Parliamentary questions

Willie Coffey

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

1 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many compulsory purchases of land to enable the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77 were (a) required, (b) outstanding at the date of completion of the works and (c) still outstanding on 1 August 2010.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: (a) The compulsory purchase order linked to the M77 Fenwick to Floak special roads scheme required various plots of land from 34 landowners in order to build the scheme. (b) At the date of completion of the works, final settlement of land compens…

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals to reform conveyancing law and, in particular, procedures for disposals a non domino.

Answer · John Swinney: We intend shortly to go out to consultation on a proposed Bill that would convert ultra-long leases into outright ownership. This would implement Report No. 204 by the Scottish Law Commission on Conversion of Long Leases. The introduction of any Bill would de…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients being treated for haemochromatosis have been infected with (a) Clostridium difficile and (b) MRSA in each year since the introduction of monitoring for these infections.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information is not held centrally on the number of people who have haemochromatosis and have been infected with Clostridium difficile or MRSA.

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the introduction of (a) age and (b) gender-specific screening programmes for haemochromatosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31263 on 9 February 2010. 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/Apps…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30253 by Shona Robison on 26 January 2010 by what methods it is assessing the (a) positive and (b) negative impacts of the introduction of a Scotland-only screening programme for haemochromatosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has committed to an evidence-based approach to screening and is given expert, independent advice on screening programmes by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC sets out the criteria to assess screening programmes; …

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in how many NHS boards haemochromatosis patients are treated with (a) venesection therapy and (b) phlebotomy in (i) hospital outpatient or community-based clinics and (ii) hospital wards.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on haemochromatosis patients treated with venesection (phlebotomy) therapy is available for acute hospital inpatients and daycases. Information on procedures is not recorded for outpatient attendances and is not available centrally for community-b…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30253 by Shona Robison on 26 January 2010, what steps it is taking to identify the prevalence of haemochromatosis, broken down by (a) age group and (b) gender.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are currently no plans to identify the prevalence of haemochromatosis.

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which prisons detainees are able to access assistance with a communication impairment from the local learning disabilities team.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Prisoners in all prisons are able, following suitable assessment, to access assistance to address their individual needs, a…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of a relationship between low levels of education, particularly poor literacy skills, and offending.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The report Offender Learning: Options for Improvement was published on 14 January 2010 and makes recommendations and observations for offender learning in Scotland. It is recognised that offender behaviour patterns may be influenced by a wide range of…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of a relationship between communication impairment and offending.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Communication impairment is a widespread characteristic of offenders and arises from a range of causes, most commonly from low educational attainment. Poor ability with verbal expression and reasoning is likely to predispose to more aggressive responses to ch…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned into the extent to which dealing with prisoners’ communication impairments reduces the rate of reoffending.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS have not commissioned any specific research into this area.

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that all professionals working with (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adult female prisoners with a communication impairment receive communication skills training.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Literacy support to all prisoner groups is provided by staff appointed by service providers under contract or agreement. Un…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28429 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2009, what plans it has to amend the initial screening process for (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adult female prisoners entering the criminal justice system to identify those with a communication impairment.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The approach to literacy alerting and screening for all prisoners is currently being reviewed in conjunction with Learning …

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28430 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2009, what plans it has to increase the resources devoted to meeting the needs of (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adult female prisoners with a communication impairment.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There are no current plans to increase the resources devoted to meeting the needs of (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adul…

28 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28429 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 November 2009, when it last commissioned research into the proportion of (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adult female prisoners with a communication impairment and what the proportions were at that time.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: No research has been commissioned into the proportion of (a) young, (b) adult male and (c) adult female prisoners with comm…

25 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what events are planned for 2010 that will build on the success of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Government is determined to build on the huge success of Homecoming Scotland 2009 and to continue supporting the tourism sector through this period of economic recovery. That is why the Minister for Culture and External Affairs and I have br…

25 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23602 by Jim Mather on 20 May 2009, whether the retail sector has increased its commitment to accepting the euro in everyday transactions.

Answer · Jim Mather: Discussions with the Scottish Retail Consortium indicate that an increasing number of retailers recognise the commercial advantage of accepting euros from customers. These include most of the large retail chains, in addition to substantial numbers of hotels a…

25 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of upgrading each (a) primary and (b) secondary school to the requirements of the Curriculum for Excellence, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: Curriculum for Excellence does not require the upgrading of school buildings. Where authorities consider that modifications might be appropriate for individual schools, the assessment of the possible costs are a matter for local authorities, according to loca…

25 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent social workers provide services in each prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The following table provides the numbers of full-time equivalent local authority social workers located in establishments a…

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of upgrading each (a) primary and (b) secondary school to the requirements of the Curriculum for Excellence, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes.