Brian Adam

18 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how dentists can meet the NHS commitment criteria for earning £50,000 from 500 NHS-registered patients, in light of average item of service fees of £40.10 per adult and £45.20 per child.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The calculation of gross NHSearnings when determining whether or not a practice is regarded as an NHScommitted practice for the payment of certain allowances includes, as well asitem of service payments, a number of additional fees, grants and allowances.</p>

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it currently helps to finance the Met Office to produce a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive does notcurrently help to finance a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.</p><p>The Executive has received areport from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and is currently consideringa funding proposal for a more d…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to (a) Her Majesty’s Government and (b) the Met Office about the Met Office’s plan to stop producing a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Met Office is not withdrawingthe weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains. While the current phone and fax serviceis being considered for withdrawal due to its non viability as a commercial service,the Met Office will replace this with a fre…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was informed or consulted about the Met Office’s plan to stop producing a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Met Office is not withdrawingthe weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains. While the current phone and fax serviceis being considered for withdrawal due to its non viability as a commercial service,the Met Office will replace this with a fre…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the Met Office’s plan to stop producing a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Met Office is not withdrawingthe weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains. While the current phone and fax serviceis being considered for withdrawal due to its non viability as a commercial service,the Met Office will replace this with a fre…

22 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the introduction of a plastics-to-fuel scheme for Scotland, similar to the one recently announced for Germany.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Techniques that producefuels in ways that are more environmentally sustainable are to be welcomed. Howeverinvestment in such commercial operations is a decision for individual companiesto make. Regional Selective Assistance(RSA) is the Executive’s main form o…

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content with indications that Communities Scotland regards the Scottish Tenants’ Organisation as a “former” organisation.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Members of the Scottish TenantsOrganisation (STO) Steering Committee have told the Scottish Executive and CommunitiesScotland that the STO is not currently operating as a constituted body.</p>

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about Communities Scotland’s approach to tenant participation and consultation.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Scottish Executive fullysupports Communities Scotland’s approach to tenant participation and consultation,including its assistance to help tenants develop arrangements by which the tenants’movement can engage with the Executive at a national level.</p>

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which tenants’ organisations it recognises for consultation purposes.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Scottish Executive recognisesRegistered Tenant Organisations for consultation purposes. We also endeavour toinform and consult with non-registered constituted tenant organisations where theirexistence is known to us.</p>

16 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about NHS boards seeking to “poach” nursing staff from other NHS boards within Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are encouraged tohave complimentary workforce strategies so that the net workforce capacity for theNHS in Scotland is increased. Staff “poaching” as a result of recruitmentactivities in one area having a consequence on the workforce in another has …

14 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average fee per patient is, as recorded by the NHS Dental Practice Board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is containedin appendix 2, table A10 of the <i>Scottish Dental Practice Board Annual Report</i>,which is available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sdpb/Annual%20Report%20and%20Executive%20Summaries/SDPB_annual_report_2004-05.pdf…

13 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with the UK Government plans for restrictions on the imports of all poultry and poultry products from countries where there have been confirmed cases of avian flu.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues relating to thecontrol and prevention of avian influenza. These discussions have supported thedevelopment of a UK position for consideration of trade rules with the E…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-23326 by Hugh Henry on 3 March 2006, whether it will provide the number of motor vehicle seizures and warnings issued by police under the recent anti-social behaviour legislation, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Seizure of vehicles is apolice power and data is collected by police constabulary area, as presented inthe following table. The data covers the period from commencement of themeasure in March 2005 to October 2005. Statistics on the use of the measures inthe A…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist paediatric dentists are in post, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Paediatric dentistry is a hospital-based dental specialty in which children who have facial and dental anomalies, have been involved in dento alveolar trauma, have special needs or who are fearful or resistant to care by general dental practitioners are treat…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether consultees in respect of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route were advised that the Milltimber Brae option was not a likely choice.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No. It was made clear whenthe public consultation was launched that the route choice which includedMilltimber Brae, was open and that everyone was encouraged to express theirviews.</p>

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice it received on the preferred route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The technical informationreferred to in making the decision has been published and is available on theproject website:</p><p><ahref="http://www.awpr.co.uk/">www.awpr.co.uk</a>.</p>

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a timetable of action in respect of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, including details of when it anticipates the public inquiry to take place, when the final route will be agreed, when the land required will be acquired, when it anticipates compensation clai…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Outline programme informationis available on the Transport Scotland website <ahref="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/">www.transportscotland.gov.uk</a>.</p><p>Following my announcement of the preferred route on 1 December detailed engineering and environme…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to poultry farmers about avian flu.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive firstpublished a Biosecurity Code of Practice aimed at all livestock keepers in November2002. Since then additional biosecurity guidance has been developed in specificdocuments which have been published in the context of avian influenza…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects new and re-opened suburban railway stations to be operational in Aberdeen.

Answer · Tavish Scott: With the support of ScottishExecutive funding, NESTRANS are currently undertaking detailed feasibility workon the Aberdeen Crossrail proposals which will consider the opening of newstations between Stonehaven and Inverurie, and Aberdeenshire Council are final…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on coastal protection in each year since 1999 and what schemes have benefited from Executive support, showing the monies they have been granted.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The total amount provided by the Executive, to date, in grant support to local authorities for coast protection measures since 1999 is £4,428,182.56. Further information on the amount spent each year since 1999, and on the schemes that have benefited from Exe…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has provided to local authorities to attract more cruise liners to visit Scottish ports.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Cruise liners bring a significantnumber of visitors to particular areas of Scotland during the year. While no specific support is available to local authoritiesto help them attract cruise liners, VisitScotland is commissioning research whichwill assess both t…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids it has received for monies from the Route Development Fund since its inception, broken down into (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful bidders.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Since the inception of the RouteDevelopment Fund (RDF) by the Scottish Executive in November 2002, approximately60 offers have been made to airlines to commence new routes with 47 new routes commencedor planned to commence up to summer 2006. The remaining off…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence that dentists moving to private practice are being advised to retain some NHS work in their practices to maximise the NHS funding they receive.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Experience suggests thatdentists moving to private practice will retain some element of NHS work,mainly registration and treatment of children and other patients exempt fromcharges, which attracts some NHS funding and allowances.</p>

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that patients who have been deregistered from NHS dental practices are notified of local dental waiting lists.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The overall responsibilityfor provision of NHS dental services rests with NHS boards, whom we encourageto maintain lists of patients who wish to have access to NHS dental services.</p>

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence of external commercial interests actively encouraging dentists to move from the NHS.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are aware thatinformation on private dental plans has been offered to dentists, and that privatedental plan providers routinely advertise in the professional journals. Relevantexamples are contained in the September to October 2005, Issue 76 of the <i>Scot…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many motor vehicles have been seized by police since the introduction of recent anti-social behaviour legislation.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Police forces across Scotland have seized 17 vehicles since the measure commenced in March 2005 under the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004. They have issued in excess of 340 warning notices, the first step towards seizing a vehicle.</p>

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for (a) drug dealing and (b) drug possession in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following tables.</p><p>Persons Proceeded Against forSupply or Possession with Intent to Supply Drugs¹, by Approximate AuthorityArea², 1999-2003</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <th…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on drug awareness campaigns in each year since 1999.

Answer · Hugh Henry: While drug campaign materials are funded from a variety of sources within the Executive, the bulk of expenditure on drug awareness campaigns is on advertising and media (since 2002-03, through the <i>Know the Score</i> drugs communication strategy).</p> <p>Dr…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what quantity of illegal drugs has been seized by (a) police and (b) HM Customs and Excise in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and showing (i) type and (ii) street value.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Data on the quantities of illegal drugs seized in Scotland is only available broken down by police force area, not by local authority area.</p> <p>Figures for the years 1999 to 2003 inclusive are given in the publications listed, copies of which are availab…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on tobacco awareness campaigns in each year since 1999.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has spent£750,000 including VAT in 2005-06 on the advertising campaign to raise public awarenessabout the smoke-free legislation which will be introduced on 26 March 2006.</p>