Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue revised Special Branch guidelines for the police.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Together with the HomeOffice and the Northern Ireland Office, I am today publishing revised <i>Guidelinesfor Special Branch Working in the UK</i>. The guidelines were produced inconsultation with the police service, the Security Service and other relevantpart…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its plans to increase the number of people donating bone marrow.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The NHS bone marrowregistry, The British Bone Marrow Registry (BBMR), which is run by the NationalBlood Service in England, registers donors from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.</p><p>The registry met its targetof increasing new donors by 40,000 in 20…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the capital refurbishment of Dumbarton Sheriff Court is progressing.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked John Ewing,Chief Executive of Scottish Court Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The current phases of therefurbishment of Dumbarton Sheriff Court include major repairs to the roof, refurbishment of the external stonework, the cr…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing the Victim Information and Advice service throughout Scotland and what the timetable is for rolling out the service.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Victim Information andAdvice (VIA) service is available in all Fiscal Areas. At present, thefollowing districts are covered:</p><p class=MsoBodyText>Paisley, Kilmarnock, Stirling, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright,Stranraer, Kirkcaldy, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Banff, Elg…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) procurators fiscal, (b) precognition officers, (c) administrative staff and (d) policy staff have been employed in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each year since 1999 and how they are distributed across Scotland.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The functional split of staff is provided in the table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>1/4/99</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>1/4/00</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>1/…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why there has been an increase in the use of casual staff to cover administrative tasks in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Answer · Colin Boyd: As part of the Department’songoing modernisation programme, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Servicehas recently begun the implementation phase of its Future Office System (FOS).</p><p>FOS is an electronicworkflow and document management system which wi…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the introduction of the Future Office System IT programme in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The Crown Office andProcurator Fiscal Service began introducing the first phase of the future officesystem (FOS) on 24 November 2003 at the Procurator Fiscal’s Office in Linlithgow andthe implementation is scheduled to finish at the Procurator Fiscal’s Office…
17 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure co-operation between neighbouring NHS boards.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: TheExecutive will continue to promote co-operation between boards in NHSScotland,the NHS Reform bill’s duty of co-operation on health boards being one aspect ofthis. The existing framework for regional planning is also being strengthened.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on patient transport from the Vale of Leven Hospital to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in particular how much has been spent by NHS Argyll and Clyde in transporting patients by taxi, following the changes to accident and emergency services, and what the average cost…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the process of engagement between NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow is in taking forward the clinical strategy for NHS Argyll and Clyde; what personnel are involved in the process; how many meetings have taken place between the two boards; what issues were discussed at suc…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I am aware that NHS GreaterGlasgow is represented on NHS Argyll and Clyde’s modernisation group which was established lastyear to take the work on their clinical strategy forward.</p><p>I am also conscious thatthere have been a number of meetings on this subj…
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3779 by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 November 2003, when local communities, elected members and clinicians will be involved in the process of considering the report from NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow on the pattern of patient choice for cons…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Whilst this is primarily amatter for NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow, I have been assured thatkey stakeholders in both areas will continue to be involved in this process.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1914 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 September 2003, whether NHS Argyll and Clyde will respond as indicated.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that the Chief Executive of NHS Argyll and Clyde met with you on 2 October 2003to address the points you raised in question S2W-1914. He has undertaken towrite to you providing an update on the position.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is consistent with the code of conduct of NHS Argyll and Clyde for elected councillors, who are members of the board, to meet the Minister for Health and Community Care as part of a local authority delegation.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Yes.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of the code of conduct agreed by NHS Argyll and Clyde on 8 March 2004 were and whether these terms differ from any standard code for NHS boards.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Argyll and Clyde’s Codeof Conduct for board members is available from the system headquarters at RossHouse, Paisley.</p><p>All public bodies covered bythe ethical standards regime have to have a Code of Conduct in place that isbased on the Model Code of C…
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a standard code of conduct is applied to all members of NHS boards.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All NHS board members areexpected to comply with a Code of Conduct, which has been approved by the Scottish ministers, and which has been based on a standard Model Code ofConduct.</p>
10 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to local authorities that will make it possible for all families to participate in swimming whilst maintaining safety.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6866 on 24 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
10 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that guidance issued by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management on child to adult ratios in swimming pools does not prevent families from being excluded from taking their children swimming.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6866 on 24 march 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
10 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to local authorities on the implementation of guidance issued by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management on child to adult ratios in swimming pools.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive has not issuedand has no plans to issue advice to local authorities on the implementation ofguidance issued by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management on child to adult ratiosin swimming pools. The guidance is intended to encourage and …
3 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the establishment of an independent inspectorate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The proposal to establish aninspectorate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) was thesubject of consultation at the end of 2003. The outcome of this consultationwas a broad welcome for these proposals. I have published a summary of the r…
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit, membership and work programme will be of the review group set up to consider tolls on Scottish bridges.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I am currently consideringthese matters and will make an announcement in due course.</p>
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the contract arrangements are for the collection of tolls on the Erskine Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Tolls are collected undercontract by APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd. Under the contract arrangements the companycollects the tolls and banks all revenues direct to the Executive, and is paida monthly management fee for carrying out the operations. The contract itself…
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase funding to the Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs Tourist Board to replace any funding gap created by the loss of European structural funds.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The European Commission'sThird Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, published on 18 February,outlines its proposals for Structural and Cohesion Funds in the nextprogramming period for 2007-13. The Commission is expected to publish formalproposals in July 2…
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a standard level of financial assistance for individual local authorities for alcohol services, as outlined in Alcohol Focus Scotland's report A Report on Funding.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Local authorities areexpected to meet their responsibilities for tackling alcohol problems fromwithin the resources made available to them by the Scottish Executive. While we have no plans to provide additional resources to local authoritiesfor this purpose, …
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase funding to Alcohol Focus Scotland, in light of the increasing demand on the service.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6379 on 8 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliamentwebsite. The search facility can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">…
9 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that clinicians are involved in the process of regional planning at NHS board level.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive’s guidanceto NHS boards on regional planning makes it clear that it is vital to engagesenior clinical staff in the process. I fully expect that the need to involveclinicians will be part of the framework for regional planning currently …
9 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it will put in place to ensure that the policy of regional planning in the NHS is effectively implemented.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The NHS Reform (Scotland)Bill will make provision for a new duty on NHS boards to co-operate to advancethe health of the people of Scotland. That duty will underpin the work currently underwayin boards to draw together a framework for regional planning. The f…
9 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3779 by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 November 2003, whether it will ensure that the report from NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow on the pattern of patient choice for consultant-led maternity units involves substantive discussion with clinicians…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: While this is primarily amatter for NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow, I would expect appropriateclinical advice to form part of the development of the report.</p>
6 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the increase in salaries arising from the new consultants' contract, what the advantages are of such a contract.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new consultants’ contractprovides a number of specific advantages, not least a considerable increase inthe contracted time devoted to direct patient care, up from 21 hours per weekto at least 30 hours per week for each full-time consultant. The overarchin…
6 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with NHS boards regarding additional unplanned cost pressures arising from the new consultants' contract and GP contract.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An NHS employers’ reference groupfor the consultants’ contract has been meeting on a regular basis since it wasestablished in November 2003. This group, which includes managementrepresentatives from a number of NHSScotland boards and Scottish Executive staff,…
6 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet additional unplanned cost pressures in the NHS arising from the new consultants' contract and GP contract.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The cost of the consultants’contract will be met through NHS boards’ general allocations. Boards have receivedrecord funding in this spending round and the cost of the new contract will besubsumed within the very significant overall real-terms uplift received…