Mary Mulligan

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive following its discussions with COSLA, as referred to by the First Minister at First Minister’s Question Time on 15 November 2007, when parents can expect a fully qualified nursery teacher for every child in nursery school.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The concordat withCOSLA includes an agreement to provide access to a nursery teacher for every pre-schoolchild as soon as possible. We will be developing guidance in partnership with localgovernment on the deployment of teachers in pre-school education. The a…

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4292 by Adam Ingram on 4 October 2007, whether the Scottish Government can now state how many teachers would be required to deliver a fully qualified nursery teacher in every class for every nursery age child.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The number of teachersrequired to provide every pre-school child with access to a teacher will dependon the way in which teachers are deployed. The concordat with COSLA includes anagreement to give every pre-school child access to a teacher as soon as possibl…

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a peripatetic teacher visiting a nursery school on a regular basis is sufficient to fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide access to a fully qualified teacher for every nursery child.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The level of teacherinvolvement required in pre-school education will depend on the characteristicsof each individual centre. Different models of teacher involvement, including peripateticteachers, may be appropriate depending on the type of centre and the wa…

14 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when I can expect a reply from the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to my letter of 25 October 2007 asking when an announcement on a Blackridge Station will be made.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A response to yourletter was issued on 20 November 2007.</p>

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to streamline the disclosure process to ensure that multiple applications no longer occur.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 willestablish a new vetting and barring scheme which will reduce bureaucracy aroundthe disclosure process for individuals working with children and/or protected adults.Under the current…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the use of the provisional element of the Disqualified from Working with Children List, given that people who are provisionally listed are still able to work with children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We do not have plansto review provisional listing in the Disqualified from Working with Children List(DWCL).</p><p>Individuals can workin child care positions during provisional listing although we know of very fewwho are working as such. Provisional listing …

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is of operatiing a provisional Disqualified from Working with Children List.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Our view is that provisionalinclusion in the Disqualified from Working with Children List (DWCL) is necessarywhere the criteria for provisional listing are met.</p><p>Once a referral isreceived from an organisation such as the individual’s former employer, th…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for how long 10 former employees from Kerelaw school have been on the provisional Disqualified from Working with Children List and how long it will be before their case is considered.

Answer · Adam Ingram: On 12 November 2007 there were 11 former employees of Kerelaw school andsecure unit provisionally listed in the Disqualified from Working with ChildrenList (DWCL).</p><p>Two individuals were provisionally listed towards theend of 2005, five in 2006 and four d…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for how long each of the 32 people provisionally listed on the Disqualified from Working with Children List have been so listed.

Answer · Adam Ingram: On 12 November 2007,there were 30 individuals provisionally listed on the Disqualified from Workingwith Children List (DWCL). This includes three individuals who are each provisionallylisted for two different incidents thus making 33 provisional listings. In …

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional resources will be made available to support the implementation of the strengthened Scottish Vetting and Barring Scheme that is due to go live in summer 2009.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We are committed toensuring that the implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland)Act 2007 is carefully managed and that all sectors and users are supported throughthe transition from the existing multiple disclosure regime to the new strea…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a draft code of practice will be published on sharing information where there are concerns about the welfare of children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The government hasrecently sought a wide range of views on a draft Code of Practice for Sharing Informationwhen there are concerns about a child. The 87 responses are currently being analysed.Those views will inform the redrafting of the code in coming months…

24 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists will complete training in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011.

Answer · Shona Robison: The needs of theNHS for audiologists are met partly through the BSc (audiology) course run by Queen Margaret University and partly through in-house training. Workforce planning will addressthe numbers required for the future demands on the service to meet the…

24 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists it estimates it needs to ensure that an 18-week whole patient journey target is reached.

Answer · Shona Robison: A delivery programmeand action plans for audiology will be agreed with NHS boards to ensure this standardis in place by the target date of 2011. The workforce planning processes in placein each board include audiologists, and action plans will include workfor…

24 Oct 2007 · Written Question

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

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on Audiologistsis included under Medical Technical Officers (MTOs), and Scientificand Professional groupings, in the centrally held data. Of these, Audiological Scientistsand Audiological Technicians can be explicitly identified. Head count andwho…

24 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will agree to contracts being made with the private sector if an 18-week whole patient journey target for audiology services is not being delivered in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: As indicated by theCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in response to the answer to questionS3W-2159 on 31 July 2007 and during the parliamentary debate on waiting times, on24 October 2007, the Scottish Government’s position is that NHS boards can cont…

24 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the delivery of an 18-week whole patient journey target for audiology services in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: No discussions haveyet been held with NHS Lothian since I formally announced, on 23 October 2007, the18-week target for audiology to be delivered by 2011. Discussions will take placewith NHS Lothian shortly to ensure that there is an action plan for implement…

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is shaping the views, expectations and skills of young and future fathers.

Answer · Adam Ingram: <i>Children,Fathers and Fatherhood</i> isa Children in Scotland project directly funded by the ScottishGovernment. It aims to explore, promote and support the involvement of fathers inthe care of their children. In addition, the Government is committed toenha…

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it is making to its employment practices to support and encourage a better work/life balance for fathers.

Answer · John Swinney: As an employer,the aim of the Scottish Government is to help all staff achieve a satisfactorywork-life balance. To this end, the opportunity to apply to work a range of flexiblepatterns is already available to all staff, at all grades, including fathers.</p><…

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to identify and address barriers to fathers’ involvement in children’s lives and accessing family services.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The ScottishGovernment is funding Parenting Across Scotland, a multi-agency partnershipproject led by Children 1st. Its aim is to research the concerns and issuesaffecting those in a parenting role and represent the views of parents inpolicy.</p><p>In additio…

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote the importance of involving fathers in health, education and social work services.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The ScottishGovernment is actively encouraging all parents, including fathers, to beinvolved in their children’s lives. Examples of this are the 2006 ParentalInvolvement Act, which seeks the engagement of parents in their children’seducation and the funding o…

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the implementation of the Gender Equality Duty at national and local levels includes fathers.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is a matterfor individual public authorities to ensure they comply with the genderequality duty. While responsibility for providing support and guidance for the dutylies with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Scottish Governmentworked with the …

15 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to gather comprehensive data and qualitative evidence about fathers’ and children’s experiences of parental involvement.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Information isbeing collected via the Growing Up in Scotland Study on fathers’ activities andbehaviours with their children; and via the Millennium Cohort Study on the roleof fathers in children’s lives on a UK-wide basis.</p><p>Funding is alsobeing provided …

10 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding the flying of flags on public buildings.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government’sflag flying guidance is issued to The Convention of Scottish Local Authoritieson an annual basis or when it is revised. Matters relating to the flying offlags on local authority buildings are determined by the relevant localauthority.…

4 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Scottish Government has to ensure that housing repossession is used by lenders only as a last resort.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The requested informationis presented in the following table.</p><p>Number of Patients whoStayed in a Non-Obstetric, Non-Psychiatric Hospital Overnight on Christmas Day (seenote 2) in each Year Since 2000; by Health Board of Treatment (including GoldenJubilee…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-456 by Jim Mather on 8 June 2007, when the consultation on extending access to broadband technology will end.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1407 on 11 July 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-456 by Jim Mather on 8 June 2007, which members of the public and potential suppliers are being consulted on extending access to broadband technology.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Executive hasnow completed its consultation events with both the industry and the public.</p><p>A consultation washeld on 8 May with potential broadband suppliers from across the UK. Two further consultation meetings took place on 18 Mayand 7 June with in…

20 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the providers of family support services regarding their services.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Scottish Executiveofficials have held regular discussions with the four national family support bodies- Scottish Marriage Care, Relate Scotland, Family MediationScotland and Stepfamily Scotland - as well as engaging with providers of localfamily support servi…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, whether the Minister is aware of the statement by Fiona Hyslop on 28 March 2007 that the SNP has made a public commitment to legislate for and fund the building of the Blackridge station (Official Report c. 336…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentwishes to see Blackridge station delivered on the understanding that this will beat minimum additional cost to the public purse. We expect substantial contributionsto the cost to be made by property developers whose business will benefi…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to enable broadband technology to be available to the village of Westfield.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-456 on 8 June 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.searc…

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the misuse of alcohol throughout Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish governmentrecognises that alcohol misuse represents a significant challenge to the publichealth of Scotland today.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentwill:</p><p>build on and developthe programme of work set out in the <i>Updated Plan for Action on Alc…