Parliamentary questions
Margo MacDonald
393 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards full compliance with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC), which came into force on 4 January 2006.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The amendment to Scottishbuilding regulations, which comes into effect on 1 May 2007, is a significantmilestone, as all the s…
18 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when guidance will be issued by the Scottish Building Standards Agency on how Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC) will be implemented in Scotland.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>For Article 7 (Energy performancecertificates) and Article 9 (Inspection of air-conditioning), guidance on complianceh…
18 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, whether it has any indication of what the energy efficiency rating of the Parliament might be under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC) now that the Scottish Executive has adopted the use of the asset-based energy rating methodology, Simplifie…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish BuildingStandards Agency has issued the 2007 Technical Handbook, which will come intoforce on 1 May 2007. The handbook specifies that the Simplified BuildingEnergy Model (SBEM) is the methodology which is to be used to assess the energyratin…
3 Jan 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the environmental impact of energy use in Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Estimates of emissionsassociated with energy production and use are produced, including those publishedannually in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Scotland,England, Wales and Northern Ireland and in the Scottish Energy Study publishedby the Executive last year…
6 Dec 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland fulfils its remit to represent individuals with the full range of long-term conditions and the small voluntary groups that support them.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The alliance was launched inMay 2006 and already has links to around 150 organisations. These cover a wide rangeof interests including voluntary bodies of various sizes and I would always be happyto hear if other organisations might become involved.</p>
22 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect will be on resources for the development of community and elite sport participation in Scotland of the higher than predicted cost of the London Olympics.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The UK Government made it clearin 2003 that it would plan to be the ultimate guarantor of Olympic funding needsshould the shortfall between Olympic costs and revenues exceed £2.075 billion. TheGovernment stated that it expected to discharge that responsibilit…
1 Nov 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a shortage of lymphoedema practitioners in the Lothian area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I understand that NHSLothianhas been working on plans to develop a dedicated service for patients with bothprimary and secondary Lymphoedema, in all care settings. Edinburgh Community HealthPartnership has agreed to host the service for patients from across L…
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the PFI/PPP contracts in which arbitration by Partnerships UK has been used and what the outcome has been in each case.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Partnerships UK has neverbeen appointed as an arbitrator or adjudicator in Scotland.</p>
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it employs when assessing (a) value for money and (b) allocation of risk between the public and private partners in PFI/PPP projects and whether there has been any change in the assessment criteria since the inception of the policy on PFI/PPP projects.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Value for Money (VfM) AssessmentGuidance is available on the Scottish Executive Financial Partnership Unit’s websiteat:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/vfm">www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/vfm</a>.<…
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any PFI/PPP projects where the consultants employed to advise it have sought enhanced payments above the original contracted figure, showing the (a) original contract price and (b) enhanced payments sought in each project and indicating whether the requests for additi…
Answer · Tom McCabe: Since 1999, I am not aware ofany enhanced payments above the original contracted figure being sought by consultantsemployed to advise the Scottish Executive in relation to its PFI/PPP projects.</p><p>The Scottish Executive does nothold details of payments to …
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it can reveal within the constraints of commercial confidentiality regarding the financial arrangements between it and PFI/PPP contractors and consultants which it employs to advise it on PFI/PPP projects.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The financial arrangements betweenthe Scottish Executive and PFI/PPP contractors and consultants employed to adviseon PFI/PPP projects are set out in contracts between the relevant parties.</p><p>For the four Scottish ExecutivePFI/PPP projects, the body of th…
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its total costs have been of employing consultants as advisors to the public sector in PFI/PPP completed projects in each year from 1999 to 2005.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The total costs to the ScottishExecutive of employing consultants as advisers to the public sector in PFI/PPP completedprojects in each year from 1999 to 2005 is estimated in the following table. Theincreasing values over these years reflects the increased in…
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the PFI/PPP projects currently under negotiation or contract bidding, showing for each the (a) potential public funding costs and (b) consultants being employed as advisors to the public sector
Answer · Tom McCabe: With reference to (a), the potentialpublic funding costs for those PFI/PPP projects currently under negotiation or contractbidding are commercially confidential whilst the projects are in the procurementstage.</p><p>For (b) I refer the member tothe Scottish E…
19 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the PFI/PPP projects contracted in each region, showing for each the (a) cost to public funds over the lifetime of the projects, (b) PFI/PPP contractors and (c) consultants employed as advisors to the public sector
Answer · Tom McCabe: For (a) I refer the member tothe answer to question S2W-28685 on 18 October 2006.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
25 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that individuals living with coeliac disease have adequate access to ongoing medical care, given that the disease is a lifelong, chronic condition.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: <i>Delivering for Health</i> set out the Executive’s approach to the management oflong-term conditions such as coeliac disease. People should be supported to helpthem live with these conditions through services which are responsive to all oftheir needs, deliv…
25 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is provided to health care professionals regarding the detection, diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is aware of theimportance of ensuring that all health professionals receive appropriate guidanceregarding the detection, diagnosis and treatment of all conditions, including coeliacdisease. They are required to complete and pass nationally recog…
25 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a diagnosis of gluten intolerance in each NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isnot available centrally. Information on out-patient waiting times is collectedcentrally at specialty level only.</p>
25 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently diagnosed with coeliac disease in each NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
24 May 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that there is more effective reception and advice for Europeans arriving in Scotland to seek work, in light of the number of Polish citizens having to use support services provided by both voluntary and statutory agencies in Edinburgh.
Answer · George Lyon: Werecognise the contribution which workers from the accession states are makingto our economy. However, we want to make sure that those coming to Scotland are equipped with all theinformation they need to live and work here. For this reason, and recognisingth…
3 May 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the list of conditions exempt from paying prescription charges.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We will consider fully the responsesto our consultation on prescription charges and exemption arrangements before wepropose any changes to the existing system.</p>
21 Apr 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will provide substantive answers to parliamentary questions S2W-24357, S2W-24358, S2W-24359 and S2W-24360 which received holding replies on 30 March 2006.
Answer · George Reid: I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm</a>.</p>
21 Apr 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will provide a substantive answer to parliamentary question S2W-23826 which received a holding reply on 17 March 2006.
Answer · George Reid: I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm</a>.</p>
7 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to designating as “wild bird risk areas” the south bank of the Firth of Forth and the eastern part of Lothian and Borders, including the Bass Rock and Inchcape islands.
Answer · Ross Finnie: On confirmation of highly pathogenicH5N1 avian influenza a veterinary risk assessment was made to assess the appropriatesize and location of the Wild Bird Risk Area, and how far it should extend fromthe wild bird surveillance zone round Cellardyke. In additio…
28 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S2W-22132 by Kenny MacAskill on 18 January 2006 in respect of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, whether it is now in a position to provide details of the Parliament's energy performance and, if not, when it anticipates …
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish BuildingStandards Agency is about to consult on proposals for energy performancecertification in terms of the EU Directive on the energy performance ofbuildings. When the outcome of the consultation is known and full guidance isissued, the Parlia…
16 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body from which companies contracted to work on the Holyrood project the Parliament is time barred from claiming damages, or cannot do so for any other reason.
Answer · George Reid: I shall reply to the Memberas soon as possible.</p>
16 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the status of the assurance given to the Finance Committee by the Clerk/Chief Executive on 17 December 2002 (Official Report c. 2433) in respect of the public indemnity insurance on the Holyrood project principally held by RMJM is unchanged from that described b…
Answer · George Reid: I shall reply to the Memberas soon as possible.</p>
16 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on which of the contracts for the Holyrood complex retentions are still being held.
Answer · George Reid: I shall reply to the Memberas soon as possible.</p>
16 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether an appropriate defects liability certificate for the Holyrood complex has been issued and, if so, by whom and on what date the certificate was issued.
Answer · George Reid: I shall reply to the Memberas soon as possible.</p>
3 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will make available a copy of the construction (design and management) regulations which cover the parliamentary complex.
Answer · George Reid: I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm</a>.</p>
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation so that compensation paid to the families of mesothelioma sufferers in Scotland is paid on an equal basis to that paid in England and Wales.
Answer · Hugh Henry: It is a matter for thecourts in each jurisdiction to reach a view on the appropriate level of paymentin individual cases. There are differences between the law of damages in Scotland andthat in England and Wales. In Scotland, the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976 p…