Parliamentary questions

Margaret Jamieson

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

14 Mar 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to continue to take account of the charitable sector in its consultation on water and sewerage charges beyond 2010.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive expectsto consult in the autumn on its principles of charging for the regulatory period2010-14.

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase prescription and other National Health Service charges.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We shall lay before the Parliamentregulations (SSI2007/139) to increase prescription and other National Health Servicecharges from 1 April 2007. There will be a cash increase in the prescription chargeof 20 pence from £6.65 to £6.85 for each appliance or quan…

7 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its relocation policy can aid regeneration of town centres.

Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Executive relocationpolicy is one of a number of policies that can contribute to supporting the developmentof town centres.We continue to consider opportunitiesfor relocation to contribute to town-centre regeneration wherever possible: goo…

17 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be in a position to announce whether it will support and provide finance for the dynamic loop on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Subject to finalising the contractwith Network Rail and finding resources within current budget allocations, we willbuild a dynamic loop on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line to allow a half hourlyservice on that route. We anticipate the work will be complet…

23 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about the roll out of youth courts.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The final evaluations of thepilot youth courts in Hamilton and Airdrie are published today, Evaluationof the Airdrie Sheriff Youth Court Pilot, Evaluation of the Airdrie and Hamilton Youth Court Pilots which canbe accessed at:<ahre…

22 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will have completed its assessment of the proposal to construct a dynamic loop on the railway line between Kilmarnock and Glasgow to increase the frequency of rail services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We expect the feasibility workto be completed by the end of the year and will make a decision following that.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s Critical Incident Review following Mark Biggley’s abscondment from Ailsa Hospital in May 2006 and, if so, whether it will publish it.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29722 on 22 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Critical Incident Review will examine the circumstances of a non-restricted patient who went missing in the company of Mark Biggley when he absconded from Ailsa Hospital.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Critical Incident Reportfocused on the restricted patient. NHS Ayrshire and Arran are reviewingseparately the circumstances surrounding the non-restricted patient.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28876 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 October 2006, whether the reference to three restricted patient absconds from Ailsa Hospital in 2006 relates to three patients absconding or three instances of the same patient absconding.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Two restricted patients absconded.One restricted patient absconded twice and the other on one occasion.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28776 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 October 2006, when it expects NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s Critical Incident Review to be completed and whether the review and the membership of the review group will be made public.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Critical Incident Reviewby NHS Ayrshire and Arran was received on 24 October 2006and is currently being considered by ministers. The question of publication of therecommendations of the review will be part of that consideration.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28779 by Lewis Macdonald on 24 October 2006, why it was not informed of the decision to grant Mark Biggley unescorted leave prior to it being taken.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The question of why the Executivewas not so informed is one of those addressed as part of the Critical Incident Review,which is currently being considered by ministers.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any change in its policy guidance on unsupervised leave for restricted patients between the initial absconding of Mark Biggley from Ailsa Hospital in May 2006 and his subsequent absconding in September.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No.

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider communicating an external inquiry into the management of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in light of the number of patients who have gone missing this year from Ailsa Hospital.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have appointed an InquiryPanel to look at the circumstances surrounding the recent absconds of a restrictedpatient from Ailsa Hospital, Ayr. The panel will review the robustness of the hospital’srisk management plan and the decisions and events leading up …

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking concerning Beatrice McGregor, an 80-year-old female non-restricted patient, who went missing from care at Ailsa Hospital on 31 October 2006.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The patient is not a restrictedpatient and therefore this is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board.

2 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place with regard to notifying the police of patients who have gone missing from NHS hospitals.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: For restricted patients, guidanceis contained in the working version of the Memorandum of Procedure on RestrictedPatients at chapter 6. The guidance makes clear that the police should be immediatelynotified of the abscond or escape of a restricted pati…

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when determining unescorted leave by restricted patients, how risk to the public is measured by multi-disciplinary teams that do not include the police.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Multi-disciplinary teamswill consider static and dynamic factors relating to risk and will routinelyinclude information provided to them by the police and Crown Office beforemeeting. Unescorted leave from hospital requires the consent of Scottish ministersand…

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28880 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 November 2006, why Strathclyde Police was not involved in determining the risk in granting restricted patient, Mark Biggley, unsupervised leave within the grounds of Ailsa Hospital, given that he had previously absconded.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The police are not routinelyconsulted about unsupervised leave within the grounds of the hospital. Responsiblemedical officers consider on a case by case basis when to involve the police indecisions in relation to patient care and supervision. In this case th…

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28879 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 November 2006, whether it will publish a list of the professions involved in preparation of the risk management plan in relation to the care of restricted patient, Mark Biggley.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The riskmanagement plan was prepared in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team andthose involved include the responsible medical officer, the psychologist,nursing staff and the social worker.

23 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that a community impact assessment is undertaken prior to the issue of no proceedings letters by procurators fiscal.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: Before taking any action, theProcurator Fiscal must be satisfied that the circumstances reported to him or herdisclose a crime known to the law of Scotland and that there is sufficient admissible and reliableevidence. The Procurator Fiscal cannot raise procee…

23 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend youth courts to demonstrate its commitment to communities in tackling youth disorder and crime.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: An evaluation of existing YouthCourts in Hamilton and Airdrie has now been completed. The Executive will publishthis, and announce a decision on the future of Youth Courts in the near future.

23 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to demonstrate the effectiveness of its current and planned measures to combat youth disorder and crime.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29222 on 16 November 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

23 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address youth disorder.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The report of the YouthJustice Improvement Group and the Scottish Executive’s response, the YouthJustice Improvement Programme, were published on 9 October 2006. The Youth Justice Improvement Programme outlines the measures that the Scottish Executive …

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to small and medium-sized enterprises which experience infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28986 on 7 November 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to protect small and medium-sized enterprises which experience infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: While legislation relating tointellectual property is reserved, the Scottish Executive does provide ScottishSMEs with advice relating to the protection of intellectual property. The IntellectualAssets Centre, funded by the Scottish Executive, helps SMEs recog…

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28495 by Allan Wilson on 27 September 2006, whether other industries will be considered for protection from all forms of unfair competition.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive will workwith the UK Government and the Competition Authorities to assist where possiblein protecting Scottish manufacturers from unfair competition.

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Strathclyde Police was informed and consulted in determining the risk involved prior to the transfer to Ailsa Hospital of restricted patient, Mark Biggley, and prior to granting him unsupervised leave within the grounds of the hospital.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No.

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the risk management plan in relation to the care of Mark Biggley, a restricted patient at Ailsa Hospital, and indicate (a) who should have been involved in meetings to agree the plan and (b) whether the plan was followed by the responsible medical officer.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Patient confidentiality precludesthe disclosure of the risk management plan which contains clinical information.A risk management plan is normallyprepared by the multi-disciplinary team which may include a Responsible MedicalOfficer, psychologist, soci…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether disciplinary action has been taken or is currently in progress against any member of NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff following investigations relating to absconding by Mark Biggley from Ailsa Hospital in May 2006.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons were learned by NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Ailsa Hospital from the first occasion on which Mark Biggley absconded from the hospital in May 2006.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Following the patient’s absconcionin May 2006 from Ailsa Hospital, an investigation into the circumstances were undertaken.As a consequence a number of recommendations were made covering areas such as: theward function, environment, and policies and procedure…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been reported missing from Ailsa Hospital in each of the last five years and how many of these were restricted.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The number of restricted patient absconds from Ailsa Hospital in the last five years is as follows:2002 - 02003 - 02004 - 02005 - 02006 - 3.The number of non-restricted absconds is not available centrally.