Parliamentary questions
Nanette Milne
1,264 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that there was 14 times more speech and language therapy provision for children in the “best” NHS board area that responded than in the “worst” area, how the Scottish…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that over a quarter of managers who responded said that changes in workforce would mean lower standards of service, how the Scottish Government will ensure that there…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that some NHS board managers reported insufficient funding for permanent staff pay, temporary staff, basic equipment, essential communication aids and staff training,…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that five NHS boards were freezing posts or enforcing speech and language therapy post reductions, how the Scottish Government will ensure that there are no further r…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that there were variations in the amount of speech and language therapy provision available per head of population across NHS board areas, how the Scottish Government…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that reductions in funding were resulting in reductions in speech and language therapy services and staff and reducing access to such services in some areas, how the …
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32686 on 15 April 2010. 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/…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that children and adults were waiting up to 10 months for speech and language therapy services in some NHS board areas, how the Scottish Government will ensure that w…
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not set waiting time targets for the Allied Health Professions, including speech and language therapy. Waiting times are variable across Scotland and patients are seen on the basis of clinical need using locally determined criteria…
23 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists between January and February 2009 that showed that services for speech and language therapy service users were worsening in some areas, how the Scottish Government will ensure that NHS boards and local authoritie…
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all patients have appropriate and timeous access to the services they need in NHS Scotland. It is, however, for NHS boards and local authorities to determine the level of service provision required for spe…
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to patients who are waiting for bariatric surgery.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for clinicians and patients to agree, in line with national guidelines and frameworks, the appropriate support required by individuals waiting for bariatric surgery.</p>
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people waiting for bariatric surgery in each NHS board area have (a) type 2 diabetes, (b) high blood pressure and (c) sleep apnoea.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for bariatric surgery in each NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The specific information requested is not available centrally. Procedure information on the Waiting Times database is incomplete. </p> <p >Most bariatric surgery will be undertaken in the specialty of general surgery. Information on the median waiting time f…
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people had bariatric surgery in each NHS board area in 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of bariatric surgery procedures undertaken in 2008-09 by NHS Boards is provided in the following table.</p> <p >NHSScotland: Number Of Bariatric Surgery<sup>+</sup> Procedures Undertaken By NHS Board Of Residence In The Year Ending…
12 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are waiting for bariatric surgery in each NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p> <p >Procedure information on the Waiting Times database is incomplete. ISD Scotland are working with NHS Boards to improve the collection of procedure information.</p>
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in the haulage industry there were in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: Number of jobs in the haulage industry for each year from 1999 is shown in the following table:</p> <p >Number of Employee Jobs</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> …
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the eligibility of contact lens opticians to now instil eye drugs, whether they will be formally recognised as providers of eyecare services and have access to appropriate training to maintain their competence levels.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32294 on 18 March 2010. 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/…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce comprehensive lists of dispensing opticians claiming public money for providing general ophthalmic services.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32294 on 18 March 2010. 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/…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the changes introduced by the Medicines (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 and the Medicines for Human Use (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2009 clarifying the position of dispensing opticians in relation to ordering, supplying and using certain…
Answer · Shona Robison: There are no current plans to amend the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978 to allow for NHS boards to make arrangements with dispensing opticians to provide general ophthalmic services. However, we will keep the position under review.</p>
9 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in businesses involved in the manufacture and rental of sporrans.
Answer · Jim Mather: There is no formal data available on sporran manufacturers and sporran hire outlets. There is a wide range of retail outlets for sporrans including kilt hire and sale shops, tourist shops and on-line trading. On the manufacturing side, there are some larger p…
9 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when will it publish guidance for businesses involved in the manufacture and rental of sgian dubhs following the ban on the carrying of knives over 3.5 inches.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The restriction on carrying of articles with blades or sharp points in a public place originates in the Carrying of Knives etc. (Scotland) Act 1993 and is now contained in section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. There is an excepti…
9 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when will it publish guidance for businesses involved in the manufacture and rental of sporrans following the ban on the use of seal skins.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government are aware that the European Commission implementing regulations on the trade of seal products have still to be agreed by European Union member states. UK legislation implementing the intended EU regulation, which is due to come into fo…
24 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the powers conferred on English and Welsh local authorities by the Clean Neighbourhood and Environments Act 2005 and, if so, how they compare with the equivalent powers of Scottish local authorities.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has looked at some of the provisions of the act in relation to equivalent powers available to Scottish local authorities under other legislation. However, no overall assessment has been made.</p>
24 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the powers available to local authorities in relation to wheelie bins being left permanently on pavements.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has made no assessment of the powers available to local authorities in relation to wheelie bins left permanently on pavements. Local authorities have the power to issue notices and fixed penalties under Section 46 of the Environmental Prot…
24 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review legislation in relation to wheelie bins being left permanently on pavements.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has no plans to review legislation in relation to wheelie bins left permanently on pavements. Local authorities have the power to issue notices and fixed penalties under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) and there has b…
18 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to prepare and publish the annual statement of receipts and expenditure for its allotments required by section 14 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.
Answer · John Swinney: Section 14 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 requires that an annual statement is made available for inspection. It does not formally require the publication of the statement. If a local authority fails to comply with its obligations, it could be liable t…
18 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to cease invoicing its tenants in advance for more than 25% of allotment rents, as provided for in section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950.
Answer · John Swinney: Under section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950, a tenant cannot be required to pay more than 25% of annual rent in advance, unless the rent is £1 or less. However, the legislation does not prevent a local authority from invoicing a tenant for the f…
18 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31590 by John Swinney on 12 February 2010, what powers are available to compel a local authority to comply with its obligation under section 7(5) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 to demolish unauthorised buildings on an allotment.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31821 on 10 March 2010. 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/…
17 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to compel a local authority to comply with its statutory management obligations under section 10(2) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1950 and sections 7(5) and 11 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.
Answer · John Swinney: If a local authority fails to comply with its mandatory obligations regarding management of allotments, it could be liable to legal action if those concerned decide to pursue this to compel the local authority to fulfil those obligations.</p>
17 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority is legally competent to manage its allotments if it has no regulations for that purpose that have been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30799 on 21 January 2010. 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…
10 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs there have been in the oil and gas industry in each year since 1997.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following table reports employment levels in the oil and gas sector in Scotland and Great Britain between 1997 and 2008. The latest data available are for 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=44 rowspan=…
8 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an allotment tenant has a right of appeal against a local authority decision to demolish and remove unauthorised buildings from the allotment.
Answer · John Swinney: Section 7 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 provides that no building other than one of a specified type (such as a tool-house or shed) may be erected on an allotment. It obliges a local authority to pull down any other building. Tenants are given no righ…