Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set any visual distance threshold from houses in relation to wind farm applications and, if so, what the threshold is.
Answer · Johann Lamont: No specific thresholds have been set since impacts will vary from proposal to proposal depending on the siting, layout and size of wind farms in relation to local land form and landscape characteristics. Advice on addressing potential disturbances, such as no…
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set regional targets for wind farm applications as a local contribution to national targets.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have no plans to set regional targets for wind farm applications. We have however established an environmental advisory forum for renewable energy which will provide advice on the land use planning and locational aspects of renewable energy.</p>
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how excluded NHS staff can maintain their clinical skills.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There are currently no procedures in place for all suspended or excluded NHS staff to maintain their clinical skills. However, NHS employers use Scottish Executive guidance as well as the Partnership Information Network guidelines on management of employee ca…
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended length of time is for an initial investigation into allegations of staff misconduct in the NHS.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The PIN Guideline <i>Management of Employee Conduct</i> provides information on conducting an investigation but does not indicate any timescale. It does however advise that the investigation should be carried out promptly to establish the relevant facts and s…
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the care management of an excluded member of NHS staff includes support to ensure that their psychological well-being is being addressed.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I would expect the NHS employer to maintain contact with the employee throughout any investigation or disciplinary process and if it was felt necessary to refer the employee to the occupational health service. However, it is thought that most employees would …
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS staff are suspended from work for over (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) one year and (d) two years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional cost was to the NHS to cover costs incurred on staff cover to replace excluded staff, including salary costs, management time and legal costs, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical staff are excluded from work or have restrictions placed on their activities (a) due to concerns about patient safety and (b) where allegations of misconduct have been made.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not collected centrally.</p>
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken against NHS staff members who make malicious and unfounded allegations against other staff in order to dissuade them from making future allegations.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is matter for the individual employer on a case-by-case basis. The PIN Guideline <i>Management of Employee Conduct</i> sets out a framework for management of employee conduct and provides a model policy and information on conducting an investigation and …
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that investigations into the suspension of NHS staff are conducted in an impartial and timeous manner to reduce costs to the NHS and to the health of the individuals and their families.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The PIN Guideline <i>Management of Employee Conduct</i> sets out a framework for management of employee conduct and provides model policy and information on conducting an investigation and conducting a disciplinary hearing. This can be seen at <a href="http:/…
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS staff have been suspended as a result of (a) patients' complaints, and (b) complaints from other members of staff in each of the last five years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not currently held centrally. However, information on the number of disciplinary hearings and grievances that result in an action and result in no action is being collected for the first time as at 30 September 2004 using the Staff Governa…
16 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to manage staff suspensions effectively in order to reduce the cost to the NHS, the individuals and their families.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The PIN Guideline <i>Management of Employee Conduct</i> sets out a framework for management of employee conduct and provides model policy and information on conducting an investigation and conducting a disciplinary hearing. This can be seen at:</p><p><a href=…
8 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Highland Council can comply with the provisions in The same as you? as they affect resettlement plans for patients in the New Craigs Learning Disability Hospital, Inverness, in light of reductions in supporting people funding.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We expect NHS Highland and the local authority to find solutions consistent with the principles set out in <i>The same as you?</i> and the resources available. </p><p>In May 2000 health boards and local authorities were advised to plan to close all remaining …
8 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) reoffending and (b) reconviction rate is after release from prison after (i) six months, (ii) one year and (iii) two years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information available centrally relates to reconvictions only. The latest figures on reconviction rates, which are for the cohort of offenders discharged from custody in 1999, are given in the table.</p><p>Persons Discharged from Custody in 1999, Scotland…
8 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 have been prescribed Ritalin in each of the last seven years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Prescription data collected centrally do not relate to the number of patients receiving treatment but to the numbers and cost of prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.</p><p>These data cannot be used as a …
6 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that GPs manage chronic pain patients adequately.
Answer · Andy Kerr: he new General Medical Services (GMS) contract came into effect on 1 April 2004.It requires GPs to provide medical services for their patients and specifies theon-going treatment and management of chronic illnesses. Chronic pain managementforms an important p…
6 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the number of (a) pain specialists, (b) pain clinics and (c) multi-disciplinary care centres.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive adopts an integrated approach to workforce planning and developmentat local, regional and national levels rather than singling out individual specialisms. We are committed to increasing the capacity of the NHSScotland workforce in specific speci…
6 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the competitive tendering process for ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne is compulsory under EU regulation.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: At the Transport debate on 8 December 2004, the Scottish Parliament expressed concerns regarding the tendering process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. Ministers agreed to discuss these concerns with the European Commission.I raised this issue with …
2 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a Scotland-wide assessment of transmission improvements to facilitate the strategic development of renewable energy.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Transmission issues, other than consents, are reserved. However, the Executive discusses network infrastructure in relation to the UK renewables targets with all of the transmission companies through the aegis of the Transmission Issues Working Group (TIW…
2 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a Scotland-wide assessment of renewable potential, taking into account the need to avoid damage to sensitive environmental areas.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This assessment has already been undertaken. <i>Scotland’s Renewable Resource 2001</i>, undertaken by Garrad Hassan on our behalf, identified a potential total renewables resource of 59.1 gigawatts of capacity, all of which was available outwith existing envi…
1 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an enhanced service for drug users will be available from all GPs across Scotland under the terms of the new contract.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is for NHS boards to decide how best to provide enhanced services, such as treatment for drug misusers, in their area, taking account of local need. The new General Medical Services contract is underpinned by a patient service guarantee to ensure that pati…
1 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding would have to be allocated from Scottish Water's budget to address all known development constraints if water customers were to cover the entire cost of addressing such development constraints through water charges.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in paragraph 4.11 of <i>Investing in Water Services 2006-2014</i>, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33325). All MSPs received a personal copy of this document and the accompanyin…
1 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the allocation within Scottish Water's investment programme for easing constraints on new housing and assisting with first-time connections to existing housing has been committed and how much has been spent.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to write to you about this matter.</p>
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the register of children born as a result of donor treatment will be kept, given that after April 2005 such children can contact the donor when they reach the age of 18.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Since August 1991, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has been required by law to maintain a register which contains information obtained by the Authority that falls within three classes:</p><ul type=disc> <li>Information which relates to…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation in Scotland will provide information to sperm and egg donors and to recipients of donated gametes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12672, answered on 13 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient facilities to collect and store sperm in each NHS centre currently offering fertility services.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for individual NHS boards who provide this service. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether sperm can be imported from other EU countries after April 2005.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Sperm can continue to be imported from other EU countries after April 2005. These imports will be in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Disclosure of Donor Information) Regulations 2004, which allow children conceived from sperm…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of sperm used for fertility purposes is imported from (a) England, (b) other EU countries and (c) other countries.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise awareness of sperm donation and recruit sperm donors, given that anonymity for sperm and egg donors will be removed in April 2005.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12672, answered on 13 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the number of sperm donors for fertility purposes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive already provides grant assistance to CHILD – Infertility Network Scotland. CHILD aims to help those affected by fertility problems through the provision of information and counselling, liaising with health professionals to promote best practice,…