Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone calls have been handled by the National Child Protection Line in each month since its launch in February 2007.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Child ProtectionLine has answered the following calls since February 2007:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td nowrap valign=top> <p>Feb 2007</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p>98</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td nowrap valign=top…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lord Sutherland’s review of the policy of free personal and nursing care will consider the effect of the policy on other services delivered to older people in Scotland and, in particular, whether resources have been diverted from general services for older people to pay for free p…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent FundingReview of Free Personal and Nursing Care, chaired by Lord Sutherland, will investigatethe level and distribution of resources to local authorities in implementing thispolicy. Local authorities arerequired to meet their statutory respons…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the recommendation in Community Care Providers Scotland’s report, Social Care and Support Services in the Voluntary Sector: Funding Survey 2007, that central government should review spending levels on social care and support in relation to (a) demand for serv…
Answer · Shona Robison: Ministers are in dialoguewith a range of stakeholders to gather evidence and views on how we can use thestrategic spending review to set plans that will enable us to fulfil our purposeand achieve our strategic objectives. Social care and support will be part …
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether audiology waiting times will be brought into line with those of other NHS consultant-led services and targeted to 18 weeks from GP referral to fitting of hearing aid.
Answer · Shona Robison: Since audiology servicesare not consultant-led, or defined as a speciality, and are a sub-specialty ofear, nose and throat, they do not fall under the current 18 week target of the ScottishGovernment. However, the Scottish Government is committed to improving…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the audiology waiting time figures for each NHS board will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: Work is taking placewith Information Services Division of National Services Scotland to gather and validatethe necessary data. Audiology waiting time information will be published in thenear future once this is completed.</p>
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the recent announcement on the role of the private sector will have on the provision of audiology services in NHS Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Health and Wellbeing has publicly made clear the Scottish Government’s oppositionon the use of public money to assist the private sector compete with the NHS.</p><p>The national private sector call-off contract, put in place underthe …
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information gathering it has undertaken or will undertake or commission to assess the (a) measures needed to achieve and (b) costs associated with the achievement of the 2012 target to end priority need in homelessness assessments.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: As stated in responseto answer to question S3W-1134 on 26 June 2007 the Scottish Government will discuss these issues withstakeholders, taking account of information gathered from annual outcome and progressreports submitted by local authorities, homelessness…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost is of meeting the 2012 target to end priority need assessment in relation to homelessness, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: A wide range of actionsis required to meet the 2012 target and it is for each local authority to decidethe most effective methods of achieving the target in their area. Central Governmentfunding for homelessness services, housing supply and the wider range of…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost is of meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 in respect of local authority owned housing stock, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Local authoritiesthat have submitted Standard Delivery Plans (SDPs), setting out how they will achievethe Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SH…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the target to eradicate unintentional homelessness by 2012 is met in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Government’s homelessnesstarget is to abolish priority need by 2012. I refer the member to answer to questionS3W-1134 on 26 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for whichcan…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes are planned to be built in each of the next four years in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: As part of its currentStrategic Spending Review, the government is considering future investment requirementsfor affordable housing. Figures relating to plans for affordable housing provisionin future years will not be known until the conclusion of the Spendi…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes it estimates will be required in each of the next four years in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Local authoritiesare required to assess the extent and nature of housing need in their areas as partof their Local Housing Strategy and Development Planning processes. The government is currently conducting an exercisewhich is seeking to gain a consistent pic…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in respect of any financial consequentials from the announcement in the 2007 UK budget of a new £80 million community fund for small community groups.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government’sspending plans for the period 2008-11 will be announced in late autumn, when thestrategic spending review is concluded.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it will provide to the voluntary sector to implement the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (a) for training, (b) for carrying out disclosure checks on any existing staff members that will be within the scope of the Act, (c) for administration costs for organis…
Answer · Adam Ingram: We are committed toensuring that the implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 is carefully managed and that all sectors andusers are supported through the transition from the existing multiple disclosureregime to the new moder…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to bring the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 into force.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 is intended to deliver a modern, streamlined,efficient and effective vetting and barring system. The legislation will come into force once all the constituent elementsare in place to ensure that that is …
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that terms and conditions of staff working for voluntary sector public service contractors are maintained at the same level as equivalent public sector staff.
Answer · Jim Mather: Voluntary sector employersare independent of government. Staff terms and conditions are a matter for staffand the employer, within the boundaries of employment law.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the terms and conditions of staff working for voluntary sector public service contractors.
Answer · Jim Mather: Voluntary sector organisationsare independent of government.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional funds to local authorities to implement the principle of full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer · Jim Mather: Organisations shouldbe paid the full costs for providing a service, and we expect local authoritiesand third sector organisations to conduct suitable negotiations for service deliverythat take all costs into account.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding would be required by local authorities to implement full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer · Jim Mather: Local authoritiesare fully funded to provide services at local level and all organisations shouldbe paid the costs for delivering any given service.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the implementation among local authorities of the principle of full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer · Jim Mather: Ministers are clearthat all costs for providing a service should be met, and that the third sectorshould not subsidise, or be expected to subsidise, public services.</p><p>We are committed toworking with the sector and local government to ensure all are aware…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that best value is consistently applied by local authorities, particularly for voluntary organisations bidding to provide public services.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Local Governmentin Scotland Act (2003) introduced the statutory responsibility of best value forlocal authorities. To ensure that best value is consistentlyapplied by local authorities Audit Scotland carries out an audit of best value andcommunity plannin…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the role of the voluntary sector in delivering public services.
Answer · Jim Mather: We recognise the importantcontribution that third sector bodies can make in delivering public services. Inmany areas they are already substantial suppliers of service. Overall, it is clearthey have capacity to do more and we are considering work to improve co…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the £200,000 minimum eligible project costs for applications to the forthcoming round of European Structural Funds will not be prejudicial to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Jim Mather: I will write to youshortly on this issue, setting out in more detail an answer to your question.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide further resources to local authorities to enable them to provide three-year funding arrangements to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Jim Mather: Local authoritiesalready receive their funding from the Scottish Executive in three year financialsettlements, as they have done since 2001. Local authorities have the autonomy tomake local funding decisions, such as those involved in determining the level of…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage local authorities to provide three year funding arrangements to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Jim Mather: We support the principlesof the Scottish Compact, which was explicit that Government should apply best practicein funding and in the administration of grants. We support the practice ofthree-year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and e…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of total funding provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations has been for a period of less than three years.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2446 on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations has been for a period of less than three years.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2446 on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total number of current funding arrangements provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations are for a period of less than three years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The information requestedis not held centrally.</p><p>We support the practiceof three year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding arrangements, where possible, to provide a stableand efficient ope…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the current funding arrangements provided by (a) it and its agencies and (b) local authorities to voluntary organisations have been for a period of less than three years.
Answer · Jim Mather: This information isnot available centrally.</p><p>We support the practiceof three-year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding agreements, where possible, to provide a stable andefficient operating…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce red tape for the voluntary sector.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Independent Reviewof Scrutiny, led by Professor Lorne Crerar, is examining how regulation, audit,inspection and complaints are functioning in Scotland’s public services. The review is developing recommendations for a bettersystem of scrutiny which should …