Elaine Smith

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to implementing the recommendations in the May 2007 position statement on vitamin D from the Scientific Advisory Committee in Nutrition.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Food StandardsAgency Scotland, the Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate and the Chief medicalOfficer Directorate are currently considering the detailed conclusions of the positionstatement, <i>Update on Vitamin D</i>, published in May 2007 by the Scien…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the financial details of the procurement process for the current First Scotrail franchise were made available by the Strategic Rail Authority to the Executive and Strathclyde Passenger Transport, as part of collaboration between those parties during the refranchising process.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Rail Authoritywas responsible for the procurement of the current franchise. To the extent thatcosts were incurred by the authority, detail on these were not provided to the Executive.The Executive was provided with full copies of the tender docu…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the figure was reached for the final costs of the tendering process for the current First Scotrail franchise, once all transactions had been completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the question S3W-1427 on 17 July 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http:…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the final costs were of the tendering process for the current First Scotrail franchise.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The former StrategicRail Authority was responsible for tendering the current First ScotRailfranchise. The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.</p>

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement will be given to peer support groups in assisting mothers to continue breastfeeding.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognisesthe important role of peer support groups. We adopt a multifaceted approachto supporting breastfeeding; ranging fromhealth promotion initiatives, education activities,health professional training, social support and media cam…

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness among young people, including in schools, of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continuesto promote breastfeeding as part of food and health education within schools anda whole-school approach to food is taken. Responsibility for local initiatives lieswith NHS boards.</p>

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new National Breastfeeding Adviser/National Infant Feeding Co-ordinator will now be appointed.

Answer · Shona Robison: We expect to be in a positionto appoint by autumn 2007.</p>

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how support for breastfeeding will be incorporated into the commitment to improving public health.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are considering how this canbe achieved and are committed to promoting good eating habits from children’s earliestyears including support for breastfeeding and establishing a healthy food policy.</p>

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the findings relevant to Scotland of the recently published Infant Feeding Survey 2005.

Answer · Shona Robison: The results will be analysed,and any necessary steps to address relevant factors will be co-ordinated by theNational Infant Feeding Adviser when appointed.</p>

17 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding possible housing benefit sanctions for people who have been evicted on the grounds of anti-social behaviour who subsequently refuse support to tackle such behaviour.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executivediscussed the proposal for such a sanction with the UK Government prior to thepublication of the Welfare Reform Bill. Those discussions ensured that the Billwas framed so as not to encroach on devolved matters.</p>

24 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the case for improved radiation detection devices in the scrap metal industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27552 on 17 August 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

24 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to monitor and protect against the illegal importation of radioactive scrap metal into Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: It is the general policy of theUK Government and the Scottish Executive not to import radioactive waste, exceptfor the recovery of re-usable material, where that is the genuine prime purpose,or for treatment to ensure the future safe management of the waste, …

26 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding streams are available for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and what action it will take to encourage research in this area.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Details of the supportprovided by the Scottish Executive through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) forresearch into health and health care needs in Scotland are available from theCSO website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso">www.show.scot.nhs.…

26 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has funded in the last six years involving Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO)within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility forencouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland.CSO has not funded any research projects in the last six years into Duchenne…

26 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to disseminate information throughout the NHS on current advances in research into, and treatment of, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Research results wouldnormally be published in peer-reviewed journals. Health professionals areexpected to keep abreast of all such publications as part of their continuing professionaldevelopment. The Scottish Muscle Network, which is funded as a national Ma…

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that parents of children with additional support needs can access the code of practice under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 so that they have the same information available to them as the appropriate agencies in exerc…

Answer · Robert Brown: The code of practice was producedto provide guidance to local authorities and other agencies with functions underthe Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. Parents mayaccess the code of practice on the Scottish Executive website for …

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of the code of practice under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 have been (a) published and (b) distributed to parents of children with additional support needs.

Answer · Robert Brown: The code of practice was producedto provide guidance to local authorities and other agencies with functions underthe Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. The ScottishExecutive published 13,000 copies of the code of practice and 10,…

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are estimated to have additional support needs.

Answer · Robert Brown: The term additional support needsnow applies to children and young people who, for whatever reason, require additionalsupport, long or short-term, in order to help them make the most of their schooleducation. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate accurate…

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any work has been undertaken to assess the danger posed to motorists by roadside hoardings and trailer advertising on major roads.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive commissionedresearch in 2003 into the effect of external-to-vehicle driver distraction. Thisconcluded that advertising hoardings and signs placed near junctions or other visually“cluttered” environments can cause driver distraction. Sim…

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to monitor and regulate the volume of roadside hoardings and trailer advertising on major roads in Scotland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Roadside hoardings and traileradvertising are not permitted within the trunk road boundary. The trunk road OperatingCompanies, in the course of routine safety inspections, monitor unauthorised advertisingsigns and initiate such enforcement action as may be re…

10 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the World Health Organisation’s decision to revise paediatric growth charts to represent the growth patterns of breastfed babies more accurately in order to reduce instances in which breastfed babies are inaccurately categorised as being underweigh…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Paediatric growth charts arean important tool for recording changing patterns in a child’s growth. Midwivesare responsible for the care of each client and it is an accepted good practiceto weigh and measure the baby. Current charts are based on calculations u…

10 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in the last 12 months to promote breastfeeding awareness among the wider population and to challenge any negative attitudes towards breastfeeding.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive worksthroughout the year with NHS Health Scotland who support a range of promotional, research and bestpractice at a national level. In addition during breastfeeding awareness week, thereare numerous activities planned across Scotland t…

10 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in the last 12 months to publicise the new legal protection afforded to individuals under the terms of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive, in associationwith NHS Health Scotland, has produced an information leaflet for the industrysector to advise them of their responsibility under the act. This will be distributedto all businesses during breast awareness week. Scotland a…

26 Apr 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in reducing the number of women in prison.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is committed toensuring that alternatives to custody are in place, and that where woman do endup in prison, effective work is done to minimise the likelihood of re-offending.</p><p>I am pleased to say that theevaluation of the innovative 218 cen…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any conditions placed on the award of £2.7 million to NHS Lanarkshire in 2002 for the upgrade of the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The £2.7 million award was givento Lanarkshire Acute Hospital NHS Trust from the Capital Modernisation Fund, whichwas a centrally based initiative. MEL (1999)75 which issued on 7 October 1999 invitedNHS trusts to submit proposals for the  re-design of their A…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to NHS Lanarkshire in each of the last five years for upgrading and maintaining accident and emergency departments.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHSTrust received £2.7 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the upgradeof the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital in 2002.However, in 2002-03 the basis of funding capital expenditure changed from bein…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the national average monthly rent is for a housing association two apartment house.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The latest available statisticsfor Registered Social Landlords (2004-05) show that the national average monthlyrent for a two-apartment dwelli…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the national average monthly rent is for a local authority-owned two apartment house.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each Community Planning Partnership will receive in additional funding in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 for the mainstreaming of New Futures Fund projects and what general requirements will be placed on the receipt of this funding.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The funding for the mainstreamingof New Futures Fund (NFF) will be allocated to Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs)that have NFF projects in their areas. The allocations are outlined in the tablebelow. We are in discussion with some CPPs to finalise fundin…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Community Planning Partnerships will receive additional funding in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 for the mainstreaming of New Futures Fund projects.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23644 on 9 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…