Parliamentary questions

Ian McKee

93 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the British-Irish Council summit held in Cardiff on 20 February 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On 20 February 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government hosted the twelfth British-Irish Council (BIC) Summit in Cardiff, attended by myself, the First Minister and Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution. The theme for thi…

11 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in immunising eligible women against the human papilloma virus.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scott…

9 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in considering the transfer of responsibility for prisoners’ healthcare from the Scottish Prison Service to the NHS.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am pleased to announce that, John Ross, former Chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway has accepted an invitation to Chair the National Programme Board for Prisoners'' Healthcare. The new board will oversee and steer the preparatory work, and the eventu…

5 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the length of time that hospitals are required to keep patient records.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0305-01.htm">http://www.scot…

4 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tailor its services in any test sites that may be established in Scotland as a result of proposals contained in the UK Welfare Reform Bill.

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of its plans for the future of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland as part of new scrutiny bodies for social and health care.

Answer · Shona Robison: I am aware of concerns expressed by stakeholders about this proposal, particularly about the perceived loss of independence for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS) and the safeguarding role. That is why Cabinet agreed earlier this week …

12 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to introduce the benefits of modern business management techniques to public services.

Answer · John Swinney: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0212-01.htm">http://www.scot…

6 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital funds are being made available to NHS boards and Special Health Boards for 2009-10.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards and Special Health Boards have been given an initial general revenue allocation of £8,257.7 million for 2009-10, an average increase over the equivalent 2008-09 allocation of 3.3%. Details of NHS boards and Special Health Boards initial ge…

29 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage physical activity among school children.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0129-01.htm">http://…

8 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture next plans to meet EU counterparts and what business will be discussed.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants have had distinction awards withdrawn, for reasons other than death or retirement, in each year for which figures are available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Three consultants have had distinction awards withdrawn, for reasons other than death or retirement - one in 1999, one in 2002 and one in 2005.

3 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6776 by Bruce Crawford on 18 December 2007, whether an updated estimate of the financial cost of answering a written parliamentary question is available.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Following a review by the Scottish Government Finance Administration, the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is calculated to be £98.51. Full details can be found in the Study into the average cost of answering Scottish Government …

30 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the names of NHS consultants in receipt of distinction awards in the most recent year for which information is available, as is done in England and Wales.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information relating to NHS consultants in receipt of distinction awards is set out in the Annual Report of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA). The latest annual report was published in April 2008 and is available on the SACDA secti…

29 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional cost to the NHS was of the element of NHS consultants’ retirement pensions arising from distinction awards in the most recent year for which information is available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have been advised that the amount of any distinction award is not recorded by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) as a separate figure. The final pensionable salary, or for that matter, any salary is recorded as one entry of pay only in the members'…

29 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants received distinction awards in the most recent year for which information is available, broken down by (a) speciality and (b) level of award.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information relating to NHS consultants in receipt of distinction awards broken down by specialty and level of award is set out in the Annual Report of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA). The latest Annual Report was published in Ap…

14 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs of supervised dispensing of methadone by community pharmacists were in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The cost of supervised dispensing of methadone by community pharmacists for the year 2007-08, broken down by NHS board, is set out in the following table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=172 nowrap valign=top…

2 Oct 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to Amnesty International’s request that it adopt a basic anti-rendition policy for the airports under its control.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government remains firmly opposed as a matter of principle to rendition. I have obtained assurances from the UK Government that no rendition will take place through the UK or its airspace without its prior express permission, and that such permis…

11 Sep 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are employed to determine whether water supplied at slaughter houses for the purpose of cleaning vehicles used for the transport of cattle is adequate for purpose.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the EU Food Hygiene Regulations require approved slaughterhouses to have onsite facilities for cleaning livestock vehicles unless those facilities exist near by. The water used in those approved slaughterhouses f…

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of lambs raised in Scotland were slaughtered in Scottish slaughter houses in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2007, between 45% and 50% of lambs born in Scotland were slaughtered in Scottish abattoirs.

16 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its options for tackling alcohol misuse.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am pleased to announce the publication today of our paper Changing Scotland’s Relationship With Alcohol: A Discussion Paper on Our Strategic Approach which sets out our measures to develop a comprehensive framework for tackling alcohol misuse. <…

27 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates an update was sent by Gpass to prescribers to allow the medicines dictionary on their Gpass Primary Care IT systems to be updated in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following Drug Dictionaries have been released by Gpass since January 2006. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=168 valign=top > Version </td> <td width=144 valign=top > <p …

27 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often it requires the medicines dictionary available to prescribers through the Gpass Primary Care system to be updated.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Drug Dictionary upgrades are produced by NSS as quarterly extracts via the eVADIS(evaluated drug information system) system. Gpass Drug Dictionary updates are in most cases cumulative covering the previous 2/3 upgrades Gpass has improved the fre…

27 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has day-to-day responsibility of ensuring that the medicines dictionary available to prescribers through the Gpass Primary Care IT system is kept up-to-date on the systems used in primary care practices.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Drug Dictionary updates for Gpass are made available by NHS National Services Scotland - National Information Systems Group to health boards and practices.

22 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further plans to offer financial support to artists at the beginning of their careers.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Arts Council currently provides a range of support to individual artists. In terms of further plans, the matter of the most appropriate support to offer to individuals, whether this be funding or guidance, is one I expect to be addressed by Creat…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11844 by John Swinney on 18 April 2008, when it expects the list of artworks in government buildings to be completed; how the list will be publicised, and what the mechanism will be for members of the public to request to view selected works of art.

Answer · John Swinney: The list of artworks will be completed when resources allow. Publicity for the list has still to be determined but it will be published on the Scottish Government website. We do not envisage any formal mechanism for members of the public to view selected work…