Irene Oldfather

8 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to ensure that lead solder is not used for domestic drinking water systems.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The use of lead solder in domestic drinking water systems has been prohibited by the Water Supply Byelaws since 1987. A contravention of the Byelaws is a criminal offence liable to fines at level 4 on summary conviction and £50 per day for a continuing offenc…

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any steps to attract more people from minority ethnic groups into teacher education.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: We actively promote teaching as a career through a range of recruitment and publicity measures. At career events and on other occasions the Department takes every opportunity to encourage people from ethnic minority groups into teaching.

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop educational qualifications to better meet the needs of the manufacturing sector.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The role of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and higher education institutions in Scotland is to make available qualifications which are relevant to the needs of employers and individuals. Occupational sectors, including the manufacturing sector, are rep…

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the law relating to water fluoridation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no present plans to do so but the existing legislative framework will be kept under review to ensure it remains appropriate.

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to decrease the concentration of buses operating at peak times and to increase the number of buses operating at non-peak times.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The provision of bus services is a matter for individual bus operators using their commercial judgement on the level and frequency of services. It is the responsibility of the relevant local authority or public transport authority to identify where there is a…

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state the number of students from the area covered by North Ayrshire Council who have entered full time higher education over the last four years, together with the proportion of them exempt from making any contribution to tuition fees.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The information is not available in the form requested, but that which is available is given below. It includes those entrants to undergraduate higher education courses in both Further and Higher Education Institutions. The domicile of the student is recorded…

10 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that internal audit arrangements exist for the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department to control adequately Common Agricultural Policy expenditure.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Internal audit coverage in the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SERAD) is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive Audit Unit (SEAU). As part of its rolling programme of work, the Unit undertakes regular reviews of controls in the different sc…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-177 by Susan Deacon on 19 July 1999, what criteria are being applied to the sighting of the Food Standard Agency and when an announcement on the location of the Agency will now be made.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that Government in Scotland is efficient and as far as possible decentralised. The main criteria for deciding the location of the Food Standards Agency Executive in Scotland will be the efficiency and effectiven…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed staffing levels are for the Food Standards Agency.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Food Standards Agency will have around 500 staff in total with approximately 45 posts within the Food Standards Agency Executive in Scotland.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the National Strategy for Carers links in with its work and that of the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is considering how the wide ranging commitments of the <I>National Strategy for Carers</I> will be taken forward in Scotland and will make an announcement to Parliament in due course.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lay down guidance for general practitioners seeking to remove patients from their lists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The General Medical Council, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association have provided extensive guidance to general practitioners about removing patients from their lists. The Scottish Executive sees no need to add to this …

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fee for glaucoma tests provided for by the National Health Service is intended to include all three tests for glaucoma (namely opthalmoscopy, perimetry and tonometry) and if so, what steps it will take to encourage opticians who do not provide all three tests to do so.

Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS sight tests are available to diagnosed glaucoma sufferers, those who have been advised by an ophthalmologist that they are predisposed to the development of glaucoma and those aged 40 or over who are the parent, brother, sister or child of a diagnosed gla…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any plans for road charging will take account of the service rendered by charities transporting patients to specialist care facilities, and whether such groups will therefore be exempted from such a scheme while doing so.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive published its consultation document on road user charging and workplace parking levy schemes, <I>Tackling Congestion, </I>on 13 July. The document seeks views on what national exemptions or privileges, if any, should be specified in leg…

25 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its assessment of the performance of the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to providing a modern, high quality, efficient health service. We will report regularly on our achievements.

24 Jun 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its assessment of the performance of the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to providing a modern, high quality, efficient health service. We will report regularly on our achievements.