Trish Godman

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the practice of informal patient transfers from general practitioner lists.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: None. Movement of patients from the patient list of a general practitioner to that of another general practitioner is governed by statutory arrangements. Patients who wish to take advantage of general medical services under the National Health Service should …

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal patient transfers from general practitioner lists there were in each of the past three years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. On behalf of Island NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts, the Practitioner Services Division of the Common Services Agency prepares and maintains lists of the patients for whose treatment each general practitione…

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any proposals to extend eligibility under the Central Heating Installation Programme to householders in receipt of the Disability Living Allowance.

Answer · Iain Gray: We have said that if resources became available we will consider which other vulnerable groups should benefit from the programme.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to extend eligibility for free school meals and clothing grants to claimants of the Disability Living Allowance.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have no such plans.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the Strategic Rail Authority concerning overcrowding on ScotRail services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues including overcrowding on ScotRail services.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) residential and (b) nursing care homes were (i) opened and (ii) closed in the Renfrewshire local authority area in each of the last three years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the Renfrewshire local authority area, (a) (i) two Residential Care Homes opened in 1999; and (ii) one home closed in 2001. (b) Information on openings and closures of Nursing Care Homes is not held centrally.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde local authority areas waited more than 15 weeks to see a hospital consultant in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on waiting times is compiled centrally from data provided by hospitals and NHS trusts.<P>In the years ending 30 September 2000 and 30 September 2001, the number of NHS Argyll and Clyde residents who waited longer than 15 weeks for a first outpatie…

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation is responsible for dredging the River Clyde and what charges are levied by that organisation on users of the river.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Clydeport, as harbour authority, has powers to dredge the River Clyde within the areas of its jurisdiction under the Clyde Port Authority Confirmation Act 1965. Clydeport may also charge under that act for any services or facilities it provides.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether toll bridge charges can be paid in euros.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Authorities at the four tolled bridges in Scotland are under no obligation to accept euros, or any other foreign currency, as payment for toll charges. However, I understand that euros have been accepted at Erskine, Skye and the Forth Road Bridges in exceptio…

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been received from toll charges on the Erskine Bridge in each year since its construction.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information is set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=132><TR><TD WIDTH="57%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Year</FONT></TD><TD WIDTH="43%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Ar…

29 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was spent by the NHS on hiring private sector nurses, midwives and health visitors in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The term "hiring private sector nurses, midwives and health visitors" has been taken to mean the cost of using agency nurses in NHSScotland. In 2000-01 the cost of agency nurses was £19,028,372. Information for 1999-2000 is not available.

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the recycling of waste over the next 10 years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No targets for the recycling of waste have been set to date. The introduction of targets will be informed by the findings of the Area Waste Plans currently being developed as part of the National Waste Strategy. This will ensure that the Best Practicable Envi…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are issued to local authorities concerning the siting of waste incinerators.

Answer · Iain Gray: Current guidance to planning authorities on the siting of incinerators is contained in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 10: <I>Planning and Waste Management.</I> A copy of NPPG 10 is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 1084).<…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce bed blocking in (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Scotland as a whole.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On 9 January 2002, we announced a £20 million package for local authorities and NHSScotland to make a significant reduction in the number of patients experiencing delayed discharge from hospitals across Scotland. This is over and above the recurring £10 milli…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase funding for (a) children's hospices and (b) hospices.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The responsibility for funding palliative care and respite care lies with NHS boards and local authorities. The Executive provides some core funding for voluntary organisations which run hospices. We have no plans to change existing arrangements. <P>However, …

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many telecommunications masts have been constructed in (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Scotland in each of the last three years.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is not held centrally.<P>You may be interested to know that the Radiocommunications Agency have a "sitefinder" facility through which information on individual sites can be obtained. It is accessed via the internet at <A HREF="http:/…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from Railtrack in respect of the infrastructure improvement programme for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde over the next four years.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack on a wide range of issues. Infrastructure improvement works, including essential maintenance works currently under way, are the responsibility of Railtrack and subject to regulation by HM Railways In…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has funded any research projects that aim to assess the effectiveness of free distribution of smoke alarms as a way of reducing fire fatalities and injuries related to household fires.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive has not funded any such research projects but smoke alarm ownership in Scotland is relatively high with 88% of dwellings having smoke alarms. However, we have recently undertaken a comprehensive advertising campaign to further raise peo…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are issued to fire brigades concerning the installation of smoke alarms in their regions.

Answer · Richard Simpson: From time to time the Scottish Executive issues information to fire brigades about smoke alarms. The most recent was in November 2000 and advised brigades about a revised British Standard specification for smoke alarms. The Scottish Executive and the Scottish…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been given to fire brigades concerning the provision of free smoke alarms to households in their regions.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive has not issued guidance to fire brigades. However, the Scottish Executive and all fire brigades strongly encourage the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms. Advice is offered to the public by all brigades through their Community…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of rape were reported in 2000; how many of these led to charges being laid against the alleged perpetrators; how many led to convictions, and what the average sentence was.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There were 562 crimes of rape recorded by the police in 2000. Fifty persons were proceeded against in 2000 where rape was the main offence involved, of which 27 had a charge proved. The average sentence, where a custodial sentence was given, was six and a hal…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20074 by Allan Wilson on 7 January 2002, what recent applications have been received from Renfrewshire Council concerning the implementation of flood prevention measures.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No further approaches have been made by Renfrewshire Council to the Scottish Executive in connection with flood prevention measures, since the answer given to question S1W-20074 on 7 January 2002.<P>However, I am fully aware of the concerns regarding flood ri…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21023 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 January 2002, what discussions have taken place with the appropriate legal authorities concerning the appointment of suitably qualified women lawyers to the positions of (a) sheriff and (b) Judge of the Supreme Court.

Answer · Jim Wallace: None. It will be for the independent Judicial Appointments Board to consider ways of encouraging more applications for judicial appointments from women and other under-represented groups. The board membership is being recruited now and I expect it to be opera…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18817 by Angus MacKay on 16 October 2001, whether the programme of Urban 2 funding to Port Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire has now been approved and when implementation will commence.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I am pleased to confirm that the programme was approved by the European Commission on 11 December 2001. Preparatory work by the Scottish Executive and local partners continues. I expect to appoint the Programme Monitoring Committee soon so that implementation…

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to remove the toll charges from the Erskine Bridge while the Clyde Tunnel is being repaired in January 2002.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None. A contraflow system will operate on the northbound Clyde tunnel during repairs to the south bound tunnel.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of (a) sheriffs and (b) judges is and how many of each are women.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are currently 133 sheriffs, of whom 20 are female. Of the 32 Judges of the Supreme Courts, three are female.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether children are given protection under the terms of the Human Rights Act 1998 in court proceedings concerning access and custody arrangements.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Human Rights Act 1998 covers all court proceedings in Scotland, and children are therefore protected by the rights it confers. This includes the court procedures involved in actions for residence and contact under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are given to sheriffs on children's rights in divorce settlements in the context of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Sheriffs have a general statutory duty to take decisions in divorce cases which are in the best interests of the children concerned. Training in relevant aspects of the Human Rights Act 1998 has been provided to sheriffs by the independent Judicial Studies Co…

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to create a system of family courts.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans currently to create a system of family courts although court procedures do make special provision for the management of family actions.

4 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the total spending on Scottish schools by (a) it, (b) local authorities, (c) Her Majesty's Government and (d) any other sources in each of the past two years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Planned direct expenditure on school education by the Scottish Executive totalled £141 million in 2000-01 (including a planned carry forward of £59 million as part of the funding package for the teachers' pay settlement) and is planned to be £131 million in 2…