Parliamentary questions

Liam McArthur

3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have met the target of 15 hours per week free nursery school provision in each year since 2007.

Answer · Angela Constance: All local authorities are delivering the statutory requirement of 475 hours of free pre-school education. There is local variability in terms of additional pre-school provision; such as provision beginning closer to the date of a child’s third birthday, provi…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received to consider creating a programme similar to the Pupil Premium that was introduced by the UK Government.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has not received any formal representations to consider a programme similar to the Pupil Premium.

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to piloting a programme similar to the Pupil Premium that was introduced by the UK Government (a) in a specific region or (b) among a group of schools with a higher than average number of pupils from poorer backgrounds.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: There are currently no plans in Scotland to pilot the pupil premium. The Scottish Government has a strong legislative and policy framework to address the wide ranging causes of educational disadvantage. This includes the retention of the Education Maintenance…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of how successful the target of 15 hours per week of free nursery school provision has been and whether it will publish the results.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02765 on 28 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQA…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits would be of extending the hours during which free nursery school provision can be claimed, broken down by socioeconomic group.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02763 on 28 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of extending to 7.00 am to 7.00 pm the hours during which free nursery school provision can be claimed and whether it has considered such an extension.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is for local authorities to decide how to deliver the statutory requirement of 475 hours per year of free pre-school provision for three and four year olds, on the basis of local priorities and needs…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-12995 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2011 (Official Report c. 3325) what discussions it has had with Orkney Health and Care regarding the impact that a delay in agreeing the construction of a new Balfour hospital may have on the development of a n…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Senior Scottish Government officials are in regular discussion with the Chief Executive of Orkney Health and Care and are very supportive of the plans to take an integrated approach to investment in health and care facilities to ensure that services in Orkney…

14 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-12995 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2011 (Official Report c. 3325), when it will be in a position to sanction the construction of a new Balfour hospital in Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government officials have been working closely with NHS Orkney and other key stakeholders to ensure that all of the necessary planning and preparatory work is completed to enable us to move forward as swiftly as possible on a blueprint for a new hosp…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice's statement on 8 September 2011 that “councils will be able to fund and provide the backdrop and bureaucracy that will allow them [police boards] to do their job” (Official Report, c.1562), whether the funding for this will be met from (a) exi…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong: A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland published on 8 September outlines a range of proposals for establishing a strong formal relationship between each of Scotland’s Thirty-two councils…

12 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01680 by Angela Constance on 15 August 2011, whether organisations that it funds to promote or support independent advocacy are required to use the definition of independent advocacy set out in the answer.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02644 on 22 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASe…

12 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance and for what purposes in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11 and has provided for 2011-12.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32136 on 15 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASea…

12 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what annual (a) monitoring and (b) reporting requirements the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance has in relation to the funding that it receives from the Scottish Government.

19 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02163 by Michael Matheson on 13 August 2011, whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £5 million difference between the total budget for tackling alcohol misuse in 2011-12 and the funding allocated to NHS boards in 2011-12 to deliver local serv…

Answer · Michael Matheson: We have made a record investment of £155 million tackling alcohol misuse since 2008, the bulk of our funding - £134 million - being invested in prevention, treatment and support services. The total budget for tackling alcohol misuse in 2011-12 is £42 million…

10 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the difference between the figures provided in the Drug and Alcohol Delivery Bulletin of March (£70.6 million) and July 2011 (£65.6 million) in respect of allocations for supporting recovery-focussed frontline drug services and tackling the wider health and social…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The figure for alcohol quoted in the march bulletin represents the total budget for tackling alcohol misuse in 2011-12 (£42 million). The figure quoted in the july bulletin for alcohol represents the funding allocated to NHS boards in 2011-12 to deliver loca…

10 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to shoot seals have been or were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused in 2011 and each of the previous five years; what the reasons were for the refusals, and in what geographic areas applications were granted.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 makes it an offence to kill or take any seal at any time except under licence or for animal welfare concerns. Details of applications received and licences granted across all geographic areas of Scotland as of 31 January 2011 ar…

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available for the provision, maintenance and use of hyperbaric chambers over the next three years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No decisions have been taken with regard to national funding of hyperbaric chambers beyond 2011-12.

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the use of hyperbaric chambers for (a) training and (b) emergencies, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table details the number of patients treated for diving decompression Illness in each chamber from 2003-2010. The chamber in Aberdeen is an NHS facility, the other chambers are independent. Information is not held centrally on the use of hyperba…

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards about the way in which funding is allocated for the provision, maintenance and use of hyperbaric chambers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The review of hyperbaric medicine undertaken by National Services Division and the outcome of subsequent discussions with NHS boards with hyperbaric chambers is to be considered by the National Services Advisory Group in October. Any proposed changes to the n…

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how funding for the provision, maintenance and use of hyperbaric chambers is allocated, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The total cost to the NHS of hyperbaric provision in Scotland for the seven years from 2003-04 to 2009-10 was £8,264,255. The following table details the breakdown of costs by health board. Table: Combined cost of both Independent and National Hyperbaric Pro…

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hyperbaric chambers that receive public funding are available, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Four hyperbaric chambers in Scotland are recognised by the Hyperbaric National Registration Service to provide care for diving related illness and receive funding from the NHS. The chamber in Aberdeen is an NHS facility operated by NHS Grampian. The other thr…

4 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how funding provided for the provision, maintenance and use of hyperbaric chambers is agreed and what this covers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: National Services Division commissions the National Hyperbaric Medicine Unit in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a nationally designated service to provide and co-ordinate emergency treatment and advice in Scotland for diving related illness. The national service …

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Orkney residents are registered with a NHS dentist and, of them, attend for regular dental check-ups.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table shows the numbers and rate of NHS registered Orkney residents as at 31 March 2011, and those participating in the General Dental Service over a two year period up to 31st March 2011. Number of Orkney residents registered Registration rat…

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Orkney are entitled to free dental care and, of them, are registered with a NHS dentist.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The specific information requested is not held centrally.

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time for registration is with a NHS dentist in (a) Scotland and (b) Orkney.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally. As independent contractors dentists are not obliged under their NHS terms of service to advise NHS Boards of any waiting lists they may hold. Individual NHS Boards may hold information on those waiting to register with …

29 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with UK ministers regarding enhancing Scotland’s influence at European Council level.

24 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its timetable is for introducing the warm homes fund.

Answer · Alex Neil: The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy efficient homes in those communities worse affected by fuel poverty. We expect to publish more details on the fund following the spending review.

24 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the warm homes fund will operate.

24 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the warm homes fund will be targeted to benefit the people most affected by fuel poverty.

Answer · Alex Neil: The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those areas worse affected by fuel poverty. The operational details, including the fuel poverty criteria, are being worked on and will be announced in due course.

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the Students Awards Agency for Scotland has made an assessment of the number of students who missed the deadline for applying for payment of their tuition fees in 2010-11 as a result of the deadline being three months earlier than in 2009-10 and, if so, what the outcome was.…

Answer · Michael Russell: As of 10 June 2011, 78 students have submitted applications for support after the closing date for courses starting in autumn 2010-11, out of over 145,000 applications received. This figure includes applications for 2011-12 session made on the wrong form, app…

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the deadline for applications to the Students Awards Agency for Scotland for payment of tuition fees was moved from 30 June in 2009-10 to 31 March in 2010-11.

Answer · Michael Russell: The tuition fee deadline was moved from 30 June to 31 March to ensure that eligible applications for tuition fee support are processed in advance of exam diets. Universities and colleges reserve the right to remove access to IT and library services and to wit…