- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used in the decision that children younger than 14, as opposed to any other age, must be sent to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire for treatment of their spinal injuries.
Answer
Since its designation as anational service in 1992, the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit hasbeen able to admit children aged 12 years or over. This may be related to themove from primary to secondary education. It may also avoid any difficultieswhich might otherwise arise later if there were a need to make a transitionfrom paediatric to adult services.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to direct monies saved by any generic substitution of branded drugs into the provision of drugs for the treatment of cancer, such as Herceptin.
Answer
NHS boards are able to deploytheir overall revenue allocations to the best advantage of their local population.This includes any savings resulting from generic prescribing.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its policy of inclusion is having on mainstream pupils and whether it will undertake a re-assessment of its policy and, if so, when.
Answer
The Scottish Executivecommissioned the Scottish Centre for Research in Education to evaluate theimpact of the legislation. Their report, which was published in 2006, found noevidence that mainstreaming has a negative effect on pupil attainment and that,with proper preparation and support, inclusion is beneficial for all.
We are committed to ensuringthat all children receive the support they need in our schools and we will takewhat steps are necessary to ensure we achieve this. These steps includeconsideration of an inquiry into the operation and implementation ofmainstreaming policy.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to phase out Standard Grade examinations, in line with action taken in East Renfrewshire and the private sector.
Answer
As part of our manifesto commitmentto provide leadership in promoting the Curriculum for Excellence agenda, we willconsider how the future qualifications system should be structured to best meetthe needs of all Scottish students. This will include consideration of future arrangementsat SCQF levels 4 and 5 (Standard Grade Credit and General/Intermediate 1 and 2).
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under the age of 16 ran away from home and (a) were missing for more than 24 hours, (b) were believed to have been physically or sexually abused while away from home, (c) remained missing after seven days and (d) were never found in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer
This information is not heldcentrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage more teachers to take the Chartered Teacher qualification.
Answer
Chartered Teacher alreadyoffers teachers substantial salary rewards in return for advanced learningwhich can lead to improved classroom practice. The scheme is currently beingreviewed to examine possible improvements. In the meantime universities reportincreasing interest in Chartered Teacher modules, in part as new generations ofteachers become eligible for entry.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 5 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) local authority housing was owned and (b) total housing debt was accrued by each authority in the last year for which figures are available.
Answer
This information is publishedin tables 3 and 14 of the statistical bulletin
Local authority housing incomeand expenditure 2004-05 to 2006-07. This is available online in the publicationssection of the housing statistics branch reference site:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/PubLAHousingIncomeExpend.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a new entrants scheme for farming.
Answer
We propose to include a newentrants measure for farmers in the new Scotland rural development programme, which we hope to launchtowards the end of this year.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many special advisers it appointed in each of the first two sessions of the Parliament; what their specific responsibilities were, and what the total annual costs were of the posts.
Answer
At the end of the first Parliament there were nine special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £602,449 and at the end of the second Parliament there were 12 special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £854,376. Both cost figures include ERNIC and employer pension contributions.
The specific role and duties of special advisers is set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at Schedule 1 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37226).
The following is the original answer (published on 5 June 2007); see below
At the end of the first Parliament there were nine special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £602,449 and at the end of the second Parliament there were 12 special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £851,520. Both cost figures include ERNIC and employer pension contributions.
The specific role and duties of special advisers is set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at Schedule 1 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37226).
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive which executive agencies and quangos it established during each of the first two sessions of the Parliament, also showing the remits of each body.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-134 on 5 June 2007. Information on the remits of non-domestic publicbodies is provided in the directory of Scottish public bodies on the Scottish Executivewebsite at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
