interim results of the PROUD study of pre-exposure prophylaxis are encouraging, we should await the full results before taking any decisions. Once the full results are available we will work with the NHS and other interested stakeholders to consider our approach to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of a package of HIV prevention interventions. Any decisions on PrEP will be informed by recommendations from the British HIV Association, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the UK Expert Advisory Group on AIDS.\r\nOur current policy on PrEP reflects the joint position statement, issued by British HIV Association/British Association for Sexual Health and HIV on pre-exposure prophylaxis in the UK in 2012 which states that “ad hoc prescribing is avoided, and that PrEP is only prescribed in the context of a clinical research study in the UK”.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:47.37","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299497,"EventID":"S4W-23686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:47.667","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of pre-exposure prophylaxis will be carried out prior to its refresh of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.\r\n","AnswerText":"Development of the refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is currently in its early stages and we are consulting with a variety of stakeholders. The refreshed framework will be published in summer 2015 but no decisions on any specific recommendations have yet been made.\r\nAny decisions specifically relating to pre-exposure prophylaxis will be based on recommendations from the British HIV Association, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the UK Expert Advisory Group on AIDS.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:47.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299498,"EventID":"S4W-23687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:47.947","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on pre-exposure prophylaxis being used as a method of HIV prevention.\r\n","AnswerText":"Scottish Government policy reflects the joint position statement, issued by British HIV Association/British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, on pre-exposure prophylaxis in the UK. This statement recommends that ‘ad hoc prescribing is avoided, and that pre-exposure prophylaxis is only prescribed in the context of a clinical research study in the UK’.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:47.963","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299499,"EventID":"S4W-23688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:48.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what role it considers sex worker-led organisations should have in discussions about the (a) development and (b) implementation of its policy toward (i) sex work and (ii) tackling violence against women.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers that it is important that those directly affected by a policy, and the organisations which represent them, are given an opportunity to contribute to its development and implementation. Consultation is an essential and important aspect of how the Scottish Government develops policy.\r\nIn general, consultation exercises aim to provide opportunities for all those who wish to express their opinions on a proposed area of work to do so in ways which will inform and enhance that work.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:48.277","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299500,"EventID":"S4W-23689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T14:11:48.65","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-14T20:47:15","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the views of sex workers should be taken into account by the organisations that provide services to support them.\r\n","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the organisations in question. However, in general terms, the Scottish Government considers that it is important that the views of service users are considered by the organisations which provide services and support to them.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T14:11:48.667","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299513,"EventID":"S4T-00877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:58:36.7","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T11:40:39","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on devolving the power to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Scottish parliamentary elections.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:58:36.733","MeetingDate":"2014-12-16T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299514,"EventID":"S4T-00878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":9,"MSPID":5059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":16,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:58:36.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T11:51:01.497","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent HomeLet report, which indicated that the average monthly rent in Scotland has risen by nearly 12% in the last year.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:58:36.997","MeetingDate":"2014-12-16T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299515,"EventID":"S4F-02478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":5009,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:48.56","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-11T15:25:47.26","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:48.683","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299516,"EventID":"S4F-02480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":136,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:49.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T09:08:25","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on a judicial inquiry being held regarding any part that Scotland might have had in respect of possible UK involvement with rendition flights at Scottish airports.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:49.23","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299517,"EventID":"S4F-02481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":4976,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:49.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T09:20:51.597","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister when she will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:49.73","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299518,"EventID":"S4F-02483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3812,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:50.29","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T09:28:39.433","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what engagements she has planned for the rest of the day.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:50.323","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299519,"EventID":"S4F-02486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:51.243","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T10:30:07.917","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the Ministry of Defence regarding the closure of the Kinloss rescue coordination centre.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:51.243","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299520,"EventID":"S4F-02497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T12:57:54.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T11:53:51.587","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the agreement that was reached at the climate change talks in Lima.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T12:57:54.58","MeetingDate":"2014-12-18T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299521,"EventID":"S4W-23690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T16:44:41.953","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T14:23:13.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate reports of delays at NHS Lanarkshire in lignocaine infusion treatments for patients with chronic pain.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials have asked NHS Lanarkshire to investigate these reports from patients, identify any chronic pain service sustainability issues and to set out their plans for resolving them. The board were also asked to make direct contact with the individual patients who had raised concerns.\r\nThe board has subsequently advised that they have been experiencing challenges with their chronic pain service and have struggled to meet the standards set out in the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain. However, they have recently established three additional treatment sessions to address the issue of patients experiencing delays in receiving their lignocaine infusions, clearing the immediate backlog.\r\nFurther, an internal improvement group has been set up to undertake a fundamental review of the chronic pain service. The first scoping meeting took place on 18 December 2014 with the intention to invite chronic pain service users to participate in this work going forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T16:44:42.05","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299522,"EventID":"S4W-23691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T16:44:42.61","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T14:23:13.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate staffing levels in NHS Lanarkshire's chronic pain services and a reported shortage of nurses trained to administer lignocaine infusions.","AnswerText":"It is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire to plan and deliver services to meet the needs of their resident population, including their workforce requirements.\r\nI am advised that the lignocaine infusion service in NHS Lanarkshire is normally provided by two consultants and one nurse. In addition, two physician assistants have been engaged to help provide the service.\r\nThe training of nursing staff to support the service in the day unit (and the existing specialist chronic pain nurse) is currently taking place. The Scottish Government has also been assured that staffing requirements will be considered as part of the board’s full chronic pain service review.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T16:44:42.637","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299523,"EventID":"S4W-23692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T16:44:43.13","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T14:23:13.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients of NHS Lanarkshire's chronic pain services are dependent on lignocaine infusion treatment and what delays there are in receiving this treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"I have been advised that there are currently 30 patients receiving repeat lignocaine treatment in NHS Lanarkshire.\r\nThe board recognises that they have been experiencing challenges with their chronic pain service, including the delivery of lignocaine treatment in individual cases. However, they have recently established three additional treatment sessions to address the issue of patients experiencing delays in receiving their lignocaine infusions, clearing the immediate backlog.\r\nFurther, an internal improvement group has been set up to undertake a fundamental review of the chronic pain service. The first scoping meeting took place on 18 December 2014 with the intention to invite chronic pain service users to participate in this work going forward.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T16:44:43.157","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299524,"EventID":"S4W-23693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T16:44:43.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T14:23:13.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of complaints of delays during the last three years, what steps NHS Lanarkshire has taken to prevent delays in lignocaine infusion treatment at chronic pain clinics.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23690 on 6 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T16:44:43.69","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299525,"EventID":"S4W-23694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-15T16:44:44.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T14:23:13.847","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding delays at chronic pain clinics for patients receiving lignocaine infusion treatments to relieve long-term pain.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects that all patients have prompt access to the full range of services and treatment that they require from NHSScotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-12T16:44:44.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299531,"EventID":"S4W-23695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4951,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T09:36:24.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T09:25:34","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of spectator safety at motor sport events, which was set up following the incidents at the 2014 Jim Clark Rally.\r\n","AnswerText":"The review group on motor sport event safety began work in June 2014 following the tragic deaths of three people and injuries to several others at the Jim Clark Rally in 2014. A spectator had also been killed and another injured at the Highland Snowman Rally the previous year.\r\nThe group was established by the Scottish Government to ‘Examine safety, specifically spectator safety, at motor sport events in Scotland and make recommendations to improve safety for future events.’\r\nThe group is chaired by the Scottish Government and has a wide membership including representatives of the Motor Sports Association (MSA), Scottish Auto Cycle Union, Police Scotland, the Health & Safety Executive and a local authority. The group has been advised by Sir Jackie Stewart.\r\nThe group has not considered the particular circumstances of the accidents at the Jim Clark and Highland Snowman rallies as these are subject to open investigations by Police Scotland, the Health & Safety Executive and the Crown Office.\r\nThe immediate priority was to consider safety at multi-venue stage rallies. This is the main type of rally in Scotland and uses linked sections of forest or public road covering many miles. Only two rallies in Scotland currently use public roads – the Jim Clark Rally and the Mull Rally. There are a number of forest rallies including the nine Scottish Championship events. Interim recommendations were announced in October 2014 prior to the Mull Rally. The group has now submitted final recommendations on multi-venue stage rallies. \r\nThe group will consider other areas of two, three and four wheeled motor sport early this year.\r\nI am delighted with this important work by the review group. Key proposals, such as the introduction of an MSA licensing scheme and training for marshals, a press accreditation scheme, the liaison between rally organisers and Police Scotland at local level and the tightening up of measures such as the use of safety plans, spectator safety officers and course cars represents a significant package and a step forward in reducing the risks to spectators.\r\nWe want to see motorsports continue in Scotland in as safe a manner as possible so that the many people who enjoy this sport can continue to do so. We do not want to deter people from volunteering to marshal at rallies – it is clear that the sport will continue to be dependent on the significant input of dedicated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. However, we need to ensure that there is an appropriate level of regulation by the sport’s governing body, the MSA, of the contribution of those volunteers.\r\nThe Scottish Government is fully committed to working with the MSA going forward on the transitional and full implementation of the review group’s recommendations in a sensible and proportionate way. The Scottish Government is grateful for their co-operation and for the input of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to the review. \r\nI am also very grateful to all members of the group who have delivered these recommendations in a very short timescale, reflecting the urgency we attach to improving spectator safety.\r\nIt is highly appropriate that our initiative on spectator safety in Scotland should set a standard that can be followed by others given the high level contribution Scotland has made to motorsports including our champions across a number of motorsports disciplines such as Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Dario Franchitti, Allan McNish, David Coulthard, Gordon Shedden and, Steve Hislop and, in rallying, Colin McRae, his father Jimmy McRae, Robert Reid, Louise Aitken-Walker and David Bogie among others. We want to ensure that the sport continues to develop young talent but matched by a responsible and forward-thinking approach to spectator safety.\r\nI expect the work of the group to provide a model that can be further discussed at international level with the FIA.\r\nA short statement from the review group appears below and the full set of recommendations ","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T09:36:25.047","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299532,"EventID":"S4W-23696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T10:29:57.707","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T10:06:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what messages the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform took to the international community at the recent United Nations climate conference in Lima.\r\n","AnswerText":"I attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 20th session of the Conference of the Parties in Lima last week to help influence stronger global commitment to action by sharing Scotland’s ambition on climate change and our championing of climate justice, as well as participating in discussions on the importance of non-state actors, human rights and gender issues. \r\nI took the message that Scotland is ready to play its part in delivering an ambitious climate change treaty. We have already unilaterally set challenging targets both pre and post-2020, with a world-leading target of at least a 42% emissions cut by 2020 and 58% by 2027 in line with what the climate science tells us we will have to do. Scotland’s emissions in 2012 were 26.4% lower than the 1990 baseline and we generated 46.6% equivalent of our gross electricity consumption from renewables in 2013. Our solid progress has been praised by our independent assessors the Committee on Climate Change. We have committed almost £1 billion of Scottish Government funding over the next two years for climate change action. Scotland is putting human rights at the heart of climate change action, championing climate justice and building trust between developed and developing countries through our innovative Climate Justice Fund which is supporting some of the poorest and most climate vulnerable people in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Rwanda.\r\nThe Lima Call for Climate Action has kept the international negotiations moving forward, although with important issues, principally the overall level of global ambition, yet to be resolved. Our Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change will meet in 2015 to discuss our actions to support delivery of our ambitious climate change goals. We know our targets are not easy but they are at the level the international community needs to match if the new climate treaty in Paris in 2015 is to stand a good chance of limiting global temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees Celsius.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T10:29:57.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299558,"EventID":"S4W-23697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:19.237","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T10:39:20.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in the Daily Record on 8 December 2014 that, in the last five years, almost 2,500 people in Scotland have been buried in unmarked local authority graves.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently preparing a consultation paper on recommendations made by the Burial and Cremation Review Group and the Infant Cremation Commission to modernise and improve many aspects of burial and cremation in Scotland. As part of the consultation, it is intended to consider ways to tackle funeral poverty and ensure that no-one is unable to afford a dignified funeral.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:19.3","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299559,"EventID":"S4W-23698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:19.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T10:39:20.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it will use its proposed new power regarding funeral payment benefit to help support people who experience difficulties in meeting funeral costs.\r\n","AnswerText":"Under the Smith Commission’s proposals, the Scottish Government would have full autonomy to deliver assistance with funeral costs to help those in need. We plan to consult widely with stakeholders and service users in the coming months on how we can use these proposed new powers to best effect, building on the appetite for engagement and dialogue amongst civic Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:19.83","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299560,"EventID":"S4W-23699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:20.31","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T10:39:20.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the charges set by (a) local authorities and (b) private crematoria for (i) burial plots or cremations and (ii) the interment of remains, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23697 on 8 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:20.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299561,"EventID":"S4W-23700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:20.85","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T13:57:37.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to strengthening the role of financial education in the curriculum for excellence.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have recently set up a curriculum, learning, teaching, assessment and support forum on maths and numeracy chaired by Education Scotland and this forum aims, amongst other things, to secure, consolidate and embed improvements to the curriculum in order to maintain relevance and deliver high-quality outcomes for all learners. This will include considering whether the role of financial education within curriculum for excellence needs to be strengthened. In addition to this the Read Write Count campaign announced in the Programme for Government on 26 November 2014 will present further opportunities to develop sound financial education from early primary school, building on current good practice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:20.877","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299562,"EventID":"S4W-23701","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:21.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T13:57:37.97","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what further work it is undertaking on its discussion paper on financial capability, Achieving Better Co-ordination in Scotland, published in July 2010.\r\n","AnswerText":"As described in the answer to S4W-23603 on 6 January 2015, the Scottish Government’s approach to financial capability is set out in the revised Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland published in March 2014. This recognises the importance of having access to appropriate financial services, information and advice and that financial capability can make a significant difference to the lives of the people of Scotland.\r\nAchieving Better Co-ordination in Scotland focussed on a number of key areas, including genuine partnership working – which we have demonstrated through tri-partite working with the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Money Advice Service to fund collaborative projects, most recently through the Tackling Money Worries funding announced in October 2014. It also highlights the importance of building awareness of financial capability services and supporting practice. The Financial Health Service website, developed during 2014, acts as a hub of information and advice bringing together different strands including debt advice, employability, access to ethical and affordable lending.\r\nIn addition the answer to S4W-23604 on 6 January 2015 describes actions we are taking to increase the financial capability for young people, another area highlighted in the paper.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:21.15","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299563,"EventID":"S4W-23705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:21.4","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:11:45.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to people who experience difficulties in meeting funeral costs.\r\n","AnswerText":"Funeral costs payments are currently reserved to the UK Government, and are awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions through its Regulated Social Fund scheme.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:21.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299564,"EventID":"S4W-23706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:21.97","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:11:45.04","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the charges set by (a) local authorities and (b) private crematoria for (i) burial plots or cremations and (ii) interment of remains can lead to a so-called postcode lottery for people who have to meet funeral costs, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23697 on 8 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:21.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299565,"EventID":"S4W-23707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:22.55","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures Scotland's National Marine Plan provides to enable the enhancement of the natural marine environment.","AnswerText":"General Policy 9 of the National Marine Plan as laid before Parliament stipulates that development and use of the marine environment must protect and, where appropriate, enhance the health of the marine environment. The accompanying policy provides additional detail on how this may be achieved. This reflects the contribution of Marine Protected Areas and includes actions to enhance the status of Priority Marine Features where appropriate. The policy also states that consideration should be given to opportunities to enhance biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, including recovery and/or enhancement of degraded habitats or species populations.\r\nChapter 12 (Recreation and Tourism) also contains a specific objective and a policy which support enhancement of natural resources and paragraph 11.39 notes the potential opportunities for enhancement in exclusion zones around energy generation infrastructure.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:22.577","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299566,"EventID":"S4W-23708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:22.87","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:15:55.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of common skate being considered critically endangered, whether it will set objectives for the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area to ensure that stocks are not only conserved and maintained but are actively restored.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is recognised that common skate are critically endangered at a global scale. There is a relative abundance of common skate in the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA). The conservation objectives for common skate in Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA of conserving the species were set by Scottish Natural Heritage in discussion with Marine Scotland Science, based upon what is known about the prevalence of the species in that area. The management of MPAs is informed by the conservation objectives for each site and the best available evidence on the impacts of anthropogenic activities. The current consultation on MPA management for 20 MPAs and Special Areas of Conservation includes options on the management of the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA to achieve the conservation objectives. We are currently inviting responses on the options, and we will take into account formal views received via the consultation when developing the final management measures for these sites, including Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:22.897","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299567,"EventID":"S4W-23709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:23.153","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:15:55.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on banning (a) trawling and (b) dredging across all of the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area in order to protect levels of common skate stock. \r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23708 on 9 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:23.173","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299568,"EventID":"S4W-23710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:23.447","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland's National Marine Plan ensures that its ambitions for sectoral growth can be achieved without exceeding the environmental capacity of the natural marine environment.","AnswerText":"The strategic objectives and General Policies of the National Marine Plan set the context for development in Scotland's marine area and seek to ensure development and use of the marine environment is undertaken sustainably. Where appropriate, specific sectoral policies provide additional direction regarding environmental considerations to be taken into account in decision making.\r\n?\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:23.47","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299569,"EventID":"S4W-23711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:23.807","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland's National Marine Plan will balance conflicting demands on the same sea space.","AnswerText":"Paragraph 3.15 of the National Marine Plan as laid before Parliament sets out how the plan provides guidance on resolving potential competition and conflict.\r\nThe plan stipulates a set of General Policies which apply to all development and use of the marine environment. General Policy 4 encourages development and activity which enable coexistence with other development, sectors and activities. It also encourages development or use which does not result in areas being unsuitable for future use by others. Where different activities are incompatible or mutually exclusive, it provides criteria by which regional marine plans may select areas for preferential use by specific sectors.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:23.833","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299570,"EventID":"S4W-23712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:24.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what measures Scotland's National Marine Plan will provide to prioritise natural marine heritage.","AnswerText":"The National Marine Plan as laid before Parliament stipulates a set of General Policies which apply to all development and use of the marine environment. General Policy 9 states that development and use of the marine environment must (a) comply with legal requirements for protected areas and protected species (b) not result in significant impact on the national status of Priority Marine Features and (c) protect, and where appropriate, enhance the health of the marine area. The accompanying policy text provides additional detail as to how this may be achieved, as do specific sectoral policies which ensure the natural marine environment is protected.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:24.13","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299571,"EventID":"S4W-23713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:24.393","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:33","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland's National Marine Plan will address the Scottish Government’s ambitions for increased and long-term oil and gas revenue and a reduction in carbon emissions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Marine Plan as laid before Parliament makes clear that the Scottish Government supports a low carbon economy which involves a transition from fossil fuel based energy consumption towards investment in renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. The plan is also clear that oil and gas are set to remain a vital source of energy while this transition takes place and therefore it is sensible to secure reserves domestically as far as possible for as long as required. Chapter 9 of the plan sets out the objectives and policies for oil and gas. Policy and objectives relevant to a reduction in carbon emissions are set out in General Policy 5 (climate change) which applies to all marine development and use and in a number of sector chapters, particularly Chapter 10 on Carbon Capture and Storage and Chapter 11 on Offshore Wind and Marine Renewable Energy.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:24.42","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299572,"EventID":"S4W-23714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:24.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:44:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Joint Central Committee of the Scottish Police Federation is governed under section 20 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.","AnswerText":"The members of the Joint Central Committee of the Scottish Police Federation continue to hold the office of constable under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and are therefore governed by the Act, including section 20.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:24.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299573,"EventID":"S4W-23715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":75,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-16T17:04:24.967","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:44:03","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the police officers who make up the Joint Central Committee of the Scottish Police Federation are subject to rule 13.1.1 of the Police Federation (Scotland) Rules 2013 and, if so, whether this takes precedence over section 20 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.","AnswerText":"The making of rules under the Police Federation (Scotland) Regulations 2013, and the governance and implementation of those rules, is a matter for the Scottish Police Federation.\r\nThe members of the Joint Central Committee of the Scottish Police Federation continue to hold the office of constable under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and are therefore governed by the Act, including section 20.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-13T17:04:24.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299574,"EventID":"S4W-23717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T09:35:48.133","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T09:30:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the distribution of and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Information relating to the distribution and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was released in answer to parliamentary question S4W-20080 on 11 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\nScotland’s Future: Your Guide to an independent Scotland has been available to order at no cost to individuals in hard copy or digital formats since its launch in November 2013. Reprints of Scotland’s Future were undertaken in response to unprecedented demand from the public and, in total, 80,000 copies were printed.\r\nLatest available figures show that over 165,000 copies of the white paper have been ordered. As at 3 December 2014, 91,102 copies of Scotland’s Future have been downloaded in digital format and 75,386 have been distributed as a hard copy. All copies issued to members of the public were in response to a request from that individual.\r\nTo meet this demand, production, printing and distribution costs further to those released in March 2014 are:\r\nScotland’s Future: Your guide to an independent Scotland\r\nCosts\r\nProduction, including the production of related excerpts from the white paper as outlined at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/constitution/publications\r\n£33,226\r\nPrint \r\n£281,950\r\nDistribution, process handling and fulfilment\r\n£91,844\r\nTotal \r\n£407,020\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T09:35:48.193","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299575,"EventID":"S4W-23719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:16:02.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T13:10:13","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public information costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.","AnswerText":"Information on costs of public information activity related to Scotland’s Future was released in answer to parliamentary questions S4W-21283 on 22 May 2014 and S4W-22236 on 20 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx  \r\nIn addition to the expenditure set out in those answers, the following expenditure has been made in financial year 2014-15 in relation to public information activity associated with Scotland’s Future:\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nDigital Development \r\n£31,149\r\nMedia \r\n£74,918\r\nCreative and Production\r\n£50,274\r\nTotal\r\n£156,341\r\n","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:16:02.647","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299576,"EventID":"S4W-23720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":2,"MSPID":4964,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":119,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:20:25.333","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T13:09:45","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the costs of events associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information relating to costs of events held in 2013-14 was included in answer to parliamentary question S4W-21284 on 22 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx  \r\nThe Scotland’s Future events programme began with the launch of this document on 26 November 2013 and includes a stakeholder event on 10 December 2013 and a programme of public question and answer events hosted across Scotland.\r\nThe following expenditure in relation to events associated with Scotland’s Future has been made in financial year 2014-15:  \r\nNational Events\r\nNational Women’s Event – Edinburgh – 9 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£5790.40\r\nTechnical services\r\n£2775.36\r\nProduction\r\n£1724.40\r\nTotal\r\n£10290.16\r\n\r\nNational Youth Event – Glasgow – 20 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£12825.14\r\nTechnical services\r\n£7348.90\r\nProduction\r\n£925.50\r\nTotal\r\n£20199.54\r\n\r\nLocal Events\r\nKirkintilloch – 1 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£472.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£273.35\r\nProduction\r\n£143.50\r\nTotal\r\n£888.85\r\n\r\nUllapool – 17 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£88.15\r\nTechnical services\r\n£840.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£12.05\r\nProduction\r\n£151.86\r\nTotal\r\n£1092.06\r\n\r\nFort William – 22 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£217.31\r\nTechnical services\r\n£648.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£219.12\r\nProduction\r\n£151.86\r\nTotal\r\n£1236.29\r\n\r\nEdinburgh Central – 24 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£667.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£438.24\r\nProduction\r\n£116.86\r\nTotal\r\n£1222.10\r\n\r\nEdinburgh North – 24 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£168.00\r\nMedia Local Press\r\n£438.24\r\nProduction\r\n£116.86\r\nTotal\r\n£723.10\r\n\r\nPerth – 28 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£305.60\r\nMedia local press\r\n£315.53\r\nProduction\r\n£151.86\r\nTotal\r\n£772.99\r\n\r\nKirkcaldy – 28 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£451.71\r\nMedia local press\r\n£361.55\r\nProduction\r\n£166.86\r\nTotal\r\n£980.12\r\n\r\nPenicuik – 30 April 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£236.00\r\nTechnical services\r\n£396.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£268.42\r\nProduction\r\n£151.86\r\nTotal\r\n£1052.28\r\n\r\nHawick – 28 May 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£366.20\r\nMedia local press\r\n£136.95\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£670.60\r\n\r\nEdinburgh West – 28 May 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£643.28\r\nTechnical services\r\n£530.40\r\nMedia local press\r\n£730.40\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£2071.53\r\n\r\nMusselburgh – 2 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£517.80\r\nTechnical services\r\n£340.62\r\nMedia local press\r\n£221.86\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£1247.73\r\n\r\nInverness – 5 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£317.69\r\nMedia local press\r\n£328.68\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£813.82\r\n\r\nElgin - 9 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£82.50\r\nTechnical services\r\n£645.60\r\nMedia local press\r\n£493.02\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£1388.57\r\n\r\nLargs – 9 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£780.00\r\nTechnical services\r\n£492.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£328.68\r\nProduction\r\n£200.94\r\nCar hire\r\n£31.20\r\nTotal\r\n£1,832.82\r\n\r\nAviemore – 16 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£215.38\r\nTechnical services\r\n£612.00\r\nMedia local press\r\n£493.02\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£1487.85\r\n\r\nOrkney – 21 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£119.20\r\nMedia local press\r\n£275.19\r\nTotal\r\n£394.39\r\n\r\nClydebank – 25 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£412.92\r\nMedia local press\r\n£271.16\r\nProduction\r\n£167.45\r\nTotal\r\n£851.53\r\n\r\nCumbernauld – 25 June 2014\r\nDescription\r\nSpend\r\nVenue, catering and services\r\n£117.50","AnswerDate":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:20:25.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299577,"EventID":"S4O-03851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1892,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":134,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:43.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T09:33:43.537","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland's recent comments regarding HMP Shotts.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:43.653","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299578,"EventID":"S4O-03853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1882,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":129,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:44.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:03.327","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the proposals in the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill will help deter trafficking through airports.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:44.093","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299579,"EventID":"S4O-03854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":137,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:44.427","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:22:06.047","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how the length of custodial sentences for handling an offensive weapon has changed during the last 10 years.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:44.46","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299580,"EventID":"S4O-03855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:44.767","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:04:53.92","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to provide an appropriate legal process for resolving domestic abuse cases in the South Scotland parliamentary region.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:44.793","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299581,"EventID":"S4O-03856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4940,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:45.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:19:28.927","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the new drink driving limits had over the festive period.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:45.153","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299582,"EventID":"S4O-03857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":88,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:45.413","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:04.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour.","AnswerText":"We are continuing to build on our ‘Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland’ strategy which marked a significant shift in our commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour. Our strategy places prevention, early intervention and diversionary activities at the heart of our work.\r\nThrough our CashBack for Communities initiative we have worked with local partners to reinvest more than £74 million from the proceeds of crime back into our local communities – providing over 1.5 million free, positive and healthy diversionary activities to young people and this is aimed at steering them away from antisocial behaviour and crime.\r\nWe will analyse the responses to the recent consultation on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and work with stakeholders to take forward any necessary action points later this year.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:45.43","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299583,"EventID":"S4O-03858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:45.813","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:59:37.317","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding the reorganisation of control room facilities.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:45.84","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299584,"EventID":"S4O-03859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":80,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:46.183","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:07:38.23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address human trafficking.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:46.207","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299585,"EventID":"S4O-03860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:46.533","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:05.18","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when stage 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill will commence.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:46.56","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299586,"EventID":"S4O-03861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":145,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:46.963","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T16:24:37.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to prevent waste recycling plants being located next to residential areas or town centres.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:46.987","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299587,"EventID":"S4O-03862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4938,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:47.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:12.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve air quality in the Central Scotland region.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:47.303","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299588,"EventID":"S4O-03863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2826,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":84,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:47.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T09:08:53.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of charges for single use carrier bags has had on the number of bags becoming litter or landfill waste.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:47.593","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299589,"EventID":"S4O-03864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:47.863","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:14:36.88","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final version of Scotland's National Marine Plan.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:47.887","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299590,"EventID":"S4O-03865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":3745,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":122,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:48.143","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T10:28:21.167","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the outcomes of the recent climate change conference in Lima.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:48.17","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299591,"EventID":"S4O-03866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":138,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:48.437","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:13.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward implementing the Clyde 2020 proposals.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:48.463","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299592,"EventID":"S4O-03867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:48.803","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:13.5","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the flooding infrastructure in Perth and Kinross.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:48.83","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299593,"EventID":"S4O-03868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":87,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:49.11","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:13.727","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the establishment of a Scottish land reform commission.\r\n","AnswerText":"The current consultation on the future of land reform in Scotland proposes a package of measures to further the land reform agenda in Scotland, including the formation of a Scottish land reform commission.\r\nThere are questions in the current consultation designed to help develop the structure, role and remit of the proposed Scottish land reform commission. We anticipate that the commission could have oversight of a number of matters including the promotion of land reform, collecting evidence, carrying out studies and monitoring the impact and effect of law, policies and practices on land ownership in Scotland.\r\nWe very much look forward to responses to the consultation on all of our proposals for furthering land reform in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:49.133","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299594,"EventID":"S4O-03869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:49.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:05:36.73","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the Rural Affairs, Food and Environment budget in 2015-16.","AnswerText":"The First Minister made it clear when publishing the programme for government that a radical programme of land reform will be our top priority. Other priorities include implementing the new Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy reforms, enhancing Scotland’s environment, tackling climate change with initiatives such as encouraging woodland expansion and supporting economic growth by investing in the food and drink sector.\r\nThe full budget priorities are set out in the budget document, which was published on 9 October 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:49.503","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299595,"EventID":"S4O-03870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":5,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:49.8","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T10:30:11.823","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish quota species are being targeted in line with maximum sustainable yield limits.\r\n","AnswerText":"Based on the latest scientific advice, 78% of our key Scottish stocks that are subject to quota management are being fished sustainably at levels at or below the targets consistent with the principles of maximum sustainable yield.\r\nThis figure, based on 18 key Scottish stocks, demonstrates the continuing improvement in our fisheries for this important food source and the efforts of our fishermen to progressively develop more sustainable fishing methods.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:49.823","MeetingDate":"2015-01-07T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299596,"EventID":"S4O-03871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:50.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:19.53","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support public sector recruitment in the north east.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:50.13","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299597,"EventID":"S4O-03872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":123,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:50.53","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T08:43:09.297","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that consistently high standards are maintained by staff in the care sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:50.553","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299598,"EventID":"S4O-03873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1943,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:50.837","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:44:01.577","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take as a result of the statutory follow-up to the Accounts Commission report on South Ayrshire Council of February 2014.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:50.857","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299599,"EventID":"S4O-03874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":83,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:51.2","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:20.543","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the publication of draft legislation arising from the recommendations of the Smith Commission.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:51.223","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299600,"EventID":"S4O-03875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":77,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:51.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:20.813","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in integrating health and social care in South Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:51.613","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299601,"EventID":"S4O-03876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":9,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:52.017","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T10:52:55.697","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Forth Valley.\r\n","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:52.033","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299602,"EventID":"S4O-03877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:52.3","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:21.43","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead and Fraserburgh will be dualled.","AnswerText":"We have no plans to dual the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead and Fraserburgh.\r\nNestrans are currently undertaking an appraisal which will consider the strategic transport connections on the A90 from Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen. We will contribute £25,000 towards the cost of this study.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:52.323","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299603,"EventID":"S4O-03878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5054,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:52.607","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:21.653","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of payments to consultants for recruiting patients for medical trials.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports the position of the General Medical Council that clinicians should not let their judgement about a research project be influenced, or be seen to be influenced, at any stage, by financial, personal political or other external interests. Any actual or potential conflicts of interest must be identified and declared as soon as possible to the research ethics committee, other appropriate bodies, and the trial participants.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:52.623","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299604,"EventID":"S4O-03879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:52.923","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-15T12:02:21.897","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that community hospitals can play a key role in delivering integrated health and social care.\r\n","AnswerText":"Integrated health and social care partnerships are now working on developing their strategic commissioning plans. We would expect partnerships to consider the role their community hospitals could play in the delivery of their local health and social care services.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:52.95","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299605,"EventID":"S4O-03880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":5047,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:28:53.24","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T09:29:03.947","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported rise in the number of households facing court action because of personal debt.\r\n","AnswerText":"A great deal is being done, both by the Scottish Government and our partners and stakeholders, to address the issue of indebtedness in Scotland and help people who are struggling to pay their bills.\r\nIn addition to the £35 million made available to local authorities across Scotland to help mitigate the iniquitous bedroom tax, we have also taken steps to address concerns over historic debts from the defunct community charge which was abolished 21 years ago. We have delivered a programme of legislative reform in personal insolvency that will deliver the UK’s most progressive range of statutory debt solutions and we have launched the Scotland’s Financial Health Service – which we are currently promoting via a prime-time television campaign. Scotland’s Financial Health Service is specifically designed to help with early diagnosis of financial difficulty and directs people facing these issues to trusted organisations who can provide free and impartial advice.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:28:53.267","MeetingDate":"2015-01-08T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299606,"EventID":"S4W-23702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:40:54.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:07:14.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government in which NHS boards are waiting times for IVF treatment lower than one year, and, in light of its policy that boards in this position should provide three full cycles of treatment, which provide this and when it expects all to do so.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information Services Division published the first IVF Waiting Times for patients who were screened for IVF treatment during the period July to September 2014, in November 2014. This shows that 13 out of 14 NHS boards in Scotland are meeting the maximum 12 month target for IVF, ahead of the 31 March 2015 target date. A copy of the publication is available using the following link:\r\nhttp://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/IVF-Waiting-Times/Publications/2014-11-25/ \r\nThe National Infertility Group, chaired by a Health Board Chief Executive, and whose members include senior infertility consultants, senior infertility nurses, senior planners, and the patient stakeholder group Infertility Network Scotland, reconvened in December 2014.\r\nThe expert group will, as part of the 2015 review, reflect on the implementation of access criteria changes from 1 July 2013 and emerging clinical evidence in light of new treatment pathways. The expert group will also look at the recurring service cost, and available capacity before any further criteria changes are considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:40:54.317","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299607,"EventID":"S4W-23703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:40:54.663","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:07:14.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the costs associated with funding a third full cycle of (a) IVF treatment and (b) intracytoplasmic sperm injection.\r\n","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group, chaired by a Health Board Chief Executive, and whose members include senior infertility consultants, senior infertility nurses, senior planners, and the patient stakeholder group Infertility Network Scotland, reconvened in December 2014.\r\nThe expert group will, as part of the 2015 review, reflect on the implementation of access criteria changes from 1 July 2013 and emerging clinical evidence in light of new treatment pathways. The expert group will also look at the recurring service cost, and available capacity before any further criteria changes are considered.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:40:54.683","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299608,"EventID":"S4W-23704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:40:54.973","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T15:07:14.183","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on relaxing the access criteria to IVF treatment.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23703 on 8 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx \r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:40:54.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299609,"EventID":"S4W-23716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:40:55.34","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-16T17:23:09.547","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the local government finance settlement published on 11 December 2014 shows the City of Edinburgh Council receiving a lower settlement in 2015-16 than in 2014-15.\r\n","AnswerText":"The local government finance settlements are distributed on the basis of a formula agreed by local government, and the City of Edinburgh Council does, and will continue to, receive its fair share.\r\nThe local government finance settlement figures published in Local Government Finance Circular 9/2014 on 11 December 2014 were provisional with the distribution of a further £402.6 million for 2015-16, the majority of which is for the council tax reduction scheme, still to be confirmed. The City of Edinburgh Council will receive its fair share of this undistributed amount.\r\nIt should be noted that the council’s allocation includes £13.7 million in 2015-16 from the 85 per cent funding floor introduced by this government in 2011-12, which is in addition to the funds the council would have received through the distribution formula alone.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:40:55.367","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299610,"EventID":"S4W-23718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4934,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-17T13:40:55.683","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T11:57:33.067","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what forecasts it has of the number of trips per person by different modes of transport in (a) 2020 and (b) 2040.","AnswerText":"The Transport Model for Scotland (TMfS) is a strategic model focussed on inter-urban movements and contains forecasts for car, bus and rail travel in five-year intervals from 2012 to 2037.\r\nThe forecast number of car driver trips per person in 2017 is 287.5.\r\nThe forecast number of rail passenger trips per person in 2017 is 19.8.\r\nThe forecast number of bus passenger trips per person in 2017 is 54.2.\r\nThe forecast number of car driver trips per person in 2037 is 329.8.\r\nThe forecast number of rail passenger trips per person in 2037 is 23.4.\r\nThe forecast number of bus passenger trips per person in 2037 is 51.2.\r\nObserved trip rates published in Scottish Transport Statistics are not comparable. They include short trips not modelled in TMfS and only the main mode of travel.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-14T13:40:55.71","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299618,"EventID":"S4W-23721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:14.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T16:27:19.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether details of the environmental assessment of the modified national marine plan will be made publicly accessible and, if so, where.\r\n","AnswerText":"An addendum to the 2013 sustainability appraisal report has been prepared, which has assessed the potential effects of the modifications to the national marine plan. The addendum has been provided to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee of the Scottish Parliament, and has been published on the national marine plan pages of the Scottish Government’s website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/seamanagement/national/MPSA\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:14.797","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299619,"EventID":"S4W-23722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:15.123","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T16:27:19.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the updated environmental assessment of the modified national marine plan should be subject to a public consultation and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.\r\n","AnswerText":"The sustainability appraisal of the modified national marine plan shows that the modifications would not result in significant environmental or socio-economic effects, and would not change the conclusions of the 2013 sustainability appraisal report. As the modifications have not resulted in significant new information it was considered that an additional public consultation would not be proportionate or contribute significant additional information to that received from the 124 responses to the public consultation held in 2013. The national marine plan is now subject to parliamentary scrutiny, and the addendum to the sustainability appraisal report has been provided to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee. It has also been published on the national marine plan pages of the Scottish Government’s website.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:15.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299620,"EventID":"S4W-23723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1759,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:15.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T16:27:19.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has suggested that the modified national marine plan will have no likely significant effects on the Natura 2000 network and therefore should not be subject to an appropriate assessment under the habitats regulations appraisal.\r\n","AnswerText":"The screening undertaken as the first step of the habitats regulations appraisal of the national marine plan has shown that, on the whole, the objectives and policies of the plan are general in nature and do not direct development or use to a specific location. At this stage it is not possible to identify where development and/or use may be located or where effects may occur or which Natura sites may be affected. This means that effects on any particular European site could not be identified. In consequence, the national marine plan has not been subject to appropriate assessment. The exception to this is the likely significant effects on Natura sites from offshore renewables, which have been identified and evaluated through the habitats regulations appraisal undertaken of the sectoral marine plans.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:15.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299621,"EventID":"S4W-23724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:15.67","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T17:23:36.42","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23546 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 December 2014, how much financial support it will provide for the establishment of a film/TV studio.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer you back to the answer to PQ S4W-23546 supplied on 17 December 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:15.693","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299622,"EventID":"S4W-23725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1932,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":117,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:16.227","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-17T16:36:46","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has been allocated in each tranche of funding by the UK Government to assist with the rollout of superfast broadband; when each tranche was announced, and what the time period is for spending the money.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK Government allocated £100.8 million for the two superfast broadband projects that cover all 32 local authorities in Scotland. The total available funding was confirmed in November 2012 and the agreement was signed in July 2013 when the second contract was awarded. The Scottish public sector contributed £162 million to the two projects.\r\nThe agreed funds will be paid to the Scottish Government during 2015. They will be used to support the rollout of superfast broadband for the duration of deployment, which is scheduled to end in 2017.\r\nIn February 2014, the UK Government announced that Scotland had been allocated £20.99 million from phase 2 of its superfast broadband programme. As with the previous allocation, this will be matched by the Scottish Government and local government. The funding will be agreed when the procurement activities for spending the new monies are complete. This is expected to happen during 2015. The UK Government has indicated that there will be flexibility around the time period for spending the funding – as there has been with the current projects.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:16.25","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299623,"EventID":"S4W-23726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:16.587","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:35:10.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a special area of conservation for porpoises.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has been working closely with other UK administrations and statutory nature conservation bodies to consider whether it is possible to identify further Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for harbour porpoise.\r\nThe Scottish Government is awaiting finalised advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Scottish Natural Heritage on possible locations that may warrant consideration for designation as SACs for harbour porpoise.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:16.613","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299624,"EventID":"S4W-23727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:16.907","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:35:10.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the establishment of Special Areas of Conservation for porpoises.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had discussions on a regular basis about the EU Habitats Directive to support the identification and designation of Special Areas of Conservation including discussions on whether it is possible to further protect harbour porpoise in UK waters. A harbour porpoise project board was created to facilitate these discussions and provide a coordinated approach at the UK-wide level.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:16.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299625,"EventID":"S4W-23728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:17.203","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:35:10.457","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider designating the Firth of Lorne as a Special Area of Conservation for porpoises given the reported favourable conditions as a result of the absence of scallop dredging and the removal of nets.\r\n","AnswerText":"The UK, with support from the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations, commissioned the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake data collection and analysis in order to put together the most comprehensive set of data for harbour porpoise in UK waters. The JNCC has now issued initial advice to the government as part of this analysis process. The finalised advice will provide the basis for the UK Government, the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations to make decisions about Special Areas of Conservation for harbour porpoise in UK waters, including Scottish inshore waters and the Scottish offshore zone.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:17.23","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299626,"EventID":"S4W-23729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:17.513","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:38:05.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to collect data regarding fishing activity in the proposed Marine Protected Areas.\r\n","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland currently collects data on fishing activity including information on landings and vessel monitoring system data and this is supplemented with aerial and vessel based surveillance as determined by risk assessment. This data will be used for management of Marine Protected Areas and we will keep under review whether additional monitoring may be required.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:17.54","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299627,"EventID":"S4W-23730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:17.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:38:05.47","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the quality of data that it receives regarding fishing activity in the sea lochs of the west of Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"In terms of data available, Marine Scotland has logbook and landings data for all vessels in excess of 10 metres. Furthermore, we also have this data for under 10 metre vessels in membership of a producer organisation. This data is supplemented by vessel monitoring system data for all vessels in excess of 15 metres, as well as being available for some vessels in excess of 12 metres. Marine Scotland recognises that the data that it has is good but less than complete, in particular in relation to smaller vessels.\r\nUnder 15 metre vessels working in west coast sea lochs were subject to survey in 2012 as part of the ScotMap project. This project recorded information on the location and value of fishing as well as details about the vessel, crew, gear and target fisheries between 2007-11 and is mostly useful for assessing the socioeconomic effects of marine management decisions on fisheries. The data collected is the best available for this part of the Scottish fleet and is now at least three years old. The ScotMap project covered 55-86% (values shown below) of vessels from these areas (representing 47-87% of the value of the reported landings). Vessels working west coast sea lochs will generally be operating from the following ports:\r\nKinlochbervie (55%)\r\nLochinver (62%)\r\nMallaig (49%)\r\nOban (57%)\r\nPortree (65%)\r\nStornoway (86%)\r\nUllapool (55%)\r\nIn addition to this, the Scottish Government is also actively engaged in a European Fisheries Fund project to improve data collection on inshore fisheries activity to support management decisions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:17.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299628,"EventID":"S4W-23731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:18.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:42:11.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for (a) illegal trawling, (b) illegal dredging and (c) damage to static fishing gear there have been relating to alleged activities in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years and how many resulted in convictions.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland Compliance has powers to enforce fishery offences. This includes being able to refer cases regarding such offences directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration for prosecution.\r\nMarine Scotland Compliance has not referred to the COPFS any cases of (a) illegal trawling or (b) illegal dredging in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in any of the last five years. However, there were two instances of illegal trawling in the seasonal Clyde closure detected and in both cases the masters were offered a £1,000 fixed penalty notice as an alternative to consideration for prosecution.\r\nIn terms of (c), Marine Scotland Compliance has no statutory powers to enforce offences in relation to damage to static fishing gear. This is a common law offence and a matter for the police.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:18.147","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299629,"EventID":"S4W-23732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2135,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":92,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:18.433","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T09:42:11.607","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what sentences were given to people convicted of (a) illegal trawling, (b) illegal dredging and (c) damage to static fishing gear in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23731 on 9 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:18.457","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299630,"EventID":"S4W-23733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:18.743","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T10:02:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the provision of inpatient services for young people with autism and other learning disabilities.","AnswerText":"We made a commitment in the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015 to work with clinicians in Scotland to identify good models of Learning Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (LD CAMHS) service delivery in use in different areas of Scotland or other parts of the UK which could become, or lead to, prototypes for future testing and evaluation.\r\nIn support of the commitment we have commissioned Glasgow University and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to undertake a project to identify good models of LD CAMHS service delivery.\r\nFurther details can be found at the following link:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Services/Mental-Health/Strategy/Child-Adolescent-Services/C10\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:18.77","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299631,"EventID":"S4W-23734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:19.063","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T11:11:23.523","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many of Scotland’s regulated public bodies (a) own, (b) lease and (c) contract drones and for what purposes.","AnswerText":"In total there are currently five devolved public bodies in Scotland making use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support their particular needs.\r\nHighlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) does not own or lease any UAVs, but on two occasions HIE has contracted with a licensed drone-operating photographer to make promotional films supporting marketing efforts for key development sites.\r\nScottish Canals does not own or lease any UAVs, but has contracted the use of UAVs on two separate occasions for the purpose of aerial filming to record and illustrate the construction process, location and scale of development of the Pinkston Watersports Centre.\r\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency purchased one swinglet UAV in 2012 for the purpose of supporting a range of specific Water Framework Directive monitoring needs in coastal and estuary habitats and to support its business requirements. \r\nTransport Scotland leases one UAV, the photography from which was used to help Transport Scotland improve its understanding of a recent landslide at the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’. Transport Scotland is currently considering whether they could make more use of imagery from UAVs in their on-going landslide monitoring programme. \r\nHistoric Scotland owns two UAVs for the purposes of survey work and assessing buildings (as previously noted in response to question S4W-23283 on 4 December 2014). I also understand that Historic Scotland has contracted the use of UAVs from two companies for the same purposes.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:19.09","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299632,"EventID":"S4W-23735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T14:06:19.407","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T11:25:19.31","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on lowering (a) part or (b) all of the landfill tax, in light of the potential impact of gasification as a renewable industry.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no plans at present to adjust the rates of landfill tax. Landfill tax, alongside the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and measures in the Zero Waste Plan, plays an important role in ensuring waste material is treated as high up the waste hierarchy as possible, and not disposed of to landfill.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T14:06:19.433","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299652,"EventID":"S4W-23736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:48.377","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:09:58.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether agricultural tenants who established their tenancies prior to the commencement of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 with no written lease or agreed terms of tenancy should be (a) entitled to compensation to vacate a holding and (b) allowed to pass the tenancies on to future generations.\r\n","AnswerText":"Agricultural tenancies established prior to 2003 are already supported by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991; this Act includes a range of provisions such as compensation at waygo and succession.\r\nThe details of each agricultural lease are a private matter between each party, however where there is no written lease we would strongly suggest that the tenant and landlord work in partnership to develop one.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:48.423","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299653,"EventID":"S4W-23738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:48.89","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:09:58.37","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether agricultural tenants who established their tenancies prior to the commencement of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 with no written lease or agreed terms of tenancy should have their tenancies reviewed.","AnswerText":"Agricultural tenancies established prior to 2003 are already supported by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. We would suggest that tenants and landlords should review their leases regularly as part of their normal regular business discussions.\r\nWhere there is no written lease we would strongly suggest that the tenant and landlord work in partnership to develop one.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:48.913","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299654,"EventID":"S4W-23739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:49.473","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-23055, S4W-23056 and S4W-23057 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 November 2014, given that the visiting committees are appointed and report independently of the agency, for what reason it considered it appropriate for the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service to reply to the questions.\r\n","AnswerText":"The questions referred to were answered by the Scottish Prison Service because Scottish Ministers’ functions for appointments to, and funding of, prison visiting committees are currently performed by the Scottish Prison Service.\r\nThe draft Public Services Reform (Inspection and Monitoring of Prisons) (Scotland) Order 2014 contains proposals for a new system of independent monitoring of prisons to be overseen by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:49.5","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299655,"EventID":"S4W-23747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:50.207","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23357 by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2014, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in cases where the main charge had a domestic abuse aggravator recorded in 2013-14, also broken down by (i) disposal and (ii) how many were sent to a prison or young offenders institution.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":null,"AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299656,"EventID":"S4W-23749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3751,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":108,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:50.057","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T14:32:30.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on achieving grade separation for the Sheriffhall roundabout.","AnswerText":"The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges sets outs a three stage design process for road schemes. The Stage 1 Assessment is now complete which narrowed an initial list of eight junction improvement options down to four. These are now being assessed as part of the Stage 2 Assessment to identify a preferred option. This is programmed to be complete by autumn 2015 at which time the preferred option would be made public.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:50.083","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Derek Mackay","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299657,"EventID":"S4W-23750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:50.367","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T14:33:14.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending free school meals to those two-year-olds who are eligible for free early learning and childcare and attend school-based nurseries.","AnswerText":"Under section 53(3) and (3AA) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, all young children who are eligible for statutory early learning and childcare are entitled to a free school lunch where they meet the same eligibility criteria as for all pupils, and where they attend an education authority setting over the middle of the day. This applies to children aged two and over, who are still under school age, and who have not yet commenced attendance at a primary school.\r\nIt is proposed that, for the additional two year olds that will become eligible for early learning and childcare in 2015, their eligibility will be based on the free school lunch criteria. Accordingly, these children will be eligible for a free school meal where they attend an education authority setting over the middle of the day.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:50.393","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299658,"EventID":"S4W-23751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:50.68","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T15:08:22","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23184 by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 November 2014, when it will receive the results of the research by Optimal Economics Ltd on the cost effectiveness of residential sprinklers and whether it will make them public.\r\n","AnswerText":"It is expected that the research will be concluded and published by Easter 2015. The final research report will be published on the building standards division research section of the Scottish Government website at:\r\nwww.scotland.gov.uk/bsd.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:50.703","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299659,"EventID":"S4W-23753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:50.997","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T15:49:08.857","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23516 by Fergus Ewing on 17 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided, whether it will now answer when the next Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin will be published and whether it will contain updated illustrative projections for Scottish North Sea tax receipts.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published its consultation on the future of the oil and gas sector on 8 January 2015 and we welcome any consultation responses to it.\r\nProjections for future tax receipts will depend on what changes to the fiscal regime are made by the UK Treasury, and whether the UK Government improve their stewardship of the industry.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:51.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299660,"EventID":"S4W-23754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:51.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T16:06:12.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many non-verbal schoolchildren there are.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. However, data is collected on children with speech and language disorders more generally, as set out in my answer to question S4W-23755 on 14 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:51.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299661,"EventID":"S4W-23755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":13,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-18T16:49:51.63","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T16:06:12.603","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many schoolchildren there have been with a speech and language disorder in each year since 1990.\r\n","AnswerText":"The requested information is as follows. \r\nPupils with a main difficulty of learning of ‘language and communication disorder’, 1990-2001\r\n1990\r\n1991\r\n1992\r\n1993\r\n1994\r\n1995\r\n1996\r\n1997\r\n1998\r\n1999\r\n2000\r\n2001\r\nN/A\r\n771\r\nN/A\r\n724\r\nN/A\r\n981\r\nN/A\r\nN/A\r\n942\r\n1,039\r\n1,127\r\n1,077\r\n\r\nPupils with records of needs and/or an individualised education plans and a main difficulty in learning of ‘significant language and speech disorder’, 2002-07\r\n2002\r\n2003\r\n2004\r\n2005\r\n2006\r\n2007\r\n1,300\r\n1,440\r\n1,514\r\n1,679\r\n853\r\n393\r\n\r\nPupils with additional support needs and a reason for support of ‘language or speech disorder’. (Pupils can have more than one reason for support)\r\n2006\r\n2007\r\n2008\r\n2009\r\n2010\r\n2011\r\n2012\r\n2013\r\n2014\r\n2,134\r\n3,330\r\n4,415\r\n4,754\r\n7,200\r\n9,782\r\n11,367\r\n12,708\r\n13,697\r\n\r\nPlease note that due to changes in legislation, definitions and recording methods over the years, it is not possible to directly compare data from 1991 with 2014. The major changes in this data series are as follows:\r\n1. Changes to definitions (including inclusion criteria) and recording methods between 2001 and 2002. \r\n2. Legislative and recording changes following the introduction of the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004. The main change is that all reasons for support rather than just the main difficulty are recorded; it also covers a wider range of pupils with varying support needs. As a result of the phased introduction of the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, in 2006 and 2007 pupils could be recorded under either the old ‘main difficulty of learning’ or the new ‘reason for support’ basis. \r\n3. Changes to recording in 2010 to include ‘other’ types of support and in 2011 to include ‘child plans’ which increased the number of pupils recorded with an additional support need.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-15T16:49:51.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alasdair Allan","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299672,"EventID":"S4W-23740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:40.047","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many times police have taken people with mental health needs to places of safety in each of the last three years, broken down by legacy force or division.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally. However, the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) publishes a statistical monitoring report each year. The most recent report was published in October 2014:\r\nhttp://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/203499/mha_monitoring_2013_2014__3__final.pdf\r\nPage 43 (table 7.1) of the report shows that 591, 561 and 654 place of safety orders were notified to the MWC in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2103-14 respectively. The MWC states that, due to system changes, it is only reporting at ‘a national Scotland level’ for 2013-14. The MWC monitoring reports for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13 do provide a breakdown of the place of safety orders by seven legacy police force areas. http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/94661/mha_2011-12__2_.pdf (page 55) \r\nand:http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/138265/mha_monitoring_report_final_25_sept_2013.pdf (page 49).\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:40.227","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299673,"EventID":"S4W-23741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:40.713","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have been taken to a police station under mental health legislation in each of the last three years, broken down by legacy force or division; what (i) guidance and (ii) procedures are in place for doing so, and what services are provided for those detained.\r\n","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. As stated in the answer to question S4W-23740 on 16 January 2015, the only statistical information available is provided in the Mental Welfare Commission’s statistical monitoring report.\r\nTraining and guidance in relation to police engagement with those suffering mental ill-health is on-going and Police Scotland has engaged widely with partner organisations at local and national levels, including the Scottish Association for Mental Health, NHS Health Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Programme and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, to develop standard operating procedures which will introduce consistent practice throughout Scotland and clarify the powers for officers and the decision-making process to be followed.\r\nNew training packages have been developed and scheduling of the training for over 22,000 officers is on-going. This new training will support the training already in place.\r\nPolice Scotland is also collaborating with partners to develop early and effective interventions and preventative approaches to reduce demand on critical services and improve the service to those experiencing mental health crises. An example is the community triage scheme to be piloted from January 2015. This will involve mental health officers based centrally on duty who have the skills to provide on the spot advice and support. Responsibility for the delivery of healthcare in custody has now transferred from the police to the NHS.\r\nAll answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:40.74","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299674,"EventID":"S4W-23742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:41","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices; whether it considers these devices discriminatory; what analysis it has made about how they might impact on the (a) health and (b) behaviour of young people, and what powers it has to (i) ban and (ii) regulate their use.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not support use of the Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent device. Its use is not consistent with our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour, nor is it consistent with our desire to promote strong and supportive communities where people’s rights are recognised and respected.\r\nScotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People is currently gathering information relating to use of the Mosquito devices in Scotland, and the views of children and young people with respect to public spaces. The results of this are expected to be collated at the beginning of this year and the commissioner will thereafter decide on how to progress any concerns raised.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:41.02","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299675,"EventID":"S4W-23743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:41.283","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought regarding whether the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has considered a range of advice across a number of different issues in respect of the Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent device. It is for each public authority themselves to determine what they need to do to comply with human rights legislation.\r\nScotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People is currently gathering information relating to use of the devices in Scotland. The results of this are expected to be collated at the beginning of this year and the commissioner will thereafter consider how best to address any concerns raised and the Scottish Government will consider the commissioner’s findings at that time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:41.307","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299676,"EventID":"S4W-23744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:41.567","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about how many Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices are in use and which of the public sector organisations that it has responsibility for have deployed them.\r\n","AnswerText":"Information about the number of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices in use and the deployment of them is not held centrally.\r\nPublic sector organisations are covered by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 which states that a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under the provisions of the Act.\r\nThe Act includes provisions that ban age discrimination against adults in the provision of services and public functions. This ban came into force on 1 October 2012 meaning it is now unlawful to discriminate on the basis of age unless the practice is covered by an exception from the ban, or good reason can be shown for the differential treatment.\r\nAll public authorities covered by the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 would have a duty to assess the equality impact of any decision they may make to use a mosquito device, and act to mitigate any negative impact. The provisions of the Act do not apply to private individuals or organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:41.59","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299677,"EventID":"S4W-23745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:41.86","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been asked for advice by local authorities on introducing by-laws regarding the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not been asked for advice by local authorities on introducing by-laws regarding the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrent devices.\r\nPublic sector organisations are covered by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 which states that a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under the provisions of the Act.\r\nThe Act includes provisions that ban age discrimination against adults in the provision of services and public functions. This ban came into force on 1 October 2012 meaning it is now unlawful to discriminate on the basis of age unless the practice is covered by an exception from the ban, or good reason can be shown for the differential treatment.\r\nAll public authorities covered by the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 would have a duty to assess the equality impact of any decision they may make to use a mosquito device, and act to mitigate any negative impact. The provisions of the Act do not apply to private individuals or organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:41.887","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Paul Wheelhouse","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299678,"EventID":"S4W-23748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":14,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:42.157","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T13:35:29","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many occasions psychoactive medication has been prescribed for dementia in each year since 2009-10.","AnswerText":"Information on how many occasions psychoactive medication has been prescribed for dementia in each year since 2009-10 is not collected centrally, as the relevant prescribing database does not contain diagnosis information.\r\nIn 2012 we published a report we commissioned into time trends in the prescribing of antipsychotic and other psychotropic medications to older people with dementia between 2001-2011: http://scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00393277.pdf. The report showed that, since 2009, there had been a decline in the initiation of new antipsychotics and a moderately decreasing trend in antipsychotic use. The report showed, further, that in the first quarter of 2011 the rate of older people with dementia being prescribed an antipsychotic was at the lowest level over the 2001-11 period.\r\nThe Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland (2011):\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/05/31085414 includes the standard that psychoactive medication should only be used where there is no appropriate alternative and where there is clear benefit to the person receiving the medication.\r\nWe will take more steps during the course of the 2013-16 National Dementia Strategy:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Services/Mental-Health/Dementia/DementiaStrategy1316 to reduce further the inappropriate prescribing of psychoactive medication.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:42.183","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299679,"EventID":"S4W-23756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:42.453","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:48:52.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23155 by Margaret Burgess on 27 November 2014, who the members are of the stakeholder working group.\r\n","AnswerText":"Members of the stakeholder working group, which has been set up to help identify proposals for consultation on minimum standards of energy efficiency in private sector housing, represent a range of interests, including environmental, local authority, private rented sector, consumer and fuel poverty interests. The organisations currently represented on the working group are the Existing Homes Alliance, the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Citizens Advice Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the Scottish Association of Landlords and Historic Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:42.477","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299680,"EventID":"S4W-23757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:43.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:48:52.363","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23159 by Margaret Burgess on 27 November 2014, when the data will be published.","AnswerText":"The Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) Delivery Report for 2013-14 was published on 22 December 2014 and is available on the Scottish Government website at: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/warmhomes/heeps.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:43.087","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299681,"EventID":"S4W-23758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":140,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:43.627","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T18:00:39.65","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23268 by Alex Neil on 5 December 2014, how many of the listed public authorities with more than 150 employees have not published an equal pay statement since the public sector equality duty was established.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 came into force on 27 May 2012. Listed authorities with more than 150 employees were required to publish statements on equal pay etc. by 30 April 2013 and every fourth year after that. \r\nThe Equality and Human Rights Commission is the enforcement body for the public sector equality duties. During 2013 it undertook monitoring of the regulations including the requirement to publish equal pay statements. Its reports can be accessed at: \r\nhttp://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/devolved-authorities/commission-scotland/public-sector-equality-duty-scotland/monitoring-and-enforcement.\r\nReports published in November 2013 by the commission indicate that, overall, 95 per cent of relevant listed authorities published an equal pay policy. Eight out of 160 listed authorities with more than 150 employees did not publish an equal pay statement.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:43.653","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299682,"EventID":"S4W-23759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:44.217","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19860 by Michael Matheson on 28 February 2014, whether the follow up to the Sandra Grant Report is still on course to be published by the end of 2014.","AnswerText":"We commissioned the Mental Health Foundation and Voices of Experience to undertake the 10 year follow up review of the state of mental health services in Scotland. Work continues and the report is now expected to be published before summer 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:44.247","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299683,"EventID":"S4W-23760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:44.74","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19861 by Michael Matheson on 20 February 2014, whether the Mastermind project has now been rolled out across Scotland.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Mastermind project is being implemented in the four participating health boards in Scotland – NHS Grampian, NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Shetland. NHS 24 are project managing this. By 30 September 2014, all four health boards were live with their first patients participating in computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) as part of the trial. The Beating the Blues license is being used for the cCBT package. The project is on track and the focus now is on building the number of referrals and increasing the scale of activity within the participating health boards. The learning and evaluation from the Mastermind project will be used to inform discussions and planning on potential wider rollout of cCBT in Scotland.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:44.767","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299684,"EventID":"S4W-23761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:45.263","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of children admitted to adult wards rose in 2013-14 from 177 to 202 and how this relates to its commitment to reduce this number.","AnswerText":"Data from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Young person monitoring 2013-14 document published in October 2014 shows that there were 202 admissions to non-specialist inpatient facilities involving 179 young people.\r\nThe increase may be due to an increase in demand for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), through better identification of children and young people with problems, better diagnosis and more people being prepared to come forward.\r\nData collected from the Information Services Division shows that numbers of children and young people seen by specialist CAMHS has increased from 807 in September 2012 to 1,318 in September 2014, which may have resulted in an increase in demand for access to inpatient beds.\r\nThere are occasions when it may be clinically judged to be more appropriate to admit young people to adult wards or the young person and their family have a preference for an admission to a local adult ward. Most of these admissions will be young people aged 16 or 17.\r\nSince 2008, we have increased the CAMHS workforce by 45% and specialist adolescent inpatient beds will increase from the current 42 to 48 beds by spring 2015. This will ensure young people in need in Scotland can have quicker access to high quality treatment and support.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:45.287","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299685,"EventID":"S4W-23762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:45.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in relation to its mental health strategy commitment \"to more effectively link the work on alcohol and depression and other common mental health problems to improve identification and treatment\".","AnswerText":"We are aware that people can use alcohol as a means of coping when they are depressed or in distress. Discussions are ongoing with specialist services, the Royal College of General Practitioners and primary care partners as to the most appropriate way to tackle this issue.\r\nThese discussions have highlighted the need to develop robust methods of collecting and reporting data which can demonstrate that people are being asked about both alcohol and common mental health problems, and that they are being responded to appropriately.\r\nDifferent methods of collecting this data are being developed and piloted by partners, including the University of Stirling who are currently conducting a feasibility study into improving the assessment of patients with long term conditions and co-morbid mental health needs. This project is expected to conclude in early 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:45.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299686,"EventID":"S4W-23763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:46.287","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has now developed outcome measures related to older people’s mental health.","AnswerText":"Work to develop outcome measures for older people’s mental health will be completed this year.\r\nThe work has been embedded in the ‘Active and Healthy Ageing Action Plan for Multi-Morbidity for Scotland 2014-16’, and is informed by engagement with the range of stakeholders, including Age Scotland and The Alliance. Work is being taken forward with stakeholders using personal outcomes methodology to establish a set of indicators aligned with the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:46.313","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299687,"EventID":"S4W-23764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:46.79","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken the audit of the NHS inpatient estate for mental health patients as outlined in the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2012-15.","AnswerText":"The ‘Mental Health and Learning Disability Bed Census: One Day Audit’ and the ‘Mental Health and Learning Disability patients: Out of Scotland and Out of NHS Placements Census’ was held on 29 Oct 2014.\r\nNHS boards are in the process of validating and submitting their data to the Scottish Government for analysis and publication. A report is planned for publication by the Scottish Government in spring 2015.\r\nThe report will be accessible via the Scottish Government's publications webpage: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent\r\nFurther information about the censuses is available here: \r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/DataSupplier/MHandLD.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:46.817","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299688,"EventID":"S4W-23765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:47.303","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to support female prisoners with borderline personality disorder.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21623 on 16 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scottishparliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:47.33","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299689,"EventID":"S4W-23766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:47.82","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when the \"appropriate specialist capability in respect of developmental disorders\" will be available for patients.","AnswerText":"In this context, developmental disorders refers to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).\r\nADHD services for children are already provided by specialist child and adolescent health services in partnership with social work and education authorities. As part of commitment 33 of the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015, a consultant psychiatrist completed a six month project funded by the Scottish Government. This project included raising awareness and providing training on adult ADHD through practical workshops delivered to mental health, primary care, criminal justice and education authorities. Good practice clinical guidelines are in development with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Work is also underway with Addressing the Balance, a charity set up by adults with ADHD and their relatives/carers.\r\nThe Scottish Strategy for Autism (SSA) highlighted the need for capacity and awareness-building in mainstream services to ensure people with ASD are properly supported by trained staff. To address this, NHS Education for Scotland has produced Optimising Outcomes: the NHS Education for Scotland Autism Training Framework, and are developing a training plan to be rolled out in 2015 to improve the knowledge and skills of those who work with people with ASD.\r\nIn October 2014, NHS boards undertook a mental health bed audit to establish data on the use of mental health beds in Scotland. A report is planned for publication by the Scottish Government in spring 2015. Scottish Government and NHS boards will use the data from this report to inform improvements to specialist services in respect of mental health and developmental disorders. \r\nAs part of the SSA, the Scottish Government has also developed a Menu of Interventions (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9710) which provides a guide to interventions and supports required by people with ASD. The menu will help professionals identify available advice and support and set out the referral and assessment process for services and interventions.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:47.85","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299690,"EventID":"S4W-23767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:48.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether the regulatory framework for the commercial aquaculture sector is adequate to protect and conserve wild fish.","AnswerText":"Yes. Scotland’s regulatory framework provides the right balance between growing the sector and protecting the marine environment on which both aquaculture and wild fish sectors depend. It was further enhanced by the Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act, which commenced in September 2013 and ensures farmed and wild fisheries and their interactions continue to be managed effectively, maximising their combined contribution to supporting sustainable economic growth with due regard to the wider marine environment.\r\nThe Ministerial Group for Sustainable Aquaculture, which I chair and comprises the aquaculture industry, wild fish interests and other stakeholders, was established to facilitate industry to achieve their 2020 sustainable growth targets with due regard to the marine environment.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:48.353","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299691,"EventID":"S4W-23768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:48.83","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-18T17:10:20","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what scientific monitoring has taken place of the effect on wild fish of the by-products of commercial aquaculture.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland Science monitors the return rate of sea trout at the river Sheildaig in Torridon and the Scottish Government fund the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland to routinely carry out sweep netting across the west coast and islands to determine abundance of sea lice on sea trout. The Fish Health Inspectorate carry out surveillance for fish disease which includes investigating reported mortality in wild fish. While rare, where serious notifiable disease has occurred in aquaculture, Marine Scotland Science has conducted short term monitoring of wild fish for disease. Marine Scotland Science and other Scottish researchers, aided by monitoring data, continue to improve the knowledge and understanding of salmonid interactions issues.\r\nThe Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) monitors compliance with licences for discharges of polluting substances and medicines from aquaculture. The licences issued by SEPA to permit the operation of fish farms include limiting conditions set in a way to ensure that the environment outwith the immediate vicinity of the fish farm is protected and this protection extends to any wild fish populations which may be present. The monitoring work undertaken by SEPA includes an assessment of data returns from the industry, monitoring surveys undertaken by fish farm operators and surveys undertaken by SEPA itself.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:48.857","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299692,"EventID":"S4W-23769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:49.327","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23422 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 December 2014, in which NHS boards \"hospital at home\" care and treatment for children and adolescents with mental health care needs has been introduced and in what areas it is considered to be most advanced.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23772 on 13 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:49.347","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299693,"EventID":"S4W-23771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:49.633","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23422 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 December 2014, whether it will provide details of how the \"hospital at home\" care and treatment model for children and adolescents with mental health care needs has reduced the need for unscheduled and temporary admissions to adult psychiatric hospital beds.\r\n","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23772 on 13 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: \r\nhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:49.657","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299694,"EventID":"S4W-23772","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:49.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23422 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 December 2014, whether the \"hospital at home\" care and treatment model for children and adolescents with mental health care needs has reduced the need for unscheduled and temporary admissions to inpatient child and adolescent mental health service beds.\r\n","AnswerText":"We have recently developed a data set with partners which NHS Information Services Division will be starting to collect data on in 2015 to track progress in developing intensive community treatment teams and other tier four Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) activity and how the adolescent inpatient units are working. This should provide us with a comprehensive picture of how services are functioning nationally. This data is currently only available at a regional level used for managing and planning services locally.\r\nIn the south of Scotland where the new approaches are most advanced there has been a significant reduction in the need for unscheduled and temporary admissions of under-18s to adult psychiatric hospital beds.\r\nData from the South of Scotland region demonstrates the variance and the potential benefits of newly created capacity, arising from the new model. In the six month period April – September 2011 it was shown that the South of Scotland region had 25% of the population but only 5% of admissions to adult wards. During the same period almost half of all admissions to CAMHS specialist units occurred in the south, though this is also the product of shorter admissions, increasing the number of young people accessing the service.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:49.96","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299695,"EventID":"S4W-23773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:50.233","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health.","AnswerText":"In line with the objectives set out in the programme for government my main priority is to work with my ministerial colleagues and their teams across government and with the wider public sector and the third sector to tackle inequalities in our society. I will focus my efforts on ensuring that the policies under my direction contribute fully to help make Scotland’s communities vibrant, thriving and resilient places where people can achieve their full potential, where they can access the appropriate level of support and services that help them do this.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:50.257","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299696,"EventID":"S4W-23774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:50.52","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government on what date the expansion of the child and adolescent mental health services unit in Dundee will be complete.","AnswerText":"The expansion of the child and adolescent mental health services inpatient facility from 6 to 12 beds at Dudhope house, Dundee is expected to be completed in March 2015, with the first patients being admitted in May 2015.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:50.547","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Jamie Hepburn","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299697,"EventID":"S4W-23775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:50.817","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the pilot project in England that allowed GPs to prescribe double glazing and loft insulation for patients living in cold, damp homes, which reportedly reduced GP and outpatient visits by a third.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes any initiative that helps give people affordable, warm homes. We are committed to tackling fuel poverty and would encourage anybody in Scotland to call the Home Energy Scotland hotline on 0808 808 2282 to get expert impartial advice on improving the energy efficiency of their home. \r\nAs the recently published 2014 Progress Report on the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement highlights, we are working with stakeholders to help join up the messaging between the link worker programme and the Home Energy Scotland advice and support provision. One of the aims is to raise awareness of fuel poverty and the assistance that is available amongst patients and health professionals, including link workers.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:50.843","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299698,"EventID":"S4W-23776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":15,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:51.12","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T10:12:27.117","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost to the NHS of cold weather-related ill health.","AnswerText":"NHS boards review their winter performance every year. Cold related ill health is a significant factor in winter pressures. We work with NHSScotland to revise the winter planning guidance throughout the year and issued final guidance to NHS chief executives on 23 September 2014.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:51.143","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299699,"EventID":"S4W-23777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":98,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-19T13:43:51.417","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T13:04:33.307","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what issues were discussed at the December 2014 meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change.","AnswerText":"The second meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change was held on 8 January 2015, and discussed the collective action required across government to ensure Scotland remains on track to meet our world leading target of a 42 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-16T13:43:51.44","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299706,"EventID":"S4W-23778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":12,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:09.297","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-19T16:32:50","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the country is on track to meet its annual target to tackle climate change and whether it plans to introduce additional measures.\r\n","AnswerText":"As I indicated to Parliament during portfolio questions on 7 January 2015, we are taking a number of steps to ensure that Scotland is on track to meet its climate change ambitions. We intend that the second report on proposals and policies will be delivered in full. Where policies and proposals are not being delivered, we will seek to bring forward new policies to achieve the same, if not a greater, level of emissions abatement. Preparatory work for producing the next report on proposals and policies (RPP), which is due for publication in 2016, has already commenced, and we aim to lay RPP3 as soon as reasonably practicable. In addition, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy has agreed to fund new modelling capability to help in preparing RPP3 and procurement of the model is underway. We are also exploring how the UK Committee on Climate Change can help us address the challenges we face in delivering on our annual as well as longer term targets.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:09.407","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Aileen McLeod","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299707,"EventID":"S4W-23779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:09.703","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T11:42:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for appointment to the Justice Board.","AnswerText":"The Justice Board is a non-statutory body. Members are not appointed but attend in their capacity as senior leaders of key justice organisations. Justice Board members work together to support delivery of The Strategy for Justice in Scotland (2012) and to promote collaborative and proactive approaches across the justice system.\r\nThe current Justice Board membership comprises the chief executives of the Scottish Court Service, Scottish Tribunal Service, Scottish Legal Aid Board, Scottish Police Authority and Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, the Crown Agent and Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Chief Constable and a Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland, the Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, a Non-Executive Director and the Scottish Government directors of justice, safer communities and children and families.\r\nThe Strategy for Justice in Scotland is available on the Scottish Government website:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/5924\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:09.717","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299708,"EventID":"S4W-23780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:10.107","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T11:42:44","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the operation of the Justice Board would be enhanced by having members drawn from civic society.","AnswerText":"The work of the Justice Board is supported by the Justice Leaders Network.\r\nThe Justice Leaders Network brings together partners and stakeholders from across the justice system and related sectors to support the delivery of The Strategy for Justice in Scotland. This is an opportunity to involve a broader range of justice organisations and interests not represented on the Justice Board, including representatives of the public, academic and third sector organisations.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:10.123","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299709,"EventID":"S4W-23781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:10.483","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides the majority of the funding for (a) Scottish Rural Action and the (b) Scottish Rural Parliament.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government awarded funding of £250,000 to Scottish Rural Action to facilitate the establishment of the first Scottish Rural Parliament. The funding was used to:\r\nEstablish effective governance and administration for the Scottish Rural Parliament; \r\nEngage involve and mobilise rural communities across Scotland; \r\nFacilitate the development of the issues and agenda for the Scottish Rural Parliament; \r\nOrganise and deliver the inaugural event; and \r\nMonitor, evaluate and report the process and outcomes of the Scottish Rural Parliament’s first session. \r\nScottish Rural Action also sought additional support for the Scottish Rural Parliament event from other sources. Further details can be obtained by from Scottish Rural Action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:10.497","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299710,"EventID":"S4W-23782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:10.78","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23548 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what process it used to choose the directors of Scottish Rural Action and which (a) people and (b) groups it consulted as part of this.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government was not responsible for choosing the directors of Scottish Rural Action. Information on this process can be obtained by contacting Scottish Rural Action.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:10.793","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299711,"EventID":"S4W-23783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:11.06","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23549 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what criteria were used to select the people who were invited to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government was not responsible for inviting people to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand that Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, has provided the member with the information requested.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:11.077","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299712,"EventID":"S4W-23784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:11.323","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23550 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how much it cost to (a) set up and (b) run the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and what its annual operating costs will be.","AnswerText":"I understand that Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, has responded to the member’s request for information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:11.34","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299713,"EventID":"S4W-23785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:11.573","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23551 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how many organisations it approached for assistance in funding the running costs of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which contributed.","AnswerText":"Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, was responsible for sourcing support for the inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand it has responded to the member’s request for information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:11.607","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299714,"EventID":"S4W-23786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:11.887","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23552 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how many organisations it has approached for assistance in funding the annual running costs of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which have (a) made and (b) indicated that they will make a contribution.","AnswerText":"Scottish Rural Action, the organisers of the Scottish Rural Parliament, are responsible for sourcing support for the Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand it has responded to the member’s request for information.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:11.903","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299715,"EventID":"S4W-23787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":97,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-22T15:14:12.15","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-22T14:53:10.233","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23553 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer which (a) people and (b) organisations assisted in deciding the key themes of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.","AnswerText":"I understand that Scottish Rural Action, which was responsible for the process that determined the key themes of the inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament, has responded to the member’s request for information. \r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T15:14:12.167","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299716,"EventID":"S4W-23788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4947,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":11,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:08.773","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T09:32:09.41","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with those responsible for nuclear power generation in Scotland about what lessons they have learnt following the so-called cyber-attack on nuclear facilities in South Korea and what reassurance it can give on public safety.\r\n","AnswerText":"Nuclear security is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government works closely with the UK Government, the Office for Nuclear Regulation – the independent security regulator – and industry to ensure security measures at civil nuclear sites in Scotland are of the highest possible standard. Security is kept under review to ensure its effectiveness and arrangements take account of international guidance, best practice and lessons identified from exercises or real incidents.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:08.93","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299717,"EventID":"S4W-23789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:09.397","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T10:02:51.933","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has contracted out work to Lockheed Martin.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not contracted out any internal functions to Lockheed Martin.\r\nAt this time the Scottish Government has ten active contracts with Lockheed Martin Business Technology Solutions Limited. All of these contracts stem from previous frameworks or contracts awarded to Amor Group and were awarded after competition.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:09.413","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299718,"EventID":"S4W-23791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:09.693","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:14:23","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on welfare reform mitigation since April 2013 and how much it plans to spend in 2015-16, broken down by type of mitigation.","AnswerText":"From April 2013 to 2015-16, the Scottish Government’s current and planned funding will result in an investment of £296 million to mitigate the effects of the UK Government’s welfare reforms.\r\nDetails are as follows:\r\nWelfare Reform Mitigation activity\r\n2013-14\r\n(£million)\r\n2014-15\r\n(£million)\r\n2015-16\r\n(£million)\r\nTotal from\r\n2013 to 2016\r\n(£million)\r\nScottish Welfare Fund \r\n(£33 million plus admin)\r\n£38\r\n£38\r\n£38\r\n£114\r\nOther Welfare Reform Mitigation* \r\n£7\r\n£8.2\r\n£8.2\r\n£23.4\r\nCouncil Tax Reduction Scheme \r\n£23\r\n£23\r\n£23\r\n£69\r\n‘Bedroom tax’ – Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)\r\n£20\r\n£35\r\n£35\r\n£90\r\nTotal\r\n£88\r\n £104.2\r\n£104.2\r\n£296.4\r\n*Welfare reform mitigation includes funding for organisations that provide advice and support services to help people affected by welfare reform. This includes funding for Citizens Advice Scotland and continued support for the Making Advice Work grant funding programme and the new Tackling Money Worries grant funding programme administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The funding also supports actions to tackle poverty, particularly child poverty including activity designed to maximise household resources for vulnerable groups, and initiatives with the third sector, local authorities and others impacted by welfare reform.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:09.727","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Margaret Burgess","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299719,"EventID":"S4W-23792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:10.07","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:44:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have a statutory duty to publish all papers relating to a planning application, in full and on a website that is publicly accessible.\r\n","AnswerText":"There is a statutory duty on planning authorities under section 36A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to maintain a list of applications made to them and to publish this on the internet (Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013). \r\nIn respect of each application the details published must include:\r\nThe reference number of the application;\r\nThe site location;\r\nThe name of the applicant and, where an agent is acting for the applicant, the name and address of that agent;\r\nA description of the proposed development; and \r\nThe expiry date of the period for representations to be received.\r\nThe list of applications must also contain a statement as to how further information may be obtained from the planning authority.\r\nPlanning authorities are also required to maintain a register of applications for planning permission (section 36(1) of the Act). The register is to be available for public inspection at an office of the planning authority. The planning authority may make the register available on their website. The information that must be recorded in the register is set out in Schedule 2 of the Development Management Procedure Regulations. The information published in the register is more detailed than the list and includes such items as copies of plans and drawings, decision notices and a report of handling. The report of handling includes, amongst other things; information on representations made by the public and the main issues raised, details of consultation with statutory consultees, any Environmental Impact Assessment or other reports undertaken and details of development plan policies and other material consideration considering in determining the application. The register is in two parts – information on the application on part 1 and then information on the decision (e.g. decision notice, report of handling) on part 2.\r\nScottish Government guidance on handling planning applications and the publication of the list and register is set out in Planning Circular 3/2013: Development Management Procedures. The Scottish Government has also published guidance, in collaboration with the Information Commissioner’s Office and planning authorities, on publishing planning applications online. When making documents available, the Scottish Government encourages authorities to recognise that publishing information online provides the public with an opportunity to participate in the planning process in a way that is most convenient to them and to promote transparent decision making. The guidance provides ‘good practice’ suggestions and was intended to offer clarification on some of the uncertainties with regard to the publishing information online and complying with data protection principles.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:10.1","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299720,"EventID":"S4W-23793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:10.46","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:44:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what time period the public should have to scrutinise planning applications published on the web.","AnswerText":"There is no statutory time period for public scrutiny of planning applications published on the web.\r\nPlanning authorities are required to publish on the internet, as part of the list of applications, the date by which representations to the planning application must be received. This date is set by the planning authority and must be not less than 21 days after the date on which notice is sent to the owner, lessee or occupier of premises on any land neighbouring the development. Additionally, where there is a requirement to publish notice of the application in a local newspaper, it must be not less than 14 days from the date of publication.\r\nScottish Government guidance, set out in Planning Series Circular 3/2013: Development Management Procedures, recommends that planning authorities arrange that planning applications are published online in the list of applications on the same date as notice is sent out and, where required, published in the newspaper, and the time periods for representations in notices and newspapers are aligned.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:10.49","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299721,"EventID":"S4W-23794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5106,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":118,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:10.833","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:44:11","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors how local authorities deal with planning applications.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government monitors a limited number of applications which it considers are of national and strategic importance.\r\nScottish Ministers also have a general power to intervene in the determination of a planning application where it appears there may be some matter of genuine national interest at stake. In practice, ministers will exercise this power very sparingly, recognising and respecting the role of authorities in decision making.\r\nThe Scottish Government collate and publish statistics on planning authority decision making timescales and also asks authorities to submit an annual planning performance framework setting out details of service provided and a plan for improvement. Ministers also have powers to vary planning application fees for any authority it considers is not performing adequately.\r\nWhere a member of the public is concerned about the process by which an application was handled and the decision reached they can submit a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for consideration.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:10.863","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299722,"EventID":"S4W-23795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:11.193","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:49:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what factors determined the rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors.","AnswerText":"In general the same rates are payable for loss of earning compensation for jurors in Scotland as in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These rates have been occasionally adjusted to take account of inflation.\r\nHowever, from 2011 the Scottish Government increased the amount of compensation available for longer periods of service in respect of the response to the 2008 consultation The Modern Scottish Jury in Criminal Trials, about which further information may be found at:\r\nhttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/archive/law-order/juryreform \r\nRates of compensation for longer periods remain more generous in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:11.207","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299723,"EventID":"S4W-23796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":5079,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":10,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-23T15:10:11.487","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T14:49:16","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the standard rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors and what factors it will take into account.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government most recently reviewed the standard rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors in September 2014. We would anticipate doing so again in the course of 2015. \r\nWhen carrying out a review we seek the views of the Scottish Court Service, which makes these payments from its own budget. The Scottish Court Service, and any other interested party, may make representations to the Scottish Government about jurors’ allowances at any time.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-20T15:10:11.52","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299726,"EventID":"S4W-23790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":131,"ApprovedDate":"2014-12-24T11:29:49.933","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-23T11:04:59","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government whether its forthcoming measures to tackle domestic abuse will include (a) emotional, (b) financial and (c) coercive abuse and (d) parental alienation.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Programme for Government set out that the Scottish Government will consult on introducing a new specific criminal offence of committing domestic abuse. The consultation will seek views as to whether a specific offence would better reflect the true nature of abuse, including ongoing controlling and coercive behaviour by partners or former partners.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-21T11:29:49.993","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Matheson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false},{"UniqueID":299730,"EventID":"S4W-23798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4939,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":78,"ApprovedDate":"2015-01-05T14:34:06.913","SubmissionDateTime":"2014-12-31T15:42:54.443","Title":"","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Committee on Toxicity's investigation of exposure to organophosphates by workers in the agricultural sector.\r\n","AnswerText":"The Committee on Toxicity (COT), an independent scientific committee that provides advice on matters concerning toxicity of chemicals, published a statement on organophosphates on 13 March 2014. This followed a comprehensive systematic review of peer-reviewed research on exposure to organophosphates that had been published up to September 2013.\r\nIn its statement the committee concluded that the current scientific evidence suggests that exposures to cholinesterase inhibiting organophosphates that are insufficient to cause overt acute poisoning do not cause significant long-term neurological toxicity in adults. If toxic effects on the nervous system do occur they are minor and subtle. This review also took account of extensive peer-reviewed journals on exposure to agricultural workers.\r\nGiven the comprehensive nature of the review and that no concerns were raised by the COT, the Scottish Government has not had discussions with the UK Government on the committee’s findings.\r\n","AnswerDate":"2015-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2015-01-19T14:34:06.99","MeetingDate":"2011-01-01T09:38:47.573","AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":false,"CrossPartySupport":false,"RegisteredInterest":false}]