Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what adjustments are made in the allocation of resources for general practitioner prescribing and general medical services to take account of the additional demands associated with offshore workers and other workers resident in a health board area for a substantial part of each year.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The population figures used in the Arbuthnott revenue allocation formula for general practitioner prescribing take into account all persons usually resident in an area. As such, they include offshore workers and other workers resident in a health board area a…
22 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 2.3 of the final Arbuthnott report, whether the mid-year estimate of population employed in deciding the allocation of resources for financial year 2001-02 will be the mid-year estimate for 1999.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Given the proximity of timing, the target shares used in the 2001-02 allocations announced on 21 September 2000 were those recently published in the final report of the Arbuthnott Review. The mid-year estimate used in that work was not updated.
22 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 2.4 of the final Arbuthnott report, whether the mid-year estimate of population employed in deciding the allocation of resources for hospital and community health services and for general practitioner prescribing will be updated on an annual basis.
Answer · Susan Deacon: On 21 September I announced in-year allocations for 2000-01 and allocations for 2001-02 based on the recently published results of the Arbuthnott Review. For any subsequent allocations, I intend to take into account all of the recommended annual updates as se…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists are currently practicing in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Scotland and what level of service this represents per thousand of resident population.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Data relating to dentists practising in the Aberdeen area are not available centrally. The available data on the provision of NHS general dental services are shown in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COL…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists provide NHS treatment to (a) children and others entitled to free dental care and (b) those not entitled to free dental care.
Answer · Susan Deacon: All general dental practitioners on family health service lists in Scotland provide NHS treatment to (a) children and others entitled to free dental care and (b) those not entitled to free dental care. All community and hospital service dentists provide NHS t…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current salary range is for salaried dentists.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The current salary scale for salaried dentists is set out in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=609><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Salary Scale for Salaried Dentists as at 1 April 2000</TD></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><P ALI…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many salaried dentists are currently practising, broken down by health board.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is shown in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Number of Salaried Dentists in Scotland Broken Down by Health Board Area at 30 June 2000</TD></TR><TR><…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the NHS has taken to recruit dentists from outwith the UK.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive have attempted to encourage dentists from the EEC to work in Scotland as an interim measure to address workforce problems. Due to the limited success of this exercise, the main workforce strategy has been to increase the number of denti…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vocational training places have been filled by trainee dentists in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Grampian in each of the last three years and how many places are currently available.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of Dental Vocational Trainees in post for last three years in North East of Scotland is shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="MIDDLE" HEIGHT=26><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIG…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have completed training as dental practitioners at each dental school in the last three years.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of students in each dental school who have completed training is shown in the following table. The information is the latest available.<P ALIGN="LEFT"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=559><TR><TD WIDTH="23%" VALIGN="MIDDLE" HEIGHT=2…
18 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have sought emergency dental treatment from (a) general medical practitioners in Aberdeen, (b) the accident and emergency department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and (c) G-DOCS out of hours general medical practice service in each of the last three years.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Information is not recorded on the number of patients who have sought emergency dental treatment from general medical practitioners in Aberdeen and G-DOCS out of hours general medical practice service.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Mr Macdonald may wish to contact Mr Ale…
12 Sep 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to begin consultation on the regulation of the security industry in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We aim to issue a consultation paper before the end of this year.
19 Jun 2000 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Executive is making in promoting equal opportunities and tackling racism.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all and has established an Equality Unit as part of the Executive Secretariat. In January we issued a consultation paper on the development of an equality strategy. A detailed report…
14 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the issue of speeding vehicles in built-up areas.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Speeding issues are addressed in the road safety strategy published on 1 March. Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The enforcement of speed limits is a matter for the police.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it intends to carry out following the announcement of proposed new private security regulations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to my answer to his question S1W-7190.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with representatives of the private security industry in connection with the announcement of proposed new regulations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I had a helpful discussion with representatives of the British Security Industry Association on 5 April and Angus MacKay announced the Executive's intention to regulate the private security industry when he addressed the BSIA's Scottish Regional Annual Semina…
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the implementation of the proposals to regulate the private security industry.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is the Scottish Executive's intention to issue a consultation document shortly outlining proposals for tighter regulation of the private security industry in Scotland. No timetable has been set for implementation. This will be determined following the cons…
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what long-term benefits to the Grampian area will result from the World Corporate Games in Aberdeen in July 2000.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in SPICe.
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what direct expenditure in the Grampian area will be generated by the staging of the World Corporate Games in Aberdeen in July 2000.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in SPICe.
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many competitors will take part in the World Corporate Games in Aberdeen in July 2000.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that some 10,000 competitors are expected to participate in the World Corporate Games.
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what types of organisation are eligible to take part in the World Corporate Games in Aberdeen in July 2000.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that the games are open to commercial organisations including multi-national and national companies and local businesses.
26 Apr 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take in relation to existing telecommunication masts, in the light of the Transport and the Environment Committee's report on the introduction of new planning procedures for telecommunication developments.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I intend to write to the Convenor of the Transport and the Environment Committee with an interim response to the Committee's report before our debate on 11 May.
29 Mar 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the treatment of persons who are alleged to have committed further offences while on bail.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 provides power for the courts to impose a heavier sentence on persons convicted of an offence committed while on bail.
8 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the options, offered in the discussion paper A Single Social Housing Tenancy for Scotland; Rights Responsibilities and Obligations for introducing the single social tenancy, as between phasing or a "big bang" approach, it now proposes to pursue in the light of responses to the pa…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: As we made clear in the discussion paper, our priority is to secure common rights, based on the single social tenancy, for all tenants provided that this does not prejudice the viability of landlords. In the light of representations that the financial wellbei…
24 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in implementing its Land Reform Action Plan published in August 1999.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I promised that we would publish regular updates on our Land Reform Action Plan to show how we are delivering on our promises. The second of these progress reports is published today. All MSPs are receiving copies.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">I am pleased to say that w…
24 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the implementation of the requirements of EC Directive 97/11/EC in relation to harbour works in Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The European Communities Directive 97/11/EC made new requirements for the procedures in making Environmental Impact Assessments in relation to private and public works. These changes build on the requirements already in place in the substantive Environmental …
1 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the issues raised by the trial of Dr Harold Shipman.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Dr Harold Shipman was found guilty at Preston Crown Court on Monday 31 January on 15 charges of murder and of forging the will of one of his patients. On behalf of the Scottish Executive, I express my deepest sympathy for the relatives and friends of all thos…
27 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to develop proposals for legislation on the law of the foreshore and seabed.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have sent the Scottish Law Commission the following reference:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">"Taking account of the Land Reform Action Plan, to consider the existing law of the foreshore and seabed, and to advise on possible reforms, with a view to improving clari…
5 Jan 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current methodology for allocating financial resources to tackle deprivation is effective in identifying all areas of relative poverty and social and economic disadvantage.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Across the Executive's programmes, a number of methods of allocating resources for tackling deprivation are used. As we said in the <I>Social Justice Report</I> published in November 1999, we will be exploring how planning systems can be developed to ensure e…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a strategy for carers in Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: We have produced a document setting out our proposals for a Strategy for Carers in Scotland and copies are available in the document supply centre.