- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 20 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has identified in respect of the Scottish Borders' economy.
Answer
The Executive's objective for all of Scotland is sustainable improvement in economic performance. A Smart, Successful Scotland sets out strategic direction to the Enterprise Networks and focuses on three key challenges for raising productivity: growing businesses, global connections and learning and skills.In following this direction, Scottish Enterprise Borders takes account of local needs and opportunities. Provision of information on programmes and projects is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. The Borders Local Economic Forum, of which Scottish Enterprise Borders is a member, provides a mechanism for co-ordinated delivery of local economic development activities.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how often the complaints procedure established under Part 5, section 64 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 has been reviewed under section 64(3) and what actions have been taken, or amendments to the procedure made, as a result of any such review process
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34312. 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/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how often the complaints procedure established under section 6 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 has been reviewed and what actions have been taken, or amendments to the procedure made, as a result of any such review
Answer
The review of the complaints procedure established by the Care Commission under sections 6 and 64 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 1995 is an operational matter for the commission itself. Ministers must consent to any variation of the procedures, however. There have not yet been any such reviews.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations there were before establishing the procedure on complaints or representations about the functions or actions of The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care under section 64(2) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34311 today. 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/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations were undertaken by The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care in regard to the establishment of the complaints procedure under section 6(3) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer
The Regulation of Care Project Team in the Scottish Executive prepared draft Care Commission complaints procedures under sections 6 and 64 of the act on the commission's behalf. They consulted widely on them between 4 September and 20 November 2001. All responses were passed to the commission with a report on the consultation. The Care Commission then considered the outcome of the consultation and submitted revised proposals for ministers' approval. The approved complaints procedures were implemented from 1 April 2002, when the Care Commission became operational.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how often meetings are held between it and the Chief Executive of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care; what directions or guidance it gives to the commission, and how many complaints to the former Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in respect of the commission it has been made aware of by the Chief Executive of the commission
Answer
I meet with the Care Commission's Convener and Chief Executive on a six-monthly basis. Together with the Education Minister, I also meet jointly with the Care Commission and the Scottish Social Services Council twice-yearly. My officials meet formally with the Care Commission's Chief Executive and Senior Management Team every two months. The Management Statement and Financial Memorandum agreed between ministers and the Care Commission sets out the broad framework within which the Care Commission must operate. The emphasis is on accountability and financial propriety. The Care Commission is also required to report on the performance targets set in its Corporate Plan. The Chief Executive has not made us aware of any complaints to the former Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration or the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of concern would trigger an inquiry under section 65(1)(a) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 into the operation of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and its complaints procedure.
Answer
The Scottish Executive would only consider setting up an inquiry once all other avenues had been exhausted.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in appointments to committees of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care; what advice it seeks from support service providers to ensure a balanced composition of committees, and what powers it has to remove appointees from committees of the commission
Answer
The appointment of members to committees of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care is an operational matter for the Commission itself, having regard to the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations 2002 and other Scottish Executive guidance.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what rights under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 parties to a complaint under investigation by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care have to the contents of the written report of the investigation
Answer
Compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is a matter for the Care Commission itself. The Care Commission's complaints procedure, which is published on their website at:
www.carecommission.com, aims to encourage openness and transparency. It confirms that the final decision will be communicated to the complainant and to the party complained against. The final written report itself must, of course, remain confidential in terms of the Data Protection Act as it inevitably contains references to third parties.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 5 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33187 by Iain Gray on 15 January 2003, what consideration the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is giving to the proposed Borders rail service in relation to any bids received, or expected to be received, for the new passenger rail franchise, given that the timetable for the development and opening of the line falls within the term of the next franchise award.
Answer
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has been directed by the Scottish ministers to deliver an enhanceable franchise for ScotRail. This means, among other things, that new or improved services associated with new infrastructure can be introduced into the franchise throughout its life. The franchise will contain a mechanism to ensure that new services are introduced on reasonable terms as and when the new infrastructure becomes available.
