Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the funding arrangements for Women's Aid projects and to remove any uncertainty over future funding arrangements.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Action Plan contained in the <I>National Strategy to Address</I> <I>Domestic Abuse in Scotland</I> contains a series of recommendations about access to services, including refuge provision by Women's Aid. We are committed to implementing the Action Plan i…
6 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold talks with Glasgow City Council on the funding situation of Women's Aid refuges in the city.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The funding of local Women's Aid refuges remains a matter for local authorities.
6 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold talks with Glasgow Women's Aid and Easterhouse Women's Aid over the intended provision of three extra places in Glasgow refuges.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: We have allocated £10 million to provide refuge spaces for all who need them by 2004. As stated in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland, there will be a review of the CoSLA recommendations with regard to refuge spaces which will include…
6 Dec 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review major incident planning following the derailment of the passenger train at Mossend, Lanarkshire and any delays in summoning the emergency services.
Answer · Iain Gray: It is standard practice for all of the emergency services themselves to review any major incident and thereafter make any necessary amendments, additions or enhancements to procedures. Outcomes will be notified to the Scottish Executive either through the Str…
5 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide blanket network coverage of Glasgow with CCTV cameras as part of an integrated plan to combat crime and increase the public's perception of safety on the city's streets.
Answer · Iain Gray: We are currently considering applications for the 2001-02 round of the Scottish Executive CCTV Challenge Competition. The Glasgow Community Safety Partnership Board and Glasgow City Council have submitted two proposals for the consolidation, integration and s…
5 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8233 by Angus MacKay on 24 July 2000, how many publicly funded CCTV cameras are now operational in Glasgow and what plans it has to increase the number of cameras located in and around schools as part of an integrated plan to tackle bullying of child…
Answer · Iain Gray: The number of cameras funded from the Scottish Executive CCTV Challenge Competition in Glasgow still stands at 238. However, I understand that projects involving the installation of 35 cameras awarded grant in last year's competition have been delayed as they…
5 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are being put in place to enable local communities to influence how money from landfill tax credits is utilised locally.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Decisions about which projects should be supported by landfill operators under the landfill tax credits scheme are a matter for the operator themselves as this funding is considered to be private funding. One of the approved criteria for which funding may be …
5 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage landfill operators to utilise landfill tax credits.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Decisions about which projects should be supported by landfill operators under the landfill tax credits scheme are a matter for the operator themselves as this funding is considered to be private funding.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive encourages op…
29 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it currently makes available to carers of those with long-term chronic pain conditions.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under the <I>Strategy For Carers In Scotland</I>, we have asked local authorities to spend £10 million from this year on supporting unpaid carers, double the funding previously earmarked. The NHS Helpline provides a singe gateway to information and advice for…
29 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it currently makes available into alternative therapy for the relief of chronic pain.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Plan sets out clearly the need to develop national priorities and consistent standards across Scotland. Health boards will be required to demonstrate through new performance management arrangements that priorities and standards are being a…
29 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it currently makes available for research into chronic pain and its alleviation.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department is currently funding six research projects on chronic pain to the total value of £417,000. It has funded 11 other studies on chronic pain, which have been completed within the la…
29 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people suffer from chronic pain, broken down by health board area.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not available centrally.
29 Nov 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct an audit of facilities and budgets for chronic pain relief in the NHS.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no immediate plans to conduct such an audit.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10602 by Susan Deacon on 7 November 2000, whether it will detail the required specifications for equipment and machinery for ambulances at the time of procurement and the criteria used to determine when to replace a piece of equipment in an ambulance.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9625 by Susan Deacon on 15 November 2000, what criteria are used by specialists to determine whether or not, in their clinical judgement, a patient should receive Transtu'mab (Herceptin) for the treatment of metastatic cancer and whether such criteri…
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not possible to define precisely the criteria used by specialists in deciding whether an individual patient should receive Transtuzmab (Herceptin). The ultimate judgement regarding the use of a particular treatment will be made by the specialist in disc…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9588 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 15 November 2000, how it was established that there was no reason to believe environmental damage was caused to Cape Wrath following the military exercise which took place there earlier this year.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer Ms Elder to the answer given by Sarah Boyack to question S1O-1388 on Thursday 16 March (<I>Official Report</I>,<I> </I>col. 788).
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10806 by Sarah Boyack on 15 November 2000, whether it has made, or plans to make, representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the contents displayed on, and the design and location of, road and motorway signs in Scotland to achieve greater …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including road signs.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11036 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2000, whether information on the number of haemodyalisis machines is available from other sources; why this information is not held centrally, and whether it has any plans to gather this information centrally in t…
Answer · Susan Deacon: This information can be obtained directly from health boards and Trusts who are responsible for the equipment operated in their areas. There are no plans to collect this information centrally.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10700 by Susan Deacon, what the timetable is for the consideration of the findings and recommendations of the Scottish Ambulance Service review of accident and emergency services and the eventual publication of the review findings.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive response to the Audit Committee's Third Report on the Scottish Ambulance Service said that the findings of their appraisal for a system of priority-based dispatch would be with Ministers by the end of March 2001. A decision will be made…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the situation where 2% of MS sufferers receive Beta Interferon compared with over 10% in Europe and a greater percentage in Australia.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland have agreed to my request that they provide advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the use of Beta Interferon and Copaxone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This authoritative evidence-based advice will…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Railtrack since Sunday 26 November regarding rail passenger safety in Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Railway safety is a reserved matter, and is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions within the UK Government. However, the Scottish Executive has raised the issue of passenger safety in Scotland during regular contac…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made, or plans to make, to the concerns raised in a recent speech by Lord Airlie, President of the Scottish Council of the Scout Association, that the association will face a bill of #750,000 for checks by the Scottish Criminal Records Office to be introduced under pa…
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-11489 today.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much redundancy money is to be paid to Scottish Enterprise staff and whether any staff will receive payments of more than #200,000.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the party political status is of all councillors and MSPs serving on Social Inclusion Partnerships, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Social Inclusion Partnerships have provided the following information on the party political status of MSPs and councillors serving on Partnerships:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=609><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Loc…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government or the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding any implications for the provision of dental services in Scotland of recent cases considered by the GDC and any subsequent review by them of their guidance on training, rules and…
Answer · Susan Deacon: Guidance on training, rules and qualifications required by NHS dental practitioners is a matter for the General Dental Council. It is the responsibility of the General Dental Council to ensure compliance with this guidance. Matters relating to the General Den…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether health boards, given their general responsibility for the delivery of dental services in Scotland, are notified by the General Dental Council (GDC) when investigating allegations of misconduct or malpractice against NHS dental practitioners and NHS dental staff; what role, if any…
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for the General Dental Council (GDC) to investigate allegations of misconduct. It is for them to decide the role that health boards should play in any investigation relating to NHS dental practitioners and staff, and to determine the notification arrang…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11037 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2000, what criteria are used to determine the list of illnesses which are exempt from prescription charges and why polycystic kidney disorder is not included on that list.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The list of medical conditions which confer exemption from charges is agreed with the medical profession. There is no consensus on possible additions to the list.
24 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will enable geriatric nurses' duties to be split between geriatric nursing and other nursing areas with a view to boosting recruitment of nurses to geriatric care.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no barrier to nursing jobs being designed in this way, provided that each nurse is appropriately skilled for a split role.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Older people are not only nursed in specialist "geriatric" units, but are important users of services across …
23 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make funding available in order to avert possible closure of Springburn Museum in Glasgow.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has statutory responsibility to provide funding for the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland, but the responsibility for independent museums lies solely with those who create and operate them. Many of the 160 independent museums, which wer…
22 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the number of police in areas of Glasgow where refugees have been placed.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Decisions on the numbers and deployment of police officers are entirely operational matters for the Chief Constable.