Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-24959

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with dyslexia in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S3W-24960

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is provided to each local authority to help them tackle dyslexia.

The Scottish Government is currently providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding, £23 billion for the period 2008-10. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for tackling dyslexia, is being provided by means of a block grant.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives as set out in the concordat.

The total revenue allocations for each local authority for 2009-10 can be found in column 10 of Annex C on page five of the latest Local Government Finance circular using the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0079447.pdf.

Question reference: S3O-07377

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 11 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance and support is available for people who are made redundant and how this support is obtained.

The Scottish Government''s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment PACE initiative provides support to people who are facing redundancy. People can access the helpline or the website for financial assistance which is available through a number of initiatives:

Training for Work provides financial assistance for training or re-training for those threatened with redundancy and for redundant workers as soon as they become unemployed.

Through Individual Learning Accounts up to £500 is available for people who wish to re-train or up-skill.

Career Development Loans help fund fee and other costs associated with training.

The £7 million made available from the Scottish Funding Council from January this year until August next year enables colleges to underwrite the cost of courses for redundant workers.

Question reference: S3W-24007

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 27 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many solicitors’ practices undertook civil legal aid work for which they received fee payments, excluding VAT, from the Scottish Legal Aid Board of (a) less than £25,000, (b) £25,000 to £50,000, (c) £50,000 to £75,000, (d) £75,000 to £100,000 and (e) more than £100,000 in the last year for which information is available, broken down by parliamentary region or postcode area.

The following table gives details of the fees paid to solicitors'' firms between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 for civil legal advice and assistance work and civil legal aid work. All fee payments are exclusive of VAT and include solicitor and solicitor-advocate fees paid to the firm. The information has been broken down by Royal Mail postal areas. For firms with more than one branch, the main branch of the firm handling payments has been used, although such firms will in reality generate their fees across their branch network which may span more than one postal area. It is not possible to apportion fees amongst individual branches in a multi-branch firm.

Numbers of solicitors'' firms paid Civil Legal Aid fees between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, by postcode area and level of fees:

Postal Area	Less than £25,000	£25,000 to £50,000	£50,000 to £75,000	£75,000 to £100,000	Over £100,000	Grand Total
AB	39	11	1	1	1	53
DD	18	8	3	4	7	40
DG	16	5	1	0	1	23
EH	36	12	6	0	14	68
FK	18	6	4	1	2	31
G	108	31	21	7	24	191
HS	2	0	0	0	0	2
IV	16	4	1	2	2	25
KA	29	5	8	1	3	46
KW	5	0	0	0	0	5
KY	19	9	4	3	4	39
ML	31	11	3	2	7	54
PA	26	6	3	5	4	44
PH	8	5	4	0	2	19
TD	8	3	0	1	1	13
ZE	2	0	0	0	0	2
Total	381	116	59	27	72	655

Notes: a number of firms, especially in the Edinburgh area, act as agents at the Court of Session for other firms based around the country. These Edinburgh agents'' fees are paid as outlays in the nominated solicitors'' accounts. Their fees are not included in the table.

The postal areas referred to in the table are as follows:

Postal Area	Postal Towns
AB	Aberdeen, Aberlour, Aboyne, Alford, Ballater, Ballindalloch, Banchory, Banff, Buckie, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Keith, Laurencekirk, Macduff, Milltimber, Peterculter, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Strathdon, Turriff, Westhill
AB
DD	Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Dundee, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Newport-On-Tay, Tayport
DD
DG	Annan, Canonbie, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Dumfries, Gretna, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer, Thornhill
DG
EH	Balerno, Bathgate, Bo''ness, Bonnyrigg, Broxburn, Currie, Dalkeith, Dunbar, East Linton, Edinburgh, Gorebridge, Gullane, Haddington, Heriot, Humbie, Innerleithen, Juniper Green, Kirkliston, Kirknewton, Lasswade, Linlithgow, Livingston, Loanhead, Longniddry, Musselburgh, Newbridge, North Berwick, Pathhead, Peebles, Penicuik, Prestonpans, Rosewell, Roslin, South Queensferry, Tranent, Walkerburn, West Calder, West Linton
EH
FK	Alloa, Alva, Bonnybridge, Callander, Clackmannan, Crianlarich, Denny, Dollar, Doune, Dunblane, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Killin, Larbert, Lochearnhead, Menstrie, Stirling, Tillicoultry
FK
G	Alexandria, Arrochar, Clydebank, Dumbarton, Glasgow, Helensburgh
G
HS	Castlebay, Harris, Isle Of Benbecula, Isle Of Lewis, Isle Of Scalpay, Leverburgh, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Stornoway
HS
IV	Achnasheen, Alness, Ardgay, Avoch, Beauly, Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Fochabers, Forres, Fortrose, Gairloch, Garve, Invergordon, Inverness, Isle Of Skye, Kyle, Lairg, Lossiemouth, Muir Of Ord, Munlochy, Nairn, Plockton, Portree, Rogart, Strathcarron, Strathpeffer, Strome Ferry, Tain, Ullapool
IV
KA	Ardrossan, Ayr, Beith, Brodick, Cumnock, Dalry, Darvel, Galston, Girvan, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Mauchline, Maybole, Millport, Newmilns, Prestwick, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Troon, West Kilbride
KA
KW	Berriedale, Brora, Dunbeath, Forsinard, Golspie, Halkirk, Helmsdale, Kinbrace, Kirkwall, Latheron, Lybster, Orkney, Stromness, Thurso, Wick
KW
KY	Anstruther, Burntisland, Cowdenbeath, Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Kelty, Kinross, Kirkcaldy, Leven, Lochgelly, St Andrews
KY
ML	Airdrie, Bellshill, Biggar, Carluke, Coatbridge, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall, Motherwell, Shotts, Strathaven, Wishaw
ML
PA	Appin, Ballygrant, Bishopton, Bowmore, Bridge Of Orchy, Bridge Of Weir, Bridgend, Bruichladdich, Cairndow, Campbeltown, Colintraive, Craighouse, Dalmally, Dunoon, Erskine, Gourock, Greenock, Inveraray, Isle Of Coll, Isle Of Colonsay, Isle Of Gigha, Isle Of Iona, Isle Of Mull, Johnstone, Kilmacolm, Lochgilphead, Lochwinnoch, Oban, Paisley, Port Askaig, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Port Glasgow, Portnahaven, Renfrew, Rothesay, Scarinish, Skelmorlie, Tarbert, Taynuilt, Tighnabruaich, Wemyss Bay
PA
PH	Aberfeldy, Acharacle, Arisaig, Auchterarder, Aviemore, Ballachulish, Blairgowrie, Boat Of Garten, Carrbridge, Corrour, Crieff, Dalwhinnie, Dunkeld, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Grantown-On-Spey, Invergarry, Isle Of Canna, Isle Of Eigg, Isle Of Rum, Kingussie, Kinlochleven, Lochailort, Mallaig, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, Perth, Pitlochry, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge
PH
TD	Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Cockburnspath, Coldstream, Cornhill-On-Tweed, Duns, Earlston, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Gordon, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Melrose, Mindrum, Newcastleton, Selkirk
TD
ZE	Lerwick, Shetland
ZE	Lerwick, Shetland

Question reference: S3W-24006

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on using Rhinopatch technology to deal with potholes.

Question reference: S3W-23067

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to help organisations and groups throughout Scotland gain access to promotional materials relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

It is straightforward for people to obtain suitable promotional materials at no cost that are relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations. Individuals, organisations or groups can order promotional material either by contacting the Homecoming team directly at EventScotland''s offices, or by ordering them through the Homecoming website. These links are displayed prominently on the website and have been promoted through all Homecoming communications activity, including regular e-communications to key groups and organisations around Scotland, the UK and the world.

Promotional materials can also be obtained through the country''s network of VisitScotland Information Centres, where small amounts of stock can be supplied directly.

Key partners in the promotion of Homecoming are local authorities and every council holds stocks of material for local distribution.

Question reference: S3W-23068

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities in connection with single status pay in the last 12 months.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA on a range of issues facing local authorities, including the costs of equal pay. The Scottish Government is not, and has not been, involved in discussions connected with the single status pay agreement which was negotiated between COSLA and the trade unions. The single status pay agreement is wholly a matter for COSLA and for local authorities as independent corporate bodies.

Question reference: S3W-22491

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to the A77 Safety Group.

Question reference: S3W-22492

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the safety partnerships similar to the A77 Safety Group, broken down by local authority.

The list of safety partnerships in Scotland, broken down by local authority are shown in the following tables. These are further broken down by operating company area.

South West Unit:

Trunk Road Operating Company: Amey Infrastructure Services

M73 Motorway	Glasgow City Council and North Lanarkshire Council
M74 Motorway	South Lanarkshire Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council
A725 Trunk Road	South Lanarkshire Council
A726 Trunk Road	South Lanarkshire Council
M80 Motorway	Glasgow City Council and North Lanarkshire Council
M77 Motorway	Glasgow City Council and East Renfrewshire Council
A75 Trunk Road	Dumfries and Galloway Council
A751 Trunk Road	Dumfries and Galloway Council
A76 Trunk Road	Dumfries and Galloway Council, East Ayrshire
A701 Trunk Road	Dumfries and Galloway Council
A78 Trunk Road	Inverclyde Council, North Ayrshire Council
A737 Trunk Road	North Ayrshire Council and Renfrewshire Council
A738 Trunk Road	North Ayrshire Council
A8/M8 Trunk Road/Motorway	Glasgow City Council, Renfrewshire Council, Inverclyde Council and North Lanarkshire Council
M898/A898 Motorway/Trunk Road	West Dunbartonshire Council, Renfrewshire Council
A82 Trunk Road	West Dunbartonshire Council

North West Unit:

Trunk Road Operating Company: Scotland Transerve

A9 Trunk Road	Highland Council, Perth and Kinross Council
A82 Trunk Road	Highland Council, Argyll and Bute Council and Stirling Council
A83 Trunk Road	Argyll and Bute Council
A84 Trunk Road	Stirling Council
A85 Trunk Road	Argyll and Bute Council, Stirling Council and Perth and Kinross Council
A86 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A87 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A99 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A828 Trunk Road	Highland Council and Argyll and Bute Council
A830 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A835 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A887 Trunk Road	Highland Council
A889 Trunk Road	Highland Council

North East Unit:

Trunk Road Operating Company: Bear Scotland

A96 Trunk Road	Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council and Highland Council
A95 Trunk Road	Moray Council and Highland Council
A90 Trunk Road	Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council
M90 Motorway	Perth and Kinross Council and Fife Council
A92 Trunk Road	Fife Council
A9 Trunk Road	Stirling Council and Perth and Kinross Council
A823 Trunk Road	Clackmannanshire Council
A977 Trunk Road	Fife Council
A985 Trunk Road	Fife Council

South East Unit:

Trunk Road Operating Company: Bear Scotland

A1 Trunk Road	East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council
A720 Trunk Road	City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council
A702 Trunk Road	Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders Council and South Lanarkshire Council
A68 Trunk Road	East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council
A6091 Trunk Road	Scottish Borders Council
A7 Trunk Road	Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council
M8 Motorway	West Lothian Council, City of Edinburgh Council and North Lanarkshire Council
M876 Motorway	Falkirk Council
A80/M80 Trunk Road/ Motorway	Stirling Council and North Lanarkshire Council
M9 Motorway	West Lothian Council, City of Edinburgh Council and Falkirk Council

Question reference: S3F-01632

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Salmond on 23 April 2009

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government has taken in light of the Audit Scotland report, Drug and alcohol services in Scotland.

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