Monday 7 November 2011

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

Crown Office (Glasgow Pollok) (): To ask the Scottish Executive how many procurators fiscal employed on a permanent contract will be offered (a) early retirement and (b) voluntary redundancy in 2011-12. (S4W-03664) Lesley Thomson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not have a formal early retirement or redundancy scheme at present. COPFS does have authority to offer voluntary early release schemes that operate within Cabinet Office rules. A voluntary early release scheme is currently being finalised and offers are being made under that scheme to 11 legal staff.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many procurators fiscal employed on a temporary contracts will not have their contracts renewed in 2011-12. (S4W-03665) Lesley Thomson: Between April and October 2011, eight lawyers left at the end of their fixed term contracts. Fourteen lawyers are currently employed on fixed term contracts that are due to end before the end of March 2012. Decisions with regard to use of fixed term staff are made when necessary and in response to particular requirements as they arise. Accordingly it is not possible to predict numbers of fixed term contracts that may be offered in 2012-13.

Education and Lifelong Learning Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) three and (b) five year-olds has met expected levels of problem solving ability in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03330) Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) three and (b) five year-olds has met expected levels of vocabulary ability in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03332) Michael Russell: This data is not collected centrally. However, information on children’s scores on vocabulary and problem solving ability at age three and five were collected as part of the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study in 2007-08 and 2009-10. This information is set out in the following tables. GUS data is not broken down to local authority level. Table 1. Percentage of children in the Growing Up in Scotland study scoring on or above the average on vocabulary assessment at ages three and five: Least 2nd 3rd 4th Most All Deprived Quintile Quintile Quintile Deprived Age 3 63.5 58.3 55.0 40.8 42.3 51.8 Age 5 62.9 58.2 54.7 44.6 40.6 51.9 Note: Data for age three were collected in 2007-08 and SIMD quintiles are based on the 2006 classification; data for age five were collected in 2009-10 and SIMD quintiles are based on the 2009 classification. Percentages shown are estimates of percentages in the population of three to five year olds in Scotland in the respective years. Table 2. Percentage of children in the Growing Up in Scotland study scoring on or above the average on problem solving assessment at ages three and five. Least 2nd 3rd 4th Most All Deprived Quintile Quintile Quintile Deprived Age 3 65.6 59.8 57.5 50.8 40.3 54.3 Age 5 57.3 50.9 48.9 44.2 38.5 47.7 Note: Data for age three were collected in 2007-08 and SIMD quintiles are based on the 2006 classification; data for age five were collected in 2009-10 and SIMD quintiles are based on the 2009 classification. Percentages shown are estimates of percentages in the population of three to five year olds in Scotland in the respective years.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average tariff score of school leavers has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03343) Michael Russell: Information on the average tariff score of school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) in each of the last three years is published in table eight of the national statistics publication Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and school meals, No 1: 2011 Edition which is available on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/24142721/0. Information on the average tariff score of school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is given in the following table: SIMD 2006 2005-06 2006-07 Not known 202 158 Most deprivation 20% 203 201 20-40% 262 256 40-60% 326 320 60-80% 392 389 Least deprivation 20% 478 465

Information on the average tariff score of school leavers by local authority in each of the last three years is published in table 2.2 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/sqala

Information on the average tariff score of school leavers by local authority in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is given in the table below: 2005-06 2006-07 Aberdeen City 339 310 Aberdeenshire 373 356 Angus 345 315 Argyll and Bute 343 364 Clackmannanshire 267 311 Dumfries and 333 333 Galloway Dundee City 269 275 East Ayrshire 308 299 East Dunbartonshire 414 434 East Lothian 360 349 East Renfrewshire 473 475 Edinburgh City 320 342 Eilean Siar 386 373 Falkirk 274 299 Fife 321 307 Glasgow City 244 248 2005-06 2006-07 Highland 349 350 Inverclyde 340 319 Midlothian 313 220 Moray 334 333 North Ayrshire 280 282 North Lanarkshire 295 285 Orkney Islands 364 402 Perth and Kinross 358 332 Renfrewshire 330 324 Scottish Borders 344 331 Shetland Islands 374 370 South Ayrshire 353 347 South Lanarkshire 329 315 Stirling 367 367 West Dunbartonshire 317 289 West Lothian 324 299 Scotland 325 319

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average tariff score of S4 pupils has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03345) Michael Russell: Information on the average tariff score of S4 pupils by local authority in each of the last five years is given in the following table: 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Aberdeen City 169 162 167 169 177 Aberdeenshire 191 188 189 190 190 Angus 167 166 176 174 177 Argyll and Bute 177 184 184 181 189 Clackmannanshire 157 161 166 184 184 Dumfries and Galloway 181 188 182 192 195 Dundee City 143 146 144 155 157 East Ayrshire 165 159 160 170 163 East Dunbartonshire 201 204 207 211 213 East Lothian 186 181 187 190 196 East Renfrewshire 219 235 248 254 252 Edinburgh City 169 174 175 181 183 Eilean Siar 183 169 178 195 190 Falkirk 163 165 170 180 185 Fife 166 162 167 170 174 Glasgow City 146 146 145 149 154 Highland 180 181 184 186 184 Inverclyde 171 174 175 177 179 Midlothian 172 178 180 185 181 Moray 181 187 192 198 194 North Ayrshire 156 158 158 169 174 North Lanarkshire 165 161 167 171 173 Orkney Islands 195 190 182 186 188 Perth and Kinross 177 177 186 181 186 Renfrewshire 177 175 174 181 183 Scottish Borders 178 180 178 183 187 Shetland Islands 187 186 198 196 201 South Ayrshire 175 171 177 177 189 South Lanarkshire 172 165 170 173 174 Stirling 183 180 184 184 189 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 West Dunbartonshire 168 161 170 169 170 West Lothian 183 181 185 193 188 Scotland 172 171 174 179 181

Information on the average tariff score of S4 pupils by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation in each of the last five years is published in table 1.6 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/sqala.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school leavers has left school with no qualifications in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03348) Michael Russell: Information on the percentage of school leavers who left school with no qualifications at SCQF level 3 and above in each of the last five years by local authority is published in table 2.6 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/sqala Information on the percentage of school leavers who left school with no qualifications at SCQF level 3 and above by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation in each of the last five years is given in the following table: Deprivation (SIMD 1) 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Not known 17.0 28.8 20.1 19.0 0.0 Most Deprivation 11.0 11.1 9.3 9.5 6.9 Decile 2 6.0 6.8 5.9 5.4 4.7 Decile 3 5.1 5.0 3.9 3.7 3.5 Decile 4 4.0 3.4 3.4 3.0 2.6 Decile 5 2.9 3.3 2.3 2.4 2.2 Decile 6 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.8 Decile 7 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.4 1.4 Decile 8 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.1 Decile 9 1.1 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 Least Deprivation 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.5 0.8 Note: 1. 2008-09 and 2009-10 based on SIMD 2009. all other years based on SIMD 2006. These figures only record those who have not gained a National Qualification at SCQF level 3 or better. Some pupils will have gained other qualifications and achievements and these are not covered in this table or the publication. In 2009-10 we used information from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to determine the leaver cohort in order to present attainment and leaver destination information in the same publication. Prior to 2009-10 the leavers cohort was based on local authority returns, however, while there are small differences apparent between the two methods, overall trends remain unchanged.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school leavers went on to (a) higher and (b) further education in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03349) Michael Russell: Information on the percentage of school leavers who went into an initial destination of further or higher education, in each of the last five years, by local authority, is published in table 2.3 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/supdata2010. Information on the initial destination for 2009-10 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in table 3.3 of the above supplementary dataset. Information on the initial destination for school leavers from 2006-07 to 2008-09 by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in: Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2008-09” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/20112425/11 Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2007-08” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/08090751/10 Table 7 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2006-07” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/07093501/12. Information for 2005-06 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is not available as these data were returned via an aggregate school level return from Careers Scotland.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school leavers went into training in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03352) Michael Russell: Information on the percentage of school leavers who went into an initial destination of training, in each of the last five years, by local authority, is published in table 2.3 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/supdata2010. Information on the initial destination for 2009-10 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in table 3.3 of the above supplementary dataset. Information on the initial destination for school leavers from 2006-07 to 2008-09 by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in: Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2008-09” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/20112425/11 Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2007-08” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/08090751/10 Table 7 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2006-07” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/07093501/12. Information for 2005-06 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is not available as these data were returned via an aggregate school level return from Careers Scotland.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school leavers was immediately (a) employed and (b) unemployed in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03354) Michael Russell: Information on the percentage of school leavers who went into an initial destination of employed or unemployed, in each of the last five years, by local authority, is published in table 2.3 of a supplementary data set on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/supdata2010. Information on the initial destination for 2009-10 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in table 3.3 of the above supplementary dataset. Information on the initial destination for school leavers from 2006-07 to 2008-09 by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is published in: Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2008-09” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/20112425/11 Table 9 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2007-08” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/08090751/10 Table 7 of “Destination of leavers from Scottish Schools: 2006-07” www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/07093501/12. Information for 2005-06 school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is not available as this data was returned via an aggregate school level return from Careers Scotland.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average absence rate of school pupils has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03356) Michael Russell: Information on the absence rate of school pupils by local authority in each of the last three years is published in table 2.4 of a supplementary dataset to the national statistics publication Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No 1: 2010 Edition on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/attendanceabsence2009-10. Information on the absence rate of school pupils by local authority in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is published in table 2.4 of the national statistics publication Attendance and Absence in Scottish Schools, 2007-08 on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/18120723/25. Information on the absence rate of school pupils (including absence due to temporary exclusion) by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and year is given in the following table: Deprivation (SIMD1) 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Most Deprivation 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.10 Decile 2 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 Decile 3 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Decile 4 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 Decile 5 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.07 Decile 6 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 Decile 7 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.06 Decile 8 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Decile 9 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Least Deprivation 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Note: 1. 2005-06 based on SIMD 2004, 2006-07 to 2008-09 based on SIMD 2006 and 2009-10 based on SIMD 2009.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school pupils have been (a) suspended and (b) excluded in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. (S4W-03357) Michael Russell: The requested information is given in the following four tables. Number of pupils temporarily excluded by local authority, 2005-06 to 2009-10. 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Aberdeen City 895 934 818 710 745 Aberdeenshire 665 751 669 615 576 Angus 348 494 457 407 400 Argyll and Bute 420 409 372 321 235 Clackmannanshire 256 291 291 244 220 Dumfries and Galloway 436 542 541 501 347 Dundee City 1,072 1,030 949 867 855 East Ayrshire 664 588 487 496 406 East Dunbartonshire 412 451 384 362 290 East Lothian 318 393 391 381 365 East Renfrewshire 157 135 110 125 112 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Edinburgh City 1,398 1,198 1,196 994 1,065 Eilean Siar 55 53 74 58 55 Falkirk 529 542 427 410 364 Fife 1,482 1,607 1,493 1,234 1,103 Glasgow City 3,584 3,462 3,093 2,463 1,940 Highland 505 479 507 619 510 Inverclyde 442 450 416 356 350 Midlothian 391 430 425 371 334 Moray 281 292 272 217 234 North Ayrshire 983 927 812 620 493 North Lanarkshire 1,789 1,872 1,582 1,566 1,390 Orkney Islands 12 22 18 29 25 Perth and Kinross 501 524 409 360 367 Renfrewshire 919 857 678 621 608 Scottish Borders 307 342 337 341 308 Shetland Island 40 34 42 35 26 South Ayrshire 513 529 426 358 256 South Lanarkshire 1,385 1,369 1,373 1,145 1,070 Stirling 180 197 162 154 148 West Dunbartonshire 638 591 439 394 331 West Lothian 898 936 853 773 655

Number of pupils permanently excluded (also known as removed from the register) by local authority, 2005-06 to 2009-10. 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Aberdeen City 29 17 31 27 25 Aberdeenshire 23 14 14 9 2 Argyll and Bute - - - 1 - East Ayrshire - 1 - - - East Dunbartonshire 2 6 1 1 1 East Renfrewshire - 1 - - - Edinburgh City 63 48 38 21 27 Eilean Siar - 1 - - - Glasgow City 123 140 58 18 - Highland 1 2 2 - 1 Moray 6 2 6 3 5 North Lanarkshire 7 10 8 4 1 Scottish Borders - 1 - 2 - Stirling - 2 - - - West Dunbartonshire - 1 - - 4 West Lothian 1 1 3 1 1

Number of pupils temporarily excluded by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), 2005-06 to 2009-10. SIMD 1 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Not known 1496 558 360 371 317 Most Deprivation 5,440 5,396 4,903 4,141 3,749 Decile 2 3,652 3,886 3,414 3,038 2,675 Decile 3 2,831 3,072 2,805 2,402 2,114 Decile 4 2,246 2,439 2,195 1,906 1,729 Decile 5 1,743 1,903 1,784 1,668 1,474 Decile 6 1,506 1,639 1,556 1,420 1,204 Decile 7 1,124 1,276 1,213 1,159 999 Decile 8 1,087 1,198 1,032 932 905 Decile 9 808 857 795 729 653 Least Deprivation 547 532 465 427 398 Note: 1. 2005-06 to 2008-09 based on SIMD 2006 and 2009-10 based on SIMD 2009. Number of pupils permanently excluded by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), 2005-06 to 2009-10. SIMD 1 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Not known 13 8 9 3 - Most Deprivation 108 46 57 27 10 Decile 2 28 12 22 9 9 Decile 3 25 15 25 10 12 Decile 4 15 12 7 11 6 Decile 5 10 7 7 4 13 Decile 6 12 11 5 8 6 Decile 7 15 8 9 3 4 Decile 8 14 6 5 9 4 Decile 9 12 9 9 2 1 Least Deprivation 4 6 6 1 2 Note: 1. 2005-06 to 2008-09 based on SIMD 2006 and 2009-10 based on SIMD 2009.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for Clydebank College for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms. (S4W-03374) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Funding Council will provide the detailed outline of budget allocations to colleges. (S4W-03376) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive when colleges will be provided with an indicative offer of grant. (S4W-03377) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of jobs at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be. (S4W-03378) Michael Russell: Colleges are independent employers and are responsible for taking their own decisions on staff-related matters, where appropriate in consultation with the recognised trade unions. Ministers have no role in determining the number of staff employed by Clydebank College.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of courses at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be. (S4W-03379) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges, and the associated activity which colleges require to deliver, fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reduction in the number of student places at Clydebank College as a result of the proposed budget settlement and, if so, what this will be. (S4W-03380) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges, and the associated activity which colleges require to deliver, fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of levels of deprivation when deciding individual budget allocations for colleges. (S4W-03381) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowance is made for supported learning in individual budget allocations for colleges. (S4W-03382) Michael Russell: Matters relating to the funding of individual colleges fall within the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with the oil and gas sector in the last year to discuss improving links between it and universities and colleges. (S4W-03399) Michael Russell: As part of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, the Oil & Gas Industry Advisory Group provides a forum for effective, open and informed engagement with the oil & gas sector and other relevant bodies, including universities and colleges. Membership of the group includes representatives from the Energy Technology Partnership of Scotland’s Universities, ASET International Oil & Gas Training Academy and OPITO. The Oil & Gas Industry Advisory Group meets four times a year and is playing a key role in shaping the future of the energy sector, with focussed activity on a number of areas of strategic priority including skills and innovation. Through this group we will continue to engage with those organisations engaged in supporting the development of skills including colleges, universities and sector skills councils.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with universities and colleges to discuss how they can change their curriculum to better meet the needs of the oil and gas sector. (S4W-03400) Michael Russell: It has been the policy of successive administrations that universities and colleges should be free to take their own decisions about the curriculum they offer based on their expertise and knowledge of economic need. We expect institutions to develop close links with the key employment sectors in the communities they serve, and to deliver programmes which support employability and competitiveness. Finance and Sustainable Growth (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide further support for the Glasgow Fastlink project to enable it to reach Dalmarnock and the 2014 Commonwealth Games sites. (S4W-03290) Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s capital programme makes funding available to meet in full our commitments to implement the core phase of the Glasgow Fastlink Proposal. The core scheme improves bus services between the city centre, the Southern General Hospital, and the SECC, with obvious benefits for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The development and delivery of the Fastlink project as detailed within Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s final business case is the responsibility of SPT. In addition, through Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government is supporting the redevelopment of Dalmarnock railway station, a vital transport hub in the East End of the city which will contribute to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and offer significant regeneration benefits.

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will confirm a date on which it will publish its cities strategy. (S4W-03291) Nicola Sturgeon: The strategy will be published by the end of 2011.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) mid-market rent, (b) market rent and (c) shared-equity properties were or have been made available in the (i) Falkirk East, (ii) Airdrie and Shotts and (iii) Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse parliamentary constituencies in (A) 2007, (B) 2008, (C) 2009, (D) 2010 and (E) 2011. (S4W-03318) Keith Brown: The information requested is not held by parliamentary constituency but is provided at local authority level. There were no mid-market rent properties made available in Falkirk, North or South Lanarkshire within these years, and we do not hold information centrally on market rent properties. However, the following table shows the number of shared equity properties made available at local authority level:

North Shared Equity Falkirk Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire 2007 0 0 14 2008 0 0 38 2009 27 100 86 2010 22 25 24 2011 (to end June) 1 3 2 Total 50 128 164

The information for 2011 has been provided to 30 June 2011. An update to Housing Statistics for Scotland will be published at the end of November 2011 on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics. This will include the number of completions for the period July to September 2011.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition is of (a) an affordable and (b) a socially rented home. (S4W-03319) Keith Brown: Scottish Planning Policy defines affordable housing broadly as housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes. This includes social rented accommodation, mid-market rented accommodation, shared ownership, shared equity, discounted low cost housing for sale including plots for self build, and low-cost housing without subsidy. Generally, social housing is rented housing provided by local authorities and registered social landlords, normally on a Scottish Secure Tenancy. However, some Trusts also provide housing for social rent.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is assisting those aged between 18 and 24 who are assessed as priority homeless. (S4W-03323) Keith Brown: Scottish local authorities have the statutory duty to assess all those who present as homeless. People aged 18 to 24 who are assessed as priority homeless applicants will be entitled to settled accommodation, if also found to be unintentionally homeless. Those found to be in priority need but intentionally homeless will be offered temporary accommodation and advice and assistance. Supported by the Scottish Government, local authorities are using a Housing Options based approach which focuses on preventing homelessness where possible, and looks for outcomes that meet the individual household’s need, irrespective of whether they are intentionally or unintentionally homeless.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes are in place to assist young people onto the property ladder. (S4W-03324) Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is continuing to help first time buyers of all ages through its Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) schemes. We recently announced a further allocation of £4.65 million for 2011-12 to help first time buyers’ access home ownership through the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme. There are also opportunities for buyers under the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers scheme and through other subsidised New Supply Shared Equity developments, which this year are being approved within the Innovation and Investment Fund. Further information on the LIFT schemes can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/LIFT.

Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are on housing waiting lists, broken down by local authority. (S4W-03325) Keith Brown: The total number of applicants on local authority housing lists and common housing registers - including a split between waiting and transfer lists - is published annually at local authority level on the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages of the Scottish Government’s website. The most recent data is as at 31 March 2011. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/StockManagement Local authorities vary in the way in which they operate and manage applications for housing and allocations, with some holding separate lists for waiting and transfer applicants and others not distinguishing. For these councils, estimates of the split are provided. The number of applicants on housing association housing lists is collected by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the figure for Scotland was 202,438 (direct waiting lists and housing association common housing registers) at 31 March 2011. This figure is not available at local authority level. Both the local authority and housing association figures are likely to contain an unquantifiable amount of double counting as there is difficulty in recording actual numbers of people wishing to access all social housing, and also in determining their current tenure. In addition, the issue of double- counting may be further impacted by those who apply for multiple council and/or housing association housing lists in their desired area, and by the inclusion of those who no longer need a social house (as they take up tenancies with other housing providers or for other reasons), but may not have been removed from the housing list immediately. In February 2011 the Scottish Government commissioned some work to try to ascertain a more accurate measure of households on housing lists, trying to remove the potential double counting as detailed above, using an omnibus survey. This found that approximately 128,000 households contained someone who was on a social housing list. The results from this survey can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk./Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HousingListSurvey.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for a scheme under the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers have been refused in each region and for what reasons. (S4W-03436) Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. Registered Social Landlords administering the Scottish Government Low-Cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT) schemes must apply published administrative procedures when assessing applications. Applications which do not meet certain eligibility criteria set out in the administrative procedures are not progressed.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38688 by Keith Brown on 11 January 2011, whether it remains its position that the journey time reductions on the Highland Main Line will be delivered in May 2012 and what the savings will be. (S4W-03439) Keith Brown: Journey time reductions on the Highland main line will now take effect from December 2012. This is because the rail industry has agreed not to make any significant changes to the May 2012 GB Rail Timetable to accommodate planning for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd's position is on the efficacy of the approach landing radar systems. (S4W-03579) Keith Brown: The provision of landing guidance using radar systems alone, whilst not common, is an option that aerodrome operators may choose to employ. Alternative approach aids are available that can offer similar performance criteria to that of ground-based radar but which do not require the provision of radar sensors or qualified staff to operate them.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason funding for the rail franchise is to increase from £299.5 million in 2011-12 to £447.4 million in 2012-13 according to the 2012-13 draft budget. (S4W-03581) Keith Brown: The Rail Services (franchise) budget supports the delivery of ScotRail passenger services in Scotland. A change in Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) policy in the 2008 Periodic Review resulted in an increase in franchise payments (rail services budget) to fund track access charges to Network Rail. This is offset by an equivalent reduction in the level of network grant (rail infrastructure budget) payable directly to Network Rail. The schedule of Fixed Track Access Charges for Control Period 4 (2009-10 to 2013-14) is published on the ORR website. The increased rail services budget also reflects the operating costs associated with new and improved rail services and contractual commitments to indexation within the current Franchise Agreement.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason funding for rail infrastructure is to decrease from £426.1 million in 2012-13 to £290.7 million in 2012-13 according to the 2012-13 draft budget. (S4W-03582) Keith Brown: The rail infrastructure budget supports the costs of Network Rail maintenance and safe operation of the Scottish rail network and investment in infrastructure enhancement. A change in Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) policy in the 2008 Periodic Review resulted in an increase in franchise payments (rail services budget) to fund track access charges to Network Rail. This is offset by an equivalent reduction in the level of network grant (rail infrastructure budget) payable directly to Network Rail. The schedule of Fixed Track Access Charges for Control Period 4 (2009-10 to 2013-14) is published on the ORR website. In the 2008 Periodic Review the ORR also set Network Rail the target of improving its efficiency by 21 per cent in the five years to March 2014.

Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Inveramsay Bridge project on the A96. (S4W-03608) Keith Brown: Design work for the A96 Inveramsay Bridge scheme is underway. It is expected design work will have progressed to a stage where a preferred option can be identified by spring 2012. Satisfactory completion of this stage will allow further detailed design work to begin which will result in the publication of draft road orders. This process will take an estimated 12 months. Transport Scotland recently held a public exhibition detailing the route options under consideration. A copy of the information presented at the exhibition can be found on Transport Scotland’s website at the following link: http://transportscotland.gov.uk/road/projects/trunk-road-projects/A96-Inveramsay-Bridge.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to electrify the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts railway line and what (a) the timescale is and (b) estimate it has made of the cost. (S4W-03616) Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2008, estimated the cost of the second phase of electrification of the strategic rail network to be between £250 million and £500 million. The Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts railway line is part of this phase. The Initial Industry Plan, published in September 2011, proposes that this phase of electrification programme can start to be delivered between 2014 and 2019. The timescale for electrification of the Shotts line will not finally be agreed until Network Rail have published their strategic business plan in January 2013 and the Office of Rail Regulation has published its determination in October 2013. To ensure competitively priced tenders Network Rail do not publish estimated costs for individual elements of each phase.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines preventative spend. (S4W-03618) Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s spending plans are designed to support a transition across public services away from dealing with the symptoms of disadvantage and inequality towards tackling their root causes with a focus on improving outcomes and averting future costs to the public sector.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will balance the need for local decision making and the enhanced role of community planning partnerships with demands for a clearer definition of preventative spend. (S4W-03627) Nicola Sturgeon: As set out in our response to the Christie Commission report, the government expects prevention to be built into the design and delivery of all public services. It will be for those responsible for design and delivery of services at local level, including community planning partnerships, to decide how best to achieve that taking into account local needs and priorities and the guidance that will be made available by the relevant joint groups.

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03190 by Keith Brown on 27 October 2011, when it will place the required notice for the Borders Railway project in the Official Journal of the European Commission under the project’s new procurement model. (S4W-03655) Keith Brown: The Scottish Government do not intend to publish any further OJEU notice with regard to Borders Railway. As Network Rail will become the Authorised Undertaker for Borders Railway then they will become the procurement authority, and as such, any requirement for a future notice will rest with them.

Health and Wellbeing Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether paediatric occupational health services are subject to a waiting list guarantee. (S4W-03223) Nicola Sturgeon: Paediatric occupational therapy services, like all allied health services are not subject to a national waiting time guarantee. However, the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced a framework to support children and young people who face barriers to learning. It aims to ensure that all children and young people are provided with the necessary support to help them work towards achieving their full potential. The act imposes a duty on appropriate agencies (including health boards) to comply with a request for help from a local authority within a period of 10 weeks.

Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a patient not having an appointment 18 months after referral to a paediatric occupational health service for a non-urgent issue. (S4W-03225) Nicola Sturgeon: It is not acceptable for a patient to have to wait over 18 months for an appointment with the paediatric occupational therapy service. Information provided by NHS boards across Scotland would indicate that the average waiting time for paediatric occupational therapy at the present time is around 10 weeks. Five boards appear to have some patients waiting longer than 18 weeks and while we have no national waiting time guarantee for AHP services, we do encourage boards to actively manage their waiting lists for all services to avoid situations such as the one that has arisen on this occasion. The board concerned have confirmed to me they are taking steps to address the situation.

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding legislative consent in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill. (S4W-03283) Nicola Sturgeon: We have held regular discussions with the UK Government, at Ministerial and official level, regarding the Welfare Reform Bill.

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill it considers will require legislative consent in respect of devolved competencies. (S4W-03293) Nicola Sturgeon: We have set out the aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill which we consider require legislative consent in the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum which we have lodged with the parliament.

Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with other devolved administrations in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill. (S4W-03294) Nicola Sturgeon: We hold regular discussions with other devolved administrations, at ministerial and official level, on matters of mutual interest including welfare reform.

David McLetchie (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue would have been raised from excise duty on alcohol consumed in Scotland in 2009-10 at the then rates of duty if the minimum price of alcohol had been (a) 45p and (b) 50p per unit. (S4W-03448) Nicola Sturgeon: As duty is applied to the volume of sales and with the introduction of a minimum price this is estimated to reduce overall, there will be an impact on duty receipts. The actual effect will depend on the specific minimum price per unit set. Total receipts from VAT in the UK were £83,616m in 2009-10 and from alcohol duties in the UK were £9,246m. Estimates from the Sheffield modelling suggest that for a 45p minimum price, there would be a reduction of around £9m and for a 50p minimum price a reduction of around £16m. This represents a reduction of 0.01% or 0.02% of total receipts from VAT and alcohol duties in the UK respectively.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of radiographers undertakes plain film reporting, broken down by NHS board. (S4W-03453) Nicola Sturgeon: The following table sets out the number of Radiographers that are undertaking plain film reporting, broken down by NHS boards: Number of Number of Radiographers Number of Radiographers at at appropriate banding level Radiographers NHS Board appropriate qualified to undertake plain undertaking plain film banding level film reporting reporting Fife 71 6 2 Lothian 276 9 5 Tayside 151 4 4 Borders 22 4 4 Ayrshire and Arran 111 5 5 Dumfries and 27 2 2 Galloway Forth Valley 52 1 1 Greater Glasgow 535 6 3 and Clyde Lanarkshire 131 3 3

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the benefit of training radiographers to undertake plain film reporting and what this would save to the NHS. (S4W-03454) Nicola Sturgeon: Radiography reporting of plain films or other modalities has been supported by the Scottish Government over the last 10 years and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Diagnostic Collaborative continue to support this in practice. Most recently, a Radiology Subgroup has been set up with a remit to explore opportunities for making efficiencies in radiology across the West of Scotland (WoS), as part of the remote working work stream in the WoS efficiency and productivity work. The group have looked at alternative options for service delivery including skill mix development, which supports task shifting from Radiologists to appropriately trained radiographers and the possibility of a regional radiology reporting service. The Chief Health Professions Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, have convened a Specialist Advisory Board, including the Royal College of Radiologists and the Society of Radiographers, to explore joint working and sustainable delivery of radiology and imaging services.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of radiographers is qualified to undertake plain film reporting, broken down by NHS board. (S4W-03455) Nicola Sturgeon: The following table sets out the number of Radiographers qualified to undertake plain film reporting, broken down by NHS boards: Number of Number of Radiographers at Radiographers at appropriate banding level NHS Board appropriate banding qualified to undertake plain level film reporting Fife 71 6 Lothian 276 9 Tayside 151 4 Borders 22 4 Ayrshire and 111 5 Arran Dumfries and 27 2 Galloway Forth Valley 52 1 Greater Glasgow 535 6 and Clyde Lanarkshire 131 3

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether paediatric cardiac surgery standards in Scotland are the same as those in England and Wales and what action it will take to secure the future of paediatric cardiac surgery at Yorkhill Hospital. (S4W-03457) Nicola Sturgeon: As part of the Safe and Sustainable Programme in England, service standards for Children's Congenital Cardiac Services have been developed. The standards against which English paediatric cardiac centres have been assessed require a minimum of 400 operations per year and 4 paediatric cardiac surgeons. The Scottish Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit in Glasgow carries out around 300 operations per year and has a team of three cardiac surgeons. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining a high quality, sustainable paediatric cardiac surgery service in Scotland. However, to provide external and independent assurance of the recognised high quality of the paediatric cardiac surgery services provided by Yorkhill Hospital, it was announced in June this year that a review of the service would be undertaken by the Safe and Sustainable Programme team, but with the understanding that standards relating to numbers of staff and activity levels should be interpreted within the context of the differing population and geography and the criticality of retaining a paediatric cardiac surgical and interventional cardiology service in Scotland. The review, led by Sir Ian Kennedy, took place on 3 November 2011.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review paediatric cardiac surgery at Yorkhill Hospital and, if so, when this will be carried out and by whom. (S4W-03505) Nicola Sturgeon: To provide external and independent assurance of the recognised high quality of the paediatric cardiac surgery services provided by Yorkhill Hospital, I announced in June 2011 that a review of the service would be undertaken by the Safe and Sustainable Programme team who have assessed these services across England. The review, led by Sir Ian Kennedy, took place on 3 November 2011.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric cardiac surgeons are based at Yorkhill Hospital and how many operations they have carried out in each year since 2007-08. (S4W-03506) Nicola Sturgeon: There are three paediatric cardiac surgeons based at Yorkhill Hopsital. The number of operations carried out in each year since 2007-08 are as under. 2007-08 288 2008-09 289 2009-10 313 2010-11 316

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Sir Ian Kennedy’s recommendation for paediatric cardiac surgery that a minimum of four surgeons carrying out 400-500 operations per year is required to ensure safety and sustainability. (S4W-03507) Nicola Sturgeon: The quality of service and outcomes achieved by the paediatric cardiac surgery service in Glasgow are carefully monitored and benchmarked against other UK centres and are already well recognised as being good. While it is desirable to demonstrate this in the context of the Safe and Sustainable Programme standards for designating cardiac centres in England and Wales (by the planned external review by Sir Ian Kennedy), it is with the understanding that standards relating to numbers of staff and activity levels should be interpreted within the context of the differing population and geography and the criticality of retaining a paediatric cardiac surgical and interventional cardiology service in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many distinction awards were made to clinicians in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 and have been made in 2011-12, broken down by category of award. (S4W-03510) Nicola Sturgeon: The Distinction Award Scheme is specifically for eligible NHS Scotland Consultants. The information requested for 2009 and 2010 is contained within the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) Annual Reports. These can be found on the SACDA website: http://www.shsc.scot.nhs.uk/upload/file/national_committee_services/sacda/annual_report/2011_sacd a_annual_report_2010_awards_round.pdf. The 2011 Annual Report will be published shortly. For ease, the information for each of the three years requested, is as follows: Total Number of Breakdown of Awards Year Awards Made by Category As at: A+ A B Sept 2009 103 9 29 65 Sept 2010 52* 8 16 28 Sept 2011 0** 0 0 0 Notes: * New Awards were frozen and only re-cycled awards were available for distribution ** The scheme was fully frozen.

Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that GPass data held by the Scottish Prison Service will be maintained when prisoner medical services are transferred to the NHS on 1 November 2011. (S4W-03528) Nicola Sturgeon: From the 1 November 2011 NHS clinicians working within the prison health centres will continue to input and maintain data in the prison GPass system.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Executive how many premises are registered to sell tobacco. (S4W-03539) Michael Matheson: At 26 October 2011, 10,622 premises were registered on the Scottish Tobacco Retailer Register.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provides to women’s football. Holding answer issued: 7 November 2011 (S4W-03555) (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes women’s football. (S4W-03556) Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides strong support to girls and womens football. In the three years from 2008-09, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) was awarded £2.535 million direct from the Scottish Government to deliver a wide range of football opportunities for boys and girls as part of the Cashback for Communities programme. This included £297,000 to specifically help support the womens game. The SFA were awarded further funding of £3 million earlier this year, again through our Cashback for Communities Programme, to help further support a range of free football activities for young people, boys and girls, to benefit from. This includes £639,000 to support a network of six Girls’/Women’s development officers whose role it is to create and enhance further opportunities for girls and women to get involved in sport and football The SFA receives funding from sportscotland to support the implementation of the development plan for womens football. The level of investment is an operational matter and I have asked the chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, to provide the detailed information requested.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the number of (a) women and (b) girls who play football. Holding answer issued: 7 November 2011 (S4W-03557) Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Football Association directly for this detailed information: Stewart Regan Chief Executive The Scottish FA Hampden Park Glasgow G42 9AY Tel: 0141 616 6000 Email:[email protected].

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a centrally held definition of (a) preventative and (b) anticipatory care. (S4W-03621) Nicola Sturgeon: There is not a centrally held definition for preventative and anticipatory care, and both can take many forms. It is generally accepted that anticipatory care should target health improvement action and resources at specific, identified areas, providing early interventions that prevent escalation of care needs. Anticipating care needs and providing preventative interventions should reduce longer-term care needs, particularly at crisis points.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use evidence-based data to assess intervention programmes arising from health reforms and, if so, who will collect and evaluate this. (S4W-03638) Nicola Sturgeon: Work to promote integration between health and social care includes the development of a draft set of key outcomes and associated measures for older people which health and care partnerships will be expected to deliver. These will be across the care spectrum from anticipatory and preventative approaches through to improved care and support. This work is currently in the development phase and involves engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. It will form an important part of any future consultation on integration more widely. In the area of early years, a robust evidence base has been established for the effectiveness of early intervention and preventative spend. We have produced a list of Early Years Indicators which enable local partners to measure progress towards achieving the aims of the Early Years Framework at the local level.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide support to people in Scotland who might be affected by the UK Government's proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance. (S4W-03639) Nicola Sturgeon: Within the current devolution settlement, welfare benefits are reserved. The Welfare Reform Bill currently being considered by the UK Parliament will impact on some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in society and on the local authority and third-sector organisations committed to supporting vulnerable people. The Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to pursue a welfare system that is properly financed, simple to understand, lifts people out of poverty and makes work pay.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the guidance for NHS boards to ensure that appointments in England and Wales offered to patients from Scotland that are not taken up do not count toward the 18-week guarantee on waiting times. (S4W-03656) Nicola Sturgeon: The vast majority of patients are treated locally in their local hospitals. For the very few cases were patient are offered treatment outwith Scotland the current guidance clearly states that these patient are covered by waiting time targets. Indeed New Ways of Defining and Measuring Waiting Times guidance applies wherever the patient is treated.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland have lupus. (S4W-03657) Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the total number of people in Scotland who have lupus is not available centrally. Lupus UK estimate that there are around 50,000 people in the United Kingdom living with lupus.

Justice (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02895 by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 October 2011, for what reason it will not analyse the crimes committed under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 in each year since its introduction rather than the data between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011. (S4W-03255) Roseanna Cunningham: In accordance with the Data Retention Policy of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, police reports in concluded summary cases are only kept for a period of two years.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Community Payback Orders issued since 1 February 2011 has started within seven days of sentencing, also broken down by local authority area. (S4W-03702) Kenny MacAskill: That information is not yet held by the Scottish Government. Information in relation to the number of Community Payback Orders issued in the whole of the 2011-12 financial year, including details of when any unpaid work requirements were started, will be collected from local authorities and published in late 2012 / early 2013. Information from the Scottish Court Service, showing the number of Community Payback Orders issued since 1 February 2011, is being collected by the Scottish Government and the most recently available data is available on our website here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Datasets/CPOs.

Office of the First Minister Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has received from the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly since May 2007 and how it has responded. (S4W-03586) Fiona Hyslop: We have received a copy of the 2010 BIPA report on the Irish Community in Britain. Copies of four further reports, An update on cross-border co-operation between police forces; The Common Travel Area: An Update; A Common European Defence and Foreign Policy; Returning the Unemployed to Work; were sent to the First Minister on 15 March 2010. I have written to BIPA in each instance, acknowledging receipt of these reports.

Rural Affairs and the Environment Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increasing the west coast haddock total allowable catch quota beyond EU-suggested limits would reduce discards and not remove sustainable stocks and what the reasons are for its position on this matter. (S4W-03395) Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that the TAC (Total Allowable Catch) for all fish stocks should be set in line with scientific advice. Despite both ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) and STECF (Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries) recommending a 410% increase in TAC for West of Scotland haddock, the European Commission is proposing only a 25% increase. Increasing the TAC by 410% would maintain the level of fishing mortality within the MSY (maximum sustainable yield) framework, which the Commission advocates. The SSB (Spawning Stock Biomass - weight of mature fish in the stock) is now above precautionary limits and is increasing steadily. The stock is showing strong signs of recovery and the Scottish Government believes that limiting the TAC to a 25% increase would result in a significant increase in discards, therefore we would prefer to be closer to 410% as justified by scientific advice. While we accept that a large increase in haddock TAC could risk increasing the mortality of West of Scotland cod, we are keen to work with the European Commission to develop appropriate selectivity measures to try and avoid this.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of concerns expressed by specialist whisky retailers regarding EU distance selling regulations and, if so, (a) what its position is and (b) whether it will make representations to the (i) UK Government and (ii) European Commission on this matter. (S4W-03402) Richard Lochhead: I have received no recent representations on the issue of distance selling from specialist whisky retailers. Issues covering the raising of excise duty from such retailing activity is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government regarding the implementation of new regulations to prevent ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth. (S4W-03493) Richard Lochhead: I have expressed my concern about the further delay in commencement of the new regulations on ship-to-ship oil transfers and requested clarification from the UK Government on the reasons for this delay. I have also repeated my call to the Secretary of State for Transport for devolution of powers to approve ship-to-ship transfer of oil as cargo in Scottish waters. Further delay in commencement of the draft regulations strengthens the case for Scottish Ministers to have the responsibility for oil transfer licences in waters adjacent to Scotland. Ship-to-ship transfers are an issue of high public concern in Scotland and the has previously expressed concern about proposals in the Firth of Forth. Forth Ports decided not to proceed and I am not aware of any further proposals. The following questions received holding answers:

S4W-03545 S4W-03546 S4W-03547 S4W-03554 S4W-03555 S4W-03557 S4W-03573