Shona Robison

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seats the Older People's Advisory Group have on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Older People's Advisory Group has three representatives on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between Better Government for Older People and the Older People's Advisory Group.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26975.

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seats pensioners' voluntary groups have on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The following organisations are represented on the Older People's Consultative Forum:<P>Scottish Older People's Advisory Group (3)<P>Scottish Pensioners' Forum (1)<P>Confederation of Scotland's Elderly (1)<P>Scottish Pensions Association (1)<P>West of Scotlan…

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many older people are involved in Better Government for Older People, broken down by region.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is a matter for the Better Government for Older People (BGOP) Network. The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the Network Director to write directly to the member. For information a copy of the latest edition of the network's journ…

10 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what in-patient facilities there were for the care and treatment of people suffering from (a) anorexia nervosa and (b) bulimia in 1997 and are in the current year broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards provide in-patient care and treatment for patients suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia through their mainstream acute or mental health services depending on the nature of the care and treatment required. No NHS board in Scotland provides ded…

10 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist units and local authority support services there were for the care and treatment of (a) anorexia nervosa and (b) bulimia in 1997 and are in the current year, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The information requested is not held centrally.

10 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times to be seen by a dermatologist have been in each NHS board in each year from 1997 to the present.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a Consultant in Dermatology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, for the years ended 31 March 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the nine months to 31 D…

10 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dermatologists were employed by each NHS board, expressed as a percentage of whole-time equivalent posts, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on whole-time equivalent (WTE) of dermatologists in 1995-2000 in each NHS board is shown in the following tables. 2001 data will be available from 17 July 2002.<P>It should be noted that the figures do not reflect directly the availability of derm…

10 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital beds were available for dermatological conditions in each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of average available staffed dermatology beds for the years ending 31 March 1998 to 2002 for each of the health board areas is shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=351><TR><TD WIDTH="41%" VALIG…

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cities Review team has considered possible changes to the boundaries of Dundee City Council and, if so, what these changes are.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26009.

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Cities Review team.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The draft Cities Review Report will be presented to Cabinet before the summer recess.

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the outcome of the Cities Review will be presented to the Parliament.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Later this year.

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the boundaries of Dundee City Council, and, if so, when it plans to announce any such review.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Dundee City Council has raised the issue of their boundary in the context of the Cities Review. The Cities Review is examining the economic, social and environmental well-being of Scotland's cities. It is not a boundary review. The report of the Cities Review…

8 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what future role is envisaged for racial equality councils in Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is in the process of reviewing the delivery of local race equality work as part of its programme of modernisation. Responsibility for work in this area rests with the CRE. However, the Executive is being kept informed …

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the report by the Scottish Cross-Party group on Refugees and Asylum Seekers on the group's visit to Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The issues raised in the report relate mostly to reserved matters. Iain Gray wrote to Lord Rooker on 3 May seeking his comments and I will respond once I have received these.

19 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made towards introducing a licensing scheme for the vendors of fireworks.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Fireworks Bill, a Private Member's Bill introduced by Bill Tynan at Westminster, received its second reading on 28 February. The bill covers both devolved and reserved matters and, if successful, will enable ministers to introduce suitable regulations whi…

25 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Audit Scotland is required to comply with the principles of Best Value.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The duty of Best Value will be extended across the public sector by spring 2002, including Audit Scotland.

25 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what audit fees each local authority has been charged by Audit Scotland in each year since 1996-97.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This is a matter for Audit Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.

20 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Dundee City Council in regard to the operation of the Baldovie incinerator.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has spoken to Dundee City Council about recent press statements concerning Baldovie incinerator, but there have been no detailed discussions about the operation of the plant.

13 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what daily rates are charged by hospitals that apply parking charges and what concessions apply to hospital staff.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally but could be obtained direct from those hospitals, which have introduced parking charges.

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards operate waiting lists for anti-TNF(tumour necrosis factor) treatments.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many rheumatologists are currently employed within the NHS and how many were employed in each of the past five years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Information on the number of rheumatologists directly employed in each health board in NHSScotland in the last six years for which data is available is shown in the following table. The tables should be read in conjunction with the notes.<P>Rheumatology staff…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long the current waiting lists are for joint replacement surgery, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for hip and knee joint replacement surgery for the year ended 30 September 2001, by NHS Board of residence, are given in the following table:<P>NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For Hip And Knee Joint Replacement Surgery, By NHS Board…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have adhered to the (a) Scottish Prospective Evaluation of the Clinical Effectiveness of TNF Alpha Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis (SPECTRA) and (b) Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prescribed anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) treatments on the NHS in each of the past five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Infliximab and Etanercept are available on NHS prescription. However, their use depends on the clinical judgement of specialists experienced in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Data on drugs dispensed in…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many amendments to a bill it has undertaken to lodge at Stage 3 of the legislative process during Stages 1 and 2 of the process and how many amendments it has actually lodged at Stage 3 since 1999.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Information requested is not held centrally. The Parliament's website contains marshalled lists of amendments selected at Stage 3 of a bill and the <I>Official Report</I> records discussion of the issues.

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce statutory obligations for the NHS in Scotland in respect of guidance issued by the Health Technology Board for Scotland following the recently announced introduction of such obligations for the NHS in England in respect of guidance issued by the Nati…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland should take account of advice and evidence from the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. The Executive will monitor NHS boards' adherence to HTBS advi…

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release SE4934/2001 of 27 November 2001, whether it intends to use Scotland's share of the #1 billion extra funding for health to improve the delivery of public services in general and, if so, what criteria it will use for allocating this funding and when it will anno…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Cabinet will take decisions in the New Year on the allocation of the additional resources Scotland received as a result of the Pre-Budget Report.

5 Dec 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is holding talks with drug manufacturers in order to find a strategy that would enable beta interferon to be obtained for patients in Scotland on the NHS and what progress has been made in any such talks.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Along with the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales, the Executive is taking part in discussions with the drug manufacturers to consider a range of options under which drugs for multiple sclerosis might be available on the NHS. One option …

14 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes owned by elderly people in Dundee have been fitted with central heating under the central heating initiative.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Fifty-seven homes in Dundee have already had central heating installed, or are having it installed at present. In addition, more than 500 homes are in the process of being surveyed and Eaga plan to install central heating in all of these which are eligible by…