Chamber and committees

On the 27 December 2013, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on promoting responsible dog ownership. The consultation seeks views from anyone with an interest on possible additional measures to promote responsible dog ownership, such as microchipping, muzzling and dog licensing, as well as views on whether current dog fouling legislation is being used effectively.

The consultation seeks views only on the principle of whether the introduction of a dog licensing system should be considered. Once the consultation is complete, we will consider the views offered carefully. If there was strong evidence that a licensing system would be advantageous, then the practical implications of introducing a licensing system, e.g. how much a dog licence would cost, how the revenue raised would be used etc., would be assessed and would likely require a further consultation exercise.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19414 on 24 February 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

It is essential that we take the time to get the right system to allow service users to make complaints, a system that is clear, accessible and fair, where service users can feel that their complaints have been properly heard and investigated.

The Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014.

The Scottish Government is working to further strengthen the procedures for social care complaints by working closely with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, COSLA and other stakeholders to ensure that these complaints systems are robust, fair and accessible.

The police in Scotland operate independently of ministers and any decisions on the future of control rooms, is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

I have been informed by Police Scotland on the proposals for the closure of control rooms.

The available information on the number of attacks on emergency workers reported to the police was given in S4W-18459 on 13 December 2013. The available information on the number of prosecutions in Scottish courts was given in S4W-18460 on 13 December 2013.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The information held centrally on the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 does not specify the type of emergency worker involved in the case.

The information provided in these earlier answers are from the statistics collected centrally on crimes and offences recorded by the police and on those proceeded against in court. The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are however not directly comparable for a number of reasons. A single crime or offence recorded by the police may have more than one perpetrator, or alternatively, an individual may be convicted of several cases of the same crime. There is the possibility that the crime or offence recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings, or a crime or offence may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings not concluded until a later year. Crimes and offences alleged to have been committed by children under 16 years old are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than through the courts.

Responsibility for properties, rights, liabilities and obligations of the former police services transferred to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on 1 April 2013.

This was in accordance with the principles and transfer schemes as agreed by the Police and Fire Reform Property, Rights, Liabilities and Obligations Project Board and all transfer schemes were subject to full consultation with local authorities, COSLA all the former police joint boards.

Police Scotland has in place a property asset management plan 2013-16 and it is for them and the SPA to determine the future of the police estate.

I have had no discussions regarding the sale of assets paid for by local authorities under the closure of police control rooms and I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19464 on 24 February 2014.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 introduced a new and specific right for patients to complain, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback. A review of the NHS complaints procedure was undertaken to meet the provisions of the Act. Good Practice Guidance was issued to NHS boards, and a programme of training and education has been provided to NHS staff and contractors, in partnership with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).

The Act established the independent Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) to provide help and support to people to give feedback about their healthcare.

The Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014.

Local authorities publish their complaints procedures for social care on their websites.

The Scottish Government is working to further strengthen these procedures by working with SPSO, COSLA and other stakeholders to produce recommendations for updating the complaints procedures for social work, and will continue to work towards ensuring that the system is fair, clear and accessible for all.

The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 introduced a new and specific right for patients to complain, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback. A review of the NHS complaints procedure was undertaken to meet the provisions of the Act. Good Practice Guidance was issued to NHS boards, and a programme of training and education has been provided to NHS staff and contractors, in partnership with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).

The Act established the independent Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) to provide help and support to people to give feedback about their healthcare.

The Scottish Health Council is currently undertaking a review of NHS boards’ handling of feedback and complaints. This will report late spring 2014.

Local authorities publish their complaints procedures for social care on their websites.

The Scottish Government is working to further strengthen these procedures by working closely with the SPSO, COSLA and other stakeholders to ensure that complaints about social care services are handled in a clear, accessible and fair manner.

Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland sets out the intention to establish a Scottish Broadcasting Service, founded initially on the staff and assets of the BBC in Scotland, operating in a joint venture with the BBC. That would include what is now the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which would then come within the Scottish Broadcasting Service.