Parliamentary questions
Nicol Stephen
130 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it received regarding the use of chemical restraint in care homes prior to developing the National Care Standards for care homes for older people.
Answer · Shona Robison: As you will be aware, it is not the practice of Scottish ministers to publish legal advice. This is for reasons of confidentiality and in the interests of good and effective governance.</p>
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken to establish whether care home residents with dementia are aware that they are commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs and the percentage of residents who refuse to take such drugs.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission and the Mental Welfare Commission are working in partnership to examine the issue of chemical restraint and consent in the administration of medicines in care homes for older people. The joint working will include consideration of the use …
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the risks posed by antipsychotic drugs to dementia patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: As with all medicines, the safety of antipsychotic drugs is continually monitored by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission for Human Medicines.</p> <p >The MHRA has advised that no antipsychotic drugs are curren…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that covert medication is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and whether it intends to review its use in care homes.
Answer · Shona Robison: The revised Code of Practice on Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, published on 11 March 2008, notes that the use of covert medication is permissible only in certain limited circumstances, for example to safeguard the health of an adult…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Health and Social Care Bill has any implications for care homes in Scotland, with particular regard to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answer · Shona Robison: The UK Health and Social Care Bill proposes to include the provision of certain care home services purchased by a local authority from an independent care home provider within the definition of a function of a public nature for the purposes of the Human Right…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance by local authorities with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); whether it considers that any local authority has breached ECHR rules since 1999, and what recourse is available to individuals who believe that a local authority is in breach of a Conven…
Answer · John Swinney: Compliance by local authorities with the European Convention on Human Rights is a matter for authorities themselves as independent corporate bodies. The European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998. It wo…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, Always A Last Resort, and whether, in light of the report’s findings, it intends to consider changes to policies and guidelines in Scotland regarding the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to …
Answer · Shona Robison: In Scotland, a number of policies and guidance documents already contain advice and information about the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia in care homes.</p> <p >The Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for Mental Health publish…
21 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles are of (a) local police forces and (b) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in investigating and establishing misconduct on the part of police officers and what discretion these organisations have in taking disciplinary proceedings if misconduct is established.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Chief constables are solely responsible for operational matters within their police force. This includes investigating and establishing misconduct and taking disciplinary proceedings where necessary. Detailed rules for handling cases of misconduct or ineffici…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice the Student Awards Agency for Scotland has given or intends to give to applicants domiciled in Scotland inquiring about support for the four-year graduate course at the new Aberdeen dental school.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will advise that students undertaking the four year accelerated dentistry course at University of Aberdeen will be eligible to have their tuition fees paid in full.</p> <p >In addition, eligible students will be …
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why students domiciled in Scotland studying for the five-year BDS course at Glasgow and Dundee dental schools do not pay tuition fees but similar students studying for the four-year BDS course at the new Aberdeen dental school will be required to pay their own tuition fees.
Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 19 February 2008 that the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the £1,775 per year tuition fees for the students studying at the new Aberdeen Dental School. The graduate students studying dentistry at the Glasgow and Dundee Dental School…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to applicants inquiring about entry to the four-year graduate BDS course at the new Aberdeen dental school on the financial support available to them in respect of (a) tuition fees, (b) dental bursaries, (c) health department bursaries, (d) student loans and (e) other…
Answer · Shona Robison: Students applying for places at the new Aberdeen Dental School will be provided with information on the forms of financial assistance available as the application process develops in the same way as other students.</p>
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether students domiciled in Scotland who apply for the four-year graduate course at the new Aberdeen dental school have been advised that they will not be eligible to have their tuition fees paid by the government.
Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 19 February 2008 that the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the £1,775 per year tuition fees for the students studying at the new Aberdeen Dental School. The students will be advised accordingly and further adverts will be placed in t…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will add the four-year graduate course at the new Aberdeen dental school to the list of courses that are eligible for free tuition for students domiciled in Scotland taking the course as a second degree.
Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 19 February 2008 that the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the £1,775 per year tuition fees for the students studying at the new Aberdeen Dental School.</p>
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has been decided that students domiciled in Scotland who apply for the four-year graduate course at the new Aberdeen dental school will be required to pay for their tuition.
Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 19 February 2008 that the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the £1,775 per year tuition fees for the students studying at the new Aberdeen Dental School.</p>
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much students domiciled in Scotland who apply for the four-year graduate course at the new Aberdeen dental school will be required to pay for their tuition.
Answer · Shona Robison: I announced on 19 February 2008 that the Scottish Government will meet the costs of the £1,775 per year tuition fees for the students studying at the new Aberdeen Dental School.</p>
31 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will reply to my letter of 29 June 2007 regarding the appointment, remit, period of office and accountability of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Ministerwrote on 15 August 2007.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has started to consult on a new role for communities in the process of applying for antisocial behaviour orders.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are already consultinginformally through our engagements across Scotland over the summer recess. We will announce the terms and timescale of thereview of our antisocial behaviour strategy in due course.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce legislation to confirm St Andrew’s Day as a full national holiday.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: There is no requirementto introduce further legislation to confirm St Andrew’s Day as a national holiday.The St Andrew’s Day Holiday (Scotland) Bill passed by Parliament on 30 November2006 added St Andrew’s Day to the list of statutory bank holidays in Schedu…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has published proposals to make science, modern languages and technology central to children’s educational experience.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Earlier this year, Learningand Teaching Scotland published draft outcomes and experiences from the PlanetEarth line of development in the science curriculum as part of the ongoingreview of the curriculum: <i>Curriculum for Excellence</i>.</p><p>During the com…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has increased Scotland’s international development budget by 100%.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The ScottishGovernment is committed to doubling the international development budget, butthis will be done in the context of an appraisal of the current International developmentpolicy and the spending review.</p><p>In line with ourmanifesto commitment to wor…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has published proposals to bring the Parliament closer to the people.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: We will discuss proposalsto bring Parliament closer to the people of Scotland with other parties and the Procedures Committee on the return of the Scottish Parliament in September. We will write to both the Convener of the Procedures Committee,as the committe…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions on the creation of a wholly-devolved civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmenthas had preliminary discussions with the Head of the Home Civil Service, the Headof the Northern Ireland Civil Service, UK Government Permanent Secretaries withan interest and staff unions about the issues relevant to a discussion on th…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has introduced a £5 million annual saltire prize.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Finance and Sustainable Growth announced on 15 August 2007 that the first Saltire Prize will focus on supportinginnovation within the energy sector. Further details of the prize will be announcedin the near future.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has begun discussions with local authorities on maximising recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes. My officials have afurther meeting on recycling with local authorities, and other key bodies, on 13 August 2007. Theaim is to consider how to increase recycling to meet the 2010 LandfillDirective target on reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal w…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established an expert panel to report on changes to building regulations.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The SBSA is in theprocess of finalising the membership of the expert panel to report on the changesneeded to develop a…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has accessed the £40 million, collected through the fossil fuel levy, for taking forward renewables in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: We continue to examinethe options for securing the surplus Fossil Fuel Levy funds and remain in contactwith both Ofgem and Treasury over this issue.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set out plans to treble current funding for community and microgeneration with up to one million households benefiting.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Executive’sobjective is to increase levels of microgeneration and we are committed toincreasing funding to help achieve this. The Executive will set out its plansfor funding as part of our first spending review. Microgeneration has thepotential to provide…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for a criminal justice Bill.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-246 on 14 June 2007 which is available on the Parliament’s website:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0614-02.htm#Col781">http://www.scottish.p…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a first home grant.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We are committedto helping more individuals and families who struggle to afford a first home oftheir own and we are considering further measures to achieve this. In addition to development of the ScottishHousing Support Fund for shared equity provision announ…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has brought forward detailed proposals to enable it to service the existing loan debt for graduates domiciled in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am currentlyworking with my officials on the options for implementing our proposal toremove the burden of the debt repayments owed by Scottish domiciled andresident graduates.</p>