Dorothy-Grace Elder

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available to assist with any extra workload for primary care services following any possible adoption throughout all NHS trusts and boards of the measures subject to the pilot study at Ninewells Hospital in respect of nurse-led early discharge of patients with…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20100.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) observed and (b) expected cases of breast cancer there have been in the postcode areas G31, G32, G33 and G34 of Glasgow in each year since 1987 to date.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows the observed and expected number of female breast cancer registrations in postcode areas G31, G32, G33 and G34 for the years 1987 to 1998, based on age-specific rates for Scotland, all ages: 1987-98.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 WIDTH=548><TR><T…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many mammogram screening units used in NHS hospitals are over 10 years old.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) currently has two x-ray mammography machines that are over 10 years old (12 years) but by the end of this financial year all x-ray mammography units in the SBSP will have new generation x-ray mammography equipmen…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be research commissioned into analysing any extra pressures placed on the primary care sector as a result of patients being discharged early from hospital with drains still in place.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20100.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available to upgrade mammogram equipment so that women are protected from (a) any risk of radiation and (b) specifically any risk of radiation to the heart.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20105.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to protect women from any risk to the heart from radiation during mammogram examinations.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The work of the Quality Assurance Reference Committee of the Scottish Breast Screening Programme (SBSP) has confirmed that there is no significant radiation dose to the heart from a mammogram. In mammography, the position of the breast and direction of the x-…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9585 by Susan Deacon on 25 September 2000, whether the 10 extra consultant posts have all been successfully filled; whether the target for eight out of the 10 new consultants to be employed in the specialities of radiology and histopathology has been…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not currently available.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9585 by Susan Deacon on 25 September 2000, whether there is an adequate supply of radiographers to fill current established posts.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of qualified radiographers in post in NHSScotland has increased by 4% since 1997. The vacancy rate for qualified radiographers has also increased marginally to 1.1% at 31 March 2001 for posts vacant for three months or more.<P>I announced at the Nu…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated for research on the early discharge of patients from hospitals in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 and on applications for discharge in 2001-02.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any research on this topic since 1999 and has no immediate plans to do so.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requests it has received for funding for research into the early discharge of patients with drains still in place (a) after all surgery and (b) after breast cancer surgery in 2000-01.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland. <P>CSO received no requests for funding research into…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland for the number of breast nurses is being met by each NHS board and trust.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20097.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses were employed as breast care nurses by each NHS Trust in (a) 1999-2000, and (b) 2000-01.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Breast care nurses are employed by NHS Trusts. Information on the numbers employed by each trust can be obtained from individual trusts. The names and addresses of all trusts are available on the Scottish Health on the Web site at www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10083 by Susan Deacon on 24 October 2000, whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board of one breast care nurse per 150 breast cancers has been reviewed and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland have recently carried out assessments of breast cancer services across Scotland on which a national report is expected to be published early in 2002.

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts have been awarded by the Rural Payments Agency for the rendering or incineration of cattle under the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme in Scotland and what gate fees have been negotiated with each company.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following competitive tenders, contracts have been awarded to the following companies in Scotland for the rendering or incineration of cattle under the Over Thirty Months Slaughter Scheme:<U><P>Rendering</U><P>William Forrest & Son (Paisley) Ltd, Motherwell<U…

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-17624 by Ross Finnie on 6 September 2001, how many tonnes of carcasses of cattle culled under the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme have been transported from England for rendering in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Since the Over Thirty Months Slaughter Scheme recommended in July 2001 some 10,500 tonnes of carcase material has been transported from abattoirs in England for rendering in Scotland.

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-1021 by Ross Finnie on 10 September 1999, whether achievement of the target of incinerating 60% of meat and bonemeal stocks produced under the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme by March 2002 is on schedule.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As at week ending 4 November 2001 some 287,800 tonnes of meat and bonemeal (MBM) produced from animals rendered under the Over Thirty Months Slaughter Scheme has been incinerated. The Rural Payments Agency currently has some 4,100 tonnes of incineration capac…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2005 by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000, whether it has any plans to revise its approach to ensuring availability of skilled labour in Glasgow in light of the concerns expressed by the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow in The Herald on 4 O…

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: In January 2001 the Scottish Executive commissioned research designed to help maximise employment opportunities from the housing stock transfer. The research will establish where construction skills gaps exist and what might be done to address them. The repor…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to investigate any delays in the provision of disability aids by the NHS and local authorities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19550.

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to simplify the administrative process for applications from people with disabilities in respect of alterations to their homes that will enable them to continue living in these homes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Strategy Forum, which is referred to in the answer to question S1W-19550, is looking at new ways of working including self-assessment for simple solutions, and assessment by a wider range of assessors. These are measures which, in the context of overall m…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake a comparative investigation into the lengths of time local authorities take to implement alterations to the homes of people with disabilities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19551.

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct an audit of the extent of delays by local authorities in making alterations to the homes of people with disabilities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Strategy Forum, which is referred to in the answer to question S1W-19550, will publish shortly the results of a survey of waiting times for local authority equipment and adaptations services which are assessed by social work.

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assist local authority social work departments in overcoming any delays in making alterations to the homes of people with disabilities who wish to continue living in their own homes as an alternative to institutional care.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive provided an additional £5 million to assist with this in 2000-01. For the longer term, the Joint Future Group Report <I>Community Care: A Joint Future </I>recommended a strategic overview of equipment and adaptations services to result …

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the names were of the contractors called upon to repair the fire alarm system at (a) Holyrood RC Secondary School, (b) St Roch's Secondary RC School and (c) Shawlands Academy in Glasgow as a result of work carried out under the current Project 2002 refurbishment programme and what th…

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-19436.

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any fines imposed on companies during the course of the current Project 2002 refurbishment programme of secondary schools in Glasgow.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is not involved in the detailed management, and operation of, the Glasgow Schools Public/Private Partnership contract, which is rightly a matter for Glasgow City Council. Accordingly, any questions about those issues should be directed …

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the health and safety record of the company 3Ed during the current Project 2002 refurbishment programme of secondary schools in Glasgow.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18981 on 26 October 2001, concerning Holyrood Secondary School, Glasgow. The overall responsibility for health and safety arrangements at schools in Glasgow lies with Glasgow City Council, and the Scottis…

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to maintain the ban on export of live farm animals from Scotland and to replace such exports with meat and carcass exports.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are no plans to maintain the ban on exports of live farm animals from Scotland. The European Court of Justice has confirmed that a unilateral ban on live exports would be illegal.

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to reduce the length of journeys for animals being transported for fattening and slaughter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 sets out the general provision for the welfare of animals in transit. There are no plans to review it at present.

22 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2340 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 5 October 2001, (a) what types of jobs would be created through the potential net additional employment effect of housing stock transfer in Glasgow, (b) how many such jobs would be (i) full-time and (ii) part-time and (c…

Answer · Margaret Curran: It has been estimated the Glasgow housing transfer will create over 3,000 full-time jobs in the construction and other related industries. It is intended that contractual arrangements will be put in place between the Glasgow Housing Association and the Direct…

22 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how members are appointed to the voluntary management committee of the Glasgow Housing Association and on what criteria candidates for appointment to the committee are selected.

Answer · Margaret Curran: This is a matter for the Glasgow Housing Association in line with the arrangements set out in its rules.

22 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7529 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 June 2000, what expertise and skills are required of members of the panel of independent advisers approved by Scottish Homes for the purpose of providing independent advice to tenants in the housing stock transfer pro…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Panel members are required to have expertise in finance, housing management, legal technical, and communication skills as well as experience in tenant consultation.<P>Before being accepted onto the panel, applicants have to submit evidence of relevant experie…