Parliamentary questions
Brian Adam
1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many inmates have received support from a clinical psychologist in each prison in each of the last three years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The data requested is not available.</p>
1 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical psychologists are employed in the Scottish Prison Service, broken down by prison.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The SPS currently employs one clinical psychologist who supplies services within SPS as required.</p>
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) in cash terms and (b) per capita each NHS board was allocated because of a weighting for deprivation since the introduction of the Arbuthnott formula.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Arbuthnott formula takes account of four main indicators to determine the level of funding allocated to each board. These are each board’s population size, age/sex structure, deprivation levels and remoteness. No specific allocation is made to boards beca…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what indicators it uses to measure health inequalities and how outcomes have changed in respect of these indicators in the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive uses 23 indicators to monitor trends in health inequalities in Scotland. These indicators were set out in <i>Improving Health in Scotland – The Challenge (2003)</i> and are listed below for information:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 …
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider linking the application of the deprivation criteria in the Arbuthnott formula to successful outcomes in reducing health inequalities.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans to link the deprivation criteria in Arbuthnott to successful health outcomes in reducing health inequalities. The formula is about distributing resources on the basis of need by taking into account levels of deprivation across health boards…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific plans it has to reduce health inequalities.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Action on health inequalities is central to our health improvement strategy and we have set ambitious targets in <i>Building a Better Scotland</i>, and <i>Closing the Opportunity Gap</i>, to increase the rate of health improvement for the most deprived commun…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the recommendations made by the expert group chaired by Lord Ross on the provision of support to patients who have suffered harm as a result of NHS treatment, including blood-borne infections acquired from contaminated blood products, and what action it has taken in r…
Answer · Andy Kerr: The recommendations of the expert group and details of the actions taken in response to each are as follows:</p><p>Recommendation 1</p><p>The Scottish Executive should agree to make compensation payments as a matter of urgency to all people who can demonstrat…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will consult patients in the preparation of its action plan to tackle hepatitis C.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Consultation with stakeholders is integral to the development of the action plan. This will be pursued in a number of ways, including meetings and further discussions to ensure active involvement of the broadest possible range of stakeholders.</p>
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify the resources required and the basis for their allocation in its action plan to tackle hepatitis C.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the question S2W-13828 answered on 7 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set target dates in its action plan to tackle hepatitis C.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the question S2W-13828 answered on 7 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation on light pollution.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We intend to propose an extension of the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include light pollution when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.</p>
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12955 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 January 2005, whether it will publish details of its consultation on the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive; when the consultation will begin, and who will be consulted.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive will publish a consultation document on the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive within the next few weeks; this will be sent to all relevant stakeholders including, among others, local authorities, transport organisations and …
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12955 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 January 2005, how many meetings it has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive; when the meetings took place, and whether it will pub…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has had a number of meetings with UK Government Departments since 2002 on the implementation of the EU Environmental Directive. The Executive does not intend to publish the minutes of these meetings since they reflect the formulation of governme…
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders granted in each local authority area in each year since 1999 have been breached and how many of these related to noise nuisance.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Information on convictions where the offence involved breach of an antisocial behaviour order is provided in the following table. The information is provided by court area as robust information by local authority area is not currently available.</p><p>Informa…
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have set up designated noise control areas under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: By 2 February 2005, only one local authority, the City of Edinburgh Council, had formally submitted a copy of their resolution to Scottish ministers to apply the noise control provisions to all of its area, as required under section 41(5)(b)(i) of the Antisoc…
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11134 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 October 2004, how many antisocial behaviour orders granted in each local authority area in each year since 1999 related to noise nuisance.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive has commissioned research on the use of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), including data on the types of prohibitions made. Initial findings indicate that, in 2003-04, 46% of ASBOs included prohibitions on noise nuisance. Information on the c…
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13424 by Ross Finnie on 20 January 2005, how much funding each local authority has received under the Innovation Fund in each year since the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 came into force.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Local authorities do not receive support from the Innovation Fund. The InnovationFund, run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, is to help retailers minimise waste from packaging and products.</p>
26 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13424 by Ross Finnie on 20 January 2005, how many complaints have been received by each local authority about excess packaging in each year since the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 came into force.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive does not collate that data. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 are regulations of the United Kingdom Government and relate to reserved matters.</p>
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the impact of the different outcomes of disposals by children's panels on social work provision and the impact of different disposals on local authority budgets.
Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive’s main concern is that decisions made by Children’s Hearings result in positive outcomes for the child. Children’s Hearings need a range of disposals to meet the needs of individual children. Different disposals require different resour…
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite the Commissioner for Children and Young People to monitor the differences in the outcomes of residential and community-based disposals by children's panels, tracking any local variations.
Answer · Euan Robson: The Review of the Children’s Hearings system has identified the need to put robust monitoring and evaluation procedures in place, including procedures to evaluate the outcomes of different disposals. The Scottish Executive will therefore be considering with l…
25 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into the differences in the outcomes of residential and community-based disposals by children's panels, tracking any local variations.
Answer · Euan Robson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-13791, answered on 8 February 2005. 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.parl…
24 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report of the audit it commissioned into Supporting People funding informed its recent reallocation of the fund and, if so, in what way.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Price Waterhouse Coopers report identified wide variations across the country on unit costs and service provision. It confirmed the view emerging from reviews in England that significant efficiency savings were possible, particularly as unit costs are hig…
24 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report of the audit it commissioned into Supporting People funding will be available under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Price Waterhouse Coopers report on the analysis of funding arrangements for Supporting People is available under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and can be found on the Supporting People website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/housing…
24 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the report of the audit it commissioned into Supporting People funding.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Price Waterhouse Coopers report on the analysis of funding arrangements for Supporting People is available on the Supporting People website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/housing/supportingpeople/new.asp">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/housing/s…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hepatitis C patients there were in (a) Scotland as a whole and (b) each NHS board area in 2004.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The latest information available from Health Protection is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>NHS Board</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Reports</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Argyll and Clyde </p> </td> <td> <p al…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to estimate how many people have hepatitis C but have not yet been diagnosed.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-13550 and S2W-13552, on 24 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scot…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers hepatitis C and hepatitis B to be major public health issues and what plans it has to address these issues.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive considers all bloodborne viruses including hepatitis and HIV/AIDS to be major public health issues. Unlike hepatitis B, there is no vaccine to protect against hepatitis C.</p><p>Action on this front will reflect recommendations from the Advisory…
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients infected with hepatitis C are currently not being treated with antiviral agents.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many centres are treating patients infected with hepatitis C using antiviral agents.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer to the question S2W-13558 answered on 31 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search"…
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients infected with hepatitis C are on waiting lists to be treated with antiviral agents and what the average waiting time is for such treatment is, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer to the question S2W-13558 answered on 31 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/sear…