Parliamentary questions

Johann Lamont

1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

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), when its response to the issue of match funding will be made public.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our concordat with local government and the single outcome agreements that we have agreed with community planning partnerships are central to realising our goal of a successful Scotland and better outcomes in life for people in Scotland in partnership. We hig…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it achieved its aim of providing 2,000 extra weeks of respite care in 2008-09.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is drawn from the Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) on respite collected by Audit Scotland. It is necessary in the first instance for Audit Scotland to be satisfied with the technical aspects of the data. The Scottish Government must al…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra weeks of respite care each local authority provided in 2008-09.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Concordat agreement between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) included a commitment to make progress towards delivering an extra 10,000 respite weeks across Scotland. Following discussions with the Scottish G…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26534 by Adam Ingram on 10 September 2009, when its response to the recommendations of the short-life working group on clothing grants will be published.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is fully committed to publication of its response to the recommendations of the short-life working group on school clothing grants. Officials are currently working with COSLA to consider how the recommendations can be met with…

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people over 65 have been referred to each local authority under the terms of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not yet collected centrally. However, the first biennial reports on the exercise of the functions of adult protection committees are due to be submitted to Scottish ministers in October 2010. The Scottish Government is also workin…

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have not submitted reports on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: All 32 local authorities have submitted reports on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements. These will be made available to Parliament shortly.

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the analysis of the reports from local authorities on implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: As I said to the member during oral questions on 29 October 2009, the government works with local government to assess the effectiveness and impact of single outcome agreements. The reports from local authorities on the implementation of the first round of si…

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the publication of the joint COSLA and Scottish Government best practice guidance on commissioning of social care.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28083, 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/App…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to address the concerns of the 48% of graduates responding to the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative who did not consider that their employment was appropriate to their level of educational qualifications.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government and its agencies provide support to international graduates through our Relocation Advisory Service, Talent Scotland and Graduates for Business. In addition, the Strategic Investment Fund supports post-graduate employment of internatio…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative with regard to the employment prospects of graduates.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme: an evidence review published in September 2008, was a research paper which provided an evaluation of the scheme to inform policy development, but did not make specific recommendat…

8 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative carried out in 2008.

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding there will be for the delivery plan for financial education in the classroom.

Answer · Keith Brown: A total of £50,000 has been allocated to support the implementation of the delivery plan for financial education. Learning and Teaching Scotland has contributed £25,000 from its existing resources and the Scottish Government has allocated a further £25,000 in…

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether credit unions will be represented on the body devising the delivery plan for financial education in the classroom.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I can confirm that representatives of the credit union movement will be invited to sit on the short-life working group on financial education being established by Learning and Teaching Scotland.

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

Answer · Alex Neil: Funding was allocated as follows to the Children''s Services Women''s Aid Fund: £3,000,123 in 2006-2007; £3,202,585 in 2007-2008, and £3,800,845 in 2008-2009. There was no funding in 2005-06 as the fund was only established from 2006-07.

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 19 in the 15% most deprived areas have accessed employment or training through Skills Development Scotland since April 2008.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland is currently collecting data on the number of people aged 16 to 19 in the 15% most deprived areas who have accessed employment or training since April 2008 and will be available later in the year.

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled people have accessed employment or training through Skills Development Scotland since April 2008.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland provides access to training for those employed and those seeking work through its national training programmes. Since April 2008, 176 disabled people have accessed national training programmes in lowland Scotland.

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26630 by Shona Robison on 21 August 2009, what organisations it is consulting in formulating a response to the UK green paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together.

Answer · Shona Robison: A high level, policy-based response to the UK Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, is being drafted by the Health and Community Care Delivery Group. The membership of this group includes the following organisations: COSLA, Association of …

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Glasgow living in a household with an annual income of under £23,000 were affected by the freeze on council tax.

Answer · Alex Neil: Everyone in Scotland who pays council tax benefits from the freeze on council tax. Detailed information is not held centrally on the numbers and incomes of people in households who pay council tax by area. However, based on information from the Scot…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in Glasgow living in a household with an annual income of under £23,000 were affected by the extension of free prescriptions.

Answer · Alex Neil: Children are already entitled to free prescriptions and so are not affected by our policy to abolish prescription charges.

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Glasgow live in a household with an annual income of under £23,000.

Answer · Alex Neil: Using the Scottish Household Survey, we estimate that during 2007-08 in Glasgow, 380,000 people (65% of the population) lived in households with net incomes below £23,000. The Scottish Household Survey defines household income as the combined income …

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Glasgow living in a household with an annual income of under £16,000 were affected by the freeze on council tax.

Answer · Alex Neil: Everyone in Scotland who pays council tax benefits from the freeze on council tax. Detailed information is not held centrally on the numbers and incomes of people in households who pay council tax by area. However, based on information from the Scott…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Glasgow living in a household with an annual income of under £16,000 were affected by the extension of free prescriptions.

Answer · Alex Neil: Using Scottish Household Survey figures, we estimate that 100,000 (38%) of the people in Glasgow living in households with net incomes below £16,000 will be affected by the reduction and abolition of prescription charges when they collect their prescriptions.…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in Glasgow living in a household with an annual income of under £16,000 were affected by the extension of free school meals.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of children living in a household with an annual income of under £16,000 affected by the extension of free school meals is not held centrally. The extension to free school meals extends eligibility to households in receipt o…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Glasgow live in a household with an annual income of under £16,000.

Answer · Alex Neil: Using the Scottish Household Survey, we estimate that during 2007-08 in Glasgow, 270,000 people (46% of the population) lived in households with net incomes below £16,000. The Scottish Household Survey defines household income as the combined income …

23 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met representatives of voluntary organisations and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Jim Mather : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1001-01.htm">http://www.scot…

16 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Housing and Communities last met disability organisations and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Alex Neil: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it proposes to do to improve support for carers of adults with learning disabilities, 7,793 of whom are, according to recent research by the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, cared for by a family member.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is developing a Carers'' Strategy for Scotland, to be published in the first half of 2010. As part of strategy development we are considering a range of supports for all unpaid carers, including those who care for adults with learning …

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it proposes to do to improve employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, 18% of whom are, according to recent research by the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, in employment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is funding and working in partnership the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability and others to increase employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities. It is also currently working with COSLA to develop a supported…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the joint review of advice and information services carried out by the Scottish Government and COSLA will be published.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27263 on 23 September 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/Ap…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in mapping the provision of services for providing advice to people on the uptake of benefits.

Answer · Alex Neil: COSLA and the Scottish Government are progressing with a review of information and advice provision, which will include an assessment of how current provision fits with needs. A major aim of the review is to ensure that public resources are being used effecti…