Elaine Smith

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a cross-cutting office for disability issues, similar to that recently established by the UK Government.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have no plans to establish an office for disability issues similar to that recently established by the UK Government. The Scottish Executive Equality Unit already co-ordinates cross-cutting activity on disability within the Executive.</p>

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the 10 busiest accident and emergency departments in terms of emergency admissions for cerebrovascular accidents and myocardial infarctions, showing the number of admissions to each department in the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accident and emergency admissions involving patients of NHS Lanarkshire there have been to NHS Greater Glasgow hospitals in the last five years, broken down by hospital.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

9 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the 10 busiest accident and emergency departments, showing the number of admissions to each department in the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on the 10 busiest accident and emergency (A&amp;E) departments is not available. Hospitals with the highest number of attendances, based on total attendances over five years are shown in the table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> …

29 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its timescale is to implement comprehensively all of the recommendations made in the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Needs Assessment Report.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the question S2W-21229 answered on 12 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

29 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the recommendations in the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Needs Assessment Report have been met; how these recommendations have been met, and how the implementation of the recommendations has been monitored since the report was published in …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The recommendations in the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s<i> Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Needs Assessment Report</i> are primarily for local health, education and social work agencies who are responsible for the delivery of services for those who need…

6 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the introduction of a code of practice covering the recruitment of overseas healthcare staff to the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has consulted with NHSScotland on the adoption and implementation of a code of practice for international recruitment of health care professionals. A partnership approach will be taken through the Human Resources Forum (HRF), to discuss…

6 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses and midwives have been recruited from Africa to the NHS in Scotland in each year since 2000.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Figures detailing “country of origin” of internationally qualified nurses (IQN’s) are not held centrally. There has been no active or targeted recruitment by NHSScotland of nurses and midwives from Africa. It is known that there are some African IQN’s within …

18 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the prevalence of osteoporosis amongst women.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published a guideline on the management of osteoporosis in June 2003 and updated in April 2004. We expect NHS boards to take account of these guidelines in the development of their services locally.</p> <…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal actions have been taken out against traffickers of women and children since March 2004.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 makes it an offence to traffic in prostitution and came into force on 27 June 2003. No charges have been reported to Procurators Fiscal under this section since that date.</p><p>Section 25 (1)(a) of the I…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support currently exists for women who have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to my answer to question S2W-16205 on 9 May 2005.</p> <p>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/webap…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategies are in place to reduce and eliminate the practice of trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have strengthened Scots law in this area by creating a new offence of trafficking in prostitution as part of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. The offence is committed if a person arranges or facilitates the arrival in or departure from the UK of a…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies it is working with to establish the pilot project in Glasgow for supporting women who have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to my answer to question S2W-16205 on 9 May 2005.</p> <p>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/webap…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release on 8 March 2004 on International Women's Day, what progress has been made in setting up the pilot project in Glasgow for the provision of specialist support to women who have been trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to my answer to question S2W-16205 on 9 May 2005.</p> <p>All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found a <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the establishment of a rail service from Stirling to Motherwell.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A group formed to take the schemeforward as part of the implementation of the Central Scotland Transport CorridorStudies is expected to provide a progress report this summer. This report will addressall the issues affecting delivery of the scheme.</p>

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of plans to introduce a rail service from Stirling to Motherwell.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Plans for a Stirling to Motherwell rail service will be taken forward through a Sub Group of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies Delivery Issues Group. The sub group is chaired by Strathclyde Passenger Transport and includes representatives of loc…

7 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to improve the rate of early diagnosis of secondary cancer in breast cancer patients.

Answer · Andy Kerr: <i>Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change</i>, the Scottish cancer strategy, sets out a range of actions being taken to secure more rapid diagnosis and treatment for all cancers.</p><p>Investment plans and progress reports are published six-monthly and can be …

7 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hospitals use Patientline to supplement their provision of entertainment systems for patients.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for individual NHSScotland boards. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

20 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistics in respect of diagnoses of secondary cancers amongst Scottish breast cancer patients in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table shows numbers of breast cancer cases diagnosed in the years 1997 to 2001, and the numbers and percentages which involved secondary tumours at the time of diagnosis.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p…

18 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for improving services for adults with autistic spectrum disorders.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum (ASD) Disorders Needs Assessment Report is the strategy for the development of ASD services in Scotland. Last week I launched a key component of this as it relates to adults with ASD, by opening the …

18 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to meet the needs of (a) children and (b) adults with autistic spectrum disorders who have accompanying mental health problems.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being has four key aims of: raising awareness of positive mental health and promoting mental health and well-being; eliminating the stigma and discrimination that can be associated with mental health…

13 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether powers of attorney obtained prior to the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 coming into force are still legally valid.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Yes. The coming into force of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 will not affect the validity of powers of attorney registered under the 2000 act. Continuing and welfare powers of attorney are regulated by the Adults with Incapacity (S…

11 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to alleviate the financial hardship experienced by many cancer patients.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-9760, on 16 August 2004. 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/webapp/…

1 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote healthy living and reduce childhood obesity.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Our health improvement programme focuses strongly on improving diet for all age groups, starting with children, and raising physical activity levels – a combined approach endorsed by the World Health Authority. Action is being taken for example through nutrie…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which voluntary organisations it has allocated (a) direct grants, indicating the amount awarded in each case and (b) indirect grants, indicating the amount offered in each case, in 2004-05.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have today arranged for the release of a spreadsheet detailing direct and indirect grants to voluntary organisations in 2004-05. In 2004-05 the Executive will be providing £319 million directly and £85 million indirectly - £404 million in total - to the vol…

25 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards provide lymphoedema clinics for patients and which do not.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for NHS boards.</p>

9 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether public private partnership (PPP) developments on publicly-owned land are subject to the same obligations as non-PPP local authority developments in respect of Notices of Intention to Develop.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Planning permission for PPP projects is normally obtained through the usual planning application process.</p><p>The requirements in relation to notices of intention to develop and planningapplications are broadly similar.<</p

3 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities the Care Commission has in respect of the children currently residing in Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1925 on 1 September 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…

21 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact would be on health care of the use of a voucher or passport system allowing the purchase of private health care.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Wanless Report, publishedin April 2002, concluded that private funding mechanisms, such as voucher schemes,tended to be more expensive and less equitable than the current model of financingthe NHS. They are also regressive since those with the greatest he…

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take as a result of the Mott MacDonald report, The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The report recommended a reduction in the number of control rooms, from the present eight to one, two or three. We issued the report for consultation on 8 July, and asked for responses by the end of August. We are currently considering the responses we have r…