Parliamentary questions
Cathy Peattie
299 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support retailers who ask for proof of age from young people attempting to purchase alcohol or tobacco, given reports from the British Retail Consortium and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers that retailers face an increased risk of vandalism an…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive supports a "no proof, no sale" policy in relation to age-restricted goods such as alcohol and tobacco and is clearly disturbed if shopkeepers acting responsibly to avoid illegal sales are intimidated in this way. We are keen to tackle retail cri…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether approval by the Health Technology Board for Scotland for the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is subject to the ruling on this matter by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and, if so, what plans there a…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland became a part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland on 1 January 2003. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland works with experts to identify whether there are important differences in Scotland that may affect the suitability o…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent operating companies have met, or not met, the agreed standards for cleanliness of motorways, broken down by company and area.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The performance of the operating companies is monitored by the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who report that, overall, Amey Highways and BEAR Scotland have generally met the standards of cleanliness for motorways required by the Environmental Protection Act a…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the cleanliness of motorways to ensure compliance by operating companies with the standards laid down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the associated code of practice.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Performance Audit Group's (PAG) field engineers regularly inspect motorways and record observations on litter, amongst other issues. PAG advises the operating companies and the Scottish Executive through an established reporting system when litter accumul…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policy or guidance there is concerning the provision of educational and health support to children with foetal anti-convulsant syndrome.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Foetal anti-convulsant syndrome describes the range of congenital abnormalities that can occur in children born to mothers taking anti-convulsant medication to control epilepsy during pregnancy. The syndrome is associated with a wide range of conditions and p…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been diagnosed with the group of conditions known as foetal anti-convulsant syndrome.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information housing developers are obliged to provide to potential buyers regarding negotiations with local authorities and commitments made by the developer and the local authority for the on-going maintenance of common ground and the adoption of roads and whether any action will be…
Answer · Margaret Curran: At present there is no legal obligation on developers to provide information to prospective purchasers on the arrangements for the maintenance of common ground and the adoption of roads. Houses are sold on the basis of caveat emptor, buyer beware. It is up to…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information housing developers are obliged to provide to potential buyers regarding the conditions, recommendations and considerations under which planning permission was granted and whether any action will be taken to ensure that such disclosure takes place.
Answer · Margaret Curran: At present there are no obligations on developers to provide information to prospective purchasers on any planning conditions attached to the house. Houses are sold on the basis of caveat emptor, buyer beware. It is up to the buyer (with the assistance of the…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ensure that obligations for the maintenance of common ground are adequately highlighted prior to the sale of a property.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Maintenance obligations relating to a property and any common ground in which it has a share are set out as title conditions in the relevant title deeds. These conditions form part of the agreement of sale of the property. Under current arrangements an agent …
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the commissioning of decontamination units and related equipment and the training of firefighters in the use of this equipment.
Answer · Hugh Henry: A UK-wide procurement process is under way. The initial delivery of equipment is being made to one designated UK centre in England. Distribution across the UK will start by the end of March. Operational procedures and training requirements have been identifie…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the issue of ground specifications for Scottish Premier League football clubs.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Premier League determines ground specifications for its member clubs having due regard to relevant legislation and governing body rules.<P>However, through <I>National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further assist local authorities in implementing the National Cultural Strategy.
Answer · Mike Watson: I am pleased to announce the publication today of the document, <I>Implementation of the National Cultural Strategy: Guidance for Scottish Local Authorities</I>. This is a joint publication with COSLA in the spirit of the kind of partnership activity that the…
7 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the amendments to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, including amendments regarding landspreading of blood and gut contents, will come into force.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The amending regulations have been laid before Parliament and will come into force on 1 April. <P>The Executive has been concerned for some time about reported abuses of the landspreading exemptions contained in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994…
5 Mar 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has made available to support the inclusion of Scottish traditional music at the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival in Washington in June 2003.
Answer · Mike Watson: The Executive has contributed £250,000 towards the creation and running of a complete Scottish programme at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2003. Additionally, VisitScotland and the Scottish Arts Council each contributed £50,000 for this purpose. Traditiona…
17 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities regarding the frequency of road inspection in order to exercise local authorities' reasonable duty of care.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A Code of Practice, <I>Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance</I>, was published by the Institution of Highways and Transportation in July 2001. It applies throughout the UK and is endorsed by COSLA. Responsibility for implementing the guidance in the c…
17 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of the central heating installation programme and the Warm Deal were in 2001-02; when a report will be published on this matter, and what benefits from the programme are expected in 2002-03.
Answer · Des McNulty: 2001-02 was the first year of the central heating programme. Central heating and insulation were installed in just over 8,500 houses. This led to an increase in the average energy rating (NHER) of the dwellings from 3.1 to 6.6. Those aged 60 or over in the pr…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been in each of the last three years for an offence where an aggravation of homophobic malice has been (a) alleged and (b) proven.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available.
14 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from dentists' lists as a result of the 15-month NHS registration period in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area, and what policy or guidelines exist regarding (a) notification that exclusion from a list is imminent and (b) re-admi…
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The number of patients who have been removed from dentists' lists as a result of the 15-month NHS registration period in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area, is shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 WIDTH=425><TR><TD …
14 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the retention of existing research and research-degree-awarding powers by Scottish universities.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive has no plans to withdraw either existing research powers or existing research degree awarding powers from Scottish higher education institutions.
14 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action its Justice Department is taking to tackle homophobic hate crime.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33200 on 27 January 2003. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…
14 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is taking to address homophobic hate crimes in light of the recent announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service about action it is taking to tackle this issue in England and Wales.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: Homophobic hate crimes are taken seriously and prosecuted vigorously by procurators fiscal. There is currently no systematic collection of data in relation to the occurrence of such crimes. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is committed to examin…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the code of practice for social service workers and employers.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The codes of practice for social service workers and employers were launched on Monday 23 September 2002. There has been very enthusiastic endorsement from all key figures in the social work field. The codes will operate across the UK and are unique in that t…
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the consultation on children's oral health promised in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The consultation document <I>Towards Better Oral Health in Children</I> is published today. It seeks views on a range of measures which might be taken to improve oral health among children in Scotland. Copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Cen…
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult on the possibility of establishing a sustainability fund for Scotland's share of the aggregates levy.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25486.
30 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered, or will consider, the introduction of a sustainability fund for Scotland's share of the aggregates levy.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The assigned budget will receive approximately £3 million per year from 2002-03 as part of the allocation by the Treasury of the proceeds of the aggregates levy. Ministers have decided to allocate this to the Environment portfolio and decisions on how to dist…
24 Apr 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in discussions with NHS boards and local authorities on delayed discharge.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Ministers met with local authority leaders and NHS chairs on 30 April to discuss progress and ministers will meet with individual partnerships in the coming period. Partnerships must submit local joint action plans for evaluation, prior to release of further …
18 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to ensure that teachers who started probation in the school year 2001-02 have adequate access to suitable posts in order to meet the full requirements of the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The General Teaching Council for Scotland are currently in the process of notifying all probationer teachers of the transitional arrangements, which have been put in place for those who are not part of the Teacher Induction Scheme. These arrangements allow al…
14 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently diagnosed as suffering from osteoporosis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, it is estimated from information derived from the Continuous Morbidity Recording (CMR) system, that approximately 17,000 people in Scotland were seen by General Practitioners in respect of…
8 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Review of the Tourism Strategy.
Answer · Mike Watson: We have completed the Review and I am publishing today the <I>Tourism Framework for Action 2002-2005</I>. This document will take forward the February 2000 Strategy, not replace it. The framework provides a clear sense of direction and way forward. It identif…
2 Jan 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support the recruitment of children's panel members.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Each year, in consultation with key interests, the Scottish Executive plans and funds on a national and local press and radio recruitment campaign. This year, the Executive is also funding a series of national awareness-raising press supplements.