Colin Campbell

1 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in respect of public safety, health and the environment in light of the recommendations on the disposal of toxic sludge containing carbon-14 in The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's Advice to Ministers on the Ministry of Defence's Radioactive W…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The relevant recommendations in the report published by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) make it clear that the responsibility for reviewing waste characterisation and management arrangements rests with the Ministry of Defence.<P>Be…

31 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16249 by Rhona Brankin on 27 June 2001, what meetings have taken place between it or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Ministry of Defence or any other department of Her Majesty's Government on suitable sites for the land storage of …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a wide range of issues. This includes the Interim Storage of Laid-up Submarines study, but such discussions have not included potential land storage sites. I understand that th…

23 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16673 by Rhona Brankin on 29 June 2001, whether it will detail any planned meetings with representatives of relevant ministries in other European Union member states or regions or institutions regarding the creation of regional bodies with formal dec…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The UK delegation will continue to discuss the creation of regional bodies where appropriate in the course of meetings with representatives of various bodies on the review of the Common Fisheries Policy. For example, a meeting of Fisheries Directors from a nu…

23 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16673 by Rhona Brankin on 29 June 2001, whether it will detail the names and positions of those with whom she specifically discussed the creation of regional bodies and whether it will provide a summary of their responses and views on the creation of…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have discussed the creation of regional bodies on many occasions and with many groups and individuals, including Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries. There has been general support for the creation of such bodies, although it will…

23 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16673 by Rhona Brankin on 29 June 2001, whether the United Kingdom's representative at the EC Fisheries Council meeting on 18 June 2001 was supportive of the creation of regional bodies, comprising of fishing industry representatives, scientists and …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: <U><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>I refer the Member to the answer given to S1W-17194.</U></FONT>

23 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16673 by Rhona Brankin on 29 June 2001, whether she proposed during the meeting of the European Fisheries Council on 18 June 2001 that the proposed regional bodies, which the UK delegation advocated at the meeting, should have formal decision making …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: As part of the UK delegation, I advocated the setting up of regional bodies, comprising of fishing industry representatives, scientists and other stakeholders at the EC Fisheries Council meeting on 18 June 2001. The UK highlighted the need to carefully consid…

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether light rapid transit schemes can share track with normal rolling stock.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is possible for light rapid transit schemes to share track with heavy rail traffic. However, any proposal for track-sharing would require approval from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate.

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it is currently having with any local authority or transport company or authority concerning plans for light rapid transit schemes.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The development of tram or light rail projects may be eligible for financial assistance under the Public Transport Fund (PTF) or the Integrated Transport Fund (ITF). The City of Edinburgh Council has submitted a bid which includes the development of light rai…

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the provision of rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am in the process of commissioning a study to examine in greater detail a number of options for developing rail links connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh airports to the Scottish rail network and to each other.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Six invitations to tender for t…

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is monitored.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is monitored through regular meetings with the Scottish Executive. SEPA's corporate targets are agreed by Ministers annually. Its Annual Report and Corporate Plan are approved by Ministers and laid…

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any European legislation pending which will introduce more stringent regulations on the planned discharge of filtered sewage into publicly accessible water courses.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), which came into force on 22 December 2000, will require us to establish environmental objectives for water bodies based on their ecological status. In some circumstances these objectives could require more stringent…

17 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many combined sewer overflows there are; what their precise location is, and how are they monitored.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally. It is a matter for the water authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that its interests are represented at the EU Social Protection Committee meeting to take forward the decision of the recent Goteborg European Council that the committee should prepare an initial report for the spring 2002 European Council on health care and care for the…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive will ensure that the UK representatives on the EU Social Protection Committee take account of Scottish Executive interests when they discuss the preparation of an initial report for the spring 2002 European Council on health care and ca…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the existing provision for the diagnosis and treatment of dyspraxia.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Strategies for the care of patients with a wide variety of conditions, including dyspraxia, are the responsibility of health boards, who are best suited to assess local needs. Ultimately, the decision on a diagnosis or whether to adopt a particular form of tr…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many current school pupils have been diagnosed with dyspraxia.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision exists to assess children with suspected dyspraxia and whether it is sufficient to meet current demand.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally. It is for health boards, consulting as necessary with education and social services departments, to make arrangements for the assessment of children with dyspraxia.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to whom health boards are answerable regarding the standard and adequacy of their service delivery.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Under the new arrangements for governance in NHSScotland, NHS boards will be strategic bodies, accountable to the Scottish Executive Health Department and to ministers for the functions of the NHS board and for the performance of the local NHS system.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was received by Inverclyde Royal Hospital in the past five years in donations from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and the League of Hospital Friends, how much of that total has been spent on hospital equipment and what equipment was purchased with these donations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are seen at the weekly breast clinic at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, how many breast care nurses there are at the hospital, whether this number is sufficient to meet current levels of demand and, if not, how many more nurses would be required to meet demand.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16494.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the availability of a C.T. scanner from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays at Inverclyde Royal Hospital is sufficient to meet current levels of demand and whether it will support increased provision of the C.T. scanner.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Argyll and Clyde Health Board and Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a report of the negotiations and consultations between Her Majesty's Government and the Scottish Executive in preparation for the 2000 Inter-governmental Conference in Nice will be in the public domain.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There are no plans to produce such a report.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times currently are for a tonsillectomy at both the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley and Vale of Leven Hospital and what the target waiting times are for the end of 2001.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Provisional figures for the year ending 31 December 2000 show that the median waiting times for tonsillectomies at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Vale of Leven Hospital were 56 days and 161 days respectively.<P>The current national waiting times guarant…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12056 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 January 2001, which ministers and officials were involved in the consultation with Her Majesty's Government in preparation for the Inter-Governmental Conference; whether any record of this consultation was made, and wh…

Answer · Jack McConnell: Discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are conducted on a confidential basis. Furthermore, under the Scottish Executive's <I>Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information</I>, information whose disclosure would harm th…

1 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists on the circumstances in which a general anaesthetic should be recommended to NHS dental patients by dentists; whether such treatment involves any charge to patients and, if so, what that charge is, which categories of patient care are exempt from such a charge and how…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The offer of a general anaesthetic to a patient under the NHS requires the dentist to make a clinical judgement based on need. In the majority of cases this judgement is based on the degree of anxiety or phobia exhibited by the patient and the related complex…

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12921 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 13 February 2001, what additional flood prevention schemes have been confirmed by Scottish Ministers since 13 February 2001 and what additional requests have been submitted since then and are currently under consideration.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The River Kelvin (Glazertbank, Lennoxtown) Flood Prevention Scheme, allowing for a small alteration to the existing River Kelvin Scheme, has been confirmed by ministers in the period since 13 February 2001.<P>The Executive has not received any further request…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been identified as requiring tonsillectomies in the Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospital NHS Trust area and how many are currently waiting for tonsillectomies at each of the Trust's hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the number of patients waiting for inpatient and day case tonsillectomy treatment is not available centrally. Information on the number of patients waiting for inpatient and day case treatment is collected at specialty level only.<P>At 31 Decem…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a tonsillectomy at (a) Vale of Leven Hospital, (b) the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and (c) Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Provisional figures for the year ending 31 December 2000 show that the median waiting times for tonsillectomies at Vale of Leven Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital were 161 days and 56 days respectively. No elective tonsillectomy operations are underta…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards have supplies of single-use tonsillectomy instruments in stock; which health boards have no such supplies, and when any health boards without supplies will receive supplies of these instruments.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Stocks of surgical instruments are, apart from the island health boards, held by individual NHS Trusts, from whom information on supply levels is not routinely collected.<P>A contract for the future provision of single-use tonsillectomy instruments was placed…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13248 by Ross Finnie on 30 March 2001, whether, given its involvement with Her Majesty's Government on the liberalisation of European postal services and its commitment to the maintenance of universal services throughout Scotland, it will be attendin…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is closely involved in discussions on the UK position in European negotiations which impact on Scottish interests. The UK was represented at the 2,340th Council meeting on Transport and Telecommunications, held on 4-5 April, by Patricia…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14252 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 March 2001, how many of the firms assisted by the Defence Diversification Agency have reduced their dependence on defence manufacturers as a result of assistance from the agency and what percentage of their total bus…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The role of the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) is not to reduce the dependence of certain companies on defence, but, inter alia, to facilitate the transfer of technology into and out of the defence sector in order to help ensure UK industry remains comp…