Paul Wheelhouse

Answer · Kenny MacAskill · 3 Sep 2012

The available information is given in the following table.
People Convicted under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 20061
Section of Act:
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
SECTION 19(1)
0
5
14
17
13
SECTION 19(2)
2
38
51
87
58
SECTION 19(3)
0
1
0
0
1
SECTION 20(1)(A)
0
2
0
0
1
SECTION 20(1)(B)
0
1
2
0
1
SECTION 20(2)
0
0
3
1
2
SECTION 24
0
6
6
8
5
SECTION 25(7)
0
0
1
0
0
SECTION 29(1)(A)(B)
0
0
0
1
0
SECTION 29(2)(A) & (B)
1
7
2
4
1
SECTION 40(11)
0
0
1
3
2
All
3
60
80
121
84
Percentage receiving disqualification orders1,2
0.0%
8.3%
6.3%
14.9%
15.5%
Note:
1. Where main charge.
2. Data on disqualification orders are not published routinely as part of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland bulletin, however, the data has been analysed for accuracy. The data is gathered from the same source as the convictions data.
There was no deprivation orders issued.
Information for 2011-12 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2011-12 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published in November 2012.
The dates of all Scottish Government Official and National Statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 21 May 2012

A key way of improving healthcare services is by implementing clinical standards. Healthcare Improvement Scotland has developed clinical standards for neurological health services, including generic standards which are applicable to people living with dystonia. Implementation of the standards dealing with the early part of the patient journey, including access to specialist neurological services, will help to ensure people with dystonia receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
We have provided NHS boards with funding of around £1.2 million over the last two years to assist them in developing local improvement groups as the main vehicles for implementing the standards and driving further improvements within neurological services across Scotland. Good progress is being made, although there is more to do.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s two-year Neurological Service Improvement programme came to an end recently in March. We wish to see NHS boards continue to work together with the voluntary sector to build on the progress made and put service improvement on a sustainable footing.
The Scottish Government has therefore provided the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, of which the Dystonia Society is a member, with £40,000, to establish a National Advisory Group, which we hope will oversee and support boards as they take their improvement plans forward.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 21 May 2012

We want to ensure that everyone living with a neurological condition, including dystonia, are diagnosed as quickly as possible so they can receive access to care and support they need, when they need it.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has developed clinical standards for neurological health services, including generic standards which are applicable to people living with dystonia. Implementation of the standards dealing with the early part of the patient journey, including access to specialist neurological services, will help to ensure people with dystonia receive a timely diagnosis.
We have provided NHS boards with funding of around £1.2 million over the last two years to assist them in developing local improvement groups as the main vehicles for implementing the standards and driving further improvements within neurological services across Scotland.
The Scottish Government is also actively consulting with the Scottish population on a draft UK plan on rare diseases to help understand how the healthcare needs of people living with rare conditions can be met. The consultation can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/02/consultation-rare-diseases/.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 21 May 2012

NHSScotland has invested in online resources such as the NHS Inform website, which provides clear and accessible information on the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of dystonia. This can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/Health-Library/Articles/D/Dystonia/introduction.
People living with dystonia also have an important role in raising awareness of their condition and can often be the wider public’s first source of information. This role is being strengthened through the Neurological Alliance of Scotland’s “Neurological Voices” programme which prepares adults living with neurological conditions and their carers to get involved in developing local healthcare services. To date the Scottish Government has invested over £100,000 in the Neurological Voices programme, to help raise awareness and ensure that the patient voice is heard.
In 2010, we provided the Dystonia Society with a Section 16B grant of £46,500 over three years to assist with disseminating the Society’s self management course which supports people living with dystonia to self manage the condition and play a more active role in discussions with health and social care professionals about their care.
To help raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals the Dystonia Society has launched an online training module for GPs through the British Medical Journal’s learning programme, with more than 3,000 healthcare professionals accessing the module in the first year. In addition, a “Guide to Good Practice for healthcare professionals” was launched in October of last year. The guide was developed with the help of leading Neurologists, Dystonia Nurses and therapists and is being issued to treatment centres throughout Scotland.
We also have a good working relationship with the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, of which the Dystonia Society is a member, which aims to raise awareness of all neurological conditions and which has been a key partner in Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Neurological Standards Improvement Programme.

Answer · Bruce Crawford · 9 May 2012

In accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
This is an important part of the devolution settlement, which acknowledges the special constitutional position of the Scottish Parliament and the democratic mandate conferred on this Parliament by the people of Scotland. In the view of the Scottish Government, the Sewel Convention will remain an essential part of the constitution of the UK for as long as the UK Parliament retains its current powers and functions in relation to Scotland.
In the normal course of business, legislation on devolved matters should be scrutinised and determined in the Scottish Parliament. There may however be situations in which it is helpful and appropriate for legislation dealing with devolved matters to be taken forward at Westminster.
The Scottish Government is committed to assessing opportunities of this kind on their merits and to working closely and constructively with the UK Government, on a case by case basis, to deliver legislation which best meets Scotland’s needs. The Scottish Government is equally committed to working with the UK Government to pursue opportunities to extend devolved competence.
The formal consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in relation to all proposals for Westminster primary legislation on devolved matters, including alterations to devolved competence, in accordance with Chapter 9B of Standing Orders.
Within the legislative programme announced today by the UK Government, we have identified potential opportunities to legislate for the benefit of Scotland on matters that are within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or which alter legislative or executive competence.
The UK bills which we currently expect to give rise to Legislative Consent Motions in the Scottish Parliament cover:
Crime & Courts Bill – to create the National Crime Agency; make provisions about the structure, administration, and powers of courts and tribunals and judicial appointments; establish UK Border Agency Criminal Investigation Powers, and, permit Social Security and Tax Credit Data-Sharing.
Electoral Registration & Administration Bill – to include provisions to bring forward Electoral Administration and Individual Electoral Registration (IER).
Energy Bill – to address Reform of the Electricity Market following the DECC White Paper published last year. The intention is to ensure a secure electricity supply, investment in low carbon technologies and to minimise costs.
Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Bill – the Bill will address Regulatory reforms and Repeals; Dispute Resolution; Reform of competition laws; Executive pay, and, establish the Green Investment Bank.
The Scottish Government will, in due course, lodge memoranda and motions for these bills, once they have been introduced in the UK Parliament. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.
It is possible that further opportunities to legislate for Scotland by means of Legislative Consent Motion may occur in connection with other UK bills, including Private Member’s bills. Any additional proposals of this kind, together with any relevant amendments to the government bills listed above, will be drawn to the attention of the Parliament as they arise, in line with the requirements of Standing Orders.