Parliamentary questions
Cathy Jamieson
1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any services it has transferred from the public to the private sector since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No services have been transferred by the Scottish Government since May 2007.</p>
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area died from bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancers are available by NHS board and year (1980-2006) on the Information Services Division website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_mort_m.xls">http://www.isds…
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran joined the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme in September 2007. Data on the number of people screened is not currently centrally held. Data on the programme will be published in due course on the Information Services Division (ISD) web…
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place regarding the possibility of introducing a scheme to automatically offer screening tests to the immediate family of all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No discussions have taken place regarding the possibility of introducing a scheme to automatically offer screening tests to the immediate family of all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer. The answer to question S3W-14381 on 26 June 2008 outlines the current…
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the screening of the close family members of patients diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Executive published Health Department Letter (HDL) (2001) 24: <i >Cancer Genetics Services in Scotland: Guidance to Support the Implementation of Genetic Services for Breast, Ovarian and Colorectal Cancer Predisposition </i>to identify individual…
13 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to jurors as “other unusual expenses” under the Jurors’ Allowance scheme in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Details on payments to jurors for “other unusual expenses” under the Jurors’ Allowance Scheme are not held centrally by the Scottish Court Service.</p>
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable will be for all rail services between Kilmarnock and Glasgow after completion of the dynamic loop.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is committed to delivering a half-hourly service between Kilmarnock and Glasgow by December 2009.</p> <p >No final decisions have yet been made about the timetable. Transport Scotland is looking at various options. </p> <p >Any final dec…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all rail stations between Kilmarnock and Glasgow will benefit from a half-hourly rail service after the completion of work on the dynamic loop
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is committed to delivering a half-hourly service between Kilmarnock and Glasgow by December 2009.</p> <p >No final decisions have yet been made about the timetable. Transport Scotland is looking at various options. </p> <p >Any final dec…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in relation to increasing the frequency of passenger rail services between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No meetings have been held with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport specifically to discuss increasing the frequency of passenger rail services between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.</p>
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Network Rail in relation to increasing the frequency of passenger rail services between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland meets regularly with Network Rail in normal, planned business meetings to discuss timetable developments. These discussions have included options to increase the frequency of passenger rail services between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.</p>
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Transport Scotland in relation to increasing the frequency of passenger rail services between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government, and internal discussions about timetable developments take place in the normal course of its business.</p>
10 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set up a fund to compensate victims of historical abuse.
Answer · Adam Ingram: None. However, the Scottish Government will be consulting later this year on the possibility of a truth and reconciliation forum in Scotland for victims of historic abuse. The consultation will seek views on whether financial redress should be a feature of su…
10 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11341 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, when it now expects to introduce legislation to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 to ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14051 on 24 June 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/webapp/w…
10 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11341 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, what progress has been made on preparing legislation to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 to ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has introduced a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to overrule the House of Lords Judgment in <i >Johnston</i><i > v NEI International Combustion Ltd. </i>The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill is being published today…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is provided to local authorities on consulting prior to changing school transport arrangements for primary school-age children.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government’s <i >School Transport: Survey of Good Practice</i>, published last year, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45729) emphasised how many of the examples cited involved consultation wi…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding for school transport it has provided to (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire councils for primary school-age children.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Under the new Concordat with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the local government finance settlement for 2008-11 set out in Finance Circular No.1 2008, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 4…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a “safe walking route to school” for primary school-age children.
Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no such definition in legislation. However, in a Scottish Executive Education Department Circular (No.7 of 2003), a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 29135), it was made clear that ministers expect …
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is reasonable for all primary school-age children to walk two miles to school.
Answer · Maureen Watt: No. The relevant legislation makes it clear that local authorities may make arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of travel to school. However, one factor the local authorities must take into consideration when making such considerations, …
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population of (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire is registered with an NHS dentist, broken down by age group.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.</p> <p >Percentage of People Registered with an NHS Dentist; by Age Group in East Ayrshire<sup>1</sup> and South Ayrshire<sup>1</sup> at 31 December 2007</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpaddi…
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many postgraduate students from Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency have been asked to repay the graduate endowment following the removal of the right to defer payment until the completion of study.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In the Scottish parliamentary constituency of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 36 postgraduate students have been asked to repay the graduate endowment following the removal of the right to defer payment until completion of postgraduate study.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when all rural communities in Scotland will have access to broadband.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13446 on 3 June 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/webapp/wa…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further increase access to broadband in rural communities.
Answer · Jim Mather: We plan to bring affordable broadband to all eligible households and businesses in Scotland who notified us of access problems, essentially related to distance from their exchange. This is being achieved through our £3.4 million broadband reach procurement ex…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are on the waiting list for access to broadband in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency, broken down by postcode area.
Answer · Jim Mather: There are 106 premises currently registered by people from the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency who are essentially too distant from their exchange to receive broadband. They are thus included under our broadband reach procurement. The break down…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when people in Straiton, South Ayrshire, will be able to access broadband connections in their homes and businesses.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Straiton exchange was initially upgraded for broadband under a Scottish Government contract with BT. This exchange has a broadband product called Exchange Activate which has a limit on take-up. The government has recently become aware of a capacity proble…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any services which were provided by the public sector prior to May 2007 but have subsequently been transferred to the private sector.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the transporting of children and young people resident in secure units to and from (a) courts, (b) children’s hearings, (c) home visits and (d) hospital and medical appointments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Reliance Secure Task Management provides transportation for the sentenced children and young people placed in units by Scottish ministers.</p> <p >Transportation matters relating to children and young people placed in secure accommodation by Children’s Panel…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much finance has been given to credit unions who have applied for compensation for defaulted loans under its scheme to underwrite the loans of those affected by the collapse of Farepak.
Answer · John Swinney: Compensation totalling £6,247 was awarded to nine Scottish credit unions that met the eligibility criteria for loans up to the value of £400 made to Farepak customers. This included a payment made to Glasgow City Council for liabilities incurred under the sim…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many credit unions have applied for compensation for defaulted loans under its scheme to underwrite the loans of those affected by the collapse of Farepak.
Answer · John Swinney: A total of 10 Scottish credit unions applied for compensation for defaulted loans made to Farepak customers. This included eight credit unions based in Glasgow who applied to Glasgow City Council who operated a similar compensation scheme.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions where the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has asked an NHS board to review a funding decision taken by the board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Boards are responsible for deciding on their priorities for spending, within global financial totals and subject to policy guidelines and frameworks set out by the Scottish Government. In a small number of exceptional cases where I believed earlier decisions …
19 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any analysis of sickness and absence rates in NHS boards and how these compare with local deprivation statistics.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Sickness Absence rates for each of Scotland''s 22 health boards are monitored and reported on regularly. Yearly rates are available at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=WFA07.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline"…