- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it currently provides for hearing assessments and services to health boards where there is a higher than national average number of people aged over 60.
Answer
The Executive is providing substantial additional resources to NHSScotland. The allocations given to NHS Boards increased on average by 5.5% in 2001-02 and individual allocations show an increase on average by 6.9% and 7.8% in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The formula used to determine funding takes account of, amongst other factors, the influence of age on the relative healthcare needs of each NHS Board's population.However, it is for NHS Boards to decide how to deploy funds on the basis of their assessment of local needs and priorities for investment. In determining local priorities, NHS Boards take account of national priorities and guidance.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the efficacy of the Direct Access System for hearing aid provision assessments.
Answer
There are currently no arrangements for the formal monitoring by the Executive of the Direct Access System. However, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20636. The answer outlines the scope of the wide ranging review of audiology services currently under way which will include review of the referral systems.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S1W-8880, S1W-8892 and S1W-8893 by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000, how much public money has been expended to date on refurbishment, training and other support in respect of the proposed call centre at Claridge Mill, Selkirk.
Answer
The Scottish Enterprise Borders Annual Report 2000 states that £670,000 has been spent on the refurbishment and training costs at Claridge Mill, Selkirk.Since then, Scottish Enterprise Borders has assisted the company to recruit and train individuals who have been affected by large redundancies by providing training for three individuals, up to a total cost of £7,020. Scottish Enterprise Borders has also contributed 50% funding for training, assessing and testing 11 of the call centre employees who are currently working to acquire their European Computer Driving Licence, at a cost of £3,000.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review will be published.
Answer
It is expected that the consultation paper on the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review will be published early in the New Year.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its Press Release SE1745/2000 of 14 June 2000, how many three-year-olds currently have a free nursery place, broken down by education authority and also expressed as a percentage of the total number of three-year-olds in each authority.
Answer
The number of children aged three who are in receipt of funded pre-school education in the 32 local authorities in the summer term of academic year 2000-01 is shown in the following table. The table also shows the numbers expressed as the participation rate of eligible population. The equivalent information relating to academic year 2001-02 will be available by July 2002.
Spring Term 2000-01 | Three-year-olds |
Children provided with places | Participation Percentage | Eligible Children |
Aberdeen City | 1,745 | 75% | 2,320 |
Aberdeenshire | 2,293 | 100% | 2,293 |
Angus | 917 | 75% | 1,215 |
Argyll and Bute | 912 | 96% | 947 |
Clackmannanshire | 539 | 94% | 571 |
Dumfries & Galloway | 1,342 | 81% | 1,666 |
Dundee | 1,558 | 93% | 1,679 |
East Ayrshire | 1,115 | 99% | 1,121 |
East Dunbartonshire | 1,200 | 100% | 1,200 |
East Lothian | 763 | 70% | 1,092 |
East Renfrewshire | 1,003 | 91% | 1,100 |
Edinburgh City | 3,631 | 74% | 4,915 |
Eilean Sair | 218 | 97% | 225 |
Falkirk | 997 | 58% | 1,715 |
Fife | 3,297 | 82% | 4,008 |
Glasgow | 5,513 | 76% | 7,222 |
Highland | 1,926 | 77% | 2,492 |
Inverclyde | 740 | 73% | 1,010 |
Midlothian | 722 | 78% | 924 |
Moray | 963 | 100% | 963 |
North Ayrshire | 1,302 | 81% | 1,616 |
North Lanarkshire | 3,280 | 80% | 4,109 |
Orkney Islands | 190 | 81% | 234 |
Perth and Kinross | 1,036 | 100% | 1,036 |
Renfrewshire | 1,622 | 77% | 2,107 |
Scottish Borders | 948 | 85% | 1,110 |
Shetland Islands | 218 | 74% | 296 |
South Ayrshire | 972 | 82% | 1,189 |
South Lanarkshire | 2,779 | 76% | 3,665 |
Stirling | 868 | 90% | 967 |
West Dunbartonshire | 810 | 100% | 810 |
West Lothian | 1,246 | 58% | 2,131 |
Scotland | 46,665 | 80% | 57,948 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 17 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release SE 1745/2000 of 14 June 2000, whether it is on target to provide a free nursery place for all three-year-olds whose parents want it by April 2002.
Answer
We are currently on target to achieve this commitment. Some local authorities have already reached the necessary level of provision. Our efforts will now be focused on discussions with those authorities that may have the greatest difficulty in reaching the target.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release SE 1745/2000 of 14 June 2000, whether Scottish Borders Council will have sufficient staff to meet the requirements of providing a free nursery place for all three-year-olds whose parents want it by April 2002.
Answer
The council have been allocated the necessary resources to meet the requirement. Not all staff involved in the delivery of funded pre-school education are employed by local authorities. Local authorities have been given the lead role in developing pre-school education services in their area and may secure places either directly or by commissioning partners in the voluntary and private sectors.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19105 by Iain Gray on 26 November 2001, what steps it is taking to monitor the incidence and frequency of "lock-ups" at HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Cornton Vale and at all prisons and young offenders institutions.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS intend to keep records only of lock-up due to a cellular confinement punishment.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14979 by Iain Gray on 11 June 2001, what plans it has to introduce legislation to provide greater protection for hutters.
Answer
A consultation paper published by the Executive on 15 December last year invited views on whether in principle the Executive should seek to promote legislation to give greater protection to hutters, and on the detailed provisions required if such legislation were to be introduced. Over 300 responses were received to the consultation, some of which arrived after the closing date on 9 March.Ministers are considering the most suitable way forward in the light of the consultative response and a statement will be made in due course.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11762 by Susan Deacon on 19 January 2001, what measures it is taking to reduce the costs associated with early retirement due to illness in the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18887 on 12 December 2001.