Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01461 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 July 2011, whether it considers that the decisions regarding (a) facilitating a review of the proposed West Loch Awe timber route and (b) discussing alternative plans are compliant with articles 4, 5 and 6 of the Aarh…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We consider that the decisions regarding the West Loch Awe timber route are compliant with articles 4, 5 and 6 of the Aarhus Convention.
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed on the previous Gourock to Dunoon ferry service and by what company and what happened to the staff when the new Argyll Ferries service started.
Answer · Keith Brown: In total 75 members of staff were employed on the previous Gourock to Dunoon service – 61 by the David MacBrayne Group; four by Solent Wightline, who previously owned the MV Ali-Cat, and 10 by Argyll and Bute Council at Dunoon Pier. Of the 61 members of staf…
1 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for not responding to correspondence from local residents and the Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council regarding an alternative route to the West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister responded to Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council on 7 July 2011.
1 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to local requests for changes to the proposed West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route was agreed following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Local Community Councils were closely involved in the consultation process associated with this EIA. An alternative, lower, route has been suggested, but this w…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on access to Eculizumab for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria in the last year.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has received a range of representations regarding the availability of eculizumab to treat paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria which includes letters from members of the public, patient representative groups and parliamentary questions…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what therapies to treat ultra-orphan conditions have been (a) assessed and (b) recommended for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operates independently from the Scottish Government. Further information about the SMC, including decisions reached about all newly licensed and orphan medicines, is available from their website: http://www.scottishmedi…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons Eculizumab is not included in the national orphan drugs risk share scheme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Only medicines recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) should be eligible for inclusion on the orphan drugs risk share scheme. The SMC does not recommend use of Eculizumab within NHS Scotland. Any exceptions to this criteria would need to be a…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the Scottish Medicines Consortium did not recommend Eculizumab for use.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operates independently from the Scottish Government. Details about the nature of SMC processes and further information about SMC decisions are available from their website: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria have died in the last year; whether they were recommended for treatment with Eculizumab by clinicians; to which NHS boards those treatment requests were made, and whether these boards funded treatment with Eculizumab.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have (a) received, (b) approved and (c) rejected individual patient treatment requests for Eculizumab for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Boards and clinicians are expected to take full account of advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium and Healthcare Improvement Scotland in the planning and provision of NHS services. The Scottish Medicines Consortium assessed eculizumab for the mana…
15 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding the future of Cowal Hospice in Dunoon.
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the need for guidelines on using modifiers when assessing the health-economic case of ultra-orphan medicines.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) appraises all newly licensed prescription only branded medicines, including orphan medicines, for clinical and cost-effectiveness and issues advice to NHS boards. The SMC is a consortium of NHS board area drug and ther…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-40247 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 March 2011, on what date it expects the guidance to be published.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government published good practice guidance for NHS board management of individual patient treatment requests on 18 March 2011 under cover of SGHD/CMO(2011)3. The guidance can be found at: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/cmo/CMO(2011)03.pdf.
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the creation of a Cancer Drugs Fund in England has resulted in an imbalance in equality of access to cancer drugs between Scotland and England and, if so, what action it is taking.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As health is a devolved matter, decisions regarding the introduction of new medicines are taken by each of the UK countries through their own appraisal arrangements in line with established national priorities. Scotland’s independent and robust arrangements …
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will be incorporated into the new rail franchise agreement to ensure that trains on the rail line between Glasgow and Oban and Glasgow and Fort William are heated and have toilet facilities.
Answer · Keith Brown: The trains on the West Highland Line are currently equipped with heating and toilet facilities and there are no proposals for these facilities to be removed. ScotRail undertook a full examination and overhaul of on-train heating units on the Class 156 trains…
19 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied by HM Inspectorate of Education when determining the educational impact of a proposed school closure.
Answer · Michael Russell: HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) determines the educational impact of a proposed school closure by considering the likely effects of the proposal, if it were implemented, on certain groups of people as specified in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act…
19 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the short-life working group established to examine the guidance issued to local authorities on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 has received a copy of petition PE1382 and written submissions on the Argyll rural schools' network from the Public Petitions Committee an…
Answer · Michael Russell: The short-life working group did not directly receive or consider petition PE1382. However, a number of group members responded directly to the petition, and the substantive issues contained within it were discussed at a meeting of the group on 16 February 20…
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to upgrade the (a) A82 and (b) A83.
Answer · Keith Brown: On the A83, we have been carrying out a number of measures to improve safety on the road, as well as structural maintenance schemes and minor improvements on both the A82 and A83 to improve the condition of these roads. We are also taking forward schemes on t…
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle affordable housing shortages in (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) the rest of the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Keith Brown: As a result of project approvals from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2010-11 and in previous years, the Highland and Islands and Argyll and Bute have the following commitments. (a) Argyll and Bute – committed funding of £5.154 million with 12…
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to recategorise the section of the A83 between Kennacraig and Campbeltown as a trunk road.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40142 on 14 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) it will provide an update on the tendering process of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route and (b) a vehicle service will be provided on this route as well as a passenger service.
Answer · Keith Brown: I can confirm that all bids in respect of the tender for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service are currently being evaluated. Until that process is complete it would be inappropriate to comment further.
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of its proposed local income tax will be when it is introduced.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government intends to undertake further consultation during this Parliament to produce proposals for a fairer local tax based on ability to pay. No legislative proposals will therefore be brought before this Parliament on this subject.
11 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will re-establish a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40493 on 18 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update of the tender for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.
Answer · Keith Brown: Tender documents in respect of the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service were issued to the following shortlisted bidders on 18 February 2011: </p> <p align=left >Clyde Marine Ltd</p> <p align=left >Cowal Ferries Ltd </p> <p align=left >Highland and Universal Se…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on efforts to re-establish a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers remain supportive of the provision of a subsidised Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service. However, current financial pressures mean that ferries budget provision must remain focused on existing contracts and committed vessels and harbour pr…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address concerns regarding the conditions of roads in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland, through its operating companies, is responsible for the maintenance of trunk roads and motorways in Scotland, while local roads maintenance is a matter for local authorities.</p> <p >The Scottish Government has provided an extra £15 milli…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there have been on the A9 since September 2006.
Answer · Keith Brown: There were 686 reported personal injury accidents on the A9 trunk road, including 40 fatal accidents, between 1 September 2006 and 31 October 2010.</p> <p >Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotl…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many official ministerial visits have been made to (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles in each year since 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Information requested is not routinely recorded and therefore not held in the format requested. Systems were put in place on 8 March 2010 to collect this information more easily and we have provided this in the following table.</p> <p >2010</p> <table …
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much subsidy has been provided for (a) internal air, (b) external air, (c) internal ferry and (d) external ferry services to each island group in each year since 1999.
Answer · Keith Brown: </p> <p >Internal Air</p> <p >These data are not held centrally. Internal air services are provided and funded by Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Western Isles and Argyll and Bute Councils.</p> <p >External Air</p> <p >The Scottish Government supports t…
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much local authority grant support funding has been allocated per capita for (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is contained within the following tables.</p> <p >The figures in these tables represent total revenue figures for the period 2008-12 and Aggregate External Finance for the period 1999-2008. The local government finance settlements …