Parliamentary questions

Andrew Welsh

539 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the development of a national telephone money advice service.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: A project team, led by the Executive and including Money Advice Scotland, Citizens Advice, other money advice providers, local authorities and the credit industry was set up in August 2000 to take forward work on developing a debtline service. A pilot debtlin…

7 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the study by Deloitte and Touche examining the case for establishing a Highlands and Islands Transport Authority and when the study is likely to be published.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We expect the Deloitte and Touche study to be published during March. They have consulted 63 groups and individual stakeholders in the course of their detailed study. The Executive looks forward to discussing the way forward with interested parties.

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities have a strong voice on the new NHS Boards referred to in Our National Health; a plan for action, a plan for change.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13146 on 20 February 2001.

6 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be represented on the new NHS Boards referred to in Our National Health; a plan for action, a plan for change.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change makes clear our view that "in their local areas Local Authorities should have a strong voice on the new NHS Boards" (section 3, page 29). Some health board…

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths result from hospital-acquired infections each year, what proportion of the total number of cases of hospital-acquired infections this represents and what the total annual cost to the NHSiS is of dealing with hospital-acquired infections.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information about deaths resulting from hospital-acquired infections (HAI) is not available, as HAI is not a notifiable cause of death.A broad estimate of the incidence, impact and cost of HAI in Scotland, prepared by the Health Department …

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the infection control nurse to patient ratio is in each health board area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally but can be obtained from individual health boards and Trusts. The names and addresses of all health boards and Trusts are available on the Scottish Health on the Web (SHOW) site at <A HREF="http://www.show.scot.uk/">www.…

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many infection control nurses have been appointed in the NHSiS in the past five years.

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute NHS Trusts have strategic plans for dealing with hospital-acquired infections.

Answer · Susan Deacon: All NHS Trusts in Scotland are required, in terms of the Scottish Infection Manual (1998), to produce and implement an annual infection control programme, and to develop written policies, procedures and guidelines for the prevention and control of infe…

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve the surveillance of hospital-acquired infections.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Tackling hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is an important priority for the NHS in Scotland, and effective surveillance of HAI is a key part of this agenda. A sub-group of the Health Department's Advisory Group on Infection has been developing plans for a nat…

4 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been given to (a) North Ayrshire Council and (b) other local authorities to maintain road networks and from what budget any such money came.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Councils are allocated Grant Aided Expenditure for Roads and Road Lighting which includes road maintenance. It is entirely a matter for each council to determine its current expenditure priorities and from GAE to allocate resources for roads maintenance. Simi…

22 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the creation of a postgraduate dental education centre in Dundee.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive understands that a project proposing the creation of a postgraduate dental education centre in Dundee will be included in the Tayside Health Board Capital Planning proposals for the coming year. This proposal will be assessed against ot…

22 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any concerns amongst dentists about the funding and provision of verifiable courses necessary for continuing professional development and what measures are being taken to address any such concerns.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Dental Action Plan, published recently, proposed that the availability of postgraduate education for General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) be increased through additional sessions incorporating sessions for audit and research. The Scottish Executive monitor…

22 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what postgraduate education facilities there are in Scotland for dentists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: All regions in Scotland have specific facilities for postgraduate dental education as listed below:Raigmore HospitalForresterhill HospitalDundee Dental School Edinburgh Postgraduate D…

22 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information on NHS waiting lists it holds centrally and how any such information is compiled.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Detailed information about hospital waiting lists in Scotland, compiled from hospitals' Patient Administration Systems, is collected centrally by the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) of the Common Services Agency for NHS Scotland. The Scottish Execut…

17 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated, or capital borrowing consent given, for specific road or bridge projects outwith the trunk road network since May 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Additional capital borrowing consent of £3.3 million is being made available to Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils to complete the A907 Manor Powis to Tullibody road which is the major transport corridor between Stirling and Alloa.

13 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health intends to respond to my letter of 15 March 2000 on behalf of my constituent Dr Graham Kramer.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I responded to your letter on 25 September 2000.

26 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7824 by Susan Deacon on 24 July 2000, whether it plans to collate centrally information regarding occupational therapy waiting times in individual Trust and health board areas.

Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no plans to collate centrally information on waiting times for occupational therapy.Occupational therapy and other Professions Allied to Medicine services are provided in a variety of settings, often at an outpatient clinic or in th…

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a need for coherent epidemiological research into ME and, if so, what funding it is providing for this purpose.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Data on the estimated prevalence of unexplained chronic fatigue in the community is available from national surveys. The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive has no plans to support further epidemiological research but applications for research on…

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected life span is of the A92 bridge over south Esk at Montrose.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested since this bridge is the responsibility of Angus Council as the local roads authority.

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the A92 bridge over the South Esk at Montrose needs to be replaced and what statutory or other responsibilities it has to keep such a route open.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware that Angus Council as the local roads authority is currently planning for a replacement of the Montrose bridge. It is entirely a matter for the council to take whatever action it considers necessary to keep the route open durin…

22 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the financial recovery plan for Tayside's health services will have on acute services within Tayside and Angus.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is a matter primarily for Tayside Health Board and the NHS Trusts in Tayside to plan and deliver a range of health services, including acute services, which are both clinically effective and financially sustainable. The Tayside Task Force and the Scottish …

22 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a report from the Ministerial Task Force addressing Tayside region's health service overspend and, if so, when it will be published.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Task Force has produced an Interim Report which I published on 30 June together with details of the Executive's response. A copy of the Interim Report has been forwarded to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

22 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds in Angus hospitals are currently blocked and what measures are being taken to address any problems in this respect.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Reducing the number of delayed discharges is a high priority for the Scottish Executive. £60 million is being made available to the NHS - on top of existing record levels of funding - to accelerate delivery of a number of priorities including a reduction in t…