Helen Eadie

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances a Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic would be able to administer prescribed rescue medication for seizures.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Joint Royal College''s Ambulance Liaison Committee guidelines cover the management of epileptic seizures and the care of patients during <em>grand</em> mal seizures. Only Health Professions Council registered paramedics are legally entitled to administer …

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions are given to Scottish Ambulance Service crews and paramedics when attending to a patient who has had an epileptic seizure.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Joint Royal College''s Ambulance Liaison Committee guidelines cover the management of epileptic seizures and the care of patients during <em>grand</em> mal seizures.</p>

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ambulance Service crews can contact anyone else for advice if they are not sure what decision to make when attending to an adult whose thought processes may be impaired by ill health.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently piloting the presence of senior paramedics in the emergency medical dispatch centres. One of the added value services delivered by these individuals is to provide professional support to frontline staff. SAS …

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ambulance Service crews make decisions locally and individually when attending to an adult whose thought processes may be impaired by ill health.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Ambulance Service clinicians are expected to carry out a thorough assessment of the circumstances for every individual patient. This assessment takes into account the clinical condition of the patient but also includes consideration of a number of ot…

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what protocols exist for Scottish Ambulance Service crews when deciding whether to follow or override decisions made by an adult whose thought processes may be impaired by ill health.

Answer · Shona Robison: All Scottish Ambulance Service clinicians receive training on the implications of the Adults with Incapacity Act and how to support patients where the individual''s capacity to make decisions may be impaired. This forms part of basic training, is covered in p…

1 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific targets have been set to increase the proportion of national wealth held by the six lowest income deciles.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: No target has been set to increase the proportion of wealth earned by the six lowest income deciles. The Government Economic Strategy does however contain the Solidarity Target, which is to increase overall income, and the proportion of income earned by the t…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has made of the cost impact of continuing to permit developments behind existing flood defences, the cost of maintaining such developments and the sustainability of such an approach.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average cost per property is estimated for rebuilding properties designated as being at a high risk of flooding in the (a) Forth, (b) Tay and (c) Clyde estuaries.

Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes are at risk of flooding in the (a) Forth, (b) Tay and (c) Clyde estuaries.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has identified the number of homes in each local authority area which are within the 1/200 fluvial and coastal flood zones shown on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s Indicative Flood Maps. These are tabulated below.</p> <p…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the locations are of existing (a) flood alleviation schemes, (b) flood storage, (c) sustainable drainage systems and (d) property-level flood mitigation in the (i) Forth, (ii) Tay and (iii) Clyde estuaries.

Answer · Michael Russell: In the Forth estuary there are completed flood prevention schemes at Kincardine, Grangemouth and Prestonpans, with a further scheme under construction at Bo''ness. In the Tay estuary, there are completed schemes at Perth and Bridge of Earn. In the Clyde, comp…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to changing the categorisation of flooding risk to that based on future risk, given the background of climate change over the lifetime of developments that will last for many decades.

Answer · Michael Russell: We have no plans to change the categorisation based on present risk, however the potential impacts of climate change on flood risk should be taken into account where appropriate. For planning purposes the approach to flood risk set out in <i >Scottish Plannin…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the fact that categorisation of risk of flooding is based on present-day risk rather than future risk.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government believes that, given the scientific uncertainties of climate change, the categorisation of current flood risk is more appropriate.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a requirement for local authority planners to report to government on the outcome of decisions where agencies or water companies have objected and planning authorities have to make such decisions publicly accessible as part of e-government initiatives.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is currently no requirement for planning authorities to routinely advise the Scottish Government of the nature of their decisions on planning applications where particular bodies have objected. However, in some circumstances, planning authorities must n…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that Scottish Water is a statutory consultee for all planning applications for any development where there is any risk of flooding.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning authorities are already required under article 15(1)(m) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992, as amended, to consult Scottish Water in areas in which development is to take place where the development…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is a statutory consultee for all planning applications for any development where there is any risk of flooding.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since 1996 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been a statutory consultee if a proposed development is likely to materially increase the number of buildings at risk of being damaged by flooding.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1990 it has overturned local authorities’ decisions not to allow a development where there were sustained objections from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to ensure that the principle of sequential testing is applied to land allocations in sustainable community planning.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The approach to development in flood risk areas is set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 “ Planning and Flooding. This incorporates a Risk Framework which for planning purposes has the following sequence of annual probabilities for watercourse and coast…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to measure how development in one local authority area can increase the risk of flooding and defence costs elsewhere.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Before granting planning permission, planning authorities have a statutory duty to consult any adjoining planning authority if it appears to them that a development is likely to affect land in that authority''s area. A flood risk assessment undertaken by a de…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that climate change will be a material consideration in future planning decisions.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is initially for the planning authority to decide whether a consideration is material in a particular case and ultimately it is a matter for the courts. Climate change is already capable of being a material consideration.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings it has held with the Association of British Insurers in the last five years to discuss flood risk areas in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has met with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on some 40 occasions over the past five years in order to discuss flood risk in Scotland. The ABI were participating members of National Technical Advisory Group on Flooding 2002-0…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of homeowners who have been refused home insurance as a consequence of planning decisions where the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has made direct objections to the planning development.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally.</p> <spa

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work has taken place on the preparation of a foresight report to assess the contribution that effective land-use planning will make to managing flood risk with a view to reducing the aggregate cost of flood defences up to 2080.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Foresight report on Land Use Futures in the UK, due to be published next year, will inform the Scottish Government''s future policy.</p>

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to strengthen sequential testing to make explicit allowance for climate change in flood zones and how it plans to favour development sites that do not increase the consequences of flooding.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The approach to flood risk areas set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 Planning and Flooding already includes an allowance for climate change. This is incorporated in the risk framework which for planning purposes has the following sequence of annual pr…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback is given to statutory agencies, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and key stakeholders when inquiry reporters or local authority planning departments make decisions that have gone against the objections of the statutory agencies.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Once a reporter from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals has issued a decision on an appeal the decision is final and neither the reporter he/she</b> Thursday, July 29, 1999</b> nor Scottish ministers have any further jurisdiction on the ma…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given on measures to reduce the consequences of flooding.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has published two chapters of the guidance to local authorities on Flood Prevention Schemes. The remaining chapters will be published in due course. </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2005/10/0794935/49513">http…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that strategic flood assessments are required for regional spatial strategies and local development documents in flood risk locations.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 Planning and Flooding says that the potential of land to flood should be considered during the preparation of every development plan and flood risk areas must be identified early in the plan preparation process. The recent con…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to arrange for local authorities with little previous experience of flooding to learn from others that have been living with the risk for some time.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for local authorities to consider. However local authorities, through COSLA working groups, exchange and share information on practice in flood management.</p> <p >It is Scottish Government policy that every council should convene a flood li…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to assess the risks associated with serious flooding across more than one local authority area, such as those adjacent to the River Forth, particularly in respect of determining insurance excesses, and whether it considers that levels of self insurance and reser…

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is working with the Association of British Insurers to ensure that affordable insurance remains widely available. However, terms will reflect the risk and are a matter for insurers.</p> <p >Local authorities are expected to include a …

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to measure the vulnerability of the population to flooding, broken down by area.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, through its in-house Geographic Information Service, has used data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s Indicative Flood Map 2007 to produce an analysis showing the impact of flooding, which can be found on: </p> <p ><a…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities’ risk assessments differentiate between the risks of river and coastal flooding in high risk areas and flooding due to excessive rainfall.

Answer · Michael Russell: The forthcoming Flooding Bill will task the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) with the assessment of flood risk across Scotland, from all types of flooding. This will be the basis for the national framework within which SEPA, local authorities, Sc…