Parliamentary questions
Andy Kerr
326 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA and with reference to the single outcome agreements, what role the Scottish Government envisages for best value.
Answer · John Swinney: The best valueprinciples for local authorities to secure continuous improvement inperformance and in public reporting will continue to be a key factor inensuring local authorities have due regard to economy, efficiency andeffectiveness. The best value princip…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether any public consultation will be required locally on emerging indicators and targets.
Answer · John Swinney: The concordat setsout a new relationship between the Scottish Government and local government.</p><p>Section 13 of theLocal Government in Scotland Act 2003, supported by statutory guidance, alreadyplaces a duty on councils <em>toreport to the public on the pe…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether each local authority will have a single outcome agreement (SOA) which covers all the indicators in Annex A to the concordat and what the earliest and latest date is on which each SOA is to be agreed.
Answer · John Swinney: Each local authoritywill have a single outcome agreement that relates to all of the indicators inAnnex A to the concordat where appropriate for each local authority.</p>
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether a baseline of service delivery will be set and how progress will be measured and monitored.
Answer · John Swinney: The concordat setsout a new relationship between the Scottish Government and local government. Thepurpose of the concordat is to provide a mature agreement on the development andenhancement of service delivery in Scotland.</p>
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether it believes that current local government boundaries are optimal for the efficient and effective delivery of all current local government functions.
Answer · John Swinney: The concordat withCOSLA contains a commitment that the Scottish Government will not undertake structuralreform of local government during the term of this Parliament. We recognise thatthere may be occasions where minor boundary adjustments may be necessary, f…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, how many fewer civil servants and local government officers will be needed as a result of planned reductions in bureaucracy.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmentwants to achieve a simpler, more effective public sector for Scotland, which is good for Scotland’s competitiveness and overall economic performance. There will be no compulsoryredundancies as a result of structural changes proposed.</p…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, what the specific and full range of measures will be to reduce bureaucracy; how the reduction in bureaucracy will be measured; by whom it will be measured and at what time intervals, and how it will be reported to the Parliament.
Answer · John Swinney: The concordat setsout a new relationship between the Scottish Government and local government. Aspart of the partnership, the concordat has provided for a group which will overseethe process towards implementation of the single Outcome Agreements. This group,…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether it is a strategic objective in its own right for the share of Scottish spending going to local government to grow year-on-year or whether budgets for any sector should be assessed on a needs basis, taking account of health and tertiary…
Answer · John Swinney: Our strategic objectivesand spending plans are set out in <i>Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007</i> andmake full use of the resources currently available to the Scottish Government.<i></i>The government has decided as part of the Spending Review to reverse…
29 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, whether a council that does not freeze council tax will retain all efficiency savings, have a single outcome agreement and have the same ring fencing arrangement as other local authorities.
Answer · John Swinney: Under the terms of the package of measures provided by the Scottish Government it is expected thatall councils will freeze their council tax at 2007-08 levels. This includes an additional£70 million for implementing a council tax freeze. If it is clear that a…
24 Oct 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its on-going justice reviews.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are a wide rangeof matters currently under review, including Community Penalties, Prisons, the ShirleyMcKie case, DNA, the National Antisocial Behaviour Strategy and Civil Judicial Statistics.</p><p>A table providingmore detailed information on the prog…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to continue the funding to local government for the enforcement of the smoking ban.
Answer · Shona Robison: Future funding forenforcement of the smoke-free laws is being considered as part of the 2007 SpendingReview.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met NHS Lanarkshire’s Area Partnership Forum prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the capacity ofCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I had not met the Area Partnership Forumof NHS Lanarkshire prior to 6 June.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met the Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the capacity ofCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I had met the Chief Executive of NHSLanarkshire once prior to 6 June; for approximately one hour and 15 minutes.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met the chair of NHS Lanarkshire prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1531 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met the Medical Director of NHS Lanarkshire prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the capacity ofCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I had not met the Medical Director ofNHS Lanarkshire prior to 6 June.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met the Area Clinical Forum of NHS Lanarkshire prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the capacity ofCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I had not met the Area Clinical Forumof NHS Lanarkshire prior to 6 June.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met NHS Lanarkshire prior to the announcement on accident and emergency services in the area and how long each meeting lasted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the capacity ofCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I had met twice prior to 6 June; thechair for approximately one hour and the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshirefor approximately one hour and 15 minutes.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current vacancy rate is for all posts in NHS Lanarkshire.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on vacancyrates for key staff only is collected centrally and is published on the ScottishHealth Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce">www.isdscotland.org/workforce</a>.</p><p>Inform…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to engage with clinicians who supported the establishment of community casualty facilities throughout Lanarkshire, as agreed by the Executive and NHS Lanarkshire.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I expect NHS Lanarkshireto take account of the views of local clinicians and staff in revising the serviceproposals which will then be subject to independent scrutiny.</p><p>I will look to theIndependent Scrutiny Panel to ensure that the views of all stakehol…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee to introduce the network of community casualty units throughout Lanarkshire as outlined in A Picture of Health.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the decision to retain accident and emergency services at (a) Monklands, (b) Wishaw and (c) Hairmyres hospitals will have on patients attending accident and emergency with minor injuries at these hospitals.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be made available for the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide additional ambulance and paramedic services in Lanarkshire as a result of the reversal of the decision taken by the NHS board to redesign accident and emergency services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As I outlined in mystatement in the Chamber on 6 June, I have instructed the board of NHS Lanarkshireto review their original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enableaccident and emergency services to continue at all three sites in Lanarkshire.…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when building work will commence and be completed at (a) the Airdrie Resource Centre, (b) Bellshill Health Centre, (c) Carluke Health Centre, (d) Clydesdale Hospital, (e) Coatbridge Dental and Primary Care Centre, (f) the East Kilbride Resource Centre, (g) Greenhills Dental Centre, (h) Ha…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has already been undertaken to establish a community casualty facility at the five sites designated in A Picture of Health.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter forNHS Lanarkshire.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional budget has been allocated to NHS Lanarkshire to implement the reversal of the decision taken by its board to redesign accident and emergency services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional staff, at what grades, will require to be recruited to continue to provide a full accident and emergency service at (a) Monklands, (b) Wishaw and (c) Hairmyres hospitals.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if (a) general surgery providing 24/7 receiving services, (b) general medical providing 24/7 receiving services, including provision for admissions of older people, (c) orthopaedic surgery providing 24/7 receiving services, (d) anaesthetic services on a 24/7 basis, including gene…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Irefer the member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what minimum services it considers are required to constitute an effective and sustainable accident and emergency facility.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We recognisethat a range of support services are available to accident and emergency units acrossScotland, and that these appropriatelytake account of local circumstances.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether accident and emergency services at (a) Monklands, (b) Wishaw and (c) Hairmyres hospitals will be supported on a 24/7 basis by (i) general surgery providing 24/7 receiving services, (ii) general medical providing 24/7 receiving services, including provision for admissions of older …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether accident and emergency services at (a) Monklands, (b) Wishaw and (c) Hairmyres hospitals will continue to provide a full service to the public on a 24/7 basis.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1507 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…