Mr Duncan Hamilton

1 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any problems currently affecting the tourism industry in Scotland.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: These are being addressed by the actions contained in the <I>New</I> <I>Strategy</I> <I>for</I> <I>Scottish</I> <I>Tourism</I>. The industry will also benefit from changes to the structure and linkages of the Scottish Tourist Board, arising from the recent in…

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport and the Environment will answer my letter of 31 May 2000 regarding Caledonian MacBrayne.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I replied to this letter on 12 July 2000.

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will answer my letter of 4 April 2000 regarding pay review body staff.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I replied to your letter of 4 April on 28 April. I have arranged for a copy to be forwarded to you.

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its decision to make Superfast the preferred operator for the Rosyth ferry contract given the company's safety record and the recent fatalities on a Superfast Greece-Italy ferry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise do not have any plans to review their decision to appoint Superfast as the preferred operator for the Rosyth ferry contract. Scottish Enterprise chose Superfast because they most closely matched the criteria specified by the steering group…

12 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any contact with Medeva Pharma Ltd regarding the availability of Betnesol eye ointment and what action is being taken to ensure the availability of this drug on the NHSiS.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Celltech Medeva (formerly known as Medeva Pharma Ltd) has advised that earlier difficulties with supplies of Betnesol eye ointment have been resolved and stocks of this product are now with pharmaceutical wholesalers.

25 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4691 by Sarah Boyack on 27 March 2000, what its share was, as an amount and as a percentage, of the cost of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and whether it will give a breakdown of this cost.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The previous answer related to the Corncrake UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In addition to the costs identified, the Scottish Executive has incurred costs through its agri-environment programme. Payments are made to farmers and crofters through the Argyll Islan…

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines to local authorities regarding the sale of legal goods such as "bongs" which can be used to facilitate the taking of illegal drugs.

Answer · Iain Gray: There are at present no plans to introduce guidelines to local authorities concerning drugs paraphernalia of this sort. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which is the governing legislation, is a reserved matter. Although public health issues relating to the misus…

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7948 by Susan Deacon on 5 July 2000, why information on medical services put out to tender over the last five years is not held centrally.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Medical services provided by NHS staff are not subject to a tendering process. It is the responsibility of each health board to secure the provision of medical and other health services needed by its resident population. For certain conditions and procedures …

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8542 by Sarah Boyack on 19 July 2000, whether it can provide any additional information, such as title or category of document, about the papers which have been exempted from the commitment to provide information under the terms of Part II of the Cod…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Further to the answer I gave on 19 July 2000 in response to S1W-8542, a range of documents relating to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd matters are not copied to SPICe on the grounds that disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussions within …

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8498 by Susan Deacon on 22 August 2000, whether it can identify, from each health board's annual accounts, the amount and percentage of each health board's budget used for national projects and priorities.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The annual accounts of each health board highlight expenditure on named specialties. It is not possible to separate spending on national projects and national priorities that are included in these speciality costs.

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make copies of the Inquiry Reporter's Report into the Lingerbay Quarry available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A copy of the report will be made available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre when the decision on the application is notified to the applicant, the planning authority and other statutory parties to the Inquiry.

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what help and assistance is available within the NHSiS for people who have ectodermal dysplasia.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are a group of rare genetic disorders characterised by abnormal development of the skin and associated structures, such as hair, teeth, nails, and sweat glands. Through the four Regional Genetics Advisory Centres, comprehensive spec…

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric dentists are available within each health board.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of consultants in paediatric dentistry employed in the NHS in Scotland is shown in the following table. The information supplied is the latest available and should be read in conjunction with the notes below.<P>It is estimated that these consultant…

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of ectodermal dysplasia have been recorded in each of the past five years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Patients diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasias (ED) will be treated in a variety of NHS locations depending on the severity of their condition. Some will be seen in General Practice while others will be admitted to hospital and treated as an outpatient or an i…

12 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any offer of assistance to Scottish Milk Products in relation to compliance with the EU Waste Water Directive is final and, if not, when negotiations are expected to be completed.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Discussions between the Scottish Executive and Scottish Milk Products are continuing and Scottish Milk Products have still to decide on how they intend to comply with the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Directive. Scottish Milk Products have not made…

12 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any offer of assistance has been made to Scottish Milk Products to defray the costs of compliance by the Rothesay and Campbeltown creameries with the EU Waste Water Directive.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has had a number of meetings with Scottish Milk and Scottish Milk Products and have discussed a number of options available to assist Scottish Milk Products meet the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Directive. Scottish Milk have…

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the funding from central government to nursing students completing diploma and degree courses.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive will be reviewing the nursing and midwifery bursary scheme prior to the 2001-02 academic year.

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review bursary and maintenance grants available to nursing and midwifery students in universities and colleges.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive will be reviewing the nursing and midwifery bursary scheme prior to the 2001-02 academic year

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7949 by Susan Deacon on 28 June 2000, why information on the total number of locums currently employed is not collated by the NHS and what plans it has to start collating this information.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the total number of locums currently employed is not collected by the NHS in Scotland. The information required for workforce planning purposes is the number of established posts. Details of these are already supplied by NHS Boards and Trusts a…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will give a substantive answer to question S1W-3878 lodged on 4 February 2000 and what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This question was answered on 26 July. Comparisons of health expenditure and GDP between countries are complicated by differences in definitions and in methods of recording expenditure. Careful examination of the data was therefore required to ensure that the…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7850 by Sarah Boyack on 26 June 2000, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that all published research papers by The Scottish Office and the Scotland Office should be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Published Scottish Office research papers are in practice held by the Scottish Executive. I understand that the UK Government has no objection to such papers being placed in the Scottish Parliament's Reference Centre and many already have been. However, the E…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7850 by Sarah Boyack on 26 June 2000, whether any documents relating to Caledonian MacBrayne have not been put into the Scottish Parliament Information Centre for the reason stated.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A range of papers relating to Caledonian MacBrayne falling within the categories exempted from the commitment to provide information under the terms of Part II of the <I>Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information</I> have not been provided t…

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6716 by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000, what percentage of each health board's budget for 1998-99 and 1999-2000 was used for the achievement of national projects and national priorities.

Answer · Susan Deacon: All of the resources available to health boards in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 were provided to them to enable them to meet the health care needs of their resident populations taking into account national priorities and, where appropriate, any national projects bei…

21 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to protect archaeological monuments and historic sites within Kilmartin Valley.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Historic Scotland will continue to exercise its legal powers to protect the 50 monuments in the Kilmartin area scheduled as of national importance and to look after the 14 which are in the direct care of Scottish Ministers.

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000, Col 1200), what opportunity will be offered to the Dyspraxia Foundation to make direct representations to the national special educational needs advisory forum in the process of its consideration …

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Dyspraxia Foundation is being invited to submit a written presentation to the forum and to the Scottish Executive's evaluation of the impact of in-service SEN training announced in <I>Improving our Schools: Special Educational Needs - The Programme of Act…

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000, Col. 1202), whether the Deputy Minister for Children and Education referred the matter of dyspraxia to the national special educational needs advisory forum for discussion at its meeting on 6 June…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Development and training for staff working with pupils with special educational needs, including those with dyspraxia, will be an item for discussion at the SEN Advisory Forum when it meets in November.

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000, Col. 1202), whether dyspraxia will be included in special needs training for teachers and what form the training will take.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer Mr Hamilton to my reply to question S1W-7999.

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000 Col. 1202) and the Deputy Minister for Children and Education (11 May 2000, Col. 627), what specific training is planned for teachers in the early detection of dyspraxia, what funding, from th…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that they have suitably qualified and well-trained staff to meet the needs of children with special educational needs, including those with dyspraxia. The Scottish Executive assists them in this through …

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000, Cols. 1199 and 1200), what is being done to improve collation and analysis of statistics on dyspraxia.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Approximately 4.5 million outpatient, inpatient and day-case episode records are collected by the National Health Service in Scotland each year. Each computerised record is subjected to a standard national validation, either by the originating Trust, or by th…

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (25 May 2000 Col. 1200), whether it will recognise the eight week intensive physiotherapy treatment offered to dyspraxic children as a standard and beneficial treatment.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not the Executive's function to recognise particular forms of treatment for any condition. Independent clinical expert advisory groups funded by the Executive, such as the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, the Clinical Standards Board for Sco…