Parliamentary questions

Adam Ingram

1,244 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been carried out in order to determine whether Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPT) has been meeting its statutory duties and what effect the current funding arrangements have had on SPT's ability to do so.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No such evaluation has been carried out.

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place with officials of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority in the last year and what was discussed at any such meetings.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive meet representatives of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority and Executive regularly to discuss a range of issues affecting public transport in their area.

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the funding arrangements of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The possibility of a review has been discussed by officials with the Director General, but no final decision on this matter has yet been made.

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the decision taken by the Minister for Transport and Planning that there was no need to hold a public enquiry relating to the construction of the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The consideration given by the Scottish ministers' was contained in their decision letter of 13 June 2001, copies of which have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Minister for Transport and Planning used when considering the validity of objections to the draft orders for the construction of the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: All the objections lodged against the draft orders were considered to be valid.

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures or legislation are currently in place, or are planned, to facilitate and expedite the obtaining of statutory powers to build light rail schemes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: At present, any proposals for new railways in Scotland require parliamentary approval at Westminster using either a "light railways Order" under the Light Railways Acts 1896 and 1912 or the powers of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936. A…

27 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18698 and S1W-19839 by Sarah Boyack on 30 October and 23 November 2001, what objections were received to the draft orders for the construction of the A1 Expressway between Haddington and Dunbar.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A summary of the objections received to the draft orders was contained in the Scottish ministers' decision letter of 13 June 2001, copies of which have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

27 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18697 by Sarah Boyack on 30 October 2001, whether the bid for the work on the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway has been accepted and whether the final contracts have been agreed.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No, the five contractors selected to tender for the work are due to return their bids on 19 December 2001. The award of contract is expected in the first quarter of 2002.

27 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the specifications will be for the construction of access roads for emergency vehicles to the proposed A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Access roads will be provided in both east and westbound directions from Traprain road. They will be designed by the successful tenderer and be of appropriate construction, gated, secured and for emergency vehicle use only.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Discharge Protocol for Mentally Disordered Offenders will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Protocol was issued as a draft for consultation in August, with responses requested by 18 October. These require to be considered carefully, and it is not clear when a final version will be available.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics regarding the numbers of people diagnosed with a mental illness it uses when formulating policy and apportioning budgets in respect of mental illness.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The allocation of resources between NHS boards in Scotland takes into account the age and sex structure of the population and the influence of deprivation on the need for healthcare. This information is based on statistical evidence about the use made of serv…

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering to improve the safety of children travelling to and from school by contract buses and coaches.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Such vehicles are subject to the safety and other requirements set out in road vehicle legislation. It is open to authorities to specify further requirements in school transport contracts if that seems appropriate to them according to particular local circums…

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government, or has received, in support of amending existing seat belt legislation in relation to school transport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The issue of seat belt legislation is a reserved matter.The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including legislation on seat belts.

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19048 by Susan Deacon on 9 November 2001, how many restricted patients who absconded in each year from 1998 to 2000 (a) did not return to hospital within 24 hours and (b) did not return to hospital at all within the period of their restriction order.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The figures are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=226><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP">1998</TD><TD WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP">(a)</TD><TD WIDTH="…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question to S1W-15240 by Susan Deacon on 24 May 2001, how it plans to address any concerns of parents with children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who have been prescribed methylphenidate other than through the Scottish Intercollegiate Gu…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There is already provision for such concerns to be addressed, in the first instance by discussion with the prescribing clinician. If parents are still not satisfied it is open to them to seek resolution through the NHS complaints procedure.…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether research has been carried out into the use of methylphenidate in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland. CSO is aware of two on-going and 10 recently compl…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding educating children who have been permanently excluded from state schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Circular 2/98 Guidance on Issues Concerning Exclusion from School, provides comprehensive guidance on the issues surrounding exclusions from school, including the continuing obligation on local authorities in respect of excluded children, and the need …

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding petition: PE270 by Andrew Baker on behalf of the A1 East Lothian Steering Group.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament agreed to pass the petition to me and I took it into account during my consideration of all the objections and representations on the draft variation orders for the A1 Expressway.

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is being made for access by emergency vehicles stationed in East Linton to the A1 expressway and what the cost of such provision will be.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Emergency vehicles will be able to access the new A1 eastwards to Dunbar and westwards to Haddington at Traprain Road. The estimated cost of this provision is £34,000 at today's prices.

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18695 by Sarah Boyack on 26 October 2001, whether the delay to the start of the construction of the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar would be any longer than it currently is expected to be if a local public inquiry was held.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Yes, a public local inquiry would result in a 12 to 18 month delay to the present rate of progress.

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19385 by Sarah Boyack on 8 November 2001, how much it would cost to modify the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar to incorporate slip roads to and from East Linton prior to it being completed.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18697 on 26 October 2001. If slip roads could be included within the proposed contract as the result of a successful promotion of a further Variation Scheme, then the costs of including the work in the ne…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-18697 and S1W-18699 by Sarah Boyack on 26 October 2001, why, if a letter was issued to each objector to the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar, no local public inquiry was established as recommended in Travel Choices for Scotland:…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18698 on 26 October 2001.

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Healthcare of Older People will be published.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The report of the Expert Group on Healthcare of Older People Adding Life to Years is currently being finalised and will be published early in the new year.

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S1W-17798, S1W-17799, S1W-17802 and S1W-18076.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The answers to these questions were given on the following dates:S1W-17798 - 6 November 2001S1W-17799 - 6 November 2001S1W-17802 - 1 October 2001S1W-18076 - 6 November 2001.

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17592 by Susan Deacon on 6 September 2001, when it will publish the review by the Chief Medical Officer on the mapping of the relationship between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Medical Officer held a series of four regional workshops to inform his review of the relationship between the various organisations with an interest in clinical effectiveness. The discussion document Integrating Scotland's Clinical Effectiveness …

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that special educational needs training is a core unit within teacher training courses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Core curricular time is already devoted to special educational needs in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. In addition, training for special educational needs is being examined in the review of ITE which began earlier this year. The first stage of th…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified psychiatric nurses are currently employed on the NHS 24 helpline.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS 24 is in the process of recruiting staff at present. The only criterion is that the nurses should be Registered General Nurses. If individuals hold a psychiatric qualification this would be "additional" rather than a core requirement.

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the establishment, remit and budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Planning meetings about the establishment of a Scottish Medicines Consortium are under way. It is hoped that an announcement about its remit and budget will be made early in the New Year.

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) paediatricians and (b) psychiatrists have undergone specific training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Answer · Susan Deacon: All doctors working as consultants or specialist registrars in paediatrics or psychiatry will be members of, respectively, either the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The membership examinations for both ins…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has in place to ensure that budgets allocated to all health board areas reflect its policies.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Performance Assessment Framework will form the mandatory core framework for assessing the performance of NHSScotland. This assessment will encompass a wide range of activities undertaken by NHS boards including the implementation of relevant national prio…