Parliamentary questions
Willie Coffey
538 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Feb 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve complaints handling in the NHS.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill, currently being scrutinised by the Parliament, introduces a legal right to complain. It will give every NHS patient in Scotland the right to give feedback or comments, or raise concerns or complaints about the healthcare th…
3 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31998 on 10 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative services are available to patients with scoliosis who cannot be treated by the national scoliosis service within the 12-week national standard.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are very few centres in the UK able to undertake specialised scoliosis surgery. The Scottish specialist spinal deformity service has made significant progress in reducing its overall waiting times, but there continue to be extended inpatient waiting tim…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the national scoliosis service meets the waiting time standard of 12 weeks for inpatient and day-care treatment.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28088 on 5 November 2009. 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/Busines…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the national waiting time standard applies to patients waiting for treatment from the national scoliosis service.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28088 on 5 November 2009. 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/Busines…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there has been progress in increasing the number of schools offering two hours of physical education per week per pupil.
Answer · Michael Russell: The quality of children and young people''s learning in physical education is evaluated and reported on in every school inspection. In every school inspection report HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) makes comment on whether or not the school is providing p…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in providing pupils with access to two hours of physical education per week.
Answer · Michael Russell: Local authorities report that 1,167 primary schools throughout Scotland (55%) are delivering at least two hours physical education. This is supported by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) who found year on year improvement in delivery of two hours physical e…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities undertaken by pupils outwith the school setting it classifies as contributing to the delivery of two hours of physical education per week.
Answer · Michael Russell: Curriculum for Excellence places an emphasis on two hours of planned, timetabled, quality physical education for every pupil each week. It is for individual schools to decide, in the light of local needs and circumstances, what activities should be included i…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports schools to enable pupils to move on from physical exercise to participation in sport.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Active Schools Programme was established in 2004. The programme is designed to increase the number of opportunities for children to get engaged in physical activity and sport and develop links with sports clubs and other community organisations to give pu…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there have been changes in the number of pupils participating in sport at (a) primary and (b) secondary school.
Answer · Michael Russell: A new active schools monitoring system, introduced in 2008-09, which records physical activities and sport within individual primary and secondary school plans. Active schools managers are responsible for recording the data. The information collated includes …
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in passenger numbers for each station on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line since the introduction of a half-hourly rail service
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Based on comparison of one-off ScotRail passenger counts conducted in March 2009 and March 2010, after introduction of the half-hourly service in December 2009, there have been the following changes in passenger numbers of each station on the Kilmarnock to Gl…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the extension to all public bodies of a statutory duty to deliver best value
Answer · John Swinney: Under the terms of the Public Finance and Accountability Scotland Act 2000 all accountable officers of the Scottish administration and of public bodies are under a specific duty to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure best value. As public bodies a…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the development of Best Value 2 will have on (a) it, (b) the NHS and (c) other public bodies
Answer · John Swinney: Best Value 2 is the name of the approach that the Accounts Commission for Scotland is taking to its second phase of Best Value audits of local authorities in Scotland. The role of governing arrangements for Best Value audits for the Scottish Government, NHS b…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that corporate purchasers and consumers are able to identify and support Scotland-based companies trading online
Answer · Jim Mather: Although a reserved matter, the Scottish Government actively supports companies with national pre-eminence in their sector who seek to use "Scottish" or equivalents in their company name.</b></p>
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that corporate purchasers and consumers are able to identify and support produce that is (a) Scottish or (b) locally sourced
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government launched the Provenance on a Plate website in March 2010. This is a toolkit that includes advice and guidance to Scottish caterers on how to bring out the origin and provenance of the food and drink on their menus.</b></p> <p >The Foo…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that public bodies provide best value
Answer · John Swinney: Since April 2002, there has been a duty of best value on accountable officers to ensure arrangements are in place to secure best value. Compliance with the duty of Best Value is an auditable requirement for public bodies under section 22(1)(c) of the Public F…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scotland’s rank is among OECD countries in the proportion of its population with access to broadband at up to (a) two, (b) 10 and (c) 100 megabits per second
Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. We understand that the OECD does not collate this data from individual countries in the UK.</b></p>
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to public bodies on the use of information technology to enhance public access and accountability on the part of (a) boards of management and (b) executive officers
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37531 on 25 November 2010. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the extent to which public bodies use information technology to enhance public access and accountability on the part of (a) boards of management and (b) executive officers
Answer · John Swinney: Public bodies are responsible for managing their own business systems and processes. This includes determining the most effective use of information and communications technology in accordance with any relevant obligations, including openness, accountability …
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils with a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic take up (a) further education, (b) higher education or (c) employment in a related field
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evidence on the impact of a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic on school leavers’ career choices
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications in information technology or related topics have been available to pupils sitting higher-level exams in each of the last 10 years
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority provides the following information:</p> <p >Information Technology Related Qualifications in Scottish Schools at Higher Level (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 6) 2001-2010<sup>1</sup><sup></sup></p> <…
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils has left school with a higher-level qualification in information technology or a related topic in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority
Answer · Michael Russell: Details are as follows:</p> <p >Table 1. Proportion of School Leavers with a Higher Qualification in Information Technology<sup>1</sup> Related Subjects, by Local Authority, 2000-01 to 2008-09.</p> <p >Data for 2009-10 will not be available until after the …
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there have been changes in the number of pupils participating in sport at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports schools to enable pupils to move on from physical exercise to participation in sport
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities undertaken by pupils outwith the school setting it classifies as contributing to the delivery of two hours of physical education per week
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in providing pupils with access to two hours of physical education per week
15 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there has been progress in increasing the number of schools offering two hours of physical education per week for each pupil
1 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of land acquisition for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including fees and other costs, (a) as estimated at project approval, (b) incurred to 1 August 2010 and (c) estimated for inclusion in the final account.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to provide an exact figure for costs relating to land acquisition for the M77 Fenwick to Floak special roads scheme as all figures relating to the scheme were combined into a single project with the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh scheme. Recor…
1 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when is the estimated date for completion of the final account for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including settlement of all associated compulsory purchases of land.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to provide an estimated date for completion of the final account as this is dependent on the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations which are still continuing between the District Valuer and affected parties and/or their agents.</b></p>