Adam Ingram

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much sewage sludge is produced by water companies annually and what the current capacity is of landfill sites capable of containing sewage sludge.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Exact information is not held centrally but it is estimated to be about 130,000 tonnes annually in Scotland. Whether landfill capacity would be available for sewage sludge, and how much, is a matter for the individual operators of landfill sites.</p>

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative means of disposal of treated sewage materials are being considered, given the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s restriction on the tonnage of sewage sludge which may be applied to lands as an activity exempt from a waste management licence.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to my answer to question S2W-20507 on 17 November 2005. 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/webap…

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment will be required by water companies operating in Scotland to heat treat and pellatise all sewage sludge produced in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Processing and disposal of sewage sludge is an operational matter for those producing it. Investment costs of different treatment and disposal options are matters for them to consider.</p>

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the requirements for the testing of soils on agricultural land after the spreading of sewage-derived materials.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive consulted on possible changes to the requirements for the tasking of the use of sludge on agricultural land in 2002 linked to the possibility of placing the Safe Sludge Matrix on a statutory basis. There are no plans for any further rev…

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether treated sewage disposed of to agricultural land is tested for the presence of bromide flame retardants and, if so, what safety limit has been set for the concentration of such chemicals in the soil.

Answer · Ross Finnie: While testing for brominated flame retardants is not specifically required by the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, as amended, it is the duty of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, aga…

9 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of developing a sustainable strategy for sewage treatment and disposal in Scotland, it has considered the Swedish experience of the disposal of sewage sludge to land.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Water and, where relevant, its contractors, are responsible for sewage treatment and disposal in Scotland, within the regulatory framework applicable to these activities. Scottish Water is therefore responsible for the development of a strategy. I un…

9 Nov 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding investment in a long-term sustainable solution for the treatment and disposal of sewage.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Water is working with a range of stakeholders, including the Executive, to develop a sludge strategy. The objective of this strategy is to identify long-term sustainable solutions to the treatment and disposal of sewage.</p>

19 Oct 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and guidance it has given to NHS Ayrshire and Arran with regard to its proposal to centralise emergency and unscheduled care services at Crosshouse Hospital.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is my understanding that what NHS Ayrshire and Arran are consulting on is not the centralisation but the localisation of unscheduled care services, with a full accident and emergency service at Crosshouse Hospital supported by a network of five community c…

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for mild depression, following the recommendation in the recent National Institute for Clinical Excellence guideline that CBT is as effective as anti-depressants in the treatment of mild depression.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There has been a range of recent National Institute for Clinical Exellence (NICE) guidance relative to cognitive behavioural therapy and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will continue to comment on and commend relevant aspects for NHSScotland as appropriate. …

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients received cognitive behavioural therapy for mild depression in each year since 2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The position is unaltered from the answer to question S2W-17214 on 20 June 2005. This data is not currently available, however the Improving Mental Health Information Programme is working with the NHS boards to standardise the information. Data sets are now b…

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to commissioning NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to produce a SIGN guideline on the non-pharmacological treatment of mild to moderate depression in adults in primary care.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In November, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Council is to consider whether to include an examination of non-pharmacological management of mild to moderate depression in adults in Primary Care as part of their work programme for 2006.</…

22 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18690 by Peter Peacock on 20 September 2005, how much funding is available for the development of educational resources for the teaching of Scottish literature and the works of Robert Burns at both primary and secondary school levels.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In 2004-05, the Scottish Executive provided £13.7 million of funding to Learning and Teaching Scotland towards the development of educational resources. Some of this funding was directed to supporting Scots language and literacy in Scottish schools. However, …

15 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a comprehensive list of participants in the phase 2 consultation process on the review of NHS prescription charges.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Members of the public, patient interest groups, NHS professionals and other key stakeholders will be asked for their views.</p> <p>In line with Executive policy on consultation exercises of this type, where respondents consent, full written responses will be …

15 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when phase 2 of the review of NHS prescription charges will begin and what its duration will be.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have not yet set a date for the commencement of phase 2 of the review.</p>

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in each year since 1999 on the acquisition of art collections.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The level of annual purchasegrant provided to the National Galleries of Scotland by the Scottish Executiveis set out in the answer to question S2W-19126 on 27 September 2005. The actuallevel of expenditure by NGS may be supplemented by additional income or fi…

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been set aside in each year since 1999 for the purchase of art collections such as the d'Offay collection.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Since 1999-2000 the ScottishExecutive has provided purchase grants totalling over £3 million annually to thethree National Institutions: Of this total, £1.26 million per annum has been providedto the National Galleries of Scotland for the purchase of art. In …

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the conference held on 8 July 2005 on best practice for pain management.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I wrote to the Convener of the Health Committee on 30 August 2005 to send her a report of the conference and advise her of the Executive’s response. I will arrange for a copy of that letter to be sent to the member.</p>

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes associated with bogus callers targeting homes have been reported in each year since 2000 in each (a) police force and (b) local authority area and how many have resulted in successful prosecutions.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Neither the recorded crime nor the court proceedings statistics held centrally contain information which would enable figures to be provided at the level of detail requested.</p>

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for the development of educational resources for the teaching of Scottish literature and the works of Robert Burns at both primary and secondary school levels.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive provides Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) with core funding part of which is directed towards supporting Scots language and literacy in Scottish schools. This funding has for example enabled LTS to develop resources such as a Tam O’…

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to include the works of Robert Burns in the national curriculum.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no statutory national curriculum in Scotland. Approaches to the teaching of Scottish literature fall within the English Language Guidelines 5-14. The guidance stresses the importance of Scottish writing and writing about Scotland taking its place bes…

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to embed Scottish culture and history in the school curriculum.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Approaches to the teaching of Scottish culture and history fall within the environmental studies and expressive arts areas of the curriculum. The National Guidelines on Environmental Studies 5-14 advise that an understanding of the past should be developed th…

9 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are currently diagnosed with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in each local authority area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The number of pupils who areidentified as having social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in eachlocal authority area is not held centrally. However, statistical information onthe number of pupils, in each local authority area, with a Record of Needsand…

9 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many male prisoners with mental health problems have committed suicide in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) prison.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Table A sets out the number of male suicides by establishment in the last five years, and table B provides the age range of these deaths. <…

9 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to instigate research into any correlation between the level of diagnosis of (a) cancer and (b) respiratory diseases and the proximity of communities to open-cast coal mines.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Committee on the MedicalEffects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) has considered two major reports onrespiratory ill health for people living close to opencast coal mines. On thefirst of these, <i>The Acute Effects of Air Pollution on the Respiratory Healthof Ch…

9 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average weekly cost is per resident with a mental illness in a residential care unit operated by (a) local authorities, (b) the private sector and (c) the voluntary sector.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Section 22 of the National Assistance Act 1948 requires local authorities to set the gross fees for local authority care home places at an amount equivalent to the full cost to the authority of providing them. Fees for supported residents of independent secto…

9 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the collection of data in respect of psychological intervention or other non-pharmacological therapies has been standardised across NHS boards.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-5899, S2W-2641 and S2W-5135 on 10 February 2004, 1 October 2003 and 20 January 2004 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility …

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to joint implementation planning groups regarding the selection process for service providers under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has issued no guidance to joint implementation planning groups regarding the selection process for service providers under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.</p> <p>All public bodies and local authorities are un…

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of consultation has taken place with service users on the service provision requirements under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: As part of the joint local implementation process for the 2003 act all local areas have been asked to involve their local partners in planning services this should include local service users.</p> <p>The Scottish Executive has undertaken some specific consult…

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crisis centres there are for people with mental illness, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) provider.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Local authorities and NHS boards working with their partners are responsible for designing, providing and supporting mental health crisis services. Comprehensive information on the number of crisis centres by area and provider is not available centrally but w…

20 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why South Lanarkshire's planning committee has not yet received a response from the Executive regarding planning application CL/04/0444.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I understand that application CL/04/0444 was granted planning permission by South Lanarkshire Council on 12 April. The Executive’s Air Climate and Engineering Division and Trunk Road Network Management Division both responded to the council’s consultation exe…