Parliamentary questions
Fiona Hyslop
940 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) duties and (b) departments are of its 40 new policy analysts.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The roles of policy analysts vary. All will be team leaders and most will be responsible for a discreet policy area. Their duties are likely to include developing, implementing or evaluating policy, preparing briefing and speeches for ministers, giving eviden…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class si'e is in primary schools, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is contained in Table 30 of Statistical Bulletin number Edn/B1/2002/03 covering the Summary Results of the September 2001 School Census, published on 20 June 2002 by the Scottish Executive. A copy of the Bulletin is available in the …
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to local authorities on staffing standards in primary schools and, if so, what that guidance is.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 as amended by the Schools (Scotland) Code (Amendment No. 1) Regulations 1972 established minimum staffing levels. Although this is still in force it has been overtaken by recent legislation on class sizes in primary 1 to 3 sta…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has done into the effects of being taught in a composite class on the educational attainment of children.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not carried out research into the effect of composite classes on attainment as such. There has been some international research into multi-grade classes that suggests that such classes have no consistent effect upon attainment but t…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of pupils began primary 1 in a composite class in each local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on class composition is only available centrally from the school census, which does not take place at the start of the school term. Information on the number and percentage of P1 pupils in composite classes for the week of the school census is set…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to primary 3 pupils are taught in composite classes in each local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is set out in the table:<P>Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils who are taught in a Composite Class in Publicly Funded Primary Schools<SUP>1</SUP><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=368><TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><P…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary 1 to primary 3 classes there are with exactly 30 pupils in each local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is set out in the table:<P>Stage P1-P3 Single Stage Classes in Publicly Funded Primary Schools with exactly 30 pupils<SUP>1</SUP><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=340><TR><TD WIDTH="80%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P></TD><…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the awarding of a contract by Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to McKesson Corporation after the company had announced that an audit found #27million of sales recorded improperly.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that the trust has already investigated this matter thoroughly. I am aware of the outcome and see no basis to take further action.
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the hospital information computer system at the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children will be operational.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that the current timetable is for the new system to be phased in across the hospitals in Lothian, starting this autumn in Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh followed by the Western General Hospital and concluding with the Royal Hospital for Sick Childr…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ensure that McKesson Corporation will be pursued for payment of any fines incurred in respect of work for the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Because contracts of this nature are between trusts and the company, the Executive has no power to seek compensation directly. However, I expect that any compensation properly due from McKesson Corporation to be pursued.
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to investigate the circumstances surrounding delay to the installation of the hospital information computer system at the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has been kept informed of developments in this case. I see no need at this point to undertake further investigation.
8 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the towns which have a town crier and whether Kilwinning and Linlithgow both have town criers.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.
1 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding the removal of the maxiofacial surgery unit from St. John's Hospital in West Lothian.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is the responsibility of NHS boards and trusts to address issues relating to the provision of services in their areas.<P>The maxillofacial surgery service at St John's Hospital has not been removed.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it evaluates task forces like the one set up for former Motorola employees at Easter Inch; what criteria it uses in such evaluations, and whether such an evaluation has been carried out on the Motorola Task Force and, if so, whether it will publish any findings.
Answer · Iain Gray: An evaluation of Motorola Taskforce (MTF) activity has been commissioned by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian on behalf of the Taskforce and is currently in the final stages of preparation. The final report is due at the end of July at which time deci…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether training opportunities through the Institute for System Level Integration were provided for former employees of Motorola's Easter Inch plant.
Answer · Iain Gray: I understand that a number of the former employees of the Motorola Easter Inch plant have been taken on by the Institute for System Level Integration (ISLI) via the normal MSc recruitment channels, with individuals accessing existing support mechanisms.<P>No …
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21786 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 25 January 2002, whether the #6 million set aside for the West Lothian Strategic Action Plan for economic development for the area has been made available and, if so, when the funds were made available and to whom.
Answer · Iain Gray: The funding for the West Lothian Strategic Action Plan is spread over three years and is available as from this financial year. Scottish Enterprise is administering the funds on behalf of the West Lothian Economic Partnership.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status of the Motorola Task Force is.
Answer · Iain Gray: From 1 July 2002, the activities of the Motorola Taskforce were dispersed although a range of support and advice for former employees is still available from all the public agencies involved.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it allocated the #16.75 million in Regional Selective Assistance recovered from Motorola at the time of the closure of the Easter Inch plant and how much of that money has been spent in generating new centres of employment in West Lothian or in supporting and improving the transport a…
Answer · Iain Gray: On 25 April 2001, Wendy Alexander announced in the Parliament that the Scottish Executive was setting aside up to £10 million to help fund the Motorola Taskforce's action plan. Expenditure reports from Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian (SEEL) for the …
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #10 million set aside for use by the Motorola Task Force (a) has been spent by the Task Force, (b) is projected to be spent, (c) has been re-allocated to other priorities and (d) will still be made available to support the West Lothian economy.
Answer · Iain Gray: On 25 April 2001, Wendy Alexander announced in Parliament that the Scottish Executive was setting aside up to £10 million to help fund the Motorola Taskforce's action plan. On 19 December 2001, Wendy Alexander further announced that the Scottish Executive wou…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many former staff of the Motorola plant at Easter Inch are (a) in full-time employment on a pay scale equal to or greater than that which they enjoyed at Motorola, (b) in full-time employment on a pay scale lower than that which they enjoyed at Motorola, (c) in full-time education fun…
Answer · Iain Gray: The Motorola Taskforce (MTF) was able to make contact with 2,631 redundant employees of the Motorola plant at Easter Inch. Of these there are 2,099 in employment (this figure excludes self-employed and details as to part-/full-time are not available). Of this…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monies spent by the Motorola Task Force have been used to pay for staff from the Inland Revenue, the Benefits Agency and other United Kingdom government departments and why it was necessary to pay for these services from the funds available to the task force.
Answer · Iain Gray: None.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, whether any monies were paid to the Scottish Consolidated Fund as a result of adjustments prior to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services on 23 January 2002 and, if so, whether the D…
Answer · Andy Kerr: No monies were paid to the Scottish Consolidated Fund prior to the Statement.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, when the adjustment figure to the Scottish Assigned Budget for housing benefit for 2001-02 will be finalised; what it expects the figure to be, and when the monies will be paid.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A figure of £8.218 million has been agreed for 2001-2002 in respect of rent rebate. It will be picked up in the Autumn Budget Revision in December. It will be subject to revision in light of outturn for 2001-02, when known, and will not therefore be finalised…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, whether an adjustment figure to the Scottish Assigned Budget has been agreed for housing benefit for 2000-01; if so, when that agreement was reached; what the figure is, and when the monies will be received.
Answer · Andy Kerr: An adjusted figure of £0.329 million was agreed in February 2002 for 2000-01 in respect of rent rebate. It will be picked up in the Autumn Budget Revision in December.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, when the adjustment figure to the Scottish Assigned Budget for 2001-02 will be finalised; what it expects the figure to be, and when the monies will be paid.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A figure of £3.066 million has been agreed for 2001-02 in respect of council tax benefit. It will be picked up in the Autumn Budget Revision in December. It will be subject to revision in light of outturn for 2001-02, when known, and will not therefore be fin…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, on what date the adjustment figure to the Scottish Assigned Budget for 2000-01 was agreed; what the figure is, and when the monies will be received.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A further adjusted figure in respect of 2000-01 for council tax rebate was agreed in February 2002. An addition to the Scotland DEL for 2002-03 of £2.006 million in respect of the adjustment for 2000-01 will be picked up in the Autumn Budget Revision in Decem…
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for consultants in the West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust area there are, broken down by speciality and whether it expects this number to reduce and, if so, how, when and by how much.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The responsibility for employing consultants and filling vacant posts rests with the individual Trust. Information on when these posts are likely to be filled is not held centrally but may be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management pe…
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average hours worked by junior doctors in the West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust area are and what support it intends to provide to reduce the number of hours worked by junior doctors in the area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information is not held centrally on the average number of hours worked by junior doctors. However, data is available on whether junior doctors meet the limit of 56 hours of work a week, set down in the New Deal for junior doctors. The most recent monitoring …
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what charging structure will be in place for car parking at the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and whether staff and medical students will be exempted from charges.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust but any charges in place should be in accordance with national guidance. The department has begun a review of current car parking charge practice.
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected shortfall in NHS funding for Lothian NHS Board is, broken down by NHS trust and hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Lothian has received its fair share of funding. In 2002-03 NHS Lothian will receive record funding of over £754 million, a 6.8% increase on 2001-02.<P>Distribution of this allocation is a matter of local negotiation.