Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-27279

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to each local authority for treating epilepsy in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S3W-25505

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available for cycling provision in the last five years, broken down by (a) year and (b) local authority area.

The tables below show the amount of funding allocated for cycling projects to individual local authorities in each of the last five years.

Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Grant

	2004-05 (£000''s)	2005-06 (£000''s)	2006-07 (£000''s)	2007-08 (£000''s)	2008-09 (£000''s)
Aberdeen City	343	362	358	365	365
Aberdeenshire	367	388	402	412	412
Angus	175	185	187	191	191
Argyll and Bute	148	156	160	163	163
Clackmannanshire	78	82	84	86	86
Dumfries and Galloway	240	252	256	262	262
Dundee City	236	248	245	249	249
East Ayrshire	195	205	208	212	212
East Dunbartonshire	175	185	187	191	191
East Lothian	146	154	165	170	170
East Renfrewshire	145	153	160	165	165
Edinburgh, city of	727	767	796	818	818
Eilean Siar	43	45	44	45	45
Falkirk	235	248	259	267	267
Fife	566	597	622	639	639
Glasgow City	937	988	1,000	1,021	1,021
Highland	338	357	365	374	374
Inverclyde	136	144	143	146	146
Midlothian	131	138	144	149	149
Moray	141	149	150	154	154
North Ayrshire	220	232	236	241	241
North Lanarkshire	520	549	565	579	579
Orkney	31	33	33	34	34
Perth and Kinross	219	231	240	247	247
Renfrewshire	280	295	298	304	304
Scottish Borders	173	183	191	196	196
Shetland	36	38	39	40	40
South Ayrshire	182	192	194	199	199
South Lanarkshire	490	516	531	544	544
Stirling	140	147	155	160	160
West Dunbartonshire	151	159	160	164	164
West Lothian	258	272	293	303	303

School Run and NCN Funding

	2004-05 (£000s)	2005-06 (£000s)	2006-07 (£000s)	2007-08 (£000s)	2008-09 (£000s)
Aberdeen City	210	227	201	203	27
Aberdeenshire	84	89	84	228	166
Angus	105	9	10	25	84
Argyll and Bute	113	16	867	1391	1174
Clackmannanshire	168	49	55	286	65
Dumfries and Galloway	115	251	120	427	210
Dundee City	95	11	100	176	154
East Ayrshire		49	378	124
East Dunbartonshire			160	108	132
East Lothian	163	96	144	253	14
East Renfrewshire		2	110	47	30
Edinburgh, city of	198	44	905	143	179
Eilean Siar			22	54	13
Falkirk		28	24	255	123
Fife	278	39	486	499	302
Glasgow City	24	7	229	400	238
Highland	126	101	505	250	56
Inverclyde	169	63	86	362	12
Midlothian	51		83	79	38
Moray		8	315	181	132
North Ayrshire	210	39	50	125	28
North Lanarkshire	42	91		221	70
Orkney				112	59
Perth and Kinross	51	131	119	87	77
Renfrewshire	240	1	168	310	16
Scottish Borders	155	29	71	100	31
Shetland		15	130	9	23
South Ayrshire		29	270	164	42
South Lanarkshire	158		109	32	45
Stirling	249	283	289	192	130
West Dunbartonshire	58		139	140	142
West Lothian	53	22	224	136	49

Question reference: S3W-25504

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 21 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has given, or plans to give, to NHS boards in relation to the provision of services for patients who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities.

The Scottish Government has no plans to issue specific guidance to NHS boards on the issue of multiple chemical sensitivity. In reviewing evidence relating to such concerns, UK government''s committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) commented in 2000 that multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) was a condition largely defined by the patient, and that there was no consistent pattern of symptoms or exposure data to define the condition. People concerned about allergies to chemicals should discuss these with their GP in the first instance, to allow for proper assessment of individual needs.

Question reference: S3W-25115

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available for the testing of adults for dyslexia.

Free access to dyslexia assessment is available, in certain circumstances, for adults depending on their individual circumstances. Those in higher and further education may have access to free assessment; unemployed adults may be referred for assessment to an occupational psychologist through Jobcentre Plus and, where an individual''s health is adversely affected by possible dyslexia, a general practitioner may refer for free assessment.

Question reference: S3W-24959

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with dyslexia in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S3W-24960

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is provided to each local authority to help them tackle dyslexia.

The Scottish Government is currently providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding, £23 billion for the period 2008-10. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for tackling dyslexia, is being provided by means of a block grant.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives as set out in the concordat.

The total revenue allocations for each local authority for 2009-10 can be found in column 10 of Annex C on page five of the latest Local Government Finance circular using the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0079447.pdf.

Question reference: S3O-07377

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 11 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance and support is available for people who are made redundant and how this support is obtained.

The Scottish Government''s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment PACE initiative provides support to people who are facing redundancy. People can access the helpline or the website for financial assistance which is available through a number of initiatives:

Training for Work provides financial assistance for training or re-training for those threatened with redundancy and for redundant workers as soon as they become unemployed.

Through Individual Learning Accounts up to £500 is available for people who wish to re-train or up-skill.

Career Development Loans help fund fee and other costs associated with training.

The £7 million made available from the Scottish Funding Council from January this year until August next year enables colleges to underwrite the cost of courses for redundant workers.

Question reference: S3W-24007

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 27 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many solicitors’ practices undertook civil legal aid work for which they received fee payments, excluding VAT, from the Scottish Legal Aid Board of (a) less than £25,000, (b) £25,000 to £50,000, (c) £50,000 to £75,000, (d) £75,000 to £100,000 and (e) more than £100,000 in the last year for which information is available, broken down by parliamentary region or postcode area.

The following table gives details of the fees paid to solicitors'' firms between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 for civil legal advice and assistance work and civil legal aid work. All fee payments are exclusive of VAT and include solicitor and solicitor-advocate fees paid to the firm. The information has been broken down by Royal Mail postal areas. For firms with more than one branch, the main branch of the firm handling payments has been used, although such firms will in reality generate their fees across their branch network which may span more than one postal area. It is not possible to apportion fees amongst individual branches in a multi-branch firm.

Numbers of solicitors'' firms paid Civil Legal Aid fees between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, by postcode area and level of fees:

Postal Area	Less than £25,000	£25,000 to £50,000	£50,000 to £75,000	£75,000 to £100,000	Over £100,000	Grand Total
AB	39	11	1	1	1	53
DD	18	8	3	4	7	40
DG	16	5	1	0	1	23
EH	36	12	6	0	14	68
FK	18	6	4	1	2	31
G	108	31	21	7	24	191
HS	2	0	0	0	0	2
IV	16	4	1	2	2	25
KA	29	5	8	1	3	46
KW	5	0	0	0	0	5
KY	19	9	4	3	4	39
ML	31	11	3	2	7	54
PA	26	6	3	5	4	44
PH	8	5	4	0	2	19
TD	8	3	0	1	1	13
ZE	2	0	0	0	0	2
Total	381	116	59	27	72	655

Notes: a number of firms, especially in the Edinburgh area, act as agents at the Court of Session for other firms based around the country. These Edinburgh agents'' fees are paid as outlays in the nominated solicitors'' accounts. Their fees are not included in the table.

The postal areas referred to in the table are as follows:

Postal Area	Postal Towns
AB	Aberdeen, Aberlour, Aboyne, Alford, Ballater, Ballindalloch, Banchory, Banff, Buckie, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Keith, Laurencekirk, Macduff, Milltimber, Peterculter, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Strathdon, Turriff, Westhill
AB
DD	Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Dundee, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Newport-On-Tay, Tayport
DD
DG	Annan, Canonbie, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Dumfries, Gretna, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer, Thornhill
DG
EH	Balerno, Bathgate, Bo''ness, Bonnyrigg, Broxburn, Currie, Dalkeith, Dunbar, East Linton, Edinburgh, Gorebridge, Gullane, Haddington, Heriot, Humbie, Innerleithen, Juniper Green, Kirkliston, Kirknewton, Lasswade, Linlithgow, Livingston, Loanhead, Longniddry, Musselburgh, Newbridge, North Berwick, Pathhead, Peebles, Penicuik, Prestonpans, Rosewell, Roslin, South Queensferry, Tranent, Walkerburn, West Calder, West Linton
EH
FK	Alloa, Alva, Bonnybridge, Callander, Clackmannan, Crianlarich, Denny, Dollar, Doune, Dunblane, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Killin, Larbert, Lochearnhead, Menstrie, Stirling, Tillicoultry
FK
G	Alexandria, Arrochar, Clydebank, Dumbarton, Glasgow, Helensburgh
G
HS	Castlebay, Harris, Isle Of Benbecula, Isle Of Lewis, Isle Of Scalpay, Leverburgh, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Stornoway
HS
IV	Achnasheen, Alness, Ardgay, Avoch, Beauly, Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Fochabers, Forres, Fortrose, Gairloch, Garve, Invergordon, Inverness, Isle Of Skye, Kyle, Lairg, Lossiemouth, Muir Of Ord, Munlochy, Nairn, Plockton, Portree, Rogart, Strathcarron, Strathpeffer, Strome Ferry, Tain, Ullapool
IV
KA	Ardrossan, Ayr, Beith, Brodick, Cumnock, Dalry, Darvel, Galston, Girvan, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Mauchline, Maybole, Millport, Newmilns, Prestwick, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Troon, West Kilbride
KA
KW	Berriedale, Brora, Dunbeath, Forsinard, Golspie, Halkirk, Helmsdale, Kinbrace, Kirkwall, Latheron, Lybster, Orkney, Stromness, Thurso, Wick
KW
KY	Anstruther, Burntisland, Cowdenbeath, Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Kelty, Kinross, Kirkcaldy, Leven, Lochgelly, St Andrews
KY
ML	Airdrie, Bellshill, Biggar, Carluke, Coatbridge, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall, Motherwell, Shotts, Strathaven, Wishaw
ML
PA	Appin, Ballygrant, Bishopton, Bowmore, Bridge Of Orchy, Bridge Of Weir, Bridgend, Bruichladdich, Cairndow, Campbeltown, Colintraive, Craighouse, Dalmally, Dunoon, Erskine, Gourock, Greenock, Inveraray, Isle Of Coll, Isle Of Colonsay, Isle Of Gigha, Isle Of Iona, Isle Of Mull, Johnstone, Kilmacolm, Lochgilphead, Lochwinnoch, Oban, Paisley, Port Askaig, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Port Glasgow, Portnahaven, Renfrew, Rothesay, Scarinish, Skelmorlie, Tarbert, Taynuilt, Tighnabruaich, Wemyss Bay
PA
PH	Aberfeldy, Acharacle, Arisaig, Auchterarder, Aviemore, Ballachulish, Blairgowrie, Boat Of Garten, Carrbridge, Corrour, Crieff, Dalwhinnie, Dunkeld, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Grantown-On-Spey, Invergarry, Isle Of Canna, Isle Of Eigg, Isle Of Rum, Kingussie, Kinlochleven, Lochailort, Mallaig, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, Perth, Pitlochry, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge
PH
TD	Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Cockburnspath, Coldstream, Cornhill-On-Tweed, Duns, Earlston, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Gordon, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Melrose, Mindrum, Newcastleton, Selkirk
TD
ZE	Lerwick, Shetland
ZE	Lerwick, Shetland

Question reference: S3W-24006

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on using Rhinopatch technology to deal with potholes.

Question reference: S3W-23067

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to help organisations and groups throughout Scotland gain access to promotional materials relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

It is straightforward for people to obtain suitable promotional materials at no cost that are relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations. Individuals, organisations or groups can order promotional material either by contacting the Homecoming team directly at EventScotland''s offices, or by ordering them through the Homecoming website. These links are displayed prominently on the website and have been promoted through all Homecoming communications activity, including regular e-communications to key groups and organisations around Scotland, the UK and the world.

Promotional materials can also be obtained through the country''s network of VisitScotland Information Centres, where small amounts of stock can be supplied directly.

Key partners in the promotion of Homecoming are local authorities and every council holds stocks of material for local distribution.

Chamber and committees