Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

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

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available for young people with learning disabilities to help them to transfer from further education to employment.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Careers Scotland, in partnership with further education (FE) college guidance and support services, provides a range of employability services including key worker support for those young people who need additional help. This helps prepare young people, inclu…

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people with learning disabilities are currently using the further education system.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Data on numbers of young people with learning disabilities in further education is not held centrally.

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to spend in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 on further education for young people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on funding allocated for spend on further education for young people with learning disabilities is not held centrally. The core funding which further education colleges receive from the Scottish Funding Council goes towards meeting the need…

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in 2004-05 on education for young people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20528 on 21 November 2005 which gives a breakdown of funding allocated for additional support needs. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility…

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further education is provided for young people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is committed toensuring that everyone has the chance tolearn irrespective of their background or personal circumstances. Our widening accesspolicy is helping to break down barriers to participation faced by all groups includingstudents with lear…

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that young people with learning disabilities have access to the same opportunities and choices as any other young person.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 introduces a new framework to ensure that all children and young people with additional support needs, including those with learning disabilities, benefit from education. The act also places …

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote the inclusion of young people with learning disabilities in their own communities.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The same as you? national implementation group is preparing a children’s report, which illustrates how the principles of The same as you? apply to people of all ages including children and young people. Whilst education and the transition to adu…

11 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the local government finance allocation formula specifically relates to deprivation levels.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Although adjustments for deprivationwithin the local government finance distribution methodology are made to 25 servicesor sub-services, linked to allocations of over £2 billion out of a total currentprovision of £8.7 billion, it is not possible to give an ex…

14 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage tourists to Loch Lomond to visit Scotland¿s first National Park.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is working closely with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, as well as with VisitScotland, VisitBritain, the local enterprise companies, the local authorities and the local business community to ensure that the pa…

7 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the boundaries of the neighbouring boards to NHS Argyll and Clyde when it is dissolved at the end of March 2006.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I announced on 19 May the Executive’s decision to dissolve NHS Argyll and Clyde and consult on the boundaries of the boards – namely, NHS Greater Glasgow and NHS Highland – that will assume responsibility for the planning and provision of healthcare services …

30 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20781 by Rhona Brankin on 29 November 2005, how much funding was made available for enforcement costs to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: TheLoch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority is expectedto fund all its activities within its overall budget allocation. The Executive hasindicated that, to the extent that the park authority faced additional and previouslyunforeseen costs, associ…

24 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what service standards apply in respect of the timing of responses from public bodies, such as NHS Argyll and Clyde, to correspondence from MSPs and other elected members.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There is no national guidance for the timing of a response from public bodies to correspondence from MSPs and other elected members. However, the Scottish Executive would expect all public bodies to have agreed and published standards to responding to letters…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be provided to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and, specifically, what additional resources will be provided to assist with the enforcement of any proposed bye-laws in respect of speed and safety on Loch Lomond.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Following the outcome of the Spending Review in 2004, officials wrote to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority to indicate that its grant in aid allocation would rise from approximately £6.6 million in 2005-06 to approximately £6.9 million…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been provided in this financial year to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority to assist with enforcement measures on Loch Lomond.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: My predecessor Lewis Macdonald indicated to the Convener of the Park Authority that ministers would make additional funds available to the extent that there were additional and previously unforeseen enforcement costs falling on the authority which could not b…

7 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have introduced local bye-laws to ban the consumption of alcohol in public places.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There are currently 27 local authorities that have introduced byelaws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in designated public places. The local authorities are: Aberdeen City CouncilAngus CouncilArgyll and Bute CouncilClackmann…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mott MacDonald report, The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland, will directly influence its position in respect of the number of emergency fire control rooms.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have previously indicated that we recognise the contribution the report makes to the debate on improvement and modernisation of the fire and rescue service in Scotland. We will have due regard to the report’s recommendations, and representations made to us…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision about the future of emergency fire control rooms.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20189 on 9 November 2005. 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/webap…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specifically consult trade unions, including the Fire Brigades Union, on the future of emergency fire control rooms.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Trade unions had the opportunity to comment on the 2004 Mott MacDonald report The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland commissioned by the Scottish Executive. The Fire Brigades Union submitted its comments in response to that consultation e…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans further consultation with key fire service stakeholders regarding the future of emergency fire control rooms.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20191 on 10 November 2005. 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…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has been undertaken with key fire service stakeholders regarding the future of emergency fire control rooms.

Answer · Hugh Henry: All stakeholders were given the opportunity to comment on the 2004 Mott MacDonald report The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland commissioned by the Scottish Executive. We have indicated our intention to consult further with stakeholders f…

18 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has made any ex gratia payments to businesses for loss of earnings and inconvenience as a result of delayed completion of works.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have forwarded your inquiry to Scottish Waters Chief Executive and asked him to write to you.

18 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has paid any compensation to businesses for loss of earnings resulting from delayed completion of works.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have forwarded your inquiry to Scottish Waters Chief Executive and asked him to write to you.

14 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the provision of care in private sector-provided adult care institutions for people with learning disabilities to be consistent with the principle of moving away from institutional care, established in the The same as you?.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19867 on 3 November 2005. 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/webap…

14 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding is committed for people with learning disabilities being placed in private sector-provided adult care institutions.

14 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the use by NHS boards or local authorities of private sector-provided adult care institutions for people with learning disabilities.

14 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the existence of medium-sized private sector-provided adult care institutions for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is aware of private sector adult care institutions that provide services for people with learning disabilities and that some local authorities and NHS boards are commissioning such services. Information is not held centrally about the a…

13 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to provide the best possible standard of mental health provision for the elderly.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Care Commission regulates and monitors standards within care homes, day care services and care at home services for the elderly, including those with mental health problems. The NHS Health Scotland’s Later Life Programme and the Scottish Executive …

13 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how and when the recommendations of Report: Review of NHS 24 will be put into practice.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Of the 22 recommendations, most are for NHS 24 and the area NHS boards to progress, while some are for the health department. Work on a number of them has already begun. I expect the recommendations to be taken forward in partnership wherever that is appropri…

13 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken to further include ethnic minorities in health education schemes.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Health Scotland who have the remit to promote health improvement are reviewing all materials and resources they publish, including their health promotion material, over the next six to twelve months to ensure ethnic and cultural factors associated with he…

13 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken following the recent report that south Asians are more likely to suffer from fatal coronary heart disease.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I am aware of the report Heart Disease and South Asians, published jointly by the British Heart Foundation and the Department of Health in England. The report noted that South Asian people were more likely to die prematurely from coronary heart disease…