Parliamentary questions
Adam Ingram
1,244 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar were considered.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Prior to publication of the preferred route in June 1996 four alternatives were considered for the section between Haddington and East Linton, six around East Linton and two from East Linton to Dunbar. The preferred route and the Expressway were the two optio…
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many objections to the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar remain outstanding.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: None, I considered each objection and my decision is contained in a letter dated 13 June 2001 issued to each objector.
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why no public local inquiry was held on the proposal to construct the A1 Haddington to Dunbar expressway option as recommended in Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: When <I>Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review </I>was published in November 1999 public reaction to the expressway had not been tested by the publication of draft orders. Contrary to expectations, the orders subsequently published did not attrac…
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to modify the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar to incorporate slip roads to East Linton.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The statutory consents for the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway would not allow for the inclusion of slip roads to East Linton in the contract, which is currently being tendered.
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology it used to assess the environmental impact of building slip roads to East Linton on the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken an environmental impact assessment of the slip roads at East Linton. Should their construction be promoted, this would require the preparation and publication of an Environmental Statement in accordance with the Roads…
2 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when work will commence on the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar, and how the timescale now compares with the timescale given in Strategic Roads Review - Scheme Decisions, the supplementary report to Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I announced in November 1999 that five schemes, including the A1, will proceed to construction over the next three years. I had envisaged that, subject to satisfactory progress on the completion of the necessary statutory procedures, construction could begin …
24 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to respond to the proposal by West Lothian Health Care NHS Trust and West Lothian Council with regard to the building of a new hospital for mental health patients.
Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS Lothian's Mental Health Strategy proposes a major shift from hospital to community-based health care, which would see a reduction in the number of mental illness continuing care beds in West Lothian. <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">NHS Lothian and its planning partner…
24 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue has been raised by the sale of Bangour Village Hospital.
Answer · Susan Deacon: West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust is still in negotiations with the preferred bidder and no final sale price has been agreed.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is hoped that negotiations will be completed within the next two months.
12 Sep 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further funding will be made available to local authorities to ensure that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines on attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders in children and young people are fully implemented.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Local authorities, health boards, education departments and social work services are already expected to provide services for children and young people with attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders from the funding made available to them by the Executive.…
11 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has compared the level of service provided by AMEY Highways Ltd in respect of the maintenance of trunk roads with that provided by the local authorities previously responsible for this work.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The level of service required from Operating Companies in respect of the trunk road maintenance contracts is defined within the contract. Differing conditions of contract make direct comparisons with the previous operators difficult. However, work undertaken …
11 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many default notices have been served on AMEY Highways Ltd in respect of the contract for the maintenance of south west unit trunk roads.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Six default notices have been issued to AMEY Highways Ltd, the Operating Company for the South West Trunk Road Unit.
11 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether people with schi'ophrenia in the Lothian area who are being treated in a community setting are able to access all appropriate medication via their GP.
Answer · Susan Deacon: GPs in Lothian are able to prescribe a range of drugs for patients with schizophrenia. However, the Lothian Drug Evaluation Panel has advised GPs in the Lothian area that treatment with some of these drugs should be initiated and supervised by a specialist.
11 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Lothian Health Board regarding any decision by the board to limit the atypical drugs which GPs may prescribe to schi'ophrenia sufferers.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive has had no discussions with Lothian Health Board about limiting the atypical antipsychotic drugs which GPs may prescribe to their patients with schizophrenia.<P>The use of these drugs depends on the clinical judgement of the clinicians concerned…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14515 by Sarah Boyack on 9 April 2001, when an announcement will be made with regard to the funding of the proposed Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: On 27 August, I announced that the Executive is taking forward the Larkhall to Milngavie rail route project in partnership with Strathclyde Passenger Transport. Jointly we will provide £23 million to build the link. Discussions are now under way on the detail…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been commissioned to inform rail freight policy and when the results of any such research will be made available to the Parliament.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In April, the Scottish Executive commissioned consultants to carry out a study to take a strategic view of the potential for developing sustainable freight movements across the whole of Scotland. The outcome of this study will assist in the forthcoming discus…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Strategic Rail Authority will produce and publish for the Scottish Executive the rail freight strategy for Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I understand that the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) hope to publish their rail freight strategy for Scotland later this year. In April, the Scottish Executive commissioned consultants to carry out a study to take a strategic view of the potential for develop…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the proposed Glasgow South Orbital Route and what its projected completion date is.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Glasgow Southern Orbital is being promoted as part of a joint scheme with the M77. I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-17800 and 17801.
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the construction of the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh scheme will proceed to completion within the timetable laid out in Travel Choices for Scotland - Strategic Roads Review.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Subject to outstanding procedural matters being satisfactorily resolved, construction is planned to start in 2002-03 and, in line with the timetable laid out in <I>Travel Choices for Scotland - Strategic Roads Review</I>, I anticipate the work being completed…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in procuring the construction of the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh scheme.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In partnership with East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils, we are currently considering taking forward the M77 jointly with Glasgow Southern Orbital (GSO) as a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) contract. Statutory schemes and orders have been made a…
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it would require in order to decide to change the status of the A70 or A71 to a trunk road.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any extension to the trunk road network would require Scottish ministers to conclude that a route should be added to the national system, after taking into consideration the statutory requirements set out in section 5 (2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding upgrading (a) the A70 and (b) the A71 to trunk road status.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has received correspondence calling for improvements to both the A70 and A71 but no explicit demands for upgrading to trunk roads status.
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to consider representations regarding additions to or deletions from the trunk road network.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any representation suggesting the alteration of the trunk road network will be considered on its merits.
27 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the criteria established in 1996 for defining a trunk road or network.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to review the criteria for defining a trunk road or network.
23 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been received in each health board area for spending on mental health services since May 1999.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Since 1999-2000 health funding has increased from £4.9 billion to £5.9 billion in the current year and is due to rise to £6.9 billion in 2003-04. Health boards are given a unified budget to meet the health care needs of their resident populations. It is for b…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15739 by Sarah Boyack on 24 May 2001, what the remit and membership is of each of the groups originally established as sub-groups of the National Transport Forum and of each of the new bodies involved in developing and delivering integrated transport…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A document, <I>National Transport Forum for Scotland Sub-Groups: Remit, Membership, Number of Meetings</I>, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. no. 15585).<P>The minutes of the meetings of the groups are matters covered by Part…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much, and for which projects, BP plc has received in Freight Facilities Grant to date.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: BP were awarded a Freight Facilities Grant of £10.044 million in December 2000. This was for one project, which will allow BP to transfer fuel oils by rail from Grangemouth to various depots including Dumfries, Fort William, Lairg, Dyce and Kilmarnock.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16390 by Sarah Boyack on 2 July 2001, who submitted each of the Freight Facilities Grant applications currently being considered and what amount of funding is being sought in each application.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Companies provide the information included in Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) applications on a commercial in confidence basis. I am therefore unable to provide this information. However, the details of any FFG awards made, including the level of funding, are …
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any joint research programmes completed or currently being carried out by two or more of (a) the Clinical Resource and Audit Group, (b) the Common Services Agency, (c) the Health Technology Board for Scotland, (d) the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, (e)…
Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15892 by Susan Deacon on 5 June 2001, whether the work on mapping the relationships between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality covers the Public Health Institute for Scotland and the Common Services Agency and, if not, what relat…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Medical Officer's review of Scotland's clinical effectiveness organisations includes consideration of the role of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme, a unit of the Public Health Institute, and the Information and Statistics Division of the Comm…
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15892 by Susan Deacon on 5 June 2001, when it expects the Chief Medical Officer to conclude the work on mapping the relationships between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Medical Officer expects to complete his review in November.