Parliamentary questions

Jamie Stone

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

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to increase the eligibility weighting given to local connection in housing allocations.

Answer · Alex Neil: Social landlords develop their own allocation and lettings policies within the legislative framework and in line with their local priorities. While local connection is not a statutory criteria in the allocation of social housing, guidance on the Housing (Scot…

12 Mar 2009 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the Scottish Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners and others regarding GP appointment times.

Answer · Alex Salmond: 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.scot…

11 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Royal Mail regarding its decision to withdraw five postbus services from the north and west Highlands.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : 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…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that ex-service personnel are given priority for NHS mental health services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The extension of priority treatment for services related health issues was extended in Scotland with effect from 29 February 2008 to all veterans, not just those in receipt of a war pension. It applies only to conditions related to service and it is for the c…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking with the Ministry of Defence to improve treatments for ex-service personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Answer · Shona Robison: We continue to work with the Ministry of Defence, NHS boards, veterans organisations such as Combat Stress, and other partners to further improve structured care and support for former service personnel with mental health problems, including post-traumatic st…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17279 by John Lamont on 28 October 2008, what targets have been set to improve approaches to mental health services and what is being done in the Highlands to improve mental health services to ex-service personnel.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is making good progress with partners in delivering the national performance targets and commitments for mental health set out in Delivering for Mental Health (Bib. number 41410) which cover the full spectrum of mental health c…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure the provision of appropriate housing for seriously injured ex-service personnel.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is taking forward a number of measures to support the provision of appropriate housing for seriously injured ex-service personnel including: issuing a housing circular reminding social landlords of the high priority seriously …

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking with the Ministry of Defence to provide more housing for ex-service personnel.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government aims to increase the supply of housing across all tenures to help meet housing need, including the needs of ex-Service personnel. The Scottish Government''s Housing and Regeneration Circular, Housing for People Leaving the Armed Fo…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to give ex-service personnel priority in the allocation of social housing.

Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish housing legislation requires social landlords to allocate their housing on an objective and non-discriminatory assessment of housing need. This means that, like other applicants, ex-Service personnel are allocated social housing based upon their leve…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to meet the housing needs of ex-service personnel.

Answer · Alex Neil: In July 2008 the Scottish Government published a paper entitled, Scotland''s Veterans and Forces'' Communities: meeting our commitment and contributed to The Nation''s Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Familie…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ex-service personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder most commonly receive (a) psychological therapy only, (b) drugs only or (c) a combination of psychological therapy and drugs from the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information is not held centrally. Treatments for post-traumatic stress will be based on a multi-disciplinary needs assessment to help achieve the best possible outcomes for the individual.

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether household heating measures undertaken under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package will be delivered, from application to completion, in less time than under the central heating programme.

Answer · Alex Neil: On the central heating programme, the current average waiting time from application to installation is around six months. At no time since the introduction of the central heating programme, in September 2006, has the waiting time been less than five months.</…

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether people being supplied with central heating under the central heating programme will be automatically transferred to the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: All applicants to the central heating programme will have their application automatically carried over for installation in 2009-10, if they meet the priority requirements that were in place when their application was made.

26 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered running a public awareness campaign on the importance of vitamin D in maintaining good health.

Answer · Shona Robison: We will consider the need for a campaign in the light of the outcome of research which is currently underway which has been commissioned by Health Scotland, and is expected to report in late spring 2009.

26 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and guidance on vitamin D supplements is issued to (a) NHS boards and (b) health professionals.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have not issued any advice and guidance. We will, however, be considering this in the light of the outcome of research currently underway which has been commissioned by Health Scotland, and is expected to report in late spring 2009.

26 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on providing vitamin D supplements for (a) pregnant women and (b) children aged between six months and four years in each of the last five years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not available.

23 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Scotland Transerv will address the flooding problems caused by the twin water drainage pipes on the A9 at Garbh Allt burn between Helmsdale and Portgower.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Flood prevention measures including cleaning the bed of the burn and the culverts and the installation of training walls have been undertaken. Additionally, immediately after heavy rainfall regular inspections of the burn and culverts are undertaken to ensure…

18 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the annual cost would be of providing vitamin D supplements to all children between the age of six months and four years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not available.

18 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the annual cost would be of providing vitamin D supplements to all pregnant women.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not available.

12 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to move freight onto the Far North Line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: 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.scottish…

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are waiting to register with an NHS dentist in the Wick and Thurso area.

Answer · Shona Robison: I can confirm that at present there are 7,256 people on the waiting list for registration with a dentist under NHS arrangements in the Wick and Thurso area. There are long-term problems with access to general dental services (GDS) in Highland where i…

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the list of 7,256 people waiting for registration with an NHS dentist in the Wick and Thurso area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services in the area rests with NHS Highland. The board has already established a salaried dental service in Wick and has been allocated £5.64 million under the Primary and Community Care Premise…

27 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18862 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 December 2008, what consideration is being given to the introduction of free travel on trains for concessionary travel pass holders.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The review of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is nearing completion. A report of the review is being finalised and I expect to receive it shortly.

8 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to facilitate NHS patients living in Scotland’s remotest areas accessing transport to hospitals and clinics.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: 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.scottis…

6 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address problems experienced recently at Wick Airport owing to staff shortages.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Staffing levels at Wick Airport are sufficient to meet the airport''s operational needs, principally scheduled flight movements. On 30 and 31 December 2008 there were 90 minutes of planned air traffic closures at the airport due to staff sickness. This had no…

18 Dec 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support vital infrastructure projects in the far north.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The government''s infrastructure priorities for Scotland are set out in the proposed National Planning Framework which is before Parliament and the Strategic Transport Projects Review which I announced last week.

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it projects will be built in 2009, broken down by sector.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of houses built in 2009 is due to be published in May 2010.

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it expects to have been built in 2008, broken down by sector.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of houses built in 2008 is due to be published in May 2009.

19 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have been built since January 2008, broken down by sector.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The number of house building completions between January 2008 and June 2008 (latest data available) was 11,102.

31 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes to buy it will deliver between 2008 and 2011.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17430 on 11 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…