Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it expects Police Scotland to provide to community councils concerning crime in their areas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Operational decisions about local engagement are a matter for Police Scotland. Reform is strengthening the connection between the services and the communities they serve. This is supported by the statutory principle that the police service should seek to ach…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to encourage rheumatology departments to consistently record data relating to patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The accurate and effective use of clinical data is an essential component of high quality care. NHS boards must ensure that clinicians have appropriate access to systems to enable them to capture the data needed to support patient care.
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory back pain.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Inform is the primary source of information for public and healthcare professionals in Scotland. The website has a dedicated page for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) which provides advice on symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The web page is available at the …
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to encourage more rheumatology departments to adopt the protocol on MRI developed by Dr David Marshall from Inverclyde Royal Hospital and his colleagues.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are a number of diagnostic tests which can be used to determine a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Initial tests such as blood tests can provide an indication of inflammation. Where inflammation is indicated a referral to a rheumatologist would…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to encourage the development of a Scotland-wide inflammatory back pain protocol, including assessment, treatment monitoring and follow up.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government have commissioned the production of a minimum standard framework for musculoskeletal (MSK) Services which encompasses pathways for diagnosis, investigation, timely management and onward referral of individuals who have, or are suspecte…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to encourage the development of clinics specialising in ankylosing spondylitis in the rheumatology departments that do not have them.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise the additional value of specialist clinics for ankylosing spondylitis and are aware that these currently exist in a number of NHS boards across Scotland, however the provision of services is a matter for each local NHS board. We expect boards to …
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to support people with ankylosing spondylitis to stay in work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives was established in 2005 as a Directorate of NHS Health Scotland to promote good health and wellbeing in Scottish workplaces. The Centre operates a website with a wide range of information on workplace health, saf…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to (a) ensure that GPs recognise the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis and (b) reduce the reported average delay of 8.5 years between symptom onset and diagnosis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Ankylosing spondylitis can develop slowly over a long period of time. The symptoms can include: back pain and stiffness; buttock pain; inflammation of the joints; painful inflammation where tendons or ligaments attach to bone (enthesitis); and fatigue and usu…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the recommendations in the report, Looking Ahead: Best practice for the care of people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and what it can do to aid the implementation of these recommendations.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Where a potential diagnosis of an inflammatory condition such as ankylosing spondylitis is suspected we would expect people to be referred to a Rheumatologist for diagnosis, treatment and on-going management, as required. Rheumatologists are specialists in th…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to ensure that people with ankylosing spondylitis have access to help during a flare-up in their condition.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We would expect people with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis to receive treatment and on-going management under the care of a rheumatologist for diagnosis, as required. Rheumatologists are specialists in the care and treatment of a number of inflammatory…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a protocol to address the reported variation across the country in access to care and treatment for people with ankylosing spondylitis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Where a potential diagnosis of an inflammatory condition such as Ankylosing Spondylitis is suspected we would expect people to be referred to a Rheumatologist for diagnosis, treatment and on going management, as required. Rheumatologists are specialists in th…
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to improve diagnosis rates and access to treatment for people with ankylosing spondylitis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government have commissioned the production of a minimum standard framework for musculoskeletal (MSK) services which encompasses pathways for diagnosis, investigation, timely management and onward referral of individuals who have, or are suspecte…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what organisation is responsible for protecting and promoting the Antonine Wall.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: UNESCO requires management plans to be produced for each WHS to bring together all responsible parties and ensure a coordinated approach to management of the site to preserve its outstanding universal value. Each WHS in Scotland is governed by a board of mana…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what promotional material exists to encourage interest in the Antonine Wall.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Promotional material has been developed by all the Partners to the Management Plan as set out below. Historic Scotland Antonine Wall promotional materials have been developed as part of a suite of World Heritage Site (WHS) branded leaflets, postcards, pop u…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what promotional work Historic Scotland has undertaken concerning the Antonine Wall in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland promotes the Antonine Wall through its marketing activities and through the series of promotional materials produced specifically to raise awareness of Scotland’s five World Heritage Sites. This information is detailed in the answer to quest…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to promote the Antonine Wall as a place of interest.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Antonine Wall was inscribed in 2008 as part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site (FRE (AW)), along with Hadrian’s Wall and the German Limes. The initial five-year Management Plan (2008-2012) included various promotional objectives: som…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to promote Scotland’s world heritage sites in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland promotes individual World Heritage Sites in its marketing activities, and works with other agencies to market and promote the WHS more widely, including Visit Scotland, Scottish Canals and Scottish Natural Heritage. HS has recently produced…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what priority it gives to promoting and developing Scotland’s world heritage sites.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government fully endorses the global accolade that inscription on the World Heritage List represents and the international obligations that come with this, and actively supports and promotes Scotland’s five World Heritage Sites (WHSs). The Scotti…
25 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16550 by Shona Robison on 23 August 2013, how many members of the Working Group there are and how they were selected.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Youth Sports Strategy Short life Working Group has 23 members. The group has representatives from the Scottish Government and twelve youth and sports-related organisations. Members of the working group were selected on the basis on their interest and expe…
25 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many young people with a disability are members of the Young People’s Sport Panel.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16850 on 10 September 2013. 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/parliament…
25 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the Young People’s Sport Panel take part in competitive sport.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16850 on 10 September 2013. 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/parliament…
25 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the Young People’s Sport Panel there are and how they were selected.
Answer · Shona Robison: The membership and the selection process of the Young People’s Sport Panel is an operational matter for sportscotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of sportscotland, to provide the information requested.
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to assist the administrators of Railcare to find a new buyer for the company.
Answer · John Swinney: I had a very useful discussion with the administrator BDO, and was assured that they were actively pursuing possible purchasers for the company. I offered active support from the Scottish Government in trying to reach a solution. I was therefore delighted to …
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the administrators appointed to Railcare and when.
Answer · John Swinney: I met the administrators BDO on 7 August 2013. In addition, PACE colleagues first made contact with BDO on our behalf on 31 July 2013 to offer PACE support to Railcare employees, and are in continuing contact.
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the UK Government concerning difficulties at Railcare in Springburn and when.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government officials were advised on 29 July 2013 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) that the company was having difficulties and again on 31 July 2013 when the company went into administration. On 27 August 2013, DBIS info…
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to assist employees of Railcare in Springburn who are made redundant.
Answer · John Swinney: When Railcare was placed into administration on 31 July 2013, through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative, we immediately contacted the administrators BDO to offer support for any employees who may be facing redundancy at the Sp…
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to assist Railcare in Springburn.
Answer · John Swinney: I met the administrator BDO on 7 August 2013 and emphasised that the Scottish Government is committed to providing assistance to achieve the best possible outcome for all involved. I also met union representatives and gave them my assurance that I would take …
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of difficulties at Railcare in Springburn.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Enterprise have been providing support to Railcare at Springburn through the account management approach. Through this dialogue Scottish Enterprise was aware that Railcare was in talks about new ownership. Scottish Government officials in Transport …
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Enterprise alerted it to difficulties at Railcare in Springburn.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Enterprise, acting on behalf of Scottish Ministers, has supported Railcare as an account-managed company. This has meant regular dialogue with the company and support for the developments that have been undertaken. Scottish Government Ministers were…
4 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Scottish Enterprise became aware of difficulties at Railcare in Springburn.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Enterprise (SE) has enjoyed a good relationship with the company meeting the management in Scotland every six months. SE had been aware that new owners were being sought for Railcare. SE became aware of Railcare’s current difficulties on Tuesday 30 J…