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: S3W-30730

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what value it sees in community councils advancing local democracy.

The Scottish Government values the important role that community councils can play in ensuring that the views of the community it represents are reflected in local decision making.

The general statutory purpose of community councils is to ascertain, co-ordinate and express to local authorities for its area, and to public authorities, the views of the community which it represents, in relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable. In that respect they can bring an important local dimension to the development and delivery of services by local public bodies.

A Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG) was invited to identify expanded roles and responsibilities for community councils. They found that many, in discussion and agreement with their local authority, already undertook a variety of roles and responsibilities, for example “ arranging minor repairs of certain local authority amenities, control of common good funds and Community Hall management/maintenance. However, in order for this to be more widespread, it was recognised that the capacity of community councils would require strengthening.

In partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), therefore, we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery.

Question reference: S3W-30729

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to (a) proposed and (b) existing community councils.

The level of support provided to community councils, including any financial support, is at the discretion of each individual local authority.

However, in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery.

This includes promoting the adoption of the Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councillors, documents developed by a Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG). Adoption of these documents is key to the building of capacity as they will help establish a greater consistency of operational arrangements and a culture of accountability.

The Scottish Government is also funding a series of Community Council Pilot Projects. The pilots will focus on budget management, community council elections and potential asset management.

Question reference: S3W-30731

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it sees community councils having in local decision making.

Question reference: S3W-30867

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.

On 10 December 2009, the Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry wrote to me seeking an extension to the duration of the Inquiry which was originally due to report by 1 October 2010.

Lord MacLean has indicated that, in order to investigate thoroughly and properly all the evidence and, most importantly, the lessons to be learnt from the Vale of Leven Hospital and experience elsewhere, he would propose submitting a report in May 2011.

Having carefully considered Lord MacLean''s request, I have agreed to an extension. The Inquiry will therefore report by 31 May 2011.

Question reference: S3W-30384

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a palliative care specialist.

Question reference: S3W-30481

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in November 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.

Question reference: S3W-30482

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in December 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.

Question reference: S3W-30379

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average NHS expenditure is on a person in receipt of generalist palliative care services.

Information on average NHS expenditure on a person in receipt of generalist palliative care services is not held centrally.

NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services for their populations and it is for NHS boards to agree appropriate funding of care providers within their board geographical area.

A wide range of health professionals are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this care can be provided in a variety of settings, including patient''s homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent sector via hospices, which are partly funded by the NHS.

Question reference: S3W-30381

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many palliative care specialist posts there are.

The information requested is not held centrally. However, information showing NHS staff employed by specialty, including palliative medicine, is published annually as part of the workforce census at 30 September each year.

This data for 2009 is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5896.html for medical staff and http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5352.html#cns for clinical nurse specialists.

Information about consultant vacancies is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html. There is no vacancy data available for other relevant grades of staff.

A wide range of health professionals, which includes medical staff and clinical nurse specialists are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this can be provided in a variety of settings including patient''s own homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices.

Question reference: S3W-30385

Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with delivering Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland.

Funding of £3 million per year has been made available for the implementation of Living and Dying Well to fund a Directed Enhanced Service to support improvements in generalist palliative care. The funding is focussed on general practices with the aim of improving generalist palliative care for all, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.

In addition to this, £500,000 development funding was provided in 2008-09 for use centrally and to support NHS boards in the development of delivery plans. Further additional funding of £120,000 in 2008-09 and £500,000 in 2009-10 was made available to support implementation of the plan, to ensure that generalist palliative care was supported and to ensure the development of care in community based settings.