Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the publication of the Scottish Service Standards for Neonatal Care.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02244 on 26 August 2011. 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/parliamentarybu…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the deadline is for the Neonatal Expert Advisory Group to report to the Minister for Public Health with the final version of the Scottish Service Standards for Neonatal Care.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02244 on 26 August 2011. 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/parliamentary…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the survival rate was for lung cancer patients aged (a) 49 and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79 and (e) 80 and over in each of the last five years for which information is available, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) cancer network.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Lung cancer survival by age groups is available at Scotland level on ISD's website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer-and-Mesothelioma/. Comparative survival for lung cancer is shown in the following table. It …

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the survival rate was for (a) male and (b) female lung cancer patients in each of the last five years for which information is available, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) cancer network.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Comparative survival for lung cancer is shown in the following table. It is important to note that survival depends on many factors, including data quality, characteristics of the patients and their tumours (case-mix), and health service factors. Survival est…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on lung cancer care has been in (a) Scotland, (b) each NHS board and (c) each cancer network in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by the cost of (i) inpatient services related to surgery, (ii) other inpatient services, (iii) d…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not collected or held centrally to the level of detail requested. It is for NHS boards to determine spend on services from their allocations and in accordance with the needs of their population. This will vary from board to board and regio…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the mortality rate was for (a) male and (b) female lung cancer patients in each of the last five years for which information is available, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) cancer network.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the mortality rate for male and female lung cancer patients, broken down by health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Canc…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the mortality rate was for lung cancer patients aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79 and (e) 80 and over in each of the last five years for which information is available, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) cancer network.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the mortality rate for lung cancer patients, broken down by age group and health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the compulsory date for support workers in adult care homes to register with the Scottish Social Services Council was set at 30 September 2015.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Register opened for support workers in adult care in April 2009. There are approximately 26,966 of these workers and to support employers to phase their workforce development and training the date for required registration of these workers was set at Sept…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in registering (a) support workers, (b) practitioners, and (c) workers with supervisory responsibilities in adult care homes since 2007, expressed as a percentage of the workforce.

Answer · Angela Constance: Detail of this level is not collected by the Scottish Executive. However, I will ask the Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to respond to your question.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to raise training standards in the social care workforce.

Answer · Angela Constance: Ultimately employers are responsible for the training and continuous learning of their employees. Employers must ensure that all staff not only have the appropriate skills and knowledge to carry out their role, but also ensure that these skills and knowledge …

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the timescale required for support workers in adult care homes to make a compulsory registration with the Scottish Social Services Council differs from that for residential childcare workers.

Answer · Angela Constance: As indicated in the response to question S4W-02685 on 26 September 2011 registration of the social services workforce has been taken forward in a phased and clearly time-tabled way. Registration of these workers started at different times because of the agree…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the compulsory date for residential childcare workers to register with the Scottish Social Services Council was set at 30 September 2009.

Answer · Angela Constance: Registration of the social services workforce has been taken forward in a phased and clearly timetabled way to allow employers to strategically plan their workforce development to meet registration requirements. Phasing provides an affordable approach for emp…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the qualification level required for residential childcare workers to register with the Scottish Social Services Council differs from those for support workers in adult care homes.

Answer · Angela Constance: Differences in the qualification levels required for registration reflect the differences in the type of work and responsibilities held by workers. Before setting the qualification levels for each part of the register the SSSC consulted with a full range of s…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland inspects care home providers to assess the (a) qualifications and (b) continuing professional development of staff.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As part of their inspection process The Care Inspectorate review both the qualifications and the continuing professional development training plans of care home provider staff.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the qualification level required by the Scottish Social Services Council for support workers in adult care homes is set at SVQ Level 2.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to my response to question S4W-02683 on 26 September 2011 which concerns the process by which decisions on required qualification levels are reached. Responses to the consultation about type of work and responsibilities of workers in care…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the qualification level required for residential childcare workers to register with the Scottish Social Services Council is set at SVQ Level 3.

Answer · Angela Constance: As noted in the response to question S4W-02683 on 26 September 2011, qualifications levels reflect the type of work and responsibilities held by workers. When the SSSC consulted on and set qualification requirements for residential childcare workers it was ve…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde carried out an assessment of clinical risk prior to deciding to withdraw its major event medicine service from 31 October 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The service currently provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is on a voluntary basis and is not part of the board’s core, statutory provision. In these circumstances there is no need to carry out a clinical risk assessment as the changes do not impact on p…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the costs incurred by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's major event medicine service is recouped from event organisers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The direct service costs are largely recovered from promoters but do not include the time of the boards civil contingencies team and pharmacy staff in planning and managing this process.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost is of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's major event medicine service.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In 2010 the total costs of providing medical and nursing cover and medical bags was £77,171.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde prior to deciding to withdraw its major event medicine service from 31 October 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been discussing these changes with partner agencies and key interested parties including Glasgow City Council, since March.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has decided to withdraw its major event medicine service from 31 October 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have three responsibilities in relation to public events: they advise as part of the event licensing process to ensure proposals for on site medical and first aid cover is adequate; they provide back up through their hospital and…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the decision by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to withdraw its major event medicine service as from 31 October 2011 constitutes a major service change that should be reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As the existing arrangements are ad hoc, voluntary and over and above the NHS board’s core provision, this cannot be considered a major service change.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde took of possible increased attendance at accident and emergency units that could arise prior to deciding to withdraw its major event medicine service from 31 October 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde considered this issue in the context of the arrangements that exist in other parts of the country and has drawn up a clear specification and standards for event organisers to use in commissioning medical services providers. The s…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place with stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the social responsibility levy; on what dates, and who attended.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Social Responsibility was widely consulted upon prior to the passing of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010. No meetings have been held with stakeholders to discuss the social responsibility levy since the passing of the act.

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been carried out to implement the social responsibility levy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Social Responsibility was widely consulted upon prior to the passing of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010. No action has been taken to implement the social responsibility levy. The Scottish Government has been clear that the levy will not be taken for…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on the Scottish budget will be of the proposed UK Government welfare reforms.

Answer · Michael Russell: The UK Government has not provided sufficient detail on the implementation of its proposed welfare reforms for the impact on future Scottish budgets to be known. The Scottish Government has made repeated requests to the UK Government for further detail and wi…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will change the entitlement criteria for (a) free school meals, (b) clothing grants, (c) education maintenance allowance and (d) kinship carers allowance as a result of the proposed UK Government welfare reforms.

Answer · Michael Russell: The legislation for free school meals is currently linked to a number of prescribed benefits and it is expected that a number of these will be repealed under the proposed UK Government welfare reforms. The Scottish Government will therefore consider making ch…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the UK Government's proposal to change council tax benefit will be on council tax benefit received by local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the devolution of responsibility for a successor to council tax benefit, although the timescale imposed by the UK Government poses significant operational challenges, especially given the continuing lack of detail around unive…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the financial impact of the proposed UK Government welfare reforms on local government expenditure on (a) housing, (b) social care and (c) other areas.

Answer · Michael Russell: The UK Government has not provided sufficient detail on the implementation of its proposed welfare reforms for the financial impact on future Scottish local government expenditure to be known. The Scottish Government has made repeated requests to the UK Gover…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the proposed UK Government welfare reforms will have on (a) free school meals, (b) clothing grants, (c) education maintenance allowance and (d) kinship carers allowance in Scotland, and how it will mitigate this.