Parliamentary questions
Irene Oldfather
1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications from Ayrshire for the erection of mobile telephone masts have been successful following appeal to the Scottish Ministers in the last year, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Since 1 July 2005, therehave been three appeals allowed for the erection of mobile telephone masts inAyrshire. All three were in East Ayrshire.</p>
10 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Health and Safety Executive in relation to the potential effect of mobile telephone masts on public health.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Liaison has taken place betweenofficials in the Scottish Executive Health Department and the Health and SafetyExecutive on the locus of the HSE under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at WorkAct 1974, as it relates to the possible risks to public health from…
10 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities on determining what distance can be described as “close proximity” to residential areas and schools when considering planning applications for mobile telephone masts.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The Executive has not soughtto define ”close proximity” with regard to the siting of mobile telephone mastsin the vicinity of schools or in residential areas. Planning guidance on the sitingand design of these masts is contained in National Planning Policy Gu…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with NHS boards in relation to accommodating prisoners, who have been admitted to hospital for treatment, in public wards.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A prisoner remains the responsibilityof the prison service when he or she is in hospital, and the hospital authorities are expected to work with prisonstaff to ensure appropriate security while the necessary clinical care is provided.</p><p>It is for local NH…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review its position on mixed sex wards in NHS hospitals.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Work to eliminate mixed sex wardswas completed in autumn 2005. We are not aware of any hospital which still makesroutine use of mixed-sex general wards. Any evidence that the privacy or dignityof patients’ is being compromised is followed up proactively.</p><…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that mixed sex wards in hospitals are appropriate for (a) elderly and (b) teenage patients.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Elderly or teenage patients shouldnot be treated in mixed-sex wards.</p><p>A programme of work to eliminatemixed sex wards was completed in autumn 2005. The NHS is expected to take stepsto avoid any reintroduction of mixed sex wards. Where, for example, in in…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues in relation to the safety of patients while in hospital.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is committed toensuring that patient safety is viewed as a priority by NHS boards.</p><p>In October 2005, NHS QualityImprovement Scotland published standards for clinical governance and risk managementwhich NHS boards are currently being reviewe…
12 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in conjunction with NHS boards to make the best use of available acute sector beds.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Making best use of beds inacute hospitals is an important operational responsibility for NHS boards. TheHealth Department supports a number of initiatives and programmes to help boardsoptimise the use of acute hospital beds. This includes programmes to manage…
16 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for the erection of mobile telephone masts (a) across Scotland and (b) in North Ayrshire have been successful in the last year following appeal to Scottish ministers.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isnot held centrally. However, in 2004 NHS National Services Scotland ISD carriedout a project aiming to estimate the number of women in Scotland whohad given birth in 2002 and were diagnosed with depression within a year of thebirth…
16 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for the erection of mobile telephone masts (a) across Scotland and (b) in North Ayrshire have been successful in the last year following appeal to Scottish ministers.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Since 1 April 2005, therehave been 71 appeals allowed across Scotland. Of these, two were in North Ayrshire.</p>
16 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals it has received in relation to planning applications for the erection of mobile telephone masts in the last year from (a) all local authorities and (b) North Ayrshire Council.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of appeals receivedfrom all authorities in relation to planning applications for the erection of mobiletelephone masts since 1 April 2005 is 105. None have been received from North Ayrshire councilduring that period.</p>
24 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed its position on culling hedgehogs on Uist, in light of the recent research by Bristol University, funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and St Tiggywinkle’s Wildlife Hospital, which recommended the translocation of the hedgehogs to mainland Britain.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: In taking forward their workon the Uist Wader Project, Scottish Natural Heritage has given full considerationto Bristol University’s findings on the effects of translocating hedgehogs.</p><p>The Scottish Executive’s EcologicalAdvisers Unit have also reviewed …
24 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with animal welfare organisations regarding the cull of hedgehogs on Uist.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that Scottish NaturalHeritage has sought and obtained the involvement of the Scottish Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals in all aspects of the Uist Wader Project with aview to ensuring that all operations pertaining to the project ar…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support services are available for the families of drug addicts.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive provided£75,000 over 2005-07 to the Scottish Network for Families Affected by Drugs (SNFAD).The funding is used to run a national telephone line to support families affectedby drug misuse and to assist community based groups which provi…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering implementing alternatives to methadone therapy for recovering drug addicts.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Decisions on treatment interventionsand options for addressing other needs are for individual patients and their medicaland social professionals. We are encouraging a wide range of options: increasingthe range of treatments available locally was one of three …
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it places on providing rehabilitation services for drug addicts.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Our strategy for tackling drugmisuse is focused on outcomes such as the drug-free life, the crime-free life anda journey back into education, family life or employment. That means offering awide range of options to those seeking help, tailored to individual n…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to deliver drug education programmes and initiatives following the winding-up of the Scotland Against Drugs project.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Themain functions of Scotland Against Drugs (SAD), including the schools programme,transferred to NHS Health Scotland from 1 April 2006. Health Scotland, the Health Promoting Schools Unit and Learning TeachingScotland will take forward the drugs education ele…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish beef sector could become self-sufficient and no longer rely on imported beef.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Self-sufficiency is notcalculated at the Scotland level because internal trade figures are notrecorded. UK figures for 2005 show that the UK wasaround 74% self-sufficient for beef and veal. We operate in an open economy andimports are likely to continue. Mean…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to taking steps to stop the export of Scottish calves to continental veal farms.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It was agreed in March 2006 thatEU restrictions on exports from the UK in respect of beef and live animals born after 1 August 1996 wouldbe lifted. We expect that decision to be formally in place on 29 April 2006. the Executive would be acting illegally shoul…
19 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with animal welfare organisations regarding the export of Scottish calves to continental veal farms.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There have been no formal discussionswith animal welfare organisations regarding the export of calves from Scottish farms.</p>
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by the NHS on tattoo removal treatments in 2005-06.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally by The Scottish Executive.</p>
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards in respect of the removal of tattoos.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Centre for Change and Innovation’sPatient Pathways project includes a plastic surgery exceptional referral pathway,which has been issued to NHS boards. The pathway guidance has been developed byan expert group of clinicians and patient representatives. It…
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received tattoo removal treatment on the NHS in (a) Scotland and (b) Ayrshire and Arran in 2005-06.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isnot available.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote economic development in Ayrshire.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive’s <i>Frameworkfor Economic Development </i>in Scotland (FEDS) outlines our approach to growingthe economy, in Ayrshire as elsewhere. In line with this, we are investing in infrastructure,education and enterprise throughout Ayrshire.</p>…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make cardiac resynchronisation therapy available to all patients who need it.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The National Advisory Committeeon Coronary Heart Disease has prepared a report on electrophysiology, which includescardiac resynchronisation therapy and the recommendations in the report have beencosted. Regional planning groups have been asked to take forwar…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is aware of in respect of the impact of cardiac resynchronisation therapy for patients with heart failure in terms of prognosis and reductions in hospital admissions.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A range of evidence has beenamassed from randomised controlled trailssuch as MADIT II and the COMPANION fed into an Evidence Note which was publishedby NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in November 2005. The Evidence Note sets outsthe benefits of cardiac resyn…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have undergone cardiac resynchronisation therapy procedures in each year since 1999.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
11 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the funding available to NHS Ayrshire and Arran to tackle drugs misuse.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Ayrshire and Arran NHS board receive £1,153,781 for drug treatment and rehabilitation services per annum. If additional resources are made available in the future the specific allocation to Ayrshire and Arran will be considered along with those for the rest o…
11 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated in this parliamentary session to NHS Ayrshire and Arran for drug rehabilitation services.
Answer · Hugh Henry: In this parliamentarysession the following resources have been, or will be, allocated to NHSAyrshire and Arran for drug treatment and rehabilitation services.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> …
11 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran regarding the availability of drug rehabilitation services in the area.
Answer · Hugh Henry: NHS Ayrshire and Arran is a keypartner in Ayrshire and Arran’s Alcohol and Drug Action Team (ADAT). The ADAT submitsannual Corporate Action Plans to the Executive detailing past performance and plannedaction across a range of national priorities, including th…