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: S4W-26233

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 1 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-02890 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 June 2015 (Official Report, c.20), what action it is taking to raise awareness of the dangers of diabetes among (a) the general public and (b) people at increased risk of developing the condition.

We want to ensure that people with diabetes are diagnosed as soon as possible and supported to manage their condition to minimise the risk of complications.

This is reflected in our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in November 2014, which includes the prevention and early detection of diabetes as one of its main priorities.

The plan contains a specific action to develop and implement an appropriate framework for assessing the risk of diabetes for people currently undiagnosed to support early identification, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. This framework will facilitate targeted lifestyle advice for those at highest risk and will be developed in line with the current evidence base including Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network guidelines 115 and 116.

This work will complement our wider health strategy to address the underlying risk factors associated with diabetes by reducing obesity, encouraging healthy eating and promote healthier living across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-26091

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the recent Midlothian and Borders Tourism Destination Audit, what work it is undertaking with (a) local authorities, (b) businesses, (c) economic development agencies and (d) tourism agencies to produce an economic strategy for the reinstatement of the Waverley railway line.

The Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and the relevant local authorities of City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council have already been working together to fully realise the tourism benefits of the new Waverley line. As part of that partnership working, there have been regular meetings and events.

In addition, on 17 November 2014, the then First Minister announced the establishment of the Borders Railway, Maximising the Impact: A Blueprint for the Future. Led by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with VisitScotland, Scottish Borders Council and Transport Scotland, the Blueprint established three workstreams to look at how the Borders Railway would transform the tourism potential of the region. These workstreams are:

1. Great Places for Investing and Working

2. Great Communities for Living and Learning

3. Great Destinations to Visit.

A copy of the blueprint is available using the url:http://www.visitscotland.org/pdf/Borders-Railway-Blueprint.pdf

The last meeting of the leadership group, who meet monthly to review progress on agreed action plans was on 29 May 2015.

The Midlothian and Scottish Borders – Tourism Destination Audit 2015, which was commissioned by both Midlothian Council and Scottish Borders Council and published on 9 June 2015, helpfully provides a wide range of information and suggestions for partnership working. In particular it highlights that ‘Collaboration and coordination will be essential to ensure business development opportunities arising from the Borders Railway are realised. Collaboration will be needed between different sectors of the tourism industry, different communities and private sectors.’

In addition to their ongoing partnership working with relevant public bodies and key industry stakeholders, and regular updates to the industry, VisitScotland has already launched a Borders Railway industry toolkit on 28 May 2015.

This toolkit includes free-to-use marketing tools for businesses, such as promotional wording, banners, images, and the Borders Railway logo, as well as providing information to businesses about other resources and support to help promote themselves to potential new domestic and international visitors. A copy of the toolkit is available using the url:

http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/advice_materials/toolkits/borders_railway_toolkit.aspx

The Borders Railway opens on Sunday 6 September 2015 and plans for a large scale two day event to mark this are being developed by Transport Scotland. Partners including VisitScotland and local authorities are contributing to these ideas with the intention to maximise the opportunity to showcase the region.

Scottish Enterprise is funding and managing the Borders Railway Blueprint Leaders Group, a consultancy commission which is assessing the potential market for a Borders Railway Tourism Train Experience (TTE), based upon experiences of existing TTEs elsewhere, and the scale and nature of the Edinburgh tourism market. A Borders steam train taster service will be piloted for six weeks from the opening of the Borders Railway in September 2015, and an evaluation of this service will also inform future decision-making around TTEs.

Question reference: S4W-26090

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the recent Midlothian and Borders Tourism Destination Audit, whether it will hold a meeting of local authorities, businesses, economic development agencies and tourism agencies with the aim of maximising the economic potential for businesses in Midlothian and the Borders of the reinstatement of the Waverley railway line.

Question reference: S4W-26089

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the recent Midlothian and Borders Tourism Destination Audit, what support and guidance it will offer to (a) local authorities, (b) economic development agencies and (c) tourism agencies to maximise the economic potential of the reinstatement of the Waverley railway line for local businesses in Midlothian and the Borders.

Question reference: S4W-26088

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the recent Midlothian and Borders Tourism Destination Audit, when it last met (a) local authorities, (b) businesses, (c) economic development agencies and (d) tourism agencies to discuss the economic opportunities from the reinstatement of the Waverley railway line for businesses in Midlothian and the Borders.

Question reference: S4W-26004

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the working conditions of (a) paid and (b) unpaid carers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26008 on 19 June 2015 regarding the pay of the social care workforce.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with COSLA, Scottish Care and other partners to consider how to improve pay and working conditions in the care at home sector.

With regard to unpaid carers, one of the national health and wellbeing outcomes is to ensure that they are supported to look after their own health and wellbeing, including to reduce any negative impact of their caring role on their own health and well-being.

The Carers (Scotland) Bill will ensure better and more consistent support for carers and young carers so that they can continue to care, if they so wish, in better health and to have a life alongside caring.

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.

Question reference: S4W-26007

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates unpaid carers save health and social care services each year.

Question reference: S4W-26008

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the pay of carers.

Question reference: S4W-26002

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support and guidance it provides to unpaid carers to ensure that they are informed of their rights.

The redesigned Care Information Scotland service, launched on 5 June 2015 by NHS24 and funded by the Scottish Government, includes information and advice on carers' rights.

The NHS Board Carer Information Strategy funding of nearly £34 million from 2008 to 2016 is, amongst other things, funding carers centres and other projects to help inform carers about their rights.

We intend to produce a carers rights charter for publication and dissemination in 2016.

Provisions in The Carers (Scotland) Bill will ensure that local authorities establish and maintain information and advice services for their areas. This includes information and advice about the rights of carers.

Question reference: S4W-26006

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to ensure that (a) social care and (b) healthcare support workers are given sufficient training to obtain the necessary vocational qualifications.

It is the responsibility of employers of social service workers, whether public, voluntary or private, to support and assist workers to achieve the qualifications required for the role they undertake and for their continuing professional development – in line with the Code of Practice for Employers issued by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

The SSSC, which is a Scottish Government non-departmental public body, provides guidance and tools for social services employers to help them understand the training required for their employees and also to support employees in their training. The SSSC also provides information on potential sources of funding to assist workers with the cost of undertaking qualifications.

NHS boards are the principal employers of the majority of healthcare support workers (HCSW) in Scotland, and they are responsible for ensuring their staff have the appropriate training necessary to carry out their roles safely and effectively. Since December 2010, HCSW joining NHSScotland boards must achieve Mandatory Induction Standards and comply with a Code of Conduct set by the Scottish Government. The joint Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) publication, A Guide to Healthcare Support Worker Education and Role Development, sets out the nationally agreed educational expectations and core skills for HCSW in clinical roles at levels two, three and four of the NHSScotland Career Framework. NES has established a £20,000 supporting learning fund for HCSW and individuals responsible for the development of HCSW within NHSScotland.