Parliamentary questions

Pauline McNeill

2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Common Service Agency's National Services Division is satisfied that plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow will result in higher quality provision of paediatric cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: National Services Division (NSD)submitted a response to Greater Glasgow NHS Board on the proposals set out in "ModernisingMaternity Services". NSD would be involved in thedetailed planning and implementation of any reconfiguration of national…

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors will be taken into account when considering whether there should be a third accident and emergency service in Greater Glasgow as a result of the acute services review.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8366 on 15 June 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.parliament.uk/web…

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review the decision on the provision of accident and emergency services in Greater Glasgow.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: During the debate on the Acute Services Review (Glasgow) on 12 September 2002, I supported a commitment from Greater Glasgow NHS Board that a review of the accident and emergency services would take place in two years time involving staff, patient and commun…

11 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it now proposes to take in light of Lord Bonomy's judgment in the Napier case.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Scotland has unacceptably high rates of imprisonment andreoffending. As part of our reform of the criminal justice system we aredetermined to reduce reoffending and invest to modernise the prison estate.This will reduce overcrowding and improve conditions in …

21 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for consideration of NHS Greater Glasgow's recommendation to close the Queen Mother's Hospital in Glasgow.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have justreceived the report from NHS Greater Glasgow setting out the outcome of public consultationon maternity services and the recommendations agreed by the NHS board at its meetingon 20 April. I intend to give this report careful consideration before co…

12 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Summary Justice Review Committee will be published.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am pleased to announcethat the report of the Summary Justice Review Committee will be publishedtoday.I am most grateful to thechair and members of the Summary Justice Review Committee for their thoroughand detailed report. Before the Executive decide…

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail, following appeal in the High Court, have been convicted in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isnot held centrally.

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail have been convicted in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information iscontained in the research report Offending on bail: an analysis of the useand the impact of aggravated sentences for bail offenders which waspublished on 17 March 2004.

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail, following appeal in the High Court, have been charged with further offences in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isnot held centrally.

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons released on bail have been charged with further offences in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is notavailable centrally.

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals, lodged by the defence in the High Court, have been upheld in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table:Successful(1) Appeals by Accused Persons Against Conviction or Sentence, 2000-2002<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Year </td> …

5 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Crown appeals on bail have been upheld by the High Court in each year since 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table:Crown Appeals on Bail<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td rowspan=2> Period </td> <td colspan=2> Crown appeal petition </td> …

3 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin consulting on proposals for the introduction of a national off-peak bus scheme as part of its commitment to concessionary travel.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S20-1188 on 29 January 2004which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the quality of training for surgeons as a result of the European Working Time Directive.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The UK policy of Modernising Medical Careers was agreed inFebruary 2003. It will create more effective training pathways, responsive tothe needs of the service, with standards of training independently guaranteed.It will enable better managed training program…

11 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Services Division will respond to the review of maternity services by NHS Greater Glasgow.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand NationalServices Division has responded to the consultation proposals set out in TheFuture of Maternity Services in Glasgow.

10 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a requirement for a minimum number of classics teacher training places to be offered each year.

Answer · Peter Peacock: No. It is expected thatHigher Education Institutions run teacher training courses that reflect thedemand for specific subject specialists from education authorities.

10 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many classics teacher training places will be available in 2004-05.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There will be no classicsteacher training places available in 2004-05. Strathclyde Universityhave suspended the course because there is very low demand for classicsteachers. It is the University’s intention to offer the course again in2005-06.

10 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many institutions offer teacher training in classics.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Strathclyde University is the only institution that offers teacher trainingin classics.

4 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the debate on 29 January 2003, what communication it has had with Her Majesty's Government on its plans for a Supreme Court in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has beenadvised that today Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for ConstitutionalAffairs, will make an oral statement to the House of Lords and that ChrisLeslie MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State will make a similar oral statementin the Ho…

4 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Tenements (Scotland) Bill will benefit homeowners.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The overalleffect of the bill will be that every tenement in Scotland will have a management scheme. Thiswill make it easier for owners to take decisions on repairs and on othermatters of mutual interest and concern. Majority decision making will becomethe no…

29 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why fewer NHS beds were available to deal with winter pressures in Greater Glasgow in 2003 than in the previous year.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Greater Glasgow, alongwith all other NHS boards, makes additional beds available each winter to dealwith anticipated seasonal pressures. I understand there are no fewer bedsavailable in NHS Greater Glasgow than were available this time last year. Inadditi…

28 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a role for greater mediation in the civil courts system.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive believes that mediation cancontribute to the effective and efficient administration of justice in thecivil courts. That is why we strongly support its use and are keen to encourageit where feasible and appropriate. The Executive already provide…

22 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Summary Justice Review Committee will be published.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Summary Justice ReviewCommittee held its final meeting on 22 January. I have now received a copy of the text of the Committee’s final report. Arrangements for publication arecurrently being considered.

22 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the final report of the task group reviewing the licensing provisions contained in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 will be published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I understand that theindependent task group now expects to report in May or June. The intention isto publish the report and make it available on the Scottish Executive website. Ministers will thereafter consider the report’s recommendationand respond in due c…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4968 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 January 2004, what services will be funded by the National Services Division from 1 April 2004.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All of the services listedin the answer given to question S2W-4968 will continue to be funded by NationalServices Division from 1 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whic…

19 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (EGAMS) technical reference report, that notes that maternity services should have on-site adult intensive care, will take precedence in maternity policy over EGAMS guidelines that state that specialist maternity units should have acce…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for NHS boards toassess the relative risks and ensure the provision of a safe, effective andhigh quality maternity service balancing risk and taking cognisance of existinginfrastructures, demographics and support mechanisms on a local and regionalbasis.…

16 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to eradicate fuel poverty among tenants in the social rented sector (a) Glasgow and (b) all local authority areas other than Glasgow who have been unable to benefit from the Warm Deal Initiative as a result of housing stock transfer.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The investment programmes of the registered social landlords which have acquired stock in the three wholetransfers to date include a commitment to both central heating and other energyefficiency measures.The Warm Deal managed byEaga delivers insulation…

14 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for considering whether any lessons can be learned from the experience of community courts in the United States of America.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is alwaysinterested to learn from the experience of other jurisdictions. This is why I amvisiting the United States of America next month to see at first hand if there are lessonswe can learn for the Scottish criminal justice system, including f…

5 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of a restriction of liberty order.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The evaluation of therestriction of liberty (RLO) order pilot found that the cost of an RLO was £2,500for a three-month order and £4,860 for a six-month order. This compared with£13,456 as the average cost of a six-month prison sentence. The average lengthof …

5 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether community service orders as an alternative to custody have been effective in reducing crime.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The statistics suggest thatoffenders given community service orders generally have lower reconvictionrates than those discharged from a custodial sentence, although this differenceis less pronounced when the age and number of previous convictions of offenders…