Parliamentary questions
Helen Eadie
919 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that it should take steps to ensure that freight trains bound for Scotland are not delayed.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact on Scottish business of any rail freight terminal closures arising from the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel and what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government on this matter.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight generally and European railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight services. I am not aware of the impending closure of any frei…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any increase in road freight in Scotland arising from restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information on possible increases in road freight in Scotland arising from any restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel is not held centrally. However, we are in regular contact with the UK Government concerning European and International rail …
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on Scottish business of any security issues at the Channel Tunnel.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21001 on 31 December 2001.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of any significant fines owed by English Welsh & Scottish Railway on the company's Scottish business interests.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None. European railway services are a reserved issue and the imposition of fines on freight operators using the Channel Tunnel is a matter for the UK Government. However, we understand that there have been no such civil penalties imposed on English Welsh &…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of safeguarding public investment in cross-Channel rail freight developments in order to protect access to rail freight for Scottish businesses.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21746.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any implications for Scottish business of any review by the European Commission of maintenance of trade routes within and between member states of the European Union.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The regulation of trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry on trade issues including those relating to the Free Movement of Goods (FMOG) Regulation - Council Regulation EC No 2679/98. F…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will request Her Majesty's Government to propose that the protection of trade routes and, in particular, rail freight trade routes is discussed at a meeting of the Council of Ministers in order to protect the interests of Scottish businesses.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The regulation of international trade and rail freight are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight trade routes and how the current position at the Channel Tunnel …
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or is having, discussions with Her Majesty's Government with a view to identifying solutions to any difficulties facing Scottish businesses arising from the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight generally and European railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including how any changes to rail freight services using the Channel Tunnel might im…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact on Scottish businesses of the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel and of any related issues in respect of timing and reliability of trains.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21001 on 31 December 2001.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government concerning any impact on Scottish businesses and, in particular, on the whisky industry of the restriction of rail freight through the Channel Tunnel that began on 7 November 2001.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the restriction of rail freight, which might impact on Scottish businesses such as the whisky industry.
10 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Parliament's restaurant and shop currently accept payment in euros and, if not, whether there are any plans to allow them to do so.
Answer · David Steel: Neither the restaurant nor the shop currently accepts payment in currencies other than sterling, and there are no plans at present to change these arrangements. The SPCB will review this in planning for the Holyrood building.
21 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the successful use of photo-dynamic therapy in many parts of the developed world in the management of a wide variety of cancers, what its position is on the availability of this treatment in Scotland and whether it has any plans to provide funding in order to develop the use of the…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21411 and S1W-21413.
21 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the work of the Photo-dynamic Cancer Therapy Unit in Dundee and any finance or staffing limitations faced by the unit, whether it will provide additional funding to ensure that photo-dynamic therapy treatment is made widely available to the Scottish public.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: My answer to the member's earlier question (S1W-21411) sets out the position regarding clinical effectiveness and availability of photodynamic therapy for cancer.<P>Service development is subject to the normal NHS Board local health planning processes, based …
21 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of advances made in developing the techniques of photo-dynamic therapy for the treatment of cancer, what plans it has to fund clinical and scientific research in order to provide authoritative guidelines on the use of this treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within NHSScotland. This role is well advertised throughout the healthcare and academ…
21 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategies it has in respect of making photo-dynamic therapy for the treatment of cancer widely available throughout Scotland
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The clinical effectiveness of photo-dynamic therapy is the subject of on-going research and, pending the availability of evidence to support its safety and efficacy as a treatment option it would not therefore be expected to be widely available throughout Sco…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to identify the business needs for new broadband technology in Social Inclusion Partnership areas.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive launched a broadband strategy on 31 August 2001 with the aim of promoting affordable pervasive broadband across Scotland. The strategy includes aggregated public sector procurement which will be taken forward initially in two pathfinder…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to identify those voluntary sector partners in urban regeneration areas who wish to access cable and satellite broadband technology.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21173.
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to link schools in urban regeneration areas to the new broadband technology.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: A formal designation of urban regeneration areas no longer exists in Scottish Executive policy. Some areas that were previously designated for urban regeneration have been incorporated into Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) programmes. <P>Schools currently f…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to link general practitioners in urban regeneration areas to the new broadband technology.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland planning is directed to achieve consistent access to appropriate telecommunications network services across all general medical practices including those in urban regeneration areas. General medical practices across Scotland are linked to secure, …
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set standards for local authority websites as part of its modernising government agenda.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has no power to compel local authorities in Scotland to comply with any set standards. However, there is published guidance available for the public sector, including the Office of the e-Envoy publication <I>Guidance for UK Government websites</…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it carries out into the volume of unsolicited faxes it and its non-departmental public bodies receive and any associated costs incurred.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not monitor the volume of unsolicited faxes it receives; nor does it seek information from non-departmental public bodies about this.<P>However, the Scottish Executive makes monthly telecommunications monitoring reports available t…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned into the costs to it of unsolicited faxes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned research into the costs to it of unsolicited faxes.<P>However, the Scottish Executive makes monthly telecommunications monitoring reports available to all its budget centre managers, which show the number and cost o…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the volume of unsolicited faxes which it and non-departmental public bodies receive; how many times officials have responded to the premium rate phone numbers in such faxes, and what the estimated cost of this has been.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not made an analysis of the volume of unsolicited faxes it receives, nor does it seek this information from non-departmental public bodies. The Scottish Executive does however block outgoing access to premium rate telephone numbers.…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that it is consulted over those issues that fall within its responsibility which are being considered by the European Parliament related to the sending of unsolicited faxes.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the regulation of unsolicited faxes.
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual estimated cost is to businesses of using premium rate phone calls to respond to unsolicited faxes.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The regulation of activities relating to the sending of direct marketing faxes is reserved to the UK Government. The Executive is not aware of any data gathered related to the estimated cost to businesses of using premium rate phone calls to respond to unsoli…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in support of a publicity campaign being conducted to inform people living in poverty, those in debt, pensioners and other vulnerable members of the community of the implications of using premium rate phone calls to respond …
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The regulation of activities relating to the sending of direct marketing faxes and premium rate phone services is reserved to the UK Government.<P>Individuals are protected by law from receiving direct marketing faxes, and corporate subscribers can apply for …
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analyses have been made of the volume of unsolicited faxes sent to schools and any problems which they cause.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has not undertaken any analysis of unsolicited faxes sent to schools.
10 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to roll out broadband technology in those areas of central Scotland that do not yet have access.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Access to higher bandwidth telecoms services is already available across central Scotland by means of leased lines. Access to services such as ADSL and cable-modem currently stands at about 43% population coverage in central Scotland (taking Central, Fife, Lo…
7 Nov 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its pilot programme of Drug Courts.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Glasgow Drug Court sat for the first time on Monday 12 November. This opens the way for a second stage pilot and so I was pleased to announce on Monday that a Drug Court will be established in Fife. The plans are for it to be in operation by summer 2002.