Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-09374

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what type of restraint techniques should be used when restraining (a) children and (b) young people in residential units.

Physical restraint should only be used when absolutely necessary and when in the best interests of the child or young person.

Restraint techniques vary according to the system used. The national guidance Holding Safely () does not state any preferred system. The guidance does describe the circumstances in which physical restraint can be used and emphasises the need for proper risk assessments related to the child or the young person for instance age or size. While it does not describe the techniques, it does outline the necessary safety considerations and what staff must never do.

Residential Units should provide young people and their families with information on the policy related to physical restraint and will also be able to provide details of the system used.

Question reference: S4W-09371

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many times restraint techniques have been used on (a) children and (b) young people in residential units in each of the last two years.

Question reference: S4W-07642

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will compile a register of schools that have asbestos.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632) places a duty on the owners or leaseholders of all non-domestic public buildings, including schools, to manage the risk from asbestos. In the case of publicly funded schools, this duty rests with local authorities. For independent schools, the duty rests with the proprietors of the building.

The duty includes, among other things, a requirement to make and keep up to date records of the location and condition of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed ACM in these premises. As we have no reason to believe this information is not being held, as required by the 2012 Regulations, the Scottish Government believes it is best that this information continues to be compiled locally rather than at a national level.

Question reference: S4W-07643

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the potential impact on public health, which organisations it has met since February 2012 to discuss how to deal with asbestos in schools.

All matters relating to health and safety at work, including managing asbestos in buildings, are reserved and advice is provided to relevant authorities by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632) places a duty on the owners or leaseholders of all non-domestic buildings, including schools, to manage the risk from asbestos. In the case of publicly funded schools, this duty rest with the local authorities. For independent schools, the duty rests with the proprietors of the individual school.

While we have had no meetings with HSE since February 2012 to discuss how to deal with asbestos in schools, we do keep in regular contact with them. This allows us to be aware of any issues concerning asbestos in schools. We in turn are then able to ensure that local authorities are aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

Question reference: S4O-01150

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist care leavers into further and higher education.

Question reference: S4W-05945

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 13 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its procurement policy ensures that suppliers of its internet related services have a policy of blocking web pages that depict child sexual abuse.

The Scottish Government has incorporated a compliance and information assurance stage into the process for procuring its ICT and internet related services. The purpose of this is to ensure that regulatory requirements and content standards are met.

The Scottish Government’s own websites do not depict inappropriate content and internet access for staff is filtered to prevent access to inappropriate sites, include those containing pornographic or other offensive material. Scottish Government policies, including an IT Code of Conduct and the Civil Service Code, apply in determining the standards of conduct for civil servants.

Question reference: S4W-07303

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the national parenting strategy will be published.

Question reference: S4W-07302

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what groups and organisations working with parents have been consulted on the national parenting strategy.

The Scottish Government have consulted with a wide range of groups and organisations working with parents. The following groups and organisations responded.

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Additional Support Needs Forum, Outreach Team, Stirling Council

Amina the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Argyll and Bute Council

Auchnacraig Early Years Education Centre (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Barlarnark Family Support Centre

Barnardo’s Scotland

Barrhill Community Centre (East Ayrshire Council)

Beith Primary School (North Ayrshire Council)

Care and Learning Alliance

Carlibar Primary School (East Renfrewshire Council)

Children 1^st

Circle Scotland

Clackmannanshire Council

Clovenstone Community Centre

Coldstream Play Group

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (schools and preschools)

Down’s Syndrome Scotland

Dundee City Council

East Renfrewshire Council

Edinburgh City Council

Education Development Centre (Western Isles) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

ENABLE Scotland Young Families Support Committee

Equal Say Advocacy

Falkirk Council

Families Outside

Edinburgh Prison Visitors’ Centre

Family Fund, helping disabled children

Family Nurse Partnership

Gilmerton Child & Family Centre (Edinburgh City Council)

Hailesland Child and Family Centre (Edinburgh City Council)

Clovenstone Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Pentland Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Colinton Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Oxgangs Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh

Hillside School (East Ayrshire Council)

Home Link Family Support

Home-Start (Glenrothes, Kincardine, Wigtownshire, Orkney, Edinburgh)

Kibble Education and Care Centre

Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre

LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing

Mastrick Community Centre (Aberdeen City Council)

Midlothian Council

Midlothian Parents Voice

Midlothian Sure Start

National Childbirth Trust

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Lothian

North Ayrshire Council

One Parent Families Scotland

Parent Council (Clackmannanshire)

Parent Network Scotland

People First (Scotland)

Perth & Kinross Council

Poverty Alliance

Quarriers

Relationships Scotland

Roshni

Ruchazie Family Support Centre Barlarnark

Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability

Scottish Drugs Forum

Scottish Marriage Care

Scottish Pre-School Play Association

Scottish Woman's Aid

Sense Scotland

Shakti Women's Aid

Shetland Council

Sign Post (West Lothian Council)

South Lanarkshire Council

St Marys Family Support Project, South Lanarkshire

Stirling Council

Sure Start and Outreach Strathbrock Partnership (West Lothian)

The Hub Community Centre (Highland Council)

Towerlands Primary School (North Ayrshire Council)

West Dumbartonshire Council

West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership

West Dunbartonshire Council

West Lothian Council

Work Sleep Play

Question reference: S4W-07299

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of partner organisations is in the consultation on a national parenting strategy.

Question reference: S4W-07301

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget the cost of using partner organisations in the consultation on a national parenting strategy is being met.