Mark McDonald

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average price of residential care is in each local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Care Home Census collects information on the weekly cost for self-funding residents in care homes for older people. This is published at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Previous-Publications/i…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with private care providers regarding the price of residential care.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government and our partners have recently published the recommendations of the task force on the future of residential care for older people, which is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/02/1187. The task force considered …

24 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met members of the Aberdeen City Council administration and what issues were discussed.

5 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage greater awareness in the medical profession of preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Education about this condition starts in undergraduate medical programmes and will then form part of continuing professional development that healthcare professionals are obliged to participate in to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. The Royal Colle…

5 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds statistics on the number of Changing Places toilets and, if so, how many there are.

Answer · Alex Neil: Statistics are available in the Scottish Directory of Changing Places toilets. To date there are 91 Changing Places toilets in Scotland including six in Aberdeen City and four in Aberdeenshire.

5 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage greater provision of Changing Places toilets for disabled people.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The keys to life learning disability strategy, has a specific recommendation that by June 2015 there will be 100 Changing Places toilets in Scotland. To ensure this happens PAMIS receives Scottish Government funding to lead a sub group to deliver on this reco…

20 Jan 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the statutory consultation period for school closure decisions by local authorities.

12 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding the use of the Makaton communication system by health professionals.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Makaton is one of a range of communication tools used to help children with communication difficulties. No formal guidance on the use of the Makaton communication system has been issued by Scottish Government to NHS boards, however in 2012 we published ‘A Rig…

12 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the use of the Makaton communication system by (a) teachers and (b) early years practitioners

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Education authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act to identify and provide for the additional support needs of their pupils. This includes meeting needs arising from communication difficulties. The Scottish Gove…

12 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the use of the Makaton communication system by (a) teachers, (b) early years practitioners and (c) health professionals.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Additional Support for Learning Act provides the framework for the provision of support to children and young people with additional support needs, including those arising from communication difficulties. Makaton is one of a range of communication tools…

22 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how local authorities are to account for their use of the funding awarded to them to develop local autism strategies.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Funding of £1.2 million has been allocated to local authorities for the development of local autism strategies and associated action plans which will be published on the Scottish Autism Strategy website.

22 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to stakeholders if a local authority fails to develop a local autism strategy that covers (a) children's, (b) adult or (c) older people's services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The joint Scottish Government-COSLA Scottish Autism Strategy focuses on the whole life journey and so local authorities will want to consider where there may be gaps in local services across this journey and focus their strategy appropriately. Recognising th…

22 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects local authorities to consult stakeholders when developing local autism strategies; when the strategies will be (a) finalised and (b) implemented; whether they should cover (i) children's, (ii) adult and (iii) older people's services, and whether they will be placed in …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government expects local authorities to consult fully with stakeholders in the development of local autism strategies and action plans. Local authorities have been asked to submit their local action plans to the Scottish Government by the end of…

11 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its play strategy supports the development of opportunities for disabled children.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scotland’s national Play Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for Scotland to be the best place to grow up. The vision aims to improve play experiences for all children.

1 Oct 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: I’m pleased to advise that the second Fiscal Commission Working Group report will be published at 09:00 on Wednesday 2 October 2013. The report on Stabilisation and Savings Funds for Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Coun…

30 Sep 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the timescale for improvements to the Haudagain roundabout.

3 Sep 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on business rates reform, Supporting Business - Promoting Growth.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland the most attractive place to do business in Europe and, as part of that, is committed to ensuring the business rates system supports and encourages businesses to set up and prosper in Scotland. Today th…

2 Sep 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the offshore industry regarding the impact on the oil and gas industry in Scotland of the recent Super Puma tragedy.

20 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are required to ensure the provision of appropriate advocacy for looked-after children when discussing their ongoing care.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: There is no legal requirement on local authorities to ensure the provision of advocacy for all looked after children. However, as corporate parents, local authorities should ensure that looked after children, young people and care leavers are able to have the…

20 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities should seek the views of looked-after children regarding their ongoing care.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is clear that children and young people should have their views listened to and should be involved in decisions that affect them. The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 state that local authorities must seek and take in…

20 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding the provision of support for parents with learning difficulties.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: In 2009, the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability funded by the Scottish Government published the Scottish Good Practice Guidelines for Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities. The good practice guidance assists social work practitioners to provi…

7 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set for reducing income inequality and what its position is on the social impact of income inequality.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government Solidarity Target is to increase overall income and the proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group by 2017. There are two parts to this - (1) increasing the overall income received by Scottish households …

10 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to encourage teachers to develop a greater understanding of (a) autism and (b) dyslexia through continuing professional development.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish Autism have received funding through the Scottish Strategy for Autism to enhance the Autism Toolbox. This will deliver an improved, online, national tool that will encourage good practice in schools to support children and young people with autism sp…

10 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to ensure that trainee teachers are made aware of (a) autism and (b) dyslexia during their training.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: All programmes of Initial Teacher Education are accredited and approved by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The GTCS’s Evaluation Framework which is used in the process of accreditation, specifically asks the question about what is done in ea…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times, and on what dates, it has received correspondence from Aberdeen City Council regarding the timescale of the works at the Haudagain roundabout since May 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has received no correspondence from Aberdeen City Council in relation to the timescales of the works at Haudagain Roundabout since May 2012. Meetings between Transport Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and Nestrans have taken place on 5…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed as having diabulimia in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not centrally available.

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards in respect of the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of diabulimia.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS boards and diabetes clinics have local pathways in place to enable psychological or primary care services to respond and provide support and advice to people who misuse insulin based on the level of individual need. This would include individuals who miss…

9 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that local authorities meet their duty to ensure the safety of pupils travelling between home and school.

2 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement there is for tenancy agreements between private landlords and tenants to make reference to the behaviour of the tenant.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: There is no statutory requirement for a tenancy agreement to make reference to the behaviour of the tenant. It is for the landlord and tenant to be satisfied as to what the specific terms of a tenancy agreement are. Landlords are responsible for the propert…

2 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken against a private landlord who refuses to deal with an antisocial tenant.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Under Part 7 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 local authorities have powers to serve an antisocial behaviour notice (ASBN) on a private landlord where an occupant or visitor to a house they let engages in antisocial behaviour at or in the …