Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13299 by Rhona Brankin on 19 January 2005, how alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation programmes are audited to determine funding allocations at both local and national levels on the basis of outcomes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Local alcohol action teams provide details of services within their respective areas within a Corporate Action Plan submitted annually to the Executive. There is currently no national system in place to audit alcohol services in Scotland.</p><p>National fundi…
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase the number of speech and language therapists in order to provide the appropriate treatment and support as required by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has allocated funding of £3 million in 2004-05 and in 2005-06 to NHS boards to assist with the preparation for NHS obligations under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland)Act 2004. All NHS boards have been asked to d…
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient speech and language therapists to meet the level of demand.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is for local health systems, in partnership with local authorities, to determine local needs. However, in the period 1999-2004, there has been an 18.9% growth in the number of speech and language therapists in NHSScotland. The Scottish Executive is also co…
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how speech, language or communication impairment is identified in children under five.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is the responsibility of local health systems and local authorities to work in partnership to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place for the identification of children with communication impairment.</p><p>Health visitors, speech and language thera…
18 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the claim by Homes for Scotland that less than 50% of the land currently approved for new housing can be developed due to lack of investment by Scottish Water, what action the Executive will take to address this issue.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The issue of constraints on new development was addressed in the Executive’s recent consultation <i>Investing in Water Services 2006-2014</i> (Bib. number 33325), and it will be addressed in the next investment programme commencing in April 2006. A Ministeria…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the term "public benefit" in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill can be interpreted more broadly than as a material benefit and whether the benefit can be spiritual or moral.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is well-established in existing charity case law that public benefit can mean spiritual and moral benefit rather than merely material benefit and the Executive intends this to continue under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland)Bill.</p>
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all new doctors from other countries are placed in overseen appointments for an appropriate period prior to practising independently to ensure that they are fully aware of all NHS protocols, procedures and administrative requirements.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Any doctor wishing to work in Scotland or the rest of the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council. Qualifications, skill, and experience will dictate whether the doctor is eligible for full or limited registration. All doctors with limited regi…
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to Highland Council to assist with the maintenance of all bridges in its area.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Funding for local roads and bridges forms part of the general Local Government Finance settlement. As part of this Highland Council will receive above inflation increases in revenue support of £18.8 million (5.3%), £19.5 million (5.2%) and £10.9 million (2.8%…
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given to clinical (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists on diagnosing autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Through the implementation of the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report, the ASD Reference Group’s diagnostic subgroup is currently considering a range of training opportunities to improve autistic spectrum …
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the needs of (a) children and (b) adults with autistic spectrum disorders who have gastrointestinal disorders.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is recognised that gastrointestinal disorders are amongst the health concerns of people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Three strands of activity addressing this are: a conference on medical interventions; a draft quality standard for ASD diagnosis…
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is to be offered to Inverness Airport to address issues relating to the PFI contract.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) has recently undertaken a full review of the PFI contract at Inverness Airport Terminal and the impact of a buy-out on the airport and the wider economy. With the support of the Executive, HIAL is now seeking to s…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Naloxone is now being offered to heroin addicts as an alternative to methadone.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Naloxone, primarily used as an antidote in opioid overdose rather than an alternative maintenance therapy, is currently only available to appropriate practitioners and paramedics. The Executive will follow the recommendations from the current consultation by …
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the quality and consistency of treatment intervention for drug addiction.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is implementingthe full range of actions to improve service quality and consistency outlined inthe Review of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services Summary, published in October2004. </p><p>In the last four years the Executive’sEffe…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it can ensure that current and future investment for drug treatment gets to frontline services and leads to successful outcomes.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Corporate Action Plans form the annual accountability framework between the Scottish Executive and Drug Action Teams (DATs). In these, DATs are currently expected to account fully for all drug treatment and rehabilitation funding allocations, including unders…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient crisis and respite beds for drug users to access treatment programmes.
Answer · Hugh Henry: As set out in the National Strategy, <i>Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership</i>, it is for local drug action teams and constituent partners to plan and deliver the full range of drug treatment and care services in line with identified need and l…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the growth in cocaine and crack use.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Drug Action Teams and their localpartners assess the level of need in their areas and have to ensure that the treatmentneeds of their local drug using population are met. Guidance on the developmentof service provision for psychostimulant users, including coc…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the new GP contract will have if GPs choose not to offer an enhanced service for drug users.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are under a duty to provide primary medical services for the patients in their area and free to commission enhanced services, such as the treatment of patients suffering from drug misuse, from those providers which they consider most appropriate to…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for drug treatment in each NHS board area.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Average waiting times are not regarded as a particularly effective measure of the availability and efficiency of drugs services.</p><p>The national framework collects information on the length of wait that clients exper…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people live an alcohol-free lifestyle (a) eight and (b) 16 months following alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation programmes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on the percentage of people living an alcohol–free lifestyle following alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation programmes is not held centrally.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how (a) mental health problems, (b) physical health problems, (c) homelessness, (d) unemployment and (e) social and financial problems are addressed, where appropriate, during treatment and rehabilitation interventions for drug misuse.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Decisions on treatment interventionsand options for addressing other needs are for individual patients and their medicaland social care professionals. </p><p>The evidence shows that the keyto addressing the multiple problems experienced by many drug misusers …
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the building of the Fochabers bypass will commence.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The report of the Public Local Inquiry into the A96(T) Fochabers Mosstodloch Bypass is currently under consideration. Every effort is being made to reach an early decision on whether or not the scheme should proceed.</p>
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure when it has met its Closing the Opportunity Gap target H to "by 2008, improve service delivery in rural areas so that agreed improvements to accessibility and quality are achieved for key services in remote and disadvantaged areas".
Answer · Ross Finnie: For target H, the Executive isworking with an Advisory Group of representatives from key delivery agencies andrural communities to agree the rural areas to be targeted, to consult with localcommunities to identify the key services to be improved, and, later i…
23 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12168 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 December 2004, what the underspend from 1997 to 2004 was in respect of the Empty Homes Initiative for each of the 20 local authorities referred to.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The underspends over the period 1997-2004 are set out in the table below. Throughout the life of the Empty Homes Initiative (EHI), underspends were re-allocated to other authorities which were able to use additional resources. Taking account of these re-alloc…
23 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12168 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 December 2004, what the underspend was in respect of the Rough Sleepers Initiative for each of the 11 local authorities referred to.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The underspends over the period 1997-2002 are set out in the following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Local Authority</p> </td> <td> <p>Underspend (£)</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td> <p>Angus</p…
23 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12168 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 December 2004, what the underspend was in respect of the New Housing Partnership Programme for each of the 28 local authorities referred to.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table sets out the underspends incurred in each of the financial years from 1998 to 2004. The figures in the table are not cumulative. Allocations have been determined on an annual basis taking into account the outturn in previous years and the …
22 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage local authorities to plan for home zones to address the interests of pedestrians and cyclists.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive issued guidance on implementing home zones to local authorities in 2002. The guidance lists several aims for home zone schemes, including to improve provision for pedestrians and cyclists. It also states that although home zones are not anti-car…
22 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider including infertility treatment in the waiting times guarantee, given the implications of the exclusion of women from such treatment at the age of 38.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have no plans to include infertility treatment in the waiting times guarantee at this time.</p>
22 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12415 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2004, whether the review of infertility services will be subject to public consultation.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Any changes to the current access criteria for NHS funded infertility treatment will be subject to public consultation.</p>
22 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12417 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2004, whether it will implement the recommendation of the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health (SPCERH) that the upper age limit for accessing NHS-funded infertility treatment should…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are currently considering a number of issues related to accessing infertility services, including the recommendations from SPCERH. If any changes are proposed we will ensure full public consultation.</p>
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will promote a criteria-based or map-based approach to onshore wind farm planning policy.
Answer · Johann Lamont: <i>National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 6: Renewable Energy Developments</i> (Bib. number 18113) already asks councils to use their development plans to either define areas considered suitable for wind farms or else to set out criteria to guide the locat…