Ken Macintosh

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26904 on 21 August 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

3 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it will make available to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to allow it to purchase robot assisted surgery equipment for the treatment of prostate cancer, and when this will be put in place.

Answer · Shona Robison: As I announced in March 2015, the Scottish Government is committing a further £2 million to complement the fundraising efforts of Prostate Scotland. This will be offered to NHS boards to help purchase two further robots, which will facilitate the introduction…

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will keep MSPs informed of its progress in tackling A&E waiting times at the South Glasgow University Hospital during the Parliament's summer recess.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is no planned formal reporting during Parliaments summer recess however, Emergency Department Weekly Activity and Waiting Times in Scotland, which will include performance at the new South Glasgow University Hospital, will continue to be published on In…

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how long it will maintain the expert support group at the South Glasgow University Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: The expert support group started on site at the new South Glasgow University Hospital on 15 June 2015 for two weeks. The formal support ended on 26 June 2015, the team will however maintain a high level surveillance approach over the next few weeks. The supp…

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the South Glasgow University Hospital will meet the waiting times target for A&E.

Answer · Shona Robison: Unscheduled care is a key priority for the Scottish Government and we want all acute sites across Scotland, including the South Glasgow University Hospital (SGUH), to sustainably achieve 95% of all patients attending A&E to been seen, treated and discharged o…

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce the number of stop and searches in East Renfrewshire.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Where and when to conduct searches is an operational matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the number of people stopped and searched in East Renfrewshire in 2013-14 was too high, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Where and when to conduct searches is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the stop and searches in East Renfrewshire in 2013-14 resulted in a (a) prosecution and (b) conviction.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the stop and searches in East Renfrewshire in 2013-14 resulted in a positive finding.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that all stop and searches in East Renfrewshire are intelligence-led, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Where and when to conduct searches is an operational matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who were subject to a stop and search in East Renfrewshire in 2013-14 were stopped more than once, and what information it has on how many times each person was stopped.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many stop and searches were conducted in East Renfrewshire in 2013-14, broken down by people aged (a) under 12, (b) 12 to 15, (c) 16 to 25 and (d) over 25.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the chief constable to your question and I have asked him to write to you.

12 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the guidance, Free Personal and Nursing Care in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: We review the guidance periodically and update when required.

12 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to address reported variations in the use of contractual care routes in general and route 3 in particular.

Answer · Shona Robison: The charging for residential accommodation working group will be meeting in July 2015. This will be one of the matters that the group will be discussing.

10 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how Museums Galleries Scotland's reaccreditation process impacts on the voluntary museum sector; whether it plans to review the process to make it more appropriate to the sector, and, if so, what its principal features will be and (a) how and (b) when this will be…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The accreditation scheme has been adopted by the museums sector across the UK and administered by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). MGS advises that being an accredited museum means receiving support and guidance to develop services and gives accredited colle…

8 Jun 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take following reports that more than 14,000 people facing bills for personal and social care are in arrears.

6 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what maximum (a) bursary and (b) loan was available for Scottish-domiciled students studying in London in 2012-13 on incomes (i) under £20,000, (ii) from £20,000 in £1,000 increments up to £64,000 and (iii) over £64,000.

Answer · Angela Constance: The following table shows the bursary and loan rates payable to Scottish domiciled students studying in London in academic year 2012-2013. 2012-13 Scottish domiciled students studying in London - bursary and living-cost loan rates Parental Bursary Loan …

27 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many domestic homicides in the last 10 years have had a male victim.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on homicide levels in Scotland is available through the Official Statistics on Homicide (link below for 2013-14 release). Overall, the number of homicides committed in Scotland is at its lowest recorded level. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/201…

27 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that male victims of abuse have access to support.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government provides funding for Abused Men in Scotland and the Men's Advice Line, operated by Respect. Both organisations provide help, support and advice for men who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic abuse.

22 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the guidelines published in The keys to life - Improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities have had in the number of day centres.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The keys to life is a strategy for improving all aspects of quality of life for people with learning disabilities including day opportunities. There is no centrally held information on the number of day centres across Scotland. This is a matter for each local…

22 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gives to the views of (a) service users and (b) carers when determining the resources to be allocated to centres for people with (i) learning difficulties and (ii) other additional support needs.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The approach being taken across many local authorities is one of personalised and tailored support in line with self-directed support legislation and guidance. The Scottish Government expects local authorities to undertake detailed planning work with individu…

22 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on the quality of life of disabled people who (a) have and (b) do not have access to a community-based day centre.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Given that there is a wide variety of community based day centres across Scotland and that many factors impact on the quality of life for people with learning disabilities, the Scottish Government has not undertaken research into the quality of life of disabl…

22 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the closure of day centres can have on the health and wellbeing of (a) service users and (b) carers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Although there have been many small scale studies carried out looking at the impact on health and wellbeing there has been no overall assessment of day centre closure specifically relating to the impact on health and wellbeing. In developing The keys to life …

20 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy's position is on reclassifying Scottish Futures Trust debt as public borrowing and how much he expects the total to be.

15 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been recorded as having (a) a language or speech disorder, (b) an autistic spectrum disorder and (c) a social and emotional behavioural difficulty in each year since 2003.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The number of children, as recorded by the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, as having (a) a language or speech disorder, (b) an autistic spectrum disorder and (c) a social and emotional behavioural difficulty in each year since 2003 was recorded as…

11 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process it used to consult stakeholders regarding the remit of the independent adviser on poverty and inequality and what stakeholders (a) were approached and (b) responded.

Answer · Alex Neil: The government regularly meets stakeholders to discuss issues related to tackling poverty and inequality. These discussions have helped inform the government’s approach to the remit of the independent advisor. We would also anticipate the independent advisor…

11 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the remit will be of the independent adviser on poverty and inequality and what budget has been allocated to the post.

Answer · Alex Neil: As set out in the Programme for Government, the independent advisor’s role will include gathering insights into people’s experiences, raising the public awareness of the scale and realities of living in poverty, seeking views on further actions to reduce pove…

11 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process it used to identify candidates for the role of the independent adviser on poverty and inequality, and how many people (a) applied, (b) it approached and (c) were interviewed for the post.

Answer · Alex Neil: The appointment of the independent advisor is being made by the First Minister and the appointment process has been in line with the approach used for the appointment of independent advisors by ministers generally.

11 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will announce the appointment of the independent adviser on poverty and inequality.

Answer · Alex Neil: The First Minister expects to announce the appointment of the independent advisor on poverty and inequality prior to the Scottish Parliament summer recess.

5 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further choice it can make available to parents in the provision of childcare places.

Answer · Fiona McLeod: The Scottish Government has placed flexibility on a statutory footing for the first time, through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Local authorities now have a duty to consult at least once every two years with representative groups of local…