Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31897 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 December 2002, how many parents were nominated for membership of the Special Educational Needs Advisory Forum.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider removing some of the eligibility criteria for the water charges exemption scheme administered by Scottish Water in order to ensure maximum eligibility of charities.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to protect the public from any possible terrorist smallpox or anthrax attacks. (S1F-2339)
Lloyd Quinan: Given the British Government's desire to follow the United States into an unjustifiable colonial war in Iraq, and in light of recent reports that the US Administration is prepared to use nuclear weapons in response to an attack involving weapons of mass destruction, does the First Minister agree that that policy will only increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the west? Does he agree...
Lloyd Quinan: If it is true that the situation is improving, can the minister tell me how many local authorities in Scotland have an integrated strategy to deal with children with autism or Asperger's syndrome? How many further or higher education colleges in Scotland run programmes for children with Asperger's syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder?
Lloyd Quinan: The Scottish Executive has made the laudable pledge that every young person will get the best possible start in life but, without doubt, that is not being achieved for the vast majority of children and young people with autism or Asperger's syndrome. It is clear that there is a growing body of evidence that children with autism or Asperger's syndrome have specific needs that require a...
Lloyd Quinan: I welcome any consultation. As the minister knows, as well as the disabilities' being hidden, the parents and carers of children who have the conditions have been hidden away and not consulted. There have been consultations during the past couple of years, which have been effective and useful, but I see them only as introducing something into the market place that was not there previously. It...
Lloyd Quinan: Okay. The matter is quite straightforward. We need to be aware that this is not simply a problem for health or for education, but that it requires an entirely new national strategy that combines those elements. Information is available in this country about treatment that will improve the situation and create less pressure on services. We have to put into practice the joined-up thinking that...
Lloyd Quinan: Does the member agree that the use of the term "asylum seeker" rather than "refugee" is pejorative and that we should therefore work hard to avoid it? The term "asylum seeker" implies that people who are so designated wish to be given something. That is in contrast to the historical perspective of refugees as people who need support and help.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that full access to broadband internet services is available throughout Scotland.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the further stage of its review of initial teacher education is now complete and, if so, when the report of the review will be published.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of initial teacher education will include appropriate training provision to ensure that the education of pupils suffering from autistic spectrum disorders reflects its mainstreaming policy.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29088 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 September 2002, how often the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report implementation group will meet and whether the agenda and minutes of the meetings will be made publicly available.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it received for the post of Policy Officer in the special educational needs bill team and whether the post has now been filled.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30910 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 November 2002, who the members of the Special Educational Needs Forum are; what qualifications and expertise each member has, and what criteria were used to decide on the forum’s membership.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30910 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 November 2002, how the Special Educational Needs Forum will gather its evidence.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30910 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 November 2002, how many meetings of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Forum have taken place to date, what issues were discussed, and whether the minutes of the meetings are publicly available.
Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on its creative industry strategy. (S1O-5981)
Lloyd Quinan: Does the minister agree that our profitable and highly regarded music industry should be part of the creative industries strategy, not least because it understands the concept of intellectual property rights, which are essential for sustainability? That appears not to be a priority for Scottish Enterprise and, as a result, our leading computer games company, Red Lemon Studios Ltd, has gone to...
Lloyd Quinan: I thank the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee and its advisers and clerks for a very fine report and for the fact that they have addressed disability issues—specifically those that affect people with autistic spectrum disorder and Asperger's syndrome. People with ASD and Asperger's syndrome have what is termed a hidden disability. Although we have some fine practice in this...