Parliamentary questions
Ken Macintosh
1,334 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Aug 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve speech and language therapy services across Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has providedtargeted funding of £42.5 million to local authorities over four years and of £6million to NHS boards over two years to help them to implement the Education (AdditionalSupport and Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004.</p><p>It is fo…
30 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to the introduction of a range of fees for applications for first registration of title with a higher charge securing a quicker processing time.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The Registers of Scotland seeksto provide an accurate and prompt registration service for all its customers. Thespeed with which an application can be processed depends primarily oncomplexity. Introducing a premium fee service has been considered but theconcl…
30 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the fee income of Registers of Scotland is used to improve the efficiency of its service.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Registers of Scotland isself-financing and operates under arrangements analogous to these applying toTrading Funds. This arrangement is provided for by the <i>Public Finance andAccountability (</i><i>Scotland</i><i>) Act 2000</i>.The fees that the Agency char…
30 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it estimates that applications for first registration of title will be dealt within a maximum of four months.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Scottish Ministers have setRegisters of Scotland the target of achieving an average turnaround time of 100working days for all routine (domestic) First Registration applications. Currentperformance against this target is 69.8 working days for all such First R…
30 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the application fee for first registration of title must be paid at the time of application.
Answer · Johann Lamont: In terms of section 4(2)(e)of the <i>Land Registration (</i><i>Scotland</i><i>) Act 1979</i>,payment of the appropriate statutory fee must be tendered with all applicationsfor registration, including applications for first registration of title.</p>
30 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Land Register for first registration of title have been outstanding for more than (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years, (d) three years, (e) four years and (f) five years.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The length of time that anapplication for First Registration takes to process depends primarily on itscomplexity but also on other factors such as the availability of supportingdocumentation from applicants, the completeness of neighbouring titles andwhether …
22 Mar 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it collects about discrimination and inequalities experienced by ethnic minorities in the labour market.
Answer · George Lyon: The Labour Force Survey providesinformation on employment and ethnicity that allows for an ethnic breakdown of employmentindicators. The estimates for ethnic minorities are based on very small samplesand so statistics on ethnic minorities are often not very r…
23 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its current policies and strategies refer specifically to the importance of children’s play or supporting children’s play.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Curriculum Framework for Children 3 to 5 recognises the powerful contribution that play makes to children’s learning. The curriculum review will extend the approach used in pre-school to the initial stages of primary, emphasising the importance of opportu…
22 Feb 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle waiting lists for free personal and nursing care.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is for local authorities toassess the community care needs of older people, and to meet those needs, includingthe provision of free personal and nursing care where appropriate.</p><p>I am aware that a number of localauthorities are operating waiting lists …
2 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects agreement to be reached in the ongoing negotiations between Scottish Enterprise and trade unions in respect of the pay dispute at Careers Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I understand that a revised formaloffer was made to the trade unions on 15 December 2005. Following a ballot process the offer has been accepted by members of thePublic and Commercial Services (PCS). However, the majority of Unison members formallyrejected th…
30 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish guidance in respect of community care services for deafblind people.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22770, answered on 21 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.parliame…
30 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards issuing statutory guidance to local authorities to improve services for people with sensory impairments, including deafblind people.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This guidance, to be issued under Section 5(1) of the Social work (Scotland) Act 1968, is being developed as part of implementation of the Sensory Impairment Action Plan, which is designed to improve community care services for all adults with a sensory impai…
14 Dec 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the funding to employ additional teachers is being distributed to local authorities.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Executive is committed toincreasing teacher numbers by 2007. Local Authorities share that commitment andwill have available funding of £18 million in 2006-07 and £44 million in 2007-08through the National Priorities Action Fund.</p>
30 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training courses are available for nurses and other healthcare staff specialising in colorectal cancer.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Multidisciplinary colorectal cancer teams require appropriately trained surgeons, clinical oncologists, medical oncologists, pharmacists, therapy radiographers, radiation physicists as well as nurses and a variety of discipline specific and generic training c…
30 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to NHS boards on the development of consultant nurses in cancer posts.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive issued new guidance to NHS boards about the establishment and appointment of new nurse/midwife consultant posts in 2001. The guidance outlined the principles to be followed in establishing such posts.</p>
30 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS Scotland is developing opportunities for experienced specialist nursing staff to develop their careers while remaining in clinical posts.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We are committed to creating a culture of lifelong learning within the NHS.</p> <p>The vast majority of post-registration education is provided on a part-time basis allowing nurses to remain in clinical work while completing modules, degrees and masters quali…
30 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the number of clinical nurse specialists required to deliver the new bowel cancer screening programme will be in place.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21320 on 12 December 2005. 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/weba…
30 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical nurse specialists will be required to assist in the delivery of the new bowel cancer screening programme and subsequent care services for those who are diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Answer · Andy Kerr: An additional 14 full-time equivalent nurses will be required to assess and follow up individuals who test positive prior to onward referral for further investigation (colonoscopy). Nurses carrying out these assessments will require additional training but wi…
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure improvements in information literacy.
Answer · George Lyon: Information about ICT training and the use of ICT in learning, teaching and community development in Scotland is published in the <i>National Grid for Learning </i>progress reports. The most recent report was published in December 2003.</p> <p>The annual <i>L…
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify and define information literacy as a core skill set within educational curricula distinct from ICT to encourage the development of information handling skills.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The curriculum is non-statutory. Responsibility for effective teaching rests with authorities and schools. <i>A Curriculum for Excellence</i> will provide a framework for young people’s learning which will enable them to develop as successful learners, confid…
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether strong information literacy programmes can help close the digital divide and build a more effective civil society and a competitive workforce.
Answer · George Lyon: Yes. The ability to analyse the quality of available information is a necessary skill when accessing material from the web. Citizens can be empowered by their ability to access and use information appropriately and in this respect, work to reduce the digital …
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote information literacy.
Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Executive contributed funding for 2000 learners to pursue an Information Handling Skills course in conjunction with Scottish Libraries Information Council (SLIC), Learndirect Scotland and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow. This course was developed on …
4 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16326 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 May 2005, whether the Scottish Cancer Group has had discussions with providers of speech and language therapy services regarding improving access to diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients with communication impairment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There have been no discussions between the Scottish Cancer Group (SCG) and the speech and language therapy services on these issues. The SCG is a strategic advisory body. It is the responsibility of NHS boards to provide services to meet the needs of their lo…
4 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16326 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 May 2005, what action is being taken to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer patients with communication impairments, such as women with cerebral palsy.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In consultation with their patient, doctors and other health care professionals are responsible for making appropriate decisions on investigations and treatment in individual cases. They are also responsible for ensuring that the individual needs of their pat…
2 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the level of provision of palliative care is sufficient to meet the needs of the population.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are responsible for ensuring that they provide the services that their populations need. Generally, palliative care is available for cancer patients across Scotland. We know that other patients have difficulty in accessing hospice care. The Scottis…
2 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting people with a terminal illness who would prefer to die at home, as highlighted by the Marie Curie Cancer Care: Scotland Supporting the Choice to Die at Home campaign.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18106 on 4 August 2005. 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/webapp/…
25 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers will be entering schools in August 2005 and how this compares with the most recently collected figures for teacher vacancies not filled after a three-month period, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The following table shows the latest information available for primary and secondary teacher vacancies at February 2005 and the probationer allocations at July 2005 expected to enter schools in August 2005, broken down by local authority area.</p> <table bord…
10 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to determine the numbers of people with communication impairments but who do not have sensory impairments.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17208 on 20 June 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
10 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to map the needs of people with communication impairments but who do not have sensory impairments.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive does not manage the care of people with communications impairments directly. The planning and provision of services is a matter for NHS boards based on their assessment of local needs.</p>
5 May 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how speech and language therapy and other communication expertise will be included in the delivery of the sexual health strategy.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In delivering the Respect and Responsibility strategy, the expertise of the speech and language therapist can be used to assist adults and children with disabilities to acquire and maintain the knowledge necessary for good sexual health and wellbeing.</p> <p>…