Linda Fabiani

19 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many PFI/PPP projects have been refinanced since 1999.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Four public privatepartnership projects have been refinanced since 1999.</p>

19 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7829 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 May 2004, whether it has evidence that PFI/PPP has had no impact on the capital costs of the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. There is no evidence tosay whether PFI/PPP has had no impact on the capital costs of the NHS. BeforePFI/PPP is used a full economic appraisal is conducted which compares PPP/PFIwith a traditionally procured option toassess which approach provides better v…

19 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7832 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 May 2004, when it expects the performance points to be recorded and how they will be recorded.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Performance points have now beenrecorded in relation to the one case where the prisoner was found guilty of theoffence with which he was cha…

19 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the costs incurred in each PFI and PPP project since 1999 compare with the capital costs that would have been incurred had each project been funded through traditional procurement methods.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7791 on 10 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

17 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were issued with portable oxygen cylinders on prescription in April 2004, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Statistical information aboutitems dispensed on the NHS does not include the number of patients for whom prescriptionswere written. Portable oxygen has been prescribable by GPs since 1 April 2004. The CommonServices Agency will record the number of portable o…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, what information it has circulated to GPs, pharmacies and hospitals regarding the prescribing of portable oxygen.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The three Health Department Letters(HDLs) listed were issued to all NHS boards earlier this year for distribution tofamily health service staff and health care professionals, including GPs and communitypharmacists. Hospital staff with a clinical responsibilit…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-665 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 October 2003, whether a decision has been taken regarding the possible benefits of making conservation devices available on the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No decisions have been takento date. A scoping study to establish the clinical suitability of the devices forpatients, and the possible cost and supply implications, has just commenced. Theresults of the study will be available later this year.</p>

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-665 by Mr Tom McCabe 30 October 2003, whether the study to consider the possible benefit to patients of alternative methods of supply and distribution of portable oxygen is complete and, if so, what the results of the study were.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The study on alternative supplyarrangements has yet to commence. A prerequisite for starting the study is receiptof data on how the new arrangements, which came in from 1 April 2004, are impactingacross the NHS in Scotland.</p><p>Arrangements for collection o…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-665 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 October 2003, whether GP prescribing of portable oxygen has ensured that an effective means of supply and distribution is in place to meet the needs of all patients in Scotland who can benefit.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Portable oxygen has been availableon GP prescription since 1 April 2004. The arrangements we have put in place are designed toensure that GPs will be prescribing on the basis of specialist advice. The supplyand distribution of oxygen cylinders and associated …

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average total fees charged by a registrar will be (a) for attending a place outside a registry office, including the costs of approving that place, to conduct a marriage ceremony and otherwise processing the marriage application and (b) for authorising a minister of religion to …

Answer · Hugh Henry: The fees for the attendanceby a registrar at a place other than a registration office to conduct a civilmarriage, and for the approval of that place for civil marriages are notprescribed by the Registrar General for Scotland or the Scottish ministers. The fee…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the Civil Partnership Bill is enacted in its current form, people of faith who wish to manifest their faith in the creation of their civil partnership will be able to request that their minister of religion be appointed as a registrar for the sole purpose of conducting that ce…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Civil Partnership Bill doesnot allow for a minister of religion to be appointed as a registrar for thesole purpose of conducting a Civil Partnership Registration.</p>

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has taken on whether, if the Civil Partnerships Bill is enacted in the form currently proposed, it would be acting contrary to Articles 9(1) and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by allowing mixed-sex couples to manifest their fait…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is satisfied that the devolved provisions in the Civil Partnership Billcomply with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.</p>

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has, since the publication of the Civil Partnerships Bill in the House of Lords, consulted with Scottish faith communities to ask if they would wish the freedom to choose whether they will be able to officiate in the creation of the civil status that will arise from the Civil P…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive consultedwidely prior to the publication of the Civil Partnership Bill including withfaith groups. Since the publication of the Civil Partnership Bill on 31 March 2004, the Scottish Executive has not consulted with Scottish faith communities to …

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many couples, in the last year for which statistics are available, chose to have the civil status of marriage created between them in a ceremony conducted by a registrar and how many in a ceremony conducted by a minister of religion authorised pursuant to the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1…

Answer · Hugh Henry: Statistics published by theRegistrar General for Scotland on 31 July 2003 in his Annual Review ofDemographic Trends show that in 2002 there were 11,449 civil marriages carriedout by registrars and 18,377 marriages carried out by religious celebrants.Provision…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current (a) target, (b) average, and (c) actual median waiting time is in each NHS board area for a first consultation at an ear, nose and throat clinic following referral from a general practitioner, showing the differences between routine and non-routine referrals where applica…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The mean and median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in the specialty of ear, nose and throat (ENT), following referral by a general medical practitioner, by NHS board area of residence, in the year ended 30 September 2003, …

11 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the petition of Robert Napier for judicial review, it will provide details of (a) how many days the main hearing before Lord Bonomy took and how much was paid to each counsel engaged in the case on each of those days, (b) how much was paid to counsel for preliminar…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The hearing before Lord Bonomy lasted for 20 days. The information on costs is not available in the format requested. The costs provided in the table represent the total involvement of counsel and expert witnesses throughout the case, rather than the costs as…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average si'e is of a modern studies department.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for modern studies teachers and, of these, how many have existed for more than one year.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Information on the number ofteacher vacancies is published in the Statistics Publication Notice entitled“Results of the Teacher Workforce Planning for 2004-05” published on 24 February 2004. Acopy can be found on the Scottish Executive website at:</p><p><ahre…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools operate a faculty system for social sciences.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools do not have a separate and discrete modern studies department.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every pupil will have access to a modern studies course.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7919 on 13 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that pupils who do not have access to modern studies courses can study current affairs, including the business of the Parliament, to standard grade, higher grade and higher still levels.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7919 on 13 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of pupils who study modern studies.

Answer · Peter Peacock: All publicly-funded secondaryschools in Scotland are approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to offernational qualifications courses in modern studies. However, some schools can decidenot to offer the subject at any or all of the available levels. T…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary schools offer modern studies courses at (a) S2, (b) standard grade, (c) higher grade, and (d) higher still level, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-6863 on 24 March 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give that Scottish Water will be protected from privatisation under the provisions of the draft Water Services Bill, if water is included in the latest round of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

Answer · Ross Finnie: Matters relating to the regulationof international trade, including responsibility for GATS negotiations, are reservedto the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has ensured that the UK Government’s representationsto the European Union on GATS reflect the Ex…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give that Scottish Water will remain as a public corporation under the provisions of the draft Water Services Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive remains committedto retaining Scottish Water as a publicly owned corporation. Scottish Water's statuswill not be affected by the forthcoming Water Services Bill.</p>

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the European Union on the inclusion of water services in the latest round of liberalisations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services

Answer · Ross Finnie: Matters relating to the regulationof international trade, including responsibility for GATS negotiations, are reservedto the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has ensured that the UK Government’s representationsto the European Union on GATS reflect the Ex…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on privatising the water supply.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive remains fully committedto retaining water supply in the public sector. The Water Services Bill will prohibitthird parties from using the public water and sewerage networks, ensuring that ScottishWater remains the sole physical supplier of water …

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the effects of liberalisation of services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services on its areas of responsibility.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The regulation of internationaltrade is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with theDepartment of Trade and Industry and other Government departments on a range oftrade issues, including those relating to the General Agreement on T…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that liberalisation of the water service under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) would be beneficial for the service and, if not, what steps it is taking to oppose such liberalisation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: <em>Mattersrelating to the regulation of international trade, including responsibility forGATS negotiations, are reserved to the UK Government. The UK Government has confirmedthat it has no intention of pressing for water services to be included in futureGATS…