Marilyn Livingstone

28 Aug 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it can take to ensure that Scottish Water fulfils its promise to eradicate the odour problem in the Kirkcaldy constituency by the agreed September 2002 deadline.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish ministers may direct Scottish Water in the exercise of its functions using powers contained in section 56(3) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act. I am aware of problems with odour at the new treatment works at Kirkcaldy. This is an operational matte…

19 Jul 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in reviewing practices in hospital cleaning.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As the recent Audit Scotland Report on Hospital Cleaning shows the NHS has made progress but there is a continuing need to raise standards. The report made an initial examination of compliance with the new NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Standards for Cleani…

2 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the power to advance well-being under Part 4 of the Local Government in Scotland Bill will allow local authorities to encourage general building maintenance and improve litter control and what specific powers will be conferred on local authorities to assist in this.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The power to advance well-being will enable a local authority to do anything it considers is likely to promote or improve the well-being of their area or persons in it, subject to certain safeguards. In respect of general building maintenance or litter contro…

2 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to empower local authorities to address environmental concerns relating to private property and, in particular, unoccupied derelict buildings and areas of derelict land within local communities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Powers already exist in the Building (Scotland) Act 1959, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. The power to advance well-being proposed in the Local Government in Scotland Bill may also be helpful to …

5 Jun 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to produce guidance on basic standards and best practice for the setting of pay and conditions for university research staff.

Answer · Iain Gray: Pay and conditions for all staff are a matter for institutions and employees' representatives. <P>In our guidance letter of December 2001, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council was commended for its role in promoting good practice in relation to contr…

21 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the pay and conditions of university research staff.

Answer · Iain Gray: Pay and conditions for research staff is a matter for institutions to decide in conjunction with employees and their representatives. <P>An 8% increase in the funding allocated by the Executive for 2001-02 allowed the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include studies into the potential physical and environmental causes of ME in future research projects into the disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Following the English Chief Medical Officer's working group's report on CFS/ME, published on 11 January this year, the Department of Health in England asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) to draw up a research strategy, taking account of the working group…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been covered by current research into the causes of ME.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Current research on the causes of ME covers a wide range of possible risk factors, including genetic, viral, neurological, psychological, and environmental factors. Details of current publicly funded research into ME is available from the National Research Re…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are employed in the allocation of funding to ME research.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is well known and advertised throughout the healthcare and academic community. Research proposals on ME or on any other health care issue are assessed on the basis of…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent on research into the causes of ME in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally. However, project information on non-commercial health related research carried out into ME in the last seven years is available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Refer…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to protect the environment and wetland bird population from commercial shellfish extraction such as is taking place at Pettycur Bay, Burntisland, which is both a special protection area and a site of special scientific interest.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Fife Council recently served an interim interdict on those fishing cockles at Pettycur Bay to prevent them from harvesting the cockles, and I have been advised that the cocklers are no longer operating at Pettycur Bay. <P>The Scottish Executive will consider …

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used by the NHS in the allocation of wheelchairs and electrically powered indoor and outdoor chairs.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have arranged for a full set of the criteria applied for the provision of wheelchairs by NHSScotland to be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20701).

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many wheelchairs and electrically powered indoor and outdoor chairs were provided by the NHS in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Rehabilitation Technology Information Service (ReTIS), jointly funded by NHS boards, was established to provide a national information service in the field of Rehabilitation Technology (this includes the wheelchair and seating service). The information co…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget allocation was for the provision by the NHS of wheelchairs and electrically powered indoor and outdoor chairs in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally. Funding for the service was devolved to NHS boards from April 1996.

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of the Progress2Work pathfinder initiative will have on the delivery of the New Deal in Fife.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.<P>Progress2work is part of a wider suite of wo…

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much government aid was used to attract direct foreign investment to (a) companies and (b) other organisations in the Fife Council area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Government aid, in the form of Regional Selective Assistance, was offered to inward investors locating in Fife in each of the three years from 1998 to 2001 as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=252><TR><TD WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year…

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of total direct foreign investment (a) companies and (b) other organisations in the Fife Council area received in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Of the inward investment projects attracted to Scotland by Scottish Development International and its partners in the years 1998-2001, the proportion attracted to Fife is set out in the table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=330><TR><TD WIDTH="…

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in expanding the range of qualifications funded through the Skillseekers programme.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We accept the principle that Skillseekers should broaden its coverage, where the qualifications can support workplace competence and knowledge, and public funding for the qualifications is not already available. Over 80 qualifications outside Scottish Vocatio…

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Forth Estuary Transportation Authority will have in respect of varying the level of tolls charged on the Forth Road Bridge.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None. Any varying of tolls proposed by the authority would require the approval of Scottish ministers and secondary legislation.

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input the Forth Estuary Transportation Authority will have on planning and co-ordinating public transport provision within the authority's geographic area of responsibility.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The authority will comprise local authority representatives from the City of Edinburgh, Fife, Perth and Kinross and West Lothian Councils. It will be the role of these representatives to ensure that the priorities, policies and charging strategy of the author…

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is planned to be provided to the Forth Estuary Transportation Authority.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None.

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial powers the Forth Estuary Transportation Authority will possess.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The authority will be tasked with developing a charging strategy, under the terms of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. It will also be able to use tolling income to support wider road and public transport improvements and traffic management measures.

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current projections are for volumes of traffic using the Forth Road Bridge in each of the next 10 years.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: On the basis of projected growth of 3.5% per year over March 2001 traffic levels, projections for northbound traffic using the Forth Road Bridge are:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=167><TR><TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>2002-03</TD><TD WIDTH=…

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what revenues were received from tolls charged on the Forth Road Bridge in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The revenues received from the northbound toll on the Forth Road Bridge are:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=177><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1997-98</TD><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>£ 8, 823, 373</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="…

6 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of traffic were experienced on the Forth Road Bridge in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The levels of traffic experienced on the Forth Road Bridge, expressed as northbound traffic are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=179><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1997-98</TD><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>10,538,940</TD></TR>…

1 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures are in place in respect of rehabilitating solvent abusers.

Answer · Richard Simpson: According to the 2000-01 Drug Action Team (DAT) Corporate Planning exercise, there are 99 drug agencies in Scotland which provide a solvent abuse service. Drugs services for young people include work with those who use solvents.<P>With effect from 1 April 200…

1 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 on measures to inform young people of the dangers of solvent abuse.

Answer · Richard Simpson: Details of total expenditure on informing young people of the dangers of solvent abuse are not held centrally. However, organisations supported by the Executive produce materials which address the risks of solvents. For example, in 2000, the Scottish Drugs Fo…

1 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were treated by the NHS in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 as a result of solvent abuse, broken down by age group.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The information presented in tables 1 and 2 shows the number of discharges from general acute hospitals and psychiatric hospitals where a diagnosis involving solvent abuse was recorded for the years 1997-2001, by age group.<P>The figures show numbers of disch…

1 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the long-term trends are in the level of solvent abuse, broken down by age group.

Answer · Richard Simpson: In March 1999, as part of its survey into <I>Health Behaviours of Scottish Schoolchildren</I>, the Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change, University of Edinburgh Medical School published a report on <I>Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use in the 1990s</I>.…

1 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 from abusing butane gas, broken down by age group.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The available information is given in the follow table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=367><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=5 HEIGHT=15><P>Deaths from butane abuse, Scotland</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=15…