Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish alternative route plans through Rutherglen and Cambuslang, given the current level of traffic congestion on their main thoroughfares and the decision not to proceed with the M74 Northern Extension at this stage.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Responsibility for traffic management on local roads and for local road traffic reduction measures rests with the relevant local authority.
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if Glasgow and South Lanarkshire councils produce a funding package allowing them to start preliminary work on constructing the M74 Northern Extension, it will consider providing any additional matching funds and what input it will encourage from North Lanarkshire and Renfrewshir…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: As noted in the report on the Strategic Roads Review, published on 4 November, the Scottish Executive proposes to meet Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils to discuss the M74 Northern Extension. I expect the meeting to consider funding issues and …
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it would expect a decision not to proceed with the M74 Northern Extension to have on the growth of traffic through Glasgow Airport.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I have asked Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils to take forward proposals for the M74 Northern Extension in the context of their Local Transport Strategies and in co-operation with other authorities, including Renfrewshire. These strategies should ai…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1667 by Sarah Boyack on 20 October 1999, what financial assistance it will give to South Lanarkshire Council to meet the cost of blight claims on the land designated for construction of the M74 Northern Extension.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Since 1996-97, local authorities have received a block allocation to cover expenditure on all their non-housing capital programmes including Roads and Transport. This method of allocating resources is by agreement with COSLA. Authorities can also use capital …
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the positive environmental impact, if any, if the M74 Northern Extension is not built.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The appraisal of the M74 Northern Extension carried out for the Strategic Roads Review indicated that the scheme would have negative effects on a range of environmental indicators, namely noise and vibration, water quality and drainage, ecology, visual impact…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates will be the net loss or gain in jobs and investment in the west of Scotland if the M74 Northern Extension is not built.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The recent report by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment (SACTRA) on "Transport and the Economy" highlighted the complexities associated with analysing the local economic impacts of transport schemes. They cautioned against exag…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it has chosen to designate the M74 a local rather than a strategic road.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The M74 Northern Extension was first proposed by Strathclyde Regional Council and has been taken forward by Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils as successors to Strathclyde Region. No Government, past or present, has given any commitment to designate …
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the findings of the M74 "complete to compete" group and, if not, why not.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive's assessment of the M74 Northern Extension is set out in the report on the Strategic Roads Review which was published and made available to Members on 4 November.
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates the impact will be of a 2.4% increase in funding net of non-domestic rates on front line police services in Strathclyde in financial year 2000-01.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2000-01, which includes the Police Grant Aided Expenditure will be announced shortly. Police GAE is not hypothecated and it is for individual authorities and joint boards to determine their expenditure plans.
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its policies on issues relating to smoking and tobacco.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The White Paper <I>Smoking Kills</I> which was published on 10 December 1998 sets out a comprehensive strategy to combat smoking throughout the UK. The Scottish Executive endorses the White Paper as a framework for action. However, in taking the policy forwar…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of infertility services in Scotland will be published.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer to S1W-2318.
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will re-allocate resources dedicated to the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer if the project is cancelled or delayed.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This would be a matter for decision by Ministers at the time, taking into account advice from the New Housing Partnerships Steering Group on the scope for re-allocating resources to other New Housing Partnerships projects.
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer ballot will take place in November 2000 and, if not, why not.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Council confirmed in a letter to its tenants last week that November 2000 was the target date for the ballot.
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recognise formal qualifications in herbal medicine and regulate its practice.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The identification and accreditation of suitable training courses and the recognition of qualifications in any complementary therapy is primarily the responsibility of the professional body or bodies which regulate it.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The regulati…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allow qualified medical herbalists to work in primary health care alongside NHS professionals.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive endorses the position taken by successive Governments for many years, that complementary or alternative therapies may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Legislation allows practitioners of such ther…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide financial support for the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine in order for it to provide adequate premises and staff remuneration.
Answer · Susan Deacon: All aspects of training for complementary therapies such as herbal medicine, including the provision of premises and the remuneration of trainers and support staff, are matters for the professional bodies concerned and are generally expected to be self-financ…
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek the discontinuation of PVC saline bags following withdrawal of such bags by the US Food and Drug Administration over concerns regarding the release of toxins.
Answer · Susan Deacon: No. Advice from the Medicines Control Agency is that the use of pre-filled plasticised PVC bags containing infusion solutions such as sodium chloride is not considered to pose any unacceptable risk to patients.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>It is understood tha…
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available, by sex, on the percentage of young people aged 18 or under smoking in the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Available data are shown in the following tables:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Proportion of Scottish secondary school pupils who were regular smokers by sex and age; 1994 to 1998<TA…
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to limit the sale of school playing fields.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Decisions on the disposal of school playing fields are matters for the education authority concerned, subject to the minimum area requirements for the provision of such playing fields set out in regulations. National Planning Policy Guideline 11 provides advi…
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider raising the school entry age to six.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: We have no present plans to review the school starting age.
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated saving would be in financial year 2000-01 if all prescription drugs were written and dispensed generically.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not possible to estimate future savings if all drugs were written and dispensed generically as it cannot be known with certainty for which drugs a generic equivalent will be available and at what price. In addition in some cases a generic product may be…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated cost would be in the financial year 2000-2001 of making nicotine patches available on NHS prescription.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The cost to the NHS in Scotland of making nicotine patches available on prescription can not be stated with any degree of confidence as it would depend on a number of factors which are currently unknown. For example the take up rate among smokers and the cond…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scotland's population received NHS care in the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Data on the total numbers of episodes of NHS care for inpatient and day case treatment and the total number of consultant outpatient and Accident and Emergency attendance's for the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 is provided in the table. Comprehensive inf…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to safeguard the sexual health of young men and women in Scotland aged 18 years or under.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Sexual health, including the reduction of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, is a priority for the Scottish Executive. The White Paper <I>Towards a Healthier Scotland</I> emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach, which placed sexua…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it anticipates the latest interest rate rise will have on Scottish exports, and what plans it has to help Scottish industry compete following the recent rise.
Answer · Henry McLeish: We understand the importance of interest rates to Scottish businesses, but it is important to take account of the whole environment in which businesses operate. UK policy is set with a view to achieving the overall economic conditions for sustained growth and…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that all primary schools strike a balance between schoolwork and play.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: An appropriate balance between schoolwork and play is a vital component of a rounded curriculum. Schools and pre-school centres have been given advice on the benefits of play as part of a balanced curriculum. Schools are also encouraged to provide pupils with…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the economic competitiveness of Glasgow.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting the Glasgow Alliance and the Joint Economic Strategy for Glasgow published by Glasgow Development Agency and Glasgow City Council as members of the Alliance in 1999. The main aim of that strategy is to build o…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to police the Scotland against England football match on Saturday 13 November and from which budget(s) costs will be met.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Five forces were involved in the operation to police the Scotland against England football match on Saturday 13 November. The operation lasted from Friday 12 November through to Sunday 14 November and the costs incurred were:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPA…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce drug testing for drivers who are tested for alcohol.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Legislation on drugs and driving is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act. Driving a motor vehicle while unfit through drugs is an offence. The police may take a person whose driving appears to be impaired to a police station for examination by a police su…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to restrict housing and large scale retail development on greenbelt land and encourage development on brownfield sites.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive's policies on the location of housing and retail development are set out in National Planning Policy Guidelines 3: Land for Housing and 8: Town Centres and Retailing. NPPG3 indicates that priority should be given to the re-use of urban brownfiel…