Parliamentary questions
Mr David Davidson
1,095 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has published to ensure that all potential users of community equipment and adaptations receive full information of the services available to them locally and nationally.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has not published comprehensive guidance, although it expects to review what exists shortly, in line with Audit Scotland’s recommendations.</p><p>However, local authorities have a duty under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) A…
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that there is a seamless development of services delivering community equipment and adaptations and whether it will amalgamate the management and budget of these services in a single body within each NHS board area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We already promote better integration of all community care services, including community equipment and adaptations, as part of the Joint Future agenda. The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 enables local authority and NHS partnerships to go furth…
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to publish guidelines on the management of community equipment and adaptations.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We will review the existing guidance shortly in line with the recommendations of the recent Audit Scotland report, <i>Adapting to the future: Management of community equipment and adaptations</i>.</p>
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any plans to provide dedicated facilities for detoxification and rehabilitation for substance misuse in each NHS board area.
Answer · Hugh Henry: It is for local Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAAT) to design and deliver services in their areas tailored to local needs and circumstances. Local service planners and providers already have access to a range of clinical guidance and advice on good practice …
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants have been awarded for postgraduate pre-registration pharmacy training, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally. From 2000-01, funding in respect of the allowance for pre-registration pharmacy trainees was transferred into NHS boards’ unified budget.</p>
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the dispensing of NHS prescriptions by internet pharmacies.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: To dispense prescriptions on the NHS, an internet pharmacy will have to have physical registered premises which can be inspected so that they conform to professional and legal standards.</p>
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce NHS one-stop treatment centres.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <i>Partnership for Care</i> made clear that the way NHS services are provided mustcontinually adapt to reduce waiting times and improve the quality of patient care.It is for NHS boards to determine how these improvements are best brought about.But NHS boards …
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what smoking cessation schemes for schoolchildren have been introduced in each education authority area and what participation in such schemes has been recorded.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has funded NHS Health Scotland to run eight pilot smoking cessation initiatives aimed specifically at young people (11 to 24-year-olds) in order to develop and evaluate best practice in this area. These pilots are being run in Shetland Islands, …
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review the NHS dental contract.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive recently concluded a major consultation, <i>Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland</i>, which included how NHS dental services should be provided and remunerated in the future. Responses to this consultation have now been analysed and we ex…
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will participate in a scheme to distribute the proposed European health insurance card to replace the E-111 form and whether it will seek reimbursement of the cost of such a scheme from Her Majesty’s Government.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive will be participating in this scheme, which will replace a number of forms relating to access to health care within the European Economic Area including the E-111. It has already been agreed that HM Government will meet the costs of the introduc…
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to promote the use of carbon monoxide detectors in rented accommodation.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, all landlords are required to have annual gas safety checks carried out by a contractor registered with the Council of Registered Gas Installers, and to provide a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate…
27 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to advise all students who will reside in rented accommodation that they should seek sight of a gas safety certificate for the property before taking up residence.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I recently launched a campaign to raise awareness of the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords in private rented housing. The new website, <ahref="http://www.betterrentingscotland.com/">www.betterrentingscotland.com</a>,provides informatio…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support prison governors and senior managers in the Scottish Prison Service’s call for the Scottish Prison Service Board to recognise formally the Prison Governors Association.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>I refer the member to the answer to S2O-3007 on 21 September 2004 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for w…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has allocated, and will allocate, to each local authority for the next three years to address any backlogs in road maintenance.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Funding for roads is provided, primarily, through the local government finance settlement. The total roads maintenance allocation for 2004-05 is some £152 million and for 2005-06 some £158 million. In addition, the Executive provided extra revenue funding to …
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to local authorities with regard to recent flood damage.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Local authorities have a general duty to deal with emergencies such as flooding, and there is no automatic entitlement to special assistance. In exceptional circumstances authorities can apply under the Bellwin Scheme for emergency assistance to meet any undu…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for differences in treatment between Scottish students and those from other parts of the European Union at Scottish universities in respect of student fees and support.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Under the Scotland Act it is the Scottish Executive’s duty to comply with EU obligations and be in conformity with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Executive is, therefore, required to ensure that EU students receive the same t…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reciprocal agreements are in place for support for Scottish students at universities in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish domiciled students undertaking a full-time degree course in nursing, midwifery or one of the Allied Health Professions at a University in Wales or Northern Ireland can apply to the relevant funding body in those countriesfor support with tuition fee …
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to Scottish students who accept places at English universities.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Details of the support available to Scottish students who accept places at English Universities are available from the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website: <a href="http://www.saas.gov.uk/">www.saas.gov.uk</a>.</p>
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs have given notice of withdrawal from out-of-hours care over the last five years, broken down by NHS board and expressed also as a percentage of all GPs within each board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally.</p>
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have recruited new out-of-hours GPs and, of these, how many have taken up employment, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally. Many of the NHS board models for out-of-hours service reprovision, currently being developed, involve a combination of new salaried GPs and independent contractors covering shifts at sessional rates.</p>
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budgets are in place for the next three years to install graded junctions on the A90 in Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is currently considering the detailed design for a proposed new grade separated interchange at Schoolhill, Portlethen as part of a major residential development. The construction of the junction will be at the developer’s expense.</p><p>The Exec…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been provided to Grampian Police to operate mobile cameras at dangerous spots on the A90.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive promotes the Scottish Safety Camera Programme which co-ordinates the work of safety camera partnerships across Scotland. Currently 14 mobile sites operate on the A90 within the Grampian Police Force area and as part of the programme.</p>
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when new safety signage will be erected on the A90 at Laurencekirk.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: BEAR Scotland Ltd has been commissioned to investigate and report on what additional road safety measures, including signage, would be appropriate at the A90/A972 junction at Laurencekirk junction following the recent fatal accident. All appropriate recommend…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a temporary 50mph speed limit at Laurencekirk on the A90 until a graded junction can be built.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: BEAR Scotland Ltd has been commissioned to investigate and report on what additional road safety measures would be appropriate following the recent fatal accident. All appropriate recommendations will be acted on as quickly as possible.</p>
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what salaries are being offered by each NHS board to attract dedicated employed GPs for out-of-hours care.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.</p><p>There has been no national rate set for salaries of GPs to provide out-of-hours services. This is a matter between NHS boards and individual salaried GPs, but levels will vary depending on the duties involved, the…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards will have an out-of-hours scheme in place by December 2004.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All NHS boards, other than NHS Orkney, have indicated that they will have new service models in place before 31 December 2004. No GP practices in Orkney intend to transfer responsibility for out-of-hours provision and so the current arrangements will continue…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have stated that they are underfunded for the setting up of out-of-hours treatment systems.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are currently developing their plans for out-of-hours service re-provision and most are not yet in a position to provide final figures. However, this is a key priority for NHS systems and any potential additional financial pressure should be placed…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have established a system of out-of-hours treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: To date, three NHS board areas have established their new out-of-hours arrangements as part of the implementation of the new General Medical Services contract. One NHS board area has signalled there will be no change to the previous arrangements and the remai…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what notice was given to NHS boards that they should start planning for the provision of out-of-hours care in the community.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: UK-wide negotiations over the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract began during 2001-02. A framework document was produced in April 2002 which contained an early indication of the proposed new out-of-hours arrangements. Further information was containe…
18 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to patient need when guidance was issued to NHS boards on the planning of out-of-hours treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The proposals which NHS boards are currently developing focus on clinical safety and governance. Both locally and nationally, service plans have been developed in consultation with all appropriate agencies to ensure that patients needs are accommodated. The n…