- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what help is available for nurseries wishing to become partner nurseries.
Answer
‘Partner nurseries’ are providers contracted by the local authority to deliver the funded entitlement to early learning and childcare to 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds. They are also referred to as ‘funded providers’.
The first point of contact for a nursery wishing to become a funded provider should be their local authority. The local authority is responsible for local contracting arrangements. They will advise on the process for becoming a funded provider and the support available locally. We know that some providers have found contracting processes to be cumbersome, and we are working with local authorities to simplify these processes and reduce burdens on providers.
Nurseries wanting to know what will be required of providers delivering the expanded entitlement of 1140 hours can find out more from our National Standard, which sets out the criteria all providers across Scotland will have to meet from August 2020 onwards. The National Standard and our Delivery Support Plan, which sets out a range of actions to support both new and existing providers, can be found on our website: https://www2.gov.scot/Publications/2018/12/1980/downloads
https://www.gov.scot/publications/delivery-support-plan-early-learning-childcare-providers .
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the full revenue budget allocation to the Scottish Prison Service is for 2019-20, and how this compares with 2018-19.
Answer
The Scottish Prison Service’s budget for 2018-19 and 2019-20 is set out in the following table:
| | 18-19 (£m) | 19-20 (£m) |
Fiscal resource | 312.2 | 312.2 |
Non cash | 33.0 | 34.0 |
Capital | 16.2 | 47.5 |
Total | 361.4 | 393.7 |
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Scottish Prison Service carries out of prisoners when they are first convicted.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2019
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it takes of (a) cycling and (b) walking in its transport projections.
Answer
Scotland’s Transport Forecasts, published in October 2018, ( https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/43316/transport-forecasts-2018.pdf ) sets-out a number of future transport scenarios, which considers changes in population; economic growth; fuel cost and car ownership. In developing these forecasts, people’s trip making patterns are considered by all modes, including (a) cycling and (b) walking. These trip making patterns are also influenced by a range of factors including the distance to be travelled, the purpose of journey and the availability of a car to make that trip.
In addition, the development of the National Transport Strategy and the second Strategic Transport Projects Review has provided an opportunity to adopt a new Scenario Planning Process. This will include making forecasts of trip making by all main modes of travel including (a) cycling and (b) walking.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to open a railway station at Winchburgh; what finance is available for this, and when it would expect a station to be fully operational.
Answer
The proposed station at Winchburgh forms part of the Winchburgh Village Development, as approved by West Lothian Council, and the station design and construction costs are being fully funded by the developer.
The date of completion of construction is a matter for the developer. However, my officials are working closely with the developer and the rail industry to support progress with the station.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2019
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government has taken following the recent meeting between the health secretary and mesh survivors.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2019
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how the reduction to its funding for the Scottish Legal Aid Board programme, Making Advice Work, supports its commitment to reducing child poverty.
Answer
The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan was published in March 2018 and sets out cross-government action to contribute towards reductions in child poverty levels. The Plan, covering the period 2018-22, is backed by a multi-million pound package of investment, including a new £50 million Tackling Child Poverty Fund.
As part of our action to eradicate child poverty, on 2 November 2018 the Scottish Government launched the Financial Health Check service for low income families and older people. The service offers free personalised advice to ensure people can maximise their income and avoid paying the ‘poverty premium’, where the least well-off often pay more for basic goods and services. This new service is delivered by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland and backed by funding of £3.3 million over two years.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the impact of reductions to Scottish Legal Aid Board funding on child poverty.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2019
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 6 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it carries out of the user experience reported by deaf and hearing impaired people who do not use BSL when accessing NHS services, including those who use systems such as Minicom, Next Generation and Text Relay, and how it assures the quality of the services provided.
Answer
Ensuring that the views of people who use healthcare services are heard and can influence the design and delivery of healthcare services is a priority for the Scottish Government.
We have introduced a range of ways for people to tell us what they think about their NHS Service:
- We support NHS Boards to engage with the independent website Care Opinion, where people can share their stories of care in Scotland - whether good or bad - anonymously online and engage in constructive dialogue with healthcare service providers about how those services could be improved.
- We have funded and supported the Our Voice Citizens' Panel, which has enabled the voices of people to be heard on a range of important issues including how to make communication between health and care services and those that use them more inclusive.
- The Scottish Care Experience Survey Programme is a suite of national surveys which aims to provide local and national information on the quality of health and care services from the perspective of those using them. Surveys within this programme ask a series of demographic questions to allow further analysis of responses by different groups of people, including a question on long-term conditions, such as deafness and severe hearing impairment. However, these surveys do not capture data on whether individuals who report being deaf / having a severe hearing impairment do or do not use BSL as it is likely that the sample size for this specific sub-group would make the value of any analysis very limited.
Each NHS Board is committed to improving the services it provides, and we expect NHS Boards to listen to, and take account of, feedback from people about their experience of care.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government which universities offer degree courses in audiology, and what plans there are for other institutions to offer these.
Answer
Glasgow Caledonian University offer an integrated BSc in Clinical Physiology made up of four specialities, including Audiology. This course is unique, developed to provide a high quality honours degree which can meet the needs of the profession and of the NHS in Scotland. Individuals are employed by their NHS board and released for the educational component, specialising within their profession. Additionally, Queen Margaret University offers a 2 year Diploma in Higher Education in Hearing Aid Audiology. It is a matter for universities, as autonomous institutions, to make decisions over course provision.
