Cathy Peattie

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give comparative details of any guidelines issued by health boards on eligibility for a bone densitometry scan, broken down by health board area and machine type.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of a scan by a bone densitometry machine currently is, broken down by machine type and health board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what direct access general practitioners currently have to bone densitometry machines in each health board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bone densitometry machines there currently are and whether it will give a breakdown of (a) the machine type, (b) the scanning type (whole or part body), (c) whether they are used for clinical or research purposes and (d) the location of each machine and, in the case of mobile ser…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect wild plants and their habitats.

Answer · Allan Wilson: A variety of action to protect wild plants and their habitats is on-going through Biodiversity Species and Habitats Action Plans. Special protection is provided for species and habitats of particular concern by the EU Habitats Directive and the Wildlife and C…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to promote better management and treatment of osteoporosis.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for NHS Boards to determine the services which are required to meet the needs of their local population within available resources. Guidance to help boards devise their strategies for osteoporosis was issued by the Health Department in 1997 in the form …

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) NHS dentists and (b) NHS dental practices there currently are in (i) Scotland and (ii) each parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <P>Number of NHS dentists and NHS dental practices in each parliamentary constituency; by region<P>At 30 September 2001<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=474><TR><TD WIDTH="55%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN=…

25 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to respond to the report, Citi'ens of a Multilingual World, produced by the Action Group for Languages.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today published my response to the recommendations made by the action group which set out to improve support for language education in Scottish schools. Copies of the response have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16335) an…

31 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that schools will be able to take full advantage of an advanced digital infrastructure.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Recommendations by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the feasibility of a broadband network for schools and the Executive's response to those recommendations are being published today on the Executive's website at <A HREF="http://www.scotland.gov.uk)/">www.scotland.g…

23 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that sufficient placements are available in academic session 2001-02 and, in particular, during their second year of probation in 2002-03, for students graduating from teacher training courses this year, given that students graduating in 2002 will be guaranteed a placem…

Answer · Jack McConnell: Following the 21st Century Teaching Profession agreement reached in January 2001, arrangements are now in hand to establish an Induction Implementation Group to take forward the many logistical, development and administrative issues surrounding the implementa…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its slaughter policy in relation to rare breeds, animal sanctuaries, pets and other animals which show no signs of the foot-and-mouth virus following repeated testing and which are not destined for export.

Answer · Ross Finnie: From the start, provision has been made for some recognised rare animal breeds where bio-security can be adequately maintained. For all other cases the Executive has recently reviewed its policy on the contiguous cull of cattle and the 3km sheep cull. Infecte…

25 Apr 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the phased introduction of school sports co-ordinators.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As of the end of March 2001, sportscotland had offered lottery awards to 23 local authorities and 11 individual secondary schools covering 294 posts.

3 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review adoption services in Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: As part of our commitment to improve the position of children and young people looked after by local authorities, I am concerned about the place of adoption services within the range of options that should be considered when their needs are being assessed. Wi…

29 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review current emissions standards and, in particular, what steps it will take to monitor or restrict emissions of particles less than four microns in si'e.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The air quality objectives set under the Air Quality Strategy are kept under a rolling review. Consideration is currently being given to whether it will be possible to set a more stringent objective for particles than the existing one for PM<SUB>10</SUB>. The…

22 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3090 by Ross Finnie on 15 March 2001, whether, in light of the statement of the UK Chief Veterinary Officer on 19 March 2001 that a vaccination programme has not been ruled out, it has any plans to consider vaccinating livestock against foot-and-mout…

Answer · Ross Finnie: As I made clear in my Statement to the Parliament today the decision on whether or not to vaccinate will be made by the Scottish Executive, taking account of the situation in Scotland and Veterinary advice.

7 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the feasibility of a programme of vaccination of livestock against foot and mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are no current plans to vaccinate against Foot and Mouth Disease although supplies of vaccines are of course available.<P>The EU does not permit the use of FMD vaccine by member states. Their policy like that of the UK Government and the Scottish Execut…

5 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consider the arrangements made for the transportation of livestock with a view to minimising vectors for the transmission of disease and enhancing animal welfare.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Containment and eradication of Foot and Mouth disease in Scotland is the Scottish Executive's first priority and we are taking all steps necessary to achieve this. Guidance has been issued which makes clear the requirement to thoroughly disinfect all transpor…

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the farm income figures for 2000.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is today publishing the Scottish farm income figures. The estimated figures show that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) fell by 13% in 2000 to £228 million. The fall in agricultural incomes reflects the lower prices for many agricultural…

24 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to ensure the involvement in service design and delivery of those patient support groups at both local and national level whose expertise on chronic conditions was publicly acknowledged in Our National Health, a plan for action, a plan for change.

Answer · Susan Deacon: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Our National Health: a plan for action; a plan for change</I> commits the Scottish Executive and the NHS to take steps to work closely with patient support groups to ensure that the needs of those with chronic conditions are met e…

30 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its policy on the location and relocation of public sector jobs in Scotland.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Mr Jack&nbsp;McConnell's answer of 6 July (question S1W-8578, Karen Gillon) announced a preliminary examination of nine organisations to establish whether the option of relocation from Edinburgh should be examined further or in detail. The announcement also c…

8 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage more young people to study science and technology subjects.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is preparing a Science Strategy which will cover science education. We have also revised guidelines on Science and Technology within the 5-14 programme and made a wider range of technology courses available through the Higher Still programme.

12 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by the Scottish Arts Council to promote the creative industries.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This week the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Enterprise announced their Creative Industries Company Development initiative, an exciting joint programme, delivering a total of £120,000 in support of small Scottish-based record companies and book publishers.

7 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it intends to do to support the work of the Scottish Council for Research in Education.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive have agreed a service level agreement with the Scottish Council for Research in Education for research and related services on behalf of the Executive until 31 March 2003.

19 Apr 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the regulation of bus services and whether it will consider creating a Scottish bus watchdog and customers' council, on the same lines as regulators of rail, water and other services.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive's proposals for the improvement of bus services in Scotland are contained in the document <I>The Integrated Transport Bill - The Executive's Proposals</I> published on 10 February 2000. We are currently considering what may be the most …

15 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will send copies of all consultation documents to each Scottish Parliament partner library.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Yes. All partner libraries have direct access to all Scottish Executive consultation documents though the Internet. The Scottish Executive will also provide hard copies of consultation documents to any partner libraries which request them.

23 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the development of anti-racist education since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and whether it will include a provision to promote equality of opportunity in the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Bill.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Increasing social inclusion and tolerance is already an important aim for all schools. To help schools evaluate of their practice in combating discrimination and achieving equality of opportunity, HMI and South Ayrshire Council together published, in February…

9 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is putting in place to ensure family friendly employment practices operate within the NHS.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A Guideline Development Group (GDG) has been set up under the auspices of the NHS in Scotland Partnership Forum to develop principles and practices on family friendly policy issues together with model policies for use Scotland wide. The GDG is expected to rep…

20 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to review nursery nurses' pay, conditions and career structure to ensure that these are commensurate with and appropriate to the qualifications, skills and duties required by their employment.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The pay and conditions of nursery nurses are the responsibility of their employers, whether local authorities or operators in the private and voluntary sector; and as such are determined through local pay bargaining.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Executive is working…

11 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the elimination of age discrimination in relation to personal loans and other banking facilities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Legislation on equal opportunities and the regulation of financial services are both reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is working with the Scottish financial institutions to encourage the promotion of more inclusive practices.