Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum proportion of debt interest as a percentage of local authority revenue is considered acceptable.

Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities are statutory bodies with democratically elected members responsible for their administration. It is the responsibility of the elected members to ensure that decisions concerning an authority''s expenditure plans are in accordance with good …

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22174 by Shona Robison on 31 March 2009, whether it will provide an answer that specifically addresses the points raised in the question.

Answer · Shona Robison: In developing the provisions of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill we did look carefully at all aspects of the existing law in order to rationalise and update existing tobacco sales law which dates back to 1937. As alluded to in my answe…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 26 day care services for children where all services were graded as either unsatisfactory or weak in the Care Commission report, Gradings So Far, continue to operate.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22395 on 23 April 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 34 care homes for older people where all services were graded as either unsatisfactory or weak in the Care Commission report, Gradings So Far, continue to operate.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The Care Commission was set up to regulate for improvement in the quality of care. It does not close care services immediately as a result of a failure to achieve acceptable grades in one or m…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what care service providers have been closed as a result of failing to meet care standards following an inspection by the Care Commission in each of the last four years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The Care Commission''s role is to regulate for improvement. Where a care service is not providing care which meets the requirements set out in the National Care Standards, the Care Commission w…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long care service providers have to improve when their services are graded 1 (unsatisfactory) and 2 (weak) by the Care Commission.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission grades services on a six-point scale against four themes: quality of care and support, quality of environment, quality of staffing and quality of management and leadership. It does not award an overall grade for the care service. …

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS24 website can be used to provide information and advice about physiotherapy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS 24 on a number of service developments in relation to the Allied Health Professions. A collaboration has been established with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, NHS 24 and the Scottish Gov…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS24 can be used to provide advice and access to physiotherapy services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS 24 on a number of service developments including those related to physiotherapy. A telehealth physiotherapy triage and referral management pilot service has already been established by NHS 24 within NH…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to identify mental health issues in children under five.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are working with NHS boards and their partners to deliver the recommendations made in The Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care (Bib. number 38415). This includes a specific commitment to…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21685 by John Swinney on 17 March 2009, whether any local authority has exceeded its authorisation limit and operational boundary in relation to its external debt in the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: This information has only been available since the introduction of the prudential code on 1 April 2004. The following table provides a breakdown of the recorded instances of local authorities exceeding either the operational boundary or the authorise…

25 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons there is an 18-week waiting time target for consultant referrals for physiotherapy services but no such target for GP referrals or self-referrals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: At present, there are no waiting times targets for access to physiotherapy services. The NHS in Scotland is working to achieve the Scottish Government''s target of a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks from referral to treatment by the end of 2011. Earl…

25 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting patients’ self-referral to NHS physiotherapy services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Self referral to physiotherapy services are promoted by physiotherapists, community teams and through GP practices. However, we recognise that it is important that there should be a systematic approach to self-referral for physiotherapy services and work is i…

24 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will work with Highland Council to take forward the link route between the A82 and A9, taking account of the link route between the A9 and A96 as identified in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, and what the proposed commencement dates for the project and the cost to Highland…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have agreed that there will be joint working between Highland Council and Transport Scotland on how Highland Council can take forward the A82/A9 link within the context of the Government''s commitment to the A9/A96 link. An action plan is being prepared by …

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for transport provision by ambulance to and from hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19699 on 21 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its rationale is for it being illegal for under-18s to buy alcohol but not cigarettes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill includes a number of measures to reduce the attractiveness and availability of tobacco to under-18s, such as the ban of the display of tobacco products and tobacco vending machines. These measures are b…

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of physical activity it uses when communicating with schools.

Answer · Keith Brown: Let''s make Scotland More Active: A strategy for physical activity (2003) acknowledges that physical activity is a general term which encompasses active living, recreational activity, sport, exercise, play and dance. This will be ref…

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the procurement of air ambulances.

Answer · Shona Robison: The current contract for the provision of air ambulance services is due to expire on 31 March 2013. The Scottish Ambulance Service will begin the process of re-procuring this service in the second half of this year, 2009, with the outcome being a new contract…