Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-00286

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) existing and (b) additional resources are being made available for the provision of independent advocacy for people with learning disabilities.

Under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2003, advocacy for people with learning disabilities is provided locally by local authorities and health boards. The 2010 report by the Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee, recognised that significant resources, approximately £18 million, had been given to both local authorities and health boards as part of the implementation of the 2003 Act, of which advocacy is an important part.

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 provides for the establishment of the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS). One of the duties of PASS will be to direct people to other sources of advice and support.

Additional funding of £500,000 per year from 2010-11 is being provided to cover the potential increase in referrals and to address gaps in provision. In 2010-11 this additional funding was provided to ensure health boards have undertaken a needs assessment and have up to date Advocacy Plans in place.

The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA), which is funded by the Scottish Government Health Directorates is working with boards on the development of the advocacy plans.

Question reference: S4W-00287

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with the Equality Act 2010 and the disability equality duty when reducing services for disabled people.

Local authorities are subject to the Equality Act 2010 and the new public sector equality duty which it contains. This new duty came into force on 5 April 2011 and covers all of the relevant protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. The duty requires public authorities to pay “due regard” to the need to eliminate discrimination, victimisation and harassment which are unlawful under the Act, to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations. It is for local authorities themselves to determine how they respond to the duty.

Question reference: S4W-00277

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received about the Elsie Inglis Nursing Home in the last four years and what action has been taken by Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) or the Care Commission.

Question reference: S4O-00030

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the budget and staffing for the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Service has been reduced.

Question reference: S4W-00334

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage increased employment in West Dunbartonshire.

Question reference: S4W-00281

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will deliver a single integrated system of health and social care.

Question reference: S4W-00280

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will deliver a single integrated system of health and social care.

Question reference: S4W-00138

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward further guidance on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

A short-life working group was launched in November 2010 with a remit to review and update the statutory guidance associated with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The group, as well as others, recognised that the legislation has not worked in exactly the way we intended and it became apparent that more work was required.

On 31 May 2011, I announced a 12 month moratorium on rural school closures and the creation of a commission on the delivery of rural education which will, amongst other things, review the legislation and its application before making recommendations on how to reflect best practice on the delivery of education in rural areas. I expect the guidance to be considered with that process.

Question reference: S4W-00139

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in publication of the planned additional guidance on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S4W-00141

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss the proposed closure of schools.

There have been no meetings between Scottish ministers or Scottish Government officials with representatives of Argyll and Bute Council specifically to discuss the council's school closure proposals.

On 17 March 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and I met with the council leader and other members of the council to discuss finance issues and grant aided expenditure, at which general issues regarding the school estate were discussed. I also spoke to the council leader on 2 June 2011 by phone regarding financial issues relating to the proposed moratorium on rural school closures.