Parliamentary questions
Ben Wallace
205 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patient and day case discharges from waiting lists there were in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03, as shown for previous years on table M6.1 of the ISD Scotland national statistics release on waiting times.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Table M6.1 is no longer published. Information on in-patient and day case activity in each of the last five years for which information is available is given in the table. Information for 2001-02 is provisional.<P><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WID…
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive . further to the answer to question S1W-29930 by Mr Frank McAveety on 9 October 2002, when it intends to complete its consideration of the implications for its policy on free personal care of the decision of the Competition Commission Appeals Tribunal.
Answer · Frank McAveety: We do not consider there are any immediate implications for, or actions required in respect of, our policy on free personal care arising from the Bettercare judgement. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31405 on 20 November 2002, which mak…
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what bodies were formally consulted by the First Minister in the preparation of his report to be submitted to the Committee of the Regions for the Convention on the Future of Europe.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Opinion "More democracy, transparency and efficiency in the European Union" was drafted by me for the Committee of the Regions in a personal capacity. The Scottish Executive has consulted extensively on Future of Europe issues to inform an offic…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any implications for its policy on free personal care of the decision by the Competition Commission Appeals Tribunal on 1 August 2002 in favour of Bettercare Group Ltd with reference to payment for nursing and care services in the North and West Belfast …
Answer · Frank McAveety: We are currently considering the implications of the judgement.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) contributions and (b) responses it has received in respect of its national debate on the Future of Europe and, of these, how many have been posted on its website about the Future of Europe under (i) "noticeboard" and (ii) "contributions".
Answer · Jim Wallace: As at 11 October, 28 responses had been received. Three contributions have been posted on the "Noticeboard" on the Executive's Future of Europe website, and five have been posted under "Contributions". The remainder are either not availabl…
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have submitted applications for grants from its fund for Future of Europe debates, referred to in paragraph 10 of its paper submitted to the European Committee on 18 June 2002, Future of Europe Debate: Involving Civil Society, and which applications (a) are pending and…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive approached the Scottish Civic Forum to gauge interest in the Future of Europe debate amongst medium- and small-sized Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Based on their findings, and in the interests of ensuring that a reasonable numb…
6 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation at paragraph 106 of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee's 30th Report, European Scrutiny in the Commons.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee's 30th report is addressed to the UK Government, which will be responding to it shortly.
6 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has complied with guidance issued by Her Majesty's Government that comments on European memoranda be with the relevant departments within 10 days of receipt from the European Union.
Answer · Jim Wallace: UK Government departments are under an obligation to the UK Parliament to ensure that explanatory memoranda are provided to the UK Parliament within 10 days of the deposit of the European Union document which requires the memorandum. Any consultation between …
6 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has commented on European memoranda submitted to it by departments of Her Majesty's Government since May 1999.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the devolved administrations arrangements are in place for the UK Government to consult the devolved administrations on relevant European Union matters…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers will be attending the Britain at the Leading Edge trade convention in Shanghai, China in October.
Answer · Iain Gray: No Scottish Executive minister will attend Britain at the Leading Edge, which is a programme of events aimed at demonstrating that the UK is modern, innovative and technologically advanced. UK Government ministers are currently considering their attendance at…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its senior civil servants subscribe to the Civil Service Healthcare Society.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally and is in any case regarded as personal to the individual. The Scottish Executive makes no contribution to the society on behalf of its staff.
30 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funding it intends to draw down for the Scottish fishing sector in the current programme year, expressed in euros.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In the current programme year the Executive plans to seek reimbursement (draw down) of around 13 million euros - 3 million euros for the Highlands and Islands Transitional Objective 1 programme and 10 million euros for the programme covering the rest of Scotl…
30 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funding for the Scottish fishing sector has been drawn down from the EU in each year since the beginning of the programme and how much is forecast to be drawn down in the next three years, expressed in euros.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In 2001, the Executive received initial advances of 1.9 million euros for the Highlands and Islands transitional Objective 1 programme for 2000-06, and 4.45 million euros for the programme covering the rest of Scotland. By the end of 2004 a further 13 and 26 …
21 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in replacing old linear accelerators and when it expects to see a reduction in the waiting times for radiotherapy treatment of cancer as a result.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme has been agreed through a steering group, comprising NHSScotland physicists and oncologists who deliver the services, to determine immediate and longer-term equipment requirements. The programme has maintaine…
17 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a national framework for epilepsy in the light of the recent revised guidelines on information by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to introduce a national framework specifically for epilepsy but is working towards the development of managed clinical networks which will help improve services for this condition. The SIGN guidelines, currently bei…
15 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since 1999 mobile screening units for breast cancer have visited (a) Dumfries and Galloway, (b) Highland, (c) Lanarkshire, (d) Shetland and (e) Western Isles NHS Board areas.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Breast Screening Programme invites eligible women for breast screening every three years. Breast screening is provided at either mobile units or static screening centres.<P>Mobile Screening Units have visited a number of locations in the followin…
15 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why there has been a decline in the numbers of women being recalled early for breast screening from 1993 to 2001 according to Information and Statistics Division KC62 return.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The breast screening early recall rate has reduced from 1.2% in 1993 to 0.2% in 2001. This has been achieved by investments in improved technology and in the expertise of screening staff. Image Guided Biopsy, for example, has allowed staff to make definitive …
8 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24643 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 April 2002, in respect of which (a) EU directives and (b) subject matters section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 was used in each case.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25346.
8 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE5603/2002 of 27 March 2002, whether it will give a breakdown of the #2.75 million investment in liquid-based cytology.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The £2.75 million investment in liquid-based cytology will be used to meet either the capital or first year leasing costs for the processing machines, for the training costs of the laboratory and smear taking staff and proficiency testing costs. Exact figures…
24 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24643 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 April 2002, whether it will detail each of the 17 times it has used section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 to implement EU Community obligations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The answer to S1W-24643 should in fact have read 15 times. The actual and planned uses of section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 are contained in the following lists:<P>Section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 has already been used in the following cases;<OL><L…
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24513 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 April 2002, when guidelines were issued to make opportunistic screenings for oral cancer routine.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An examination for oral cancer during the routine dental examination is considered to be part of good practice. Such opportunistic screening has been recommended through reports, such as the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme Oral Cancer Report. There have b…
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many radiographers are currently qualified with mammography accreditation and how many have qualified in each year since 1995.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally, but could be obtained, by the member, from NHSScotland Screening Services.
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop a training centre for breast physicians.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Women with breast problems are most often referred to specialist breast clinics, where they are normally seen by breast surgeons or general surgeons with a special interest in breast cancer. The term "breast physician" does not refer to any single recognised …
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pathologists who qualified in Scotland in each year from 1995 practise in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not collected centrally.<P>ISD Scotland, however, does collect data on the total numbers of pathologists employed by NHSScotland and the country of qualification of their primary medical degree. This is contained in the following …
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific plans it has to combat the shortage of breast cancer specialists.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The diagnosis and treatment of patients with breast cancer involves a wide range of highly skilled staff from different medical specialties. We are already taking vigorous action to respond to specialist shortages in this field. In 2001 the numbers of higher …
12 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of one-stop cancer clinics dealing with cancer provide same day diagnosis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to identify all the one-stop clinics which provide cancer diagnosis, as many of them cover a wide range of conditions which are treated by general surgeons, dermatologists and urologists.<P>Information from NHSScotland indicates that it is …
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has turned down proposals for the use of section 57 of the Scotland Act 1998 by ministers and officials of Her Majesty's Government.
Answer · Jim Wallace: None.
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions it has used section 57 of the Scotland Act 1998 to implement European Community obligations in a devolved area on a UK-wide basis.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 has been used to implement European Community obligations 17 times.
26 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for opportunistic screening to detect oral cancers and when such proposals will be in place.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In Scotland, much has already been done to increase professional awareness of oral cancer. The launch of the oral cancer training initiative in February 2000, distributed to all primary care dentists, doctors and pharmacists, has prepared the ground for subst…
26 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the multi-disciplinary prostate cancer working group on its review of referral, management and treatment of people with prostate cancer, as well as any recommendations the group makes to the Scottish Cancer Group, will be published.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The final draft of the report prepared by a working party set up by the then Scottish Cancer Group (SCG) was considered by them at their last meeting in June 2001. <P>It was agreed at that time that although a start had been made, a great deal of further wor…