Parliamentary questions
Jamie Stone
587 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average ambulance crews spent on emergency call-outs in each NHS board in the last year for which information is available.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service has provided the table below which sets out the average service time in minutes by NHS board for each type of call for 2007-08.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p ali…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on co-funding NHS treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: A fundamental principle of the NHS is that care is free at the point of delivery. In the interests of patient safety and good clinical governance, a patient cannot be a private and an NHS patient for the treatment of one episode of care.</p> <p >Guidance has…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been denied NHS treatment because they have purchased drugs that are not available under the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards. The decisions of clinicians in relation to the care of individual conditions are a matter of professional judgement.</p> <p >This information is not collected centrally.</p>
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is NHS policy that patients who purchase drugs that are not available through the NHS are denied further treatment under the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: Where the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) do not recommend a particular drug or treatment for use in the NHS, NHS boards and clinicians in Scotland are expected to take full account of the advice provided.</p> <p >However, the decisions of clinicians in …
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the recent announcement that the First Minister will commission a study into establishing an oil fund for Scotland, what plans it has to consult on the establishment of an area-based motor fuel tax discount scheme for Scotland’s remote areas and islands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Fuel taxation is reserved to Westminster and the Scottish Government has made clear its concern over fuel costs in Scotland’s remote areas and islands.</p> <p >Scottish ministers have commissioned a study into the establishment of an oil fund for Scotland, w…
4 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Highland Council’s proposal to reduce teaching staff at Brora Primary School, thereby increasing class sizes in the school, accords with the Scottish Government's stated aim of reducing class sizes.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13804 on 12 June 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/webapp/w…
29 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the debate on Fuel Costs on 28 May 2008 (Official Report c. 9062-82), what resources it will direct towards developing and presenting to HM Treasury a workable area-based motor fuel tax discount scheme for islands and remote areas and what representations it will make on the ma…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Fuel taxation is reserved to Westminster, so it is for the UK Government to devote resources to working up any discount scheme. As was made clear during the Scottish Parliament debate on fuel costs on 28 May, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11472 by John Swinney on 30 April 2008, what representations will be made to HM Revenue and Customs in order to ensure that its Wick office remains open.
Answer · John Swinney: As noted in the answer to question S3W-11472, under current constitutional arrangements the organisation of HMRC services in Scotland is a matter for that body. We believe HMRC must ensure an adequate level of convenient face to face service for all Scottish …
1 May 2008 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body why it does not operate the Department of Transport’s Cycle to Work Scheme and whether it has any plans to operate the scheme in the future.
Answer · Alex Johnstone: The Environmental Performance Manager is currently carrying out a scoping exercise to ascertain exactly what would be involved in setting up such a scheme.</p> <p >The SPCB encourages the use of bicycles as a means of travelling to work and provides facilit…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the provisions of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 in relation to the streamlining of the disclosure process will come into force.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11587 on 21 April 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/webapp…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what forms of financial assistance are available to Highland hotel and bed and breakfast businesses to enable them to take maximum advantage of the domestic and non-domestic heating opportunities that will be presented by the Balcas wood pellet and energy plant at Invergordon.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is investing a further £2 million in our successful energy efficiency loan scheme for small businesses to allow support for microgeneration. From summer 2008, small businesses, including Highland hotel and bed and breakfast businesses,…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns about any increase in the numbers of one-person ambulance vehicles in respect of the safety of the drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service has in place lone worker policies and procedures which are aimed at reducing any risk to staff to a point as low as reasonably practicable. Staff are required to conduct a dynamic risk assessment when they arrive on scene at an …
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service in the last year about protecting ambulance drivers and workers in the course of their duties.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government considers the safety of all public service workers to be a matter of the upmost importance. There are regular discussions between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service on a range of issues, including the protection…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of all ambulance or rapid response vehicle journeys are undertaken by drivers with no other individual present.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not currently held by the Scottish Ambulance Service.</p> <p >However, at the beginning of 2008 there were 32 rapid response units, representing 8% of the total number of accident and emergency resources across Scotland (400). The Scottis…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults have been committed against drivers of one-person rapid response ambulance vehicles in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12450 on 9 May 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/webapp/wa…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults have been committed against ambulance drivers and workers carrying out their duties in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table details the numbers of incidents of violence and aggression towards Scottish Ambulance Service staff since 2004.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p > </p> </td> <td valign=top > <…
18 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government regarding any proposals by HM Revenue and Customs to close any of its offices in Scotland outwith Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.
28 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government regarding the possibility of HM Revenue and Customs proposing the closure of a number of offices in Scotland outwith Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Answer · John Swinney: Under current constitutional arrangements the organisation of HMRC services in Scotland is a matter for that body. However the Scottish Government has an interest in the maintenance of an appropriate level of service across Scotland. We are aware of the decis…
13 Mar 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Galleries of Scotland with a view to some of the £125 million art collection recently donated by Anthony d’Offay to the Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland being permanently located and displayed in some of Scotland’s remoter areas, su…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: It is a key feature of the very generous d''Offay gift that the <i>Artist Rooms </i>collection should be a national resource. Scottish ministers have awarded an additional £175,000 annually to the National Galleries to tour the collection within Scotland. Nat…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that antidepressants are overprescribed and, if so, what steps it is taking to address this issue.
Answer · Shona Robison: From work undertaken as part of the <i >Doing Well by People with Depression</i> Programme we know that some patients are prescribed antidepressants in which they are unlikely to have therapeutic benefit. Similarly, we know that other patients who would benef…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments are made of NHS patients (a) prior to being prescribed antidepressants and (b) while they are receiving antidepressant treatment and what follow-up there is for patients who have completed their course of antidepressant treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our published commitment is to work with GPs so that new patients with depression receive a formal assessment using a standardised tool. Where assessment shows medication is an appropriate care option this will be offered. This approach is entirely consistent…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what follow-up requirements there are for NHS patients who have been prescribed antidepressants.
Answer · Shona Robison: Following guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence evidence based guidelines are followed by NHSScotland on treating depression, including steps for reviewing medication. Further guidance was published in 2007 on standards for integrated c…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or commissioned a study in to whether people would prefer NHS counselling instead of being prescribed antidepressants for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is a range of evidence supporting the important contribution that counselling and other psychological therapies can have in responding to those with depression including the 2006 national evaluation of the <i >Doing Well by People with Depression</i> pr…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or commissioned a study comparing the cost-effectiveness of generic psychological therapy against routinely prescribed antidepressant drugs.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not conducted or commissioned any studies comparing the cost effectiveness of generic psychological therapy against routinely prescribed antidepressant drugs.</p> <p >The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are prescribed antidepressants for mild depression and what procedures there are for prescribing these drugs.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to provide this information. Prescription data collected centrally does not relate to the number of patients receiving treatment but to the numbers and cost of prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispens…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for Adderall and Ritalin have been issued through the NHS since these drugs were made available and what the total cost has been to the NHS in each year.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following tables show the number of prescribed items and gross ingredient cost for methylphenidate hydrochloride including Ritalin for the financial years ending 31 March 1996 to 2007. Adderall is not licensed for use in the UK. The data given refer to it…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for nervous system depressants, such as Valium and Xanax, have been issued through the NHS since these drugs were made available and what the total cost to the NHS has been each year, broken down by drug.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested. Information on nervous system depressant drugs prescribed by NHSScotland is published by NHS National Services Scotland on the Scottish Health Statistics website at <a href="http://www.isd…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for antidepressants have been issued through the NHS since these drugs were made available and what the total cost has been to the NHS each year, broken down by drug.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested. Information on antidepressant drugs prescribing by NHS Scotland is published by NHS National Services Scotland on the Scottish Health Statistics website at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been issued for opiates, such as OxyContin and Percocet, since the drugs were made available through the NHS and what the total cost has been to the NHS each year, broken down by drug.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following tables show the number of prescribed items and gross ingredient cost for opiates for the financial years ending 31 March 1993 to 2007. The data given refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doct…
10 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug companies have provided drug research to the Scottish Medicines Consortium at the time of licensing and, if not, how this affects the licensing process.
Answer · Shona Robison: The licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The Scottish Medicines Consortium considers products after licensing. The information required from manufacturers is available from th…