Parliamentary questions

Jamie Hepburn

761 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether commercial bus and coach operators are required to carry mobility scooters belonging to passengers.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None of the accessibility regulations for buses and coaches, which are reserved to Westminster, cover the carriage of mobility scooters. This is because scooters are outdoor vehicles generally intended for use as an alternative to public transport for short t…

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal requirements are on commercial bus and coach operators to allow access to their services for passengers with mobility problems.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVR) 2000 is reserved to Westminster. This legislation sets out that all new buses have had to be accessible since 31 December 2000. All other buses must be fully accessible by 1 January 2017 at the lat…

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether and, if so, by what process practising denturists can register with the General Dental Council.

Answer · Shona Robison: Denturist is not a title recognised for registration purposes by the regulatory body the General Dental Council (GDC). Dental technicians (who make dentures) and clinical dental technicians (who make and fit dentures) can register with the GDC if they hold a …

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role denturists have in the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: In the UK, the role of denturists is now recognised as a clinical dental technician, who may make and fit dentures. Clinical dental technicians may be directly employed by NHSScotland boards to make and fit dentures, or work to a dentist in a general…

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training in the manufacture and fitting of dentures is available to NHS employees.

Answer · Shona Robison: The General Dental Council (GDC) determines the appropriate UK standard of proficiency required for a person to practise competently and safely, and also the content and standard of the education and training (including practical experience) it considers is n…

6 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS medical professionals can make and fit dentures.

Answer · Shona Robison: Only dentists and clinical dental technicians registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) can legally make and fit dentures.

9 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Housing Investment Division has a locus in deciding whether changes sought by registered social landlords to their structure should go ahead.

Answer · Alex Neil: Changes to a registered social landlord''s governance and structure are a matter for the organisation to decide themselves with appropriate consent from the Scottish Housing Regulator. Housing Investment Division does not decide such changes.

9 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to proposals to give parents control over their children’s individual personal education budgets from local education authorities.

Answer · Keith Brown: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm">http://www.scot…

9 Sep 2009 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what consideration the Scottish Government has made of the call by Lord Sutherland for the reintroduction of university tuition fees.

Answer · Alex Salmond: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm">http://www.scot…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide figures on the amount spent on research into multiple sclerosis in each year since 1999 and how this compares with other OECD countries.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Government Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO primarily responds to requests for funding research proposals i…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance exists as to how far people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and other chronic conditions that cause fatigue should have to travel to access specialist services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific guidance as to how far people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other long-term conditions that cause fatigue should have to travel to gain access to specialist services. The Scottish Government is however committed to providing s…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many multiple sclerosis specialist staff are employed at each hospital in each NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26936 on 10 September 2009. All the 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.pa…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many multiple sclerosis specialist staff are employed in each NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available. A wide range of health professionals, which includes medical staff, clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals, are needed to care for those patients with specific conditions such as Multip…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many equivalent facilities there are in the NHS to the Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow; what the capacity is of each such facility, and where it is located.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26934 on 14 September 2009. 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/Ap…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capacity is at the Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Physical Disability Rehabilitation Unit at the Southern General is a 30 bed specialist Rehabilitation Unit. A further eight beds are provided at the Larkfield Unit, Inverclyde Royal Hospital. While it is not possible to make direct comparisons there are a…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with multiple sclerosis there have been in each (a) NHS board area, (b) local authority area, (c) Scottish parliamentary region and (d) Scottish parliamentary constituency in each year since 1999.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The detailed information requested is not held centrally. Research studies suggest there are around 10,000 people in Scotland with multiple sclerosis (MS). The national MS register which the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Service…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which registered social landlords have (a) used and (b) not used the Public Contracts Scotland website.

Answer · John Swinney: The following housing associations are currently, as of 3 August, registered and using the Public Contracts Scotland portal to advertise their contracting activity. Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership Almond Housing Association Castle…

3 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it makes small businesses aware of opportunities to apply for procurement opportunities with the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Tom McCabe: : Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are made aware of opportunities in a variety of ways including: Targeted Meet the Buyer events that provide practical assistance to SMEs to help them bid for public sector contracts (these events are aimed…

3 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it uses the Public Contracts Scotland website to advertise contracts it is responsible for issuing.

Answer · Tom McCabe: : All contract adverts are placed on the Public Contract Scotland website. The SPCB registered as a contracting authority with Public Contracts Scotland in August 2008, placing its first contract advert in September 2008. The SPCB is also …

3 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all contracts issued by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) local authorities are advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

Answer · John Swinney: The Public Contracts Scotland website was launched in October 2008 as a free-to-use one stop shop for public bodies to advertise public sector tender opportunities and for suppliers to register their interests and receive free e-mail alerts whenever advertise…

3 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its targets are for small businesses to access contracts it is responsible for issuing and how these targets are measured.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The SPCB does not have specific targets regarding small businesses access to contracts “ this is because the number, type and value of SPCB contracts let each year varies considerably, so any targets set would not reflect genuine contracting opportunities. H…

3 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its targets are for small businesses in relation to public procurement and how these targets are measured.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the significant contribution made to the delivery of public services in Scotland and to the Scottish economy by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We have introduced a number of measures to encourage SME participatio…

3 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the requirements are for school pupils to be supervised by a member of teaching staff during lessons and whether these differ according to the age of the pupils.

Answer · Keith Brown: Local authorities are statutorily required to employ teachers registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge for the posts in which they are employed. Individual local authorities will have lo…

17 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support in the community the NHS provides for people affected by multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.scot…

27 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the liable relative rule for charging for residential care.

Answer · Shona Robison: The liable relative rule allowed local authorities to demand a contribution from the spouse or parent of care home residents. The rule has long been unpopular and in May 2004, following consultation, Scottish ministers announced their intention to abolish the…

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any scheme or framework in place to recruit and fast-track graduates to work in local government similar to the National Graduate Development Programme in England and Wales.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on recruitment of local government staff, including graduates, is not held centrally. This is a matter for local authorities themselves as independent corporate bodies.

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any recommendations by the Health and Safety Executive on the storage of domestic refuse for collection by local authorities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is not aware of any recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive on the storage of household waste for collection by local authorities.

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has directed any local authority to introduce the alternate weekly collection of non-recyclable and recyclable household refuse.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not directed any local authority to introduce alternate weekly collection of non-recyclable and recyclable household waste.

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has directed any local authority to introduce a fortnightly collection of non-recyclable household refuse.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not directed any local authority to introduce fortnightly collections of residual household waste.

27 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people there are with an autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by (a) age group, (b) local authority area and (c) NHS board area, also expressed as a percentage of the population.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Information about the estimated prevalence of autism spectrum disorders, by age group and by local authority area, is set out in Scottish Government Policy and Practice Guidance on Commissioning Services fo…