Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to any person excluded from joining the committee of (a) a local housing steering group, (b) a local housing organisation, (c) a housing association and (d) an area housing partnership.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is as follows:<P>(a) Steering groups are at different stages in adopting formal constitutions and membership policies. If a constitution and membership policy has been adopted, this should provide a right of appeal for any person exc…
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) local housing steering groups have been established in Glasgow, (b) such steering groups have a full compliment of members, (c) Glasgow City Council tenants are on each such group and (d) such groups comprise of members that are not council tenants.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is as follows:<P>(a) There are 69 local housing organisation steering groups.<P>(b) Communities Scotland requires committees to consist of seven or more members for registration purposes. Fifty-eight of the steering groups have seven…
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local housing organisations in Glasgow have been registered with Communities Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: No local housing organisations have yet been registered with Communities Scotland.
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been produced to assist steering groups in Glasgow that are trying to register as local housing organisations with Communities Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Each local housing organisation (LHO) has been issued with a copy of Communities Scotland Guide to Registration. Communities Scotland has also issued a supplementary checklist of registration requirements. Steering groups are also receiving training on regist…
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what type of model constitution is being used by steering groups in Glasgow that are trying to register as local housing organisations with Communities Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Steering groups are currently working on draft constitutions to enable them to register with Communities Scotland. There are two models of constitution which can be adopted. These are: <P>A society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to investigate any low rates of pay and different conditions applying to Sodexho ancilliary staff in hospitals compared with NHS staff.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have no such plans.
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22468 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2002, whether it and the Common Services Agency have completed their exploration of the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database and, if so, whether such a database will be …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26868 on 2 July 2002.
23 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23179 by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 March 2002, why all data in the Account Commission's report on bank and agency nursing staff was anonymised.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Audit Scotland advises that the Accounts Commission for Scotland report <I>Temporary Measures, Managing Bank and Agency Nursing Staff, </I>published in February 2000<I>, </I>was designed to provide a baseline reading in order that areas for improvement could …
23 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23727 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002, whether Capecitabine has been approved by the Greater Glasgow Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Local management advise that the Greater Glasgow Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee will consider the use of capecitabine for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer on 12 August. Their recommendation will then be considered by the Board of NHS Greater Gl…
23 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26631 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 June 2002, which Comment the Health Technology Board for Scotland will review in the light of new evidence on its interpretation of the contextual differences it has identified between Scotland and England and Wales.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: To date, there has not been the evidence to prompt any such review.
23 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26671 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 June 2002, when the two new immunology consultants are expected to take up their posts and where each such consultant will be located.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust has made an appointment to one of these posts. The postholder is currently on maternity leave and is expected to take up this position towards the end of this year.<P>Discussions are continuing around the most effe…
19 Jul 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the decision of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee to call for the closure of the cattle incinerator in Carntyne, Glasgow.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The European Parliament's Petitions Committee has raised a number of important issues in relation to the Carntyne incinerator. I will give these careful consideration and, as I intimated to the committee when I met them, respond as soon as possible.
18 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22468 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2002, what efforts have been made towards the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database of drugs dispensed in hospitals and what role the Commons Services Agency and the publ…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland</I> commits the Scottish Executive Health Department to explore the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database by July 2003.
18 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support the national pay campaign by the Fire Brigades Union and what assessment it has made of poverty levels amongst firefighters and other fire brigade personnel and their families.
Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive has no role in determining fire service pay. Responsibility for firefighter's pay and conditions of service rests with the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades (NJC) which comprises the fire service employers and the Fire …
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for a Scottish equivalent of the Action On Dermatology programme in order to address any under-investment in dermatological services and whether support will be given to achieving a unified core specialist centre, as proposed by NHS Greater Glasgow.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans for a Scottish equivalent of the Department of Health's Action On Dermatology initiative. The Designed Healthcare Initiative is currently the main centrally driven mechanism for supporting service redesign in NHSScotland. This has led to th…
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what extra provision will be made available for dermatological teaching in the light of evidence from the British Association of Dermatologists that 15% of all GP consultations involve problems of the skin and yet only 20% of practitioners receive lessons in this field.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: During their training, GP Registrars (GPR) have regular case review within general practice and are supported by experienced trainers. This ensures that all patient encounters are learning experiences for the GPR.<P>GPs, like other professionals, are expected…
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ensure availability of day care beds and full ranges of antibiotics for all allergy clinics.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for local NHS systems to plan, implement and manage allergy services that best meet the needs of their local populations. In doing so they should take account of the recommendations contained in the report on <I>Immunology and Allergy Services in Scotla…
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are under way in order to ensure the right of the public to clean air that is free of contaminants.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A number of initiatives are under way, or proposed, that are designed to eliminate or minimise atmospheric pollution. The Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 impose new, more stringent air pollution controls over a wide range of indus…
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in order to prevent any geographical disparity of medical service availability should any NHS board in the west of Scotland not assign adequate revenue to the Glasgow Western Infirmary Allergy Clinic and ensure allergy services for patients in their area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26669.
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for extending allergy services across Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are expected to meet the health needs of people with allergies in their areas, as is the case with most other conditions. The Scottish Executive is providing funding towards the recruitment of two new consultants in immunology, which should lead to…
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken in order to implement proposals made by the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee in September 2000 regarding immunology and allergy services.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The implementation of this report is primarily a matter for NHS boards, but the Executive is supporting boards in this task by offering funding for the recruitment of two new consultants in immunology.
11 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding funding for the Glasgow Western Infirmary Allergy Clinic.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for local NHS systems to plan, implement and manage NHS services that best meet the needs of their local populations. <P>I understand that discussions are on-going between the NHS boards in the west of Scotland about the provision of a jointly funded re…
10 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Comment delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance is valid given that the HTBS is not a consultee in the appraisal process and does not have access to the evidence upon which the guidance is based.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: HTBS Comments provide advice to NHSScotland on the applicability of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidance in the light of the contextual differences between Scotland and England and Wales in terms of epidemiology,…
10 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures the Health Technology Board for Scotland has put in place in regard to its own Health Technology Assessments.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland's process for Health Technology Assessment is published on the HTBS website, www.htbs.co.uk, and is placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
10 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what appeal procedures are in place in regard to the Health Technology Board for Scotland delivering its Comment to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance on Health Technology Assessments.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently no plans to bring in an appeals procedure in relation to Comments delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance on Health Technology Assessments. However, the HTBS will r…
10 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent Comment delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance for restricting the use of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed in the treatment of colorectal cancer is a valid judgement given that the re…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The HTBS Comment on irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer considers all relevant differences between Scotland and England and Wales including the important issue of co-morbidity in Scotland.
5 Jun 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to bring in an appeals procedure in relation to Comments delivered by the Health Technology Board of Scotland on National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on Health Technology Assessments.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently no plans to bring in an appeals procedure in relation to Comments delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on NICE guidance on Health Technology Assessments. However, HTBS will review a Comment in the light of new evide…
28 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discovering the causes of amnesic shellfish poisoning.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is caused by domoic acid, a water-soluble, amino acid which is produced by species of Pseudonitzschia phytoplankton, and accumulated in shellfish. Poisoning by ASP can cause severe and potentially fatal irreversible neurotoxi…
24 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the effectiveness and implementation of sections 51 and 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 on the display of obscene material and indecent photographs etc. of children.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans to review sections 51 and 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. We have not received any indication from either the police or Crown Office that the current legislation is causing difficulties. However, the Crimina…
24 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cases have been referred to procurator fiscal offices and (b) prosecutions have taken place under sections 51 and 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for the display of obscene material and indecent photographs etc. of children in each year since 1982.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Figures dating from the introduction of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 are not available. The following table lists the number of cases received for each of sections 51, 52 and 52A of the 1982 Act in the years 1999-2001 and the number of cases which…