Questions · Jackie Baillie

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided a public education programme explaining the work of non-executive board members of public bodies as set out in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process and, if so, when.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided appointment-focused diversity training for (a) everyone involved in the selection process for public appointments and (b) board members of public bodies and, if so, when.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19438 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has piloted different (a) application and (b) selection methods in public appointments and, if so, when and with what result.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, when it has established a centre of expertise to advise on and administer the public appointments process as set out in Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned research into the impact of (a) board meeting times and arrangements and (b) remuneration on the (i) number and (ii) diversity of applications for public appointments.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is fully committed to understanding the experience of applicants for public appointments and to developing members of the boards of our public bodies. Although we have not commissioned specific research into the impact of board meetin…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has created a new hub website for public appointments since September 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communications campaigns it has run since September 2008 to promote diversity in public appointments and what the (a) nature and (b) cost has been of each.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of progress on implementing Diversity Delivers: A strategy for enhancing equality of opportunity in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process.

Answer · John Swinney: In line with the commitments contained within the Diversity Delivers strategy, the Scottish Government remains committed to the progression of the public appointments diversity agenda and to building on the work begun through Diversity Delivers. Following the…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide transitional funding to bridge any gap in European funding from 2014 to 2020 for voluntary sector projects.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government expects the 2014-20 structural funds programmes to launch in summer 2014. The Scottish Government has extended a number of projects into 2014, in particular employability projects where the third sector has a significant delivery rol…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequentials arose from the Chancellor's Autumn Statement and how these have been allocated.

Answer · John Swinney: The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 5 December 2013 generated the following Barnett consequentials for Scotland:- 2013-14 £m 2014-15 £m 2015-16 £m Resource DEL net total +1.0 +97.8 +111.6 Capital DEL conventional - +11.9 +9.2 Financial Trans…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gave to local authorities that had already topped up their discretionary housing payments on the use of the £20 million allocated to mitigate the impact of the so-called bedroom tax.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: On 2 October 2013, I informed local authorities that the Scottish Government was making £20 million available for the purpose of adding to Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) budgets. In recognition of the fact that some local authorities may already have alr…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £20 million allocated to mitigate the impact of the so-called bedroom tax was (a) ringfenced and (b) paid to the general revenue account.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The £20 million allocated to local authorities in 2013-14 will be paid as general revenue grant funding. Councils have been advised that this funding is for the purpose of adding to their Discretionary Housing Payment budgets. However, the Scottish Government…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £33 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund was (a) devolved by the UK Government and (b) additional funding.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12726 on 25 February 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on the consultation on the Independent Living Fund.

Answer · Alex Neil: The recent High Court judgement quashed the Westminster Government’s decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The Scottish Government is therefore unable to report on the ILF consultation at this time. The Scottish Government will consider its ne…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £244 million to mitigate the impact of welfare reform is welfare funding devolved to Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: As announced in the Budget (Scotland) (No 3) Bill Stage 3 debate in the Parliament on 5 February 2014, the Scottish Government has provided additional provision to mitigate the impact of the ‘bedroom tax’. This means that our planned spending on welfare refor…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Our current and planned spending will invest at least £258 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16 to limit the damage of the UK Government’s welfare policies on Scotland. Details are as follows: Welfare Reform Mitigation activity 2013-14 £million 201…

28 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can quantify the benefit that NHS boards derive from the work of Care and Repair teams in terms of facilitating hospital discharges and preventing hospital admissions, and what contribution boards make to the teams' costs.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution made by Care and Repair Services in helping older and disabled people to live safely and independently at home and by reducing delays to hospital discharge. We have not commissioned research in thi…

27 Jan 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation about the number of families living below the minimum income standard.

15 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults with learning difficulties there are in residential care homes.

Answer · Alex Neil: This information is published by NHS Services Scotland, Information Service Division Scotland in the 2013 Care Homes Census publication. The information is held in table 8: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/…

15 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the 2013 report, Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, which examined the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the hospital and what action it is taking to ensure that such adults in Scotland are not subject to similar abus…

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from Winterbourne View Hospital. The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 has been in place since 2008 in Scotland and protects adults who are at risk of being harmed. The A…

15 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with the Department for Health the recommendations of the 2013 report, Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, which examined the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the hospital.

Answer · Alex Neil: Yes

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses to discuss their report, Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists.

Answer · Alex Neil: I attended a Scottish Parliament event hosted by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Committee on 9 January 2014 to raise awareness of the value of lung cancer nurses. In response to the issues raised by a number of organisations around the role of special…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the number of referrals of the recent advertising campaign with Sir Alex Ferguson under its Detect Cancer Early Programme.

Answer · Alex Neil: The national Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013 and activity is still underway with a repeat phase of national social marketing running from 13 January 2014. The programme has been working with NHS …

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position in on the recommendations in the report, Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government welcomes the report Understanding the value of lung cancer nurse specialists. It is NHSScotland boards’ responsibility to plan and deliver services, including specialist nursing services, taking account of national priorities and loca…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action plans NHS boards have for early diagnosis to improve outcomes for people with lung cancer.

Answer · Alex Neil: The national Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013 and activity is still underway with a repeat phase of national social marketing running from 13 January 2014. NHS boards have developed local detect …

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that NHS boards have a sufficient number of lung cancer specialist nurses and appropriately skilled nursing cover during absences.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government works closely with regional cancer networks and NHS boards to ensure there is the required workforce to meet current and anticipated increases in demand for oncology services. However, it is for each NHS board to plan and deliver high…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure equitable access to a lung cancer specialist nurse at the time of diagnosis and guarantee that patients' physical, social and emotional needs, and their treatment options are appropriately assessed and discussed from the outset.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is fully committed to providing the people of Scotland with the NHS services which meet their needs and maintain high standards of care. The Scottish Government works closely with regional cancer networks and NHS boards to ensure ther…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Detect Cancer Early Programme has made on increasing the five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was launched on 6 November 2013, with a repeat phase of media marketing running from 13 January 2014. It is too early to measure the impact of the programme on five-year survival rates for l…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the mortality rate is for lung cancer patients and how it compares with the mortality rate for patients with other cancers.

Answer · Alex Neil: The standardised mortality rates for lung cancer and other types of cancer are shown in the following table. This table shows the ten most common causes of deaths from cancer in 2012. Table 1: Standardised mortality rates for the ten most common causes of de…

9 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average case load is for a lung cancer nurse specialist in each NHS board.

Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.