Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings in the Audit Scotland report, Managing ICT contracts: An audit of three public sector programmes, that (a) the quality of business cases and options appraisals varied and the benefits were not clearly defined, (b) governance arrangements were not effe…
Answer · John Swinney: We acknowledge the findings and welcome the recommendations, and the recognition in the report that the lessons learned by the individual bodies have been acted upon. The current position is we have taken steps by writing to all central government bodies on 3…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has ensured that the findings of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Disclosure Scotland and Registers of Scotland lessons learned exercises from their ICT programmes are made available across the public sector, as recommended in Audit Scotland's report, Managing ICT c…
Answer · John Swinney: The governance arrangements put in place following the McClelland Review of Public Sector ICT Infrastructure include sectoral boards for central government, local government, health, further and higher education, police and fire. These boards come together th…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a strategic review of the ICT skills available in its organisation.
Answer · John Swinney: The core Scottish Government and the Central Government sector’s ICT skills will be reviewed as part of the public sector wide actions set out in Scotland’s Digital Futures: Delivery of Public Services which will be published on 20 September 2012. This will i…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it was "unable to provide the three public bodies with all the advice and support they sought", as noted in the Audit Scotland report, Managing ICT contracts: An audit of three public sector programmes.
Answer · John Swinney: As noted in the Audit Scotland report the core Scottish Government is not responsible for providing advice on all ICT programmes in central government bodies. The report itself notes the areas on which the three public bodies approached the core Scottish Gove…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the lack of ICT specialist skills and experience highlighted in Audit Scotland's report, Managing ICT contracts: An audit of three public sector programmes.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland’s Digital Futures: Delivery of Public Services will be published on 20 September 2012 and will set out our actions to review the capacity and the capability of the ICT Workforce across the public sector. This will include refreshing the baseline sinc…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the outcome of the government-funded trials on the use of Myrica gale (bog myrtle), what progress there has been in its development as a crop for industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Public funding to support the developing of bog myrtle as a crop for industry has been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is an operational matter for the agency. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation has been paid to (a) patients whose health has been affected by and (b) families of patients that have died as a result of hospital acquired infection.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not itself hold information on compensation paid out to patients or families of deceased patients in relation to healthcare associated infection (HAI). However, we have been advised by NHS National Services Scotland (Central Lega…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken if NHS boards fail to ensure that the patient environment is cleaned in line with the NHS Scotland National Cleaning Services Specification (2009).
Answer · Alex Neil: Monitoring of compliance with the National Cleaning Services Specification (2009) is undertaken by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS). Where NHS boards fail to meet the required level of compliance, HFS will ensure that the board puts in place a remedial action…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what disciplinary action is taken against NHS staff who fail to comply with standard infection control procedures.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is a matter for individual NHS boards, as the employer, to deal with disciplinary procedures concerning any failures by staff to comply with the appropriate policies relating to standard infection control procedures.
6 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much annual "island allowance" is paid by (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) Western Isles Council, broken down by employment category.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Information on how much Island Councils pay their employees annually in distant islands allowance is not held centrally. This is a matter for councils as independent corporate bodies responsible for the pay and conditions of service of their employees.
6 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to establishing fixed infrastructure links between islands in Shetland.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is not considering establishing any fixed infrastructure links between the Shetland Islands. Our plans are described within the Scottish Government’s 2011 Infrastructure Investment Plan.
6 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is given to Orkney and Shetland Islands Councils to provide inter-island ferry links.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with around £11.5 billion in 2012-13. Orkney Islands Council will receive over £76 million this year, whilst Shetland Islands Council will receive over £98.5 million. The vast majority of this …
6 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on the economy, how it will ensure that there are sufficient graduate engineers to meet the needs of the North Sea oil and gas industry in future years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that we have the skills to capitalise on the opportunities that the oil and gas industry presents for jobs and growth in Scotland and I have listed below the key activities being taken forward. Energy Skills A…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of fires and casualties in Scotland has not fallen as quickly as in other parts of the UK, as noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue services in Scotland: Overview report.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08907 on 15 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of house fires and deaths in Scotland is around double the level in England and Wales, as noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue services in Scotland: Overview report.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08907 on 15 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason primary fires in Scotland are at 2.5 for every 1,000 people compared with 1.8 in England and Wales, as noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue services in Scotland: Overview report.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A detailed examination of these issues is set out in Scotland Together: A Study Examining Fire Deaths and Injuries in Scotland, commissioned by the Scottish Government and published in 2009, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Informatio…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the sickness absence rate for firefighters in 2010-11, at 10 days per firefighter for the Highlands and Islands and Lothian fire and rescue services and over seven days for Grampian, Tayside and Strathclyde, as noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue se…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Issues arising from sickness absence and attendance management are matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Authorities.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the discrepancy in the percentage of operational firefighters who are women, at 4.6%, compared with 46% of police officers, 42% of ambulance staff and 26% of prison wardens, as noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue services in Scotland: Overview report…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Recruitment to Fire and Rescue Services is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Authorities. However the Transitional Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2012 sets out the Scottish Government’s expectations that services build on the work already done…
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the backlog of around £17 million in capital work for the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, noted in the report, Best Value in fire and rescue services in Scotland: Overview report, will be addressed prior to the formation of the single fire service.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As was highlighted by Audit Scotland in their Best Value review of Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Government has already provided enhanced levels of capital funding to the service. It is a matter for Highlands and Islands Joint Fire and Rescue Board, wit…
22 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which agency is responsible for inspecting NHS care services for older people.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Healthcare Improvement Scotland is responsible for supporting, ensuring and monitoring the quality of NHS care, including that of older people.
22 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the pathway of care provision for older people that is provided by (a) GPs, (b) the NHS, (c) social work departments and (d) (i) integrated and (ii) individual care providers is inspected.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Integrated working between health and social care scrutiny bodies is important in assuring the quality of care, including that of older people. This joined up working will continue to be important as we move towards the integration of health and social care. …
22 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Care Inspectorate ensures that the social work component of home care for older people is inspected.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08816 on 23 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on absenteeism for (a) Scottish Government employees, (b) NHS employees, (c) police service employees and (d) teachers for 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: The following table gives the average working days lost (AWDL) per full-time equivalent employee in Scottish Government Core Directorates. 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 1 April 201…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set a target of 10% energy efficiency savings from its own estate within a year, as the UK Government has done.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Rather than focus on a short-term, one year target, the Scottish Government is committed to achieving a far reaching reduction in our energy use. As outlined in the previous reply S4W-07454 on 13 June 2012 by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, w…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public sector bodies have set targets for energy efficiency; what the targets are, and what progress there has been to date.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government published Conserve and Save: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland in October 2010. This plan introduced, for the first time, a headline target to reduce final energy (end-use) consumption by 12% by 2020 using a 2005-07 baseli…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Carbon Trust methodology for setting appropriate public sector energy efficiency targets will be completed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A methodology for setting appropriate public sector energy efficiency targets has been developed by the Carbon Trust as part of a suite of support interventions. This methodology is available to all public bodies who are involved in setting energy efficiency …
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage school leavers to enter the manufacturing industry.
Answer · Angela Constance: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) works closely with schools, colleges and other partners to offer guidance on the wide range of career options open to young people. Their career services include face-to-face and telephone information, advice and guidance, a…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that the school education system prepares pupils for the workplace.
Answer · Michael Russell: From 2003-2011 Determined to Succeed, our national enterprise in education strategy, helped develop the enterprise, entrepreneurial and employability skills of our young people, better preparing them for learning, life and work. The strategy was embedded with…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) NHS boards, (b) local authorities and (c) voluntary sector organisations have a one-stop-shop model for the provision of local services for people with autism.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following the launch of the Scottish Strategy for Autism, in February 2012, I announced as a spending priority the roll-out of One Stop Shops across Scotland. One Stop Shops to provide local services for people with autism have already been established in Ed…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) NHS boards and (b) local authorities have an autism mapping coordinator in place.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following the launch of the Scottish Strategy for Autism, in February 2012, I announced as a spending priority the roll-out of local autism coordinators across Scotland. National Autism Mapping Coordinators, led by a Project Leader, have been appointed from …