Willie Coffey

13 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what centres of excellence in the assessment and management of post-polio syndrome (PPS) can be accessed by patients being treated for PPS by NHSScotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (SMASAC) working group, convened in early 2009, is currently considering the best way to organise services for people in Scotland who have post-polio syndrome/late effects of polio (PPS/LEOP). This includ…

13 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of post-polio syndrome there are and how it monitors the number of such cases.

Answer · Shona Robison: Based on UK and international studies, the estimate of the number of people in Scotland who may have late effects of polio (LEOP) is between 6,000 and 10,200. Accurate estimates of prevalence are however difficult, for a number of reasons. Counting cases of d…

9 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the study conducted by AMEY on the Bellfield Interchange.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is expected that the study will be published early in December 2009. Transport Scotland has written to you on 29 October with an update and will send you a copy of the final report when it is available.</p>

23 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to to make science more accessible to the public in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1001-01.htm">http://www.scot…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total area is of blanket peat bog in or near favourable condition and what steps are being taken to increase this.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Countryside Survey 2007, the most recent country-wide assessment of habitat extent, estimates the area of blanket bog in Scotland as 1.1m ha. This survey does not attempt to distinguish on a quantitative basis between areas in favourable and unfavourable …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most environmentally sustainable way is for households to dispose of food waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Preventing food waste, where possible, is the most environmentally sustainable approach. Prevention saves householders money and helps to reduce greenhouse gases associated with the production, transportation, storage and disposal of food. </p> <p >Some food…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities provide facilities for the disposal of organic waste and how many of these facilities accept food waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All local authorities provide facilities at household waste recycling centres for householders to deposit organic garden waste, however some households may not be conveniently placed to utilise these facilities. At the present time no provision is made for th…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities operate kerbside collection of separated organic waste and how many of these collections accept food waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Twenty-nine of the 32 local authorities offer an organic waste collection from the kerbside. In addition, 13 local authorities collect food waste either with other organic waste or collected separately.</p>

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the report The Food We Waste in Scotland, by WRAP Scotland, what steps being taken to increase the separate collection of organic waste from domestic premises.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is the responsibility of each local authority to determine what collection systems are put in place. Food waste trials in Scotland have been supported by the Scottish Government in seven local authority areas. The Scottish Government is supporting councils…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many employers in the Kilmarnock travel-to-work area have registered for participation in the Scottish Government’s Adopt an Apprentice scheme; whether it is taking steps to increase this number, and, if so, what steps.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Seven employers in the three Ayrshire local authority areas have registered through the Adopt an Apprentice scheme. Across the scheme the majority of employers are in the construction sector and hundreds of redundant apprentices have now been placed with new …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 have been brought in Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in each year since 2005 and how many resulted in a successful prosecution.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows (for charges reported in each financial year) the number of charges which resulted in a conviction. A number of charges are still subject of on-going court proceedings and these are included in the table.</p> <p >Charges: Emergency …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14765 by Jack McConnell on 4 April 2001, what change has taken place since April 2001 in the proportion of looked-after children who secure a permanent home.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We do not hold information centrally on the proportion of looked after children who secure a permanent home.</p> <p >The courts in Scotland are required to notify the General Register Office for Scotland when they grant an adoption order. As indicated in the…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14765 by Jack McConnell on 4 April 2001, what change has taken place since April 2001 in the time taken to process applications for approval as prospective adoptive parents.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We do not hold information centrally on the timescales involved in processing applications for approval as prospective adopters.</p> <p >The Adoption Policy Review Group, referred to in the answer to question S1W-14765, identified a number of issues which ne…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to reduce administrative delays in the adoption system.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Adoption Policy Review Group was set up in 2001 to look at adoption practice and law in Scotland. The first report was published in 2003 and looked at practice issues; the second report was published in 2005 and dealt with the legal framework. The Review …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to courts for adoption orders in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the General Register Office for Scotland collects information on the number of adoption applications granted in each year. I attach the details in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average timescale is for an adoption order to be issued, from the time of placement of a child with prospective adoptive parents.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We do not hold information centrally on the timescales involved in the issuing of adoption orders.</p> <p >The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (the 2007 Act), which will come into force on 28 September 2009, requires a child, placed by an adoption …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in establishing the Scottish Flood Forum and engaging with residents in identified flood risk areas in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Flood Forum (SFF) is an independent body funded by the Scottish Government. It was set up in October 2008 and has been working closely with SEPA to encourage people and communities at risk of flooding to take action for themselves and prepare for…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on additional resources allocated by HM Treasury for flood risk management in England and Wales in each year since May 2007 and what the relevant Barnett consequentials have been for Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: HM Treasury advises the Scottish Government from time to time of changes “ both up and down “ in the overall Scottish Block budget consequent on changes in Departmental spending totals in England and Wales affecting programmes that are included in the Barnett…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the extent to which exposure to volatile organic compounds may result in respiratory effects.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government takes advice on the health effects of pollutants from the relevant agencies and the independent expert committees which have been established by the UK Governments for this purpose.</p> <p >For these concerns, the relevant advisory c…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance regarding the use of air fresheners it issues to NHS boards and other agencies providing services for people with respiratory problems.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not issue specific guidance to NHS boards on the issue. Advice for agencies providing services for people with respiratory problems would depend on specific circumstances.</p>

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that executive agencies and associated directorates that are not certified to a formal quality management standard promote continuous improvement.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government secures continuous improvement in the performance of functions by all public service organisations, including executive agencies and the Scottish Government itself using best value arrangements.</p> <p >Continuous improvement seeks to…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all executive agencies and associated directorates, showing which are certified to a formal quality management standard; what the standard is; how long the standard has been in place, and whether the certification will be maintained.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not require executive agencies to gain certification to any formal quality management standard and therefore does not hold such data centrally. Such information could only be gathered at disproportionate cost.</p> <p >Ensuring q…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reporting mechanisms local authorities will use under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill and when these will replace the biennial reports required by section 6A of the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (the 2009 Act) requires the lead local authority for each local plan district to produce a Local Flood Risk Management Plan (LFRMP) for the purposes of supplementing the District Flood Risk Management Plan (DFRMP)…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities will no longer be required to produce biennial reports as required by section 6A of the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Local authorities should continue to produce biennial reports until such time as section 70 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, which repeals the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, is commenced.</p>

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive advice from the Scottish Law Commission regarding changes to the system of land registration and the processes for registration of a non domino dispositions.

Answer · John Swinney: We expect to receive the Scottish Law Commission''s report on Land Registration, part of its seventh programme of law reform, by the end of the year. A draft Land Registration (Scotland) Bill, a proposed replacement for much of the existing Land Registration …

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the European Commission seeking continuation of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MV-BER 1400/2002/EC) or a similar provision designed to maintain an open and competitive after-sales and repair market for motor vehicles in light of the p…

Answer · Jim Mather: Competition policy is a reserved matter. Scottish Government officials have been in discussion with officials of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about this matter. The UK Government has made several representations to the European Commissio…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the UK Government regarding changes to the jobseekers allowance scheme to assist in the retention of part-time supply teachers awaiting full-time employment by ending the requirement that they reregister their claim every time their average hours ex…

Answer · Keith Brown: Social security benefits are a reserved matter for which the Department of Work and Pensions has responsibility. I understand that for claims between which there is a gap of less than 12 weeks there is a process called rapid reclaim in place which minimises t…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person with moderate deuteranomalous trichromacy can meet the standard of eyesight determined by the Scottish Ministers in accordance with section 9 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A person with moderate deuteranomalous trichromacy would be classified as having anomalous trichromacy under the eyesight standards determined by the Scottish ministers, in accordance with section 9 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004. They would, there…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential use of LED lighting as an alternative to compact fluorescent lights.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made no formal assessment of the potential use of light emitting diode (LED) lighting as an alternative to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), although current industry reports indicate that compared with CFLs, LEDs are a very energ…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential application to Scotland’s future energy and power needs of the Stirling engine invented by the Reverend Robert Stirling.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not made such an assessment. However, we are aware of a resurgence of interest worldwide in developing the Stirling engine for<i > </i>a diverse range of energy applications. The Scottish Government and the enterprise agencies woul…