Parliamentary questions
Janis Hughes
122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase prescription and other health service charges.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We shall lay before the Parliament regulations to increase prescription and other National HealthService charges in Scotland from 1 April 2004. There will be a cash increase inthe prescription charge of 10p (1.59%) from £6.30 to £6.40 for each quantity ofa dr…
5 Nov 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide revenue funding for locally-based CCTV projects.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The community safety partnership award programme makes £4 million per annum available tolocal authority-led community safety partnerships to assist them in identifyingand addressing local community safety priorities, which can include capital andrevenue costs…
28 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on health protection in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The consultation was carriedout as part of our drive to strengthen health protection functions in Scotland toensure that we have in place arrangements which are capable of effectivelymonitoring, addressing and responding to a widening spectrum of environmenta…
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are currently employed on administrative, court and other non-operational duties.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The deployment of police officersis an operational matter for Chief Constables. Information on the deployment ofpolice officers is not held centrally.</p><p>Forces are currently carryingout an Activity Analysis across all police functions. When collated and a…
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new police officers Strathclyde Police aims to recruit in each of the next three years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isnot held centrally and is a matter for Strathclyde Police.</p>
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been an increase in the number of police officers working for Strathclyde Police in the last five years and, if so, what the increase has been in (a) the number of officers and (b) the number of officers on active duty.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The total number of police officersemployed by Strathclyde Police has increased by 260 in the last five years.</p><p>The number of officers on activeduty is a matter for Strathclyde Police.</p>
25 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the Supplement to the Thirty-Second Report 2003 and recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The <I>Supplement to the Thirty-Second Report 200</I>3 of the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists (DDRB) pay was published on 25 June.<P>This supplementary report covers general dental practitioners (GDPs), those in the salaried primary dental care services, …
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 will be undertaken.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A consultation document is being issued today, and copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27225). It seeks views on how changes might be made to facilitate the effective operation of Part 5 of the act and its associated Code…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) report on child and adolescent mental health services will be published.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that the SNAP report is now virtually complete and will be published shortly by the Public Health Institute of Scotland. Meanwhile, to inform debate on this important issue, arrangements are being made for the Executive Summary and Recommendation…
14 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Health Improvement Challenge paper, referred to in Partnership for Care: Scotland's Health White Paper, will be published.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The paper entitled <I>Improving Health in Scotland - the Challenge</I> is published today. It provides a framework for action over the coming 12 to 15 months. It indicates a role for the Scottish Executive, NHS boards, local government, voluntary sector, priv…
26 Feb 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is using information technology innovation to improve delivery of NHS services.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under our eHealth plans, Integrated Care Records will evolve over the coming three years based on building blocks already happening such as electronic referral and discharge letters, online laboratory test results and shared online records for patient groups …
17 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the increase in haemophilus influen'ae (Hib) infections over the last two and a half years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Medical Officer has today written to NHSScotland providing advance notice of plans to introduce a one-off Hib vaccine booster campaign for children who will be aged between six months and four years at 1 April 2003. It also advises that additional i…
17 Feb 2003 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive will encourage healthy eating in schools.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Yesterday we announced that we would implement in full the Expert Panel on School Meal's recommendations. In addition, all primary 1 and 2 pupils will receive free fresh fruit.
12 Feb 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting healthy eating.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is promoting healthy eating through implementation of the Scottish Diet Action Plan (1996). This work includes initiatives such the healthy living campaign and development of nutritional standards for school meals.
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are being made available to NHS boards for 2003-04.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards have been given a unified budget of £4997.388 million, an average increase over the equivalent 2002-03 of 7.8%. Details of each NHS board's allocation is as follows.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=567><TR><TD WIDTH="32%" VALIGN="TOP…
22 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve parental involvement in education.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: One of the key priorities from the national debate is to involve parents more in their children's education by providing new national guidelines giving parents access and by reviewing and reforming the role of School Boards and Parent Teacher Associations.<P>…
9 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects revised guidance on cryptosporidium in water supplies to be issued.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Medical Officer has today issued revised guidance to NHS Scotland, which takes account of the latest advice received from the Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies, chaired by Professor Bouchier. The revised guidance takes account of the…
5 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish a smallpox action plan for Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Since the tragic events of 11 September 2001, the Scottish Executive has been working with UK Government and relevant national and local bodies to strengthen plans against any deliberate release of biological agents, including smallpox. <P>We have no evidence…
7 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans a review of the National Centre for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The review of the National Centre for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics falls due during 2002. Eglinton has been appointed to undertake the review.<P>The terms of reference for the first stage of the review will be:<P>"To carry out a study o…
30 Oct 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in encouraging nurses to return to practice.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: One hundred and forty nurses or midwives have returned or are in the process of returning to practice as a result of the introduction of the funded managed implementation programme in six board areas since March 2002. I announced an additional £1 million of f…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its strategy on coronary heart disease and stroke.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our national <I>Strategy on Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke</I> is being launched on Thursday 3 October. Copies are being placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre later today (Bib. number 24414).
6 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the overseas engagements carried out by its ministers and their costs in each financial year since 1999-2000.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following table.<P>Before any overseas engagement is approved, it must represent good value for the Executive and the taxpayer.<P>Overseas Engagements Carried Out by Scottish Ministers Since 1999<TABLE BORDER CELLSP…
10 Jun 2002 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what benefits will come from the establishment of NHS Education for Scotland.
Answer · Jack McConnell: We created NHS Education for Scotland to support our drive to improve standards in Scotland's health service. Meeting the development and training needs of NHS staff will bring real health benefits to patients.
6 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that every woman is made aware of the dangers of drinking alcohol whilst pregnant.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland,</I> published Feb 2001, recognised that all women of reproductive age should be empowered and encouraged to be as healthy as possible. NHS boards were given clear action points and recommendations to address …
6 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safe alcohol levels it recommends for pregnant women.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive endorses the recommendations of the <I>Sensible Drinking</I> report which suggests that women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should drink no more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week.
6 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to raise awareness of foetal alcohol syndrome.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive ensures that information about foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is included, as appropriate, in relevant publications. The risk of FAS is highlighted in the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) booklet <I>Alcofacts. A guide to sensib…
6 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to record the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26533.
6 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available on the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Continuous Morbidity Records (CMR), Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR), Pre-school and Child Health Surveillance systems and the Special Needs system allow recording of diagnosis or other concerns, including Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, it is recogni…
5 Jun 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is introducing in order to tackle drug dealers.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We will continue to strengthen the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) which, together with Scottish police forces and law enforcement partners, are actively targeting drug dealers. We are providing £18.3 million to the SDEA over the next two years to ena…
5 Jun 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being made available for communities wishing to establish a credit union.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive will assist the development of the credit union movement in Scotland through the implementation of the Action Plan <I>Unlocking the Potential</I>. £1.5 million is being made available over three years to help implement the plan.