Chamber and committees

The number of pupils in publiclyfunded schools for whom Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is recorded as the maindifficulty of learning in a Record of Needs and/or an Individualised EducationalProgramme is published in table 1.7 of Pupils in Scotland 2005:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/28083932/0.

Thenumber of pupils in independent schools for whom ASD is recorded as the main difficultyof learning in a Record of Needs and/or an Individualised Educational Programmeis published in table 4 of the Independent School Census 2005:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/25091645/0.

The Scottish Executive is takingforward a number of actions, in both education and health, to improve the livesof children of children with ASD. These actions include the formation of the ASDEducation Working Group, which is carrying forward the recommendations of the reportof Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, which examines the educational provisionfor children with ASD and the NAS make school make sense report. The ScottishExecutive Health Department has set up the ASD Reference Group, which is takingforward the recommendations in the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s ASDNeeds Assessment Report (2001). The Scottish Executive also provides significantfunding to a number of projects, all aimed at improving the lives of children withASD.

Yes. The Scottish Executive providessignificant funding specifically for the implementation of the Education (AdditionalSupport for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. The funding for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is £12.5million per annum.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31711 on 19 February 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The evaluation of the act’s implementation is on-goingand it is therefore to early to draw any firm conclusions on its overall impact.

Under the Scottish PublicServices Ombudsman Act 2002, the ombudsman in the exercise of her functions isnot subject to the direction or control of any member of the Parliament, anymember of the Scottish Executive or the SPCB.The Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman has a complaints procedure in place for anyone who disagrees with adecision reached or for anyone who is dissatisfied with the service provided bythe office. Details are available on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’swebsite using the following link http://www.spso.org.uk/complain/article.php?ssi=36.

As part of the recentbudgetary round, the SPCB was made aware that since 2004-05 there had been anincrease in complaints and enquiries received by the Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman. The latest Annual Report highlights the increase in the number ofcomplaints between 2004-05 and 2005-06 at 24% and a 99% increase in enquiriesreceived.

To address the impact ofthis, the SPCB approved a 7.6% budget increase (over the 2006-07 approvedbudget allocation) for 2007-08. This will provide funding for seven additionalmembers of staff taking the staffing complement up to 45 which should assistthe Scottish Public Services Ombudsman with her workload.

I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answersto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues includingdefence and defence procurement. The Ministryof Defence procurement processes must comply with Public ProcurementRegulations, which are applicable under United Kingdom and European Union law. Iunderstand, however, that two companies based in Scotland are among thecompanies being considered for the supply of kilts for the Royal Regiment ofScotland.

TheStaff Governance Standard commits NHSScotland employers to providing a staff witha safe and secure environment.

To help employers, the HealthDepartment has invested over £700,000 in the last few years on measures aimed atreducing violent and abusive behaviour towards NHSScotland staff. This includeszero tolerance awareness poster campaigns for hospitals in 2003 and 2005 with furtherposters planned for 2007. Last December we issued awareness posters specificallydesigned for GP practices. Around £500,000 has been provided to NHS boards for localprojects to reduce the risk of violence to staff. Examples of what this providedare:

installing door entry systems

provision of alarms and panicbuttons

increased security

mobile phone contact, such asguardian angel for staff working in the community.

It is proposed to gather informationon what NHS boards are doing locally and to share good practice with otherboards.

NHS employers have also installedCCTV cameras and some have a hot line to the local police or have a police presenceat accident and emergency wards. The Emergency Workers Act provides legal protectionto nurses and doctors and anyone helping them in an emergency. This applies to anyoneworking in the in the hospital setting. In addition, NHS employers also have a sanctionto withdraw treatment in specific instances.

Statistics related to violenceis collected and can be seen at Current publishedon the Scottish Health Statistics website under workforce statistics, www.isdscotland.org/workforce.