- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17582 by Jeane Freeman on 23 July 2018, whether it can confirm that sunscreen is available on prescription for patients with Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP).
Answer
Sunscreen is available on prescription to patients who have specific medical conditions. This includes people with photosensitivity due to genetic conditions and cancer patients who have skin photosensitivity as a result of radiotherapy.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 July 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17390 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018, what percentage of expenditure on improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings it expects to be spent on (a) rural and (b) urban buildings.
Answer
Energy Efficient Scotland is a long-term programme and as such, its development is on-going. Our Energy Efficient Scotland Transition Programme launched on 2 May for consultation with stakeholders, and builds on our existing programmes and earlier pilots and supports the continuing development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.
Under our existing domestic schemes we already distribute funding based on an assessment of need, and take into account the additional costs associated with interventions in remote rural areas, which means that these areas, including all island communities, currently receive a higher than average per-capita spend.
Details of future programme delivery will be developed in partnership with each of Scotland's 32 Local Authorities and other partners, and will be set out in 2020. Further analysis will be undertaken to fully understand the breakdown of expenditure required (from public, private and third sector sources) to improve the energy efficiency of rural and urban buildings. There are a number of factors which will affect the breakdown of expenditure including built form, construction type and heat supply.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 July 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17390 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018, what financial assessments it has made to calculate the estimate of £10 to £12 billion, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs by (a) (i) public expenditure and (ii) private sources and (b) expenditure on (A) domestic and (B) non-domestic buildings.
Answer
Our estimates of the costs of improving Scotland’s domestic and non-domestic buildings were set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland Consultation. We estimate that the cost of meeting the programme for domestic properties is in the region of £8 billion, to bring around 75% of Scotland’s private sector domestic buildings to EPC C and around 50% of its social rented sector properties to EPC B. Current estimates place the total cost of improving the energy efficiency of our non-domestic buildings at £2-4 billion. The Energy Efficient Scotland Consultation closed on 27 July and can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00534912.pdf
As set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland Routemap we will continue to provide grant funding to support households in fuel poverty to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. For businesses and households who are not in fuel poverty we will continue to make available low-cost loans to help them spread the costs of investing in energy efficiency improvements.
Details of future programme delivery will be set out in 2020 and further analysis will be undertaken to fully understand the breakdown of expenditure required (from public, private and third sector sources) to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings. There are a number of factors which will affect the breakdown of expenditure including built form, construction type and heat supply.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17582 by Jeane Freeman on 23 July 2018, which specialist treatment centres there are in Scotland that cover all necessary services for patients with Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), including dermatology, ophthalmology, audiology, neurology and clinical psychology.
Answer
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an extremely rare disease affecting around 100 people across the UK. The treatment and supervision for this condition is highly specialised and is best delivered through specialist hospital services which can provide expert advice to fit the particular needs of the patient concerned.
Scottish Government contract with NHS England to ensure access for Scottish patients to highly specialised service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of body cameras in high-security hospitals such as Carstairs in Lanark to provide reliable evidence to support statements regarding incidents that involve vulnerable patients.
Answer
In Scotland, the only high-security hospital is The State Hospital in Carstairs, South Lanarkshire. The security arrangements in that hospital are the responsibility of the hospital itself and are decided upon in the context of ensuring staff and patient safety, and supporting effective incident reporting and investigation. The hospital is currently investigating the use of body cameras and their use and utility in similar environments in order to decide how such use may fit into supporting those aims.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 2 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a national inclusion policy for (a) vulnerable and (b) disabled students when planning class trips.
Answer
The Scottish Government is clear that school trips should be inclusive and this is supported by guidance. The Education Scotland guidance on outdoor learning https://education.gov.scot/Documents/cfe-through-outdoor-learning.pdf includes a section on inclusion and equality when planning to take groups outdoors.
Further, there was a recent consultation on guidance on Excellence and Equity: Guidance on the Presumption of Mainstreaming https://consult.gov.scot/supporting-learners/presumption-of-mainstreaming/user_uploads/sct04173422181.pdf and the document includes the expectation that all children and young people should have the opportunity to participate and engage as fully as possible in all aspects of school life, including school trips and extracurricular activity.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 July 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for requesting non-drug related items, such as protective clothing, to be available on prescription for people with rare genetic skin disorders, such as Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP).
Answer
Specialist UV protective clothing is not available on prescription for people with rare genetic skin disorders such as Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). XP is an extremely rare disease which affects roughly 100 people across the UK. Only drugs and devices included on the Scottish Drug Tariff can be prescribed by an appropriate health care professional.
The treatment and supervision for this condition is highly specialised and is best delivered through specialist hospital services which can provide expert advice to fit the particular needs of the patient concerned. High factor sunscreen, lip-screen and Vitamin D supplements are available on prescription for patients with XP who require them. All items are prescribed based on clinical judgment.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assessment has been made of the cost of converting all buildings in Scotland to net zero emissions by 2050 as set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map.
Answer
The Route Map for Energy Efficient Scotland contains a set of actions aimed at making Scotland’s existing buildings near zero carbon wherever feasible by 2050, thus necessitating Energy Efficient Scotland as a 20 year programme. Its vision is that by 2040 all our buildings are warmer, greener and more efficient. By improving the energy efficiency of homes and buildings we will remove poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the lifetime of the programme to 2040 we estimate that a 'whole economy' cost of £10 - £12 billion from public and private sources, will be require to be invested in improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 June 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 July 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the managers of (a) day-care centres and (b) after-school clubs to study for a degree-level qualification for lead practitioners without leaving their post.
Answer
Childhood practice awards are based on the benchmark Standard for Childhood Practice (revised 2015) and are one of the first work-based awards in Scotland where entry is based on practice qualifications and the experience people have gained in their role. Awards are designed to be completed in post with support from employers, enabling continued earning, and are offered as part time, full time, online distance learning, evening/weekend or a blend of options, allowing learners to choose the course provider most suited to their needs. Individual training providers also operate processes for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and provide credits to map towards the Standard. Additionally, funding support is available through the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for eligible individuals.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 June 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 July 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the managers of (a) day-care centres and (b) after school-clubs with a higher-level degree for lead practitioners to remain in post.
Answer
It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that managers and lead practitioners of day care of children centres delivering funded early learning and childcare provision, and out of school care centres either hold a Childhood Practice award at SCQF level 9 or above, or achieve this within the Scottish Social Services Councils (SSSC) granted registration period. Different qualifications lead to the award including the Professional Development Award (PDA) or BA Childhood Practice, all of which are work-based and available through a variety of flexible learning opportunities allowing learners to choose the course provider most suited to their needs. Where individuals hold alternative qualifications Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credits may be given to map towards the award.