Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-14415

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a reduction in the number of people with learning difficulties entering further education since 2007 and, if so, what its position is on this matter.

Our position has been to encourage the college sector to offer courses which have the best prospect of leading to a job either directly, or after further learning at a higher level. That applies regardless of whether or not the student has learning difficulties.

The full-time equivalent number of students receiving learning support in 2006-07 was 20,429, a figure which has since risen significantly to 25,077 in 2011-12. Measuring student numbers as ‘full-time equivalent’ reflects the level of activity which colleges channel towards each learner, which may differ significantly from person to person.

Question reference: S4W-14159

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the Opportunities for All budget is for (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15, showing how much has been allocated in each year; to what it has been allocated, and how much has not been allocated.

The Scottish Government has identified significant resources to fulfil our Opportunities for All commitment to guarantee all 16-19 year olds an offer of a place in education or training, including prioritising college places and Modern Apprenticeships for young people

The £30 million Opportunities for All budget allocation for financial years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 is set out in the following table:

	2012-13 £18,000,000	2013-14 £6,000,000	2014-15 £6,000,000
Targeted ERI	£500,000	£500,000	£500,000
Community Jobs Scotland	£5,350,000	£4,000,000	£1,750,000
Social Enterprise & Third Sector Challenge Fund	£3,027,282
Local Authorities	£9,000,000
Total allocated (to date)	£17,877,282	£4,500,000	£2,250,000

Other specific Scottish Government finance that supports the implementation of our Opportunities for All commitment includes the following Level 4 budget lines:

	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Inspiring Scotland's 14-19 year olds	4,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Supporting Post-16 Transitions Towards Employment	5,800,000	5,328,000	4,828,000
Education Maintenance Allowance	31,600,000	31,600,000	31,600,000
Community Jobs Scotland	4,000,000	2,000,000	2,100,000

In addition, as part of our all-Government, all-Scotland response to assist all young people into employment, other funding will be allocated in 2013-14 and 2014-15 from, for example £25 million European structural funds and £15 million from Scottish Government to support employer recruitment incentives.

Question reference: S4W-14160

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have multiple sclerosis.

Question reference: S4W-14162

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people with multiple sclerosis.

Our top priority for people with MS is to ensure that the Neurological Standards published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland are implemented, they offer the best mechanism for achieving safe, effective and person centred care.

The standards will help ensure people get the earliest and most appropriate treatment locally, but with access to specialist services when needed. That’s why we previously provided boards with £1.2million, to develop improvement groups as the main vehicles to take them forward.

Progress is being monitored by the National Neurological Advisory Group. We will continue to work with NHS boards and the third sector to improve services for people with MS in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-14161

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the last three years.

The Scottish MS Register was launched in January 2010 with the aim of collecting information on all people registered in Scotland by a Consultant Neurologist receiving a new diagnosis of MS. The purpose of collecting this data is to provide information on the incidence rate of MS in Scotland (i.e. all new cases of MS diagnosed from January 2010 onwards).

The following table shows the number of people recorded with a new diagnosis of MS in Scotland in 2010 and 2011, reported by NHS board to the MS Register.

Year of Diagnosis

NHS Board	2010 Count	2011 Count
Ayrshire and Arran	17	27
Borders	6	6
Dumfries and Galloway	12	17
Fife	29	25
Forth Valley	17	23
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	98	90
Grampian	54	49
Highland	26	19
Lanarkshire	46	22
Lothian	59	54
Orkney	5	5
Shetland	4	6
Tayside	40	42
Western Isles	5	4

Source: ISD Scotland.

The MS Register does not include people who are diagnosed in a Paediatric Hospital. The Scottish MS Register Steering Group is currently working closely with services to improve the quality and accuracy of the data. It is intended that the 2012 data will be published in September 2013.

Question reference: S4O-02100

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on comments by the Chairman of the Yes Scotland campaign that a separate Scottish currency would give “more flexibility, more freedom” and “a wider range of economic levers” than its plans for a currency union.

Question reference: S4W-14293

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), whether the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains will have powers to call witnesses under oath.

Question reference: S4W-14294

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), whether the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains will review the practices of (a) undertakers, (b) hospitals and (c) crematoria both in private and public.

Question reference: S4W-14292

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), how parents affected by (a) neonatal and (b) stillborn baby death will be represented on the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains.

Question reference: S4W-14291

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), what the (a) role and (b) remit will be of the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains.

Chamber and committees