Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to assist and support the restoration of Castle Tioram.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : At present there is no application for the restoration of Castle Tioram with Historic Scotland.</b></p> <p >Any scheduled monument consent application would be assessed by Historic Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers. As with all such applications, Hist…
17 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target period for completion of the A82 works at Pulpit Rock and Crianlarich remains 2012-13 and what the timetable is for the design work for the upgrade and realignment of the A82 from Tarbet to Inverarnan.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A82 Crianlarich Bypass and the A82 Pulpit Rock Improvement are scheduled to complete in 2012-13 subject to satisfactory completion of statutory process.</p> <p >A timetable for the design work for the upgrade and realignment of the A82 between Tarbet and…
16 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the Mental Welfare Commission’s report from their investigation into the care and treatment of Mrs I.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The MWC''s recommendations addressed to the Scottish Government were to review the roles of welfare attorneys, in particular, to address:</p> <p >The information and guidance available for welfare attorneys;</p> <p >Support for them in undertaking their d…
16 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the planned improvements to and upgrade of the A82 since April 2010.
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to combat the spread of giant hogweed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-33277 and S3W‘33281 on 5 May 2010 and 30 April 2010 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.sc…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in Scotland to comply with the Weeds Act 1959 regarding the spread of giant hogweed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Injurious weeds specified in the Weeds Act 1959 include spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), creeping or field thistle (Cirsium arvense), curled and broad-leaved docks (Rumex crispus/obtusifolius), and common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Giant hogweed is not cover…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is provided to the public regarding the risk of human contact with giant hogweed, as referred to in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Giant hogweed is listed on schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to plant, or cause this plant to grow, in the wild. </b></p> <p >Advice on the risk of burning from contact with the sap of giant hogweed is provided …
16 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the results of the Monitor Farms programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent review of the Scottish Monitor Farm programme in 2008. ADAS, who carried out the review, reported that, overall, the programme was effective in bringing about physical and financial improvements on the farms…
16 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research is the Scottish Agricultural College undertaking to identify the potential factors which cause bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome).
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is aware that Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is participating in a GB-wide case-control study. SAC may be involved in other research not known to the Scottish Government; more information may be available by contacting the Scottis…
16 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome) were reported in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010, broken down by Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Service area.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2009 SAC confirmed 48 cases of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (bleeding calf syndrome) on 35 farms in Scotland. For 2010, on 4 June, 72 cases had confirmed from 61 farms (six dairy farms and 55 beef suckler farms). Submissions have been received by all of Sc…
1 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and drug or alcohol addiction will be offered treatment for both conditions in order to aid recovery.
Answer · Shona Robison: Yes. It is the responsibility of NHS boards to work with other agencies to provide an integrated and recovery-focussed package of care and treatment to all patients with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and a drug or alcohol addiction, following …
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all recommendations in the publication, Remember I’m Still Me, published jointly by the Mental Welfare Commission and the Care Commission have now been implemented.
Answer · Shona Robison: <i >Remember I''m Still Me</i>''s findings and recommendations “ the latter aimed at the Scottish Government and other key partners - helped inform development of Scotland''s first National Dementia Strategy, published in June.</p> <p >As part of implementin…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS patients can choose from a range of evidence-based psychological therapies including counselling and psychotherapy.
Answer · Shona Robison: Access to a range of evidence based psychological therapies is available across all NHS boards in Scotland. </p> <p >In line with the principle of participation in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act 2003, service uses should be fully involve…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide psychology services for older people, including a crisis service.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Boards are responsible for providing psychology and crisis services for all age groups, and for having the right number and mix of qualified staff and configuration of services to meet local need in these areas.</p> <p >A draft report on Applied Psycholo…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: All NHS boards in Scotland provide access to a range of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) with specialist inpatient services provided on a regional basis.</p> <p >Considerable progress has been made in recent years both in mapping out what …
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in providing counselling support for children and young people as set out in its 2005 report, The Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care.
Answer · Shona Robison: Significant progress in implementing this part of the Framework by 2015 is being supported by the Scottish Government''s investment of £6.5 million over the next 3 years to increase the number of psychologists working in specialist CAMHS; and is complemented …
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current waiting time is for (a) drug and (b) alcohol treatment, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Waiting times information for drug treatment, broken down by NHS board is available on the ISD website and can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5962.html.</b></p> <p >Waiting times information for alcohol treatment, broken down by NHS bo…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how each NHS board performed in managing mental health services by using benchmarking to understand and compare services and their outcomes in order to promote best practice, as recommended in Mental Health Project Final Report: National Benchmarking Project.
Answer · Shona Robison: As a result of the work of the Mental Health Benchmarking Project, in August National Services Scotland will publish a toolkit to enable NHS Boards and others to interpret benchmarking data in informing the design, planning and management of local services; a…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on mental health services in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24327 on 11 June 2009 which set out net revenue expenditure on social work services for adults with mental health needs for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08. All answers to written parliamentary questions are avai…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of its monitoring of whether national standards for crisis services have been implemented to ensure that the services provided meet local demand, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: Although the Audit Scotland report does not specifically recommend that the Scottish Government publish these results, we will be undertaking additional work in 2011 in assessing and disseminating information on Boards'' implementation of the National Standar…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment there has been of NHS boards in meeting quality standards in terms of the integrated care pathway for mental health services due for implementation and assessment from 2009, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: There are no specific recommendations in the Audit Scotland report, <i >Overview of Mental Health Services</i>, on the national standards for integrated care pathways (ICPs) for mental health.</p> <p >NHS boards are responsible for developing and implementin…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how may vacancies exist for (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information showing consultant vacancies by specialty, including psychiatric specialties, is published by Information Services Division Scotland and can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Consultant_Vac…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what successful outcomes have been achieved in treating the estimated 70% of prisoners identified as having a mental health problem.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The SPS does not record specific outcome measures on the individual treatment of prisoners with mental health problems. The SPS seeks to …
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to treat the estimated (a) 75% of drug users and (b) 50% of people with an alcohol problem who may also have a mental health problem as outlined in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to work with other key agencies to provide appropriate services for these groups in a holistic and integrated way.</p> <p >In 2007 the Scottish Government published the <i >Closing The Gaps</i> guidance to boa…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address mental health services with long waiting times, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: Those adults accessing mental health services for the first time or within unplanned or crisis care usually do so quickly, and we are already addressing those areas affected by the longest waits in planned access to care. </p> <p >We have established the fir…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the waiting times for mental health services as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The recommendation to ensure data on waiting times are collected and reported routinely is directed at local service provider partners.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35030 on 23 July 2010 which set out action on establishing nation…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the appointment of senior psychologists to the role of approved clinician under mental health legislation for England and Wales, whether it will consider extending the role of chartered psychologists, who under Part 8 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2…
Answer · Shona Robison: In determining the requirements for the role of Approved Medical Practitioner*(AMP), prior to the enactment of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the role of chartered psychologists as AMPs was considered and rejected. Having chartere…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on anti-obesity drugs in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on drugs used in the treatment of obesity, including costs, can be found on the Information Services Division Scotland website <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4635.html">www.isdscotland.org/isd/4635.html</a>.</p> <p >The data given relate…
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards achieved the HEAT target to tackle overweight and obesity in children.
Answer · Shona Robison: The target on child healthy weight interventions is not due for delivery until March 2011.</p>
30 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults were registered as (i) overweight, (ii) obese and (iii) morbidly obese in each NHS board in each of the last two years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Most of the data requested is not held centrally. However, information is held on the numbers of patients aged 16 and over, who are registered to a Scottish general practice and have been recorded as being obese (with a body mass index/BMI of 30 or more). Thi…