Mary Scanlon

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that sufficient resources are available to provide pain relief to everybody who requires it.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are expected to fund services from the unified budgets made available to them by the Executive, which will be increased by an average of 7.6%, more than twice the rate of inflation, in the coming financial year. The Executive is however looking at …

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider creating smaller NHS 24 call centres in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Andy Kerr: On 24 February 2005 the First Ministerannounced that the Executive was establishing a review group to consider the operationalperformance of NHS 24 and to come forward with recommendations for action, includingactions for NHS 24, NHS boards, other partners an…

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the level of community benefit (a) is and (b) should be a factor in considering planning applications for wind farms.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Planning applications must beconsidered on their merits and determined in accordance with the development planunless material considerations indicate otherwise. Benefits, such as community facilitiesor trust funds, can be proposed by a developer or suggested …

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what protocol exists for referral to secondary care chronic pain services from GPs and other health professionals.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There is no national protocol.Information on any local protocols is not held centrally.</p>

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will include the voluntary sector in the provision of pain management services.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive values the contributionof the voluntary sector in many areas of chronic disease management, and encouragesthe NHS to involve support groups in the planning and delivery of services.</p>

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its commitment is to providing training in pain management to all health care professionals.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive supports the effective management of pain for all patients by all clinicians.The Executive recognises that pain management is an integral part of health careand an important part of clinical practice for all health professionals. </p><p…

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of the Steering Group into the Single Seller Survey agreed that the system should be mandatory.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. The decision to move towards the introduction of a mandatory scheme has been made by the Scottish Executive in the light of the progress of the voluntary pilot scheme and our conclusion following discussion with stakeholders that there are no alternative …

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the appraisal and analysis of the research into the 74 single seller surveys included in the pilot study into such surveys.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Yes. A report will be published once the evaluation of the pilot has been completed.</p>

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all lenders have agreed to accept the single seller survey.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On the basis of discussion with the Council of Mortgage Lenders it was expected that during the period of the single survey pilot, its members would accept the single survey valuation in all but exceptional circumstances. Purchasers were encouraged to ask the…

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all 65 single seller surveys conducted in Glasgow were paid for by the seller prior to each property being placed on the market.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. We are aware that the costs of some of the survey reports were met at least initially by selling agents or surveyors.</p>

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the advantages and disadvantages of the single seller survey are, based on research into the 74 cases in the pilot study.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Housing Improvement Task Force identified advantages of a single survey in three areas. Firstly, it will provide home sellers and prospective buyers with better information on property condition, to provide a mechanism to address disrepair in the privatel…

9 Mar 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it plans to make the single survey mandatory, given that there were 74 participants in the pilot study.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The pilot hadtwo aims - to test the ability of the market to deliver the single survey on a voluntarybasis, and to test the concept itself. It is clear from the low take-up that themarket-led approach has not delivered and that the scheme does not provide eno…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation process on fertility treatment will commence.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive consultation on fertility treatment will commence in May 2005.</p>

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers 96p per hour to be a sufficient rate of pay for an on-call paramedic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The use of on-call by the Scottish Ambulance Service in the Highlands and elsewhere in Scotland is an operational matter for that organisation. The rates of pay, including the on-call payment, are negotiated and agreed each year under the service’s partnershi…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports single-manned ambulances being called out to 999 calls.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Where the Scottish Ambulance Service assesses that an area should be served by an accident and emergency unit, then a double crewed unit is what should be provided. There may be circumstances where, for example, a member of staff reports sick at short notice …

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the energy efficiency targets are for each five-year period from 2005 to 2025.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are currentlyno separate energy efficiency targets for Scotland. However,the current review of the Scottish Climate Change programme is considering the possibilityof Scottish energy efficiency targets as part of the development of the proposed energy ef…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are being set for energy efficiency in the building of new homes.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The Scottish building regulations set mandatory standards for energy efficiency in new homes. These cover:</p><p>Thermal ins…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what system of hospital inspection has been used to replace the Scottish Health Advisory Service.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Since January 2003, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has established a Scotland-wide review programme of health services for users of mental health services and for people with learning disabilities. Further, NHS QIS is introducing a mental health f…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals have been inspected since the winding-up of the Scottish Health Advisory Service.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Every health board in Scotland has been reviewed against the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) standards for schizophrenia (for the second time). A Scotland-wide review of services for people with learning disabilities is underway and will be complet…

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the time period and target number of surveys are for the single survey pilot scheme.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The pilot was scheduled to run for eight to 12 months from July 2004. It aimed to test both the single survey concept and whether it would be viable on a voluntary, market-led basis. It was hoped that the market could deliver 1,200 surveys.</p><p>We believe t…

17 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns in respect of ambulance crews who are fatigued being reluctant to sign off work in case urgent ambulance support is required.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The management of staff fatigue within the Scottish Ambulance Service is an operational matter for that organisation.</p><p>The ambulance service is not aware of any occasions when fatigued staff have felt reluctant to sign off work in case urgent ambulance s…

17 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a policy for recalling off-duty ambulance crew to maintain cover during periods of absence caused by staff fatigue.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The management of staff fatigue within the Scottish Ambulance Service is an operational matter for that organisation. Off-duty ambulance crew are recalled to maintain cover during periods of absence caused by staff fatigue only in circumstances where it is as…

17 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a policy for managing staff fatigue in the Scottish Ambulance Service, particularly in the Highlands.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The management of staff fatigue within the Scottish Ambulance Service is an operational matter for that organisation. The Executive would expect the ambulance service to be able to provide safe and appropriate care at all times, in accordance with the clinica…

16 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any proposals to ensure that botox treatment is provided in a safe manner by qualified and experienced staff.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: In Scotland, the National Care Standards for Independent Hospitals were published in March 2002. The National Care Standards for independent specialist clinics, which cover independent clinics providing cosmetic surgery and treatment, lasers and weight manage…

10 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering reviewing and increasing the fees payable to dentists for NHS treatment in order to encourage more dentists to offer an NHS service, particularly to those entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The fees paid to dentists for providing NHS general dental services are increased each year as a result of the recommendations of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB). For 2005-06, the DDRB has recommended an increase of 3.4% in fees and the Governme…

10 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether residential care homes for the elderly can opt not to provide nursing care.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Yes. Care home service providers can choose the type of care they provide - personal care, personal support or nursing care.</p>

3 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate and appropriate provision will be made for mothers with post-natal depression and their children in order to comply with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I opened the Glasgow specialist unit and service in October last year which provides perinatal mental health in-patient and support services to mothers living in the west of Scotland. The facility allows mothers to be accompanied by their babies. Other NHS bo…

3 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient medium secure units will be in place to ensure compliance with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The position remains as set out in the answer to question S2W-10890, on 8 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p><p><a href="http://www.scotti…

27 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why 56.6% of council house sales were completed within 26 weeks in 2003-04 compared to 60.1% in 2002-03 and 67.4% in 2001-02, as referred to in Audit Scotland's report Housing & Social Work - Performance Indicators 2003/04 - Comparing the performance of Scottish councils.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There is no statutory time limit on the overall time from application to a completed sale, however there are statutory time limits on key stages of the process:</p><ul type=disc> <li>Where the landlord is satisfied that a valid application has been received a…

25 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12905 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 January 2005, whether it is satisfied that adequate clinical trials and research have been carried out to ensure that prescribing Ritalin to children under 16 is safe.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) is authorised for use in children aged six years and over for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).</p><p>In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsi…