Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to take forward its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of excess alcohol consumption, How much is too much?.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive is currently reviewing the How much is too much? campaign following completion of the first phase last year.<P>Learning from this review will be used to take forward a communications campaign which will seek to integrate core national messages w…
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects statistics on alcohol-related accidents from accident and emergency units.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to deal with alcohol problems in (a) young people and (b) all other age groups.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The <I>Plan for Action on alcohol problems</I>, published in January last year, sets out a range of measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Action is grouped into the areas of culture change, prevention and education, providing support and treatm…
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the performance management system for senior civil servants is likely to be reviewed and what input it will have to any such review.
Answer · Andy Kerr: An evaluation of the first year of the new Senior Civil Service Performance Management and Pay arrangements has been carried out by the Cabinet Office with support from consultants. As a major employer of senior civil servants, the Scottish Executive particip…
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31557 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2002, how many (a) top tranche performers were awarded 3% of their salary as opposed to the fixed sum of #3,000 and (b) middle tranche performers were awarded 3% of their salary as opposed to the fixed sum of #2,00…
Answer · Andy Kerr: In the top tranche three people were awarded a bonus of 3% of salary. The total value of those bonus payments was £9,205. In the middle tranche 17 people were awarded a bonus of 3% of salary. The total value of those bonus payments was £40,817.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, whether 360-degree appraisals are used in the performance management of its senior civil servants and whether such appraisals are used elsewhere in the civil service.
Answer · Andy Kerr: All members of the senior civil service have had the opportunity to participate in 360-degree feedback, the result of which are relevant to the development discussion which is part of the appraisal process.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, by what process the delivery of results is judged in the performance management system operating in the senior civil service.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Judgements on the delivery of results required in the annual performance agreement are made by the reporting officers and discussed with the staff member being reported on as part of the open reporting process.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, what weight is attached to (a) delivery of results, (b) continuous improvement and (c) relative performance in the performance management of its senior civil servants.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The delivery of results and continuous improvement are equally important and contribute to the assessment of relative performance.
6 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the policy and financial management review of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The review is now complete and the report is being published today. The key recommendations of the report are as follows:<P>1.1 Focus on users and carers. The report makes two recommendations to improve the representation of views from users and carers to the…
18 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Report of the Review of Scottish Screen.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Report of the Review of Scottish Screen was published by the Scottish Executive today. Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25733).
9 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide any financial assistance for disadvantaged households for first-time connections to the sewerage system.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has no such plans.
9 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation will inform its consideration of policy on first-time connections to the sewerage system.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to supporting Argyll and Clyde NHS Board in maintaining a full range of services north of the River Clyde in order to meet the needs of the local population.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An important part of the responsibilities of each NHS board is to plan and ensure the provision of sustainable health care services to meet the needs of their populations. I expect NHS Argyll and Clyde, and the interim management team whose appointment I anno…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when an acute services review in the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area will commence and what the expected completion date is.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The appointment of the interim management team to NHS Argyll and Clyde, which I announced on 17 December, enables a range of strategic and operational issues to be addressed. The board and the interim management team are expected to bring forward plans for a …
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist Argyll and Clyde NHS Board in restoring maternity services to the Vale of Leven District General Hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The appointment of the interim management team to NHS Argyll and Clyde, which I announced on 17 December, enables a range of strategic and operational issues to be addressed. Work had already begun on a review of maternity services across Argyll and Clyde. Th…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate any management failures that contributed to the resignation of staff at the Vale of Leven District General Hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The support team that I sent in to NHS Argyll and Clyde on 26 September 2002 to help the chairman of the board and his colleagues address management issues across the NHS board area concluded that there were strategic management shortcomings that needed to be…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the local recruitment policy operated by Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in relation to personnel from abroad is in keeping with employment legislation.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Recruitment policies are matters for the relevant NHS bodies, in this case NHS Argyll and Clyde, who must satisfy themselves that practice is consistent with current employment legislation. The Health Department is not aware of any conflict between recruitmen…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct a review of local recruitment policy operated by Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust that inhibits the recruitment of appropriately qualified personnel from abroad even when such personnel are sponsored by the Royal Colleges.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I know that recruitment and retention of skilled staff is a major issue for NHS Argyll and Clyde, as elsewhere in NHSScotland. The new interim management team, whose appointment I announced on 17 December, will review staff recruitment and retention among oth…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it and Argyll and Clyde NHS Board intend to take to address recruitment issues at the Vale of Leven District General Hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The appointment of the interim management team to NHS Argyll and Clyde, which I announced on 17 December, enables a range of strategic and operational issues to be addressed. Among these, I expect that the board and the management team will consider recruitme…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement in full the recommendations of the expert support team called in to Argyll and Clyde NHS Board and, if so, what the timescale for so doing will be.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32073 on 5 December 2002. 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.u…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the expert support team called in to Argyll and Clyde NHS Board will report.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I met with the Expert Support Team on Friday 29 November. I asked them to complete their report and make a presentation to Argyll and Clyde NHS Board within the next few days. I will make an announcement soon thereafter.
26 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase the percentage of people with combined learning difficulties and sight loss that appear on the blind or partially-sighted register as a first step to ensuring that appropriate services are made available for this section of the community.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Local authorities and their partners in the NHS are developing databases of people with learning disabilities, including those with sensory impairments. Inclusion on existing, separate, blind and partially sighted registers is voluntary and a Scottish Executi…
26 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that the eye health and vision needs of residents to be discharged from Scottish Learning Disability Hospitals are effectively assessed and addressed as part of planning in respect of The same as you?.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Individuals with a learning disability being discharged from long-stay hospitals should have a comprehensive multi-agency assessment of all their care needs. This includes their individual health needs, and should cover their eye health and vision needs.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to correspondence on the use of Coagucheck strips sent on 1 July and 18 September 2002 to the Minister for Health and Community Care.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I apologise for the delay in dealing with your letter of 1 July 2002, a reply has now been issued. We can find no trace in the office of a letter dated 18 September 2002.
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the differential in total salary increases was between the senior civil service and the Scottish Executive Main Bargaining Unit in respect of (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The first year of the new senior civil service pay system, introduced on 1 April 2002, allowed for awards of between 0% to 10%. The average increase for the senior civil service in the Scottish Executive for 2002-03 was 6.2%. The average increase for the Scot…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average bonus was in respect of the top, middle and bottom tranches of performance for the senior civil service, expressed both in percentage and cash terms; whether such bonuses are given in addition to cost of living increases, and what other salary premiums are paid.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The average bonus in respect of the top tranche was £3,000 and for the 33% of the middle tranche was £2,000. Bonuses do not apply to the bottom tranche.<P>No cost of living increase applies, all pay awards are performance related and bonuses are paid in addit…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what means performance is determined in the senior civil service in respect of core pay bands 1, 2 and 3 covering JESP job weight ranges 7-12, 13-18 and 19-22.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The performance management system operating within the senior civil service, throughout the Home Civil Service, is based on the achievement of agreed objectives for each member of the senior civil service. The process takes account of continuous improvement a…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion it has in respect of the main elements of the senior civil service pay package introduced in April 2002 and whether it will give details of how any such discretion has been exercised.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The pay band structure consists of three bands, but provided for a fourth to be used if departments perceived a need. The Scottish Executive decided to use all four bands as a way of providing more flexibility.<P>The non-consolidated bonus pot was predetermin…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31129 by Mr Frank McAveety on 11 November 2002, whether the information that will be available on the learning disability review website will include (a) clear data on local authorities that have not appointed local area co-ordinators (LACs), (b) inf…
Answer · Frank McAveety: The level of detail available will depend on the information provided in each local authority's Partnership in Practice Agreement. It is unlikely that each authority will have provided the level of detail referred to in the question. The short-life working gr…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31129 by Mr Frank McAveety on 11 November 2002, on what date the information on the appointment of local area co-ordinators will be made available on the learning disability review website.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Partnership in Practice Agreements and supplementary information for most local authorities is now available on the learning disability review website, along with the Executive's feedback to every area. Some local authorities have not yet provided electronic …