Parliamentary questions

Christine Grahame

3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seminars it is holding for local newspapers to discuss improving communications with it and what the cost of such seminars is to the public purse.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is planning tohold a seminar for local newspaper editors on 15 January 2004.Final costs for the seminar,to include buffet lunch and transport to the Parliament, will depend on thenumbers attending, but are not expected to exceed £700. Att…

9 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-33587 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2003, what the timetable is for introducing the updated patients charter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Patient Rights andResponsibilities was issued fornational consultation last year and a revised document is currently beingdeveloped by the Scottish Consumer Council to reflect the comments received.The revised draft will be circulated amongst the key s…

9 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33587 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2003, when responses to the consultation, Patient Rights and Responsibilities - A draft for consultation, will be made available.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In line with the Scottish Executive guidance on good practice in consultations, the responses to theconsultation paper Patient Rights and Responsibilities are available onScottish Health on the Web at <a href="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/">www.show.sco…

5 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to extend the Positive Mental Well-Being project for schoolchildren who are deaf.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under the National Programmefor Mental Health and Well-being, there are plans already in place to include amember of the National Deaf Children’s Society (Scotland) (NDCS) within thepilot of the mental health first aid initiative. Following this, arepresentat…

5 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16722 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 July 2001, what progress has been made in the introduction of neonatal hearing screening in light of research showing that if children are identified as deaf before six months of age they are likely to develop language…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The introduction of newbornhearing screening is a commitment in the partnership agreement and is beingtaken forward in two steps. The first step which involved the establishment oftwo screening pathfinder sites in Tayside and Lothian NHS boards is in placeand…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been allocated for acceleration of colposcopies following detection of cancerous cells following a smear test.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4707 on 16 December 2003. All answers to written are available on the Parliament's website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target time is from detection of cancerous cells by smear test to colposcopy.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4707 on 16 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting times have been from detection of cancerous cells by smear test to colposcopy in each year since 1999-2000, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A cervical smear is not atest for cancer but is aimed at detecting abnormal cells which, if leftuntreated, could develop into cervical cancer. Information about waiting times forcolposcopy investigation following a cervical smear is not collected centrally.</…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided by each NHS board to (a) local authorities and (b) care home providers to assist in the reduction of winter pressures in the NHS in each year since 2000.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is notavailable centrally. NHS boards will provide funding to planning partners whereit is seen as appropriate in the context of local winter planning arrangements.This is supported by significant extrainvestment with health spending set to i…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority representatives and care home providers are involved in the planning processes of NHS boards on how to respond to winter pressures.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All NHS boards involve therelevant planning partners in preparing for the pressures that are associatedwith winter.This involves, whereappropriate, purchasing extra capacity in residential accommodation,establishing “pooled” stores of specialist equipm…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to the NHS this year to respond to winter pressures.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On average we have increasedthe allocations to NHS boards by 7.8% for 2003-04. From this increase NHS boardshave set aside around £12 million to address specific winter issues, supportedby the £11 million spent by the Executive on the flu vaccination programm…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) acute, (b) critical, (c) residential and (d) nursing care beds were made available through extra funding for winter pressures in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is notavailable centrally. The total number of critical care beds available to NHSpatients in Scotland has grown from 122 in 1999 to 142 in 2003. Thisincrease, together with a range of further measures implemented by the NHS in Scotland toimp…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money, in cash terms, has been available to Scottish Borders Council from the Rural Transport Fund for each year since 1999-2000 and how much will be made available for 2004-05 and any future years for which figures are available.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Borders Council hasbeen allocated the following amounts of grant under the Rural Transport PublicPassenger Transport Grant Scheme, which is part of the Rural Transport Fund:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Ye…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the distribution of money from the Rural Transport Fund has been in each year since 2001-02 and what the indicative allocation figures are for 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Rural Transport Fund moniessince 2001-02 have been allocated as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> </td> <td> Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant (£ million)<…

4 Dec 2003 · Written Question

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Rural Transport Fund comprises three elements: the Rural Community Transport Initiative (RCTI), the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme (RPSGS) and the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant Scheme (RPPTGS). Scottish Borders Council received no funding und…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places will be required for older people with high dependency levels in (a) nursing homes and (b) NHS continuing care beds in each of the next five years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A range and capacity reviewof key community care services for older people in Scotland iscurrently being carried out.The outcomes of the review will include projections of the numbers of communitycare service users, along with the associated workforce and cos…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what future planning it is undertaking, or has undertaken, in respect of future health and social care needs of older people with high dependency levels.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A range and capacity reviewof community care services for older people, which will include a strategicreview of the social care needs of older people with high dependency levels, iscurrently being carried out inpartnership with health and local authority coll…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are national targets for local authorities regarding the maximum period of time for which older people in hospital should wait (a) to be allocated a care manager and (b) for a care management assessment to be completed.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are no nationaltargets for local authorities regarding the maximum period of time for whicholder people in hospital should wait to be allocated a care manager, or for acare manager assessment to be completed. We will, however, introduce from April2004 a…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the duties of local authorities are regarding the care of older people.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Localauthorities have a duty to assess the care needs of older people. Any decisiontaken about these needs should be based on a detailed assessment of theindividual’s needs and take into account their wishes. Where, once an assessment hasbeen made, it transpi…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was in each NHS board area from assessed and deemed ready for discharge to actual discharge in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not heldcentrally.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently waiting for a first appointment with a consultant clinical psychologist in each NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot available. Data on out-patient waiting, by specialty, are collectedcentrally after patients have been seen at a consultant-led clinic, and istherefore retrospective.Partnership for Care, which was published in Feb…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was in each NHS board area for a first appointment with a consultant clinical psychologist in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot available centrally.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the change in the method of benefit payments, what representations it will make to the Department for Work and Pensions regarding provisions in place to assist those with a visual impairment or learning difficulties who cannot key in pin numbers and wish to maintain the…

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Arrangements for the paymentof benefits are a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in touch with the UK Government on a number of subjects.

3 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement in The Scotsman on 3 December 2003 by a Scottish Executive spokeswoman that the Borders rail line is among its rail priorities and that the money is in place to start these projects going represents a firm commitment to provide its #110 million contributi…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: the Scottish Executive has provided over £2 million to support the work undertakento progress the Borders railway project to its current stage. An announcementon the additional funding contribution to support the construction of theBorders railway will follow…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, subject to its business case test being satisfied, it would increase its notional contribution towards the Borders Railway if the Strategic Rail Authority failed to deliver their anticipated contribution of #4 million.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-4596 on 15 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/sea…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has agreed to increase its notional contribution of #110 million towards the Borders railway, as requested by Scottish Borders Council, should its business case test be satisfied.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The business case iscurrently being considered by the Executive. No such agreement has beenreached.

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17513 by Nicol Stephen on 4 September 2001, what the most recent data are on the number of children enrolled for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area with a record of needs and what each of these figures represents as a …

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isprovided in following Tables 1 and 2.Table 1: Number of Pupils with a Record of Needs in Publicly Funded Primary Schools<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=604> <thead> <tr> <td rowspan="2"> </b…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to assess the cost of production of hospital meals to enable controls, including a set daily food allowance, to be introduced, as referred to in Audit Scotland's report Catering for Patients.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The cost of the productionof hospital meals is a matter for NHS boards and trusts to decide.The important issue is thathigh quality nutritional care is provided for all patients in hospital. NHSQuality Improvement Scotland issued new clinical standards…

1 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to the supplementary questions to question S2O-862 by Cathy Jamieson on 27 November 2003, what the timetable is for the proposed future bill on animal welfare and whether any such proposed legislation will affect the transportation of young companion animals.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive planto introduce an Animal Health and Welfare Bill to the Parliament during Session2004-05. It is not currently intended to legislate on the transportation ofyoung companion animals in this bill as new regulations on the transportationo…

1 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pharmacists who specialise in the care of elderly people there were in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is notcentrally available.Information on numbers ofNHS pharmacists employed at 30 September each year is published on the webpages of the Information and StatisticsDivision of NHSScotland, in section A of "Workforce Statistics&quo…