Parliamentary questions
Rhona Brankin
707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on its review of the Scottish Qualification Authority’s accommodation in Dalkeith.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are very conscious of the need for an announcement to be made on this issue. However, it is vital that any conclusion delivers the best possible balance between value for money and the effective delivery of the key services provided by the Scottish Qualifi…
3 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents of care homes and nursing homes are receiving antipsychotic drugs.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not collected centrally.</p> <p >The recent report of the joint Mental Welfare Commission and Care Commission inspection of the care of people with dementia in care homes, <i>Remember I''m Still Me,</i> recorded that 33% of people in the …
1 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the track for the Waverley railway line will commence.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Waverley railway line project will formally start in 2010 with the latter stages of the project involving, inter alia, the laying of track commencing after the awarding of the contract for that project of the work in 2011.</p>
1 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been made of the success of policies designed to increase the take-up rate of breast screening.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There has not been a national evaluation carried out on the success of policies designed to increase the up-take rate of breast screening. However, evaluations have been carried out at local level within some NHS boards.</p>
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop and implement a communication plan for children and young people.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government seeks to engage children and young people on a wide range of policy issues and developments, such as domestic abuse, looked-after children, kinship and foster care and children''s rights. As part of this process, appropriate and specif…
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many serious case reviews have been carried out by local authorities in each of the last ten years.
Answer · Adam Ingram: In Scotland, a Significant Case Review will be undertaken in those instances identified in the Scottish Government''s national guidance <i >Protecting Children & Young People: Interim Guidance for Child protection Committees for Conducting a Significant C…
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how rates of take-up of breast screening in Scotland compare with those in England and Wales.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Uptake rates for breast screening in Scotland, for 2007-08, compare well with England and Wales.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Scotland</p> <p align=center >Age 50-64</p> </td> <td …
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether two views are used in breast screening in England and Wales.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Two views are used in breast screening, at all screening appointments, in both England and Wales.</p> <p >The Scottish Breast Screening Programme is currently implementing two views and this is due to be implemented across Scotland by April 2010.</p>
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether women are advised of the health risks when being sold the morning-after pill by pharmacists.
Answer · Shona Robison: Practice guidance developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for pharmacists who supply emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) as a pharmacy medicine advises that pharmacists should provide information to women on the use of EHC including …
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a medical record is kept when a woman buys the morning-after pill.
Answer · Shona Robison: Levonelle One Step, which may be bought in a pharmacy, is classified as a pharmacy (P) medicine. As with other pharmacy (P) medicines there is no requirement for a record to be kept of such purchases.</p>
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what international research informs its position on the link between the morning-after pill and breast cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is not aware of any evidence linking emergency contraception (morning-after pill) and breast cancer.</p>
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what international research informs its position on the link between the contraceptive pill and breast cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government uses the best research evidence available world-wide to inform its view on risks and benefits of treatment. Where possible, this is gained from a systematic review or meta-analysis of well conducted randomised controlled trials (RCTs).…
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what international research informs its position on the link between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government uses the best research evidence available world-wide to inform its view on risks and benefits of treatment. Where possible, this is gained from a systematic review or meta-analysis of well conducted randomised controlled trials (RCTs).…
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support young people in Midlothian who are leaving school without going on to employment, education or training.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to improving young people''s long-term employability. Young people in Midlothian will benefit from ScotAction through our recently announced Targeted Pathways to Apprenticeships programme, which will provide £2 million to …
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any case of online official statistics referred to in a motion for parliamentary debate being altered on the evening prior to such debate.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is only aware of one such case - <i>School Estate Statistics 2009</i> “ for which I refer the member to the answer to her related question S3W-28638 on 16 November 2009. </p> <p >Scottish Government official statistics are governed b…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the online School Estate Statistics 2009 were altered between the evening of 7 October 2009 and the morning of 8 October 2009 and what changes were made.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Following the publication of the <i >School Estate Statistics 2009</i> on 29 September 2009, it transpired that a programming error had led to an incorrect table being produced. Whilst quality assurance work was being progressed, additional concerns were iden…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for how many and which of the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 construction commenced in financial years budgeted for by the previous administration.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28634 on 16 November 2009. 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/App…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for how many and which of the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 construction commenced in financial years budgeted for by the current administration.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28634 on 16 November 2009. 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/App…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 36 new or refurbished schools referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 as completed since publication of SPICe Briefing 09/72, broken down, where applicable, by (a) procurement method, (b) date when the outline business case was approved and (c) date when…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The news release of 8 October 2009 referred to a further 36 school projects which had been completed since March 2009, rather than since the publication of the SPICe Briefing 09/72 on 7 October 2009. The list of 236 new or refurbished school projects complete…
4 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009, broken down, where applicable, by (a) procurement method, (b) date when the outline business case was approved and (c) date when construction commenced.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The 236 new or refurbished school projects which have been completed since May 2007 are set out in the following table, with the procurement method and, where known, the dates when construction commenced and the new facilities were completed or occupied. The …
3 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the construction contract for the Waverley railway line will be awarded.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Construction of the works authorised by the Waverley Railway Act will commence in 2010, with the first of the ancillary works defined in the act. It is anticipated that a contract for the construction of the railway works defined in the act will be awarded in…
3 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a specific date for construction work to start on the Waverley railway line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Construction work for the borders railway will commence in 2010, for advance works such as utilities diversions. Site clearance of vegetation will commence in winter 2010. This will ensure a clear site for the main contract commencement in 2011.</p>
3 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken an analysis of take-up levels in areas of deprivation for breast screening.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on uptake rates for breast screening, in areas of deprivation from years 1999-2000 until 2000-01, is publicly available and published by the Information Services Division (ISD) at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/1622.html">http://www.isdsc…
3 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the take-up rate of breast screening.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26751 on 9 September 2009 and S3W-26752 answered on 10 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</…
3 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the call-up age for cancer screening to 73 years at the upper end and 47 years at the lower end, as is being done in England.
Answer · Shona Robison: The recent extension to the breast screening programme to adopt two views has represented a significantly challenging increase in workload which needs to be consolidated. The National Advisory Group for Breast and Cervical Screening will continue to review an…
2 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the secondary school development for eco-schools until 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28459 on 11 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
2 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support the eco-schools programme until 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28459 on 11 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
2 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be given to Keep Scotland Beautiful between 2009 and 2011 to run the eco-schools programme.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28459 on 11 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget was for eco-schools in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and what it proposes to spend in 2010-11.
Answer · Keith Brown: Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) was granted Scottish Government core funding of £386,000 and £400,000 for financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. KSB has confirmed acceptance of our grant offer of £425,000 for 2010-11.</p> <p >In addition KSB was gra…
8 Oct 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the project to re-open the Waverley railway line linking Midlothian and the Borders with Edinburgh.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…