Jackie Baillie

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is offered to those suffering from Asperger’s syndrome or autism to help them find employment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The National Autistic Society run employment projects (Prospects and Into Work) to give adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) the opportunity to succeed in employment.</p> <p >The Scottish Government provided funding for the setting up of one-stop-…

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the findings of the Mindroom survey published on 12 November 2008.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17986 on 28 November 2008. 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/App…

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the Mindroom survey published on 12 November 2008, which suggests that one schoolchild in every six may be affected by a recognised learning difficulty.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Officials met with representatives of Mindroom to discuss their survey on 21 November 2008. During the meeting Mindroom advised that they are not publishing the evidence on which they base the claim in their Policy Agenda<i > </i>that one in six children in S…

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17139 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 November 2008, what it is doing to meet its obligations under the disability equality duty with regard to accessible housing.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There is a requirement for Scottish Government funded new build to comply with Housing for Varying Needs standards, which ensures the housing can continue to meet the changing needs of it occupants. This builds upon the concept of barrier free principles, whi…

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17139 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 November 2008, whether there are plans to collect data on the number of accessible houses built.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: While there is no central source of data specifically on the number of accessible houses built in Scotland there is information on the number of houses built by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. As all Scottish Government funded new build is …

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review its support for the provision of accessible information.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to making its information available to all, including disabled people. We take our duties under the Disability Discrimination Act seriously, and expect other organisations to do so too.</p> <p >Both the Scottish Governme…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it provides to public bodies to produce information in a variety of formats and in plain language.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to making its information available to all, including disabled people. Public bodies have responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act to make reasonable adjustments to enable access to services. Under the Disa…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to evaluate access to justice for disabled people including the operation of the Appropriate Adult Scheme and the effectiveness of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. 

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to securing equal access to justice for disabled people. Through the multi-agency Justice Disability Steering Group we are working with key partners to ensure more effective engagement with disabled people. As part of this…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding has been or will be provided to local authorities to incentivise the development of the personalisation or self-directed support agenda.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Local authorities'' funding has already been agreed as part of the concordat. Following agreement with COSLA, the Scottish Government will also be funding three test sites to consider how to improve the uptake of self-directed support by building on existing…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor the development of self-directed support.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government currently collects annual statistics from Scottish local authorities on the number of people in receipt of direct payments. The term direct payments is largely historical and focused on a system of delivery of social care rather than o…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been agreed with COSLA or individual local authorities to develop and rollout the personalisation or self-directed support agenda.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no targets for self-directed support. The National Performance Framework describes the national outcomes, targets and indicators agreed with COSLA.</p>

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to develop the personalisation or self-directed support agenda.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is fully committed to the personalisation agenda, including the most radical aspect of personalisation, self-directed support.</p> <p >Personalisation of services has been a component of public sector reform and is a key aspiration o…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is provided to colleges of further and higher education for the provision of personal learning assistants.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is a range of both institutional and individual financial support packages available to students studying within Scotland depending on whether the student is on a further or higher education course.</p> <p >Colleges receive block grants for teaching wh…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that disabled students in further and higher education who want a personal learning plan have one.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Colleges receive block grants for teaching which are not split into funding for specific courses or assistance. For that block grant they are expected to deliver a set level of activity which is weighted to reflect the resource input required. Courses which a…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what tests were used to diagnose the cases of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital and how this compares with other hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the technique used to diagnose Clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven Hospital is the Teklab Toxin A/B Quikchek Kit. All NHS boards use testing kits that are approved nationally for use in detecting…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what process is used in the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile by each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The processes used by each laboratory will vary depending on the size of the NHS board and the frequency of testing required. All NHS boards'' testing kits are approved nationally.</p>

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use double testing in suspected cases of Clostridium difficile, as recommended by a recent independent study, to ensure accurate diagnoses.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS laboratories test for Clostridium difficile. The study referred to by the member has only just been published. Its recommendations are being considered by Health Protection Scotland, alongside other evidence on appropriate testing methods. Subject to this…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it will take to ensure that cases of Clostridium difficile are accurately diagnosed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS laboratories follow the framework set out in Health Protection Scotland guidance document <i >Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease in Healthcare Settings in </i><i >Scotland</i>. The guidance is available at:</p…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the status of the new scrutiny bodies announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 November 2008 (Official Report c. 12077) reflects the need for the bodies to be independent of ministers and free from political interference.

Answer · John Swinney: The government accepted the need for scrutiny to be independent in the response to the Crerar Review that we published in January 2008. The Accountability and Governance Action Group has recently provided recommendations from key stakeholders outwith governme…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the status of the new scrutiny bodies announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 November 2008 (Official Report c. 12077).

Answer · John Swinney: The preferred status of the new scrutiny bodies will be announced following discussions with relevant organisations, stakeholders and trades unions, and after we have considered the recommendations from the action groups I established earlier this year.</p>

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for healthcare workers to travel to and from work wearing their uniforms.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Policies relating to NHSScotland uniforms and dress code are in need of review, and the Scottish Government''s Health and Wellbeing Directorates are in the process of finalising a national dress code for NHSScotland. Issues that may act as a barrier to good p…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland insists that sterile scrubs are used by all clinical staff in hospital wards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the question S3W-17671 on 18 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a staff uniform policy in relations to the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and, if so, how this is monitored.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17673 on 20 November 2008. 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/Ap…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a staff uniform policy in relation to the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and, if so, what the main principles are.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government''s Health and Wellbeing Directorates are in the process of finalising a national uniform and dress code for NHSScotland.</p> <p >The most appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infection is rapid diagnosis of patients, the use …

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all hospitals use biocidal rinses to clean clothing and bedding associated with healthcare-acquired infections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All hospital laundry should be laundered in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Department of Health Circular HSG (95)18: Hospital Laundry Arrangements for Used and Infected Linen. This circular, which is currently under review, includes instruction…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will pilot the use of sterile clothing as a means of reducing the incidence of healthcare-acquired infections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no current plans to do so. Staff are expected to follow policy on the use of personal protective equipment, such as the use of disposable aprons and gloves and rigorous hand hygiene to protect staff and patients from potential cross infection.</p>

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the use of vinyl gloves by healthcare staff and hospital visitors to reduce healthcare-acquired infections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the appropriate usage of gloves by health care staff, including their use to prevent and control the spread of infection, is set out in each NHS board''s personal protective equipment guidance. Vinyl and nitrile gloves are examples of gloves av…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided for the children’s hearing system for each year from 2003-04 to the end of the current spending review period.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The level of funding provided to support the children''s hearings system is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=264 valign=top > <p align=center >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top > …

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that disposals arrived at by children’s panels are properly resourced.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 requires local authorities to give effect to a supervision requirement made by a children''s panel. The act also places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing …

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider legislation to entitle children’s panel members to have paid time off to participate in hearings.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There are no plans to introduce legislation of this type.</p> <p >Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, states that an employer shall, with certain exceptions, permit an employee who is a member of a children''s panel to take reasonable time off for …