Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-39214

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in establishing the efficacy of a social norms approach to drug and alcohol education and preventive work in schools and colleges.

The Scottish Government is not establishing the efficacy of a social norms approach to drug and alcohol education and preventative work in schools and colleges. The Scottish Government is aware of ongoing research and debate, such as the work of Scotland''s Futures Forum on Approaches to Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland. Under Curriculum for Excellence learners develop their understanding of the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs including recognition of the impact of popular culture, the media and peer groups on their feelings and actions.

Question reference: S3W-39625

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 18 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any licensing board has refused (a) a licence, (b) a renewal of a licence or (c) an extension of floor space sought as part of extending a licence since the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force.

Question reference: S3W-39211

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the circle of care proposal in Melting the Iceberg of Scotland’s Drug and Alcohol Problem: Report of the Independent Enquiry.

The Scottish Government welcomes this independent report and its key messages that recovery from drug and alcohol misuse is absolutely possible and that every person in Scotland has a part to play in reviewing their attitudes and behaviours and by contributing to the wider debate about how we collectively address these problems.

Our approach to supporting the recovery of those with existing problems is firmly focused on the needs of the individual, including their housing, mental health, family relationships and employment needs. We will continue to work with the alcohol and drug partnerships, who commission local services, to ensure that individuals are empowered to make decisions on their care and to involve others, including family members, in supporting their recovery.

Question reference: S3W-39622

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2011
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards are implementing the clinical standards for neurological health services.

Question reference: S3O-12987

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met officials from NHS Forth Valley and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S3W-39192

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31997 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2010, what the (a) maximum, (b) average and (c) median waiting time is for assessment of people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre.

The waiting times for people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service are as follows:

(a) Maximum waiting time	56 weeks
(b) Average waiting time	26.4 weeks
(c) Median waiting time	27 weeks

The above figures are based on waiting time from date of referral to first appointment offered between 1 February 2010 and 31 January 2011.

Question reference: S3W-39037

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all organisations and GPs involved with problem drug misusers now use SMR25a and SMR25b forms and what percentage of each is completed electronically.

Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) 25a submissions can be made using either paper forms or by submitting an electronic form to NHS Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. SMR25b submissions can only be completed electronically.

At present, ISD Scotland gathers submissions of SMR25a (initial assessment) and SMR25b (follow-up assessment) forms from all services that provide a comprehensive or specialist assessment of a client''s care/treatment needs in relation to drug misuse.

For those services that meet this definition:

a. Statutory (includes all NHS and local authority services) and voluntary drug treatment services:

SMR25a forms are received from all statutory and voluntary drug treatment services in Scotland. Approximately 70% of these SMR25a submissions are completed electronically.

In Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Aberdeen City approximately 65% and 75% respectively of statutory and voluntary drug treatment services currently submit SMR25a forms electronically to ISD Scotland.

Outwith Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Aberdeen City, approximately 95% of statutory and voluntary drug treatment services currently submit SMR25a forms electronically to ISD.

SMR25b forms are only submitted (electronically) by services who are also submitting electronic SMR25a forms. The vast majority of services that are submitting SMR25a forms electronically are also submitting SMR25b forms.

ISD is working with data providers throughout Scotland to ensure that, as soon as possible, all services that provide a comprehensive or specialist assessment of a client''s care/treatment needs in relation to drug misuse are submitting electronic SMR25a and SMR25b forms to ISD Scotland.

b. Primary care providers (including GPs):

SMR25a paper form submissions are received from a limited number of primary care providers. No electronic SMR25a or SMR25b submissions are received from primary care providers.

ISD will shortly be following up its initial contact with GPs with the aim of reaching a point where all relevant GPs are submitting SMR25a paper forms to ISD. After this has been achieved ISD will work with these GPs with the aim of reaching a point where they are all submitting SMR25a and SMR25b data electronically.

c. Prisons:

Since 1 April 2010, drug treatment services within all 13 publicly funded Scottish prisons make electronic SMR25a and SMR25b submissions. At present, the two private prisons in Scotland do not currently submit any SMR25a or SMR25b data to ISD.

ISD will shortly be engaging with the drug treatment services in the two private prisons with the aim of reaching a point where they are submitting SMR25a and SMR25b data electronically.

Source: ISD Scotland.

Ref: IR2011-00217.

Question reference: S3W-38685

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to transfer staff from Waterwatch Scotland to Consumer Focus Scotland and, if so, how the interests of consumers protected by Waterwatch Scotland will be maintained, in light of the UK Government’s proposal to abolish Consumer Focus.

Staff from Waterwatch Scotland would be transferred to Consumer Focus Scotland on the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. A commencement order for these provisions can only be made after the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011. To ensure the smooth transfer of business and staff the Scottish Government has agreed a planned transfer date of 1 July 2011 with Waterwatch Scotland, Consumer Focus Scotland and the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman.

The UK Government will shortly be launching a consultation on its proposals for consumer advocacy and has made clear that Consumer Focus will continue to function well into 2012. The Scottish Government is in discussions with the UK Government and Consumer Focus Scotland as to the best way to maintain strong advocacy on a range of consumer interests, including water.

Question reference: S3W-39190

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33209 by Shona Robison on 15 April 2010, what funds were included in the allocation to local authorities for Choose Life programmes in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and has been for 2010-11 and how much each authority spent in each year.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-14128 and S3W-14129 on 23 June 2008. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The information regarding how much each authority spent in each year is not held centrally. Under the single outcome agreement it is a matter for each local authority to decide spend on the basis of local circumstances and local need, within the context of the wide range of local authority services each provide.

Question reference: S3W-39210

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2011
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 February 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in establishing the (a) incidence and (b) prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

An expert clinician, Dr Maggie Watts, Public Health Consultant with Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board has been appointed to help develop a policy on addressing foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This will be developed in partnership with policy colleagues from across the Scottish Government and will focus mainly on the prevention of alcohol exposed pregnancies.

The Scottish Government is funding a four-year surveillance research project in children under six years of age to estimate the incidence and epidemiology of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. The project is being carried out by the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh.