Parliamentary questions

Margo MacDonald

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

24 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5135 by Susan Deacon on 22 March 2000, (a) who the members of the Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Forum are, (b) from where the members have been drawn; (c) whether there are any end-user members in the Forum and (d) how long the Forum has been es…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The majority of the activities of the Scottish Rehabilitation Technology Forum (SCOTRET) are undertaken by its four sub-groups: Orthotics, Prosthetics, Wheelchairs and Seating and Electronic Assistive Technology. Membership of the sub-groups is multidisciplin…

22 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the discussions it has had with the City Of Edinburgh Council about the impact of the Holyrood Project on traffic and the source of funding for any road realignments required as a result of the project.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive officials have had regular meetings with the City of Edinburgh Council about traffic and road realignment as a consequence of the development of the Parliament at Holyrood.

17 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1388 by Sarah Boyack on 16 March 2000, whether it will request that the Minister for Transport and the Environment be given direct advance notification of any future target practice to be undertaken in Scotland by the Ministry of Defence.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No.

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities remain for objections to be heard against Midlothian Council's plan to re-route the A701 between Penicuik and Edinburgh.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no further locus. It is for the Council to decide whether or not to consider any further representations.

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute a Haemodialysis Unit within Edinburgh Sick Children's Hospital.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no current plans to institute a Haemodialysis Unit within Edinburgh's Sick Children's Hospital. Treatment for children suffering chronic renal failure, requiring haemodialysis, is undertaken at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow with a …

15 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2271 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 November 1999, how many warrants have been issued relating to people resident in Scotland for (a) the interception of communications and (b) interference with property since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Since 1 July 1999, 204 warrants have been issued by Scottish Ministers under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 for serious crime purposes. I understand that 35 warrants have been issued in Scotland under Part III of the Police Act 1997 over the same…

13 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what will be the function of Queensberry House in the parliamentary complex.

Answer · David Steel: I advise members to await the publication of Mr Spencely's report which will enable such details to be set in context.

13 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer how much of the office and ancillary accommodation required by the Scottish Parliament can be located on the site of the Holyrood Project and how much will be located elsewhere in Edinburgh.

Answer · David Steel: I advise members to await the publication of Mr Spencely's report which will enable such details to be set in context.

13 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether a cost limit of more than #109 million for the Holyrood Project is envisaged and, if so, what it is.

Answer · David Steel: I advise members to await the publication of Mr Spencely's report which will enable such details to be set in context.

13 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is assuming a cost limit of #109 million for the present Holyrood Project and whether the facilities and space feasible at that cost are unaltered since those outlined to, and supported by, a majority of MSPs last June.

Answer · David Steel: I advise members to await the publication of Mr Spencely's report which will enable such details to be set in context.

8 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients requiring orthotic equipment have equal access to shoes, callipers, splints, corsets and night braces regardless of their home health board area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Access to the types of orthotic equipment mentioned is available to patients throughout the NHS in Scotland. However, decisions on what equipment best meets the clinical needs of a patient are a matter for the clinician in charge of their care.<P ALIGN="JUSTI…

8 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it was made aware of the current state of repair of the roof at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive was first made aware of the state of repair of the roof at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh in December 1999.It is the responsibility of The Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to ensure the buildings owned by the…

3 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer at which of its meetings the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body became aware of a greater deterioration in the state of repair of Queensberry House than was known when the contract for the Holyrood Project was signed.

Answer · David Steel: It became increasingly apparent during October 1999 that Queensberry House was in a poorer state than originally expected following removal of internal plaster. Our structural engineers identified in mid-November 1999 that additional works were required. The …

3 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will include in the information supplied to MSPs the resale or development value of the site of the Holyrood Project, excluding Queensberry House.

Answer · David Steel: The report by the independent review team will include an estimate of the value of the site. Queensberry House is part of the site and will therefore be included in that valuation.

3 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer which members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, if any, have carried out any visits outside Scotland in connection with the Holyrood Project, and the dates and costs of any such visits.

Answer · David Steel: On 22 and 23 July 1999, Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body members Robert Brown, Andrew Welsh and myself visited parliamentary chambers in Brussels and The Hague in connection with the Holyrood Project. The total cost of the visits was £1,727.00 which inc…

3 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000 will include powers to restrict the number of such HMO's in a specific area and, in particular, in each (a) tenement stair and (b) street.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The proposed Order will introduce mandatory licensing of HMOs by local authorities. It will be for local authorities to decide their criteria for approving applications including any considerations relating to the amenity of particular locations. However, it …

23 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lothian University Hospitals' Trust have informed it of any adjustment to the levels of service which will be required to eliminate or minimise the projected overspend of #5 million.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust has not made any adjustment to the level of service provided to patients in response to its projected financial position. Action is being taken to further reduce infrastructure and overhead costs, including management co…

21 Feb 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will arrange for an independent survey to be carried out on the state of repair of the structure of Queensberry House, in particular its foundations, by a person recognised as being expert in the preservation and restoration of listed build…

Answer · David Steel: I refer Ms MacDonald to the answer I gave her on 18 February in response to an earlier question on Queensberry House (S1W-4353)

21 Feb 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, if penalty clauses are invoked by the contractors in the event of the feasibility studies being undertaken on the Holyrood Project indicating the unsuitability of the site for the construction of the amended design and volume of the Parliamentary complex, whether the Scottish Parliamentar…

Answer · David Steel: Legal and financial responsibility for the Holyrood Building Project transferred to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on 1 June 1999 under the terms of (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1106.) Contracts existing at that tim…

18 Feb 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what was the date of Enric Miralles' last visit to Edinburgh.

Answer · David Steel: On 14 and 15 February 2000 Enric Miralles visited Edinburgh in connection with the Holyrood Project. He attended various meetings including with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

18 Feb 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will supply MSPs in its report on the Holyrood Project promised at the end of February, details of which members of the Project Team have visited Barcelona and/or The Hague, and the costs of these visits.

Answer · David Steel: The details which will not be covered in the report are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP">Team Member</TD><TD WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT F…

14 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the amount already paid by students for tuition fees will be taken into consideration when assessments of amounts to be paid or deferred under the Scottish Graduate Endowment scheme are calculated.

Answer · Henry McLeish: My reply to question S1W-4360 refers.

14 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether students will be reimbursed for fees already paid under the current system so as to take advantage of the Scottish Graduate Endowment scheme.

Answer · Henry McLeish: My reply to question S1W-4360 refers.

14 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish domiciled students who have already enrolled at Scottish higher education institutions will be eligible to participate in the Scottish Graduate Endowment scheme.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The new student support scheme, including the Graduate Endowment, will be introduced in academic year 2001-02. The details of the new scheme will be subject to consultation. However, the proposal is that the new arrangements should apply only to those who beg…