Parliamentary questions
Alison McInnes
1,004 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns expressed by the Royal College of Nursing that the reduction in the number of student nurses and midwives for 2012-13 is not sustainable and "risks there not being enough professionally qualified nurses graduating to meet the demand for health services in …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Student nurse and midwifery intake numbers, including those of 2012-13, are set on an annual basis to ensure the number of students is in line with emerging employment trends in NHS Scotland and the wider healthcare sector.
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds it decided to reduce the student intake for nursing and midwifery from 2,700 in 2011-12 to 2,430 for 2012-13.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The reduced student intake for nursing and midwifery takes account of NHS boards’ workforce plans and projections and reflects changing patterns of care and service delivery, as well as improvements in student attrition which have resulted in the number of st…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage women under 25 (a) in the Lothian area and (b) across Scotland to take smear tests.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2009, the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group commissioned NHS Health Scotland to undertake research into the reasons for non-uptake of the cervical screening invitation. Following this research, a new range of targeted information leafle…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many gastric (a) bypass and (b) band operations were carried out in 2010-11.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows information on the number of gastric band and gastric bypass operations undertaken, where a main diagnosis of obesity has also been recorded, by NHS board of residence in 2010-11. NHS Board of Residence Financial Year 2010-11 Gast…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that criminal record checks are conducted on all staff working in the NHS.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The guidance for the completion of criminal record checks within NHSScotland is contained within the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy. The PIN Policy describes the process that boards must undertake in relation…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can provide to young people with cancer in light of the Macmillan Cancer Support survey finding that 14% of young Scots thought they had no one to talk to when faced with a serious problem.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Ensuring people have the appropriate support for cancer is important at any age, but it can be particularly challenging for young people when they or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer. We are aware that there are a number of organisations who offer a very…
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeships have been offered in 2011-12 by the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors.
Answer · Angela Constance: This performance information is not yet available for 2011-12.
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors regarding maximising modern apprenticeship opportunities.
Answer · Angela Constance: As part of the procurement process for the Forth Replacement Crossing Scottish Government set out a minimum requirement of 25 vocational training places, including modern apprenticeships, per annum. The successful main contractors propose to offer an average …
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school leavers are employed as a result of the Forth Replacement Crossing construction project.
Answer · Angela Constance: We do not hold the information requested.
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what employment opportunities are available to locally resident long-term unemployed people as a result of the Forth Replacement Crossing construction project.
Answer · John Swinney: The Principal Contract for the Forth Replacement Crossing includes a requirement for the Contractor to provide an average of 46 positions for the long-term unemployed each year and for all positions to be advertised in local job centres. Similarly, for the M…
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vocational training places are available in 2011-12 as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing construction project.
Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not currently available. However, the main contractors propose to offer an average of 50 vocational training places per annum. This is double the minimum requirement as set out as part of the procurement process.
17 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the investigatory group on waiting times in NHS Lothian, how it will ensure that NHS boards will not offer patients short-notice surgery appointments in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government received an assurance from NHS boards that they do not send patients to England at short-notice. The current guidance makes clear that offers of treatment to patients should be fair and reasonable. However, the guidance was drawn up so…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners currently serving a sentence for drug-related offences has previously been to prison for drug-related offences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Analysis of the most recently available Scottish Prison Service data shows that about 70% of prisoners convicted of drug related offences have pr…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners currently serving a sentence for drug-related offences has a previous drug-related conviction.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested is not readily available. Data from the Scottish Prison Service management information system allows the analysis of pr…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 65, (b) 65 to 74 and (c) 75 and over who died in hospital had malnutrition recorded as a principle or contributory cause of death in 2010, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Deaths occurring in hospital for which "malnutrition" (E40-E46) was (i) the underlying cause, or (ii) a contributory factor, by health board of residence (for Scots residents) rather than by location of hospital. These figures update some of those provided i…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 64 and (c) 65 and over were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The term “malnutrition” can be used to mean a range of different conditions. The definition of malnutrition used here comprises a specific group of diagnoses which would be used to identify cases of protein/energy malnutrition (ICD-10 codes E40-E46 only). Th…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency inpatient bed days there were for people aged 65 and over in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There were 2,859,677 emergency inpatient bed days for people aged 65 and over in the financial year ending 31 March 2010. Emergency inpatient bed days data for people aged 65 and over for financial year ending 31 March 2011 will be available in the ISD Scotl…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate was for people aged 65 and over from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in 2010-11, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Table 1 shows the 28-day hospital emergency readmission rate from surgical and medical specialties in the financial year ending 31 March 2011, for people aged 65 and over, broken down by NHS board of residence. All discharges (defined as a continuous stay in…
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate was from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in 2010-11, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Table 1 shows the 28-day hospital emergency readmission rate from surgical and medical specialties in the financial year ending 31 March 2011, broken down by NHS board of residence. All discharges (defined as a continuous stay in hospital), which meet the se…
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average time the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland has taken to register powers of attorney in each of the last four quarters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time-equivalent staff the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland has employed in each of the last five years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum time the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland has taken to register powers of attorney in each of the last four quarters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of powers of attorney the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland has registered within 30 days in each of the last four quarters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing costs of the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
9 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of prisoners attending each prison learning centre was in 2010-11.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The monthly average number of prisoners who engaged with prison learning centres in 2010-11 is as follows: Prison Aberdeen 70 Addiewell…
9 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults by prisoners on (a) prison officers and (b) other inmates have been recorded in each (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institution since 14 June 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the total number of assaults by prisoners on prison staff and other prisoners broken down by establishment. Inclu…
9 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Qualifications Authority units in (a) communication, (b) numeracy and (c) IT were achieved by prisoners in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The number of Scottish Qualification Authority units achieved by prisoners in communication, numeracy and IT in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is as fol…
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement “concerted action at all levels to create environments and conditions that make it easier for people to be active”, as noted in Start Active, Stay Active.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are continuing to invest in ensuring that we provide easy access to local facilities for communities across Scotland with 37 Community Sports Hubs in place and we are committed to deliver at least 100 across all 32 local authorities by 2014. This compleme…
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle sedentary behaviour in (a) early years, (b) children and young people, (c) adults and (d) older adults, as outlined in Start Active, Stay Active.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are continuing to support a range of interventions by investing almost £3 million on physical activity projects including initiatives aimed at those specific groups furthest away from meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines, older adults and t…
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) latest results are and (b) trend is for the Obesity Route Map Headline Indicator 7 in relation to the proportion of adults engaging in sedentary activities.
Answer · Shona Robison: Proportion of adults spending four or more hours sitting at a screen on an average day, 2003, 2008 and 2010: 2003 2008 2010 Male 35.9 38.8 39.5 Female 31.5 30.0 33.7 Total 33.6 34.2 36.5 Note: Although the Scottish Health Survey has been ru…