Mr Lloyd Quinan

8 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28676 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 September 2002 and in the light of results of the TaqMan PCR blood tests being duplicated in other laboratories, what further criteria would need to be met for it to recognise the test as a validated methodology.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In considering questions about blood tests on children with autistic spectrum disorders, the Executive will have regard to appropriate expert advice and the substantive weight of relevant research evidence relating to the validity and reliability of both the …

8 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28676 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 September 2002, whether it would fund the testing of every autistic child for the presence of the measles virus if a validated test became available that would detect the virus other than in its acute viraemic stage.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to give a definitive answer to such a question, about the availability and desirability of funding blood tests on children with autistic spectrum disorders, in the absence of a validated procedure, and subsequent detailed expert considerati…

20 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29089 by Ms Margaret Curran on 20 September 2002, when the European Year of Disabled People 2003 Scottish steering group was set up; who the members are; how the members were selected, and when the group will announce its proposals to celebrate the E…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Steering Group for the European Year of Disabled People met for the first time in June 2002.<P>Its members were selected by the Scottish Executive and are drawn from national organisations with an interest or involvement in disability policy deve…

20 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29088 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 September 2002, what plans there are to make the minutes of future meetings of the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report Working Group available and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Answer · Frank McAveety: These matters were not discussed at the meeting of the group on 24 June. Plans for recording and disseminating notes of meetings of the group will be discussed at the next meeting in November.

20 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29088 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 September 2002, what priorities were identified by the working group established by the Public Health Institute for Scotland to deliver the recommendations set out in the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment R…

Answer · Frank McAveety: Priorities identified included improvements in diagnosis, joint working, training and research. Many of these priorities are for health and social work service providers to deliver at local level. We intend to write to local agencies in the near future on imp…

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities can be sued by individuals or companies for not providing adequate fire cover in the event of any industrial action by fire service personnel.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In the event of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union, it is our understanding that no claim would lie against the Fire Authority for an alleged breach of its statutory duty under the Fire Services Act 1947 to provide fire cover.

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic consequences for, and impact on jobs in, the insurance industry will be in the event of any industrial action by fire service personnel and any resultant increase in insurance claims.

Answer · Jim Wallace: It would not be helpful to speculate on these matters at this time. The proposed industrial action is unnecessary, would be deeply damaging and could put lives at risk. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) should co-operate with Professor Sir George Bain's Independe…

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how (a) football stadia, (b) theatres, (c) care homes, (d) cinemas, (e) airports and (f) the rail network will operate in the event of any industrial action by fire service personnel given that their safety licences are issued by local authorities after inspection.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The key to safety in many situations in the event of fire is evacuation time, which does not rely on the presence of the Fire Service. Advice is being issued which will request those responsible to review evacuation procedures and fire prevention measures, ta…

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what life-saving and cutting equipment it or local authorities have purchased for use by the army in the event of any industrial action by fire service personnel and what the cost of purchasing any such equipment was.

Answer · Jim Wallace: None. Any equipment which the services consider necessary to acquire, in preparing their contingency planning in the event of industrial action by the Fire Service, is being acquired by the services themselves.

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training is being given to army personnel to allow them to undertake the duties normally undertaken by fire service personnel in the event of any industrial action by fire service personnel; who is providing this training, how many army personnel are being trained, and how many it e…

Answer · Jim Wallace: Personnel are being drawn from all 3 services across the whole of the defence establishment. In total across the UK this will involve about 19,000 personnel. Personnel will be trained and equipped to provide basic emergency fire and rescue cover. Some existin…

19 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans are now in place to deal with any industrial action by fire service personnel and what the estimated cost of implementing such plans would be.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Contingency plans are in place for a range of possible scenarios, including industrial action in the Fire Service. Detailed planning is taking place between the military and emergency services on the arrangements for responding to emergency calls. The costs w…

6 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants are available to disability organisations as part of the European Year of Disabled People 2003 and what the (a) monetary value of and (b) criteria for the award of such grants will be.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Responsibility for allocation of European Union grants to disability organisations as part of the European Year of Disabled People 2003 lies with the Department for Work and Pensions, who have the UK co-ordinating role. No additional grants will be available …

6 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate the European Year of Disabled People in 2003.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has set up a Scottish steering group to take forward a number of events in Scotland to celebrate the European Year of Disabled People in 2003. These events will be in addition to UK wide work co-ordinated by the Department for Work and …

6 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, whether the working group to develop lifelong services for people with autistic spectrum disorders as recommended in the Public Health Institute of Scotland's Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report of December 2001 has been set up and, if so, (a) when it was established, (b)…

Answer · Frank McAveety: We propose to deliver this recommendation through the working group established by the Public Health Institute for Scotland for the development of the <I>Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report</I>. Membership is as stated on the inside cover of t…

4 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28049 by Frank McAveety on 27 August 2002, whether all Practice in Partnership agreements have been prepared, agreed and are ready for implementation, as recommended in The same as you?.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Yes. In many areas, implementation of <I>The same as you?</I> at local level began before Partnership in Practice Agreements were prepared.

4 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28051 by Mr Frank McAveety on 27 August 2002, whether all local area co-ordinators have been appointed and are now in place, as recommended in The same as you?, and how many are operating in each local authority area.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28050 on 27 August 2002.

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many area strategy groups, recommended by the report Implementing Inclusiveness Realising Potential, have been established; where each such group is located, and how the groups will be monitored.

Answer · Iain Gray: Area Strategy Groups were not formally constituted in the implementation of the Beattie Report but there are, or will be, strategic groups responsible for Implementing Inclusiveness Projects in each Local Advisory Board area of Scottish Enterprise and Highlan…

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a new duty on local authorities to identify a responsible person to advise and help a person with learning disabilities and his or her family to put future needs assessments into practice, as recommended by the report The same as you?, and what the reasons are fo…

Answer · Frank McAveety: Proposals for improving arrangements for supporting pupils likely to have significant difficulties in the transition from school, are set out in the publication <I>Assessing our children's educational needs - the Way Forward</I> (Bib. number 19469). These pro…

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reach a decision on proposals for the national service network for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Consideration of the proposals for the national service network for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders is still under way, and we do not yet know when a decision will be reached.

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any proposals on the form of the national service network for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders and what the remit of the network will be.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Society for Autism and the National Autistic Society were invited to submit proposals for the national service network which indicated clear outcomes for people with autistic spectrum disorders. They have submitted proposals which are presently b…

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated for the setting up of a national service network for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, as recommended in The same as you?.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive provided £16,400 for the mapping exercise which will inform the national service network for people with autistic spectrum disorders, recommended by <I>The same as you?</I> Decisions on funding have not yet been taken.

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and projects it currently funds that offer services similar to those offered by Facilitate Scotland and where they are located.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In addition to services provided by the NHS and local authorities, the Executive continues to provide core funding to a range of voluntary organisations, which offer advice, care and information to those with mental health problems. <P>Overall, £1.2 million w…

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to fund any other facility which carries out similar support and work as Facilitate Scotland and, if so, what it will be called, where it will be located, what national coverage it will have and how much its funding package will be.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has no such plans at present.<P>Any voluntary organisation may submit an application to the Scottish Executive for funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 or section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) …

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue the funding of Facilitate Scotland and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Facilitate (Scotland) is not currently funded by the Scottish Executive.

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund the blood test, TaqMan PCR, for every autistic child in order to detect and identify sections of the measles virus gene and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans to test the blood of every autistic child in Scotland for the measles virus because, using validated methodologies, it would only be detectable in the acute viraemic stage of the illness.

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the NHS would be of providing the blood test, TaqMan PCR, to every autistic child.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Public Health Institute of Scotland's Needs Assessment Report on Autistic Spectrum Disorders (2001) estimated that, in Scotland, there are 2,114 autistic children under 19 years of age, and a further 5,600 with other autistic spectrum disorders.<P>Polymer…

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a single vaccine programme for (a) measles, (b) mumps and (c) rubella and whether the introduction of such a programme would increase confidence amongst parents in its policy on this issue.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As stated in the answers given to questions S1W-25472 on 30 April 2002 and S1W-25524 on 15 May 2002, expert medical advice confirms that MMR remains the safest and most effective way to protect children from measles, mumps and rubella. This view was supported…

16 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each local authority area (a) have already applied for and (b) are currently in receipt of direct payments.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Financial Provision and Direct Payments Survey is intended to cover all payments made by local authorities under section 12B of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. The most recent survey covers the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 and results are due…

16 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities currently run direct payment schemes.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Latest figures published by Direct Payments Scotland show that 17 local authorities are currently making direct payments.

16 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all relevant agencies work together to develop a post-school learning system that offers continuity, coherence and clear routes of progression for sufferers of autism and Asperger's syndrome as recommended in the Beattie Report Implementing Inclusiv…

Answer · Iain Gray: The Beattie Report recommendation referred to did not focus specifically on people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The Beattie Recommendations are for the benefit of all young people with additional support needs which may include young people with autis…