Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12412 on 31 January 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The current NHS Health Scotland mental health indicator sets out to provide a profile of the mental health of the Scottish population and a means of monitoring the state of mental health to enable evidence-informed decision making for mental health improvement policy planning. However, these are limited by gaps and weaknesses in the evidence-base, availability of data and the feasibility of collecting data. Additionally, the indicators do provide a firm basis on which to build and develop a greater understanding of the causes and consequences of mental health and how these can be measured.

Although data is available on disability, it is not possible to break it down into specific impairments due to the small sample sizes of key surveys. Specific impairments such as poor hearing/deafness are captured within the longstanding illness and limiting longstanding illness indicators. Unfortunately the sample size does not allow for poor hearing/deafness to be extracted from the data. However as the evidence base improves the indicators and their data sources will be reviewed.

As at 30 September 2012 the percentage of all police staff that were female was 62 per cent (based on headcount). This is based on all police staff employed by the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Scottish Government officials have met with members of the National Deaf Children’s Society and the Scottish Council on Deafness to discuss their proposals.

We have asked them to engage with NHS boards as primary commissioners of such services and we will continue that dialogue through the Scottish Government child and adolescent mental health services network as we consider next steps. We will ensure that service developments are meeting the needs of children and young people with sensory impairments.

We have made a commitment to work with NHS boards and partners to improve monitoring information about who is accessing services and is consistently available to inform decisions about service redesign and to remove barriers to services.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

“In common with other jurisdictions, SPS recognises that we are dealing with an ageing prison population reflecting the ageing trend in society.

Currently SPS, along with partner agencies, is responding through the provision, for example, of aids and adaptations to accommodation, the provision of specialist beds, access to specialised occupational health equipment as well as the provision of age appropriate activities. However, given the trend towards an even older population, SPS will keep the matter under review.”

A range of work is currently underway to develop performance management frameworks to assess the performance of the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority in the delivery of the strategic police priorities. These frameworks are expected to be in place to measure performance from 1 April 2013.

The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information. This is a matter for police forces.

This will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland to take forward.

Work on the implementation of the single service reform groups is being undertaken by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland National Police Reform Team and as such this is a matter for the Police Service of Scotland to take forward.

The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information.