Parliamentary questions
Gavin Brown
1,064 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of NHS Lothian patients experiencing strokes was admitted to a specialist unit within 24 hours in each of the last three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is set out in the following table. The relevant NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standard is that 70% of all patients admitted to hospital with diagnosis of stroke are admitted to a stroke unit within 24 hours of presentatio…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of alcohol-related hospital admissions was repeat admissions in the Lothians region in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of discharges and percentage of repeat discharges<sup>1</sup> from general acute hospitals<sup>2</sup> with an alcohol-related diagnosis<sup>3</sup>; treated in NHS Lothian between 2002-03 and 2006-07 is in the following table. Info…
11 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related offences there were in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area and type of crime or offence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following tables gives the total number of alcohol-related offences recorded in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area and crime/offence group.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> …
11 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been suspended for alcohol-related issues in each local authority area in the Lothians region in each of the last five years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The available information on the number of pupils of temporarily excluded from school in each local authority area in Lothian region for substance misuse “ alcohol from 2003-04 to 2006-07, is given in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 c…
11 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many firearms-related offences involved (a) shotguns, (b) handguns, (c) rifles and (d) airguns in each local authority area in the Lothians region in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used, by main firearm used, Scotland 2007-08:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=cen…
5 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils in each local authority in the Lothians region, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The additional funding to enable local authorities in Lothian region to provide free nutritious school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010 has already been included in the local government settlement provided to local authorities for the period from…
5 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when all P1 to P3 pupils in each local authority in the Lothians region will receive free school meals, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has a jointly agreed commitment in our concordat with COSLA that all local authorities will provide free school meals to P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010, subject to the necessary legislation being passed by the Parliament.</p>
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licenses in the Lothians have had their licences suspended for selling alcohol to people under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-13979 and S3W-16777 on 16 June 2008 and 21 October 2008 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: …
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licenses in the Lothians have been found to sell alcohol to people under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is provided in the following table:</p> <p >Number of offences recorded by the police in the Lothians in which a licensed person has sold alcohol to a person under 18, over the last five financial years:</p> <table border=1 cellsp…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many contacts were made to Business Gateway services in the Lothians (a) between 1 April 2006 and 30 March 2007, (b) between 1 April 2007 and 30 March 2008 and (c) since April 2008, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jim Mather: Contacts to Business Gateway services during the periods specified and disaggregated by local authority area are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> …
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people most at risk in the Lothians has received flu vaccinations in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information relating to flu vaccine uptake is collected by NHS Board area and not local authority area. Uptake figures in the NHS Lothian area for those aged 65 and over in each of the last three years is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpa…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been declared bankrupt in each quarter of 2008, also broken down by sheriffdom.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) maintains the Register of Insolvencies in Scotland and publishes statistics on personal insolvencies in Scotland by financial year and since 2005-06, by quarter, in their annual report. </p> <p >Prior to 1 April 2008, all …
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fine defaulters are currently held at HMP Edinburgh.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >On 27 October 2008, three prisoners were held in custody in HM Prison Edinburgh solely for fine default.</p>
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money recovered from convicted criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in the Lothians region, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) project.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: CashBack for Communities funding has been granted to the Scottish Football Association (£2.2 million), the Scottish Rugby Union (£1.4 million), Scottish Sports Futures and BasketballScotland (£1.7 million), the Sports Facilities Fund (£2 million) and Arts and…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on tackling depression in the Lothians region in each year since 1999, also showing the year-on-year change.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not centrally held. The Information Services Division of NHS Scotland collect expenditure data as part of their cost book publications. These publications contain data on general psychiatric spending in Lothian Health Board but information…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many working days were lost in the Lothians region due to ill-health as a result of (a) depression and (b) other mental health problems in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Labour Force Survey (LFS) collects information on sickness absence during the reference week (usually the week before the respondent was interviewed).</p> <p >The sample size of the LFS is not large enough to provide estimates of the number of working da…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the cost to the economy in the Lothians region in each of the last five years of working days lost due to ill-health as a result of (a) depression and (b) other mental health problems.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17152 on 12 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under the age of 16 have been treated for depression in the NHS Lothian area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >Numbers of psychiatric in-patient discharges for patients of all ages, with a main diagnosis of depression in the NHS Lothian area, are being released in the answer to question S3W-17149 on 13 November…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for depression in the NHS Lothian area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >However, the following table gives information on psychiatric in-patient discharges (i.e. not the whole number of treatments) since 1999 who had a main diagnosis of depression and were resident in the …
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been made from abolishing local enterprise companies and the subsequent re-structuring of the local enterprise network.
Answer · Jim Mather: The quantification of such savings is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I shall ask the chief executives of each of these organisations to write to you in this regard.</p>
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been made from reducing the number of VisitScotland hubs.
Answer · Jim Mather: It is too early to confirm the exact amount of any savings made as result of VisitScotland''s restructuring as of 1 April 2008. Estimated savings were listed in The Scottish Government''s Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-11 which is already in the public domain…
11 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide full statistics on the take-up of the small business bonus scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: Based on returns from local authorities, we will be in a position to estimate the take-up of the Small Business Bonus Scheme by the end of this calendar year.</p>
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £100 million to be brought forward under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme will be earmarked for new affordable housing in the Lothians region, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of graffiti and vandalism have taken place in the Lothians region in each month since May 2007, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of graffiti and vandalism have taken place in the Lothians region in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what success it has had in reducing the levels of vandalism and graffiti in each local authority area in the Lothians region.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Responsibility for tackling levels of vandalism and graffiti lies with local authorities.</p> <p >The success of local authorities in tackling levels of vandalism and graffiti will be measured against delivery of the national outcomes identified in the singl…
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many graffiti removal notices have been issued in the Lothians region in each month since introduction, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) crimes and (b) offences were prosecuted in Edinburgh Sheriff Court in each of the last 10 years and what percentage resulted in a conviction.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables.</p> <p >Persons Prosecuted and Persons Convicted of Crimes in Edinburgh Sheriff Court<sup>1</sup>, 1997-98 to 2006-07</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td now…
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for vandalism in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following tables show the number of charges under section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (wilfully or recklessly destroy or damage property), where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the off…
9 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for fire-raising in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges of Fireraising, where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure.</p> <p >The information in the table is based on charges of Culpa…