Mary Scanlon

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that mature students, over the age of 25, should be able to access all student discounts in relation to travel subsidies.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive provides help with travel costs for mature students under further and higher education funding. Student discounts for travel are commercial decisions made by travel operators at their discretion.</p>

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its expenditure has been on the creation and support of social enterprises in the last three years, broken down by departmental portfolio.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not collected centrally.</p>

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that people with mental health problems, who are not working, are given the opportunity to participate in a social enterprise.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive recognises the import role that the social economy sector plays in providing training and employment opportunities for people, particularly those from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. A number of social economy organisations provide…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19830 by Allan Wilson on 9 November 2005, what plans are being made to increase the number of trained planners in order to implement the proposed planning Bill.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The research recently commissioned by the Executive on the subject of Resources for Planning examined, among other matters, issues relating to the supply and demand for planning staff and their professional education and training. The Executive will be discus…

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guideline in respect of multiple sclerosis will be implemented in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20517 on 21 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/weba…

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in relation to delivering a clinical guideline based on National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The NHS in Scotland should take account of all relevant evidence, including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines in their area when planning and delivering services.</p> <p>NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has set …

4 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20084 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 November 2005, what information it has on how the childcare subsidy provided to parents under the Working for Families Fund affects the working family tax credit paid to those parents.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The subsidy provided varies between parents as the amount is based on individual need. However, the subsidy usually takes the form of funding 100% of child care costs for the parent for a short, time-limited period only. It is then replaced by the child care …

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the affordability of home ownership for first-time buyers, in light of the figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders which show that the number of first-time buyers in Scotland has fallen from 50,000 in 2002 to 32,000 in 2004.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive recognises the difficulties faced by first-time buyers. We are investing £1.2 billion in affordable homes, for affordable rent and low cost home ownership (LCHO), over this and the next two years. This represents an 80% expansion in the LCHO pro…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to train cognitive behavioural therapists.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Since 2003 the Scottish Executivehas provided additional funding, through NHS Education for Scotland (NES), to supportthe expansion of pre-registration training capacity for psychological care. Thishas particularly been aimed at Masters level training, and ha…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to extend the use of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of people affected by depression.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS Education for Scotland in association with Stirling University now offer an MSc in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The first course ends in January 2006.</p> <p>Additionally, the Doing Well by People with Depression Programme sponsored by the Scottis…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to promote self-management of depression.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is sponsoring the Doing Well by People with Depression Programme over a three year period from April 2003. The programme is seeking to build capacity for self help and to improve access on a sustainable basis to psychological therapies …

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether cognitive behavioural therapy treatment is offered as an option to all people affected by depression.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The promotion of individual care therapies and treatments are a matter for clinicians in consultation with the relevant professional staff/multi-disciplinary team. Decisions in each case should always be based on individually assessed clinical needs.</p> <p>T…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether resources allocated for the provision of childcare through the Working for Families Fund have resulted in reduced costs of childcare for families (a) moving towards and (b) in employment.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Working for Families has resultedin reduced costs of child care for a number of families who have moved towards andinto employment. Financial assistance has been provided in the form of a child caresubsidy, provided to parents for a limited time at key transi…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many parents are now in employment as a result of assistance from the Working for Families Fund.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: At 30 June 2005, 301 parents registered with Working for Families had experienced a successful transition, including to full and part-time employment, training or education, volunteer work and improved or sustained employment. The current number entering empl…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will audit and measure spending by local authorities under the Working for Families Fund to ensure that resources are allocated according to the greatest need.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Allocations of Working for Families funding were made to local authorities based on the numbers of children in households dependent on key benefits.</p> <p>Working for Families services are targeted towards lone parents, parents on low income and parents with…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of spending under the Working for Families Fund.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The allocations of Working for Families funding for 2004-06 and 2006-08 were announced on 9 December 2003 and 23 August 2005 respectively. The following tables give details:</p> <p>Table 1 – Local Authorities receiving funding 2004-08</p><table border=1 cell…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why no subsidy is paid to Pentland Ferries for the transportation of people and livestock across the Pentland Firth, when £23 million has been paid to Northlink for its service.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive supportsa ferry service across the Pentland Firth as part of a grant awarded following a competitive tenderprocess under European Union state aid rules and maritime guidelines. Successivegovernments have supported a ferry service on thi…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the design of new housing will be more pedestrian-friendly.

Answer · Johann Lamont: My department has commissioned research into the urban design aspects of new residential streets, and into the associated process of road construction consent. The objective is to demonstrate that new residential areas can be designed with the needs of people…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it can ensure that adequate land supply is allocated for development, including housing.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Development plans are the main vehicle for identifying land for development, including housing. Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3) sets out the need for development allocation of land in plans to reflect assessments of housing needs in allocating land for hous…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its planning proposals will ensure the development of mixed communities where people are able to work and live and reduce the emphasis on zoning land for single usage.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Development planning provides a framework to deliver better outcomes, by coordinating economic, social and environmental factors and ensuring that long term consequences and short term effects of development and change can be addressed.</p> <p>The white paper…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken against local authorities who fail to produce an up-to-date development plan, as outlined in the White Paper, Modernising the Planning System.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The white paper proposes to place a statutory duty on local authorities to update all development plans within five years of the date of adoption or approval.</p> <p>Where serious failures occur, ministers will have powers to request information from planning…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities have an up-to-date development plan, as outlined in the White Paper, Modernising the Planning System.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The white paper proposes that there will be a statutory duty placed on local authorities to update all development plans within five years of the date of adoption or approval.</p> <p>We will work in partnership with planning authorities to deliver the package…

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why 12 months has been selected as a prospective time limit for delivery of first infertility treatment for couples joining an NHS board waiting list, as stated in paragraph 6.5 of Review of Access Criteria for Infertility Services in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The suggested time limit for delivery of the first infertility treatment within 12 months is designed to be challenging, but achievable across Scotland as a whole. As part of the consultation exercise launched on 8 September 2005, any comments respondents hav…

14 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a response to the findings of the report by Ove Arup and Partners on resources for planning, published in July 2005.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The report has not yet been published. We expect to publish it around the time the Planning Bill is introduced to Parliament. While the Executive will not be publishing a formal response to the report, it will assist in informing debate on the proposals for r…

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken against local authorities who continue to charge for "assisting with the preparation of food" in contravention of the provisions in schedule 1 of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 in respect of social care not ordinarily charged for.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Only the courts can decide whether a particular local authority has acted in contravention of the law in any particular case, and it is open to any individual with a direct interest to seek a judicial ruling on his or her particular case in a court of law. Th…

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many trained planners are expected to graduate in each year of the next four years, broken down by institution.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of future graduatesdepends on the number of places offered by institutions, the number of studentschoosing the particular subject and remaining with that subject and their successat gaining a qualification. All these are matters determined by the u…

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure an adequate number of training planners in order to (a) meet the requirements of forthcoming planning legislation and (b) ensure a sufficient number of new entrants to the profession to replace those due to retire in the next five to 10 years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: (a) Planning Development Budget, established after the 2004 Spending Review, aims to address training needs and skills gaps of local authority planners. This significant investment (£2.25 million over three years) will play an important role in helping local …

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority planning departments will be required to achieve a level of self funding on the basis of higher fees, as proposed in the white paper on planning.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Executive operates apolicy of 100% recovery of costs incurred by planning authorities in handlingapplications from the initial registration to decision stage.</p>

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates have qualified as trained planners in each of the last five years.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The number of graduates fromScottish higher education institutions in planning subjects in the past five yearsis given in the following table.</p><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center> Academic Year</p> </td> …

12 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for qualified planning officers in each local authority.

Answer · Johann Lamont: This information is not heldcentrally. The most recent Planning Establishment Survey carried out by the ScottishSociety of Directors of Planning in 2003 recorded a total number of 1,673 full-timeequivalent posts within Scottish local authority planning depart…