Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on maintenance of the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge in each year since construction.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Skye Bridge is maintained and operated by Skye Bridge Limited underthe terms of the PFI agreement. Maintenance costs are set out in the company’s annualaccounts, which are available from Companies House.</p><p>For Erskine Bridge,maintenance costs in each year…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any debt remains to be paid on the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is no outstanding debton Erskine Bridge. For the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary TransportAuthority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, who own and operate thosebridges.</p>
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what toll is payable on the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following tablesindicate toll payable on each bridge.</p><p>Skye Bridge</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Vehicle Description</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Toll Category</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>T…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been collected in tolls from the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge in each year since construction.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Total tolls income from Erskine Bridge ineach year since construction is detailed in the table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Toll Collected (£)</p> </td> </tr> </thead> …
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of construction was of the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Construction costs for Erskine Bridge totalledsome £10.7 million. For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary TransportAuthority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, which own and operatethose bridges.</p>
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3050 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 29 October 2003, whether the #40 charge towards the cost of another inspection of their central heating system acts as a disincentive to pensioners lodging legitimate appeals against the decision of specialist surveyors.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I asked my officials toinvestigate this matter to ensure that the system was not discouraginglegitimate appeals against the decisions made from the first heating survey. Iam pleased to say that Eaga Partnership have agreed to absorb the charge andthey will no…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3050 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 29 October 2003, how many appeals by pensioners against the decision of a specialist surveyor have been (a) lodged and (b) upheld, since the establishment of the central heating installation programme.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>From September 2002 untilOctober 2003, 66 appeals were investigated. Thirty appeals were upheld and fourappeals are still in progres…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1912 by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 October 2003, what issues it expects to be covered in the report to ministers; who will be responsible for drawing up the report, and what information it has on the timescales, including any key milestones, to which NHS…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have requested a detailedreport on patient flows for the maternity services based in Paisley and Glasgow.This work is to be taken forward alongside the Glasgow review of maternityservices and I have requested the report by April 2004.</p><p>It is up to NHS …
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it evaluates rehabilitation programmes delivered by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), in particular the cognitive skills programme, and the impact of such programmes on re-offending rates.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Prison Serviceis currently evaluating the impact of accredited offending behaviourprogrammes, including the cognitive skills programme, using a range ofmeasures. These include changes in attitudinal and behavioural indices; changesin attitudinal …
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the key performance indicators for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) in order reflect the need to focus on rehabilitation as well as incarceration and recognise the value of qualitative measures over quantitative measures.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Three of the seven keyperformance indicators already focus on whole or part of rehabilitation in linewith the challenge set for SPS to protect the public by reducing re-offending. The key performance indicators are quantitative, but SPS recognises the valueof…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which key performance indicators for the Scottish Prison Service are outcome-based.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Of the seven ministerial keyperformance indicators set for 2003-04, Five are outcome-based:</p><p>escapes;</p><p>serious assaults;</p><p>available prison places withaccess to night sanitation;</p><p>percentage testing positivein Mandatory Drug Testing procedu…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how performance indicators for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are set.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Ministers set SPS targets ona range of indicators. These are designed to indicate how efficiently andeffectively SPS is delivering its business. Targets are reviewed periodically.Those currently set cover the period up to 2004-05.</p>
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what key performance indicators are set for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) as a whole and how the SPS has performed against such indicators.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information is publishedon page 9 of the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts, availablein the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28640) and on SPS’s website.</p>
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to train ambulance technicians as paramedics; how long such training takes, and what the cost of the training is.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3788. 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/webapp/search_wa">http…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of paramedics serving in the (a) Scottish Ambulance Service and (b) Vale of Leven ambulance station.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently halfway through a five-year programme to have a paramedicin every frontline ambulance by 2005-06. This involves the training of over 600additional paramedics. The training programme is widely advertised andambulance…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the priority-based dispatch system for the Scottish Ambulance Service will be operational.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Priority-based dispatch isone element of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s modernisation programme andwill be introduced into Argyll and Clyde with effect from 31 December 2003, and into Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire and Arran with effect from 1 April 200…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ambulance Service will install map tracking systems in all ambulances and, if so, what the timescale and cost will be of so doing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-3787 on 14 November 2003. 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/webapp/sear…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding is required to implement the European Working Time Directive in the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3784 on 14 November 2003. 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/…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are, and timetable there is, for implementing the European Working Time Directive in the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Hours of work are the subjectof continuous monitoring by the Scottish Ambulance Service and the informationis shared with staff side representatives. This information is used to informdiscussions about changes that require to be made to ensure sustainedcompli…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the likely impact of the European Working Time Directive will be on the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3784 on 14 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliam…
31 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1912 by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 October 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 and consultation…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is up to NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHSGreater Glasgow how they take this work forward. I would expect localcommunities and elected members to be involved in this process.</p>
21 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the new regulations to amend the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 will have for Scotland.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The regulations (SI2003/2457) to amend the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations1999 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 were made by the UKGovernment on 24 September 2003 and will come into force on 27 October 2003.Scottish mi…
8 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was awarded to NHS Argyll and Clyde to assist the implementation of the recommendations of A Clean Bill of Health? and how this additional money was spent, broken down by geographical location.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of the AuditScotland review process on hospital cleaning, NHS trusts in Argyll and Clyde agreedaction plans to help them meet the recommendations. Spending on these plans isa matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde but progress is monitored by the auditors. T…
6 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it, or NHS Argyll and Clyde, will take to restore and enhance the breast cancer service at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As a temporary measure,until the vacant surgical post at Vale of Leven Hospital is filled, patientswho require surgery for breast cancer (approximately three or four per month)will have their operations at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. All other br…
6 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of ambulance provision was for the Vale of Leven Hospital catchment area prior to 1 October 2003, showing the number of vehicles and crewing levels; whether any increases have been made to this position to reflect changes in service patterns since that date and, if so, by w…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is primarily anoperational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I know that the ScottishAmbulance Service has been in discussion with NHS Argyll and Clyde aboutthe implications of the changes to clinical services at the Vale of LevenHospital and I …
3 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the Glasgow Drug Court after the end of the pilot in November 2003.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In view of the encouraging resultsso far, the Glasgow Drugs Court pilot will be extended to spring 2005 and in thissecond phase, the court will be able to take referrals at all stages in the courtprocess in addition to the present custody route. Referrals wil…
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Eaga Partnership is charging pensioners #40 to lodge an appeal against a decision to refuse an application for the installation of central heating under the central heating installation programme and, if so, what its position is on the matter.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>Applicants who apply forfree central heating are visited by one of Eaga’s surveyors. If there is anexisting central heating system a…
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown by postcode of the number of central heating systems installed in private sector properties in the Dumbarton constituency since the commencement of the central heating installation programme.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>The managing agents for theprogramme in the private sector, Eaga Partnership, collect cumulativestatistics on the number of installa…
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems have been installed in private sector properties in the (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) Argyll and Bute local authority area since the commencement of the central heating installation programme.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>Information is not kept inthe form requested but by postcode area. In the postcode area 292 systems wereinstalled in 2001-02, 473 in…
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages a role for community councils within local planning forums, as referred to in Your Place, Your Plan, and what the nature of that role will be.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are looking to localplanning forums to encourage discussion and build up local interest andexpertise in planning. The constitution and remit of such forums has yet to befinalised. We may look to the proposed National Consultative Group to have arole in dev…