Shona Robison

15 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to obtain further supplies of meningitis vaccine, and how will it ensure that these are distributed to GPs.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Adequate supplies of polysacharine vaccine for Scottish needs were achieved. Vaccine supplies for use in Scotland are initially delivered to the national holding centre in Cumbernauld and from there distributed to local holding centres with onward delivery to…

15 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was aware, when an announcement was made in July 1999 that all first year students would be offered a meningitis vaccination, that GPs would be unable to cope with the demand due to a shortage of vaccine.

Answer · Susan Deacon: When health professionals were advised in July of the introduction of the immunisation programme, it was believed that polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine for students would become available during September. In the event less vaccine was available at the st…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue legal aid fixed fee payments and, if so, what procedures are in place to monitor any impact on defence solicitors and the offices of the Procurator Fiscal.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the Member to my answer to her earlier question S1W-1327.

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the effects of the introduction of legal aid fixed fee payments on those using the system, particularly those living in rural areas and young women on remand at Cornton Vale.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Fixed payments for summary criminal legal aid cases were introduced on 1 April 1999 to control a significant area of public expenditure, while maintaining access to justice.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Statistical information on the effects of the introductio…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a gender audit of all appointments to Non-Departmental Public Bodies, by Body, which it has made since 6 May 1999.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Appointments to Non-Departmental Public Bodies since 6 May 1999, by gender, are as follows:<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="32%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">BODY</TD><TD WID…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all appointments to Non-Departmental Public Bodies, by Body, which it has made since 6 May 1999.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Details of all appointments made to Non-Departmental Public Bodies since 6 May 1999, are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Body </B></TD><TD WIDTH="23…

25 Aug 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what plans there are for racial awareness training for staff and Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · David Steel: I refer to my answer to S1W-1148. We shall also be inviting the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission to participate in our lunchtime seminars.

25 Aug 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what plans there are for disability awareness training for staff and Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · David Steel: A small working group has been established to look at developing an equal opportunities strategy for the Parliament. Information and briefing on this will be provided once it is in place. In the meantime, enquiries are being made of organisations such as Disa…

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to amend the Census format to include questions on caring responsibilities.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The topics proposed by the UK Government for the 2001 Census of Population were announced in the White Paper (Cm 4253) published on 4 March 1999. The White Paper contained a proposal to include, for the first time in a Census in the UK, a question on the prov…

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate whether the recent increase in fuel costs has had a disproportionate effect on the financial wellbeing of disabled people.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There are no plans for any such investigation at present. The Scottish Executive is well aware that disabled people need to have accessible transport available to them. A research study into the provision of transport for disabled people in Scotland has been …

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated level of abuse exists of the use of Orange badge parking spaces within each local authority area.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested. The administration of the Orange Badge Scheme of parking concessions for disabled and blind people is a matter for local authorities. However, we are aware from recent enquiries that all council…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide an estimate of the amount of government resources saved through the unpaid efforts of carers of people with dementia.

Answer · Iain Gray: We greatly value the contribution that informal carers make to the care of vulnerable people, including those with dementia. Without their contribution, many people would need support - or more support - from the statutory services. It is not, however, possib…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it endorses the aims of the Scottish Human Rights Centre.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to meeting in full its human rights obligations under the Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act; and to promoting a human rights culture in Scotland in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals are widely underst…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the predicted #10 million overspend by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In the current financial year the Scottish Executive has committed revenue funding for hospital and community health services of £395.5m to Tayside. My recent announcement of allocations for 2000-01 confirms that Tayside will receive a further 5% increase in …

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the predicted #10 million overspend by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust will have any adverse impact on patient services.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I would refer Ms Robison to my answer to her question number S1W-00977. I look to Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver the highest standard of care within available resources.

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of resources allocated for services for people with dementia and their carers within each local authority area.

Answer · Iain Gray: The resources the Scottish Executive have allocated for local authorities for services for older people in the current year in £000's are:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many day care places are provided for people with dementia in each local authority area.

Answer · Iain Gray: It is not possible to directly specify how many day care places are intended for people with dementia. However, the following two tables show (a) the number of places available in day centres intended for older people, and (b) the number of clients with demen…

12 Aug 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer who is responsible for the development of an equal opportunities policy for the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · David Steel: The development of an equal opportunities policy for the Parliament is ultimately a matter for the Parliament itself.<P>The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body recently endorsed the establishment of a Working Group, comprising Parliamentary officials and MS…

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many higher and further education students have fallen ill during their studies and been unable to continue with their course as a result, in 1998/9 and the previous three academic years.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Information is not collected centrally on further education or higher education students attending Further Education institutions who fall ill during their studies. However, this information is available for students in Higher Education Institutions, and is g…

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial provision exists to assist higher and further education students who become ill during their studies.

Answer · Henry McLeish: To be eligible for financial support higher education students must be attending a course. Students who are temporarily absent due to illness can continue to receive support until they have been absent for 28 weeks. At that point, a sick student becomes eligi…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are disparities between the budgets of each health board area for health promotion work.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Promoting public health is one of the Scottish Executive's priorities for the NHS in Scotland and I expect to see this reflected in every aspect of Health Boards' activities. Data on health promotion activities is only collected centrally for Health Promotio…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the resources allocated for health promotion within each health board area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health Boards are given an annual general allocation. It is for Health Boards to determine, within the funds available, how to manage and deliver local health care services that meet the health care needs of their resident populations. The Scottish Executive …

17 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to pursue any further prosecutions in the case of Sunjit Singh Chhokar who was killed on 4 November 1998.

Answer · Andrew Hardie: Following the trial of Ronnie Coulter, who was acquitted by a jury in March of this year of the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar, Crown Counsel instructed that further enquiries be carried out to consider whether any other person or persons should be prosecuted…

9 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to resolve the growing problem of bed-blocking in Scotland's hospitals and what resources it intends to make available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that Health Boards in Scotland continue to work with their local authority partners in addressing all avenues, including financial, to reduce delays in discharge from NHS care.<P>Over and above the £800 million …