Graeme Pearson

Answer · Shona Robison · 2 Mar 2016

The additional 100 GP training places is one of a number of actions we are taking to make GP training and a career in general practice more attractive. It signals our commitment to developing the medical workforce we need to deliver our vision for high quality, community based healthcare. 
Work has already started to expand the training capacity across Scotland, and revise the existing training programmes which this 33% increase will require. It will mean additional GPs training in the community and contributing towards improved patient outcomes.

Answer · Shona Robison · 3 Mar 2016

There is no specific NHS Scotland guidance on waking-up times, this would depend on a range of factors, such as the need to prescribe medication, meal times and observations.
The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities includes the right that a patient should be treated as an individual, with dignity and respect and in a way that takes their needs, understanding and culture into account. However, health boards must balance individual needs and preferences with the rights of other patients, clinical judgement and the most efficient way to use NHS resources.
We would expect hospitals to take a person-centred approach to waking-up times and what matters to individuals as far as they can within the wider conditions and considerations of a specific hospital or ward.

Answer · John Swinney · 8 Mar 2016

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28458 on 2 December 2015.
I will provide to Parliament our analysis of the consultation in due course. Any delay has been caused by our wish to give full and proper consideration to the responses received, options moving forward and our commitment to developing a system that protects user privacy.
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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Answer · John Swinney · 1 Mar 2016

On 11 February 2016, the Scottish Parliament agreed that the Scottish rate of income tax for the tax year 2016-17 will be 10 per cent. This is part of the funding which supports the delivery of the balanced Scottish Budget for 2016-17 which was agreed by the Scottish Parliament on 24 February 2016.
I also refer the member to the answers to questions S4O-05543 and S4O-05552 on 10 February 2016. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Answer · Michael Matheson · 8 Mar 2016

Information on the use of special measures is not held centrally but has been made available by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
While applications for special measures have been recorded since 2005, full figures for special measures granted have only been available since June 2010 and are set out in the following table. SCTS have undertaken to attempt to manually retrieve data on the number of special measures granted for the period prior to June 2010, which will be produced in due course. Pre-recorded evidence is not recorded under a specific option within the special measures application, however, it is likely this will be included within the ‘other' category. It should be noted that SCTS uses a live operational case management system for the processing of court business. The information held on the system is structured for these operational needs, rather than for statistical reporting or research purposes. The information provided is based on the best information available from the case management system as at 17 February 2016.
Special Measures granted nationally
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
(1 Jan-10 Feb)
Screens
1,348
2,403
2,437
2,835
3,399
4,706
1,389
Closed court
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Other
19
9
2
17
13
26
2
Video in court
266
341
303
454
596
825
120
Supporter
1,543
2,829
2,983
3,706
4,573
6,203
1,701
Video between courts
39
102
210
227
283
257
36
No measure
71
142
117
82
57
115
58
On commission
0
3
0
2
5
6
1
Video remote
143
244
281
324
449
495
62
Totals
3,429
6,073
6,333
7,647
9,375
12,634
3,369

Answer · Michael Matheson · 8 Mar 2016

Regulations to enable the introduction of the victim surcharge, including details as to how it will operate and the circumstances in which a surcharge is to be imposed, will be laid during the next Parliament. The exact timing will be informed by on-going preparatory work. This includes detailed consideration of viable options for delivery and the potential role of third sector or other organisations with experience of administering similar schemes, to determine how the fund can be most effectively managed and delivered to benefit victims of crime.

Answer · Angela Constance · 29 Feb 2016

A projected outturn is not yet available for either 2015-16 or 2016-17.

Projected outturn figures are provided by local authorities and cover the most recently ended financial year. The latest projected outturn estimates were supplied in May 2015 and cover financial year 2014-15.
At the same time as the projected outturn, local authorities supply a budget estimate for the financial year in progress. This shows what local authorities plan to spend in the current financial year. The budget estimate for childcare provided by local authorities in May 2015 for financial year 2015-16 was £400 million.
Budget estimates for 2016-17 are not yet available.