Parliamentary questions

Dr Richard Simpson

2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in the number of acute hospital beds it envisages in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The decision around the exact number of acute hospital beds required across NHSScotland is a matter for individual NHS boards who are responsible for determining the local needs of their resident population. Any proposals for major service change in the NHS …

11 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to abolish the Scottish Patient Safety Alliance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Patient Safety Alliance and its National Advisory Board have been subsumed within the arrangements to implement the NHSScotland Healthcare Quality Strategy, including the establishment of the Quality Alliance Board and the Safe Delivery Group. Th…

11 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the General Medical Council to ensure that undergraduate medical teaching and appraisal and revalidation processes cover (a) teaching patient safety and (b) the importance of human factors in the safe practice of medicine.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The undergraduate medical curriculum is approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) and encompasses teaching patient safety and the importance of human factors in the safe practice of medicine. Undergraduate medical students are not subject to appraisal an…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further reduction in salt the Food Standards Agency Scotland is seeking in (a) bread, (b) biscuits, (c) snacks and (d) processed foods and by what date these targets are to be achieved.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that it is seeking progress towards the 2012 Food Standards Agency salt targets. Full details, including targets on bread, biscuits, snacks and processed foods can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/scot…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in the salt content of bread since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2001 estimated that the average salt content of bread fell from 1.4g/100g in 1998 to 1.2g/100g in 2001, an average fall of 13%. Working wit…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage increase there has been in the production of lean (a) beef, (b) lamb and (c) pork since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This information is not readily available. However, improvement in the selection of stock by producers, has led to some improvement in the proportion of lean animals going forward for slaughter. In addition, work is underway through Quality …

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what change there has been in the shortfall between target consumption and production of (a) fresh fruit, (b) non-citrus fresh fruit and (c) vegetables since the publication of the report, A Scottish Diet, in 1993.

Answer · Shona Robison: According to the Scottish Dietary Goals the target consumption is for an average intake to more than 400grams of fruit and vegetables per person per day. The 2009 Scottish Health Survey indicates a slight upward trend in personal fruit and vegetables consumpt…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grant schemes are in place for the agriculture and fisheries sectors to promote its dietary targets for Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation and European Fisheries Fund grant schemes are available to assist the agriculture and fishery sectors meet and contribute to overall Government policies, including those relating to health and nutrition, as set …

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on achieving the dietary targets listed in Annex B of Eating for Health - meeting the challenge: Co-ordinated action, improved communication and leadership for Scottish Food and Health policy 2004.

Answer · Shona Robison: Work on monitoring progress towards the Scottish Dietary Targets is carried out by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland and is on-going. Food/nutrient changes to the Scottish Dietary Targets from 2001 to 2008 <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cel…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to deliver the recommendations in Eating for Health: A Diet Action Plan for Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Over the 15 years since Eating for Health: a Diet Action Plan for Scotland was published, work between government, stakeholders and the food industry has continued moving towards delivering the 71 recommendations. Full details of progress up to 2005 was publi…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what outcome measures the Food Standards Agency Scotland applies to its strategic objectives of (a) achieving an improvement in the health of the Scottish population and (b) reducing inequalities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Food Standards Agency in Scotland advises that it employs a number of diet and nutrition outcome measures relating to health improvement. For example: In working to improve messaging about healthy eating, an FSA in Scotland project is being carri…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Care Commission has taken to ensure that appropriate care and personal plans are in place for people in care homes, supported accommodation or hostels with alcohol-related brain damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is a statutory requirement for registered care services for adults to prepare a personal plan which sets out how the health and welfare needs of the person using the service will be met. This requirement is reflected in the National Care Standards. …

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage in ensuring that suitable housing or appropriate residential placements are available to people with alcohol-related brain damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39719 on 1 March 2011. 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/Apps2/B…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence of a change in the ratio of men to women with alcohol-related brain damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: Data on numbers of men and women with alcohol related brain damage are not held centrally.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has made since May 2007 in relation to the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related brain damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: Since May 2007, the Scottish Government has continued work to translate the principles and recommendations of Mind the Gaps (2003) and A Fuller Life (2004) reports into practical advice on action needed to move the joint agenda forward…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made since May 2007 of the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related brain damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40569 on 21 March 2011. 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/Apps2/…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has funded research into alcohol-related brain damage in (a) Scotland or (b) different regions of Scotland since the publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: No.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what local needs assessments have been carried out regarding alcohol-related brain damage since the publication of A Fuller Life: Report of the Expert Group on Alcohol Related Brain Damage.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Scottish Trauma Audit Group is spending additional money on Cisco 1900 series routers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Trauma Audit Group has not committed to, and does not intend to commit to, any expenditure on Cisco 1900 series routers.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) civil servant, (b) agency or (c) non-departmental public body jobs were (i) relocated to or (ii) agreed to be established in each (A) local authority area and (B) parliamentary constituency between (1) 1999 and 2003, (2) 2003 and 2007 and (3) 2007 and 2011.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Executive collated the following information in 2007. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=83 valign=top > Status Of Body </td> <td width=110 valign=top > <p ali…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) civil service, (b) agency or (c) non-departmental public body jobs were (i) relocated to or (ii) agreed to be established in Clackmannanshire district between 1999 and 2005 and for what organisations or bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: No jobs were relocated to or established in Clackmannanshire in that period.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were created in Clackmannanshire by the establishment of Waterwatch Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Officer of Waterwatch Scotland to reply to the member.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it has issued to the board and management of Waterwatch Scotland regarding reductions in either staff or functions since the coming into force of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: No instruction has been issued to Waterwatch Scotland regarding reductions in staff or functions since the coming into force of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of satisfaction of consumers consulting Waterwatch Scotland has been in each year since it was established.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Officer of Waterwatch to reply to the member.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in complaints about Scottish Water and other water companies there has been in each year since the establishment of Waterwatch Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Officer of Waterwatch to reply to the member.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budgeted costs are for the functions of Waterwatch Scotland to be dispersed to (a) the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, (b) Consumer Focus Scotland, (c) the proposed new consumer forum and for other functions or duties not yet allocated.

Answer · John Swinney: The budgeted costs for Waterwatch Scotland''s representative and complaints-handling functions that transfer to the National Consumer Council (whose operating name is Consumer Focus) and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman respectively under the Public Ser…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of Waterwatch Scotland as audited was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 and what the estimated costs are for 2010-11.

Answer · John Swinney: The costs in 2008-09 and 2009-10 of Waterwatch Scotland are set out in its annual report which is laid in the Parliament annually and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The budgeted costs of Waterwatch Scotland for 2010-11 are set o…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the independence of collating consumer advice will be ensured if the bodies requested to create the alternative body to Waterwatch Scotland are Scottish Water, the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland and Consumer Focus Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not requested Scottish Water, the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland and Consumer Focus Scotland to create an alternative body to Waterwatch Scotland. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40409 on 16 March 2011 wh…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations were held with the (a) board and (b) management of Waterwatch Scotland regarding the proposed consumer forum to replace its function of consulting consumers.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not proposed a consumer forum to replace Waterwatch Scotland''s representative function.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the functions are of Waterwatch Scotland and what organisations will handle them when Waterwatch is closed.

Answer · John Swinney: Waterwatch Scotland is the operating name of the Water Customer Consultation Panels and the convener of those panels. The functions are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 and can be summarised as representing the views and interest of water cus…