Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-02572

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places there are on (a) college and (b) university courses in sport for 2011-12.

Question reference: S4W-02571

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students (a) started and (b) completed a degree course in sport in 2010-11, broken down by institution.

The information requested is contained in the following tables.

Table 1: Entrants to Sport-related First Degree Courses at the Scottish Higher Education Institutions: 2009-10

Institution	Number of First Degree Entrants
Aberdeen, University of	35
Abertay Dundee, University of	130
Dundee, University of	15
Edinburgh Napier University	210
Edinburgh, University of	185
Glasgow Caledonian University	55
Glasgow, University of	60
Heriot-Watt University	65
Highlands and Islands, University of the	20
Robert Gordon University	55
Scottish Agricultural College	35
Stirling, University of	205
Strathclyde, University of	75
West of Scotland, University of the	130
Total	1,280

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Note: “Sport-related” includes students whose course aim subjects include “Sports Science” or whose course title indicates sport-related provision. This includes students studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in PE.

Table 2: Students Obtaining a Sport-related First Degree at Scottish Higher Education Institutions: 2009-10

Institution	Number of First Degree Entrants
Aberdeen, University of	30
Abertay Dundee, University of	60
Dundee, University of	10
Edinburgh Napier University	155
Edinburgh, University of	145
Glasgow Caledonian University	15
Glasgow, University of	70
Heriot-Watt University	30
Highlands and Islands, University of the	5
Robert Gordon University	35
Scottish Agricultural College	140
Stirling, University of	55
Strathclyde, University of	20
West of Scotland, University of the	125
Total	890

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency

Note: “Sport-related” includes students whose course aim subjects include “Sports Science” or whose course title indicates sport-related provision. This includes students studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in PE.

Question reference: S4W-02554

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on local authorities charging disabled people for bus services to local day care centres.

Under Section 87 (1A) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 a local authority may charge for certain adult non-personal domiciliary services it provides. In keeping with local accountability, it is for local authorities to decide their charging policies for these non-personal care services. The legislation requires that any charges levied should not be more than appears to be reasonably practicable for the recipient to pay, taking account of his or her other financial commitments.

Guidance issued to local authorities by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities recommends a consistent framework for charging and encourages councils to demonstrate that they are following best practice. The Scottish Government continues to support the aim of the guidance which is currently under review by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Question reference: S4W-02553

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was given to each local authority to enable the council tax freeze in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11 and what the increase in council revenue would have been without the freeze.

In 2007-08 under the previous administration there was no council tax freeze. The following table sets out how much each local authority was provided with to enable the council tax freeze over the period 2008-11.

Local Authority	Share of £70m 2008-09 (£m)	Share of £70m 2009-10 (£m)	Share of £70m 2010-11 (£m)
Aberdeen City	3.300	3.300	3.300
Aberdeenshire	3.533	3.533	3.533
Angus	1.391	1.391	1.391
Argyll and Bute	1.414	1.414	1.414
Clackmannanshire	0.648	0.648	0.648
Dumfries and Galloway	1.866	1.866	1.866
Dundee City	1.762	1.762	1.762
East Ayrshire	1.471	1.471	1.471
East Dunbartonshire	1.651	1.651	1.651
East Lothian	1.363	1.363	1.363
East Renfrewshire	1.388	1.388	1.388
Edinburgh (City of)	6.898	6.898	6.898
Eilean Siar	0.294	0.294	0.294
Falkirk	1.831	1.831	1.831
Fife	4.690	4.690	4.690
Glasgow City	7.783	7.783	7.783
Highland	3.235	3.235	3.235
Inverclyde	1.040	1.040	1.040
Midlothian	1.107	1.107	1.107
Moray	1.142	1.142	1.142
North Ayrshire	1.733	1.733	1.733
North Lanarkshire	3.672	3.672	3.672
Orkney Islands	0.231	0.231	0.231
Perth and Kinross	2.154	2.154	2.154
Renfrewshire	2.366	2.366	2.366
Scottish Borders	1.524	1.524	1.524
Shetland Islands	0.256	0.256	0.256
South Ayrshire	1.664	1.664	1.664
South Lanarkshire	3.922	3.922	3.922
Stirling	1.373	1.373	1.373
West Dunbartonshire	1.208	1.208	1.208
West Lothian	2.090	2.090	2.090
Scotland	70.000	70.000	70.000

Had there been no freeze in place over the period 2008-11, it would have been a matter for each local authority to determine any change in their council tax levels and the subsequent change in revenue.

Question reference: S4W-02555

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the term of funding for Families Outside from one to three years.

In 2010-11, Families Outside received £121,525 from the Scottish Government, to assist them in the service they provide to the families of those involved in the criminal justice system. They are receiving funding again in this year and that funding has been confirmed until March 2012. It is not possible at this point to confirm any details of either funding level or funding term beyond that date as the continuation of funding will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review process.

Question reference: S4W-01954

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 25 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service has a target for the average (a) length of visiting time and (b) number of visits made per month by a child visiting an imprisoned parent and, if so, when this was established and whether there are plans to review it.

Question reference: S4W-01956

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 25 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities there are at each prison to accommodate a child visiting an imprisoned parent and whether the Scottish Prison Service plans to create family visit centres.

I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The Scottish Prison Service currently has no plans to create family visit centres.

The following facilities are available in each prison.

Prison	Facilities
Aberdeen	New visit facility opened December 2010. Waiting area has children’s books and selection of toys for children aged 12 months - 5 years. Main complex has a baby / children’s changing area. Designated soft play area. A selection of hard back books. A selection of toys for different age groups. TV with games console
Addiewell	High Chairs in visit room for small babies. Full baby changing area with free nappies and wipes supplied. Baby bottle heaters for milk. Children’s crèche area with toys and games. (parent supervision). Children’s Activity Workers operate in Crèche Areas Friday – Sunday. Teenagers play zone area with video games.
Barlinnie	Visits waiting area has soft play area for children and TVs. Toybox provide a range of age appropriate activities and also supply a range of toys. Any prisoner with a newborn child is given his first visit with the child in the special visit room. Barlinnie provide Range of toys, games and writing and drawing materials. Organised family events include arts and craft activities.
Cornton Vale	Three visit areas available, Two visit areas for standard and separate mother and child bonding/access visits with a range of toys and books available. Purpose built St Margaret’s Family Centre with range of toys, games and books, outdoor play area. 3 Family contact development officers are available at all times.
Dumfries	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Baby changing facilities in waiting area. Range of toys and games and TV/DVD. Canteen service in visits area. Bonding visit facilities include range of games and writing and drawing materials.
Edinburgh	Facilities in Visitors waiting centre: Healthy Food and drinks & Children food available. Soft Play Area. Outdoor play area. Indoor Play area. Baby Changing Facilities. Information for children (Families Outside). Visits Room Facilities Changing facility Baby chairs available Children play area & Toys Television & Children DVDs Canteen facility for food & Drinks. Separate family bonding visits in main visit area.
Glenochil	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Childrens play area with toys. Range of games available e.g. jigsaws, board, writing and drawing materials, video games TV/DVD. Baby changing facilities with wet wipes etc. Family contact development officers are available at all times.
Greenock	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Range of games available e.g. jigsaws, board games, teddy bears, writing and drawing materials. Family contact officers available at all times. Special events e.g. Christmas parties.
Inverness	Children’s visits accommodated in normal visit area. Coffee and sweet machines in visit area. Children’s play area and toys. Highchairs available. Family contact development officers are available at all times. Social Work accompanied visits available.
Kilmarnock	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Fully equipped Shop / Tea Bar within the visits hall. Small soft play area for children - includes toys, television / DVD player, Playstation, Books, Drawing etc. Various events through year (big draw / BBQ / Sports Days / Festival Party’s) etc.
Open Estate	Links Centre doubles up as our visit room. Specific room within Links Centre which doubles as a play area for children Equipped with range of toys, games, writing and drawing materials, video games TV, CD player.
Perth	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Separate Children’s area in main visit area. Highchairs; play chairs, bouncing chairs and children’s tables and chairs, bottle warmers. Assortment of toys and craft items and TV/DVD. Toybox provide play sessions with children 3 times a week including storytelling, games and crafts. Child Cleaning Facilities include changing table and free nappies. Special events including children’s parties. Crossreach provide tea and coffee facilities, TV, craft corner and toy corner.
Peterhead	Separate Children’s area in main visit area. Weekend visits for children. Children’s soft play area. Range of toys, games and writing and drawing materials.
Polmont	Separate family bonding visits in main visit area. Children’s area in main visits room with range of toys, games, writing and drawing materials and TV/DVD. Waiting area has range of toys/games child friendly seating and blackboard. Special events including activity visits and Christmas parties.
Shotts	Separate family bonding visits in main visits area. Separate children’s area in main visits area. Range of toys, games, writing and drawing materials. Video games available during bonding visits.

Question reference: S4W-01955

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 25 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) length of visiting time and (b) number of visits made per month are for a child visiting an imprisoned parent, also broken down by prison.

Question reference: S4W-01776

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it protects bus services for (a) older, (b) disabled and (c) vulnerable people and what its position is on charging them for using these services to care centres.

The Scottish Government is committed to bus services in Scotland. We are working with local government partners and bus operators to maintain and improve bus services. The Scottish Government is providing funding to the bus industry of over £240 million in the current financial year.

We are providing concessionary travel for older and disabled people through the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People and discounted travel for younger people through the Young Person’s Concessionary Scheme. We have no plans to change the current eligibility criteria for either of the schemes.

Question reference: S4W-01775

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) looked after children are there and (b) children are living below the poverty line, also broken down by local authority.

At 31 July 2010 there were 15,892 looked after children in Scotland.

The Households Below Average Income dataset show 20% of children live in households below the poverty threshold in Scotland. These figures cannot be broken down to Local Authority level in Scotland.

However, the percentage of children in each local authority that live in households dependent on out of work benefits or Child Tax Credit more than the family element is a combination of benefits and tax credits which are a proxy for living in a low income household. Figures can be found via the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/CoreAnalysis#a13.

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