Parliamentary questions

Margo MacDonald

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

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport and the Environment will meet residents of Loanhead, Midlothian, to discuss concerns about any dangers posed to the proposed A701 by the Clippers landfill site and the old limestone workings.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No; it is for Midlothian Council as local roads authority to take whatever action it considers necessary in developing its proposals to upgrade the A701.

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now consider using part of the #35 million contingency budget for a Scottish course to train tutors of lip reading.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: There are no such plans. However, Donaldson's College administer a course to train tutors of lip reading. Students enrolled on the course usually fund themselves or are sponsored by employers. Local authority staff are eligible for funding from the £5 million…

9 Jun 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer by what date the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body expects to make available to the Parliament details of how the building, fit out and other costs of the Holyrood Project will be reduced in order to meet the agreed #195 million budget.

Answer · David Steel: SPCB Report No 4 of 30 March 2000 to MSPs made clear that, based on the latest design proposals, the project can be delivered for £195 million. The Quantity Surveyor's "Stage D" cost report for June 2000 is consistent with that figure. The Holyrood …

9 Jun 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether committees or committee chairpersons will in future be consulted in advance of support staff appointments being made to their committees.

Answer · David Steel: It is important that the Parliament’s management is able to exercise its judgement in allocating resources to support committees and the many other areas of parliamentary business, to help maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of that support. That judgem…

9 Jun 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what procedures are used to appoint clerks and support officers to service committees of the Parliament.

Answer · David Steel: The procedures for the appointment of clerks and support officers to service the committees of the Parliament are the same as those in place for the appointment of other staff in the Parliament.<BR>The SPCB is an equal opportunities employer and all external …

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much extra revenue in 2000-01 has been earmarked for reducing waiting times for patients in NHS hospitals who have requested accommodation in residential nursing homes.

Answer · Iain Gray: Reducing the number of delayed discharges is a high priority for the Scottish Executive. £60 million has been made available to the NHS - on top of the existing record levels of funding, to accelerate delivery of a number of priorities, including a reduction …

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3808 by Iain Gray on 7 February 2000, what information is available on the average waiting times for patients in NHS hospitals who have requested accommodation in residential nursing homes, broken down by local authority and whether it now has any pl…

Answer · Iain Gray: Consistent information is not currently available. Statistics on delayed discharges and the reasons for them are now routinely collected on a quarterly basis. Information on the first quarter will be analysed in July and published shortly thereafter.

30 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body expects Enrique Miralles to resume work on the Holyrood Project.

Answer · David Steel: The Parliament's commission for the design of the Holyrood building is with the joint venture company EMBT/RMJM, who have been working on the project continuously. The lead architect Enric Miralles has remained involved throughout his treatment and recuperati…

30 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer who is overseeing any necessary change in operational arrangements for the Holyrood contract to allow for the addition of a new professional project director.

Answer · David Steel: With the assistance of the clerk, the SPCB as the legal client for the Holyrood Project is overseeing any necessary changes<B>.</B>

30 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer who will head the technical management of the Holyrood project during the recruitment period for a new Project Director.

Answer · David Steel: John Gibbons, with support from existing members of the Project Team, will take on the responsibilities of the Project Director until such time as a permanent appointment is made.

30 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Chief Executive of the Parliament has assumed all of the responsibilities of the former Holyrood Project Director.

Answer · David Steel: The Corporate Body remains ultimately responsible for the Holyrood Project. Under the arrangements agreed with the Holyrood Progressing Group, the clerk will have delegated authority in respect of the management of the project though this will be exercised un…

30 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer on what date the secondment of the former Holyrood Project Director ceased.

Answer · David Steel: 1 June 2000.

30 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new head of its External Relations Division will start in post.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The new head took up post on 1 June 2000.

30 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the appointment of the new head of its External Relations Division required ministerial approval.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-7289.

30 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants there were for the position of head of its External Relations Division and how many applicants for the post were interviewed and by whom.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The post of Head of External Relations Division in the Executive Secretariat was filled by assignment as part of a round of moves for Heads of Division within the Scottish Executive to fill vacancies arising from retirement and promotion and for career develo…

30 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when and where the position of head of its External Relations Division was advertised.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-7289.

17 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is available through the NHS helpline to patients looking for information on orthotic services.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS Helpline currently holds general information on orthotic services and where appropriate will direct the caller to a local service. The Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Forum (SCOTRET) has been asked to consider whether the helpline can be offered an…

17 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list (a) the grants available to users of orthotic equipment, (b) the voucher schemes which are currently in place to offset the costs of new orthotic equipment and (c) the government agencies which issue such grants and vouchers.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The vast majority of orthotic items provided through the NHS in Scotland are supplied free of charge. Wigs and fabric supports do attract a prescription charge but only for hospital outpatients who do not fall within a prescription exemption or remission cate…

17 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new Royal Infirmary will have similar orthotic workshop facilities to those currently in place in the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust are presently developing plans to relocate the orthotic workshop facilities currently located at the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital in Edinburgh. The Trust is committed to maintaining the current level of service provis…

17 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why patients requiring new orthotic equipment in Lothian will have this equipment measured and fitted locally but manufactured in Leeds thereby rendering impossible any further customised adaptations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Basic stock items of orthotic equipment are purchased through centralised contracts arranged by Scottish Healthcare Supplies. All customisations are however carried out in-house by Lothian University Hospitals Trust, as is the provision of specialist one-off …

30 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for professionals, such as social workers and nurses, to obtain a recognised qualification in lip reading.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive provides funding to local authorities through the Training Specific Grant for Social Work Training. Local authorities determine their own training needs and if they so decide they may spend these funds on training social workers in lip …