Parliamentary questions
Karen Gillon
705 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce youth crime in Clydesdale.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Our action programme to reduce youth crime, launched on 28 January, identifies the measures we will take this year to build a safer Scotland and reduce youth offending. All authorities have received funding to support multi-agency youth crime teams and to put…
24 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a routine ophthalmology appointment (a) nationally and (b) in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Provisional figures for the year ended 31 December 2001 show that the median waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in ophthalmology, following referral by a general medical practitioner, was 90 days in the Lanarkshire NHS Board ar…
24 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects work to begin on the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26336.
24 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A joint funding package totalling £23 million was agreed last year between the Scottish Executive and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE). However, Railtrack's announcement in December 2001 to withdraw its support from the Larkhall to Milngavie p…
24 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with relevant organisations to take forward the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive on a wide range of rail issues, including the Larkhall to Milngavie link.
28 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the statutory minimum requirement is for the provision of community education.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Local authorities have a duty under section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (as amended by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992) to secure the adequate and efficient provision of further education. This includes a range of educational, …
28 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been made aware of any potential overspend in the budget of Scottish Borders Council in 2001-02, particularly in relation to its spending on education.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22395.
28 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Borders Council regarding its education budgets in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive officials met council officials on 10 August 2001 to discuss the council's proposals to transfer resources between programmes within the Excellence Fund. The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People met a delegation from the council o…
28 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Borders Council regarding its budgets in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is entirely a matter for Scottish Borders Council to deal with its own budget matters.
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider setting up a database listing all older people's groups which could be accessed by pensioners.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive has no plans to set up such a database.
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve access for pensioners to information about older people's groups.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive is keen to improve information about matters which may affect older people or be of interest to them. An older people's newsletter was launched in October 2001 and a website is planned.
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes it has initiated that promote the inclusion of people with both learning difficulties and physical disabilities in the community.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Promoting inclusion of people with learning difficulties or physical disabilities is an important part of our social justice agenda.<P>Policies across the whole range of Scottish Executive responsibilities are designed to tackle exclusion, by improving opport…
14 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the numbers of people with special needs undertaking initial teacher training.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: All Scottish Executive recruitment activity is designed to appeal to the widest range of potential teachers and this would include those people with special needs.
14 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students currently undertaking initial teacher training are registered as (a) deaf and (b) visually impaired.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.
14 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with teacher training institutions to improve the number of people with special needs taking part in training.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There has been no discussion with teacher education institutions to improve the number of people with special needs taking part in training. The Scottish Executive is in discussion with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) regarding whether there …
14 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist teachers for deaf children are currently employed in each education authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: At September 1998, there were an estimated 164 full-time equivalent teachers who had a hearing impairment teaching qualification in publicly funded schools in Scotland. Detailed information is not held for all authorities and is therefore not available in the…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the investigation into those responsible for the Larkhall gas explosion in December 1999.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Following a meeting between representatives of the Procurator Fiscal's Office and Crown Counsel on 15 November 2001, the Procurator Fiscal at Hamilton was instructed to undertake further enquiries. The results of those further enquiries should be reported to …
10 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce unemployment in the Clydesdale area.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Tackling unemployment in any area remains a high priority for the Scottish Executive and the enterprise networks.<P>Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire is focusing on the direction and priorities set out in the Executive's <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland</I>. Thi…
10 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances a patient from outwith Scotland would be allocated a bed in an NHS hospital in Scotland ahead of people on waiting lists.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Decisions on the priority to be given to the treatment of individual patients are taken by clinicians. These decisions depend on their assessment of clinical priority based on need.
9 Jan 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to consult on improving educational provision for children with special needs.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is taking forward an extensive Special Educational Needs (SEN) Programme of Action following wide consultation.<P>Furthermore, the Executive has consulted on proposals for the way forward for the assessment and recording of children with special…
20 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting time is for a routine ophthalmology appointment in the NHS Lanarkshire area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Provisional figures for the year ending 30 September 2001 show that, in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area, the median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant in ophthalmology, following referral by a general medical practitioner, was 92…
20 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting time is for a routine ophthalmology appointment in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Provisional figures for the year ending 30 September 2001 show that the median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant in ophthalmology, following referral by a general medical practitioner, was 64 days.
18 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing broadband technology.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Development of broadband technology is largely a matter for the suppliers. However, the Executive is beginning to look at broadband demand stimulation measures as we are keen to see higher bandwidth services deployed as widely as possible in Scotland. As a fi…
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase family involvement in patient care in the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I> requires, patients - and those that care for them - must be involved in decisions about their own care and about the health services they use. The involvement of members of family groups, many of whom play a vita…
7 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance public transport in Clydesdale.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-03764.
7 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government in relation to support for the textile industry and, in particular, on ensuring the maintenance of a textile manufacturing base in Larkhall.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Textile manufacturing is a devolved matter, but I maintain regular contact with the UK Government on a range of industry matters.
7 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the workforce at DAKS Simpson, Larkhall, following the withdrawal of interested parties from a potential buyout.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Executive officials are working closely with Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire to ensure support is being provided to those affected through the local response team in conjunction with the Executive's Partnership Action for Continuing Employment framew…
7 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Railtrack plc following its decision not to support the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack on a wide range of issues.
7 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Her Majesty's Government, (b) Strathclyde Passenger Transport and (c) South Lanarkshire Council following the decision by Railtrack plc not to support the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is currently in discussions with interested parties to explore options for keeping the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension project moving forward.
5 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the training available to teachers so that the appropriate support is provided to children suffering from illnesses such as asthma and epilepsy.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Guidelines for initial teacher education courses in Scotland, which are in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18071), require that courses prepare teachers entering the profession to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of health an…