- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund initiatives such as the project set up by Facilitate Scotland which offers telephone counselling for people with mental health illnesses.
Answer
The Scottish Executive currently funds a range of voluntary bodies in the mental health arena which provide various types of support, including telephone helplines, for people with mental health difficulties. In addition, we are currently planning the introduction of a telephone helpline for people with low mood and depression, who may be at risk of suicide, which will help put them in touch with appropriate services offered by the statutory and voluntary sectors.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the current services available for young people who have been diagnosed with a mental health illness.
Answer
The Executive has already commissioned the Public Health Institute for Scotland to conduct a national review of child and adolescent mental health services. Their report is due later this year. In addition separate studies of adolescent psychiatry out-patient services, depression among adolescents and adolescent psychosis have been funded. Together, the findings will inform future decisions on the best organisation of services for this important care group. Our expert Child Health Support Group has been visiting NHS boards to offer support in strengthening local services for children and young people. Their national conference later this month will include examples of good practice in child and adolescent mental health services.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 8 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21310 by Lewis Macdonald on 16 January 2002, why there has been a delay in the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to transfer legislative competence to the Parliament in respect of the promotion and construction of railways being laid and brought into force.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Executive and from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions have been working steadily through the details of implementing the McLeish settlement since devolution. Orders implementing previous parts of it have been agreed by both Parliaments. This order constitutes the final step and I expect it to be made in the first half of this year.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 1 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20917 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 January 2002, what specific issues were discussed at its meetings last year with representatives of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority.
Answer
In the last year the Executive has met bilaterally with the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority to discuss the following issues.
Issue |
Clyde & Western Isles Ferries Tendering Exercise |
Larkhall-Milngavie Rail Link |
Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) |
Public Transport Fund and SPT capital programme |
Rail Access to Airports Study |
Review of Strategic Planning |
Special Rail Grant allocation for 2001-02 |
SPT funding |
Traveline |
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 30 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation paper on mental health services for deaf and deafblind people by its Principal Medical Officer will be made available to the Parliament.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21433 om 29 January 2002.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what amount has been automatically deducted from students' travel expenses awarded by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland in each of the last three years and how this amount is calculated.
Answer
In the last three years, the amount which the Awards Agency deducts from travel claims has been as follows:
Session | Continuing Scheme (i.e students who entered HE before 1998-99) | New Scheme (i.e. students who entered HE for the first time in 1998-99 or later) |
1998-99 | £70 | £70 |
1999-2000 | £80 | £155 |
2000-01 | £80 | £155 |
Prior to 1999-2000, the travel element for all students was calculated as a percentage of the whole student support package available. In session 1999-2000, the maximum living cost support for new students entering higher education was increased. The increase included a revision of the amount within the student loan that is deemed to be for travel expenses and which is therefore deducted from the total amounts claimed by students. This resulted in the figures quoted above.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance the NHS 24 helpline will give to those with a mental illness.
Answer
NHS 24 recognises that there is a real need to provide support for people with a mental health illness and have taken this into account in developing the clinical decision software that will be used by its nurses. Clinical algorithms have been developed for crisis, suicide, depression, confusion and many other conditions. These have also been reviewed under NHS 24's quality review process by a range of clinicians which have included doctors and mental health specialist nurses.NHS 24 recognises the importance of ensuring that their nurses have the skill set and competency base to support patients with mental health problems. Within the core induction and training for NHS 24 nurses, they have invested a significant resource towards mental health training. This comprehensive training programme has been specifically developed for NHS 24 by the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health in conjunction with Abertay University.NHS 24's Health Information Service will also provide information to people on the mental health and support services which are available at a local and national level.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Ministry of Defence regarding the provision of helicopter search and rescue services within Scotland and in particular at HMS Gannet.
Answer
None. The Executive, which is consulted on civil search and rescue matters, but for which the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions has lead responsibility, understands that MoD's plans will not affect civil search and rescue capabilities in and around Scotland.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist units, professionals and additional resources are available in each health board area for deaf and deafblind people diagnosed with a mental illness.
Answer
NHS boards and local authorities will decide what resources to allocate to any specialist provision for this care group reflecting the needs of their area. On an individual level, assessments should always take account of the whole person with care responses wherever possible matching all needs. The particular needs of those with sensory difficulties underline the importance of the individual aspect to care design and the key supportive role for advocates, carers and family.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria must be met in order for an application for funding from the Chief Scientist Office to be successful.
Answer
Research proposals to the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) are assessed on the basis of their scientific quality and potential relevance to the health of the Scottish people. The principal research grant holder must be a permanent salaried member of staff in a Scottish institution and the administering body must be based in Scotland.Projects must also be able to demonstrate "health gain" and potential to improve health care. Such assessments are made by expert peer group and committee review.Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their research idea with CSO at an early stage, so that they can develop their proposals in a way that most directly addresses Scotland's public health and health services research needs.Comprehensive information and guidance on how to apply for a CSO research grant is available on the CSO website at:
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso/.
