Robert Brown

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take before May 2003 to relocate more public sector jobs to Glasgow.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19681 on 19 November 2001. No specific areas of Scotland are targeted, and none are ruled out when office relocations are considered. Glasgow will continue to be considered as a potential relocation site.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of deaths resulting from cardiomyopathy.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have made clear that clinicians should be alert to those at higher risk of sudden death because of a significant family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. GPs should refer those patients to a cardiologist for investigation. <P>Recent scientific eviden…

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how much of the #90 million package announced on 19 September 2001 by Susan Deacon will be made available to NHS trusts in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board Area for the purpose of writing off debt and (b) how much debt is attributable to each hospital in the area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Greater Glasgow NHS Board received £13,583,000 for the purpose of writing off brought forward accumulated deficits at the following NHS Trusts:<P>North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust £9,491,000<P>South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust £4,092,000…

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the introduction of light rapid transit systems in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The development of local transport initiatives, such as light rapid transit systems is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, or in the case of the Strathclyde area, the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. However,l public transport propos…

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are currently excluded from school in each local authority area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The most recent figures for exclusions from school were published by the Scottish Executive on 15 February 2001, and cover the academic year 1999-2000. Copies of the News Release <I>Exclusions from Schools, 1999/2000</I> are available from the Parliament's Re…

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve standards of adult literacy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I published the Adult Literacy Team's report in July. It provides a comprehensive strategy for raising levels of adult literacy and numeracy in Scotland.<P>Funding of £22.5 million between now and 2004 will enable an initial 80,000 people to be helped.<P>£18.…

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it is undertaking of the progress made by local authorities in establishing three-year funding packages for major voluntary sector groups within their areas.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The funding arrangements that exist between local authorities and voluntary organisations are a matter for the parties concerned. However, the Scottish Executive is committed to encouraging other funders to work towards a stable funding environment for the vo…

19 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports equal access to physiotherapy services across Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Plan<I>, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>, has as one of its core aims the achievement of better, fairer access to services.<P>Making best use of professional skills such as those in physiotherapy is key to pro…

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been done into the level of savings to be achieved in the health and community care budget by effective use of physiotherapy services.

Answer · Susan Deacon: No formal research has been undertaken. The Scottish Health Plan, <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>, states that improving the way the NHS responds to the needs of patients is a key priority for every part of the NHS. This inclu…

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure adequate levels of recruitment of physiotherapists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Physiotherapists make an important contribution to healthcare in NHSScotland and their numbers have increased by 7% over the last four years. <P>The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently developing a Strategy for Professions Allied to Medicine inc…

18 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to expand the role of the physiotherapist service.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Physiotherapists are already expanding and developing their roles in response to the modernisation of NHSScotland, and the executive supports and encourages them to continue to do so.<P>The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently developing a Strate…

17 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether lay representatives are entitled to represent applicants under the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: In the Sheriff Court, rights of audience are generally restricted to the parties themselves or their legal representative, unless specific provision has been made in the primary legislation. The Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act makes no specific provision for l…

17 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to expedite the procedures in the Small Claims Court.

Answer · Iain Gray: Court procedures are regulated by the court and not by the Executive.<P>However, I understand that a review of small claim procedure in the sheriff court by the Sheriff Court Rules Council has just been completed and that new procedure rules are being propose…

17 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is conducting any research into the number of defendants appearing at court in answer to eviction notices and debt claims.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive's Housing Research Programme has commissioned a study of mortgage arrears and repossessions. The research, which is currently at the fieldwork stage, is collecting details of repossession cases from a sample of court records in 1994 and…

17 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make Sheriff Court buildings more accessible to the public.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Court Service is committed to providing full access to the courts where possible. However, the court estate is varied in age, scale and condition. Around 85% of the estate is listed. It is inevitable that there will be some areas where the court …

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide funding for Glasgow's nationally important museum collections.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The National Cultural Strategy recognises the particular position of Glasgow and committed the Executive to work with Glasgow City Council to examine the circumstances of the museums and galleries in the city. We have already had preliminary discussions but i…

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how successful it has been in reducing junior doctors' hours and improving their working conditions.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I established the New Deal Implementation Support Group (ISG) in September 1999 as a partnership arrangement with the Scottish Junior Doctors Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) to work with NHSScotland Trusts in supporting their efforts to red…

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people, on average, were sleeping rough in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow, broken down on a nightly basis, for each year from 1997 to date.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: As I indicated in reply to question S1W-18044, the report of a prevalence assessment conducted in May indicated that an average of 23 people were sleeping rough in Glasgow and 19 in Edinburgh. We intend to repeat this assessment bi-annually. One-night street …

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a comprehensive network of debt and housing advice services.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: We are supporting the establishment of a national debtline service to be piloted in Fife early in the New Year, which will cover all aspects of money and debt advice. The Executive is working with advice agencies and other partners, including the financial se…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15734 by Jackie Baillie on 22 May 2001, whether it has completed the review into Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation scheme.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The review is unlikely to be completed until the New Year.

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place that ensure that the work of the Scottish Medicines Consortium is transparent and accountable.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Membership of the Scottish Medicines Consortium has been drawn from across Scotland and includes lay members. The Consortium's recommendations to NHS Boards will be made public shortly after each meeting and will appear on a dedicated website.

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Medical Officer has asked the Consortium to make recommendations to all health boards and their Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees about the formulary status of all newly licensed medicines, all new formulations of existing medicines and any major…

26 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary organisations have entered into three-year funding arrangements with (a) Glasgow City Council and (b) South Lanarkshire Council in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information requested is not held centrally.

26 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will put in place to enable the effectiveness of the #100 million additional resources allocated to support home caring to be monitored.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Following discussions with CoSLA, local authorities were invited to enter into local outcome agreements with the Executive and to provide draft agreements by 15 October with the aim of having final agreements in place by November. Monitoring of the arrangemen…

26 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the #100 million announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 5 October 2000 to support home caring has been allocated.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new resources announced on 5 October 2000 were: £10 million for Hospital Discharge annually from 2000-01; £5 million for Equipment and Adaptations in 2000-01; £12 million for Extended Disregards and Loans for People Entering Residential Care annually from…

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to tackle the issues identified in the Scottish Council Foundation report Beyond Disappointment: Building Better Communities with respect to the community of Govanhill, Glasgow.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: <I><FONT FACE="Arial">Beyond Disappointment: Building Better Communities</I> highlighted a number of key issues impacting on Govanhill. Glasgow City Council has provided a formal response to the Scottish Council Foundation. The priorities identified - tacklin…

21 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15440 by Sarah Boyack on 11 May 2001, whether it will list the sources of the other public/private sector funding for the M74 northern extension, specifying the amount of funding from each source.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The £3 million of other public/private sector funding for the project has still to be secured. I have agreed with my partners in this project, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils that they will use their best endeavours to secure contribution…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hours home helps employed by local authorities worked in each of the last three years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information is detailed in the following table: <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD><TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALI…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people each local authority employed as home helps in each of the last three years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18359.

17 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average saving on fuel bills per assisted dwelling was achieved as a result of energy efficiency measures reported under the Home Energy Efficiency Act 1995 in each local authority area in the period April 1997 to March 1999.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17595.