Parliamentary questions
Margaret Jamieson
534 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34111 by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 March 2003, when the review of the legislation governing burial and cremation will report.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the question S2W-11909 answered on 16 November 2004. 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…
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) elderly people and (b) people on low incomes of the Health and Safety Executive and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s code of practice on the management of memorials.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The guidance, issued by the Institute in 2000, with a contribution from the Health and Safety Executive on specific health and safety issues, covers all aspects of cemetery management. No formal assessment of the financial impact of the guidance has been made…
3 Nov 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the shortage of teachers in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: There is not a shortage ofteachers at the national level. Wherever we see the possibility of nationalshortages or surpluses in teachers for particular subjects we adjust ourworkforce planning assumptions accordingly.</p>
29 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes will be of enhanced drug transition services and how these will be measured and audited.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The Invitation to Tender forEnhanced Addictions Casework Service is currently out to tender. The contract willcommence in July 2005. …
29 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the allocation of funding for enhanced drug transition services will be equitable across public and private sector prisons.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The SPS seeks to provide a similar service to prisoners in all prisons.</p>
29 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when enhanced drug transition services will be introduced in all prisons.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>We plan to introduce new arrangementsfor addiction services from July 2005.</p>
28 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply if the admissions policies of public authority pension funds do not accept new employer bodies due to lack of a guarantor.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The question of a guarantor does not arise in respect of a transfer of local authority staff under The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (the “TUPE” Regulations). A TUPE transfer can be to either a private contractor or to a…
27 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to safeguard public authority pension funds if an employer cannot provide a guarantor to underwrite their current liability.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Responsibility for the management of the local government pension funds lies with the fund administering authorities, who administer the funds in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998. The Regulations provide that the…
27 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the implications for public authority pension funds of the inclusion of new admissions and transfers employed by PPP and housing stock transfer schemes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no implications as the Regulations governing the Local Government Pension Scheme already provide for issues relating to the inclusion of new admissions, either as a result of Public Private Partnership outsourcing of work to private contractors, or …
13 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will collate figures on how many antisocial behaviour orders are pursued and granted by each local authority in implementing the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Yes. Independent research has been commissioned into the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), which will include information on orders pursued and granted in each local authority area. Information can also be collated from the records of orders which l…
13 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities regarding the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Draft guidance was published for consultation on measures in parts 1 to 6 of the act on 9 July. Documents were issued to local authorities and other stakeholders on:</p><p>Antisocial Behaviour Strategies</p><p>Antisocial Behaviour Orders</p><p>Dispersal of Gr…
13 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to registration bodies in respect of the medical fitness of teachers, including those in training.
Answer · Peter Peacock: None: But following the coming into force of The Teachers Registration (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004 we will work with local authorities to prepare guidance.</p>
9 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9830 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 August 2004, what information it has on whether visually impaired people will be provided with leaflets in large print, screen readers, audio recording, electronic formats or other formats appropriate to their needs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Requirements for the provision of patient information leaflets are reserved matters which come under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.</p><p>The agency has advised that new legal requirements which will come into force from…
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether economic factors are taken into account when food hygiene regulations are introduced.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes. The preparation and development of all new food hygiene legislation, for which the Food Standards Agency is the lead department, is accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment in accordance with Scottish Executive guidelines.</p>
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure traceability of all game products irrespective of numbers processed.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is currently no requirement for traceability in the hygiene legislation for the wild game sector, although game dealers must be licensed under the Game Acts and maintain certain records in accordance with t…
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to standardise food hygiene regulations to ensure that food safety requirements do not disadvantage game processors whose businesses process in excess of 10,000 items per annum.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the current legislation governing wild game processing will be revoked, and replaced by horizontal food hygiene legislation on 1 January 2006. These new rules, which aim to consolidate and simplify existing food …
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate that different food hygiene regulations are applied to different markets supplied by game processors.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that game processors currently exporting wild game meat to other EU member states, or to third countries, must be licensed under the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995. If game processors current…
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 have on the economy.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 enact in the UK, with regard to the export trade, EU Directive 92/45/EEC which sets out requirements relating to the killing of wild game and the placi…
10 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to implications for buildings insurance cover if different regulations in respect of electrical adaptations are to apply in Scotland from other parts of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>Whilst the extent to which electrical installations are dealt with under building regulations does differ between Sco…
10 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of the recent announcement by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on new rules for safer and better buildings will be for the outcome of the consultation on regulations in support of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The recent ODPM announcement has no effect on the recent consultation on regulations to support the Building (Scotlan…
10 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the outcome of its consultation on regulations in support of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The new regulations and guidance documents will be published at the end of October.</p>
28 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government's Department of Health regarding the provision of patient information leaflets in Braille for dispensed drugs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Requirements for the provisionof patient information leaflets are reserved matters which come under the remitof the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. </p><p>Council Directive 2004/27/ECwill be transposed into UK national legislation by 30 O…
28 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to implement European Directive 2004/27/EC, with particular reference to the provision of patient information leaflets in Braille for dispensed drugs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Requirements for the provisionof patient information leaflets are reserved matters which come under the remitof the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. </p><p>Council Directive 2004/27/ECwill be transposed into UK national legislation by 30 O…
15 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost has been to it of patients not attending NHS appointments in each year since 1999.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the cost of patients failing to attend NHS appointments is not available centrally. Information is available on the numbers of patients who did not attend their first outpatient appointment with a consultant, and on the average cost of a consul…
15 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it records the number of patients who do not attend NHS appointments and if so, whether this information is available for (a) acute and (b) primary care cases, including non-attendance for GP appointments, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on numbers of patients who did not attend their NHS appointment is available only for first outpatient appointments at consultant-led clinics. Information about non-attendance for hospital inpatient and day case treatment and in the primary care s…
1 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat counterfeit medicines and to ensure patient safety.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety ofmedicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcareproducts Regulatory Agency (MHRA).</p><p class=MsoHeader>The MHRA investigates allallegations of counterfeit medicines in the UK, the vast majority of w…
8 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of its national review of the early years and child care workforce will be.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I am today announcing a significantprogramme of reform and development for the workforce. The Review of the Early Yearsand Childcare Workforce will:</p><p>examine and define the role andresponsibilities of staff in the early years, childcare and play workforc…
2 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Skipton Fund will begin to process applications for ex-gratia payments for people who have hepatitis C through NHS treatment with blood and blood products.
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what charges are levied by the Scottish Social Services Council on those who register with the council.
Answer · Euan Robson: All workers who apply to be registeredwith the Scottish Social Services Council will be required to pay an annual fee.Currently the fee level has been set only for workers in Phase 1 of registration.The current annual fee is £30.00 for all workers with the ex…
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consent has been given for phase 2 of the registration of care workers with the Scottish Social Services Council.
Answer · Euan Robson: The groups of staff to be includedin Phase 2 of registration with the Scottish Social Services Council was detailedin the publication The Way Forward for Care which was laid before Parliament inJuly 2000. The staff who will be registered in Phase 2 are all st…