Parliamentary questions
Irene Oldfather
1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the preservation of maritime heritage.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of preserving Scotland''s maritime heritage. The Marine (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent on 14 March 2010. This will allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea while herita…
28 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat assessment it has made of the funding required to guarantee the long-term financial security of the Scottish Maritime Museum.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I was pleased to visit the Scottish Maritime Museum on 14 June to open the new PS Lochlomond gallery, to announce an additional £100,000 funding for the museum, and to hear about its work and future challenges. The financial situation of the Scottish Maritime…
28 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure the long-term financial security of the industrial museums.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has already come to the assistance of the industrial museums through providing an additional £340,000 revenue funding in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and over £1.5 million in capital funding over the current Spending Review period. The Museums …
1 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a parliamentary debate on Scotland’s national dementia strategy and, if so, when.
Answer · Shona Robison: We intend to seek a parliamentary debate on the dementia strategy in autumn 2010.</p>
13 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people from Scotland have participated in a European Union Youth in Action Programme since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: One thousand, five hundred and forty-one young people from Scotland took part in the Youth in Action Programme from 2007-09. Figures for 2010 are not yet available.</p>
13 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-10160 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2010 (Official Report c. 25632), when it expects to publish its refreshed United States Plan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The position remains as stated in my answer to S3O-10160. All answers to Oral 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/business/officialReports…
13 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding European Structural Funds after 2013.
Answer · Jim Mather: Between February and April of this year Scottish Government officials within the European Structural Funds Division undertook an informal consultation on post-2013 Cohesion Policy, including the future use of Structural Funds in Scotland. As part of the proce…
13 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all new primary care premises have incorporated all of the research that is available to ensure that such facilities are user-friendly and maximise accessibility for people with cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for designing all primary care premises in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act, as part of their wider accountability under the act for eliminating discrimination and promoting equality of access for disabled people in…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable it has in place for its evaluation of the future of the clipper ship, HMS Carrick or City of Adelaide.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Maritime Museum has made it clear that it needs a solution to the problem of removing the City of Adelaide from its current location within this calendar year. That is the key timeframe within which we are working. The consultants appointed by Hi…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the findings of the appraisal of the clipper ship, HMS Carrick or City of Adelaide carried out by DTZ, to be published.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33483 on 11 May 2010. 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/Apps2/Bu…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to motion S3M-4797.1 as agreed by the Parliament on 9 September 2009, why there has been a delay in the publication of the Scottish Dementia Strategy.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33480 on 13 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to motion S3M-4797.1 as agreed by the Parliament on 9 September 2009, when it expects the Scottish Dementia Strategy to be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The National Dementia Strategy will be published by early June.</p> <p >The Convener of the Health and Sport Committee has already been informed of an extension from the initial end-April deadline. The extension is in order to finalise details of the strateg…
29 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out on the economic benefits of home access grants such as those available in England.
Answer · Michael Russell: A range of research has been carried out into the economic benefits of home internet access by various organisations. The Scottish Government has no plans to duplicate this work.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is a member of the British-Irish Council works…
29 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing a grant similar to the Home Access Grant available in England.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is adopting a comprehensive approach to the delivery of sustainable educational benefits and change for those most in need. This includes provision of the national education platform known as Glow, serving a potential user base of 1.5 …
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it encourages police authorities to reduce their carbon footprints by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: From 1 January 2011, public bodies, including police authorities and forces,<i> </i>will be subject to climate change duties imposed by the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. A public consultation on draft Scottish Government guidance in relation to these cl…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors police authority spending in relation to the purchase of police vehicles.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. Police authorities are accountable for their own spending.</p>
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to police authorities regarding the purchase of police vehicles.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No.</p>
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and relevant Scottish stakeholders regarding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Intellectual property, consumer protection, medicines, internet services and product standards, safety and liability are all reserved matters. The Scottish Government has not been involved in any discussions regarding negotiations on the proposed Anti‘Counter…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the (a) digitisation, (b) online accessibility and (c) preservation of cultural works.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is a wealth of material that has been digitised within Scotland and a massive undertaking by the National Collections and other organisations supported by the Scottish Government to ensure that cultural works are preserved and accessed through digitisat…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding digital rectal examinations.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No guidance has been issued to NHS boards regarding digital rectal examinations. Examinations are undertaken following consultation with an individual. The most appropriate examination will be based on the individuals presenting symptoms and clinical expertis…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the screening arrangements for the detection of prostate cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is given expert, independent advice on screening programmes by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC is currently reviewing the policy for prostate screening and the review process is estimated to be completed by Mar…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out on the effectiveness of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.</p>
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance in the form of a Prostate Cancer Risk Management Pack which supports the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme was issued to NHS boards (urologists, histopathologists, PSA testing laboratories) and all general practitioners in Scotland. The progr…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 and the fees levied to companies involved in electronics recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Extensive consultation was carried out with stakeholders on the introduction of the regulations, including the establishment of a separate Scottish stakeholders group. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has had subsequent engagement with stakeholders …
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the application fee and subsequent annual fee for companies wishing to set up a battery compliance scheme for recycling batteries.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Officials have had a number of discussions with their UK Government counterparts in order to enable extensive consultation to take place in 2007 and again in 2008 on implementation of the EC Directive on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accu…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme surveys.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Better Together GP survey fieldwork was commissioned by Scottish Government and cost £769,274.</p> <p >There is not a centrally held budget for the Better Together inpatient survey fieldwork. The Better Together inpatient survey fieldwork was commissione…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what companies were hired to implement the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme surveys.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Picker Europe, a UK Charity, was awarded the contract to undertake the fieldwork for the Better Together GP patient experience survey by the Scottish Government.</p> <p >Quality Health and Patient Perspective, companies that are suppliers of patient experien…
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures the confidentiality of patients asked to take part in the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Better Together Programme ensures confidentiality of patients who take part in the surveys through detailed mandatory guidance which has to be complied with by all NHS boards and companies implementing and analysing the surveys. This covers data storage, …
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the Care Commission’s complaints procedure.
Answer · Shona Robison: The review of the Care Commission''s complaints procedure is a matter for the commission. Under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 the commission is required to establish a complaints procedure to deal with complaints about care service provision and …
23 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available to social care providers to develop telecare technologies.
Answer · Shona Robison: £4 million is being made available through the Scottish Government''s eHealth programme to further expand telehealthcare services across the country over 2010-11. All 32 local health and social care partnerships are being offered £120,000, subject to committi…