Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28574 by Shona Robison on 6 November 2009, when the results of the survey on the impact of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 will be made available.
Answer · Shona Robison: Joint work with COSLA is progressing to analyse the responses to the survey of local authorities. I anticipate the outcome will be available in the spring.</p>
22 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations applied to the Third Sector Resilience Fund and how much was applied for in total.
Answer · Jim Mather: One hundred and eighty-nine organisations applied to the Third Sector Resilience Fund but a significant proportion of these applications did not meet the eligibility criteria. A final decision has not yet been made as to which applications have been successfu…
22 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations successful in seeking funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund and how much each was allocated.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30281 on 26 January 2010. 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/Apps…
22 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed Scottish-Islamic Foundation Etisal conference will take place.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27917 on 29 October 2009. 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/Apps…
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have been identified as double counting respite weeks.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published on 15 December 2009 in an Official Statistics Publication provisional figures for respite weeks in 2008-09 by each local authority in Scotland. All figures are being further validated before publication of final figures, sche…
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many respite weeks recorded by local authorities in 2008-09 were the result of new services or initiatives.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published on 15 December 2009 in an Official Statistics Publication provisional figures for respite weeks in 2008-09 by each local authority in Scotland. All figures are being further validated before publication of final figures, sche…
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities failed to return respite care data to Audit Scotland in the years previous to 2008-09.
Answer · Shona Robison: All local authorities in Scotland collected and returned to Audit Scotland respite care data for 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2007-08. In 2005-06 Fife Council did not return data.</p>
17 Dec 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been with reporting on the implementation of single outcome agreements.
Answer · John Swinney: Councils and Community Planning Partnerships were asked to submit annual reports covering progress made towards first phase single outcome agreements in 2008-09 by end September. All 32 reports have been received and are available on the Local Government Impr…
11 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement the recommendations in the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report, Tackling Indifference: Healthcare Services for People with Learning Disabilities, National Overview Report - December 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is currently considering how best to implement these recommendations which we accept in full. The report underlines what is absolutely clear to all of us: everyone must have fair and equal access to healthcare, whatever their personal …
30 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have there for soliciting under section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 since October 2007, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. The table presents the data available, based upon the date of sentence. It is not known how many of these convictions relate to offences committed before October 2007 because the date of offence is no…
30 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for (a) loitering and (b) soliciting under the Prostitution (Public Places) Scotland Act 2007 and how many were for repeat offences, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 came into effect on 15 October 2007. The date of offence is not available in the Court Proceedings data, so the table below presents the data available to 31 March 2008, based upon date of sentence, i.e. on…
24 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations have applied for funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund and how much has been sought in each case.
Answer · Jim Mather: As of 25 November 2009, five applications have been received for the Third Sector Resilience Fund, for a total of £196,463. It would not be normal to disclose the names of applicants to a fund.</p> <p >This level of applications is what we would have antici…
23 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the consultation on extending the public sector duty on socio-economic inequalities in the UK Equality Bill to cover public bodies in Scotland.
Answer · Alex Neil: The consultation has now closed and the analysis of responses will be published by the end of 2009.</p> <p >Scottish ministers have now decided that the public sector duty on socio-economic inequalities in the UK Equality Bill will be extended to cover publi…
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what liaison there is with the Financial Services Authority to improve financial education.
Answer · Alex Neil: We liaise regularly with the Financial Services Authority on all aspects of their financial capability programme, to ensure that Scotland benefits appropriately.</p>
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what liaison there is with the Department of Work and Pensions to improve income maximisation.
Answer · Alex Neil: We liaise regularly with a range of contacts in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), under the working arrangements established in our concordat with the department, which we are currently refreshing and work closely with the DWP on income maximsation.…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to disseminate to local authorities the findings of the Prevention of Homelessness Partnership Evaluation in south-west Glasgow.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Prevention of Homelessness Partnership evaluation findings were disseminated to local authorities through statutory guidance issued in April 2009 at the time of the introduction of section 11 of the Homelessness Etc (Scotland) Act 2003. We would encourage…
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average a disabled person is on a waiting list for direct payments, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not collected centrally.</p>
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities operate a waiting list for access to direct payments.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not collected centrally.</p>
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of extending the concessionary fares scheme to people on the lower rate of mobility benefit.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The review of the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people estimated the cost of extending the scheme to include people in receipt of the lower rate of disability living allowance at around £12 million.</p>
16 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendation of the Review of Concessionary Fares not to extend the scheme to people on the lower rate of mobility benefit.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: While the Scottish Government understands the case being made to extend the scheme to include people on the lower rate of mobility benefit, the review report made it very clear that it would not be practical to extend the scheme at this time. That view is sha…
9 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is intended to implement the recommendations of the review of the Scottish Helpline for Older People.
Answer · Shona Robison: We published the report of the review of the Scottish Helpline for Older People on 9 November 2009. The report contains a number of recommendations, some of which are for the Scottish Government and some for the Scottish Helpline for Older People. These requi…
6 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value is of payment to kinship carers, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >The level of allowance paid to kinship carers of looked-after children is set locally and may depend on individual circumstances such as the carer''s benefits entitlement.</p>
6 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent research there has been on the extent to which community planning partnerships ensure community involvement.
Answer · John Swinney: Community Planning in individual areas has been assessed by Audit Scotland as part of the Audits of Best Value and Community Planning. This assessment includes community engagement. The first round of audits is complete, with over a third being finalised in 2…
6 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent research there has been on the effectiveness of community planning partnerships.
Answer · John Swinney: Community planning in individual areas has been assessed by Audit Scotland as part of the audits of best value and community planning. The first round of audits is complete, with over a third being finalised in 2008-09 and 2009-10.</p> <p >Audit Scotland und…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that community planning partnerships are contributing to tackling unemployment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We are currently considering what the reports from local authorities on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements demonstrate about the contribution that community planning partnerships are making towards tackling unemployment.</p>
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the contributions of community planning partnerships to tackling unemployment are being measured.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) will each be considering, in the context of their community plan and their single outcome agreement (SOA) with the Scottish Government, what strategic improvements can be encouraged within their communities to facilitate…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to monitor the contribution of community planning partnerships to tackling unemployment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) will each be considering, in the context of their community plan and their single outcome agreement (SOA) with the Scottish Government, what strategic improvements can be encouraged within their communities to facilitate…
2 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an interim report on progress in implementing the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 will be produced.
Answer · Shona Robison: The first biennial reports from Adult Protection Committees are due in October 2010. In the meantime, officials are working with COSLA on a survey of local authorities to assess the impact of the act since commencement, including multi-agency working and pros…
30 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 28 October 2009 (Official Report c. 20583), whether there will be fresh guidance to local authorities and community planning partnerships on match funding.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our concordat with local government and the single outcome agreements that we have agreed with community planning partnerships (CPPs) are central to realising our goal of a successful Scotland and better outcomes in life for people in Scotland in partnership.…
30 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 28 October 2009 (Official Report c. 20583), what organisations it has consulted on the issue of match funding.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our concordat with local government and the single outcome agreements that we have agreed with community planning partnerships (CPPs) are central to realising our goal of a successful Scotland and better outcomes in life for people in Scotland in partnership.…