Parliamentary questions

Sandra White

1,617 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with UK authorities in respect of the transfer of £425 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £250 million from other good causes after 2009 to fund the London 2012 Olympic Games and how this transfer will affect Scottish projects.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive is in close touch withthe UK Government on this issue. We welcome its assurance that no existinglottery project need be affected, and it has also agreed with the Big Lottery Fundthat resources for the voluntary sector will be protected. In addit…

8 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it contacted Castle Craig hospital requesting the information asked for in parliamentary questions S2W-31662 and S2W-31663.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive officials contacted Castle Craig hospitalwith regard to these parliamentary questions and were advised that it was notpossible for hospital staff to provide the information requested within thenecessary timescales.No information rela…

8 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many written parliamentary questions have received an answer stating that “this information is not held centrally” in each parliamentary session.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested canbe obtained on the Parliament website which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search</a>.

8 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what protocols exist in respect of it stating in answer to parliamentary questions that “this information is not held centrally”.

Answer · Margaret Curran: While subjects such as healthor education fall within the general responsibility of the Scottish ministers,“day-to-day” responsibility often lies with bodies such as local authorities orhealth boards. In general, preparation of answers should be based on the …

7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with Glasgow Housing Association’s (GHA) position that it is legally obliged by registered charity law to recover the costs of renovation works carried out on the homes of owner-occupiers that it factors within 12 months and, if not, whether it has plans to investigate t…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:This is a matter for GlasgowHousing Association (GHA) as an independent housing association. GHA is a registeredcharity and is obliged to abide…

7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to investigate the charging of VAT at 17.5% for insulated wall rendering and roofing works carried out on the homes of owner-occupiers factored by Glasgow Housing Association.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:This is a matter for Her Majesty’sRevenue and Customs to pursue with Glasgow Housing Association and we await theoutcome of their discussions.…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the Minister for Justice’s ministerial engagements were on 22 January 2007.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested islisted in the following table:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=609> <thead> <tr> <td width=148 valign=top> Engagement Type </td> <td width=293 valign=top> Organis…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice attended a public discussion meeting at Partick Burgh Halls at 7 pm on 22 January 2007 in her official capacity

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Only official engagements arerecorded in ministerial diaries therefore the Scottish Executive holds no informationon this event.I can confirm, however, thatI did attend the meeting in question.

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it considers that its intervention in relation to hospital car parking charges would be warranted.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32181 on 16 March 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that guidance issued in relation to hospital car parking charges is not being followed and, if so, whether it is considering direct intervention in this issue.

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the reported comments on hospital car parking charges by the First Minister at the latest “Ask Jack” event that “At the moment we don’t get involved in those decisions by the health boards. But, unless charges are dealt with more reasonably by health boards then we will start …

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32181 on 16 March 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28666 by Mr Andy Kerr on 24 October 2006, whether the report of the review of hospital car parking charges has been completed and, if not, when it is expected to be completed.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32181 on 16 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28666 by Mr Andy Kerr on 24 October 2006, whether it will consider publishing the report of the review of hospital car parking charges, in light of the First Minister’s recent comments to nurses that NHS boards should deal more reasonably with charge…

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32181 on 16 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is considering to ensure compliance with guidelines on hospital car parking charges.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Revised guidance on car parkcharging has issued this week to NHS boards in a Health Department Letter. The revisedguidance reflects both the findings from the report of the review of hospital carparking charges prepared by officials, in consultation with NHS …

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that all GPs have been made aware of the guidelines contained in Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In Scotlandthis is a matter for NHS boards who hold contracts with GP practices to provideprimary care services. NHS boards may commission practices to provide an enhancedservice for patients suffering from drug misuse under the terms of the generalmedical se…

2 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any national guidelines for the prescription of methadone and whether these are given to all GPs or GP practices.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The UKguidelines Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management,published in 1999, contain guidance for clinicians on the prescription ofsubstitute medication such as methadone. The guidelines are for all clinicians,including GPs.<p…

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people whose deaths were methadone-related in 2003 received treatment in line with the approach in Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidelines on Clinical Management.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally.

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it records the number of methadone prescriptions that are issued.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Prescription data iscollected centrally by ISDScotland which is a business operating unit of NHS NationalServices ScotlandThe Prescribing Team within ISDmaintains a detailed database of all NHS prescriptions dispensed in the communityin Scotland. The i…

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have been carried out into methadone-related deaths in each year since 1990.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There have been twoconfidential enquiries into methadone related deaths published since 1990. TheNational Confidential Enquiry into Methadone Related Deaths (Scotland)2000 and The National Confidential Enquiry into Methadone Related Deaths (Scotland)2001. In …

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 951 methadone-related deaths since 1990 were recorded as accidental.

Answer · George Lyon: Seventy-one were recorded asaccidental poisoning and a further 113 were recorded as poisoning of undeterminedintent because it was not possible to determine whether or not the poisoning wasaccidental.

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29476 by George Lyon on 15 November 2006, from where the figures on methadone-related deaths for the years since 1990 were derived.

Answer · George Lyon: The figures were compiled bythe General Register Office for Scotland(GROS) from death registrations and associated returns from procurators fiscal andforensic pathologists.Further information is givenin the annual GROS paper on drug-related deaths. The…

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 951 drug-related deaths involving methadone recorded since 1990 were the subject of a fatal accident inquiry.

Answer · George Lyon: The information requested isnot held centrally.

1 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accident inquiries have been reopened since 1999 and, of these, how many upheld the objections to the original findings.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: While my department does notkeep records which would record this information I have been advised that therehave been no instances, so far as my officials are aware, where a Fatal AccidentInquiry (FAI) has been reopened.There have been cases where anFAI…

28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering issuing guidance to accompany Scottish Ministers’ Code of Practice on the Discharge of Functions by Public Authorities Under the Freedom of Information Act 2002, in light of comments by the Scottish Information Commissioner in Decision 149/2006 that the Executive…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The commissioner did not requirethe Executive to take any action in light of the decision. However, we have writtento the commissioner to advise that we do not accept the comments made in the decision,and believe they were neither justified nor appropriate.</…

28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the number of carbon sequestration rights that have been granted from 1999 to 2007 and the operations of the companies to whom such rights have been granted.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested isnot held centrally.

26 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what knowledge it had of Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s carbon sequestration rights agreement with Future Forests Limited, now The CarbonNeutral Company.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: An agreement of this nature wouldbe an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As such, the Scottish Executivewould not expect to be notified of it. The Scottish Executive is however aware of the agreement.

26 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal basis is for the sale of the greenhouse gas absorption capability of tree biomass and soil on land owned by local authorities.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The legal basis for the saleof the greenhouse gas absorption capability of tree biomass and soil on land ownedby local authorities will be dependent on the individual circumstances of the projectand the nature of the agreement between the parties involved.

26 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carbon offsetting businesses currently operate in Scotland, giving their names.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I am unable to provide the specificinformation requested as this information is not held centrally.

22 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S20-12000 by Mr Andy Kerr on 15 February 2007 (Official Report c. 32164), what the basis is for his statement, in relation to Glasgow’s new children’s hospital, that “the outline business case is scheduled to be submitted to the Health Department in earl…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The statement is based oninformation received from officials within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

22 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why local authorities are not required to produce official reports detailing what was said in meetings of their committees rather than a summary of what took place and whether the Executive has any plans to require this type of reporting for the purposes of transparent local government an…

Answer · George Lyon: Local authorities are notrequired to produce officials reports because no such provision has been madein legislation. The Executive has no plans to require local authorities toproduce official reports but, as independent corporate bodies, localauthorities may…