Parliamentary questions
Karen Gillon
705 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service were made by (a) members of the public who had not contacted NHS24, (b) members of the public who had been advised to by NHS24, (c) NHS24 directly, (d) ambulances as a result of the time limit expiring on an urgent call and (e) th…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held in the format requested.</p> <p >However, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has provided the information it holds on the numbers of emergency incidents attended, and the method of notification, between 00.01 on 31 December 2010…
28 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency calls were made to the Scottish Ambulance Service between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held in the format requested. However, the Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that a total of 5,826 calls were received by their Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011. This…
24 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of qualified mental health nursing staff it expects to be employed in nursing homes offering care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Answer · Shona Robison: There are no specific requirements on the level of qualified mental health nursing staff in nursing homes caring for patients with dementia.</p> <p >The Care Commission expects as a matter of best practice at least one registered mental health nurse on each …
18 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will call in the planning application for a waste-to-energy plant at Dovesdale Farm in South Lanarkshire.
Answer · Keith Brown: No. As formal planning consent has been granted by South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene but I am satisfied that there were no issues of national significance raised by this application that would have justified it being det…
2 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for support in the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency under the new entrants scheme for farming have been successful since the scheme was introduced.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39306 on 21 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busine…
2 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for support have been made in the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency under the new entrants scheme for farming since the scheme was introduced.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme includes a specific regional priority aimed at encouraging new entrants to farming to restructure/modernise business, and an option which provides interest rate relief to young farmers s…
23 Dec 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent assessment was of class sizes for primary one to three pupils.
Answer · Michael Russell: The recently published schools census shows that 21.7% of P1 to P3 pupils were either in classes of 18 or fewer, or in two teacher classes of 36 or fewer. This exceeded the 20% target that we agreed with COSLA earlier this year and means that more P1 to P3 pu…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how payments under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme are calculated.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37912 on 8 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for how long payments can be made under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme.
Answer · Shona Robison: Payments to community pharmacy contractors on the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme Register are made for as long as the contractor meets the eligibility criteria. NHS boards are expected to regularly review their essential small pharmacies and withdraw any tha…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum grant is payable under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme.
Answer · Shona Robison: Transitional arrangements are currently in place for community pharmacy remuneration.</p> <p >Essential Small Pharmacies (ESPs) do not receive a grant but depending on circumstances full time ESPs are eligible for a maximum guaranteed monthly income payment…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards have delegated powers that would enable them to allow dispensing GP practices to continue dispensing after a local pharmacy application is accepted.
Answer · Shona Robison: Yes. The regulations for general practice provide that a contractor or provider shall be entitled to receive reasonable notice from the health board if the supply of drugs, medicines and appliances is to be discontinued.</p>
8 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it uses public procurement contracts to encourage public transport providers to introduce talking guides on services.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no procurement contracts for bus services. The ScotRail Franchise does not include provision relating to talking guides. However, the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998, which were superseded by the Rail Vehicle Accessibil…
8 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce talking guides on any bus services that it subsidises.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not directly subsidise any bus services. When tendering for subsidised bus services a local authority is free to impose such conditions on the contract as they deem appropriate including a requirement for talking guides.</p>
2 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were refused an Education Maintenance Allowance in South Lanarkshire for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.
Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally. South Lanarkshire Council is responsible for administering the Education Maintenance Allowance programme and may hold this information.</b></p>
2 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has saved by changing the qualification criteria for the Education Maintenance Allowance.
Answer · Keith Brown: Education Maintenance Allowance statistics for academic year 2009-10, when the changes to the programme were introduced, will be published on 1 December 2010.</b></p>
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it supports to attract and retain deck hands in the fishing industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the summer of 2009, I announced the formation of the joint industry/government New Entrants Working Group, with a remit to deliver proposals which would enhance and sustain new entrants into the fishing industry. A key recommendation from the working group…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to encourage new entrants into the fishing industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In September this year, with the support of the Scottish Fisheries Council, I published the Four Pillar Plan which provides a strategic framework under which the initiatives we support can be brigaded. The intention of the plan is to provide the means and opp…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to remove barriers that might prevent entry into the agriculture industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has taken a number of initiatives to overcome barriers to entry into agriculture. In 2007 I asked the Tenant Farming Forum to consider what needed to be done to reduce the barriers to entry. We have responded positively to the forum''s…
12 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of residual waste treatment facilities
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has responsibility for ensuring that waste treatment facilities comply with all relevant environmental legislation. Permits issued by SEPA list the conditions under which the facilities must operate, including…
12 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in agreeing the location of residual waste treatment facilities
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is the responsibility of local authorities, through their development plans, to specify locations for residual waste treatment facilities.</p> <p >The Scottish Government''s role is limited to the approval of strategic development plans, taking decisions …
20 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who monitors the particulates emitted from residual waste treatment facilities.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Operators have responsibility for monitoring particulate levels from residual waste treatment facilities, in compliance with the conditions set out in permits issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Particulate emissions are measured on a…
20 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what particulates are licensed to be emitted from residual waste treatment facilities and at what level.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Residual waste treated in energy from waste facilities must comply with the strict emission limit values set out in the EU Waste Incineration Directive, designed to protect human health and the environment. The Directive specifies air emission limits for a ra…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that the decision by the UK Government to support proposals to implement the new east coast main line service in May 2011 will have on rail travellers in Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The introduction of the SLC2 timetable on the east coast main line in May 2011 will affect the overall pattern of rail service provision within Scotland. We already know that the 13 daily direct services between Glasgow Central and London King''s Cross will b…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the appropriate siting of waste-to-energy plants.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Paragraphs 168 and 169 of the second National Planning Framework provide guidance on the relationships between waste, heat and other forms of energy and considerations relevant to the siting of waste installations. Paragraph 219 of Scottish Planning Policy: t…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects its review of sewage sludge regulations to be completed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Officials are currently discussing the scope and timing of a review of these regulations, which have UK-wide application, with their counterparts in Whitehall and the other devolved administrations. It is expected that consultation on any proposed changes wou…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to review regulations on the spreading of sewage sludge.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Officials are currently considering with their counterparts in Whitehall and the other devolved administrations whether changes may be required to strengthen the provisions of the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 or to ensure stakeholder confidenc…
17 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received from patients regarding the decision to centralise haematology services at Monklands Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34260 on 16 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business…
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what travel impact assessments it has been provided with in relation to the centralising of haematology services to Monklands Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No impact assessments have been provided.</p> <p >I understand from NHS Lanarkshire that travel and transport matters were consulted on as part of the board''s proposals A picture of Health.</p>
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many recommendations it has received from patients regarding the decision to centralise haematology services to Monklands Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No recommendations have been received.</p>
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the decision to centralise haematology services to Monklands Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I approved the arrangements for haematology services at the Lanarkshire Cancer Centre at Monklands Hospital in February 2008 when I approved the board''s proposals to maintain accident and emergency services on the three main hospital sites. I have no plans t…