Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

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

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are waiting for an appointment with a psychologist, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. Good quality psychological care depends on boards having in place the right number of qualified staff to meet their local needs. Differences occur in staffing levels in psychology services across NH…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards offer cognitive behavioural therapy.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. However, we are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS boards to develop a range of initiatives to support the development around our commitment to expand and increase access to psycholog…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time is for a referral for cognitive behavioural therapy.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32640 on 16 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time is for a first appointment with a psychologist, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32641 on 20 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychologists are employed by each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of psychologists employed in NHSScotland is published on the National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) website under the psychology workforce planning project report available at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what bonus payments (a) were made in 2008-09 and (b) have been made in 2009-10 to employees of Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise is responsible for allocating any bonus payments. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what outcomes have been achieved by businesses involved in hosting student teams as part of the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme since its inception.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Lena Wilson, the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to respond to you directly on this question.

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what outcomes have been achieved by students involved in the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme since its inception.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Lena Wilson, the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to respond to you directly on this question.

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme has been evaluated and, if so, whether the evaluation has been published.

Answer · Keith Brown: Our understanding is that the EDGE programme was evaluated in June 2006 by Sarah Y Cooper, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde and William A Lucas of Cambridge MIT “ Institute and Sloan School, Massachusetts institute of Technology, …

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scotland-based (a) high school pupils and (b) university students have taken part in the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme since its inception.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Enterprise advise that there have been 600 participants in the EDGE programme since its inception.

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to replace the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme with a similar initiative.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is not involved in the delivery of the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE) programme, which has been led by Scottish Enterprise, or in consideration of future plans for the scheme which are clearly a matter for the agency i…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the running costs were of the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme in 2009.

Answer · Keith Brown: Since it''s inception in 2005 the success of EDGE has been built on a partnership between Scottish Enterprise, Universities, Careers Scotland now Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Local Authority Education Departments and Scottish Businesses. Initially a pro…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs programme has been cancelled for 2010.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is not involved routinely in decisions connected to the delivery of specific Scottish Enterprise (SE) interventions, which are clearly matters for the agency itself, taking account of the need to optimise the value and impact of its sp…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates any savings in the level of capitation and continuing care payments for dental patients as a result of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 and, if so, how much.

Answer · Shona Robison: No savings are anticipated.

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level is of (a) capitation and (b) continuing care payments for dental patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is provided in the following tables. Capitation Payments as at 1 September 2009 <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=97 valign=top > Patients Age <…

22 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether active and inactive dental patient registration figures will be recorded separately under the continuous registration scheme.

Answer · Shona Robison: Continuous registration was part of the Dental Action Plan agreed by the previous administration. We are currently working with Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland on the detail of patient participation information.

10 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the signatures of two doctors are required for cremation certificates.

Answer · Shona Robison: Cremation is clearly irreversible and this additional check was introduced in the early 20th century as a safeguard against disposal by cremation until concerns or suspicion around the [cause of] death had been fully addressed. We are currently cons…

10 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether doctors can charge for signing cremation certificates and, if so, what the level of charge is.

Answer · Shona Robison: Two forms (B & C) must be completed by separate doctors. These additional procedures are required to enable cremation to proceed. Each doctor is paid £71 for this function as the signing of the forms is not regarded as an NHS activity. The content of thes…

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland and individual NHS boards use the eCare system and what the reasons are for their positions on this matter.

Answer · John Swinney: NHS boards in Tayside, Grampian, Ayrshire and Arran, and Western Isles are currently connected to eCare, for the sharing of information with their partner agencies. These agencies are at different stages of implementation of its usage with front line staff.</…

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the pilot projects using the eCare system will be evaluated.

Answer · John Swinney: An evaluation for the most recent implementation, in the Grampian Data Sharing Partnership, is currently in development, and should be available by June 2010.

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage public agencies to use the eCare system.

Answer · John Swinney: Data Sharing Partnerships, based in each of the 14 health board geographies, were established in 2006, to drive implementation locally. The DSPs worked, both with each other and with Scottish Government policy teams and the eCare Programme Team, to encourage …

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public agencies use the eCare system.

Answer · John Swinney: The following public agencies are connected to the eCare Framework: North Ayrshire Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Western Isles, NHS Grampian, NHS Tayside. These agencies are at different …

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase funding for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service to reduce waiting times.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has committed to providing funding totalling £326,000 to the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre to contribute to staffing costs and the lease of an adapted vehicle. Any decision to increase funding would be taken as part of the next sp…

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce Scottish Driving Assessment Service waiting times.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31998 on 10 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to meet the increasing patient demand for services provided by the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a second permanent Scottish Driving Assessment Service site will be established in the West of Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19737 on 22 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

4 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has committed to providing a total of £326,000 in grant payments to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service. These contribute towards staffing costs and help meet the cost of an adapted vehicle which is used by the service to provide t…

3 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29774 by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 January 2010, whether the short-life working group on the HAI Reporting Template (HAIRT) led by NHS Scotland has reported; how the HAIRT will change, and when this will be introduced.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The short-life working group has not yet reported. The revised template is, however, broadly complete and the short-life working group will shortly be consulting infection control experts and Patient Focus Public Involvement groups. The purpose of this consul…

3 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30007 by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 January 2010, whether it will now provide information on the uptake of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Accurate and comparable figures on the vaccination programme will not be available until after 31 March 2010 when phase one and two of the programme are complete. Estimated uptake for phase one priority groups broken down by NHS board, are shown in the table …

3 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30099 by Shona Robison on 18 January 2010, how it is monitoring the consistency of care charges across local authorities.

Answer · Shona Robison: COSLA will publish its 2010-11 guidance on charging for non-residential social care services later this month. They are also in the process of establishing an online facility to allow councils to benchmark their own charging policies. In addition, there will …