Parliamentary questions
Mike Rumbles
1,089 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific additional funding has been allocated to each NHS board to introduce the new GP contract.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract came into force on 1 April 2004 and is one strand of the pay modernisation agenda which also covers the consultant contract and agenda for change. We have allocated £3.5 million to NHS boards in Scotland for the…
23 Jun 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage diversification in the use of forests and timber.
Answer · Allan Wilson: We are encouraging diversification in the use of forests and timber through ourwork in implementing the Scottish Forestry Strategy.</p><p>Forestry Commission Scotland manages our national forests for a wide range of public benefits and examples of recent acti…
24 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is projected to spend to tackle alcohol abuse in each of the next three years.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive is making specific funding of £3 million in 2004-05 and £5 million in 2005-06 available through NHS boards to support the implementation of local alcohol action plans.</p><p>The board by board allocation is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspa…
24 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended that all categories of dementia sufferers will be included in the Blue Badge scheme following the current review.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are unable to say whetherall categories of dementia sufferers will or will not be included in the Blue BadgeScheme until after the research by the Department for Transport is completed. Theresearch will look at the mobility needs for these groups and will …
24 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2163 by Nicol Stephen on 8 October 2003, when it now expects the research recommended by the Blue Badge review to be concluded.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are presently in discussionswith the Department for Transport regarding the timetable for this research, andwould like to see it completed as soon as possible.</p>
4 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent attrition rate is for all nursing students, including the three year course, the shortened course for graduates and the integrated degree course combined.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table below shows average attrition rates for 1992-93 to 1999-2000 for the three-year course (diploma), the degree course and the shortened course for graduates.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Three-Year Course (Diploma)<s…
21 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to aid the development of rural Scotland, given the impact of a lack of affordable housing in rural areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive will invest £65million in affordable housing in rural areas in 2004-05 to fund 1,408 houses. Thisis the highest percentage share of the programme ever allocated to rural areas havingincreased from 20% in 1999-2000 to 26% in 2004-05. The Executiv…
21 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Aberdeenshire Council and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I met with Aberdeenshire Councilon 8 December 2003 where I was updated on the work of their Joint PublicServices Group. The group also raised, amongst others, concerns about the fairnessof the distribution of Revenue Support Grant. Officials are in regular co…
24 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement the provision in the partnership agreement to provide sufficient secure accommodation and allow children who might otherwise be in secure accommodation to remain in the community through the use of electronic tagging.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I canconfirm that the Antisocial Behaviour Bill will contain provision to allowunder 16s, who might otherwise be in secure accommodation, to remain in the communitythrough the use of electronic tagging. In addition work is underway to increasethe secure estat…
17 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to increase the number of recycling points in rural areas.
Answer · Allan Wilson: So far,£120 million has been awarded from the Strategic Waste Fund to 22 localauthorities for the three years to 2006. These resources are helping to fund avariety of initiatives including kerbside recycling and an increased number ofrecycling points in both …
5 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-559 by Mr Tom McCabe on 2 October 2003, when it now expects the review into the true cost of care to be completed and published.
Answer · Tom McCabe: This work is being carriedout by local authorities and the care home sector. I hope to receive a copy oftheir findings by the end of the month.</p>
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many diabetologists there were in each NHS board area at 31 March and 30 September in each of the last three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Central data on medicalstaff numbers is collected via the annual census on 30 September each year. Thecurrent data is correct at 30 September 2003. There is no central datacollected at 31 March in each year.</p><p>I refer the member to TableB9 in the “Workfor…
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland have made available for the construction of new, affordable rural houses for (a) rent and (b) purchase in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The following table shows the amount of funding for affordable houses for rent and owner occupation in rural areas, which have been provided w…
26 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new, affordable houses for (a) rent and (b) purchase have been constructed with assistance from Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland in each local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The following table shows the number of affordable houses for rent and owner occupation, by local authority area, which have been approved for…
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated (a) under the Carers' Strategy and (b) for home care services for older people in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4264 on 5 December 2003, which addresses the levels of funding allocated to local authorities under the Carers’ Strategy. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's w…
23 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists there are per head of population in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Table 1 shows the number and rate per 100,000 population of NHS dentists working in the General Dentist Service (GDS) and in the Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) by NHS board area.</p><p> </p><p>Table 2 presents the same GDS figures, but by local …
23 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists there are per head of population in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Information on the number of non-NHS dentists is not available centrally.</p><p>Numbers and rates of NHSdentists are shown in the tables included in the answer to questions S2W-5711and S2W-5720 on 6 February 2004.</p>
23 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, how many NHS dentists there are now in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requestedabove is available in the answer given to question S2W-5720 on 6 February 2004. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament'swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http:…
21 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for assessment by an ear, nose and throat department, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times fora first outpatient appointment with a consultant in the specialty of ear, noseand throat (ENT), following referral by a general medical practitioner, in eachNHS board area, for the year ended 30 September 2003, is given in the tabl…
21 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is after an assessment by a specialist audiologist to receive the required hearing aid, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot available centrally. Information on outpatient waiting times is collectedcentrally only for an initial appointment at a consultant-led clinic, followingreferral by a general medical or dental practitioner, and at specialty leve…
21 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for specialist audiologists, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Information on numbers ofvacancies for audiologists is not centrally available.</p>
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1074 by Mr Tom McCabe on 15 January 2004, which three trusts do not comply with its guidance on mixed sex hospital wards.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The three remaining areas of NHS Scotland which do not fully comply with the guidance are the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Lothian Primary Care Trust, and small areas in both Stobhill Hospital, inthe North Glasgow University NHS Trust, and Grampian University …
14 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when consultation on third-party rights of appeal in the planning system will commence.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We willpublish our consultation paper shortly.</p>
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds will be made available to NHS boards for 2004-05.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards have been given aunified budget of £5322.948 million, an average increase over the equivalent2003-04 unified budget of 7.25%. Details of each NHS board’s allocation is asfollows:</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> …
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage overseas students at Scottish universities to live and work in Scotland after they graduate.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The First Ministerannounced in September 2003 the proposal to set up, by autumn 2004, a national relocationadvice service centre. This would give advice to a diverse range of clientsexpressing an interest in living and working in Scotland. Early focus will be…
7 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the programme to end the use of mixed sex wards to be completed.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Furtherprogress has been made towards achieving the target of ending mixed sexhospital wards. 99% of wards in Scotland are now fully compliant with our guidance. Discussions continue to takeplace with the three trusts that do not fully comply. These trusts ha…
31 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met its targets in A Partnership for a Better Scotland for guaranteeing treatment for in-patients within nine months of diagnosis by the end of 2003 and what progress it is making in reducing this time to six months by the end of 2005.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Validatedwaiting times figures for 31 December 2003will be published by ISD Scotland on its “NHSScotland Acute Activity, WaitingTimes and Waiting Lists” website on Thursday 26 February 2004.</p><p>The latestavailable statistics – for 30 September 2003– show t…
3 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met trunk road operating companies and local authorities to ensure that pre-emptive action is taken to address severe winter conditions on roads.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the terms of the trunk road maintenance contracts, theoperating companies (OCs) are required to review and submit winter maintenance plans(WMPs) each year which detail resources and plans for delivering the requiredlevel of service on a route-by-route b…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-382 by Mr Tom McCabe on 9 June 2003, whether it is aware of any person who has sold their property in order to fund their care in a local authority care home.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has received letters about nine cases where people were facingdecisions about selling their homes to fund their care home fees, since freepersonal and nursing care was implemented in July 2002. The letters generallysought advice on the …
13 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number is of operational police officers per head of population in each police force area for the next three years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In our partnership agreement,we committed to increase the number of police officers on operational duty inevery Scottish force. This commitment builds on an undertaking by theAssociation of Chief Police Officers in Scotland in March 2003 to make it apriority …