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.

Question reference: S4W-00361

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has allocated to funding mental health advocacy services in each financial year since 1999.

There is a duty on NHS boards and local authorities under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to secure the availability of independent advocacy services for people who have a mental health condition. Advocacy services are not funded centrally, these services may be secured by the NHS boards or local authorities through funding from their own allocations or by obtaining support from other sources.

Since 2005-06, overall funding for local authorities has included £13 million per year to help them implement the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, of which advocacy is an important part. Similarly, £5 million per year has been made available to NHS boards to help them deliver the Act.

Question reference: S4W-00362

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides guidance to NHS boards regarding how much they should allocate to funding mental health advocacy services.

The Scottish Government sets the national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and local authorities to support implementation of these policies. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities are the responsibility of relevant local agencies.

Under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, advocacy is provided, or its provision secured, at local level by local authorities and the NHS. As recognised in the 2010 report by the Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee, significant resources were given to local government and health boards as part of the implementation of the 2003 Act. Since 2005-06, overall funding for local authorities has included £13 million per year to help them implement the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, of which advocacy is an important part. Similarly, £5 million per year has been made available to NHS boards to help them deliver the Act.

Question reference: S4O-00044

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to help small companies bid for public contracts.

Question reference: S4W-00365

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to undertake a study into train overcrowding on the Aberdeen to Inverness rail network.

There are no plans to undertake a separate study into overcrowding on the Aberdeen to Inverness line. However, a pre-feasibility study published on 22 March 2011, includes options to provide half hourly services between Inverness and Elgin and Aberdeen and Inverurie.

Work has now begun to examine the feasibility, cost and deliverability of this and other options, and this work will be completed early next year.

Question reference: S4W-00364

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made with its plans to improve the rail network between Aberdeen and Inverness.

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