Parliamentary questions

Irene Oldfather

1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were employed in the Strathclyde Police area in 1999, broken down into those who (a) performed administrative duties, (b) undertook the monitoring of sex offenders and (c) were available for police response.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: At 30 June 1999 there were 7,123(headcount) police officers in Strathclyde Police compared with 7,770 (whole-timeequivalent) at the end of September 2006. Information on the deployment of policeofficers to particular duties is not held centrally and is an ope…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers have been recruited to Strathclyde Police in the last year, broken down into those who (a) perform administrative duties, (b) undertake the monitoring of sex offenders and (c) are available for police response.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Strathclyde Police recruited494 police officers in 2005-06. Information on the deployment of officers to particularduties is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constableof Strathclyde Police.

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Police in relation to increasing the number of police officers available for police response.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The deployment of police officersto particular tasks is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of StrathclydePolice.

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring that patients who suffer from chronic conditions receive continuing support for their illness when admitted to hospital to receive treatment for unrelated conditions.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is essential that those admittedto hospital should receive not only the treatment needed to manage the cause ofadmission, but also that they should continue to receive the regular treatment theyneed in relation to all other long-term conditions with which …

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing staff who specialise in (a) Alzheimer’s disease, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) Parkinson’s disease are employed in hospitals and in communities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on nursing staffwho specialise in Alzheimer’s disease is not held centrally. As at 30 September 2005, NHSScotlandemployed 1,065 Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) who’s remit includes those patientspresenting with Alzheimer’s disease.As at…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce more specialist motor neurone disease nursing staff in hospitals.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executivedoes not directly manage the care of people with motor neurone diseaseor with any other chronic illnesses. Services for people with long-term conditionsare for NHS boards to plan and to fund from the unified budgets which are made availa…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association in relation to the provision of specialist motor neurone disease nursing staff in hospitals.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The employment of specialistnurses is a matter for NHS boards, as part of their responsibility for making surethat the health care needs of their local populations are met.The Executive has had discussions with the ScottishMotor Neurone Disease Associa…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital-based specialist motor neurone disease nurses there are, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on specialist motorneurone disease nurses is not held centrally. NHSScotland does however employnine Clinical Nurse Specialists in Neuroscience/Neurology which would cover thosepatients presenting with motor neurone disease.The following ta…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to raise awareness among motorists of the dangers of tailgating, particularly during the winter months when driving conditions are poor.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Road Safety Scotland, who arefunded by the Scottish Executive for the development of key educational initiativesand publicity messages, are distributing 60,000 R U 2 CLOSE? stickers, includingthrough police and local authority road safety units, as part of it…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve road safety in the winter months.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Every year the trunk road operatingcompanies are required to submit winter maintenance plans which set out in detailhow they intend to fulfil their responsibility to, so far as is practical, keepthe trunk roads free of snow and ice. Copies of the winter maint…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to encouraging motorists to use dipped headlights when it is raining or lighting conditions are poor.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Highway Code givesadvice on driving in adverse weather conditions. The code states that drivers“must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced”, thereafter it is amatter for the police to enforce. Every qualified driver has demonstrated aknowled…

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any scope to extend the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to prevent convicted criminals from making profits by publishing books about their crimes.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28784 on 18 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in preventing convicted criminals from profiting from writing books and articles in which they discuss their crimes.

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office on developing proposals to prevent convicted criminals profiting from writing about their crimes.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive and HomeOffice are liaising on proposals to prevent criminals from profiting from publishedaccounts of their crimes. The aim is to submit a joint consultation paper during2006. Depending on the outcome of the consultation,consideration …

19 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27297 by Johann Lamont on 5 September 2006, whether it has any plans to define “close proximity” with regard to the siting of mobile telephone masts in the vicinity of schools or in residential areas within National Planning Policy Guideline 19.

Answer · Johann Lamont: We have no plans at presentfor such a definition. We do intend to review our guidance in National PlanningPolicy Guideline 19 and Planning Advice Note 62, both entitled RadioTelecommunications in 2007.

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring that patients with chronic conditions continue to receive their regular medication at the appropriate times during emergency admissions to hospital.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is essential that thoseadmitted to hospital in an emergency should receive not only the medicationneeded to treat the cause of admission to hospital, but also the regularmedication they need in relation to all other conditions which they may have.Wh…

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring that patients with chronic conditions continue to receive their regular medication whilst in hospital with other conditions.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is essential that thosein hospital should receive not only the medication needed to treat the cause ofadmission to hospital, but also the regular medication they need in relation toany other conditions which they may have.

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards to ensure that nursing staff administer regular medication to patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease whilst in hospital with other conditions.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS boards are expected tohave admission procedures in place which include arrangements for theadministration, including, where appropriate, self-administration, of the medicinesrequired by those with Parkinson’s disease.

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the monitoring of nutritional and hygiene practices in care homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has noplans to increase the monitoring of nutritional and hygiene practices in care homes.There is already a robust regulatory framework in place through the Care Commission.I refer the member to theanswers to questions S2W-28124…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives in relation to preventing dehydration among elderly people in nursing homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28126 on 19 September 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…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring is undertaken of the dehydration and hydration of elderly people in nursing homes.

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring is undertaken of (a) infection control and (b) nutritional standards in nursing homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to theanswers to questions S2W-28124 and S2W-28126 on 19 September 2006. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that elderly people in nursing homes receive appropriate nutrition from their meals.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Good nutritionalpractices in care homes are a result of good management, up-to-date policies andprocedures which are readily available to all staff, education of new staff at inductionand on-going education to existing staff, and monitoring and audit, with ac…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training it provides for nursing home staff in relation to infection control.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does notprovide training for nursing home staff.

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent nursing home-acquired infections.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Prevention of infectionin care homes is a result of good management, provision of up-to-date infectioncontrol policies and procedures which are readily available to all staff, educationof new staff at induction and on-going education to existing staff, and mo…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides for staff in relation to good hygiene practice in nursing homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer question S2W-28124 on 19 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

11 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to people over 30 who want to start up their own businesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27341 on 20 September. 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…

11 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to people under 30 who want to start up their own businesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In the Scottish Enterprise area,Business Gateway provides a first stop shop for all forms of business supportavailable from Scottish Enterprise and local partners including services to assistnew business starts. Specifically aimed at young people in th…

11 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on encouraging Scottish entrepreneurs.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has seteconomic growth as the number one priority and we are determined to create theright environment and conditions where business can thrive. The SmartSuccessful Scotland strategy sets out our approach to achieving this. One of the key compon…

10 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals it has received from Ayrshire in relation to planning applications for the erection of mobile telephone masts in the last year, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There have been no appeals,in relation to the erection of mobile telephone masts, received from theadministrative area of any of the local authorities in Ayrshire since 1 July 2005.