Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-09164

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been each year under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering, and what proportion of those convicted received a (a) disqualification and (b) deprivation order.

The available information is given in the following table.

People Convicted under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006¹

Section of Act:	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
SECTION 19(1)	0	5	14	17	13
SECTION 19(2)	2	38	51	87	58
SECTION 19(3)	0	1	0	0	1
SECTION 20(1)(A)	0	2	0	0	1
SECTION 20(1)(B)	0	1	2	0	1
SECTION 20(2)	0	0	3	1	2
SECTION 24	0	6	6	8	5
SECTION 25(7)	0	0	1	0	0
SECTION 29(1)(A)(B)	0	0	0	1	0
SECTION 29(2)(A) & (B)	1	7	2	4	1
SECTION 40(11)	0	0	1	3	2
All	3	60	80	121	84
Percentage receiving disqualification orders¹,²	0.0%	8.3%	6.3%	14.9%	15.5%

Note:

1. Where main charge.

2. Data on disqualification orders are not published routinely as part of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland bulletin, however, the data has been analysed for accuracy. The data is gathered from the same source as the convictions data.

There was no deprivation orders issued.

Information for 2011-12 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2011-12 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be published in November 2012.

The dates of all Scottish Government Official and National Statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Question reference: S4O-01238

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been given to assist areas identified by the Scottish Funding Council as having low participation rates in further education.

Question reference: S4O-01063

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what forums exist for it to represent Scottish international trade interests to governments in export markets.

Question reference: S4W-07133

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it (a) is taking, (b) could take, and (c) will take to raise awareness of Dystonia amongst public sector agencies and wider society.

NHSScotland has invested in online resources such as the NHS Inform website, which provides clear and accessible information on the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of dystonia. This can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/Health-Library/Articles/D/Dystonia/introduction.

People living with dystonia also have an important role in raising awareness of their condition and can often be the wider public’s first source of information. This role is being strengthened through the Neurological Alliance of Scotland’s “Neurological Voices” programme which prepares adults living with neurological conditions and their carers to get involved in developing local healthcare services. To date the Scottish Government has invested over £100,000 in the Neurological Voices programme, to help raise awareness and ensure that the patient voice is heard.

In 2010, we provided the Dystonia Society with a Section 16B grant of £46,500 over three years to assist with disseminating the Society’s self management course which supports people living with dystonia to self manage the condition and play a more active role in discussions with health and social care professionals about their care.

To help raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals the Dystonia Society has launched an online training module for GPs through the British Medical Journal’s learning programme, with more than 3,000 healthcare professionals accessing the module in the first year. In addition, a “Guide to Good Practice for healthcare professionals” was launched in October of last year. The guide was developed with the help of leading Neurologists, Dystonia Nurses and therapists and is being issued to treatment centres throughout Scotland.

We also have a good working relationship with the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, of which the Dystonia Society is a member, which aims to raise awareness of all neurological conditions and which has been a key partner in Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Neurological Standards Improvement Programme.

Question reference: S4W-07134

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to shorten the diagnosis time for Dystonia, which, according to the Dystonia Society, can take up to four years.

We want to ensure that everyone living with a neurological condition, including dystonia, are diagnosed as quickly as possible so they can receive access to care and support they need, when they need it.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has developed clinical standards for neurological health services, including generic standards which are applicable to people living with dystonia. Implementation of the standards dealing with the early part of the patient journey, including access to specialist neurological services, will help to ensure people with dystonia receive a timely diagnosis.

We have provided NHS boards with funding of around £1.2 million over the last two years to assist them in developing local improvement groups as the main vehicles for implementing the standards and driving further improvements within neurological services across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is also actively consulting with the Scottish population on a draft UK plan on rare diseases to help understand how the healthcare needs of people living with rare conditions can be met. The consultation can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/02/consultation-rare-diseases/.

Question reference: S4W-07135

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place across all NHS boards for diagnosing and treating Dystonia.

A key way of improving healthcare services is by implementing clinical standards. Healthcare Improvement Scotland has developed clinical standards for neurological health services, including generic standards which are applicable to people living with dystonia. Implementation of the standards dealing with the early part of the patient journey, including access to specialist neurological services, will help to ensure people with dystonia receive timely diagnosis and treatment.

We have provided NHS boards with funding of around £1.2 million over the last two years to assist them in developing local improvement groups as the main vehicles for implementing the standards and driving further improvements within neurological services across Scotland. Good progress is being made, although there is more to do.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s two-year Neurological Service Improvement programme came to an end recently in March. We wish to see NHS boards continue to work together with the voluntary sector to build on the progress made and put service improvement on a sustainable footing.

The Scottish Government has therefore provided the Neurological Alliance of Scotland, of which the Dystonia Society is a member, with £40,000, to establish a National Advisory Group, which we hope will oversee and support boards as they take their improvement plans forward.

Question reference: S4O-01044

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided to community-led regeneration in South Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-07045

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to alter the speed limit for HGVs on A-roads and, if so, for what reason.

Question reference: S4W-07044

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Road Haulage Association regarding raising the speed limit for HGVs on A-roads.

Question reference: S4W-07043

Asked by: Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the speed limits on A-roads.

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