Parliamentary questions
Cathy Jamieson
1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of employment opportunities available in (a) east and (b) south Ayrshire.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government remains focused on delivering our core purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth across Scotland, including in Ayrshire.</p> <p >Through our Government Economic Strategy and our six-point programme for economic recovery, we a…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that super-fast broadband connections are available in (a) east and (b) south Ayrshire.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s broadband commitment currently extends to provision of basic broadband services (512Kbps), which is already available to over 99% of the population. The known demand in the so-called broadband not spots is being addressed through th…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many municipal swimming pools have been closed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many municipal golf courses have been closed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to South Ayrshire Council to secure the future of the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr as a performance venue.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government recognises the value that the Gaiety Theatre has for the local and wider community. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22889 on 11 May 2009. This issue was discussed by the First Minister and Provost Sloan as part of a wi…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce free prescriptions for cancer patients in advance of the abolition of all prescription charges scheduled for 2011.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22880 on 11 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce free prescriptions for cancer patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government intends to abolish prescription charges for everyone, no matter what condition they suffer from, on 1 April 2011. This will bring the position in Scotland into line with that in Wales where prescription charges were abolished in 2007 a…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is charged for a Blue Badge parking permit, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Local authorities can, if they wish to, charge an applicant between £2 and £20 for the issue of a blue badge. Deciding how much to charge is a matter for each local authority. Information relating to how much each local authority charges is not held centrally…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency eligible for the Broadband Reach Project have not registered.
Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Eligibility for inclusion in the Broadband Reach Project is only ascertained after registration, therefore properties which have not registered are not assessed for eligibility.</p>
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,000 premises connected to broadband as a result of the Broadband Reach Project are in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Broadband Reach Project is using satellite and wireless technology to deliver an affordable, basic broadband to those eligible households and businesses which have made us aware of their broadband need. The project is due to conclude in May 2009. Over 4,0…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Broadband Reach Project to bring broadband to people who are unable to secure a reliable service due to distance from a telephone exchange.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made significant progress in deployment of the Broadband Reach Project which is on track for project completion in May 2009.</p> <p >As of 22 March 2009, Avanti has completed 1287 installations with another 726 orders in progress.…
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the 2008 woodfuel demand and usage data published by Forestry Commission Scotland, whether it has conducted research on the likely effects on employment of the displacement of the wood processing industries by the biomass energy industry.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland has not conducted research on the likely effects on employment of the displacement of the wood processing industries by the biomass energy industry. To date, despite a threefold increase in the use of woodfuel since 2005 in Scotla…
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have been treated in the private sector in 2008-09.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Provisional data on the number of NHS patients treated in the private sector in 2008-09 will be available in June 2009.</p>
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients were treated in the private sector in each financial year since 2003-04.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: SMR01 data returns relating to the private sector are known to be significantly incomplete. In July 2008 NHS boards were asked to ensure submission of complete and accurate data. The Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland (ISD) …
10 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated to raising public awareness of thrombosis in each year since 1998-99.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17402 on 12 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the protocol regarding the transfer of patient information between NHS Scotland and the NHS in the rest of the United Kingdom will be updated.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Health Service Central Register for Scotland is currently in discussion with colleagues from Connecting for Health regarding the future transfer of patient information from NHS Scotland to the Personal Demographics Service, NHS England.<b></b></p…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protocol is in place regarding the transfer of patient information between NHS Scotland and the NHS in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Health Service Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (SSI 2006/484) sets out the<b> </b>regime under which defined information may be provided from the National Health Service Central Register for Scotland (NHSCR), including the detail of …
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when information for patients on patient confidentiality was last updated.
Answer · Shona Robison: Health Rights Information Scotland (HRIS) has developed a series of core NHSScotland public information leaflets about health rights, including confidentiality. There are leaflets relating to confidentiality for both adults and children.</p> <p >The children…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its guidance on patient confidentiality was last updated.
Answer · Shona Robison: The NHSScotland Code of Practice on Protecting Patient Confidentiality was issued in July 2003. It makes clear to NHS staff, students, volunteers and contractors their confidentiality obligations when working in, or with, NHSScotland.</p>
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on plans for a rail station at Ayr Hospital.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no plans to develop a rail station at Ayr Hospital.</p>
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been allocated for the improvements to the A77 around Ayr.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-19420 on 26 January 2009 and S3W-20652 on 24 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p …
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the improvements to the A77 around Ayr will be completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended a package of proposed investments for the period 2012 and beyond, the delivery of which will be prioritised in each spending review.</p> <p >A timetable for undertaking the work on the A77 upgrad…
11 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to raise public awareness of its mortgage to shared equity scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: We have already taken, or will soon be taking, a series of actions to raise awareness of the Home Owners Support Fund, including the new mortgage to shared equity and the revised mortgage to rent schemes, including:</p> <p >Writing to all local authorities, …
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards have adjusted their business plans for diabetes service provision in light of the revised guidance on insulin pumps from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We expect NHS boards'' business plans and local protocols for insulin pump therapy, as they are renewed, to reflect the revised advice on insulin pump therapy set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Assessment 15…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the revised guidance on insulin pumps from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will have on the provision of insulin pumps in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board in each of the next five years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has commissioned a Resource and Cost Impact<i> </i>Report on NICE Technology Assessment 151. This will give a detailed estimate of both staffing and pump cost to help NHS boards plan its implementation.</p> <p >Once publishe…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adult and (b) child patients are waiting to be supplied with an insulin pump, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The data available do not make a distinction between those on a waiting list for an insulin pump and those on a waiting list for an insulin pump suitability assessment. Details are given in the following table.</p> <p >Number of Patients on a Waiting List f…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adult and (b) child patients were allocated insulin pumps in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The most recent figures on insulin pumps usage available for comparison purposes are those from September 2007. They show that in the 17 months to February 2009 at least 165 people were allocated an insulin pump. Detailed figures are given in the following ta…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adult and (b) child patients use insulin pumps, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Number of people currently using an insulin pump broken down by NHS board and age group:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=176 valign=top > <p align=center >NHS Board</p> </td> <td width=85 valign=top > <p align…
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is making available to people who rely on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for heating.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is aware of the significant additional burden that high fuel prices in general have on those living and working in many rural parts of Scotland.</p> <p >As fuel duty is a reserved issue, responsibility for this matter rests with the …
4 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with suppliers of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to ensure that people who rely on it for heating are not disproportionately disadvantaged by rising costs.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is aware of the significant additional burden that high fuel prices have on those living and working in many rural parts of Scotland, especially as Scotland has a large proportion of people who are off the gas grid and rely on other so…