Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Greater Glasgow Health Board to extend the consultation period on the new plans for Glasgow hospitals from three months to six months.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board to determine the length of time over which its public consultation exercise on the modernisation of acute hospital services across the city will be carried out.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">I understand, however, that the health bo…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate any shortages, including any lack of equipment, in the ambulance service in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no equipment shortages against the inventory required to provide ambulance services in Glasgow.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are occasions where in the best interests of the patient, ambulance crews are obliged to leave equipment with the patient on arri…
10 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, whether, in view of its animal welfare responsibilities, it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to make it a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 not to report to the police any injury caused to cats through road accidents.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive has no plans to make such representations. Road Traffic law is reserved although we are monitoring the current reviews of the Road Traffic Acts being carried out by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.
10 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any staff shortages in the ambulance service and, if so, what plans it has to address these.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of staff employed in the Scottish Ambulance Service meets demand. Over the past five years the level of vacancies against establishment within the service has remained consistently low at between 1% and 1.5%. During the same period the numbers of f…
10 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to investigate staffing numbers and any resultant pressure on staff caused by shortages at the Glasgow Dental Hospital.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is in the final stages of undertaking a strategic review of dental services, including staffing issues.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">I understand, however, that a new locum Consultant has been appo…
10 May 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate public concerns about public consultation on Paterson's toxic waste landfill site in Glasgow.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has recently carried out consultation about the proposed modification to licence conditions for Paterson's landfill site with statutory consultees, local community councils and members of the public who have s…
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the statement in the Ernst & Young report Better Homes, Stronger Communities: A Report on the Key Financial Issues, that a loss of #200 million on the proposed Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer is expected because "the proposed Glasgow Housing Association w…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The report refers to a potential VAT liability of £200 million based on the projected capital programme contained in the initial feasibility work. It makes clear that the VAT implications can be properly assessed only once a detailed operating structure …
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government on the sale of licences for third generation mobile phones, any concerns over possible health risks caused by mobile phones and mobile phone masts and any potential increase in this risk through the erection of more mobile phone…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is in close contact with HM Government over a range of matters flowing from the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, published on 11 May, including the commissioning of a research programme on health-related aspects.
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new mobile phone masts are proposed in Scotland following the recent selling of licenses for third generation mobile phones.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is not known at present and will be a commercial decision for the network operators in the first instance.
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its share from the #22 billion Her Majesty's Treasury has collected through selling licences for third generation mobile phones will be spent on medical research into possible injury to health through mobile phones and mobile phone masts.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Matters relating to receipts from the auction of spectrum licences for third generation mobile communications are for the UK Government. A comprehensive programme of research on health related issues flowing from the report of the Independent Expert Group on …
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of conveyancing and other legal fees will be for Glasgow's 85,000 council houses in the light of the statement in the Ernst & Young report's statement that "external solicitors should be contracted" and what plans have been made to cope with expected workload in view of the …
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The costs of conveying and other legal fees are not known at this stage. The Interim Management Committee of the Glasgow Housing Association intends to appoint solicitors who will work with the council to ensure that the conveyancing process is carried throug…
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will give to the statement in the Ernst & Young report, Better Homes, Stronger Communities: A Report on the Key Financial Issues, that stretching the capital investment programme in the Glasgow housing stock transfer over a longer number of years might delay repair to win…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The report indicated that if the cladding and window replacement programme took place over 10 years rather than six, the new landlord's borrowing requirement would be reduced by £79 million. This was presented as an illustration of the factors which…
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortage of heart transplant surgeons in Glasgow and, if so, what steps it is taking to address this situation.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The shortage of specialist cardiac transplant surgeons in Glasgow is being addressed as part of the wider considerations involved in looking at the future of the national cardiac transplantation service.
27 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure the long term future work of Gingerbread Scotland; whether it has had any discussions with them following the recent suspension of 92 staff because of financial constraints and what support it plans to give to address this situation.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer to my earlier response of 17 March (S1W-04845) to Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) on the issue of funding for Gingerbread Scotland.
26 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to investigate any variation in care standards in Scotland for multiple sclerosis patients.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland which was established on 1 April 1999 will be responsible for developing and running a national system of quality assurance in healthcare for the NHS in Scotland. Its work will be complemented by the Health Technology…
26 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase numbers of physiotherapists dealing with multiple sclerosis patients.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for NHS Trusts to determine the number of physiotherapists required to meet the clinical needs of their patients and to recruit the appropriately qualified physiotherapists.
26 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any new plans to aid multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers and to examine the prevalence of MS in Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The report of a working group set up to devise a Scottish Needs Assessment Programme for multiple sclerosis will be published this month. The report, which includes input from the Multiple Sclerosis Society, will assess the total needs of people with MS. It w…
5 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish clothing manufacturers currently provide uniforms and clothing to the Ministry of Defence (MoD); whether the proportion of contracts awarded to Scottish clothing manufacturers has reduced in the last 10 years and what plans it has to support the industry when seeking …
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested. The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) is responsible for the procurement of all clothing and textiles for the MoD. The Scottish Executive is providing a range of support to Scottish clo…
5 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish clothing manufacturers were short-listed for the Ministry of Defence contract for Royal Navy uniforms, what support it gave to any short-listed firms and what representations it has made to the Ministry of Defence on this matter.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) is responsible for the procurement of all clothing and textiles for the Ministry of Defence. The Scottish Executive was not approached by any Scottish clothing manufacturers about the Royal Navy uniforms contrac…
30 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions are being held on the future of Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow and the possible sale of the site of the prison.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service are conducting a fundamental review of their estate to identify likely future pressures and needs over the long term and to generate options for meeting these. This process involves detailed consideration of the role and condition …
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has plans to install the WAV file format or any similar format on to the Scottish Parliament website in order to facilitate an audio reading of each web page.
Answer · David Steel: In consultation with user groups, through RNIB and Disability Scotland, the Scottish Parliament is undertaking revisions to its website to facilitate access for the blind and partially sighted. Under development is the provision of text-only version of the si…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has plans to adapt icons and words on the Scottish Parliament website to facilitate easier access for those who are partially sighted.
Answer · David Steel: In consultation with user groups, through RNIB and Disability Scotland, the Scottish Parliament is undertaking revisions to its website to facilitate access for the blind and partially sighted. Under development is the provision of text-only version of the si…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has plans to make available, on request, any official parliamentary document in Braille.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has plans to lower the table in the Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre in order that wheelchair bound people can have a clear view of the model of the new Parliament building.
Answer · David Steel: The Holyrood model is scheduled to be updated before the end of the summer recess period. The Public Information service will consider the feasibility of adapting the stand during this process.
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the information currently available on the interactive computers in the Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre will be adapted for access by non-sighted visitors.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the Scottish Parliament fact files 1-4 will be available in large print for partiality sighted visitors to the Scottish Parliament.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the Scottish Parliament fact files 1-4 will be available on audio cassette from the Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the Scottish Parliament fact files 1-4 will be available in Braille from the Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
30 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer why accessible information in all formats is not provided for disabled visitors to the Scottish Parliament.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB policy for the start up phase of the Parliament is that official publications will be available in English in hard copy and electronic format as appropriate. This includes the publications, such as the factfiles, produced by the Public Information Se…
28 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that any new arrangement for general medical practitioner services in the Scottish Prison Service will ensure that quality of care to prisoners complies with the 8 April 1998 recommendation of the European Council of Ministers.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Prison Service aims to continue to deliver medical services across Scottish prisons in accordance with the Cou…