Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-14414

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the findings of the assessment it carried out of the effects of the recent reduction on further education college budgets on (a) disabled people, (b) people with additional support requirements and (c) people entering college not directly from secondary school.

The Scottish Government is continuing to fund the college sector in a way which maintains the number of full-time equivalent student places. It is for each college itself to decide which courses to offer within the overall level of activity it agrees with the Scottish Funding Council. However we have made clear in guidance to the council that we expect colleges to continue to provide a balanced portfolio of courses which responds strategically to the different groups of learners in their region.

It has been absolutely necessary to ask colleges to prioritise young people to protect them from the long-term damage of unemployment. However, to ensure continued emphasis on other learners, we have made clear our expectation that colleges should use a substantial proportion of the recently-announced additional £61 million for the sector on courses for older learners (including part-time provision).

In the case of students with learning disabilities, I have asked the Funding Council to work with ENABLE, the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities and other partners to identify the best means of securing improvements in the number completing courses. I have further asked that the Funding Council develop guidance for the sector on improving the employability of this group of students. We recognise that some non-recognised qualifications have value as an access route or to meet the needs of people with disabilities, and we have asked the Funding Council to protect such provision.

Question reference: S4W-14415

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a reduction in the number of people with learning difficulties entering further education since 2007 and, if so, what its position is on this matter.

Our position has been to encourage the college sector to offer courses which have the best prospect of leading to a job either directly, or after further learning at a higher level. That applies regardless of whether or not the student has learning difficulties.

The full-time equivalent number of students receiving learning support in 2006-07 was 20,429, a figure which has since risen significantly to 25,077 in 2011-12. Measuring student numbers as ‘full-time equivalent’ reflects the level of activity which colleges channel towards each learner, which may differ significantly from person to person.

Question reference: S4W-14161

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the last three years.

The Scottish MS Register was launched in January 2010 with the aim of collecting information on all people registered in Scotland by a Consultant Neurologist receiving a new diagnosis of MS. The purpose of collecting this data is to provide information on the incidence rate of MS in Scotland (i.e. all new cases of MS diagnosed from January 2010 onwards).

The following table shows the number of people recorded with a new diagnosis of MS in Scotland in 2010 and 2011, reported by NHS board to the MS Register.

Year of Diagnosis

NHS Board	2010 Count	2011 Count
Ayrshire and Arran	17	27
Borders	6	6
Dumfries and Galloway	12	17
Fife	29	25
Forth Valley	17	23
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	98	90
Grampian	54	49
Highland	26	19
Lanarkshire	46	22
Lothian	59	54
Orkney	5	5
Shetland	4	6
Tayside	40	42
Western Isles	5	4

Source: ISD Scotland.

The MS Register does not include people who are diagnosed in a Paediatric Hospital. The Scottish MS Register Steering Group is currently working closely with services to improve the quality and accuracy of the data. It is intended that the 2012 data will be published in September 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14162

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people with multiple sclerosis.

Our top priority for people with MS is to ensure that the Neurological Standards published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland are implemented, they offer the best mechanism for achieving safe, effective and person centred care.

The standards will help ensure people get the earliest and most appropriate treatment locally, but with access to specialist services when needed. That’s why we previously provided boards with £1.2million, to develop improvement groups as the main vehicles to take them forward.

Progress is being monitored by the National Neurological Advisory Group. We will continue to work with NHS boards and the third sector to improve services for people with MS in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-14160

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have multiple sclerosis.

Question reference: S4O-02100

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on comments by the Chairman of the Yes Scotland campaign that a separate Scottish currency would give “more flexibility, more freedom” and “a wider range of economic levers” than its plans for a currency union.

Question reference: S4W-14295

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), (a) when and (b) to whom the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains will report.

Question reference: S4W-14294

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), whether the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains will review the practices of (a) undertakers, (b) hospitals and (c) crematoria both in private and public.

Question reference: S4W-14296

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), whether it will invite Dame Elish Angiolini to participate in the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains and, if so, what role it will ask her to take.

Question reference: S4W-14293

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00311 by Michael Matheson on 16 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18528), whether the independent commission to examine the policies and practices that are in place for handling ashes and cremated remains will have powers to call witnesses under oath.

Chamber and committees