Pauline McNeill

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19094 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, whether it will report on the work of the Ministerial Group on Women's Offending.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Ministerial Group on Women's Offending intends to publish its report within the next two months.

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19840 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, whether it will report on the success of the first month of the Glasgow Drugs Court pilot.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Glasgow pilot Drug Court commenced sitting on 12 November 2001. So far it has imposed 10 Orders, an encouraging start and on course to meet the target of between 150 and 200 orders a year.

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry and the receivers for Atlantic Telecom and what progress has been made on whether any action will be taken by any body due to the lack of notice given to customers before the company went into receivership.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Telecommunications regulation is reserved to the UK government.<P>However, we expect to be consulted by DTI on whether further action is needed, in the light of issues raised during the Atlantic Telecom situation, to ensure the regulatory framework meets the …

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in its discussions to seek to allow businesses to retain their existing telephone numbers following Atlantic Telecom going into receivership.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to telecommunications regulation.

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it, Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise have made, or plan to make, to (a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) the Office of Telecommunications on increasing choice in the telecommunications sector for Scottish businesses in order to provi…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Telecommunications regulation is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Trade & Industry and OFTEL regarding the impact of UK policies on Scotland.<P>Within the context of its economic development re…

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any representations which it, Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise have made, or plan to make, to (a) the Department of Trade and Industry, (b) the Office of Telecommunications, (c) BT Group plc and (d) Scottish Chambers of Commerce on the receive…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question on 6 December 2001.

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding support it has allocated to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to meet its objectives of promoting access for poorer Scots and those living in rural areas identified in the annual guidance letter of 10 December 2001.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Our overall aim must be that widening access becomes embedded as a mainstream activity for higher education institutions. I am therefore pleased that as part of its consideration of a new condition of grant the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council is cur…

18 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19754 by Susan Deacon on 26 November 2001, whether it will provide an update of its assessment of any impact the changing situation at the Beatson Oncology Unit and the North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust will have on patient services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20764 on 4 February 2002.

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources and new equipment have been allocated to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the period since 21 March 2001 following the review of imaging facilities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I am advised by Greater Glasgow NHS Board that in excess of £3 million has been invested in imaging equipment at Glasgow Royal Infirmary since March 2001. This includes a new ultrasound scanner, a new CT scanner, refurbished X-ray facilities, the replacement …

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend support to part-time higher education students to assist travel, study and childcare expenses.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We have no current plans to provide further support to part-time higher education students. Support for higher education students is principally focused on full-time students since they generally have less opportunity than part-time students to support themse…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase access to hardship funds for part-time higher education students.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Part-time higher education students studying at least 50% of a full-time course have the same access to hardship funds as full-time students. The Executive has no plans to change these arrangements.

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback it has had on the effectiveness of the separation of the Access Fund into four discrete areas.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Since 1990, Access Funds, now known as Hardship Funds, have been allocated to institutions on the basis of the number of students enrolled on further education, higher education and postgraduate courses. The further education allocation is now administered by…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18975 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 November 2001, whether it has yet set a date to announce the results of the information-gathering exercise on the provision of school swimming lessons.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are currently pursuing some outstanding responses to the questionnaire issued to local authorities on 16 November. I will report on the outcome of the questionnaire early next year once all responses have been analysed.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government and the Strategic Rail Authority on the Scotrail franchise.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government and with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues, including the ScotRail Franchise.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many remand prisoners are currently being held in excess of the number of places at the new remand centre at HM Prison Corntonvale.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The average number of remand prisoners in November was 35. The capacity of the newly opened Ross House is 51.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many remand prisoners were held in HM Prison Corntonvale in each of the past three months.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The average number of remand prisoners per month was:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=115><TR><TD WIDTH="67%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGH…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many residential places are currently available and how many are planned for the future at the time out centres being piloted in Glasgow as alternatives to prison for women offenders.

Answer · Richard Simpson: When it begins operation, the Time Out centre in Glasgow is expected to have six to 12 residential places. The development of further centres will depend upon the success of the Glasgow pilot.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the timetable for the operation and evaluation of time out centres being piloted in Glasgow as alternatives to prison for women offenders is on target and when it will publish any evaluation report.

Answer · Richard Simpson: Work is under way on drawing up a specification for the centre and the tendering process is expected to take about six months. The timetable thereafter will be largely determined by the identification of suitable premises. The centre will be evaluated but it …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurse vacancies there currently are at the HM Prison Corntonvale medical centre.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>None.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in relation to the number of prisoners held at HM Prison Corntonvale.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Skye House has recently been reopened which has increased the available capacity. In addition, work is under way to consider better use o…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the number of linear accelerators allocated to the Beatson Oncology Centre has been calculated and what scope there is for increasing their number.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information about the background to planning cancer services was outlined in the answer given to question S1W-19750.<P>The linear accelerator (and related radiotherapy equipment) modernisation programme has been, and continues to be, developed by the Scottish…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the resignation of the four consultant staff at the Beatson Oncology Centre has had or will have on the waiting list for referral to a cancer specialist.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS local management has advised that:<P>all clinics currently serviced by consultants based at the Beatson have been reviewed. Over the next six months, prior to substantive appointments being made, interim arrangements will be put in place so that new patie…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many student radiographers completed their course at Glasgow Caledonian University in each academic year from 1996-97 to 2001-02.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Data on radiography student places is not held centrally. However, Glasgow Caledonian University has supplied the following figures (which include diagnostic and therapeutic radiography).<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=309><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many student radiographer places there were at Glasgow Caledonian University in each academic year from 1996-97 to 2001-2002 and how many places are planned for 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Data on radiography student places is not held centrally. However, Glasgow Caledonian University has supplied the following figures (which include diagnostic and therapeutic radiography).<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=425><TR><TD WIDTH="24%" …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the number of student radiographer places throughout Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department takes account of supply and demand indicators for the Professions Allied to Medicine (PAMs) in NHSScotland in order to influence the Higher Education Sector in the allocation of PAMs pre-registration student places. Th…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which cancer specialities are not being provided due to the current vacancies at the Beatson Oncology Centre.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Specialist services for all cancers continue to be provided by the Beatson Oncology Centre.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the West of Scotland Regional Cancer Advisory Group are and how many of them are employed by the Beatson Oncology Centre.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The West of Scotland Regional Cancer Advisory Group is chaired by Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive NHS Greater Glasgow. The Regional Lead Clinician is Dr Harry Burns, Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow.<P>There are more than 60 members drawn from ac…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives will be made available to attract consultants to the vacant posts at Beatson Oncology Centre.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All posts are available subject to the terms and conditions of service for consultants employed by the NHSScotland. Dr Adam Bryson and the Management Team will work meticulously through the raft of issues which the consultants and other senior clinical staff …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the visit by the Minister for Health and Community Care to the Beatson Oncology Centre on 5 December 2001.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I announced on 6 December 2001 that Dr Adam Bryson, would take over as Medical Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre to provide greater impetus and focus to implementing the agreed Action Plan. Dr Bryson is reporting directly to Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executi…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Clyde Shipyards Task Force will be published.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We are currently finalising the Clyde Shipyards Task Force report following the group's last meeting, and will send it to the printers before Christmas with a view to publishing it in January.