Parliamentary questions

Irene Oldfather

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

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of the effectiveness of the use of Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and of current prescribing practices for Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in (a) Ireland, and (b) North America.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Naltrexone hydrochloride is licensedas an adjunct to prevent relapse in detoxified, formerly opiate dependentaddicts. It is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) andthere is no information held centrally on its effectiveness when used in t…

18 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made the European Commission aware of the economic importance of Ryanair's Prestwick to Charleroi route to Ayrshire and Scotland as a whole.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No discussions have beenheld between the Executive and the European Commission about the effect on the Scottish economy of Ryanair’s Glasgow Prestwick-Charleroi route. TheCommission’s investigation does not relate to the economic importance of airservices ope…

18 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding its investigation into subsidies received by Ryanair to use Charleroi Airport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No discussions have beenheld between the Executive and the European Commission about the subsidiesreceived by Ryanair to use Charleroi Airport. The Commission’s investigation relates to mattersin Belgium which are outwith the jurisdiction of the Executive and…

14 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on reducing noise pollution on trunk roads that run through residential areas.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: For new roads, the ScottishExecutive will assess predicted noise emissions and, where appropriate, devisea strategy for attenuation or insulation of affected properties. Theeligibility to be insulated if a property is adjacent to a new or improved roadis asse…

14 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to mitigate noise pollution on the A737 due to increased traffic following its designation as a trunk road.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No noise mitigation measureshave been instigated as a consequence of increased traffic flow.

29 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage more businesses in the leisure industry to sign up to the voluntary charter that prohibits smoking in public places.

Answer · Tom McCabe: the Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places is an industryinitiative to drive improvements in non-smoking facilities in the licensed,tourism and hospitality sector. As such, it continues to be actively promotedto their membership by the four ma…

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider recommending that acute health trusts appoint an Al'heimer's disease liaison officer with responsibility for all hospitals within their area to ensure that relatives of patients with Al'heimer's disease have access to information about their relatives' care.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Our National Health(December 2000, Bib. number 10298) and Partnership for Care (February 2003, Bib.number 26689) are explicit about the need for the NHS to work with patients andtheir carers to ensure that they have the information and support they need tobe …

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that patients with Al'heimer's disease receive adequate nutrition in hospital.

Answer · Tom McCabe: High quality, nutritiousfood is essential to improving the health and functional ability of hospitalpatients. Our National Health, published in December 2000, (Bib. number10298), invited the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (now NHS QualityImprove…

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued a code of guidance to NHS staff to ensure that patients with Al'heimer's disease receive appropriate care in hospital.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The report of the ChiefMedical Officer’s expert group on the health care of older people, AddingLife to Years, published in 2001 (Bib. number 18916) includedrecommendations on early detection, awareness, recognition and treatment ofolder people’s menta…

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring that relatives of hospital patients with Al'heimer's disease are provided with sufficient information about their relatives' treatment.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Carers are keypartners in the care of the people they look after. The ScottishExecutive’s Strategy for Carers in Scotland (November 1999, Bib number15679) underlines the importance of ensuring that carers have as much informationas possible about the h…

2 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training is available to ensure that NHS staff understand the needs of patients with Al'heimer's disease who are receiving treatment in hospital for other health conditions.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Patients can respond betterand perhaps faster to treatment if their mental health needs are addressedalongside their physical needs. A Scottish Needs Assessment Programme 2002 report,Liaison Psychiatry and Psychology (Bib. number 29705), underlined the…

3 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on pre-school modern language learning.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Currentpolicy is that all students are entitled to experience learning a modern languageno later than primary 6. There are already some Scottish projects involvingchildren as early as primary 1 in learning modern languages through partialimmersion techniques.…

17 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33550 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 February 2003, what the expected timescale is for the implementation of changes made in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 under which the installation of a main-door entry phone system in buildings of common ownership w…

Answer · Margaret Curran: It is expected that regulations to implement these changes will be laid before Parliament during the summer session and, if approved by Parliament, will come into force in the early autumn this year.

29 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to owner occupiers with disabilities residing in blocks of flats owned by local authorities to participate in the installation of improved secure entry systems by the managing housing association.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33550 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…

29 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to owner-occupier pensioners residing in blocks of flats owned by local authorities to participate in the installation of improved secure entry systems by the managing housing association.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Financial assistance to owner-occupiers in blocks of flats mainly owned by local authorities or registered social landlords is provided through Housing Improvement and Repairs grants, administered by the local authority. Most grants are paid at the discretion…

29 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will review existing mental health service provision.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Mental Health and Well-being Support Group, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS), the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, the Social Work Services Inspectorate and the Performance Assessment Framework all play a part in evaluating the progress made …

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the planning of events to mark the European Year of Disabled People 2003 (a) throughout Scotland and (b) in north Ayrshire.

Answer · Des McNulty: The Scottish Steering Group for the European Year of Disabled People 2003 announced its proposals for the year on 23 January. The steering group's focus is on national activity. A range of activities is planned and progress is being made through the steering …

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what events are planned to mark the European Year of Disabled People 2003 (a) throughout Scotland and (b) in north Ayrshire.

Answer · Des McNulty: For information on the activities planned by the Scottish steering group I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33375 on 23 January 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search faci…

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether events planned to mark the European Year of Disabled People 2003 will relate to both mental health disorders and physical disabilities.

Answer · Des McNulty: The Scottish Steering Group for the European Year of Disabled People (EYDP) includes organisations representing a broad range of impairment groups, including physical and sensory impairments, learning disability and mental illness. The steering group's activi…

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the voluntary sector is participating in the European Year of Disabled People 2003.

Answer · Des McNulty: In Scotland, the Scottish Executive has convened a steering group for the European Year of Disabled People 2003.Most of the organisations on the steering group are from the voluntary sector, including the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. We wi…

11 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32002 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 December 2002, when a response to the A737/A738 Route Accident Reduction Plan will be published.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The recommendations of the A737/A738 Route Accident Reduction Plan have been accepted in full. The works include:Provision of a pedestrian crossing on A737 at Kilwinning Academy/Abbey Primary School.Red textured bar markings and triangular school childr…

26 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the Route Accident Reduction Plan compiled before summer 2002 by Amey Highways in respect of the A737/A738 Stevenston Road in Kilwinning and, if so, on what date the report was received and what response it has made.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive commissioned Amey Highways to undertake the A737/A738 Route Accident Reduction Plan study in March this year. Amey's report was received on 29 November and is currently being evaluated by officials.