Mary Mulligan

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S20-4329 by Nicol Stephen on 2 December 2004, what guidance will be given to project managers regarding re-establishing stations on the Airdrie to Bathgate section of the line.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The re-establishment of an Airdrie to Bathgate rail link was a key recommendation of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies. The project aims to provide fast and frequent services, creating an attractive alternative to the car and significantly impro…

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will release further information on the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail link.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive will be appointing Project Managers for the PreliminaryDesign Phase of the Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link project early in the new year. We expect that phase to be completed and the bill submitted to Parliament by summer 2005.</p>

3 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the comments made by the MSP for Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon, at First Minister’s questions on 7 October 2004, regarding the service provided by NHS Lothian.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We havedone so. In response to the Executive’s request, NHS Lothian has provided adetailed report. It is clear that much of what was claimed by the MSP wasinaccurate. As far as we are aware, Ms Sturgeon made no effort to check the factswith the NHS board befo…

27 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is given to people from overseas to assist them through the process of obtaining the required medical qualifications before they can practise in Scotland and how many people have completed the exams in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The emphasis is on ensuring that overseas doctors have the required information before they leave their home country and indeed to undertake any assessment there, where possible. Both the British Council and the General Medical Council (GMC), often supplement…

27 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what exams people from overseas with medical qualifications are required to sit before they can practise in Scotland; how these requirements are determined, and when they were last reviewed.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Any doctor wishing to work in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The arrangements for obtaining registration with the GMC differ for European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EEA doctors. By virtue of mutual recognition arrangements …

14 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans to take following the publication of its report, Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland.

Answer · Iain Gray: This report provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of misuse of the drugs which cause the most harm in Scotland.<P>The findings will help the Executive to target resources more effectively in future on the areas most in need. Regional figures w…

25 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies provide secure accommodation for juvenile offenders and how many places each currently provides, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

25 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places for juvenile offenders there currently are in secure accommodation, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the Care Development Group's report and recommendations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I welcome the Care Development Group's report which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. I congratulate the members of the group for the excellent work they have done. They have come forward with a series of sound recommendations for the sustain…

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local authorities to increase the amount of money available to assist with the purchase of school uniforms.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There are no plans to change the current arrangements for clothing grants for school pupils which are entirely at the discretion of education authorities.

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to schools regarding the cost to parents of school trips overseas.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive does not provide advice to councils regarding the cost to parents of school trips overseas. This is a matter for local consideration and it would be for individual authorities to determine what advice should be available to schools in their area…

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to schools regarding the cost to parents of school trips within Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive does not provide advice to councils regarding the cost to parents of school trips within Scotland. This is a matter for local consideration and it would be for individual authorities to determine what advice should be available to schools in the…

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are made available to assist community groups who are seeking to respond to planning applications.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities have general powers to assist community councils with funding and administrative support, although there is no statutory obligation on them to do so. Information is not held centrally on the extent to which that support is provided. The char…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what special advice services are available for young people with disabilities who are considering further education on leaving school.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In response to the Beattie Committee Report, career service companies were asked to develop and co-ordinate multi-agency Inclusiveness projects. The development of key worker support for some of Scotland's most disadvantaged and vulnerable young people betwee…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training is available to staff in further education colleges to enable them to address the needs of students with disabilities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A wide range of training opportunities is already available to staff in further education colleges which addresses the teaching of students with disabilities and supporting their special educational needs.<P>In response to a recommendation of the Beattie Comm…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was made available to each further education college to assist students with severe disabilities to pursue their studies in academic session 2000-01 and what funding is available to each college for 2001-02.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Colleges may claim additional funding from the Scottish Further Education Funding Council for running courses for, or enrolling students with, a range of learning or other disabilities.<P>Colleges may also use bursary f…

29 Aug 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the review of initial teacher education since the publication of the first stage report on 9 July 2001.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Copies of the <I>Report of the First Stage of the Review of Initial Teacher Education</I> were widely circulated to stakeholders, along with a short consultation paper seeking responses by 21 September 2001. Once responses have been received and considered we…

16 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the major developments in the canal system in Scotland, in particular the Millennium Link, what steps it is taking to ensure that the relevant authorities have given adequate attention to the potential increased risks to the public in the area of water and leisure activit…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: British Waterways Scotland who manage Scotland's canals, including the Millennium Link project, have undertaken and are continuing to undertake a number of different initiatives which promote safe and responsible use of inland waterways including the offer of…

8 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in preparing for the move to a single water authority.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following interview processes, Ministers have decided to designate Professor Alan Alexander as the prospective Chair and Dr Jon Hargreaves as the prospective Chief Executive of the proposed new authority, Scottish Water, subject to the successful passage of t…

16 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to implement Directive 98/04/EEC relating to the award of contracts by utility operators.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Directive 98/04/EEC, which predates devolution, makes relatively minor technical amendments to an existing directive on utilities procurement which has already been given effect in UK law. Separate implementation for Scotland would create two sets of amendmen…

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report of the joint Executive/Food Standards Agency Task Force on E.coli 0157.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The task force delivered its report to me on 29 June, I have published it today, and it is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Food Standards Agency and the Executive are now actively considering how best the recommendations can be taken forwa…

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the follow-up will be to the proposals published by the European Commission in January for legislation controlling the presence of GM seeds in the seed of conventional species.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have consulted Scottish organisations on these proposals. In the meantime, the commission has produced a working paper with revised proposals in the form of draft legislation. A summary of the revised proposals is being made available for consultation and …

29 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes will be involved for Scotland arising from the abolition of the Intervention Board Executive Agency and the formation of the new payments agency for Common Agriculture Policy payments in England.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Intervention Board Executive Agency (IBEA) is designated as a cross-border public authority under sections 88 and 89 of the Scotland Act 1998. It carries out certain CAP related functions, mainly on market management matters, on behalf of Scottish ministe…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: New Deal for Disabled People will be extended nationally from July 2001, providing assistance with job-search techniques, work preparation, pre-vocational or occupational training and work placements.<P>People with learning disabilities are entitled to immedi…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide educational opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive has committed £22.6 million to implement the recommendations of the Beattie Committee which examined the needs of young people who require additional support to make the transition to post-school education and training or employment. The Nationa…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are resident in long-stay hospitals, broken down by health board area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the number of patients currently resident in long-stay hospitals is not available centrally.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle youth crime.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-03671.

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to train more surgeons.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of higher specialist training posts available in Scotland is regularly adjusted to meet the projected number of new consultants needed to meet known and anticipated turnover and local service developments. The specialist registrar establishment for…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to encourage general practitioners not to operate as one-person practices.

Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no such plans. Rather we encourage all general practitioners to operate within Local Health Care Co-operatives which are designed to encourage co-operation and collaboration among all primary care professionals. In addition, as stated in <I>Our Nation…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13988 by Susan Deacon on 21 March 2000, what plans it has to gather information in the future on the amount spent by the NHSiS on the use of bank and agency nurses.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Data on the amount spent by NHS Scotland on the use of both bank and agency nurses is currently being gathered and will be available in September. It is intended to collect similar information for future years.