Michael McMahon

22 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with MEPs on the establishment of a Europe-wide missing children alert system, such as the Amber Alert initiative.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is supportive of any proposals to build on existing child alert systems to provide a more efficient and effective exchange of information. The Scottish Government has had no discussions with MEPs on proposals for an EU-wide child alert…

19 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the total number of central heating systems installed under the central heating programme in 2005-06 was higher than in 2006-07, combining the figures for both private and public sector accommodation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13167 on 30 May 2008. 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/w…

19 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which year the highest number of central heating systems was installed under the central heating programme since the programme started, combining figures for both private and public sector accommodation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There have been two separate programmes of central heating installation, one aimed at public sector housing and one at private sector housing. The public sector programme was completed by the end of 2004, with the exception of Glasgow Housing Association whic…

14 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has used a screening test or the observation method of identification to determine the numbers of children with dyslexia.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is for education authorities to identify pupils with additional support needs including those with dyslexia. Depending on each authority''s particular preferences and circumstances, it may use screening tests and/or individual tests and assessment approach…

14 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in (a) private, and (b) state education have been identified as having dyslexia.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The number of pupils with dyslexia in publicly funded schools in Scotland, identified in the 2007 census, is available in tables 1.7 and 1.9 in the statistical bulletin on the government website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11936 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2008 and in accordance with good practice, whether it will make available the detailed reports on the outcomes of the consultations that took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethn…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12391 on 9 May 2008. 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/wa…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11935 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2008 and in accordance with good practice, whether it will make available the detailed reports on the outcomes of the consultations that took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethn…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The reports on the consultation processes around the implementation of the decision to establish a directorate of equalities and planning to support NHS health boards with the equalities and planning agenda are not held centrally and should be sought directly…

24 Apr 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to issue a revised international development policy.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Yes. Scottish ministers are committed to advancing Scotland''s place in the world by building mutually beneficial links with other countries as outlined in the Scottish Government''s International Framework published on 22 April. As part of that Framework, Sc…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation and engagement took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethnic minorities on involving them in the detail of how the new Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland will work with NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11935 on 22 April 2008, which explains the engagement which took place with equality groups prior to the establishment of the directorate of equalities within NHS Health Scotland. The directorate has also begun…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethnic minorities on the closure of the Fair for All - Disability and Fair for All - Race projects before the establishment of the new Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The work-programme, and associated resources of the Fair for All “ Disability and Fair for All “ Race projects, transferred to NHS Health Scotland''s new equalities and planning directorate in April 2008. We are committed to ensuring that.</p> <p >Each of th…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new applications have been received under the central heating programme in each of the last three months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: An initial assessment on eligibility is made at the application stage, normally by telephone, and those applicants are recorded as eligible. Eligibility is then confirmed during the survey stage in the applicant''s home.</p> <p >Between eligible application,…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the monthly installation rate has been under the central heating programme over the last three months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Over the period 2007-08 a record total of 14,377 central heating systems were installed. The comparable figure in 2006-07 was 10,238.</p> <p >The monthly installation rate in each of the last three months, as notified by the managing agent, Scottish Gas, is …

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average daily waiting times were under the central heating programme in each of the last three months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government inherited a situation where a significant number of people had been waiting for many months to have their central heating system installed. The government tackled this issue and that is why the number people waiting over nine months ha…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications it has called in after having been refused by local authorities in each year since 1999; to what the applications referred, and on what dates they were called in.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10302 on 10 March 2008. 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/webap…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average number of planning applications approved by local authorities it has called in in each year since 1999.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The total number of planning applications called in by Scottish ministers for the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2007 is 250. A breakdown of the yearly figures is provided:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > …

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications refused by local authorities it has called in since June 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers have no power to call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issued by a planning authority.</p>

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications approved by local authorities it has called in since June 2007; to what the applications referred, and how many of have now been concluded.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the planning applications called in by Scottish ministers since June 2007 is contained in the table below:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=391 valign=top > <p align=center >Case Description</p> </td> <…

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the religious backgrounds are of prisoners held in prisons, broken down by postcode area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table gives the stated religion and postcode area of the home address of prisoners in custody on 30 June 2006.</p> <table …

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are held in prisons, broken down by postcode area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The following table gives the postcode area of the home address of prisoners in custody on 30 June 2006.</p> <table border=0 cellspacing…

30 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow the Scottish Arts Council to make decisions about the best way to spend its budget without preventing it from providing continued support for cultural co-ordinators.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: It is for the Scottish Arts Councilto decide how to use its unrestricted funds.</p>

23 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of sickness absence was for all local authorities in 2006-07.

Answer · John Swinney: This information isnot held centrally. The management of sickness absence within local authoritiesis a matter for individual local authorities as employers.</p><p>Local authoritiesare required by law to provide Audit Scotland with informationon sickness absen…

20 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new applications have been received under the central heating programme in each month over the last three years.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information is only availablefrom October 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. ScottishGas has provided the following details:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Period<…

20 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the monthly installation rate has been under the central heating programme over the last two years.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The monthly installation rateover the last two years is shown in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=120 valign=top> <p>Period</p> </td> <td width=168 valign=top> <p>Installations Undertaken</…

20 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times were under the central heating programme in each of the last 16 months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information is only availablefrom November 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. ScottishGas has provided the following details:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Period…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15069 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 April 2001, whether the number of Catholic prisoners is now proportionate to the number of Catholics in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>Further to the responseto S1W-15069 on 26 April 2001, a further survey was carried out in October2007. Each prisoner’s religion is among routin…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers to prevent a GP based in England from referring a patient to an NHS facility in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: No. A GP should,however, liaise with their NHS authority about the appropriateness of such areferral.</p><p>The general rulecovering the diagnosis and treatment of patients under the NHS in the UK is that services are either provided by, orcommissioned by, a …

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers to prevent a GP based in Scotland from referring a patient to an NHS facility in England.

Answer · Shona Robison: No. A GP should,however, liaise with their NHS board about the appropriateness of such areferral.</p><p>The general rulecovering the diagnosis and treatment of patients under the NHS in the UK is that services are either provided by, orcommissioned by, a NHS …

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its health department intends to publish the equality and diversity impact assessments that it has undertaken of all of its own functions and policies as required by law.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentplaces great importance on ensuring that the functions and policies for which itsdirectorates are responsible are subject to equality impact assessment. Thegovernment’s equality impact assessment tool and process not only enables us toi…

17 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the equality and diversity impact assessments of all NHS boards to be published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is a duty oneach NHS board to complete and publish equality and diversity impact assessmentsof the policies and services for which they are responsible. We are remindingboards of our commitment to this as part of the 2007 Annual Review cycle processwhic…

5 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any information has been collected on the impact of increased traffic through Bellshill town centre during periods of diversion when work has been carried out on the A725 Bellshill by-pass.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Although all specifictrunk road diversions are designed with the agreement of any adjacent local authorityand the police, neither the Scottish Government nor Transport Scotland has information on traffic flows through Bellshill towncentre. This is part of the…