Parliamentary questions
Christine Grahame
3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding provision for vulnerable groups in Scotland who cannot afford to purchase the equipment needed to change from analogue to digital TV and what action it can take itself in this respect.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter.However, Scottish ministers have made clear to the UK Government the importancethe Scottish Executive attaches to social inclusion. Scottish ministers’ positionis that, when digital switchover is complete, television services…
16 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vulnerable people it estimates will be affected by the switch over from analogue to digital TV in 2008.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter.On 15 September 2005, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, confirmed the timetable for digital switchover and announceddetails of a supportscheme to make sure that no one is left behind …
16 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Ofcom regarding the impact on vulnerable groups in Scotland when the switch over from analogue to digital TV takes place.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter.The Scottish Executive regularly engages with Ofcom to discuss different aspectsof broadcasting in Scotland, including digital switchover. The Executive has madeclear to Ofcom the importance it attaches to social inclusion. O…
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research or data is available to assess the incidence of autistic spectrum disorder among those sleeping rough.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No data is collected at a national level relating to the incidence of autism spectrum disorder among people sleeping rough.</p> <p>The Scottish Executive funds Glasgow Homelessness Network to collect data from organisations providing services to rough sleeper…
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research or data is available to assess the incidence of autistic spectrum disorder among the adult population.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in adults in Scotland is unknown. However, a national database is presently being piloted in four areas by eCare and the eSAY project in the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability. This will include inform…
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research or data is available to assess whether prisoners suffer from autistic spectrum disorder.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>No national data is currently available. Detecting autism is complex. The SPS prefer to focus on assessing need in order to address and su…
6 Sep 2005 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether Braille guides to the Parliament building are available and, if so, how these are publicised both externally and in the public foyer.
Answer · Andrew Welsh: A range of leaflets explaining Parliament and its role are available in Braille. These are available from the Visitor Information Desk in the Main Hall and can be ordered from our website or from Public Information.</p> <p>In addition the text relating to th…
6 Sep 2005 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether audio handsets are available for visually-impaired people touring the Parliament and, if so, how these are publicised both externally and in the public foyer.
Answer · Andrew Welsh: Visitors to the Scottish Parliament can tour the Main Hall area which comprises our exhibition, shop and café on their own. The exhibition and a wide range of leaflets are available for visitors explaining Parliament and its role. Audio tapes and CDs are avai…
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which treatment centres have provided sleep services to patients outwith their own NHS board area in each year since 1999 and how many such patients each centre has treated.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been sent outwith their own NHS board area for sleep services in each year since 1999, broken down by board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been on waiting lists for sleep services in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have provided sleep services in each year since 1999 and what type of service each board has provided.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
30 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of recovering poll tax arrears in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · George Lyon: The cost of recovering community charge arrears is not held centrally.</p>
30 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what amount was outstanding in poll tax arrears in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · George Lyon: The information is contained in the following table.</p> <p>Summary of Reported Amounts of Community Charge Arrears<sup>1,2,3</sup></p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=570> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> 1999-2000 to 2004-05</p> <p…
30 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11609 by Lewis Macdonald on 19 November 2004, whether the responses to the consultation on discounted water charges for households in receipt of council tax benefit were published.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Yes. Responses to the “Paying for Water Services 2006-10” consultation, together with the analysis, were lodged in the Scottish Executive library in November 2004 and February 2005 respectively.</p> <p>Ministers thereafter announced on 9 February 2005 that a …
30 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11610 by Mr Tom McCabe on 19 November 2004, how many households have received council tax benefit and, of these, how many (a) are pensioner households and (b) include a disabled person in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · George Lyon: For figures on the number of households in receipt of council tax benefit broken down by Local Authority area, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18050 on 22 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parlia…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18057 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 August 2005, how it monitors the issuing by police of written warnings to children if the information is not held centrally.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive does not monitor the issuing by police of written warnings to children. Police officers use their professional judgement when dealing with children to respond in a way that they consider is in the best interests of the child and which also serve…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18057 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 August 2005, why information in respect of police reports and written warnings concerning children is not held centrally.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The police do not maintain statistics on decisions on disposal following investigation of a crime. Information on the numbers of police reports and written warnings concerning children is not therefore included in the data that the Scottish Executive collects…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18057 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 August 2005, whether the criteria for police issuing written warnings to children is standard across police forces and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Matters of operational procedure are for Chief Constables to decide rather than the Scottish Executive. The range of disposals can include a warning from a senior police officer, a police restorative warning, referral to the Children’s Panel, or in serious ca…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people waited for more than 100 days for a hernia operation in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The majority of patients who require in-patient and day case treatment, including hernia operations, are treated quickly. Nearly 55% of patients treated in NHSScotland hospitals receive immediate treatment and never join a waiting list. Of those who do wait 4…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are target waiting times for hernia operations.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The current national maximum waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment, including hernia operations, is nine months. This guaranteed maximum waiting time will be reduced to six months from the end of this year, and to 18 weeks from the end of 2007.</…
19 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times for hernia operations have been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The majority of patients who require in-patient and day case treatment, including hernia operations, are treated quickly. Nearly 55% of patients treated in NHSScotland hospitals receive immediate treatment and never join a waiting list. Of those who do wait, …
18 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17815 by Elish Angiolini QC on 9 August 2005, how many children accused of a statutory racial offence and separately racial aggravation were referred to the Reporter to the Children's Panel in each year since 2002-03 to date, broken down by police fo…
Answer · Elish Angiolini: The information requested is set out in the following table:</p> <p>Number of Children referred to Children’s Reporter by Procurators Fiscal</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center> </p></td> <t…
11 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with regard to a permanent recognition in the parliamentary complex of the historic importance of Sir William Wallace in the nationhood of Scotland.
Answer · Andrew Welsh: The Scottish Parliament has had a range of requests to support the placing of commemorative works in the parliamentary complex. In order to move forward, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will consider the issue of commemorative works at a forthcoming…
11 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it has in place to enable the Parliament to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the execution of Sir William Wallace.
Answer · Andrew Welsh: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has collaborated with the National Archives of Scotland to stage a temporary exhibition to commemorate the anniversary.</p> <p>The display, “For Freedom Alone”, is on show in the Main Hall for four weeks from August 1…
11 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Visit Scotland regarding commemorating the 700th anniversary of the execution of Sir William Wallace.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Tourism officials had early discussions with VisitScotland about promoting the 700th anniversary of the death of William Wallace. This has resulted in VisitScotland promoting Wallace-related events through UK and international promotional material and on the …
11 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any problems being experienced by users of digital hearing aids in having them properly tuned.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is not aware ofany problems being experienced by users of digital hearing aids in having them properlytuned. If any issues are brought to our attention, they will be addressed by theExecutive’s Audiology Modernisation Project.</p>
11 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is professionally qualified to tune hearing aids.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Audiologists (Medical TechnicalOfficers) within audiology departments are qualified and will carry out tuning ofhearing aids.</p>
11 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a prescribed number of tuning sessions for digital hearing aids.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Guidance on the modernised patientjourney, which is being introduced in all NHS board areas, states that patientsshould receive three appointments, namely an assessment, fitting and then a reviewwhere fine tuning will take place.</p>
11 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given in the tuning of digital hearing aids.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A two-day training course onmodernised patient journey techniques run by representatives from the ModernisingHearing Aid Services (MHAS) programme in England is provided to audiology staff. The suppliers of digitalhearing aids also provide training locally wh…