Parliamentary questions

Brian Adam

1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

22 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for consent to refuse to sell under section 69 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 it has (a) received and (b) granted in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table lists those local authorities which have submitted section 69 applications in the past three years, the number of applications received, and the number that obtained Scottish ministers’ consent. Survey Period: From October 2001 to O…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions are members of VisitScotlands quality assurance scheme, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism attraction providers which participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.<table border=1 cellspa…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism accommodation are members of VisitScotlands quality assurance scheme, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism accommodation providers which participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.<table border=1 cell…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions are members of area tourist boards, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism attraction providers which are members of their area tourist boards are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 …

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism accommodation are members of area tourist boards, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism accommodation providers which are members of their area tourist boards are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellp…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions there are, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not available, since some visitor attractions are not members of their area tourist boards, neither do they participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme.

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism accommodation there are, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not available, since a small proportion of accommodation providers are not members of their area tourist boards, neither do they participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme.

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its local concessionary travel scheme will be rolled out nationally.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to delivering its Partnership Agreement commitment on a national bus scheme for older and disabled people by 2007.

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding to the Grampian police force to cover additional costs, outwith Pittodrie stadium, arising from Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC playing its home games in Aberdeen this season.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have no plans to do so. Funding for police forces in 2004-05 is at record levels. Grant aided expenditure for Grampian Police has risen by over 16% since 2002-03. It is due to rise by a further 21% by 2007-08. It is for the chief constable to determine, us…

21 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to address issues raised following the visit to HM Prison Aberdeen by the Minister for Justice on 23 August 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:The Scottish Prison Serviceis aware of the issues relating to HM Prison Aberdeen. These are beingaddressed as part of the update of the Estat…

21 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what help and support is available for patients diagnosed with oppositional defiance disorder.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for local service providers. The information requested is not available centrally.A Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Framework is being developed to assist local agencies in assessing their services and identifying goals and…

21 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review its policy on the provision of training grants to industry through Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Decisions on the support provided to industry for training, are made by the Enterprise Networks. The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and A Smart, Successful Scotland set the context within which these decisions are made.An updated…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on registration requirements for social care provision in the voluntary sector.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: All the services defined in Section 2 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, except adult placement services, some school care accommodation services and some independent health care services, are now being regulated by the Care Commission. Providers …

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are in respect of consulting the voluntary sector collectively on social care education and provision.

Answer · Euan Robson: In encouraging good practice and co-operative methods of decision-making, the Executive will consult as appropriate in a flexible and open way, communicating clearly and using appropriate media.I also chair a National Workforce Group to develop a long-…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it offers to non-social work qualified social care staff.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive is working closely with employers, the Scottish Social Services Council and others to ensure we have a competent and confident workforce.A fast track scheme has been introduced which will enable 450 non-social work graduates to b…

16 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals from the recent diet of Scottish Qualifications Authority exams were successful due to errors in marking and what steps have been taken to address such errors, particularly in relation to intermediate level results.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The appeals system for national qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The enquiry should be directed to them as the Scottish Executive does not possess this data.

16 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals were received from the recent diet of Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations and, of these, how many were successful, broken down by local authority and type of examination.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The appeals system for national qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, I can inform you that the appeals process is still on-going and that SQA expect to publish this data in November 2004.

15 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy on (a) training for its senior staff and (b) guidance for staff of non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies and whether it has sought such training and guidance from business schools in Scotland or elsewhere and, if so, what the costs were, detailing w…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has a policy of providing senior staff with the trainingand development they require to lead the organisation in delivering the Government’s objectives for the people of Scotland. A range of opportunities is provided, including UK-wide …

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the study into improving the Hilton Drive, Manor Avenue and North Anderson Drive junction in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has finalised the study into options to improve the Hilton Road - Manor Avenue junction with North Anderson Drive in Aberdeen and the recommended option will be presented to Aberdeen City Council and Grampian Police within the next four weeks fo…

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the survey of the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Work to develop a traffic model for the area around the A90-A96 Haudagain roundabout is on schedule for completion around the end of October. The model will then be used to assess various options for improvement. This study is being joint-funded by the Scotti…

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reopen urban and suburban railway stations in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Proposals to re-open stations are best promoted, in the first instance, by the relevant local authority or regional transport partnership. NESTRANS are currently in the process of developing plans for an Aberdeen Crossrail project which include the creation o…

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent progress has been made on the Aberdeen Crossrail Project.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The development of the Aberdeen Crossrail proposal is being led by Aberdeenshire Council, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. I understand that a full appraisal of the proposal is currently being prepared in accordance with the Scottish Executive’s Sco…

1 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a transitional support scheme, similar to that offered following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, to encourage businesses to join a tourism registration scheme for quality assurance.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The existing VisitScotland Quality Assurance Scheme currently covers around 80% of Scottish tourism establishments. This scheme is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. VisitScotland actively promotes to those not already involved in the scheme the…

1 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a mandatory registration scheme for quality assurance in the tourism industry.

Answer · Frank McAveety: High quality in every aspect of Scottish tourism is vital - it is important that the expectations of our visitors are fulfilled during their visits to Scotland. The Scottish Executive has given VisitScotland an additional £3 million over two years to work wit…

1 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many digital hearing aids were issued in each NHS board area in the last financial year.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: These details are not held centrally. NHS boards should be approached directly for this information.However, a total of 19,079 digital hearing aids were drawn off the central contract arranged by Scottish Healthcare Supplies during the period April 200…

1 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for audiology appointments in each NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally. Information on NHS waiting times is collected centrally only for first out-patient appointments at consultant-led clinics, following referral by a General Medical or Dental Practitioner, at specialty level…

31 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9324 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 July 2004 regarding funding for patient advocacy in psychiatric hospitals, what the allocation of funding was to each relevant authority.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which comes into effect in April 2005 includes a right for anyone with a mental disorder to access independent advocacy services. This right will apply whether the person is a patient in a psychiatric…

27 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to introduce legislation on human tissue, similar to the Human Tissue Bill in Westminster; what consultations it expects to undertake; who will be consulted, and when any consultations will take place.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As announced by the First Minister on 7 September, we intend to introduce legislation on human organs and tissue during the course of this year.A consultation seeking views on proposals for new legislation on hospital post-mortem examinations took plac…

25 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider that samples that are required for quality assurance, teaching and research purposes under the proposed Human Tissue Bill have deemed consent.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to question S2W-10128 answered on 4 October 2004. All answers 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">http://www.scottish.parliame…

25 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will exclude blood, urine and similar samples from the scope of the proposed Human Tissue Bill.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There has been debate on this issue during the consideration of the Human Tissue Bill by the UK Parliament. That bill does not generally extend to Scotland. I refer the member to question S2W-10133 answered on 4 October 2004 which gives details of our approac…