Parliamentary questions

Janis Hughes

122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

23 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken following the publication of Task Force on E.coli O157: Final Report in 2001.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Task Force on E.coli O157 was intended to address many diverse issues underpinning the history of E.coli O157 infection in Scotland in an open, innovative and holistic way. The substantive report which emerged from that process in 2001 was c…

17 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it aims to improve literacy among adults.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Funding of £22.5 million over three years from April 2001 will enable at least 80,000 people to be helped. £18.5 million of this is being allocated through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships where all providers can access the fundin…

15 Apr 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what social and economic benefits the concordat between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Trades Union Congress will bring.

Answer · Jack McConnell: It will deliver improved partnership working across a wide range of public policy issues. Partnership working will help secure a more prosperous economy, and better and more efficient public services.

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase community engagement in public services in order to ensure that such services are meeting the needs of communities.

Answer · Iain Gray: We believe that by increasing community engagement in the planning and delivery of public services we will deliver improved service outcomes that better meet the needs of communities. The Better Neighbourhood Services Fund gives £90 million over three years t…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategies are in place for partnership working between agencies providing support for drug misusers where children are involved.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive has set a national standard that all Drug Action Teams and Child Protection Committees should have in place local policies on support to drug misusing parents and their children, in line with national guidance, by 2002. The national guidance is …

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to protect the children of parents who misuse drugs.

Answer · Richard Simpson: Guidance was issued in 1998, Protecting Children-A Shared Responsibility, which sets out how agencies and professionals should work together to protect children from abuse and neglect, and to safeguard and promote their welfare. The Executive also issu…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ensure that owner occupiers in Glasgow will be able to participate in any resulting improvement works should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Following transfer of housing from a local authority to a registered social landlord, the Scottish Executive will make resources available to councils to offer grant assistance to owner occupiers in respect of the costs of repairs to common areas in shared pr…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be made to deal with Glasgow City Council's existing Housing Revenue Account debt should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Treasury has agreed to repay the City Council's outstanding Public Works Loan Board debt (around £900 million). This is an extension of the arrangements that already apply as part of the ho…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any special arrangements will be made to meet the requirements of Glasgow's older council tenants should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, Glasgow's older tenants will receive enhanced home security packages including effective and well designed door and window locks, viewers and intercoms.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be put in place to ensure that Glasgow City Council is able to meet its statutory obligations under homeless legislation should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, statutory responsibility for homelessness will remain with the city council who will carry out case work, homelessness assessments and provide an out of hours service. The city council will als…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20723 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, what discussions it has had with the Medicines Control Agency regarding any non-compliance in the NHS with the requirements of the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with the Medicines Control Agency regarding any non-compliance in the NHS with the requirements of the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, etc.) Regulations 1994.

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20723 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, whether The Right Medicine - A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland will assist compliance in the NHS with the requirements of the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulation…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland commits the Scottish Executive to exploring systems to allow, whenever possible, the dispensing of patient packs in all situations across primary, secondary and tertiary care. This will…

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information on the use of the Health Improvement Fund.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A report entitled Putting the Pieces in Place has been compiled in conjunction with NHS boards. I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19606).The report summarises the impressive range of work that is under way and pla…

27 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the assessment and provision of education services for young people with special educational needs.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive consulted last year on Assessing Our Children's Educational Needs -The Way Forward?. As a result, outline proposals for change were published on 19 February 2002. Copies of the proposals are available in the Scottish Executive re…

1 Feb 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when it will publish a strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I am pleased to announce that the Strategy entitled The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland, is published today. It was produced after a period of consultation with patient representative groups, pharmacists and other …

9 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve out-of-school care provision.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has implemented a number of initiatives to improve the provision of this important service. We have made £8 million available over three years to local authorities to help stabilise and sustain out-of-school care clubs, especially in di…

17 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the reports and recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Bodies.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Pay Review Body for Doctors and Dentists (DDRB) has recommended a general pay increase of 3.6% for all doctors and dentists, with the exception of General Medical Practitioners, for whom the recommendation is 4.6%. The Pay Review Body for Nurses, Midwi…

14 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with its plans to recruit and retain additional nurses.

Answer · Susan Deacon: We are committed to recruiting more nurses to NHSScotland. Over the next five years 10,000 more nurses and midwives will qualify in Scotland, 1,500 more than previously planned.The Nursing and Midwifery Convention held on 19 November 2001 provided an impor…

24 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in meeting the recommendations of Audit Scotland's report A Clean Bill of Health.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland is making steady progress in improving the quality and effectiveness of cleaning services. Audit Scotland will be revisiting this issue in due course and I look forward to the report. I expect hospitals to work with the Clinical Standards Board fo…

3 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Local Government (Elections) (Scotland) Bill will be introduced.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive has today introduced the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The Executive issued a draft of the Bill on 30 March and received over 80 responses to that consultation. I have today placed a copy of r…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve adult numeracy and literacy standards.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I am providing £22.5 million over three years to raise levels of adult literacy and numeracy in Scotland, and expect 80,000 people to benefit during this period. The initiative will be supported by the new agency, Communities Scotland.

6 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to improve children's safety.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Ministers are acting to improve children's safety through a number of initiatives. In March I announced a multidisciplinary review of child protection, which will focus on improving systems right across Scotland. Most recently, on Monday 4 June 2001 we issued…

23 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13550 by Susan Deacon on 17 April 2001, whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated 69,000 cases of hospital-acquired infections by health board area and when it expects the sub-group of its Health Department's Advisory Group on Infection to…

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15454 on 14 May 2001. No disaggregation by health board area is available. The report of the sub-group of the Health Department's Advisory Group on Infection has been received and is being considered urge…

23 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12857 by Susan Deacon on 26 February 2001, whether it will provide details of the projects on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) which received funding from the Chief Scientist Office in 1999-2000 and whether it has received any funding proposals for ME …

Answer · Susan Deacon: My reply of 26 February to question S1W-12857 referred to funding of £7,000 for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) projects in 1999-2000. I regret to say that this was an error and I have written to Linda Fabiani accordingly. There were no projects on ME that wer…

18 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide dedicated funding for the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive has no such plans. Health boards are expected to meet the costs of treatment for almost all conditions from the revenue allocations made available to them by the Executive, which were increased by an average of 6.5% for 2001-02.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13592 by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2001, whether its plan to equalise the age of eligibility for concessionary travel will be in force before October 2002.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This change requires the amendment of primary legislation, and when that is in place I will consider whether this change to concessionary fare arrangements can be implemented in October 2002, in line with the introduction of free off-peak local bus travel for…

2 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which groups are being prioritised in the implementation of its central heating programme.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Central Heating Programme is targeted at 40,000 pensioners in the private sector and 101,000 tenants in the public sector.In the private sector priority will be given to those over 75 years of age, the elderly living …

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce legislation to support the maintenance of the moratorium on compulsory competitive tendering.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Yes.Annually the Executive has repeated its commitment to continue a moratorium on Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) in local government until we are ready to introduce legislation to provide a statutory Best Value regime. We are still considering the…

28 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12353 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 21 January 2001, when it last met the Health and Safety Executive and European Commission to discuss the extension of the ban on lead solder in domestic plumbing and what progress was made.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has not met the Health and Safety Executive and the European Union to discuss the extension of the ban on lead solder and, although there has been written representation to both, no progress has been made. We are continuing to peruse th…

16 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are being made available to health bodies for 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards received an average increase in Unified Budget for 2001-02 of 6.5%. The average increase in the Unified Budget for 2002-03 is 6.9%, with a minimum increase of 6.5%. The average increase for 2003-04 is 7.8%, with a minimum increase of 7.4%. Th…