Parliamentary questions
Ian Welsh
11 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the work of the Ayr Hospitals' Rapid Response Team, whether it has analysed its work in reducing bed blocking and whether it intends to promote this initiative throughout the National Health Service in Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I am aware of the work of the Ayrshire and Arran Rapid Response Team, which is an excellent example of partnership working between Health Service providers, Local Authorities and other agencies. I stressed the need for effective joint working of this kind at …
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of how the Scottish Office has been reorganised, what was the rationale behind this reorganisation and whether it will provide a detailed organisation chart of the new structure.
Answer · Donald Dewar: An organisation chart will be provided to SPICe shortly. A brief summary of the new structure follows:<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=4 WIDTH=468><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"><B>The Scottish…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what operational difficulties the Scottish Legal Aid Board has faced in the last few years, and what steps it has taken to ensure that the Scottish Legal Aid Board will now operate efficiently and expeditiously.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Legal Aid Board has encountered some operational problems this year which have led to delays in payments. There is a backlog of accounts to be assessed, which the Board is reducing by encouraging staff to work extra hours and recruiting additiona…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide examples of local partnership best practice between health boards and local authorities which address the issue of "bed-blocking".
Answer · Iain Gray: Delays in discharge from hospital care can arise for many reasons. A data recording trial currently underway identifies some 40 circumstances that can contribute to a delay. It is for the care agencies to work in partnership to remove or at the very least red…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where, in Scottish schools, there are models of good practice in the integration of children with special educational needs into "mainstream" schools, and what proposals and financial support it will offer to encourage such integration.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The majority of children with special educational needs in Scotland are being taught in mainstream schools. Guidance for local authorities, teachers and other professionals is provided by the <I>Manual of Good Practice in Special Educational Needs</I> publish…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it will offer to local authorities to provide sporting and leisure schemes for children and young adults with disabilities and/or special educational needs.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: <B>Sport</B>scotland continues its strong alliance with Scottish Disability Sport in delivering the <B>Royal Mail - Ready Willing and Able for Sport</B> programme throughout Scotland. The programme develops local partnerships with Scotland's local authorities…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it can offer towards the development and expansion of Scottish ports.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive takes full account of the importance of ports as part of Scotland's transport system and in providing trading links.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>A Ports Policy Paper is being prepared, following consultation with the industry, to provid…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposal for a Scottish School of Music and Recording Technology in Ayr.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: In principle we believe that there could be valid grounds for establishing such a facility in Scotland. However, we would expect a range of organisations to collaborate in the detailed planning of such a venture.
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm its continued financial support for the Social Inclusion Partnership in North Ayr.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I am pleased to confirm our continuing financial support for the Social Inclusion Partnership in North Ayr. This will enable the North Ayr Social Inclusion Partnership to build on its earlier work to tackle social exclusion in North Ayr, which culminated in t…
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to address the training requirements of 16 to 19 year olds with special educational needs.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Beattie Committee report, "Implementing Inclusiveness - Realising Potential" was published on 10 September. It contains a number of proposals and recommendations on post-school education and training for young people who have additional support …
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been taken by Locate in Scotland to promote Prestwick Airport as a location for aircraft maintenance facilities.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Locate in Scotland was an active member of the Prestwick Task Force, and has continued to work closely with the Ayrshire Location Service on the matter. Extensive marketing was carried out in Locate in Scotland's main overseas markets promoting Scotland's, an…