Sarah Boyack

24 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on implementing the recommendations in Audit Scotland's report, The Gathering 2009, in relation to organising Clans 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Building on the recommendations in the Audit Scotland and Public Audit Committee reports on The Gathering 2009, robust mechanisms are in place to provide the necessary accountability and transparency for all public resources invested by the Scottish Governmen…

24 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing in support of (a) Homecoming 2014 and (b) Clans 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In March 2012 the Scottish Government announced a £3 million fund to create an inspirational programme of events for the year. All applications for funding will be assessed against criteria to be published later this year. Further funding announcements will f…

24 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Clans 2014 will be promoted as part of the Homecoming 2014 celebrations.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Clans 2014 is one of a number of potential events that we expect will be considered to form part of the Homecoming 2014 programme. All events within the Homecoming 2014 programme will be promoted in the run up to and during the year.

24 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it is taking in the organisation of Clans 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Clans 2014 event is a Stirling Council initiative. The Scottish Government will continue to play a role as a member of the Stirling 2014 Partner Group.

24 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Stirling Council in relation to hosting Clans 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is represented on the Stirling 2014 Partner Group, established by Stirling Council to maximise the tourism, economic and legacy benefits of 2014 for Stirling. Delivery of a Clan 2014 event has been discussed by the Partner Group. Scott…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether third parties responsible for the management of NHS facilities have the same obligations regarding patient safety as the NHS.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The management of NHS facilities is devolved to NHS boards. Under the terms and conditions of the Standard Form Contract which NHS boards will have in place with contractors, third party contractors are under the same obligations regarding patient safety as t…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements it places on NHS boards when they contract out facilities management responsibilities to third party providers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The responsibility for contracting out facilities management responsibilities to third party providers is an issue for NHS boards to manage. The Scottish Government has no contractual powers to intervene. In developing specifications NHS boards are required t…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards regarding the maintenance of emergency power systems.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance provided to NHS boards regarding the maintenance of emergency power systems is set out in the Scottish Health Technical Memorandum (SHTM) 06-01 – Electrical services supply and distribution which is published in two parts: Part A: Design considerati…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that NHS emergency power systems are operational at all times.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In accordance with current guidance, NHS boards are required to have the following safeguards in place to ensure that NHS emergency power systems are operational at all times: All fixed theatre operating lamps, including the main unit and any satellite unit…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requirement it places on NHS boards to have emergency power systems at clinical sites.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Where a clinical risk assessment dictates, the following requirements to have emergency power systems at clinical sites are placed on NHS boards: For clinical areas in general there should be 100% load provision from standby generators. Supporting engineeri…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans are in place to protect patients in NHS facilities affected by power cuts.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are required to have contingency plans in place as per the current guidance, Scottish Health Technical Memorandum (SHTM) 06-01, which states that resilience should be provided according to clinical risk assessments comprising: (a) - Secondary sour…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek an update from NHS Lothian on the performance of Consort in relation to the delivery of facilities management services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Balfour Beattie Workplace (BBW) have instructed their Managing Director of Operations to personally undertake an investigation into the incident. This investigation is underway and the board is awaiting the full report.

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met representatives of NHS Lothian to discuss reported unscheduled power cuts on 29 March 2012.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No detailed meetings have taken place but discussions have taken place with officials on this issue. A detailed investigation into this incident is underway and we are waiting on the report. NHS Lothian has given categorical assurance that patient safety is t…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on implementing the recommendations in Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation: The Report.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Government intends to bring forward legislative proposals to implement those recommendations which require primary legislation made by Lord Cullen of Whitekirk in the Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation when an opportunity arises in the legislati…

11 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in delivering reductions in class sizes in early years.

19 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a land remediation grant to help release brownfield sites for development.

Answer · Alex Neil: The responsibility for the remediation of brownfield sites for development sits with local authorities. The Scottish Government currently provides grant to selected local authorities through its Vacant and Derelict Land Fund (VDLF). As set out in our regenera…

22 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to local authorities to ensure sufficient availability of supply teachers.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The government conducts an annual teacher workforce planning exercise to determine how many teachers to train to ensure sufficient availability of teachers, including supply teachers. The recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for local authoriti…

10 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional (a) administrative, (b) regulatory, (c) legislative, (d) emergency and (e) other powers have been devolved to the Parliament since May 1999.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: A variety of additional powers have been devolved to the Parliament since May 1999. The details are contained in orders made under section 30 of the Scotland Act and in primary legislation passed by the UK Parliament. The Scottish Parliament website lists Se…

9 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reduction in the size of its estate will be sufficient to meet its energy consumption target of 12.6% by March 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has set a target to reduce CO2 emissions from energy used in its buildings by at least 30% by 2020, with an interim target of reducing CO2 emissions by 12.6% by March 2011. The Scottish Government is planning to reduce the size of it…

8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the £140 million maintenance backlog in NHS Lothian, as reported in The State of the NHSScotland Estate 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is working with NHS Lothian to deliver a number of major projects including the reprovision of the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Clinical Neurosciences together with a range of servi…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relation to the implementation of strategies by all public bodies to award at least one contract to a supported business or factory, as outlined in the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan.

Answer · Alex Neil: This is a matter for individual public bodies. To help make it easier for Scottish public bodies to award contracts to supported businesses the Scottish Government has worked with the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to publish guidance for…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it met the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan objective that every public body should have a strategy for awarding at least one contract to a supported business or factory by 30 November 2010.

Answer · Alex Neil: Implementation of the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan is a matter for individual public bodies. The Scottish Government has a number of contracts which assist supported businesses. Capability St Judes was awarded a contract for laundry services 1 April 20…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been secured for disabled people through contracts awarded using Article 19 of the EU procurement directive following the publication of the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan.

Answer · Alex Neil: In 2010-11 Scottish public bodies spent £24.1 million with supported businesses. While the Scottish Government does not hold information regarding the number of jobs this spending secures, public sector spending with supported business clearly plays an import…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedures are to ensure that NHS boards comply with the guidance in relation to disclosure checks on staff.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The guidance contained within the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy sets out the requirement of NHS boards to undertake disclosure checks as appropriate. The decision to conduct a disclosure check is a matter fo…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its guidance in relation to disclosure checks in light of reports that Consort failed to carry out such checks on its staff contracted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As stated in the answer to question S4W-05253 on 7 February 2012 the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy is currently under review, as part of a planned review programme for all PIN policies. All answers to writt…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards regarding disclosure checks on staff.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The guidance for the completion of disclosure checks is contained within the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information (PIN) Policy. This PIN Policy describes the process that Boards must undertake in relation to disclosure checks and appli…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with and information it has requested from NHS Lothian regarding reports that Consort failed to carry out disclosure checks on its staff contracted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a contractual matter for NHS Lothian to resolve with Consort and the Scottish Government is monitoring progress. NHS Lothian and Consort have met several times and interim measures have been put in place to prevent one to one contact between Balfour B…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate reports that Consort failed to carry out disclosure checks on its staff contracted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a contractual matter for NHS Lothian to resolve with Consort. Progress on resolving this issue is being made and we are monitoring the situation.

25 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the 2011 interim environmental performance targets set out in its Environmental Policy.

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has budgeted for publicity in relation to the 2012 local government elections.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05233 on 7 February 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/parliamentar…