Questions · Karen Whitefield

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to deliver the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to double the number of school nurses.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are currentlyconsidering how best to increase nursing and other healthcare capacity inschools. The cost of doing so will depend on the option chosen.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to double the number of school nurses.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are currentlyconsidering how best to increase nursing and other health care capacity inschools.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide additional funding to deliver the additional 10,000 respite weeks per year for carers promised in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Answer · Shona Robison: Decisions about futurefunding will be taken in the spending review later this year.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to deliver the additional 10,000 respite weeks per year for carers promised in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-165 on 4 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.searc…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it plans to enhance services to support young carers.

Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 14 June 2007 anadditional £200,000 over the next two years to establish a young carer forum tohelp give young carers a greater voice in Scottish public life. Decisions about future funding will be taken in the spendingreview later this year.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reintroduce a school-based dental service.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are currentlyconsidering detailed options for delivering a school-based dental service forschool children in the most deprived areas.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve access to independent information on sexual health.

Answer · Shona Robison: The ScottishGovernment has appointed independent researchers from the University of Abertay to undertake a stock taking review ofRespect and Responsibility, Scotland’s National Sexual Health Strategy. Thereview will seek to identify any gaps in the implementa…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to deliver more flexible access to health services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Flexible access tohealth services forms part of the discussion framework set out in Better Health,Better Care which the Scottish Government published on 16 August 2007.Better Health,Better Care invites open discussionabout the Scottish Go…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of NHS physiotherapists.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Board workforce planspublished in April 2007 have predicted that the overall number of qualified physiotherapistsis projected to increase by 6.9% over the next three years.There were 2,137.5whole-time equivalent qualified Physiotherapists in NHSScotlan…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct NHS Lanarkshire to proceed with the planned construction of a new cancer centre at Monklands Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-998 on 22 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the two-month waiting time target for cancer patients to be diagnosed and treated is met in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have made clearthat I expect all NHS boards in Scotland to deliver the target of starting firsttreatment for at least 95% of cancer patients within 62 days of urgent referralby the end of this year. Boards are primarily responsible for achieving the targetf…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve and increase the use of park-and-ride facilities.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland, is working with rail industry partners to identify anddeliver station car park expansion opportunities across the country. Schemes atfive stations have already been funded for completion by the end of 2007, and moreare to follow. Significa…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the use of flexible working in the public sector.

Answer · John Swinney: As an employer,flexible working has formed a key part of the government’s Diversity Strategy, Positiveabout You, since its launch in November 2000 and it is our aim to ensurethat staff are able to enjoy a satisfactory work-life balance. To this end, we…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in identifying its surplus assets; what plans it has to dispose of these assets, and how much money such disposal will raise.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked JimMackinnon, the chief planner, to oversee a review of the government estate inScotland. The review will report to me with recommendations by the end ofDecember 2007, and will identify the scope for improvements to be made to thecurrent arrangem…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been saved by reducing the number of its departments from nine to six.

Answer · John Swinney: The ScottishExecutive is now led by a strategic board, consisting of the permanent secretaryand five directors general. The role of head of department no longer exists. A savingof £300,000 has been achieved by replacing eight head of department posts with fiv…

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide free access to council swimming pools for young people.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The provision of freeaccess to council swimming pools for young people is being considered as part of the local government settlement under the 2007 Spending Review.

21 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce rail journey times between Scottish cities.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are proposing severalinvestments to reduce rail journey times between Scottish cities that we aim totake forward as resources become available, for example:Glasgow to Edinburgh - I have asked Transport Scotland to assess optionsfor improving journey…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Shotts railway station will be made fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No date has been setfor when Shotts will be made fully accessible for people with disabilities.Under the Access forAll programme, eight stations have so far been selected to receive funding to improveaccess for disabled people. These initial eight stat…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide a high speed service on the Glasgow-Shotts-Edinburgh rail line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals forthe most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times andprovide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers betweenEdinburgh and Glasgow.…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invest in the rail line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Shotts.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals forthe most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times andprovide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers betweenEdinburgh and Glasgow,…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new bridge across the M8 at Harthill Service Station to be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2612 on 23 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the new bridge across the M8 at Harthill Service Station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Competitive tenderswere received from three contractors on 10 August 2007. These are now being assessed and, if found to be satisfactory,work is expected to start this autumn and be completed in 12 months.

25 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available details of a Scottish Futures Trust to local authorities before the end of 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1736 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

25 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring proposals for a Scottish Futures Trust to the Parliament before the end of 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1736 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase citizens’ access to culture.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to questionS3W-1447 answered on 25 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at:<ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assess the success of the Youth Music Initiative.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Work on this has beencompleted already. The Primary 6 Target Report, published in January 2007, assessedthe success of each local authority in reaching the primary school target set bythe then administration. And an evaluation of the first three years of the …

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £40 million for new school building, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 (Official Report c. 882), will be received by each local authority.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested isin the following table. The distribution amongst authorities is linked to ourcommitment to reduce class sizes in P1-P3. Therefore, 95% of the distributionof the additional resources has been based on primary school occupancy rates,…

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the additional 300 new teachers, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 (Official Report c. 880), will be employed in teaching P1, P2 or P3 classes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The provision of theadditional funding is primarily to allow local authorities to employ additionalteachers in pre-school and in P1 to P3 in deprived areas. The employment and deploymentof teachers is a matter for local authorities.

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the additional 300 new teachers, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007 (Official Report c. 880), will be employed in each local authority area.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Funding amountingto £9 million in a full year is being distributed on the basis of GAE indicatorsfor primary teaching to employ 300 teachers. The employment of teachers in teachingposts is a matter for local authorities.

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) P1, (b) P2 and (c) P3 classes will have 18 pupils or fewer in each local authority area in August 2007.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information will not beavailable until February 2008, when the results of the 2007 Pupil Census arepublished.