Monday 20 August 2012

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Enterprise and Environment Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the , further to the answer to question S4W-02170 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 September 2011, what (a) meetings, (b) conferences and (c) public events the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended since that date regarding the development or implementation of its cities strategy. Holding answer issued: 16 August 2012 (S4W-08795) Nicola Sturgeon: Since 5 September 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended: (a) the following meetings [with external participants]: 20 September Leader of Stirling Council (Councillor Graham Houston) 27 October Leader of Dundee City Council (Councillor Ken Guild) 23 November COSLA spokesperson for Regeneration and Sustainable Development (Councillor Alison Hay) 9 February Ross Martin, Centre for Scottish Public Policy 21 March Scottish Cities Alliance Leadership Group 13 June Chairman of VisitScotland (Dr Mike Cantlay)

and (b) the following conferences: 28 September Supporting Scotland’s Cities: Empowering People and Creating Opportunities; Glasgow 28 September Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference; Edinburgh 24 November Cities and the Economy, a Fraser of Allander/Herald Group Seminar; Glasgow 16 December COSLA Convention; Edinburgh

These engagements have had a specific focus on cities. While there have been no events targeted exclusively at a public audience, a number of the conferences have been open to the public. In addition to these engagements, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy led the debate on the Agenda for Cities on 19 January 2012.

Governance and Communities Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) modern apprenticeships and (b) work experience or student places (i) it and (ii) each of its agencies has offered in each of the last three years. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08723) Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of (a) its and (b) its agencies’ workforce is made up of young people. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08724) Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many under-25- year-olds it (a) employs and (b) has employed in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) permanent and (ii) agency staff. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08754) Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many under-25- year-olds each of its agencies (a) employs and (b) has employed in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) permanent and (ii) agency staff. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08755) The Scottish Government provided a corrected version of this answer (published 23 August 2012). http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_ChamberDesk/WA20120823.pdf. Angela Constance: This answer includes answers to questions S4W-08724, S4W-08754 and S4W- 08755. The following numbers of modern apprenticeships, work experience and student placements have been appointed in the last three years. 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Paid Unpaid Paid Unpaid Modern Paid Unpaid Students Students & Students Students & Apprentice Students Students & Work Work Work experience experience experience Scottish 34 58 23 39 17 17 15 Government Accountant in 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 Bankruptcy Disclosure 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scotland Education n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 0 3 Scotland HM 0 0 1 1 n/a n/a n/a Inspectorate of Education National 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a Archives of Scotland Student 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 Awards Agency Scotland Scottish 14 1 0 1 0 0 0 Public Pensions Agency Social Work 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a Inspection Agency Scottish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Housing Regulator Transport 5 1 1 0 0 5 0 Scotland Total 55 68 25 42 26 23 18

Prior to August 2012 unpaid work experience and unpaid student placements were not differentiated on the Scottish Government HR system. The following table gives the proportion of the workforce which was made up of young people on 31 March 2012. “Young people” is defined as those staff aged 24 years or younger on 31 March. % of Workforce Scottish Government 2% 5% Disclosure Scotland 3% 4% Student Awards Agency Scotland 8% Scottish Public Pensions Agency 7% Scottish Housing Regulator 0% Transport Scotland 1% Note: Permanent and fixed-term employees only. This table gives the number of staff employed on a permanent basis in Core Scottish Government and agencies who were aged under 25 years at 31 March of the last five years. 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Scottish Government 117 149 148 104 67 Accountant in Bankruptcy 12 15 13 8 5 Communities Scotland 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a Disclosure Scotland n/a n/a 21 8 4 Education Scotland n/a n/a n/a n/a 9 Fisheries Research Services 4 3 n/a n/a n/a HM Inspectorate of Education 11 13 14 12 n/a National Archives of Scotland 6 6 4 3 n/a Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator 2 6 3 0 0 Student Awards Agency Scotland 12 18 20 12 7 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency 5 n/a n/a n/a n/a Scottish Building Standards Agency 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 12 10 n/a n/a n/a Scottish Public Pensions Agency 14 25 24 16 17 Social Work Inspection Agency 1 1 2 1 n/a Scottish Housing Regulator 0 1 0 0 0 Transport Scotland 16 10 6 5 3

It is not possible to report on the age of agency workers as this information is not held by the Scottish Government HR. The Scottish Government also employs a number of staff aged under 25 years on other contract types, e.g. fixed-term appointments or modern apprenticeships. The Scottish Government is currently in the process of collecting and analysing baseline data on the number of young people in both paid and unpaid work in key public bodies in Scotland. We plan to publish the data later in the year once the analysis and quality assurance of the data is complete.

Health and Social Care Stuart McMillan (West Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many reports there have been of lost blood samples in NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board. Holding answer issued: 16 August 2012 (S4W-08808) Nicola Sturgeon: Where data is available, the following table indicates the recorded instances of lost blood samples in NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board. Nine boards do not routinely collect this information. Given that incident monitoring systems differ widely between boards and within different areas of practice, the figures presented are only indicative. Number of Lost Blood Samples 2002 to 2012 NHS Board 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ayrshire and Arran 0 0 0 0 0 1 Borders ------Dumfries and Galloway ------Fife 0 0 0 0 3 1 Forth Valley - - - - 5 10 Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 0 3 3 3 0 3 Glasgow North Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 0 1 0 2 1 7 Glasgow South Grampian ------Highland ------Lanarkshire ------Lothian - - 13 58 31 18 NWTC/GJNH - - - - 1 - Orkney ------Shetland ------NHS Board 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 NSS(SNBTS) ------State Hospital ------Tayside ------Western Isles ------

NHS Board 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total (to date) Ayrshire and Arran 0 2 1 0 1 5 Borders - - 0 0 1 1 Dumfries and Galloway ------Fife 1 0 0 4 1 10 Forth Valley 6 10 8 11 4 54 Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 3 12 7 0 0 34 Glasgow North Greater Glasgow and Clyde: 0 0 18 53 31 113 Glasgow South Grampian ------Highland ------Lanarkshire ------Lothian 25 28 16 17 15 221 NWTC/GJNH 2 - - 2 - 5 Orkney ------Shetland ------NSS(SNBTS) ------State Hospital ------Tayside ------Western Isles - - - 1 1 2 Notes: *Data not routinely collected. NWTC/GJNH: NHS National Waiting Times Centre/Golden Jubilee National Hospital. NSS/SNBTS: NHS National Services Scotland/Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gives to dentists regarding the use of thyroid collars. Holding answer issued: 17 August 2012 (S4W-08809) Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not give specific advice to dentists regarding the use of thyroid collars. Dentists are expected to attend relevant training courses and source advice from the UK Health Protection Agency.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to reimburse qualifying patient travel costs for counselling appointments. (S4W-08827) Nicola Sturgeon: There are currently two schemes in place to assist patients with the cost of travel to hospital in Scotland. The first is a means tested scheme to help those in receipt of certain DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) benefits, and the second a non-means tested scheme to help patients that reside in the Highlands and Islands area. Therefore, patients attending hospital for counselling appointments may qualify for assistance under one of those schemes.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason (a) double and (b) triple duty nurses are being asked to select only one area of speciality and what is being done to cover any resulting gaps in rural provision. (S4W-08828) Nicola Sturgeon: Clinical standards, professional regulation requirements, and public expectations of quality have all increased in recent years and the idea that a single professional could have all the skills required to look after patients with complex chronic conditions and multiple nursing needs, as well as give skilled ante natal, intra-partum, and post natal care has become unrealistic. Each remote or island community is developing appropriate models to sustain services based on single duty personnel, sometimes covering wider geographical areas, and with greater use of telemedicine where appropriate.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help recruit junior doctors in (a) Shetland, (b) Orkney and (c) the Western Isles. (S4W-08829) Nicola Sturgeon: Recruitment of secondary care junior doctors is coordinated by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) through the Scottish Medical Training process. GP and Foundation trainees are recruited through the national UK recruitment processes. In addition NES has, in partnership with the north of Scotland territorial health boards, offered a “Rural-track GP Specialty Training” option from August 2012. This is designed to offer an attractive rurally based training option to junior doctors. NES has developed a marketing strategy aimed at helping recruitment to remote and rural areas of Scotland. This can be viewed at www.mmc.scot.nhs.uk/living-and-working-in-scotland/remote-and- rural.asp.

Learning and Justice Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government who attended the meeting in March 2012 with public sector chief executives to discuss youth employment and what the “nearly 100 pledges” were that resulted. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08722) Angela Constance: 1. The Scottish Leaders Forum (SLF) brings together chief officers of all public bodies in Scotland to strengthen networks and bring strategic thinking to issues of relevance across public service. 2. The Scottish Leaders Forum Plenary Meeting on 1 and 2 March 2012 was focussed upon the combined areas of Sustainable Economic Growth and Youth Employment. On the particular area of Youth Employment, the Minister for Youth Employment spoke about the various strands of action to address this, now embedded within the Youth Employment Strategy. 3. Workshop sessions were then facilitated by Scottish Government Officials with colleagues from Job Centre Plus and Skills Development Scotland to discuss with participants the practical ways that employers across public service could work together to create further opportunities for young people. 4. In concluding the event, all participants were invited to make a pledge on what they would do personally, in their role as senior leaders in public service, to tackle youth unemployment. Some committed pledges on the day and others were received in response to a follow-up letter from the Permanent Secretary after the event. 5. There was a high level of engagement with this agenda and we have received 81 specific responses from organisations across public service. Within these there are: Thirty organisations which commit to offer Modern Apprenticeships (some for the first time) Thirty-two organisations which commit to offer work experience, placements or paid internships Eight organisations which commit to make use of community benefit clauses or influence the supply chain in other ways to create opportunities for young people Two organisations which commit to substantially increase the proportion of young people in their workforce Many indications and examples of ways that organisations will use their own communications and influence to reinforce the importance of providing opportunities for young people Many examples of innovative collaborations and partnerships across organisations to tackle youth unemployment together A wide variety of other pledges, including using the CPP (community planning partnership) to mobilise an action-focussed and partnership model to tackle youth unemployment, create an action-learning set across SLF members and personally providing mentoring to an unemployed young person.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage non-departmental public bodies to create a plan for youth employment. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08729) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government will work with all non-departmental public bodies to help them develop plans to tackle youth employment.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £505,000 allocated for its graduate employment pilot scheme will be spent on (a) incentives to firms and (b) careers fairs. Holding answer issued: 14 August 2012 (S4W-08745) Angela Constance: The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has provided a summary of financial estimates setting out that of the £505,000: (a) £300,000 will be allocated for incentives to firms, and (b) £99,000 will be allocated for the delivery of careers fairs.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on the maintenance of land in private housing estates closed and when it will report the findings. (S4W-08924) Kenny MacAskill: The government’s consultation on the maintenance of land on private housing estates closed on 6 June 2011. We propose to report the findings shortly.

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many Young Scot National Entitlement Cards have been issued in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area. (S4W-08935) Aileen Campbell: The following five year breakdown includes the total number of active cards at each report date. It does not include cards that have expired or are pending approval. 5 June 7 January 1 April 1 April 28 January 28 July Local Authority 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Aberdeen City 134 301 4,842 8,316 10,860 15,710 Aberdeenshire 1,585 4,263 17,741 19,910 22,586 29,469 Angus 1,319 1,427 7,153 7,855 9,013 11,244 Argyll and Bute 846 968 1,128 1,158 1,222 1,359 City of Edinburgh 1,359 4,987 17,574 20,677 24,336 31,369 Clackmannanshire 648 947 2,481 3,435 3,846 4,309 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 618 688 1,273 1,545 1,915 2,540 Dumfries and Galloway 3,635 5,367 7,921 9,880 12,487 16,300 Dundee City 1,261 2,961 5,052 6,520 8,255 11,314 5 June 7 January 1 April 1 April 28 January 28 July Local Authority 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 East Ayrshire 827 1,366 6,707 7,681 7,886 9,496 East Dunbartonshire 158 2,571 6,840 7,984 9,165 11,066 East Lothian 407 693 6,062 6,992 8,164 10,490 East Renfrewshire 1,942 3,369 9,155 10,284 11,643 13,969 Falkirk 1,115 1,691 2,402 4,686 5,574 7,950 Fife 11,987 18,137 31,153 33,807 38,238 45,939 Glasgow City 4,577 9,828 22,512 26,242 30,479 37,551 Highland 365 547 17,825 17,862 19,586 22,540 Inverclyde 4,811 5,129 5,488 5,289 6,211 6,364 Midlothian 161 251 2,311 4,408 5,713 6,870 Moray 2,445 6,062 7,734 8,994 9,764 11,739 North Ayrshire 2,270 6,140 11,128 12,520 14,072 16,875 North Lanarkshire 426 13,952 26,723 30,337 31,723 39,793 Orkney Islands 339 402 803 1,037 1,399 2,079 Perth and Kinross 1,963 4,125 5,979 8,366 10,263 13,375 Renfrewshire 254 477 700 865 1,162 1,890 Scottish Borders 3,293 6,482 8,582 9,622 10,769 13,284 Shetland Islands 410 542 1,882 2,143 2,456 2,946 South Ayrshire 52 127 324 6,753 8,373 10,740 South Lanarkshire 278 439 7,565 12,301 22,577 28,924 Stirling 2,083 2,638 4,971 5,012 6,581 7,746 West Dunbartonshire 26 49 7,023 7,797 8,644 10,368 West Lothian 435 620 977 1,127 2,587 5,897 Totals 52,029 107,546 260,011 311,405 367,549 461,505

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage uptake was of the Young Scot National Entitlement Card in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area. (S4W-08936) Aileen Campbell: The following table includes the percentage of card holders, of those who are eligible, in each local authority area. It does not include cards that have expired or are pending approval. 5 June 7 January 1 April 1 April 28 January 28 July Local Authority 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Aberdeen 0.32% 0.72% 11.20% 20.13% 24.88% 34.54% Aberdeenshire 3.79% 10.18% 42.63% 45.78% 53.14% 68.95% Angus 7.13% 7.71% 38.94% 41.62% 48.47% 60.47% Argyll and Bute 5.47% 6.25% 7.27% 7.34% 7.85% 8.85% City of Edinburgh 1.34% 4.90% 17.31% 21.61% 24.63% 31.30% Clackmannanshire 7.08% 10.35% 26.59% 36.14% 40.57% 46.03% Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 14.99% 16.69% 30.73% 38.12% 46.95% 63.45% Dumfries and Galloway 15.15% 22.37% 32.76% 39.98% 50.95% 67.37% Dundee City 3.94% 9.26% 16.24% 21.44% 26.05% 35.11% East Ayrshire 3.71% 6.13% 29.98% 34.34% 35.11% 42.97% East Dunbartonshire 0.78% 12.72% 34.00% 39.86% 45.92% 56.70% East Lothian 2.59% 4.41% 37.15% 37.22% 46.23% 58.47% East Renfrewshire 11.39% 19.76% 53.55% 58.85% 67.02% 80.59% Falkirk 4.14% 6.28% 8.90% 17.01% 20.25% 28.63% 5 June 7 January 1 April 1 April 28 January 28 July Local Authority 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Fife 17.20% 26.03% 44.75% 48.36% 54.42% 65.02% Glasgow City 3.56% 7.65% 17.74% 21.76% 24.50% 30.54% Highland 1.02% 1.53% 49.62% 47.94% 53.43% 62.07% Inverclyde 30.77% 32.81% 35.45% 35.06% 40.89% 43.68% Midlothian 1.10% 1.71% 15.63% 28.34% 37.69% 44.16% Moray 15.35% 38.05% 49.74% 55.36% 60.73% 74.78% North Ayrshire 8.96% 24.23% 43.90% 49.73% 55.98% 68.53% North Lanarkshire 0.68% 22.14% 42.51% 48.44% 50.69% 64.91% Orkney Islands 10.06% 11.93% 23.83% 31.00% 41.70% 62.34% Perth and Kinross 8.30% 17.44% 23.61% 31.07% 38.10% 49.10% Renfrewshire 0.79% 1.49% 2.21% 2.75% 3.68% 6.05% Scottish Borders 18.79% 36.98% 48.00% 51.03% 58.24% 72.11% Shetland Islands 10.56% 13.97% 49.18% 55.85% 62.64% 74.38% South Ayrshire 0.27% 0.66% 1.68% 34.89% 43.23% 56.62% South Lanarkshire 0.48% 0.76% 13.07% 21.32% 39.19% 50.99% Stirling 11.29% 14.30% 26.46% 25.61% 34.06% 37.67% West Dunbartonshire 0.14% 0.27% 38.72% 44.39% 48.59% 61.27% West Lothian 1.39% 1.99% 3.08% 3.36% 7.95% 17.99% Totals 5.28% 10.92% 28.64% 31.63% 37.12% 46.68%

Transport Scotland Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding allocated to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will be used for the provision of rolling stock. (S4W-08926) Keith Brown: The £650 million figure announced on 4 July does not include for provision of rolling stock. The costs for the provision of rolling stock will be covered within the next ScotRail Franchise.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) announced on 4 July 2012 includes provision for the Croy Loop. (S4W-08927) Keith Brown: The first phase announced on 4 July does not include provision of the Croy Turnback. This infrastructure intervention is not required for four trains per hour. Further elements of EGIP including the Croy turnback, the electrification of Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa services, Glasgow connectivity with Edinburgh Gateway station and the proposal for six trains per hour on the route via Falkirk, can be delivered in future phases. The timing and specification of future phases will be dependent on other considerations including High Speed Rail, and opportunities that presents to connect Edinburgh and Glasgow, and wider capacity and affordability issues.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much the proposed electrification of the Cumbernauld line will cost and whether it will provide details of the infrastructure requirements. (S4W-08928) Keith Brown: Network Rail are in the process of procuring these works. These works will include the electrification of the route from Springburn to Cumbernauld, a turnback facility at Hyndland station and infrastructure works at Springburn station. The cost estimate for this work is commercially sensitive.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012 will lead to an increase in passenger satisfaction for those travelling from Croy to Glasgow and Edinburgh and whether more seats will be available and there will be less overcrowding at peak times. (S4W-08931) Keith Brown: The proposals announced on 4 July will result in more capacity on the Edinburgh Glasgow route. This in turn will result in less overcrowding for passengers boarding at Croy in peak times.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many additional seats per hour will be available on services on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High line as a result of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012, also expressed as a percentage. (S4W-08932) Keith Brown: The specification of the rolling stock to operate the route has not yet been concluded, however, an increased seating capacity of over 25% is forecast.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many trains will stop at Croy station as a result of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012 (S4W-08933) Keith Brown: There will be no alteration to the current calling pattern at Croy station as a result of the proposal announced on 4 July.