- 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 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 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 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: 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: 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.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 27 February 2003
To ask the First Minister what role mediation processes have in the justice system.
Answer
We support mediation where it is feasible and appropriate for example in family cases, where the courts have the power to refer cases, in neighbourhood disputes or commercial situations, and other policy areas including restorative justice programmes where it forms part of our youth justice strategy.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 20 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to address any imbalance in the age of the population in the Scottish Borders.
Answer
The latest projections issued by the Registrar General for Scotland show that the population in the Borders area, as well as in Scotland in general, is expected to decline slightly over the long term. There is a projected increase in the proportion of older people, with the largest percentage increase among the very old and a fall in the proportion of younger age groups. The Executive believes that a growing population, with a highly skilled and motivated workforce, will help the Scottish Economy. Measures that contribute to a sustainable Scotland, now and in the future, include those that support people of all ages in participating and contributing as learners, workers, carers, parents and volunteers.In addition, we have worked in collaboration with the enterprise networks and Scottish Development International on a number of initiatives to link Scottish businesses with successful Scots now living overseas and to attract those with appropriate skills to live and work in Scotland.
- 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 19 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive which consultants it commissioned to develop a strategy for the improvement of the rail network in Scotland; what the cost of the commission has been, and when in early 2003 the strategy will be published, as referred to on page 52 of the Strategic Rail Authority's The Strategic Plan 2003: Route Descriptions.
Answer
The Scottish Strategic Rail Study was commissioned in July 2001 in partnership with the Strategic Rail Authority, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, SESTRAN, Railtrack and, latterly, NESTRANS and Dundee City Council. Work was undertaken by consultants Steer Davies Gleave at a total cost of £153,250 and the final report is expected to be published in March 2003.
