Patricia Ferguson

28 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial help is available to people who have Prader-Willi syndrome.

Answer · Michael Matheson: People with Prader-Willi syndrome are entitled to apply for all relevant benefits. Advice on benefits is available from: https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits or by telephone on: 0345 712 3456.

28 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what NHS support is available to people who have Prader-Willi syndrome.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are a range of services and support for people with Prader-Willi syndrome. For example, for specialist care there is a Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic, held quarterly at the Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19375 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, whether the review of the Clean Air Act 1993 has been completed and, if so, whether the current guidance is to be strengthened in relation to the enforcement of the Act to address the emission of particul…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The review of the Clean Air Act 1993 is being undertaken jointly with the other UK administrations and is still ongoing. It is due to be completed in early 2015. After this, a decision will be made on whether the current guidance requires updating. One eleme…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19374 by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 February 2014, when it will issue new guidance to local authorities in respect of their local air quality management (LAQM) duties.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Work to revise the LAQM system is currently ongoing, taking into account the outcomes of the 2013 consultation. The intention is to have the revised system in place for the start of the next local authority reporting year in April 2015, including updated guid…

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used when determining whether a child’s cochlear implants should be replaced.

Answer · Alex Neil: Each child receives at least an annual review. This review for each child assesses the performance of the sound processor, makes adjustments to the processor to maximise performance and assesses clinical benefit. Where insufficient clinical benefit is obtaine…

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to replace a cochlear implant in a child.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A cochlear implant is a surgically embedded device. The cost of a unilateral cochlear implant is £20,722. This cost includes the internal component (the cochlear implant) and the external component (the sound processor at £5,000) and also includes theatre sta…

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for upgrading cochlear implants in children is for 2014-15.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Upgrades are possible for the external sound processor component of the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant as an internally embedded device is only replaced if there is equipment failure or medical complications (these are rare occurrences). The budget f…

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to have cochlear implants updated.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of children (under 16 years of age) with a processor over five years old and therefore in scope for sound processor upgrade is 131.

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are waiting to be fitted with cochlear implants.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently seven children awaiting cochlear implant surgery.

6 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often cochlear implants in children should be (a) reviewed, (b) replaced and (c) upgraded.

Answer · Michael Matheson: a) There is no specific guidance on the frequency of reviewing cochlear implant equipment in children. Nonetheless all Scottish child users of cochlear implants are currently reviewed at least on an annual basis and the functionality of their implants and sou…

4 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Scotland will undertake a review of the fire suppression and fire prevention systems in place in its properties as a result of the fire at the Glasgow School of Art.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland keeps fire safety under frequent review and fire risk is something that is constantly scrutinised across sites. Historic Scotland is aware of the continuing responsibility to protect both the historic environment and visitors and staff from …

4 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the properties in the care of Historic Scotland are equipped with fire suppression systems.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As a result of on-going assessments of risk, four category A listed properties in the care of Historic Scotland currently have fire suppression systems. These are Duff House and Corgarff Castle, which are both in Aberdeenshire, The Palace at Stirling Castle a…

4 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice is available to the owners of historic and architecturally significant properties concerning the installation of fire suppression systems.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2010 Historic Scotland published ‘Guide for Practitioners 7: Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings’ which outlines the full range of fire protection systems available including automatic suppression systems. The guide also explains the different …

2 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board.

23 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that all publicly funded bodies that commission artists should endorse the rates of pay recommended by the Scottish Artists Union.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government believes that it absolutely vital for our economy and for our society that work pays and that work pays fairly. The Scottish Government therefore supports the principle of a fair rate of pay for artists.

23 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that galleries in receipt of public funds should pay an exhibition fee to artists.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Fees for exhibitions are a matter for negotiation between the organisation and artist involved on a case by case basis. The benefits to an artist may of course go beyond the immediate financial return. The Scottish Government is however supportive of the prin…

28 Apr 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement the recommendations of Lord Cullen's Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation.

17 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address low life expectancy rates in Glasgow.

17 Apr 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with Glasgow City Council concerning the future of the site of the Red Road flats following the demolition of the existing buildings.

3 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements have been made to allow the residents of Balornock and Barmulloch, whose homes are within the exclusion zone that will apply when the Red Road flats are demolished during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, to fully enjoy the opening ceremony.

27 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and on what date it expects the regulations to effect.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014 were introduced to Parliament on 3 April 2014. They will come into effect on 20 October 2014.

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for retail and visitor services staff at the National Museum of Scotland doing the same job to have different terms and conditions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The terms and conditions of staff employed by the national museums are an operational matter for that body. I am advised by the national museums that retail staff and visitor services staff have different roles, job descriptions and person specifications. The…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for the National Museum of Scotland to end the payment of the weekend working allowance to retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011 without discussion or consultation with the staff's trades unions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: National Museums Scotland (NMS) advise that the weekend working allowance was not withdrawn from any staff at the National Museums. I am also advised that NMS discussed weekend working and a number of other issues with trade unions in 2010 in the context of t…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed with the National Museum of Scotland that it is appropriate for retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011 not to be paid weekend working allowance.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: National Museums Scotland are compliant with the Scottish Government pay policy including delivering the Scottish Living Wage for its own employees. Decisions on the pay structure for the National Museums are an operational matter for the body itself, taking …

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Museum of Scotland concerning its decision to end the payment of weekend working allowance for retail and visitor services staff employed since January 2011.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I discussed this issue with the National Museums’ Chair and Director in March 2014.

11 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Enterprise regarding the establishment of a film studio in Glasgow.

18 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it has had in discussions with Pinewood Studios regarding the possibility of establishing a film studio in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 28 May 2013, I wrote to Lord Grade, Chair of Pinewood Shepperton plc’s Board indicating the willingness of the Scottish Government and its agencies to assist in any way they could with Pinewood’s explorations of opportunities in Scotland. Pinewood subsequ…

18 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a Scottish film fund.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland is the Lottery distributor for the screen sector and oversees the film and television fund. The first three years of Creative Scotland (2010 -11, 2011-12 and 2012-13) saw it give an average of £6.2 million in support annually to the sector, …

18 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing a film studio in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Last year Scotland secured its largest ever inward investment in screen production through the Sony Pictures series for Starz, Outlander, for which a 140,000 square foot television production studio has been developed in Cumbernauld, with public sector assist…

18 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has met officials from (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Creative Scotland in the last two years to discuss the establishment of a film studio in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has been in regular contact through meetings and other means with Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland over the past two years and particularly since the introduction of the fiscal incentive for high end television production in A…