Parliamentary questions
Brian Adam
1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on alcohol abuse awareness campaigns in each year since 1999.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The annual spend on alcoholabuse awareness campaigns since 1999 is as follows: </p><table 5 border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Alcohol Awareness Funding</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling solvents to under age customers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The statistics held centrally do not separately identify prosecutions for selling solvents tounderage customers from other offences of culpable and reckless conduct.</p>
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) retailers and (b) licensees have been prosecuted for selling tobacco products to under age customers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following table. No breakdown of these figures into prosecutions ofretailers and licensees is available from the data held centrally. The court proceedingsstatistics for 2004-05 are planned for publication in spring 20…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) retailers and (b) licensees have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to under age customers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following table. No breakdown of these figures into prosecutions ofretailers and licensees is available from the data held centrally. The court proceedingsstatistics for 2004-05 are planned for publication in spring 20…
13 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much council tax each local authority has lost in each year since 1999 as a result of council house voids.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.</p>
13 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much rent each local authority has lost in each year since 1999 as a result of council house voids.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table providesthe information requested for each financial year since 1999-2000.</p><p>Rent Lost as a Result ofUnlet Houses</p><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Local Authority Area</p> </td> …
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practitioners offered NHS dentistry in 2005, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested canbe found on the Scottish Health Statistics website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=3446&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=34…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made in discussions with the British Dental Association in respect of a new dental contract for NHS dentists.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Executive officials meet withrepresentatives from the British Dental Association (BDA) on a regular basis totake forward the implementation of the <i>Action Plan for Improving Oral Healthand Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland</i>. I confirmed the bas…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid by each NHS board to general dental practitioners in the year before they moved to private practice since 1999 and how the boards have reallocated the funds saved by such moves.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of children were registered with NHS dentists in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is containedin Appendix 1, table A3 of the <i>Scottish Dental Practice</i> <i>Board Annual Report2004/05</i>. This can be accessed at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sdpb/Annual%20Report%20and%20Executive%20Summaries/SDPB_annual_re…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the options being considered as part of the review of neurosurgery across Scotland include neurosurgeons continuing to be based in Aberdeen and providing a range of neurosurgical procedures in that area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The model being developedaccepts that neurosurgical activity will continue in Aberdeen, asan integral part of the Scotland-wide neurosurgery and neurology service setout in <i>Delivering for Health</i>.</p>
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has offered access to the Scottish legal system and forensic pathology services to investigate the circumstances in respect of the deaths of Scottish soldiers serving with Scottish regiments outwith the United Kingdom.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has notoffered access to the Scottish legal and forensic pathology services in relationto the deaths of Scottish soldiers overseas.</p>
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with UK ministers in respect of the procedures for investigating deaths of Scottish soldiers serving with Scottish regiments outwith the United Kingdom.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has notheld any discussions with the UK Government regarding the deaths of Scottish soldiersserving in Scottish regiments outwith the United Kingdom.</p>
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of adults were registered with NHS dentists in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is contained in Appendix 1, table A6 of the <i>Scottish Dental Practice Board Annual Report 2004/05</i>. </p> <p>This can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sdpb/Annual%20Report%20and%20Executive%20Summaries/SDPB_annual_re…
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have been removed from general dental practitioner lists as a result of dentists moving to full private practice in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.</p>
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to fulfil the Partnership Agreement commitment to free dental checks.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Free NHS dental checks will be introduced from 1 April 2006.</p>
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review its support for harm reduction measures as part of its approach to tackling illicit drug use.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Our strategy for tackling drug misuse is focused on outcomes such as the drug-free life, the crime-free life and a journey back into education, family life or employment. That means offering a wide range of options to those seeking help, tailored to individua…
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the provision of clean pipes as part of a harm reduction programme for users of crack cocaine.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Provision of paraphernalia such as clean pipes for users of crack cocaine would require amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. No such amendment is planned at present.</p>
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of any monitoring of the efficacy of providing clean injecting equipment in reducing infections of hepatitis B and C and HIV among injecting heroin addicts and the population at large.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23124 on 8 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of any monitoring of the efficacy of methadone in reducing crime among those addicted to illicit substances.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Local research in Glasgow in 1999 suggested that injecting drug users in the city committed 26 crimes per month, compared to four per month when prescribed methadone and when ceased injecting. Findings in 2005 from the much larger National Treatment Outcome R…
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of any monitoring of the efficacy of methadone in reducing infections of hepatitis B and C and HIV among injecting heroin addicts and the population at large.
Answer · Hugh Henry: In 1990, prevalence of hepatitis C among injecting drug users from Lothian and Glasgow aged under 25 was around 70-90%; these injectors would have commenced their injecting prior to the introduction of harm reduction interventions. By the mid-1990s, rates amo…
9 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to assess the efficacy of methadone in reducing infections of hepatitis B and C and HIV among injecting heroin addicts and the population at large.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) runs a surveillance initiative to measure the prevalence of infection by hepatitis C among injecting drug users and others and receives information on the number of new hepatitis B diagnoses among persons for whom injecting dr…
8 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in which European Council meetings its ministers have led the UK delegation since May 1999, broken down by (a) minister, (b) subject discussed and (c) decisions taken.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The following table providesthe information requested:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Date, Council and Lead Minister</p> </td> <td> <p>Subjects Discussed</p> </td> <td> <p>Decisions Taken</p> </t…
6 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20812 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 November 2005, when an announcement on its position in respect of maternity pay for student nurses will be made.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Following consideration of the support available for these students, I decided that, with effect from September 2005, the Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary Scheme should be amended to include a concession that will allow nursing and midwifery students to …
1 Feb 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £89 million budget in 2005-08 for flood prevention and coastal protection has been allocated and to what projects.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: To date, the Executive has committed £14 million to Edinburgh City Council for the Braid Burn flood prevention scheme and £1.066 million to Perth and Kinross Council for schemes at Weem, Milnathort and Earnbank. We are aware of other schemes under preparation…
26 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether specifications for the next generation of roads maintenance contracts will enhance the standards of landscaping on and around the trunk routes in Aberdeen.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Enhanced standards of landscaping at locations on and around trunk routes in Aberdeen are being considered for inclusion in the specification details for the next generation of roads maintenance contracts.</p> <p>Transport Scotland has the operational respons…
19 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to hospitals and NHS boards regarding the provision of proper changing facilities for staff to combat the possibilities of cross infection.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Scottish Health Facilities Note (SHFN) 30: <i>Infection Control in the Built Environment</i> provides guidance on infection prevention and control in relation to the built environment. This includes guidance on the provision of staff changing facilities.</p> …
19 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals have inadequate changing facilities for staff, requiring staff to change in toilets.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The provision of changing facilities is a matter of local policy and no central monitoring is undertaken of the level of such provision. Scottish Health Planning Notes 03 and 04 provide general guidance on the provision of changing facilities recommending tha…
19 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have a policy of restricting access to school playgrounds and playing fields outwith school hours.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not collect information centrally on such detailed aspects of local school management.</p>
19 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding funding for a new hostel for boarders from Aberdeen City Music School.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has indicated, in response to correspondence from the council, that it should not look to the Executive for a specific capital contribution to fund such a facility. Our response also made it clear to the council that it should address c…