Graeme Pearson

11 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints were received from prisoners regarding their healthcare in each year between 2007 and November 2011, broken down by prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: Responsibility and accountability for the provision of health care services to prisoners transferred from the SPS to the National Heal…

30 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the fairness and transparency of the individual patient treatment request system.

16 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that non-resident parents are unable to avoid financial family obligations when they are subject to sequestration.

Answer · John Swinney: Currently in Scotland, arrears of child maintenance are included in a sequestration and any unpaid balance will be discharged at conclusion of sequestration. The Scottish Government recently undertook a consultation on Bankruptcy Law Reform which outlined a …

16 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on non-resident parents being able to avoid financial family obligations when they are subject to sequestration.

Answer · John Swinney: Sequestration is available as a last resort for people who cannot pay their debts as they become due. This includes child maintenance arrears. It is important that sequestration should encourage financial rehabilitation, and this should include closure on out…

16 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on the Scottish budget from 2012 to 2015 of any changes to the terms and conditions of police officers.

Answer · John Swinney: There will be no impact on the Scottish budget of any changes to the terms and conditions of police officers. This will be for the Scottish Police Authority to manage within its budget through negotiations at the Scotland Standing Committee of the Police Nego…

10 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will meet each of its obligations under the EU Drugs Strategy (2013-20).

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In December 2012, the European Union (EU) Drugs Strategy for 2013-20 was endorsed by the Council of the European Union. The Strategy aims to contribute to a reduction in the demand for, and supply of drugs within the EU, as well as a reduction in the health a…

17 Dec 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the (a) times, (b) dates and (c) details of meetings that have taken place between the chair of the Scottish Police Authority and representatives of unions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government do not hold the information requested. Meetings between the chair of the Scottish Police Authority and the representative unions are a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.

5 Dec 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to replace substandard road markings on the A75 and A76 trunk roads.

28 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police support staff there were in (a) each police force, (b) the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and (c) the Scottish Police Services Authority on 30 September 2012.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police staff play a critical role in the success of Scottish policing, and supporting the delivery of crucial frontline services, and will continue to do so in the future. The number of police support staff that are full time equivalent (FTE) on 30 September …

27 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Funding Council has applied for European Structural Funds Priority 5 Employability Pipeline funding for 2013-14 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has not applied for European Structural Funds Priority 5 Employability Funding for 2013-14. The European Social Programme is recycling limited underspends within sectors. The resources available could not fully fund an exten…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ministerial visits have been carried out in (a) Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, (b) Ayr, (c) East Lothian, (d) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, (e) Galloway and West Dumfries, (f) Dumfriesshire, (g) Clydesdale, (h) Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire and (i) Midlothian South, Tweeddal…

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is listed in the following tables. Alex Salmond MSP First Minister Constituency Date Location Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 13-Jun-11 Dumfries House Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 13-Jun-11 Mark Hill Windfarm Carrick…

7 Nov 2012 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what developments there are regarding the external screening facility.

Answer · David Stewart: The project timetable is on track. The construction site has been established and downtakings such as parts of the glass roof over the concourse and wall panels have been completed. Excavations are now underway as a first step towards building foundations.

25 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the National Forum on Drugs Death Annual Report 2010/11, what discussions there have been to encourage all GPs to consider treatment of drug users as essential work.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management (2007), endorsed and recommended by all four UK administrations, provide guidance to clinicians and practitioners on the treatment of drug misuse in the UK. The Scottish Government acknowledges…

25 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the National Forum on Drugs Death Annual Report 2010/11, what discussions have taken place to review the (a) capacity and (b) suitability of the Enhanced Service Contact as the main mechanism for supporting GPs in taking drug treatment work forward.  

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Discussions are ongoing between Scottish Government officials and relevant stakeholders, including GPs, to discuss the management of patients with substance misuse.

25 Oct 2012 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the Parliamentary Bureau has discussed the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to examine issues in relation to the new Police Service of Scotland.

Answer · Mary Scanlon : The SPCB considers and makes decisions on a range of issues to do with the running of the Parliament, however, the establishment of committees is not a matter for the SPCB. Rule 5.1.2 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament states that this is a matter for t…

25 Oct 2012 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether and, if so, when a new ad-hoc committee will be established to examine issues relating to the new Police Service of Scotland.

Answer · Mary Scanlon : The SPCB considers and makes decisions on a range of issues to do with the running of the Parliament, however, the establishment of committees is not a matter for the SPCB. Rule 5.1.2 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament states that this is a matter for t…

25 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to implement the Aarhus Convention and what guidance it has given to local authorities to ensure that they meet their obligations under the convention in relation to planning issues.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government considers that current arrangements ensure compliance with the terms of the Aarhus Convention in respect of the dissemination of environmental information, public participation and access to justice in environmental decision making. Th…

17 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been treated outwith Scotland in each year since 2005, broken down by the (a) NHS board funding this, (b) country in which it took place and (c) condition being treated.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of residents of Scotland who received medical treatment as an inpatient or day case (elective and emergency admissions) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is provided by NHS Board of residence and by main condition for the financ…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action pharmacists can take if they suspect that a patient on a court-ordered methadone treatment plan is continuing to use illegal narcotics.

Answer · Alex Neil: Pharmacists can report to the prescriber and the patient’s key worker at the local substance misuse clinic or drug problem service where there is reason to believe that the patient is continuing to use illicit drugs. This would be a clinical decision of the p…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance and (b) support it provides to pharmacists with a methadone dispensary and a sterile needle exchange regarding patients suspected of using both services.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management (2007) is the leading guidance in the UK on the treatment of drug misuse. The guidelines are endorsed and recommended by all four UK Health Departments for use by clinicians and practitioner…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pharmacists have both a methadone dispensary and a sterile needle exchange and how many provide each service separately.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally for individual pharmacists. However, methadone dispensing and sterile needle exchange by community pharmacy can be derived from remuneration and reimbursement paid to community pharmacy contractors for providing…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what dosages of methadone are dispensed under the Road to Recovery programme, broken down by percentage of patients who receive each dose.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Road to Recovery does not have a methadone programme. Decisions on the most appropriate treatment for an individual are for clinicians, in discussion with their patients, and in line with guidance set out in Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Cl…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outcome data of the Road to Recovery programme and what period this will cover.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since the introduction of the Road to Recovery Strategy in 2008, the Scottish Government has invested in the enhancement of the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) so that it includes the collection of follow-up and outcomes based information from people as …

24 Sep 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to encourage local authorities to introduce cashless vending and catering in schools.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Schools (Health promotion and Nutrition) Act 2007 places a duty on education authorities to promote school lunches and protect the identity of free school lunch recipients. Cashless catering can support these duties but is not the only method and we encou…

11 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its not meeting its first climate change target, how it plans to ensure that subsequent targets are achieved.

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether performance indicators for the Scottish Prison Service's learning, skills and employability contract will include the number of prisoners who complete educational classes to an agreed standard.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Learning and Skills Services Contracts require providers to submit monthly performance data on the number of: SQA courses completed by p…

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many home detention curfew agreements have been breached in each year since 2008.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: As per calendar year the figures are as follows: 2008 – 559 2009 – 444 2010 – 394 2011 – 394 2012 (at 31/08/12) – 251.

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many lives it estimates have been saved by the National Naloxone Programme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The National Naloxone Programme, introduced by the Scottish Government, is supported by an independent national and evaluation monitoring programme led by Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland. 2011-12 was the first full year …

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many take home naloxone kits have been issued and what information it has on how many have been used.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Information on the number of take home naloxone kits issued in Scotland in 2011-12, through the National Naloxone Programme, is available in the report National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report – Naloxone kits issued in 2011-12, published by Info…

5 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the National Naloxone Programme has cost.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: From 2010-11 to 2011-12 the Scottish Government has invested £600,000 in the National Naloxone Programme, with a further £400,000 committed in 2012-13. Scottish Government investment continues to provide a comprehensive package of support to NHS boards and A…