Irene Oldfather

12 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions it places on the use of potentially addictive medicines.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As with all medicines, the decision whether or not to prescribe a treatment for an individual patient depends on the clinical judgement of the doctor concerned, in consultation with the patient and bearing in mind the risks and benefits of the treatment.

12 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on whether drug companies are, or should be, required to display on drugs packaging information on the possibility of addiction.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All licensed medicines have an approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), a document which is in the public domain and is provided to doctors and pharmacists. In addition, the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine reflects the informa…

12 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken evidence from the World Health Organisation on possible side effects from the use of Seroxat.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA). <P>The MCA has online access to the World Health Organisation data on adverse drug reactions and routinely evaluates these data.

12 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current NHS prescription status is of the anti-depressant Seroxat.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Seroxat is a prescription-only medicine available on the NHS.

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what length of time represents a reasonable waiting time between lodging an application for the installation of central heating under its central heating programme and a successful applicant having a heating system installed.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The length of time taken to approve an application varies between cases. It depends on such things as whether the applicant is an owner-occupier or private tenant, in which case the landlord's permission must be sought. The length of time between an applicati…

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a waiting period of one year between the lodging of an application for the installation of central heating under its central heating programme and a successful applicant having a heating system installed represents a reasonable waiting time.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I have explained the factors which determine how quickly an application is dealt with in the answer given to question S1W-30997 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can …

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the national average waiting period is between an application for the installation of central heating under its central heating programme being lodged and a successful applicant having a heating system installed.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There are no figures on the length of time between an application being lodged and approved. The average length of time between an application being approved and central heating being installed is currently around six months.

23 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29804 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 7 October 2002, what timescale has been set for considering the inclusion of support tights in the Scottish Drug Tariff.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Consideration will be given to whether an application for inclusion of support tights on the Scottish Drug Tariff is appropriate as soon as officials have gathered the relevant information. It is not possible to give a definitive timescale.

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any consideration to implementing a scheme to introduce complementary and alternative therapies to those from poorer backgrounds.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has not received proposals for any such scheme.

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact complementary and alternative therapies can have on raising the self-esteem of individuals and contributing to a sense of community spirit.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30583 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/sear…

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether complementary and alternative therapies could make a significant impact on the health of those from poorer backgrounds.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The possible benefits of complementary and alternative therapies would apply to people from all backgrounds.

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive with how many current projects concerning complementary and alternative therapies it has an involvement.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO is currently directly funding four research projects and one re…

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a role for complementary and alternative therapies in health care provision in helping to reduce pressure on GPs and hospital health care services and, if so, what it envisages that role to be.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30583 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/sear…

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budgetary allocation for complementary and alternative therapies in health care provision is, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There is no specific financial allocation for such therapies. It is for each NHS board or trust to make their own assessment of need and provide appropriate resources.

11 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in the development and funding of complementary and alternative therapies in health care provision.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive believes that complementary or alternative therapies may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. There is no legislative bar to prevent practitioners of such therapies from offering their services, subject only t…

23 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21646 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 23 January 2002, whether it has received the advice of the Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Providers Forum Orthotic Sub-Group on whether support tights should be available on prescription from general practitioners.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Providers Forum (SCOTRET) has provided advice indicating this should be explored.<P>Information is now being gathered to allow consideration to be given to whether it would be appropriate to apply for support tights to b…

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to increase awareness of, and encourage applications from suitably qualified people for, the post of Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The UK position relating to EU Agencies, including staffing, is reserved and a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in close contact with the UK Government on a variety of subjects including the European Maritime Safety Agency. It would be …

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the Glasgow bid to be the preferred location for the new European Maritime Safety Agency and what support it has been able to provide.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The UK position in relation to the siting of EU Agencies is reserved and a matter for the UK Government.<P>The Scottish Executive has been in regular contact with the UK Government about the location of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and we have …

22 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on the regulations required to implement provisions of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive will undertake a consultation on the provisions of the regulations to implement the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill in Scotland from 22 August until 8 November 2002. These regulations cover point of sale advertising, the timetabl…

14 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24669 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 April 2002, how the rule of ownership of boundary divisions on an ad medium filum basis can be ascribed to fences that stand on and mark the boundary where, after specifying the type of fence, the title deeds of the adja…

Answer · Jim Wallace: It is not appropriate for ministers to seek to interpret the law, as this is a matter for the courts. I am meeting the member on 2 October to discuss issues relating to boundary walls.

5 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to address unemployment in Irvine and the North Ayrshire area following recent redundancy announcements.

Answer · Iain Gray: In recognition of the difficulties facing the wider Ayrshire economy, I met with Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, and the Chairman of the Ayrshire Economic Forum (AEF) on 1 August. I wrote to the AEF's Chairman on 8 August, underlining the importance of the AEF'…

5 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is offering to the 750 people made redundant following the closure of the Sanmina-SCI plant in Irvine.

Answer · Iain Gray: I very much regret the announcement by Sanmina SCI, of its intention to close its Irvine plant. Our immediate priority is to provide support and assistance for those facing redundancy. I have instructed the local PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employ…

17 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24669 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 April 2002, how the rule of ownership of boundary divisions on an ad medium filum basis, which rule derives from a theoretical concept of inaedificatum cedit solo, can be ascribed on any common sense grounds to floors an…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24572 on 23 April 2002, which confirmed the Executive's view that the law on boundary walls is satisfactory and repeated the offer made in my letter to the member of 11 March this year to meet to discuss …

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure increased uptake of European structural funds.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has encouraged the five Programme Management Executives to pursue actively a range of activities to raise awareness of the availability of the funds, including:<P>The provision on websites and the circulation to all partner organisation…

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake of European structural funds has been in each of the last two years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The commitment of European structural funds in Scotland was £92.154 million in 2000 and £181.649 million in 2001. The following table breaks this down by fund. There was no commitment of structural funds in the three Objective 2 Programmes in 2000 as the prog…

26 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat unemployment levels in North Ayrshire, given that they are significantly higher than the national average.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is very conscious of the particular problems of areas such as North Ayrshire. We are working closely with the Ayrshire Economic Forum to ensure that through investing in jobs and skills and encouraging the growth of new businesses that …

24 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed timetable for relocating the Common Services Agency is still on target.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Common Services Agency was asked to undertake a review of property options in Edinburgh and around Scotland. Ministers expect to consider these options shortly.

24 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the dispersal of civil service jobs.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We have made good progress. Around 650 posts have been located or are currently planned to be located outwith Edinburgh as a direct result of this policy. Including the new reviews announced in November last year, around 3,000 further posts will be covered by…

24 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified target timescales for broadband development in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and whether any such timescales are being met.

Answer · Mike Watson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27021.

24 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has undertaken of the benefits of broadband for business.

Answer · Mike Watson: The benefits to businesses of broadband connectivity are well established. Broadband gives fast access to global markets, enhances the efficiency of existing structures and supply chains while providing a means of enhancing customer service through effective …