Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in response to the report by the Royal College of Physicians that 18 million people in the United Kingdom have allergies and that these are becoming more severe and complex.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has taken noaction directly related to this report. In September 2000, the Scottish Medicaland Scientific Advisory Committee produced a detailed and comprehensive reporton immunology and allergy services in Scotland. This identified deficiencies…

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ad hoc ministerial group on tourism has delivered its report to the Cabinet, and if not, when the group expects to do so.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The ad hoc ministerial groupon tourism is currently in the process of presenting its report to Cabinet.

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the ad hoc ministerial group on tourism will next meet.

Answer · Frank McAveety: There are no plans for the adhoc ministerial group on tourism to meet again.

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to NHS boards to discontinue the prescription of nicotine patches to people who wish to stop smoking and, if so, what the reasons are for such guidance.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No such guidance has beenissued by the Executive.

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from dog walkers in respect of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and whether it intends to make any changes to the code as a result.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We have received norepresentations concerning issues relating to dog walkers in respect of theproposed Scottish Outdoor Access Code.Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland)Act 2003 requires Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to draw up the ScottishOutdoor Acc…

5 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect negotiations at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December 2003 will have on prawn fishing in the west of Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Council agreed a total allowablecatch (TAC) for nephrops (prawns) West of Scotland of 11,300 tonnes. Thisessentially represents the same fishing opportunities as were available in 2003.

22 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has reduced its grant to the Open University in Scotland for this year and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish HigherEducation Funding Council (SHEFC) has increased its grant to the OpenUniversity in Scotland in the current year.In 2003-04, the OpenUniversity in Scotland received £14,687,000 from SHEFC, compared to a grantof £14,235,000 in 2002-03.…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing a system, similar to that in Northern Ireland and some regions of England, whereby telecommunication companies have been invited to tender for a contract to provide 100% broadband coverage for an area.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has a stated policy aim for pervasive access to broadband and we havealready reached our short-term target on this, of 70% affordable coverage in Scotland. Weare now considering a range of potential initiatives to extend coveragefurther…

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation on domestic violence in line with that in England and Wales if the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill is passed.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: A number of the measuresincorporated in the bill are already in place in Scotland. We have no plans atpresent to introduce further legislation but we will monitor the situationclosely.

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what differences there will be between Scottish legislation on domestic violence and that in England and Wales if the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill is passed at Westminster.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The current position in Scotland isreflected in legislation which does not precisely mirror the provisions set outin the Bill for England and Wales. I will write to the member explaining thedifferences between the two systems, which are detailed and complex.<…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when each National Planning Policy Guideline was last reviewed and when each will be next reviewed.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive keeps NationalPlanning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs) under review and revises them asappropriate. The response to the Review of Strategic Planning (published inJune 2002), indicated our intention to rename National Planning PolicyGuidelines as Scott…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities in respect of notification to neighbours of amendments to planning applications that have still to be approved.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Planning Advice Note 40:Development Control provides guidance to local authorities where the substanceof an application is to be changed. Where such changes are proposed, a newapplication should be submitted to the planning authority and neighbour notificatio…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities in respect of notification to neighbours of amendments to approved planning applications.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive has not issued guidance on this particular aspect of neighbournotification. However, where a planning authority deems that an alteration tothe approved proposals represents a material change, then they should requestthe submission of a …

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its policy on the location and relocation of public sector jobs.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have made good progresswith the relocation policy. Lifelong learning staff were relocated to Glasgow;the Food Standards Agency has been set up in Aberdeen; the Public Guardian'sOffice in Falkirk; the National Office of the Scottish Commission for theRegula…

8 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many salaried dentist posts have been advertised since the introduction of such posts and how many vacancies there are currently in each NHS board area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Salaried dentist posts werefirst introduced in the late 1960s and advertising and filling of vacancies isa matter for the relevant NHS boards/Primary Care NHS Trusts. The informationrequested is not held centrally.

7 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the recommendations contained in the report of the Water Customer Consultation Panels, Affordability of Water and Sewerage Charges for Low Income Households, published in December 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has consideredthe recommendations contained in the panels’ report on affordability. The Executiveis committed to securing substantial efficiency savings at Scottish Water asthe principal means of easing pressure on water and sewerage charges for…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set any targets relating to waiting times for cataract operations and, if so, what those targets are.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have not set any waitingtimes targets specifically for cataract operations and have no plans to do so.Cataract operations are covered by our national maximum waiting time guaranteefor hospital in-patient and day case treatment, which was reduced from 12mon…

15 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether dualling the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route would necessitate the de-trunking of other roads in the Dumfries and Galloway area and, if so, which roads would be de-trunked.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The question of whether itmay be appropriate to trunk or de-trunk routes in relation to a possible futureimprovement scheme would be considered in relation to the nature of that schemeand the route involved. The Executive has no plans to trunk the A709 or fun…

15 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any estimate of the cost of dualling the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route and, if so, what the estimated cost is.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The A709 is a local road,and is the responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Scottish Executive has notundertaken any estimates of the cost of dualling the route.

15 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding the dualling of the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route to provide fast access from Dumfries and the A75 to the M74.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The A709 is a local roadwhich is the responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Executive has no current plansto trunk the A709 or fund dualling of the route.

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, there is any reason why an employee of a registered social landlord (RSL) would have to leave their employment because a relative or partner owned, or was a director of, a company which is a preferred contractor of that RSL.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to reply. Her response is as follows:Schedule 7 to the Housing (Scotland)Act 2001 prohibits any registered social landlord (RSL) from granting benefits.Specifically, a benef…

8 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Afro-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement introducing restrictions on the use of lead shot in wetlands has been fully implemented in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In 1999 the UK Governmentformally ratified the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, which included anobligation to phase out the use of lead shot over wetlands. The ScottishExecutive intends to legislate to restrict the use of lead shot over wetlandareas in …

5 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under schedule 7 of the Housing (Scotland) 2001 Act, a person is prevented from serving on the board of a registered social landlord if a relative (a) owns or (b) is a director of a company that is on the approved list of contractors for that registered social landlord.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:Schedule 7 to the Housing (Scotland)Act 2001 prohibits any registered social landlord (RSL) from granting benefits.Specifically, a bene…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on whether it will adopt Her Majesty's Government's position on part-time workers' rights to retrospective membership of occupational pension schemes in respect of NHS staff.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4594 on 18 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/…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will adopt Her Majesty's Government's position on part-time workers' rights to retrospective membership of occupational pension schemes in respect of NHS staff.

Answer · Tavish Scott: As you will appreciate,these claims are being litigated in the Employment Tribunal. However, Scottish ministersare considering their position in light of recent developments south of theborder. I will confirm the position to you as soon as a final decision ha…

1 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will supply carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and cold alarms free to all pensioners.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: We provide carbon monoxidedetectors, smoke detectors and cold alarms free to all recipients of the centralheating programme. We do not have any plans at present to extend this beyondthe scope of the programme.

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards provide specialist nursing services to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and what funding it makes available to assist with this provision.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following NHS boardsprovide specialist nursing services to patients with multiple sclerosis: NHSAyrshire and Arran; NHS Fife; NHS Forth Valley; NHS Grampian; NHS GreaterGlasgow; NHS Highland; NHS Lanarkshire; NHS Lothian; NHS Tayside.No specific fu…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides guidance to NHS boards on the provision of services to people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive issuedguidance to NHS boards in 2002 about the risk sharing scheme, which makes availabledisease-modifying drugs to MS patients, assessed as suitable for treatment.There has been good progress in implementing this scheme. We are also fundingthe …

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people there are with multiple sclerosis (MS), broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information is notavailable centrally in the form requested. Information from samples of GPrecords in practices across Scotland whose population is nationally representativesuggests that approximately 5,900 patients with multiple sclerosis were seen byGPs…

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the deadline for horse passport applications from 31 December 2003 to 30 June 2004 in line with England and Wales.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I announced on 21 Novemberthat 30 June 2004 is now the intended deadline for all equine ownersto obtain passports for their animals.