Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total housing stock in each local authority area benefited from energy efficiency measures reported under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in the period April 1997 to March 1999.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17595.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average reduction in demand for energy per assisted dwelling was achieved as a result of measures reported under the Home Energy Conservation 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.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in demand for energy was achieved as a result of measures reported under the Home Energy Conservation 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.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average level of energy efficiency improvement per assisted dwelling was reported by each local authority under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 for the period April 1997 to March 1999.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17595.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage improvement in energy efficiency was reported by each local authority under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 for the period April 1997 to March 1999.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17595.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average expenditure on energy efficiency measures per assisted dwelling was reported by each local authority under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 for the period April 1997 to March 1999.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17595.
17 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total expenditure on energy efficiency measures was reported by each local authority under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 for the period April 1997 to March 1999.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive did not record information separately for each local authority on expenditure and improvements under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) in the period April 1997 to March 1999. Information on local authorities as a whole for the period conce…
14 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address any skills shortages in the building industry in the light of current requirements and any increased demand which may result from housing stock transfer.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: In January 2001 the Scottish Executive commissioned research designed to help maximise employment opportunities from housing stock transfer. The research will establish where construction skills gaps exist and what might be done to address them. A report is e…
14 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking at a national level to advertise to potential students the merits of courses at further education colleges.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has taken several measures at national level which will have the effect of encouraging take-up of further education. These include the development of an all-age careers service and the establishment of the Scottish University for Indus…
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is currently taking to implement the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme report on multiple sclerosis, published in October 2000.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive believes that the implementation of the SNAP report on multiple sclerosis (MS) deserves to be given priority by the NHS in Scotland. While implementation is in the first place a matter for health boards and NHS Trusts, the Health Department has …
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to support further and higher education students who suffer from dyslexia.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has allocated £22.6 million over the next three years 2001-2004 to take forward the recommendations of the Beattie Committee in relation to helping young people make the transition to post-school education and training or employment. £4…
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to make scan/read software available for use in primary schools for children who suffer from dyslexia.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The identification of the most appropriate software for children suffering from dyslexia is carried out at the school or education authority level. Resources provided by the Scottish Executive under the National Grid for Learning programme of the Excellence …
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or plans to make to Central Railway plc or Her Majesty's Government on the possibility of a lorries-on-train rail link between west central Scotland and the Channel Tunnel.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including European and International railway services.
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the assessment process in relation to identification of deafblind children.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive's report <I>Sensing Progress </I>reported on social work services for people with sensory impairment - one of the key recommendations in the report is that Future Needs Assessments of children with sensory impairment should be reviewed.…
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support student nurses and the training of nurses.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Student nurses receive funding support by way of a non means-tested bursary and other allowances where appropriate. Increased awards of around £500 per year were announced in July 2001.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery in Scotland <I>C…
18 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage (a) recruitment to the nursing profession and (b) former nurses to return to nursing.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I recently announced my intention to bring together nursing leaders and education providers for a 'summit' on recruitment and retention.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">In addition Our National Health: a plan for action a plan for change, makes clear that all NHS employers…
10 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals outlined in The Nature of Scotland regarding investigation into more effective controls on the storage and use of pesticides associated with the killing of raptors are being progressed.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Consultation on <I>The Nature of Scotland</I> ended on 29 May and comments are now being analysed from over 100 organisations who responded.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The storage and use of pesticides, and their effect upon Scottish wildlife, is one of the issues und…
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake a review of NHS dental fees.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: No. NHS dental fees are reviewed annually by the independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB).
7 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to give local communities greater rights of consultation when local authorities change the planning designation of land which they own.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. The Scottish Executive has no such plans. Planning authorities are already required to advertise any potential departures from an approved development plan.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">We will, however, be consulting later in the summer on measures to secure more e…
6 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that streets are restored to a high standard after utilities works.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Utility companies that dig up the road are required, by statute, to reinstate the excavation to a specified standard. That standard is set out in the document <I>Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway</I>, which was published by HMSO i…
29 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide good quality cycle training for all primary school children.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Road Safety Campaign, funded by the Scottish Executive, oversees the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme. New training materials for the scheme were issued to all Road Safety Units in Scotland in March last year and their use promoted in schools throu…
29 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Health Technology Board for Scotland to report on the clinical effectiveness of beta interferon.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3328 on 3 May 2001.
29 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of specialist multiple sclerosis nurses.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The employment of specialist nurses is a matter for individual NHS Trusts to determine in the light of clinical needs.<P>In the case of multiple sclerosis (MS) nurses, I am aware that the MS Society wrote to Trusts and health boards last November offering ass…
10 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to review the Grant for Rent Ownership scheme following the recent European decision on a similar English scheme.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive is currently reviewing the Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation (GRO) scheme with Scottish Homes and the UK Government to identify the implications of the Decision on English Partnerships' "Partnership Investment Programme" for GRO. When…
4 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in the last three years and is planned to be spent in the next three years on provision of disablement adaptations in houses.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Local authority housing expenditure for the last three years on aids and adaptations, including disabled, is shown in table 1. In addition, Scottish Homes spent £1.885 million in 1998-99, £2.727 million in 1999-2000 and £2.352 million in 2000-01 on aids and a…
4 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses (a) have been provided with disablement adaptations in each of the last three years and (b) will receive disablement adaptations in each of the next three years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The number of houses provided with aids and adaptations, including disabled, by local authority housing departments is shown in the table. The number of houses provided with aids and adaptations, including disabled, provided by local authority social work dep…
4 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average NHSiS waiting time is for the provision of a wheelchair, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There is currently no national data available regarding waiting times for the provision of wheelchairs. The answers given to questions S1W-6954 and S1W-14400 gave details of NHSScotland's initiative to address this.<P>An initial progress report from the Rehab…
4 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop tram or light railway schemes in the Greater Glasgow area.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The development of local transport initiatives such as tram or light rail projects is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities, or in the case of the Strathclyde area, the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA). Public transport proposal…
4 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the provision of urban green space and to improve its management.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has given a commitment to produce a Planning Advice Note on open space (civic space and greenspace) to complement the guidance in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space. The PAN will take account …
2 May 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to make students over 19 eligible for free dental treatment and eye tests.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Students in full-time education aged 18 and under are entitled to free NHS dental treatment and NHS sight tests. Apart from the existing circumstances set out below, there are no current plans to raise the age threshold for free dental treatment and sight tes…