Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what national guidance there is for education institutions regarding students who require a full-time carer; what regulations apply to such carers, and how many such students currently attend (a) school, (b) college and (c) university.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) provides the framework for the provision of support to overcome barriers to learning in schools. The Act is supported by a code of practice which guides education authorities and other agen…
18 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what help is available to people with additional support needs in their transition from school to work or further education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) 2004 (as amended) education authorities are required to take specific action to help prospective school leavers with additional support needs to make the transition from school to post-school li…
18 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) twitching and (b) bird-watching contributed to the economy in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2011 and (iv) 2012 and has contributed in 2013.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not hold the specific information sought. We recognise the contribution twitching and bird-watching can make to the Scottish economy. As 2013, the Year of Natural Scotland, comes to an end, we welcome the fact that our rich and v…
18 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria VisitScotland uses to determine whether a town is a suitable location for a visitor information centre.
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with other countries on their experiences of introducing policies relating to price controls for the protection of public health and, if so, what countries; when the discussions took place; what evidence-based information they shared, and who was involved i…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18385 on 28 November 2013. 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/parliamenta…
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18006 by Alex Neil on 12 November 2013, with which countries it has had discussions; when they took place; who was involved in the discussions, and what items were discussed.
Answer · Alex Neil: As mentioned in the answer to question S4W-18006, Scotland is at the forefront of trying to introduce a pricing control such as minimum unit pricing of alcohol in order to protect public health. The Scottish Government has had discussions regarding minimum un…
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S4O-02585 by Alex Neil on 14 November 2013 (Official Report, c. 24457), what action it is taking to address the "acute shortage of specific oncology specialists" in (a) particular NHS boards and (b) nationally.
Answer · Alex Neil: There is a shortage of clinical oncologists across the UK but there are specific issues in the North of Scotland. Through the North of Scotland Planning Group, which comprises NHS Highland, Grampian, Tayside, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, immediate wor…
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many oncology specialists there have been in the NHS and specialising in which cancers in each of the last six years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the total number of consultants in medical and clinical oncology and the number of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in oncology by NHS board in headcount and whole time equivalent can be found in the following tables. Information on the number…
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients whose appointments were postponed as a result of the IT failure at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde subsequently had their appointments within (a) seven, (b) 14, (c) 21, (d) 28, (e) more than 28 days and how many are yet to be treated.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not available centrally. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that, as of 22 November 2013, of the 599 outpatient appointments postponed, 48 patients have still to be seen but that all have dates scheduled.
14 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients had their appointments postponed as a result of the IT failure at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; how many have now had their appointments, and how many subsequently failed to be treated within the 12-week treatment time guarantee period.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advised that the number of postponed episodes were: 599 outpatient appointments, 62 planned in-patient procedures and day cases and 48 chemotherapy treatments. Over this period approximately 10,000 procedures and appointments wer…
13 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would close Jedburgh and Selkirk sheriff courts as part of its making justice work programme.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Responsibility for Scotland’s courts is a matter for the judicially led and independent Scottish Court Service (SCS) and not the Scottish Government. Neither Selkirk or Jedburgh Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts formed part of the court closures recentl…
13 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of its making justice work programme, it will consider the closure of Selkirk and Jedburgh sheriff courts if a justice centre is located in the Borders.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Responsibility for Scotland’s courts is a matter for the judicially led and independent Scottish Court Service (SCS) and not the Scottish Government. Neither Selkirk or Jedburgh Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts formed part of the court closures recentl…
13 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its making justice work programme, how many meetings it has had with stakeholders about the siting of a justice centre in the Borders and on what dates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has not met with Stakeholders about the siting of a justice centre in the Borders as part of the Making Justice Work Programme. Responsibility for Scotland’s courts is a matter for the judicially led and independent Scottish Court Ser…
11 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a decrease in funding for the disabled students allowance in 2012-13.
4 Nov 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Detect Cancer Early Programme has made.
30 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) Minister for Public Health has had with other cabinet secretaries and ministers regarding price controls in order to protect public health.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government policies are formulated and developed using evidence-based information, and this includes policies relating to public health. Where a policy raises major issues or involves primary legislation, which was the case for minimum unit pricing o…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the food and drink sector, (b) health organisations and (c) other stakeholders regarding price controls in order to protect public health.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has regular dialogue regarding a whole range of public health issues with stakeholders, including health organisations, the food and drink sector, alcohol industry and retailers. As policies are formulated and developed using evidence-…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with other governments that have introduced price controls for (a) alcohol and (b) other products in order to protect public health.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government policies are formulated and developed using evidence-based information, and this includes policies relating to public health. Part of the process of understanding evidence-based information involves discussions with all relevant parties an…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the introduction of minimum unit pricing of alcohol, what its position is on introducing other price controls in order to protect public health.
Answer · Alex Neil: Pricing controls can play a part in contributing to protect public health, and consideration will be given where there is evidence that a pricing control policy is likely to be effective. As regards alcohol, there is strong evidence that pricing controls are…
28 Oct 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what factors it takes into consideration when deciding which stretches of trunk road are appropriate for dualling.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has made available in each of the last five years to voluntary organisations that provide talking therapies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Psychological therapies are delivered and funded mainly through the NHS, and our work to support improving access to psychological therapies is focussed mainly on provision through health boards. No ring fenced funding has specifically been provided to suppo…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work with NHS Tayside to develop an approach to improve the response to distress.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Tayside project team presented the progress and outcomes of the work to date at an Improvement panel in early September. This included updates on the ‘tests of change’ that had been undertaken; the data gathered and analysed during the project and the vi…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the mental health of people aged over 65.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of our work towards delivering the Psychological Therapies HEAT Access target we established a working group to focus on the psychological needs of older people. The group identified the need to make improvements across the system. We are working with…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to improve the mental health outcomes of looked-after children.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2009, a letter was sent to all NHS board chief executives informing them that by 2015 all looked after children should be offered a mental health assessment. A short life working group is currently developing recommendations on carrying out health assessme…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trainee child psychotherapists each NHS board has recruited in 2013, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This data is not held centrally
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many child psychotherapists the NHS has recruited in 2013.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This data is not held centrally.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to improve the mental health of vulnerable children.
Answer · Michael Matheson: While the Scottish Government sets the policy direction for the delivery of and access to psychological therapies, it is for health boards to determine the level and nature of the demand in their local areas. In preparation for meeting the access to psycholo…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with See Me regarding its strategic direction.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In meeting Commitment 4 of the Mental Health Strategy to develop the strategic direction of See Me from 2013 onwards, the Scottish Government in collaboration with Comic Relief and with the support of the See Me management group, commissioned an external stra…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress it has made on lowering psychiatric readmission rates.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Readmissions to psychiatric hospitals was the subject of a HEAT target running from December 2004 to December 2009. The HEAT target was to reduce the number of readmissions (within one year) for those that have had a psychiatric hospital admission of at least…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent improvements NHS boards have made to the monitoring of information about who is accessing services.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS boards are responsible for monitoring information about who is accessing services so they can ensure that local services are meeting the needs of their local communities. As part of the Scottish Government’s six month mental health implementation review …