Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a fiscal fine has ever been offered for the offence of assault where a weapon has been used.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Fiscal fines have been offered in cases involving weapons, but from analysis of cases in the financial year 2002-03 it is clear that fiscal fines were only offered in a very small number of such cases. While procurators fiscal received reports containing 3,18…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of offence attract fiscal fine disposal.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Procurators fiscal are issued with confidential guidelines regarding the use of fiscal fines as an alternative to prosecution. In general the Procurator Fiscal must first be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to justify prosecution and that a prosecu…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fiscal fines were offered in 2003-04.
Answer · Colin Boyd: In the year 2003-04 a total of 42,361 fiscal fines were offered.</p>
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all people employed in the waged and unwaged sector who are subject to a Disclosure Scotland check have an obligation to notify their employers of all offences committed, included those which resulted in a fiscal fine.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There is no general statutory requirement which would oblige individuals to notify their employers of offences or fiscal fines. A Disclosure Scotland check at the enhanced level will show any convictions, whether spent or unspent, and may show fiscal fines wh…
26 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Disclosure Scotland is made of aware of all crimes committed that resulted in a fiscal fine.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland would only be made aware of crimes which resulted in a fiscal fine in particular cases in which it was relevant to an application for an enhanced disclosure. The Scottish Criminal Record Office, which searches central records in response t…
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which patient groups are entitled to free chiropody and podiatry care and treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards. The issue of access to NHS chiropody services is a matter for clinical decision in the light of the health needs of individual patients.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how patients can have access to podiatric services if they are unable to pay the full cost of treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The planning and provision of NHS podiatry services is a matter for NHS boards. As part of NHS service provision there is no charge to patients for NHS podiatry services.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to Professor James McEwen’s review of the provision of chronic pain services.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I wrote to the Convener of the Health Committee on 26 November 2004, enclosing a copy of Professor McEwen’s report and setting out the Executive’s response. The letter was copied to the member in her capacity as Convener of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pa…
24 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the availability and nature of counselling services in each NHS board area will be examined as part of its review of the overall provision of NHS-funded infertility treatment.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is mandatory under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 that couples undergoing assisted conception treatments regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), as provided in the four Scottish infertility tertiary referral c…
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate action it will take to decrease levels of infertility.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There are many factors contributing to fertility issues for couples. These can include medical disorders and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and obesity and sexually transmitted infections, which may lower fertility levels in both men and women. The S…
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to monitor and reduce waiting times for NHS-funded infertility treatment between the point of diagnosis and the beginning of the first cycle of treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12419, answered on 6 December 2004. 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.parliamen…
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that women approaching the upper age limit for NHS-funded infertility treatment are not excluded from treatment due to the length of waiting times.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Infertility treatment is not covered by a waiting time guarantee, therefore the management of waiting times for infertility treatment is a matter for NHS boards.</p>
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it received from the 2003 consensus conference on the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health regarding the length of waiting times for NHS-funded infertility treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: At its 2003 consensus conference The Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health made no recommendations regarding the length of waiting times for accessing NHS infertility services.</p>
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it received from the 2003 consensus conference on the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health regarding the upper age limit for female access to NHS-funded infertility treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: At its 2003 consensus conference The Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health recommended that the upper age limit for accessing NHS-funded infertility treatment should be 41.</p>
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the upper age limit for women to access NHS-funded infertility treatment will be revised and, if so, whether that age limit will be set at the point of treatment rather than at the point of diagnosis.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is currently reviewing infertility services in Scotland.</p>
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the clinical criteria for NHS-funded infertility treatment will be reviewed and whether any such review will be subject to public consultation.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is currently reviewing infertility services in Scotland.</p>
19 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the comprehensive internal examination of procedure and policy for Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff in respect of death will be published.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is currently undertaking a detailed internal review of the guidance provided to procurators fiscal in relation to the investigation of deaths.</p><p>It is anticipated that the review will be completed by …
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how funeral directors are advised of bodies with infectious diseases in order to ensure safety and fulfil their duty of care to employees.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This issue primarily relates to occupational health and safety, which is a reserved matter. However, the Health Services Advisory Committee, which reports to the Health and Safety Commission, in 2003 published guidance <i>Safe Working and the Prevention of In…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a 50% reduction in mercury emissions from crematoria in Scotland are likely to be achieved.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive, in conjunction with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government, have recently consulted on a proposal that 50% of all cremations throughout Great Britain should be subject to mercury ab…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the effect of mercury emissions in Scotland and what action it is taking to meet the target of a 50% overall reduction in such emissions.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Research was carried out in 2001 under the UK Air Quality Research Programme, on behalf of the Scottish Executive and other UK Administrations, on atmospheric mercury and monitoring of pollutants, including mercury, around industrial sites across the UK. As f…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many podiatric surgeons are currently employed on a full-time basis by the NHS.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Currently orthopaedic surgeons provide foot surgery in NHSScotland and there are no podiatric surgeons employed on a full-time basis at present.</p><p>However, an MSc in podiatric surgery has recently been introduced run jointly by Glasgow Caledonian Universi…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation will require to be paid to Skye Bridge Ltd when tolls are abolished on 31 December 2004.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is committed to ending the discredited tolling regime on Skye Bridge and has entered negotiations with Skye Bridge Ltd. These negotiations are commercially confidential, and any further comment would be inappropriate at this time.</p>
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Skye Bridge debt will be paid off on the basis of current toll charges and traffic levels.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-2090, answered on 10 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.par…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas are being considered for designation as national parks in the next 10 years.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are committed to managing and protecting Scotland’s most valuable natural assets. Section 2(2) of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 sets out the conditions that must apply before any area can be considered for designation as a National Park. Scotland’…
18 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage energy-efficient measures in new-build homes.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Current building regulations for new-build homes require some of the most demanding thermal insulation standards for new building work in the UK. After the introduction of the new building standards system in 2005, a further review of energy standards will be…
11 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct a review of changes in real and relative house prices.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of its Review of Affordable Housing, the Executive conducted an analysis of the Scottish housing market. This analysis included a review of the evidence on house price trends and was published on the Executive’s website on 7 July 2004. </p><p>The rele…
10 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Scottish Water are aware of local housing strategies so that appropriate investment in water and sewerage are included in future investment plans.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Water is a statutory consultee on planning strategies, is involved in the process and makes its representations known to local authorities. It is already involved in a number of Community Planning Partnerships and wrote recently to all Scottish local…
10 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities underspent their housing expenditure programmes in respect of the (a) New Housing Partnership programme, (b) Rough Sleepers Initiative and (c) Empty Homes Initiative.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on each of the programmes is set out.</p><p>New Housing Partnership programme</p><p>With the exception of Angus Council, all local authorities participated in the programme. Of these 31 authorities, all but Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire and Orkney …
10 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the number of households being taken out of fuel poverty by energy efficiency measures.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has devoted £55 million to the Warm Deal which has so far insulated over 200,000 homes, and £116 million to the central heating programme which has provided central heating systems to over 43,000 homes so far.</p><p>All social sector houses wher…
8 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place prior to the Minister for Communities calling on energy suppliers to cap annual bills at a maximum of £550 a year for elderly people on pension credit.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We discussed the social tariff with Age Concern Scotland, Citizen’s Advice Scotland, Energy Action Scotland, energywatch and Help the Aged Scotland.</p>