Parliamentary questions
Brian Fitzpatrick
529 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18265 by Susan Deacon on 6 November 2001, what benefits in terms of improved cancer care or swifter, better diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients were put forward by or on behalf of the Greater Glasgow NHS Board to support spending on endoscopic…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Evidence points to the fact that Scotland's cancer record would improve substantially with more rapid diagnosis and earlier treatment, in particular, where surgery is the treatment of choice. Securing faster diagnosis and shorter waiting times are therefore a…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has, or representations it has received since January 2001 from or on behalf of the managers of the North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust or Greater Glasgow Health Board, regarding levels and trends of new patient referrals accepted or planned for each whole-time eq…
Answer · Susan Deacon: None. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19757.
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new patient referrals were accepted for each whole-time equivalent NHS consultant oncologist based at the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Glasgow and (e) Inverness Cancer Centres in each year since 1994.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information is not held centrally in the format requested. To provide a proxy indicator of activity, the table shows, by cancer centre, the number of referrals per consultant oncologist (whole-time equivalent) in NHSScotland for the years ending March 1995 to…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many whole-time equivalent NHS consultant oncologists there currently are per million of the populations served by the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Glasgow and (e) Inverness Cancer Centres.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Cancer services in Scotland are delivered by clinicians working within three regional managed clinical networks. The whole-time equivalent (WTE) of oncologists working within a particular cancer centre area and the ratio of these to the local population is th…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many linear accelerators are currently available for use for cancer treatments per million of the populations served by the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Glasgow and (e) Inverness Cancer Centres.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The answer given to question S1W-19747 provides information on the populations served by each of the five cancer centres. The number of linear accelerator and the number per million population served are as follows.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WI…
7 Nov 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with taking forward Criminal Justice Accommodation Services: A Review and Consultation Paper.
Answer · Iain Gray: Forty-nine responses were made to the consultation exercise which ended on 30 September, including a number received after this date. These are being analysed at present and I hope to announce the outcome of the review early in the New Year.
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care on 12 July 2001 on the membership of the Scottish Cancer Group, what progress has been made in securing the representation and participation of oncologists and other medical and nursing staff, together with …
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-19756.
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what national guidance is issued to health boards regarding the numbers of new patients to be accepted for referrals for each whole-time equivalent NHS consultant oncologist.
Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS management are responsible for planning services required to meet the assessed needs of their respective patient populations.<P>From time to time professional bodies, such as the Royal Colleges, may make recommendations for the provision of services by th…
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to establish a regional cancer advisory group for the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The West of Scotland Regional Cancer Advisory Group involves Argyll & Clyde, Ayrshire & Arran, Forth Valley and Lanarkshire NHS Board areas as well as Greater Glasgow.<P>I understand that the proposed structure and membership of the West of Scotland Regional …
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations have been made to the managers of the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust regarding an action plan for cancer services in the Trust's area; what reports, briefing or information it has received on the nature, dates and efficacy of the actions undertaken by t…
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-19754.
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust or Greater Glasgow Health Board on any implications for patients awaiting or undergoing investigations or treatments, and on emergency planning for such patients, at the Gynaecological Oncology Department …
Answer · Susan Deacon: As a consequence of the (then rumoured) impending resignations of three consultant oncologists, the Chief Executive of North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust was asked by the Chief Medical Officer on 2 November 2001 to confirm that local plans were in hand …
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for NHS consultant oncology posts there currently are in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area and how many are anticipated to become vacant in the next 12 months.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on consultant vacancies is collected annually by ISD Scotland.<P>This data does not reflect recent staffing changes in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area, where there are currently three vacant consultant oncology posts which are subject to the no…
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultant oncology posts are currently vacant.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Apart from recent staffing changes in Greater Glasgow NHS Boards, we are not aware of any other consultant oncology vacancies in NHSScotland.<P>I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19753.
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS consultant oncologists in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area were (a) invited to participate and (b) participated in the membership of the Scottish Cancer Group.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The employing authority of individual professional members of the Scottish Cancer Group (SGC) was not taken into consideration when planning its restructuring. Nor was it the intention to have individual representation from each and all of the professions or …
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made to ensure equity of access to oncology services and treatment machines across Scotland and, in particular, to meet the current and anticipated levels of demand at the Glasgow Cancer Centre.
Answer · Susan Deacon: <I><FONT FACE="Arial">Cancer Scenarios: An aid to planning cancer services in Scotland in the next decade</I> was published by the Executive in May 2001. It sets out projected patient numbers and looks at possible future influences on cancer services and mode…
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people, and what percentage of the population, are currently served by the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Glasgow and (e) Inverness Cancer Centres.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The populations served and percentages for each of Scotland's five cancer centres are as follows.<P><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=236><TR><TD WIDTH="32%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Centre</FONT></TD><TD WIDTH="…
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the average full-time salary for (a) female and (b) male academic staff at (i) the University of Aberdeen, (ii) the University of Glasgow, (iii) the University of St Andrews, (iv) the University of Edinburgh, (v) the University of Dundee, (vi) Glasgow Caledon…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally. <P>Staff pay is an issue for institutions to decide in collaboration with staff and their representatives.
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what trends have been identified in average salaries for male and female academic staff in higher education establishments.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally. <P>Staff pay is an issue for institutions to decide in collaboration with staff and their representatives.
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure equal pay for work of equal value by academic staff in higher education establishments.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Academic pay is a matter for institutions to decide in conjunction with employees and their representatives. My guidance letter to the sector in November last year indicated that "staff are the key resource of universities and colleges and we must continually…
31 Oct 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in improving school discipline.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The recent report of the Discipline Task Group, <I>Better Behaviour - Better Learning</I>, contains 36 recommendations aimed at improving discipline within schools. Every teacher in Scotland now has a summary of the report, and later this month I shall be pub…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18281 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, whether any changes have been made to advice and guidance issued by it or on its behalf to state or independent schools in respect of adventure activities undertaken during school trips since the establishmen…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has issued no such guidance, but advice is available from the Health and Safety Executive.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18283 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, what the numbers, grades, salaries and career experiences are of Executive staff with responsibility for monitoring and advising on the implementation of recommendations made to state and independent schools …
Answer · Mike Watson: The role of the Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) is to provide advice to the Health and Safety Commission and guidance to the industry and it does not make recommendations direct to schools. Given this, there is no role for anyone with…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18283 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, how many meetings of the Health and Safety Commission's Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee have been attended by Executive officials to date and what proportion of the total number of meetings o…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has been represented at one of the five meetings held since being invited to attend as observers.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance is issued by it or on its behalf to state or independent schools on the preparation and requirements of risk assessment in respect of adventure activities in the context of school trips.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The circular issued by the Scottish Office Education Department in October 1994, referred to in the answer to question S1W-18279 on 18 October 2001, stressed the importance of risk assessment by organisers when planning activity visits and noted that detailed…
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18284 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, what forms of monitoring are undertaken by it or on its behalf of Improvement Notices served by the Health and Safety Executive concerning adventure activities in the context of school trips and what informat…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Improvement notices served by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the responsibility of the HSE and are matters between the HSE and the body on which a notice is served. The Scottish Executive has no role in monitoring Improvement Notices served by the …
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18284 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, what statistics it has on accidents involving children attending state or independent schools while undertaking adventure activities during school trips.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not collect such statistics.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18284 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, how many communications or reports it has received from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of inspections made by the HSE of state and independent schools regarding adventure activities undertaken during s…
Answer · Jack McConnell: We have no record of having received any such communications or reports, and there is no requirement for such material to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by the Health and Safety Executive.
30 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18284 by Allan Wilson on 15 October 2001, how many reports it has received from education authorities and independent schools of inspections made on them by the Health and Safety Executive.
Answer · Jack McConnell: There is no requirement for education authorities or independent schools to submit such reports to the Scottish Executive, and we have no record of having received any.
19 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider supporting a programme of placement of proficient information and communications technology (ICT) specialists charged with acting as agents of social change and working closely with community leaders in lower-income areas, so as to increase the knowledge of commun…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Through the Executive's Digital Inclusion Strategy <I>Connecting Scotland's People</I> we are implementing and developing a number of initiatives to promote digital inclusion in disadvantaged communities. These include:<P><P>The £1.5 million Digital Champions…
19 Oct 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made, by it or on its behalf, of the capacity of information and communications technology to be a tool for change in lower-income communities, with particular reference to strengthening the internal operations and external outreach of community groups.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive recently published our Digital Inclusion Strategy <I>Connecting Scotland's People</I> which sets out how we intend to bridge the digital divide and achieve universal access to the internet by 2005. We see new technologies as making a key contrib…