Nora Radcliffe

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle abuse against health workers.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Plan makes it clear that we are committed to providing a safe working environment for NHS staff. Each trust is already required to implement policies based on risk assessment, aimed at reducing violent incidents in the workplace. To assist…

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has allocated funding for future work by the National Transport Forum for Scotland or its sub-groups.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15739.

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the National Transport Forum for Scotland and its sub-groups and when the forum or its sub-groups will next meet.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The National Transport Forum was established in the very different circumstances of pre-devolution Scotland. The establishment of the Scottish Parliament has significantly increased the level and quality of debate on transport issues of importance to Scotland…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the cost implications of procuring the printing of more documents on recycled paper and, if so, whether it will give details.

Answer · Angus MacKay: It is estimated that the additional cost of paper which would be incurred through producing all Scottish Executive publications on recycled paper would be £300,000.<P>In addition to the increased paper costs there are associated printing costs which have not …

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultation documents have been issued in the last 12 months; how many of these documents were printed on recycled paper, and what the proportion was of recycled paper in each publication.

Answer · Angus MacKay: A total of 134 consultation documents has been issued in the last 12 months. None used recycled paper. The paper used was produced from 100% Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) material which carries an Ecolabel for low emissions during production. The paper origin…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements it specificies regarding the use of recycled paper when procuring printing services for public documents.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Scottish Executive public documents are produced using four types of paper which meet environmental criteria. The selection of paper is determined by the design and print specification of the document or publication, and may be one of the following types:<P>T…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has issued to local authorities on the use of recycled paper for office stationery, publications and documents.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the use of recycled paper. However, we will draw the attention of local authorities to the new Greening Government policy statement adopted by the Scottish Executive.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what voluntary or statutory targets it has set since 1997 on the use of recycled paper by its core and associated departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies, whether these targets were achieved and what future targets have been set.

Answer · Angus MacKay: In 1998 the Scottish Office adopted a target that all of non-specialist paper should contain 75% post-consumer waste by 1 August 1999. Operational problems with some office machinery meant that this target was not met. In 2000-01, 77% of non-specialist paper …

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last issued guidance or directions on the use of recycled paper, both internally and to its core and associated departments, agencies and non-deparmental public bodies.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Greening Government policy, which includes guidance on the use of recycled paper, was launched 18 November 1998. This policy was promoted to staff and placed on the Scottish Executive's website. The Executive is currently finalising revised guidance which…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the usage of recycled materials for office stationery, documents and publications by its core and associated departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies and, if so, how.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive monitors the usage of recycled materials through its existing stationery procurement and service contracts. The Executive does not record the use of recycled materials by other bodies other than where the materials are purchased through…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policies are on enhancing the use of recycled paper for office stationery, publications and documents by its core and associated departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive is committed to a policy of purchasing recycled paper for general use and will carry out a review of options for Scottish Executive publications this year. The Executive is inviting all associated departments, Executive agencies and non…

18 Apr 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what policies are in place to reduce growth in domestic waste.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The National Waste Strategy: Scotland</I> has waste minimisation as one of its key objectives. The strategy includes a target to reduce municipal waste arisings by 1% per annum.<P>The Waste Minimisation Act 1998 gives local authorities powers to make arrangem…

26 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for collating baseline data on the health of the marine environment and radioactivity levels in the Solway Firth and how often this data is updated and reviewed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department commissions Fisheries Research Services (FRS) to conduct routine and specific monitoring around the Scottish coast. One of the 18 Scottish stations in the National Monitoring Programme (NMP) is located off the K…

26 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what ongoing involvement the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has in relation to the environmental monitoring programme conducted by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency into the impact of depleted uranium shells in the Solway Firth.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

26 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether details of the environmental monitoring programme undertaken by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency into the impact of testing depleted uranium shells in the Solway Firth have been made available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and whether such details have be…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

31 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified since 1 July 1999 any areas where the environmental management of its departments and buildings could be improved.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive reviews on a continuous basis the environmental performance of its buildings with a view to making improvements where possible. The Executive is currently reviewing its Statement, made in 1998, which sets out environmental objectives fo…

24 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner issues any guidance or makes any recommendations to the water authorities on appropriate skill levels and knowledge of staff such as chartered engineers.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Water industry Commissioner does not issue guidance or make recommendations to the water authorities on appropriate skill levels and knowledge of staff such as chartered engineers.

10 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work is currently in hand to audit the environmental impact of its policies and programmes.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: In <I>Programme for Government</I>, the Scottish Executive committed itself to implementing Strategic Environmental Assessment of its plans and programmes. Consultants have been commissioned to produce proposals on how this commitment might be delivered.

3 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every pupil in primary education has access to music tuition.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The 5-14 curriculum guidelines on Expressive Arts advise that all pupils in primary and the first two years of secondary school should learn to sing and play instruments within a timetabled class music lesson. In addition, most local councils also provide opp…

21 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Sexual Offenders (Amendment) Act 2000, which comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 8 January 2001, will come into force in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 that relate to Scotland will be brought into force on 8 January 2001 by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 (Commencement No.2) (Scotland) Order 2000.

7 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was made available through the rural transport fund in each year since 1998 and how much is projected to be spent in future financial years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Details of the total funding made available through the Rural Transport Fund from 1998-99 to 2000-01 and the budget for 2001-02 to 2003-04 are set out in the table. The amount available for 2000-01 includes funding carried forward from 1999-2000 to allow paym…

7 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding specifically intended to facilitate public transport related projects, excluding funding made available under the rural transport fund, (a) was made available in each year since 1994 and (b) will be made available in future financial years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Public Transport Fund (PTF) was announced in the Scottish Transport White Paper in 1998 and was specifically created to assist local authorities in providing key value for money developments to their public transport network. Prior to the PTF, public tran…

29 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to co-ordinate expert advice in the promotion of better public health.

Answer · Susan Deacon: On 3 July this year I announced the establishment of the Public Health Institute for Scotland. The Institute will focus and co-ordinate efforts to improve public health. In addition the Chief Medical Officer's Leadership Group on Public Health, formed earlier…

21 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of hearing aids provided by NHS Trusts in Scotland were digital aids in each of the last three years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A range of digital hearing aids have been available through the NHS in Scotland by means of central contracts since June 1999. Digital hearing aid provision currently represents about 0.6% of the total number of aids provided from the contract.<P ALIGN="JUSTI…

20 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that consideration of sustainable development issues is integrated into the policy formulation processes of each of its departments.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: As an Executive, we are committed to integrating sustainable development into all our policies. That's why I established the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland. Chaired by me, it includes three other Ministers and two external members to take forward t…

6 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policies are for supporting the voluntary sector.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive has an ambitious programme to work in partnership with the voluntary sector. We welcome the substantial and growing contribution that the sector makes to Scottish life and we have taken early action to establish the modern legal, financ…

11 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6774 by Susan Deacon on 14 July 2000, whether it will provide a date for publication of the Hepatitis C and Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs report.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I am currently considering the report on <I>Hepatitis C and Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs in the mid 1980s</I> and remain committed to making the findings available to the Health and Community Care Committee as soon as possible.

28 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reform the laws relating to sexual offences in line with the Home Office review, Setting the Boundaries of Law in England and Wales, and what the proposed timetable for any such reforms would be.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no plans for a full-scale review of the law on sex offences in Scotland. Work is already being carried out on certain aspects of the law through <I>Towards a Just Conclusion</I> and by the Millan Committee's review of the Mental Health (Scotland) A…

27 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the dental health of children, in particular those living in deprived areas.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is currently considering a range of further measures which might be taken to improve oral and dental health among children, particularly those living in deprived areas. Further announcements will be made in due course.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"…

27 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance the education of those at risk from heart disease as to what the symptoms of a heart attack are and what action to take as a result of such symptoms.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Some health boards have produced helpful material on coronary heart disease, including information on the symptoms of a heart attack and what action to take. As part of the long-running Heart Campaign in Grampian, the Health Board's Health Promotions Organisa…