Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult with communities in relation to the proposed powers of dispersal contained within the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Yes. Myministerial colleagues and I spent considerable time over the summer of 2003consulting with communities across Scotland about antisocial behaviour. Problems with groups of people causingalarm and distress were raised many times and we found widespread …
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance is attached to the views of GPs and local communities in determining the boundaries of community health partnerships.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We attach the highest importanceto gaining the views of all professional staff and local communities inevolving community health partnerships (CHP) and this includes the issue of boundaries.The consultation paper on the development of CHPs issued on the 18 Ju…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether community health partnerships should, where possible, reflect natural communities.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Community health partnerships(CHP) should, where possible, reflect natural communities. They must be fit forpurpose and the size should be based on the principle of co-terminosity betweenCHPs and local authorities and natural communities. Consideration must a…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what process should be followed to reach agreement over the boundaries of community health partnerships.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Health boards should workwith all stakeholders to agree the boundaries which are in the best interest oflocal communities and partner organisations. Where a community health partnershippotentially crosses into two health board areas the respective boards shou…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the broad criteria are for the designation of community health partnerships.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The main aims of community healthpartnerships (CHP) were described in the white paper <i>Partnership for Care</i>.Further information on the broad criteria is contained in the NHS Reform Billand is underpinned by the recent consultation process on CHP guidanc…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of Doppler machines across Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Doppler machines are widelyavailable in acute hospitals throughout Scotland.</p>
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of thrombophilia screening across Scotland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: In December 2000 the UKNational Screening Committee recommended that there was no evidence to supportthe introduction of a population-based thrombophilia screening programme.Screening for individuals considered to be at high risk is available throughoutNHSSco…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the benefits of an awareness-raising campaign with the general public to reduce the incidence of air-related deep vein thrombosis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plansfor such a campaign. The possible effects of air travel as a trigger factor indeep vein thrombosis have already received widespread publicity.</p>
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is specialist deep vein thrombosis (DVT) provision for any DVT cases whether air-related, pregnancy-related or other; what the nature of this provision is, and where such provision is located.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All acute hospitalsthroughout Scotland will be able to treat DVT. The treatment is not normallycomplicated, however, and many cases are managed by the patient’s GP orself-managed by the patient after instruction. In cases of recurrent DVT, whichrequire invest…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to GPs, nurses, consultants and other health professionals on the symptoms of air-related deep vein thrombosis to raise awareness and avoid misdiagnosis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible todistinguish the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis which may have been triggeredby air travel from those of deep vein thrombosis in people who have not flownrecently or at all, so it would not be possible to issue such specificguidance. Tho…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into the incidence of air-related deep vein thrombosis treated in hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Information andStatistics Division of the Common Services Agency maintains statistics onhospital discharges and diagnoses. There are no plans to collect informationseparately on incidences of air-related deep vein thrombosis treated inhospitals.</p>
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any research into the incidence of air-related deep vein thrombosis treated in hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Information andStatistics Division of the Common Services Agency maintains statistics on hospitaldischarges and diagnoses. It is possible to identify cases of deep veinthrombosis linked to travel generally, but not cases specifically linked to airtravel. …
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4498 by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003, whether it will now comment on the Water Customer Consultation Panel's report Affordability of Water and Sewerage Charges for Low Income Households and specifically on the recommendations that the Executive's …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is committedto securing substantial efficiency savings at Scottish Water as the principalmeans of easing pressure on water and sewerage charges for all customers,including those in low income and vulnerable households. In addition,particular ass…
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what offences restriction of liberty orders have been applied.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Restriction of liberty borders have been used in the main as a high tariff disposal. The table shows the range of offences for which restriction of liberty orders have been imposed for the period 1 January 2003 to 30 September 2003</p><table border=1 cellspac…
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for the use of a restriction of liberty order.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Offenders must be aged 16 orover and must consent to the order. The court must obtain and considerinformation about the places involved and the attitudes of the persons mostlikely to be affected by the enforced presence of the offender. In addition,provisions…
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of use is by Dumbarton Sheriff Court of restriction of liberty orders as a disposal.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Dumbarton Sheriff Court has not yet imposed a restriction of liberty order.</p>
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of use is of restriction of liberty orders across Scotland.
Answer · Hugh Henry: 1,093 restriction of libertyorders have been imposed in the period from national rollout on 1 May 2002 to 31 December 2003.This includes six orders restricting offenders away from a specified place and11 restricting offenders to and from specified places.</p>
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to consult the charity sector during the drafting of new legislation on charity law reform.
Answer · Margaret Curran: In my statement toParliament on 24 September I made a commitment that a draft bill to reformcharity regulation in Scotland would be prepared for consultation in spring nextyear. I also emphasised the Executive’s commitment to involving the full rangeof charit…
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what options it has considered to protect people whose state benefits are paid into (a) personal bank accounts or (b) Post Office card accounts from bank arrestments as part of the proposed Personal Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Discussions are continuingwith the Department of Work and Pensions on proposals for the reform ofarrestment and furthcoming following from the consultation document <i>Enforcementof Civil Obligations in Scotland</i>.</p>
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with local authorities in the context of the proposed Personal Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill to ensure that bank arrestments are not served on individuals whose state benefits are paid into (a) personal bank accounts or (b) Post Office card accounts.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Local authorities will beincluded in the consultation on proposals for the reform of arrestment and furthcomingas part of the reform of the laws of personal bankruptcy and diligence, later inthis parliamentary year.</p>
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for further consultation on the reform of bank arrestments.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We intend to consult on proposalsfor the reform of arrestment and furthcoming as part of the reform of the lawsof personal bankruptcy and diligence, later in this parliamentary year.</p>
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Personal Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill will end the practice of bank arrestment being used as a form of diligence against those who receive state benefits by way of (a) personal bank accounts or (b) Post Office card accounts.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We recognised, in our April2002 <i>Enforcement of Civil Obligations</i> <i>in Scotland</i> consultation <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/justice/CivOb-00.asp">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/justice/CivOb-00.asp</a>, the need for prot…
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Water Customer Consultation Panel's report Affordability of Domestic Water and Wastewater Charges and the recommendation that the scale and scope of the transitional relief scheme should be extended.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is not awarethat the Water Customer ConsultationPanels have published a report on <i>Affordability of Domestic Water andWastewater Charges</i>.</p>
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to investigate the provision of support for those in need and help reduce the level of bad debt with water and sewerage charges, as referred to in the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland's report Strategic Review of Charges 2002-2006.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Since the Strategic Reviewof Charges in 2002 the problem of bad debt has been diminishing, as the rate ofcollection has improved for both domestic and non-domestic customers.</p><p>The main means of supportingvulnerable customers is by improving efficiency at…
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address in a revised system of water relief for domestic consumers the issue of closing the gap between the income support allowance for water and sewerage and the actual charges levied.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Income support is a reservedmatter for the UK Government.</p>
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how effective the Transitional Water and Waste Water Charges Scheme has been in providing assistance to the poorest households.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The objective of theTransitional Water and Sewerage Charges Reduction Scheme was to help low incomehouseholds adjust to higher water and wastewater charges. The focus of thescheme was on households in band A, in the former North of Scotland WaterAuthority whe…
27 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue the Transitional Water and Waste Water Charges Scheme in any form for domestic water users beyond March 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is assessingthe impact that ending the scheme will have. It is doing this in light of the harmonisationof charges that has taken place since the scheme was introduced. It remains thecase, however, that the main means of assisting vulnerable grou…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of its fuel poverty reduction target, whether it is aware of statistics published by Ofgem on the number of disconnections broken down by energy company.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Yes and we have expressedour concern about the rise in disconnections to the companies concerned.</p>
20 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to energy companies about the rising number of disconnections.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The legislation andregulation of the energy sector is a reserved matter and the performance of theenergy companies is monitored by the regulator, Ofgem, and also by the consumerwatchdog, energywatch. We have, however, expressed our concern to the energycompan…
20 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the rise in the number of disconnections by energy suppliers due to debt from 40 disconnections in 2001 to 458 disconnections in the first half of 2003.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The legislation and regulationof the energy sector is a reserved matter and the question of disconnections isone for the electricity supply companies. I am, however, concerned at how thesupply companies are operating in Scotland in regard to the recent increa…