Parliamentary questions
Adam Ingram
1,244 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Minister for Education and Young People met relevant officials to discuss proposals to remove history as a “time-tabled slot” in schools and on what dates such meetings occurred.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I have not met with officials to discuss proposals to remove history as a ‘time-tabled slot’ in schools as there never have been any such proposals.</p>
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals to remove the history syllabus from the existing S1 and S2 structure and, if so, whether it will publish such proposals.
Answer · Peter Peacock: As I have made clear on a number of occasions, I consider history to be a subject that has a huge contribution to make to the purposes of education. There are no plans to remove history from the curriculum.</p> <p>A report on progress made and views to date o…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many history teachers were employed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and expressed also as a ratio of teachers to pupils in each local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The available information on how many history teachers have been employed and total secondary pupils broken down by local authority area is provided in the following table. A meaningful pupil: teacher ratio cannot be calculated as there is no information avai…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school pupils passed history at (a) standard grade, (b) higher grade and (c) advanced higher grade in each year since 1999.
Answer · Peter Peacock: A table detailing the awards gained by school pupils in history at Standard Grade, and the number of passes gained at Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, CSYS, Higher and Advanced Higher in each year since 1999 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Informati…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of early intervention strategies in schools in local authorities across Scotland.
Answer · Robert Brown: The quality of early education in schools and pre-school settings is monitored and evaluated through regular inspections by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education (HMIE). Pre-school inspections are integrated, being carried out by HMIE and the Care Commissi…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which early intervention programme for children under three has been evaluated as being the (a) most and (b) least successful.
Answer · Robert Brown: The objectives of early intervention programmes for children under three, such as Sure Start Scotland, the national demonstration project Starting Well and Working for Families (which while not strictly an early intervention programme incorporates significant…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the professionals whom it consulted prior to the introduction of early intervention programmes for children under three, broken down by programme.
Answer · Robert Brown: In the development of early intervention programmes for children under three such as Sure Start Scotland and the national demonstration project Starting Well, as well as Working for Families which incorporates significant support for children under three, the…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to early intervention programmes for children under three in each year since 1999, broken down by programme.
Answer · Robert Brown: Funding for early intervention programmes for children under three, broken down by programme, is as follows:</p> <p><strong>Sure Start </strong><strong>Scotland</strong></p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=cen…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many early intervention programmes it operates for children under three and whether it will list such programmes.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive operates a range of early intervention programmes for children under three, including Sure Start Scotland, Starting Well, the National Demonstration Project for Child and Family Health in Scotland, and over 100 Working for Families proj…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish an independent working group to monitor and evaluate early intervention programmes for children under three.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to establish an independent working group to monitor and evaluate early intervention programmes for children under three.</p>
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22396 by Robert Brown on 27 January 2006, whether it will publish an update on the range of early intervention programmes which it keeps under review in relation to children under three.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive is not currently planning to issue an update on the range of early intervention programmes for children under three. However, we are actively engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in these areas and will ensure all key stakeholders …
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of early intervention programmes for children under three.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive carries out a regular programme of monitoring for early intervention programmes for children under three. Though several extensive mapping reports have been undertaken, no formal evaluation of Sure Start Scotland has yet taken place; we…
7 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of average income was spent on prescription drugs by patients with a mental health problem in each year since 1999 for which figures are available.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isnot available.</p>
7 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 14 were recorded as having a mental health problem by NHS Scotland in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
7 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was recorded by NHS Scotland in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
7 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged between 10 and 14 were prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) for the first time in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23017 answered on 6 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
7 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged between six and nine were prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) for the first time in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The informationrequested is not available centrally. Data collected centrally relate toprescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors anddo not include items dispensed through hospitals or hospital-based services. Inaddition, the a…
26 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to address any failure of NHS boards to deliver mainstreaming of user and carer involvement in the design, development and delivery of mental health services.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We will continue to work with the designated Director for Patient Focus and Public Involvement in each NHS board to ensure appropriate progress with this priority activity.</p>
26 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive against what criteria NHS boards will be required to demonstrate the success of user and carer involvement in the design, development and delivery of mental health services.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: All NHS boards should demonstrate year-on-year improvements in involving the public in service delivery, including mental health care, and in individual decisions about personal health care. The Scottish Health Council has a central role in holding the NHS to…
26 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been allocated to NHS boards to ensure the mainstreaming of user and carer involvement in the design, development and delivery of mental health services.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22659 on 6 February 2006. 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/webap…
26 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps are being taken to ensure the mainstreaming of user and carer involvement in the design, development and delivery of mental health services by NHS boards.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The response to the Kerr Report, <i>Delivering for Health</i> (Bib. number 37847) is explicit on work underway with all concerned to involve patients, carers and the wider public in the consideration of options for change. This applies for all services, inclu…
18 Jan 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with South Ayrshire Council regarding its projected financial deficit for 2006-07 and the implications this has for council tax payers.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I am not aware of any recent discussions with South Ayrshire on the subject of any projected financial deficit, however, I have been involved in discussions with COSLA on a range of issues including the wider financial circumstances facing local authorities.<…
4 Jan 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Continuous discussions take place between the Executive and all health boards on a whole range of issues throughout the year.</p> <p>I and the senior management team of the Scottish Executive Health Department met with the chairman and senior management team …
20 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to collect and record crime statistics by class of drug.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have no plans to ask police forces to change the current procedures for recording drug crimes.</p>
20 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical information the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency collects.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) collects a range of data. This includes information relating to their performance and linked to their targets such as the sum of assets reported for restraint, the number of persons arrested, the quantity and street…
20 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The remit of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency is to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the police by co-ordinating intelligence and operational elements of drug enforcement and the investigation of serious and organised crime.</p>
20 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the powers are of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) is the subject of a collaborative agreement between the eight chief constables under Section 12 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967. The arrangements in place under that mean that constables seconded to the SDEA have …
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost East Lothian Council to use the services of sheriff officers to collect outstanding council tax in each of the last three years.
Answer · George Lyon: This is a matter for East Lothian Council. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authority staff and, in particular, East Lothian Council staff in respect of advising people who have accumulated arrears in council tax.
Answer · George Lyon: The Executive encourages local authorities, as far as possible, to look at all options for recovering debt before taking enforcement action. We continue to support those who get into debt through the provision of funding to local authorities for front line mo…
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding the collection of outstanding council tax.
Answer · George Lyon: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation publish a best practice guide on council tax, which sets out good practice in the billing and collection of council tax. In addition to this, the Scottish Executiv…