Parliamentary questions

Sandra White

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

8 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the availability of digital hearing aids.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are now 11 types of digital hearing aid included within the wide range of hearing aids available through central contracts arranged by Scottish Healthcare Supplies for NHSScotland. This compares to only one type available in June 1999.I would also re…

8 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been supplied with digital hearing aids since May 1999, broken down by health board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following numbers of digital hearing aids, listed by NHS Board area, were drawn off the central Scottish Healthcare supplies contract by NHS Trusts in Scotland since the contract began in June 1999, up to the end of September 2001.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPA…

8 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to health boards on the provision of digital hearing aids.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive issued Good Practice Guidance for Adult Hearing Aid Fitting and Services (HDL (2001) 19) on 2 March 2001. This is available on Scottish Health on the Web which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/">www.show.sc…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting times are for treatment at accident and emergency departments in (a) Scotland and (b) the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest available information on waiting times in accident and emergency departments, compiled from the survey undertaken in March/April 2000, is available on the SHOW website at:<A HREF="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/Scottish_Health_Statistics/subjec…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S10-3930 by Susan Deacon on 25 October 2001, what guidance it issues to the public concerning the increased risk of melanoma associated with the use of artificial sun tanning apparatus.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to PQ S1W-19578 on 14 November 2001.

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3930 by Susan Deacon on 25 October 2001, whether sufficient information is available to the public concerning the increased risk of melanoma associated with the use of artificial sun tanning apparatus.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health Education Board for Scotland provides a variety of information and advice for the public about reducing cancer risk. This information is available directly from their website www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk. NHS Boards also undertake dedicated awareness raising c…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the closure of the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, will have on waiting times at accident and emergency departments in Glasgow.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The future provision of all acute hospital services in Glasgow is being considered within NHS Glasgow's Acute Services Review. The outcome of the review must include satisfactory proposals for accident and emergency services throughout the city.

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be made available from the Public Transport Fund for the implementation of the Glasgow CrossRail scheme and the Glasgow Airport direct rail link.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Neither of these projects has yet been the subject of a Public Transport Fund bid.The Scottish Executive, in partnership with BAA plc, Scottish Enterprise, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, is …

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take regarding the installation of signs directing visitors to the stadium at Hampden Park.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19186.If an application for signing Hampden Stadium is submitted, it will be considered by the Scottish Executive.

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the absence of signs directing visitors to the stadium at Hampden Park.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Football Association (SFA) wrote to the Scottish Executive asking if anything could be done to improve signing for Hampden Park from the road network. The SFA was provided with a copy of the Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy, and…

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it has given to the Glasgow Housing Association or to any other bodies for publicising the proposed transfer of the Glasgow City Council housing stock.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In 2000-01 the Glasgow Housing Association and Glasgow City Council spent a total of £2.7 million on communication and tenant consultation costs. A further £2.3 million has been earmarked for these costs in the current year.

17 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking into any link between increased levels of skin cancer and the use of sun tanning parlours.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Melanoma Group monitors the incidence of and outcomes for skin cancers in Scotland. Published research evidence suggests that excessive use of artificial sun tanning apparatus is associated with increased risk of melanoma.

25 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received concerning the planning application in respect of Churchill Drive, Broomhill, Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No representations have been received by the Scottish Executive about any planning application in Churchill Drive, Broomhill, Glasgow.

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the planning application in respect of 24 Novar Drive, Hyndland, Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit has received 110 individual letters of objection to the proposal and 1 letter in its support. In addition, two petitions totalling 768 signatures have been submitted opposing the development and a further petition…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the planning application concerning Thornwood Community Park, Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No correspondence has been received by the Scottish Executive regarding development proposals at Thornwood Community Park, Glasgow.

19 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the EC Regulations currently under consideration by the European Parliament on the award of public service contracts in passenger transport and what representations it has made or plans to make to the European Parliament regarding these regulations.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I have been working closely with the Department of Transport and the Local Regions, which has the lead on this draft regulation. The Scottish Executive's position has been incorporated into the briefing which that department has prepared for UK members of the…

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I have been working closely with the Department of Transport and the Local Regions (DTLR), which has the lead on this draft regulation. The Scottish Executive's position has been incorporated into the briefing DTLR has prepared for UK MEPs The draft regulatio…

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17478 by Sarah Boyack on 28 August 2001, whether her answer to question S1W-10834 on 1 December 2000 breached commercial confidentiality rules.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The estimated cost of a project prior to contract award is not normally disclosed as it affects the Scottish Executive's negotiating position. However, the figure quoted in my answer to question S1W-10834 was the Executive's assessment of the possible fin…

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines relating to commercial confidentiality it follows when answering parliamentary questions.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Answers to parliamentary questions are provided by reference to the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information. The terms of the exemptions in the Code for "effective management and operations of the public service", "third party's co…

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17478 by Sarah Boyack on 28 August 2001, why it would not provide the cost of the Boo', Allan and Hamilton study into rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports on the grounds that it is commercially restricted information when an estimated cost of…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: My answer to question S1W-17478 was given at the time when the Scottish Executive was in the process of inviting bids to undertake a detailed study into rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. This study will build on work carried out previously by Booz…

5 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to allowing Glasgow City Council to retain all business rates collected in the city.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Income from business rates is one element of central government support for local authorities, which is distributed according to councils' relative needs. Allowing Glasgow City Council to retain all the business rates it collected would result in a correspond…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will own the proposed rail line from Larkhall to Milngavie.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17856.

29 Aug 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has received concerning planning applications in Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has received nine representations concerning a proposed residential development at Park Quadrant in Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has commissioned on airport rail links; when any such studies (a) were commissioned and (b) will report, and what the cost will be of any such studies.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In August 2000, the Scottish Executive, the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the then Shadow Strategic Rail Authority jointly commissioned Booze, Allen and Hamilton to carry out an indicative financial and economic feasibili…

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to facilitate progress of the Glasgow north/south CrossRail scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17424.

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it plans to make available for the Glasgow north/south CrossRail scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is prepared to consider all public transport initiatives that will bring improved services to the public. The Glasgow north/south Crossrail scheme is the responsibility of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, and it is up to it to…

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with ScotRail concerning the Glasgow north/south CrossRail scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The development of local transport initiatives is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, and in the case of the Strathclyde area, SPTE. No approach has been made to the Scottish Executive by SPTE for funds or support for this project. On this bas…

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to facilitate the progress of the Glasgow Airport direct rail link.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: On 25 July six invitations were issued to tender for the feasibility study referred to in my answer to question S1W-17421. Bids are due back in early September with a view to awarding the contract in time for work to start in November.

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it plans to make available for the Glasgow Airport direct rail link.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is contributing towards the cost of a study to examine in greater detail a number of options which arose out of an earlier indicative feasibility study for developing rail links connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports to the Scottish …

6 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with ScotRail concerning the Glasgow Airport direct rail link.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with ScotRail on a wide range of issues.