Margaret Smith

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that creating a stop at Edinburgh Park on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line service would lead to a reduction in commuter road traffic and thereby benefit the environment.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Edinburgh Park station is currently served by four trains per hour ineach direction at peak times and already offers commuters a real alternative tothe car. The potential for further positive impact on traffic volumes of such astop at Edinburgh Park will form…

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to create a stop at Edinburgh Park for trains on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line service.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland recentlyasked First ScotRail to consider and estimate the implications of introducing stopsat Edinburgh Park station for services operating on the Edinburgh/Glasgowroute. The results of this work have been received, however more needs to be…

14 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken on any potential relocation of sportscotland from South Gyle in Edinburgh.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This matter is under active consideration and it is hoped that an announcement will be made soon.</p>

30 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland Information Services Division’s data collection system for audiology services will provide a detailed breakdown of waiting times for each NHS board and, if so, over what period of time.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The data collection system developed by Information Services Division will collect information on the maximum waiting time from referral to assessment, and from assessment to fitting of hearing aids. The data will be available on a quarterly basis.</p>

30 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS Scotland Information Services Division’s data collection system for audiology services will be operational.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The data collection system is currently being piloted by Information Services Division in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. The pilot will be completed by the end of February 2006. We expect that thereafter the new system will be rolled out nationally d…

13 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that health professionals are aware of deformational plagiocephaly and provide appropriate advice to new parents.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22262 on 27 January 2006. 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 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to midwives, health visitors and GPs to enable them to recognise and treat cases of deformational plagiocephaly among newborn babies.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No specific guidance is currently given to midwives, health visitors and GPs on recognising and treating deformational plagiocephaly among newborn babies. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22262 on 27 January 2006. All answers to written parlia…

13 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a rise in the number of deformational plagiocephaly cases reported among newborn babies since the advent of the “Back to Sleep” campaign and how the prevention and treatment of such cases might be improved without jeopardising the message that cot death numbers are …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not centrally available for all years or all areas within Scotland. However, the following table details, for those 10 NHS board areas available, the number and recorded rates of plagiocephaly for children born between 1995 and 20…

13 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make corrective treatment for babies with deformational plagiocephaly available through the NHS.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The current treatment of babies with deformational plagiocephaly includes supervised “tummy time” and encouraging non-sleep patterns and activity, for example playing and being held. In nearly all cases of deformational plagiocephaly the child’s head returns …

13 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to new parents to help avoid their babies developing deformational plagiocephaly.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Although no specific advice is given to new parents on deformational plagiocephaly, the leaflet Reduce the Risk of Cot Death advises new parents that it is good for a baby’s development to experience different positions when awake. Officials of the Health Dep…

11 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had regarding transport links between Scotland and England to the Eddington Transport Review and whether it will make further representations on this issue.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The EddingtonTransport Study into the long-term economic impact of transport is a UK Governmentinitiative. I met Rod Eddington during his visit to Scotland on 16 December, and we discussed a rangeof transport issues including links between Scotland and Englan…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assist NHS Lothian to ensure that NHS dentistry services are available in South Queensferry and, if so, how.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The provision of NHS dental services in an area is the responsibility of an NHS board.</p> <p>However, we are investing £295 million over the next three years in NHS dental services, the vast majority of which will go towards primary care dental services.</p>…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with NHS Lothian regarding NHS dental services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials meet regularly with lead officers from NHS boards, including NHS Lothian, to discuss implementation of <i>An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland</i>. They last met on 25 October and will next meet on…

21 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an assurance that all employees and management staff at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service's Protein Fractionation Centre will be fully consulted before any decision is taken over the future of its services.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19980 on 8 November 2005. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

21 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine all options for the future of the services provided by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service's Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh, including the potential for growth of those services within NHS Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19980 on 8 November 2005. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

14 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of 2005 Scottish physiotherapy graduates found employment as junior physiotherapists.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This data will not be available to the department until January/February 2006. Traditionally, employment for physiotherapy graduates has been good, 91% in 2003 and 86% in 2004. Initial information available to the department suggests that students that have o…

14 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish physiotherapy students are expected to graduate in 2006 and what the likely number of suitable NHS placements is for them in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: From information available to the department from the three universities who provide physiotherapy courses in Scotland, there will be a total of 194 physiotherapy students due to graduate in 2006.</p> <p>The planning of the NHS Scotland workforce to deliver a…

7 Sep 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the East Football Project and other initiatives to encourage people of all ages to play football.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are not involvedwith the East Football Project but we and <b>sport</b>scotland are supporting theSFA’s 10 year Action Plan for Youth Football. A key objective of that plan is encouragingincreased participation by young people and their continued involvemen…

16 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reduce the number of Care Commission inspections of care homes.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to reduce the minimum inspection frequency of care homes.</p>

4 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the shortage of affordable housing in Edinburgh.

Answer · Johann Lamont: As a result of the substantial overall increase in the funding we are making available for affordable housing investment across Scotland we plan to invest £38 million in the current year in Edinburgh city. This represents a doubling of the budget planned for …

13 Apr 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it expects council tax revaluation to affect the residents of Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have no plans for a council tax revaluation pending the outcome of the independent review we set up into local taxation.</p>

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve healthy eating in schools.

Answer · Euan Robson: Scotland is in the vanguard of improving food in schools. Through the Hungry for Success programme, local authorities have been awarded substantial funding to improve significantly the school meals service in Scotland. Authorities have introduced many new hea…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to under-12s' football.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive is supporting under-12s’ football through various programmes operated by <b>sport</b>scotland and other initiatives such as Active Schools. In addition, the Executive is supporting the implementation of the Action Plan for Youth Football, which …

9 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made, and timescale set, for the establishment of independent advice bodies for patients' complaints against the NHS.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is the role of NHS boards to ensure that there is a mechanism for providing independent advice to those who wish to make a complaint against the NHS in Scotland.</p><p>We are working with Citizens Advice Scotland to develop arrangements to support NHS boar…

26 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend concessionary bus travel to young people.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Partnership Agreement commits the Executive to the progressive introduction of a scheme of national bus, rail and ferry concessionary travel for young people initially for all in full time education or training. As I indicated in my Statement in the Parli…

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to respond to the consultation on Reduce, Rehabilitate, Reform – A Consultation on Reducing Reoffending in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am today publishing <i>Supporting, Safer Stronger Communities: Scotland’s Criminal Justice Plan</i> setting out my response to the consultation <i>Reduce,Rehabilitate, Reform</i>. The consultation clearly showed that significantchanges at national and local…

20 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting the tourism potential of the Union Canal.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Promotion of the Union Canal is primarily an operational matter for British Waterways Scotland whose activities are largely funded by the Scottish Executive. </p><p>VisitScotland, however, are also involved in a number of initiatives aimed at raising awarenes…

22 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to prevent loss of playing fields as a result of school rebuilding schemes carried out under public private partnerships.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Regulations already govern the minimum area of school playing fields according to the size of the school roll. In addition, there are safeguards under the planning system where redevelopment of playing fields is proposed. These arrangements apply regardless o…

25 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist facilities are available to provide respite care outwith hospitals for patients with complex care needs in Lothian.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has provided local authorities with £1.4 billion this year for the provision of community care, building on the record levels we have invested in social care over recent years. Respite is a key service that helps people with support needs and th…

25 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist facilities are available to provide long-term care for people with complex care needs in Lothian.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Specialist facilities to provide long-term care for people with complex care needs in Lothian are a matter for the agencies concerned - NHS Lothian where NHS provision is concerned, and the local authorities where community care is concerned.  </p>