Parliamentary questions
Kate Maclean
61 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether progress has been made towards piloting sight-screening for pupils on entry to secondary school, since the Stage 3 debate on the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials of the HealthDepartment have sought advice from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) inrelation to vision screening. The NSC advises UK Ministers on screeningpolicy based on the latest research evidence and the advice of speciallyconvened multi…
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its position on NHS provision of photodynamic therapy for sufferers of non-classic wet age-related macular degeneration.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19847 on 2 November 2005. 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/webap…
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11713 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 November 2004, what action it is taking to ensure that photodynamic therapy is available to all those who need it; how the provision of the service is being monitored, and when the results of that monitoring will be made av…
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19847 on 2 November 2005. 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/webap…
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has taken over 18 months to implement the regional service for treating wet age-related macular degeneration, referred to by the former Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care in a debate on the issue on 4 February 2004 (Official Report c. 5522).
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19847 on 2 November 2005. 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/webap…
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the informal clinical network and clinical patient pathway for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration will be fully implemented.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19847 on 2 November 2005. 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/webap…
13 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why an estimated 50% of patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration, who in accordance with NHS QIS guidance could benefit from photo-dynamic therapy, are still not receiving this treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No routine statistical information is collected centrally on the number of people with age related macular degeneration, nor, of those, who would benefit from photodynamic therapy treatment (PDT). The necessary treatment facilities in Scotland are, however, f…
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why funding for its Quality of Life initiative has been cut by £20 million.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The continuation of Quality ofLife – supported by an additional £100 million over 2006-07 to 2007-08 period –reflects our ongoing commitment to focus on improving the environment and promotingcommunity well-being of communities across Scotland. The Quality of…
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the fact that Dundee City Council, Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council received a minimum grant increase in AEF this year and have the highest levels of poverty and deprivation in Scotland, what action it is taking to ensure that these local authorities are a…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The local government revenuegrant is distributed by a needs based system which takes account of a range of factors,particularly population changes. Authorities with declining population will tendto require lower total increases in grant. However, the distribu…
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects local authorities with minimum grant increases in AEF to fund existing services and new service improvements without an increase in council tax revenue.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The distribution of AEF is basedon a needs-based formula. Local authorities with below average increases have thereforebeen assessed as having reduced expenditure needs compared to those with above averageincreases. Reduced needs can result from lower populat…
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations took place with local authorities prior to the setting of this year's minimum grant "floor", which ensures that all local authorities receive at least a minimum guaranteed increase in AEF each year.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The methodology for calculatingthe minimum grant “floor” is agreed in consultation with COSLA following considerationand recommendations from the official level Three Year Settlement Group whose membershipis made up of local authority, COSLA and Scottish Exec…
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the minimum grant "floor", which ensures that all local authorities receive a minimum guaranteed increase in AEF in each year, has been set at a lower level this year in comparison to previous years.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The grant “floor” is set to provideall councils with a guaranteed minimum year‑on‑year increase in AggregateExternal Finance (AEF). The level of the floor is set with reference to the averageannual increase in AEF and provides a safety net to ensu…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regional arrangements are in place to ensure that all patients diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration receive treatment when the NHS board in which the patient resides does not offer the treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11709 answered 9 November 2004.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/web…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to treat individuals diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy in each of the next three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11709 answered 9 November 2004.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.parliament.…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8003 by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004, what procedures have been put in place in the last 12 months to ensure that patients with suspected wet age-related macular degeneration are fast-tracked to specialists with experience in photodynamic therapy.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11709 answered 9 November 2004.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.parliament.u…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8003 by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004, what monitoring processes have been put in place to ensure fair and equitable service provision for patients with age-related macular degeneration across Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11709 answered 9 November 2004.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.parliament.u…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been diagnosed with treatable wet age-related macular degeneration but have not received photodynamic therapy in each year since 1999 and what the reasons were.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-11709 answered 9 November 2004. 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.parliame…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with wet age-related macular degeneration have been treated with photodynamic therapy since the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland issued guidance on the matter and how this figure compares with projections made during the nat…
Answer · Andy Kerr: We are ensuring that photodynamic therapy (PDT) for wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is available to all those who need this new therapy regardless of where they live in Scotland. Boards are funded to make this provision in their general allocation…
8 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce congestion and develop public transport in Dundee.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Dundee City Council and the local bus operators are signatories to a concordat, signed in May this year, which commits all parties to work jointly together in the promotion of public transport within the city. In tandem with this, a range of measures are alre…
11 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote youth football.
Answer · Frank McAveety: TheExecutive has contributed to the independent review of youth footballdevelopment commissioned by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and iscurrently in discussion with the SFA and <b>sport</b>scotland on how to takeforward the review’s recommendations.…
26 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the location of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and what plans it has to take forward the charity law agenda.
Answer · Margaret Curran: In my statement on charity law on 28 May, I set out the Executive's intentions for improving charity law and the regulation of charities. I have now given further thought to our strategy for taking forward this agenda, and in particular, our partnership commi…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when further detailed results from the 2001 Census will be published.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Further results from the 2001 Census are available from today.<P>Two printed reports from the Registrar General have been laid before Parliament today. The first of these, <I>Scotland's Census 2001 - Reference Volume</I>, sets out, for Scotland level only, de…
12 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when additional results from the 2001 Census will be published.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Further results from the 2001 Census are published by the Registrar General today in two reports. The first of these, <I>The Registrar General's 2001 Census Report to the Scottish Parliament</I>, provides summary statistics for the majority of census question…
1 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent action it has taken to tackle racism.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive launched its Anti Racism Campaign, One Scotland. Many Cultures, in September 2002. The campaign is underpinned by practical action promoting race equality throughout the Executive. <P>In November 2002 the Executive published its <I>Race Equality…
4 Dec 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30396 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 November 2002, whether its Education Department is aware of research conducted by RNIB Scotland and Visual impairment Scotland indicating that the actual prevalence rate of visual impairment among school pupils is approxi…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are aware that a 1999 RNIB survey indicated a prevalence rate for visually impaired children in the UK in 1997 of 2.3 per thousand. This is higher than the number of school pupils with a Record of Needs in Scotland whose main learning difficulty arises fro…
28 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Race Equality Scheme.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive's Race Equality Scheme was published today and copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
28 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to undertake research to consider the impact and performance of new duties on public sector authorities to promote race equality, in line with its Response to the Equal Opportunities Committee's report on its consultation on the implementation of the Race Relations …
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive will be working closely with the Commission for Racial Equality, Audit Scotland and Her Majesty's Inspectorates to ensure the effective development and implementation of robust and workable systems for assessing the impact and performan…
8 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why long-term funding for Visual Impairment Scotland has not been confirmed, given the Executive's aim of developing joined-up working across health, social and education services.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive provided pump-priming funding for Visual Impairment Scotland through its three-year Innovation Fund grant scheme for developing innovative and integrated approaches to child health, on the basis that NHS boards would continue funding successfull…
8 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on how children with a visual impairment and their families will be supported if it ceases to fund Visual Impairment Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 requires local authorities to provide and publicise a range and level of services appropriate to the needs of children with disabilities in their area. Children with disabilities are entitled to an assessment of need and the l…
8 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how accurate information on the number and characteristics of children with visual impairment will be acquired if it ceases to fund Visual Impairment Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive will continue to collect and publish figures on registered blind and partially sighted persons, including children.<P>The main difficulty in learning of pupils in Scottish primary, secondary and special schools is collected annually thr…
8 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans services for children who have significant visual impairment in the light of any evidence that Visual Impairment Scotland has that the blind and partial-sight registration system does not effectively achieve its intended functions for children with visual impairment, their pa…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Following publication of the report of the Certification and Registration Working Group, a group has been set up by the Executive to take forward one of the report's recommendations: to review the content, format and usage of form BP1: Certification of Blindn…