Nanette Milne

19 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to the single farm payment national reserve and when these applications will be processed.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There have been 4,230 applications to the single farm payment national reserve. The processing of the applications has started. Where possible, the aim is to inform farmers by 16 May 2005 of the result of their application, where that has an impact on their l…

19 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has made to ensure that membership of the EU Agricultural Subsidies Appeals Panel is as independent as possible and what plans it has to further increase the independence of the panel.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The overall appeals procedure has three separate stages:</p> <p>Stage 1 is an internal three person Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) panel comprising officials who were not involved in the original decision to refuse, reduc…

19 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of satisfaction with the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure on the part of (a) individuals who have gone through the appeals process and (b) the general farming community.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There has been no formal assessment of satisfaction. However, the appeals secretariat gains informal feedback by speaking to appellants who have appeared in person at a review. Most appellants have expressed satisfaction about the thoroughness of the procedur…

19 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of how effectively the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure is operating and what plans it has to improve these procedures.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The EU Agricultural appeals procedure was set up to review decisions in relation to the refusal, recovery and reduction of a producer’s EU subsidy and ensure that my officials reached the correct decision. As with initial decision taking, the procedure is con…

19 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been made by farmers under the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure and, of these, how many have been successful in each year since 1999.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The EU Agricultural subsidies appeals procedure became operational in November 2000. The information requested is set out in the following tables. In stage 2 appeals the external panel make a recommendation to me with findings.</p> <p>Number of Appeals Lodged…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to any concerns raised by pensioners and others who live in rural areas who have less choice in respect of choosing heating systems under the warm deal initiative as a result of not having access to natural gas supplies.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Where available, applicants have the option of either gas, electric oil or solid fuel central heating. Therefore, in areas where gas supplie…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the efficiency of oil-fired central heating systems provided under the warm deal initiative compared to other central heating systems provided under the initiative.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>The technical specification for the central heating programme requires that all new oil-fired boilers installed on the programme have a Seas…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice on future heating bills it offers to pensioners and others considering having oil-fired central heating installed under the warm deal initiative.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Eaga Partnership Ltd, which administers the central heating programme on behalf of the Executive, provides energy advice to all applicants o…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to any concerns that pensioners and others who have had oil-fired central heating installed under the warm deal initiative face higher heating bills than for their previous heating systems.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Heating bills may increase after installation of a new central heating system on the programme, but these increases must be viewed alongside…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the rates of respiratory disease in Scotland compare with other countries in Western Europe.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The prevalence rate in Scotland in2003 was 1,631.9 per 100,000 population. Robust international comparisons arenot available, but more information on rates in Western Europe can be found onthe World Health Organization Health for All database:</p><p><ahref="h…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8209 by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 July 2004, whether the programme to end mixed-sex wards has been completed.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The programme to eliminatemixed-sex accommodation will be complete at the end of May when all wards inthe Royal Edinburgh Hospital comply with Scottish Executive guidance. Infuture, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s clinical governance reviews will checkthat…

30 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all people with asthma fully understand how to use their medication so that they have control over their symptoms.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is now working, with input from Asthma UK Scotland, on a project to develop and promote personal management plans for asthma. The asthma project is being supported by funding from the Scottish Executive and includes training p…

21 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11273 by Mr Andy Kerr on 2 November 2004, how many cases of (a) MRSA and (b) other forms of staphylococcus aureus there have been in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A national mandatory healthcare associated infection surveillance system was introduced in 2001 to monitor MRSA bacteraemias (blood infections). This system also collates other <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> bacteraemias (methicillin-sensitive, or MSSA strains)…

17 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated for free personal care in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has allocated £153 million for 2005-06, £162 million for 2006-07 and £169 million for 2007-08 for free personal care.</p>

17 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why schoolchildren can no longer be placed in hospitals for work experience.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for legislation and guidance concerning the safety of schoolchildren on work experience. There is no guidance that is specific to the NHS. Schoolchildren continue to be eligible for work experience placements in …

15 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many health inspection nurses have been employed in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The term health inspection nurse is not recognised and hence this information is not held centrally.</p>

15 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adults and (b) children have been registered with a dentist in each year since 1985.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Prior to 1 October 1990 patients did not register with a dentist under NHS arrangements. Registration data is therefore not available from 1985 to 1991. The first year for which complete registration data exist is the year ending March 1992.</p> <p>Prior to S…

15 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when guidance on infection control standards in adult care homes will be published.

Answer · Andy Kerr: These standards were published on 14 March. Copies are available through the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35891) or on the internet at:</p> <p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/icach-00.asp">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/h…

11 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that victims of crimes such as vandalism, theft and breach of the peace will not consider themselves best served by the justice system if those accused and convicted of these crimes are issued with fixed penalty notices rather than summoned to court.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No person convicted of a crime will be offered a fixed penalty notice. We consider that fixed penalty notices, correctly and appropriately used, are an important part of a modern criminal justice system. They offer a quick, proportionate and effective respons…

11 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether only having sheriffs on the bench will enhance the link between the lay bench and the local community.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are not taking forward proposals that will lead to there only being Sheriffs on the bench. On 22 March we published <i>Smarter Justice, Safer Communities: Summary Justice Reform – Next Steps</i>. This sets out our intention to invest in the recruitment, tr…

11 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the introduction of summary sheriffs to deal with a wider range of summary cases as recommended in the McInnes report.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to S2W-15212 on 24 March 2005. 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/webapp/wa.search…

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations took place in the NHS in each year since 1991.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Operations are carried out within NHSScotland in a wide range of settings dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the operation and the clinical and personal needs of the patient. Complete information on the range of operations performed …

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will offer to the Scottish Diabetes Group to follow up the recommendation in Diabetes in Scotland: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities to collaborate with renal medicine specialists to clarify best practice in the referral process for patients whose kidney functio…

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the question S2W-14748 answered on 8 March 2005. 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/webapp/wa…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will issue to NHS boards to ensure that patients in danger of developing diabetes-related complications are timeously referred for appropriate specialist treatment.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has a role in ensuring that guidance, once agreed, is implemented but does not set guidance itself. The main source of guidance in Scotland is NHS Quality Improvement Scotland which also has responsibility for the Scottish Inter-Collegi…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in respect of those NHS boards who, according to the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report, Diabetes National Overview – March 2004, have not met essential criteria in the clinical management of diabetes.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Diabetes National Overview report concluded that the care of people with diabetes in Scotland is generally of a very high quality. It offered NHS boards constructive feedback on the strengths of their clinical management of diabetes and also highlighted a…

1 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been receiving kidney dialysis treatment for loss of renal function as a complication of diabetes in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table provides information on the number of patients with diabetic nephropathy who received dialysis during the years 1999 to 2003, broken down by health board. The data presented in the table reflect the number of patients registered at 31 Dece…

28 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there have been on the A90 north of Aberdeen on the single carriageway stretch between Tipperty and Balmedie in each year since 1999, broken down into fatalities and non-fatalities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of road accidents that have occurred on the A90 north of Aberdeen on the single carriageway stretch between Tipperty and Balmedie in each year since 1999 (from January 1999 to October 2004), broken down by level of severity, is as follows: </p><tab…

19 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to my question S2W-12743, lodged on 1 December 2004.

17 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults were reported against police officers in each year from 1994 to 2004, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is shown in the following table.</p><p>Total Number of Assaults on Police Officers</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Force</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Central</p> </td> <td> <p …

17 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers of the Tayside force were assigned to the functions (a) uniformed, (b) mobile support, (c) CID, (d) drugs and (e) headquarters in each year from 1994 to 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Tayside Police.</p>