Parliamentary questions

Derek Brownlee

680 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the final draft of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit’s Report on Regulatory Concerns was approved and by whom.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: he Cabinet approved the finaldraft of the report on 8 August 2006 when they also agreed to its publication.

20 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its departments operate targets for deregulation and, if so, what these targets are.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive doesnot set deregulation targets.We have a wide rangingcommitment toward Better Regulation (not just deregulation), as set out in theFramework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS), delivered by all departmentsassisted by t…

20 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sets national standards on nutrition to be adhered to by hospitals and, if not, whether it has any plans to do so.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In September 2003, NHS QualityImprovement Scotland (NHS QIS) published standards on food, fluid and nutritionalcare in hospitals. It is available at:<ahref="http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/Food,%20Fluid%20Nutrition.pdf">www.nhshealthqualit…

12 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to newly formed companies beyond that provided by the Scottish Enterprise Network.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The delivery of business supportis mainly a matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.However, there are a number of schemes delivered or funded directly by the ScottishExecutive.Support is available under SMART,SPUR and SPUR<…

11 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue substantive answers to parliamentary questions S2W-25184 to S2W-25186, lodged on 11 April 2006.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to thequestions S2W-25184 to S2W-25186 answered on 6 October 2006.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

7 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) examine the case for and (b) construct a bypass for the southern side of Dumfries.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Strategic TransportProjects Review will consider transport corridors across Scotland,including Dumfries and South West Scotland.

4 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution it anticipates will be made towards the cost of the Borders railway by (a) the Executive, (b) Scottish Borders Council, (c) Midlothian Council and (d) any other source, expressed in (i) current and (ii) 2002 prices.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The financial contributions whichthe Promoter of the Borders Railway has submitted to Parliament at 2002 base pricesis shown in section 56 of their Supplementary Memorandum on Funding and ProjectCosts which can be accessed via the following weblink.<ah…

4 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the publications that it has issued since 1 July 2005, giving the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) title of each publication.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A list of Scottish Executivepublications and their costs from 1 July 2005 to 31 May 2006 is given in ScottishExecutive List of Publications/Costs 1 July 2005 – 31 May 2006, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament…

15 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it will take to ensure the protection of the public in Dumfriesshire following the decision of local court solicitors to refuse to handle sexual offence cases from 1 August 2006.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have made very clear thatthere is no justifiable reason for legal professionals to put public safety at risk.An interim offer remains on the table to increase the fees for solicitors in solemnwork. We plan to have further positive discussions with the Law …

15 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which measure of inflation will be applied to determine the value of the Executive’s contribution to the Waverley line over the lifetime of the project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland hasdeveloped and agreed an inflation methodology which shall be applied to the Executive’scontribution to the Waverley line project.The methodology takes account of the fact that prices for certain specialist aspectsof railway works …

15 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of Moving Forward - Review of NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland were printed; to whom they were distributed, and what the cost was of (a) design, (b) printing and (c) distribution.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: One thousand copies of MovingForward – Review of NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland were printedat a total cost of £17,704.62 plus distribution, which was arranged in-house. Thecost of:(a) design was £5,214.62;(b) printing …

13 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the actions outlined in Bathing Water Strategy for Scotland will be sufficient to ensure that no Scottish beaches fail to meet the European standard for bathing waters and, if so, in what timescale this will be achieved.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The revised Bathing Water Directive,which came into force in March 2006, requires that all designated bathing waterscomply with its standards by September 2015.In our new bathing water strategy,Better bathing waters: Meeting the challenges of the re…

13 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are proposed for those locations identified as failing to meet the European standard for bathing waters to ensure that they meet the standard in future, broken down by location and indicating the cost and timescale for each action.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Three designated bathing watersfailed to meet the mandatory standard of the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC)during 2005, the most recent season for which figures are complete. These were atEyemouth, Nairn (East) and Stonehaven.It is the duty of the…

6 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24460 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 April 2006, what action it will take to increase the uptake of Rural Home Ownership Grant in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:Communities Scotland istaking the following steps to increase the uptake of Rural Home OwnershipGrants (RHOGs) in Dumfries and Galloway:<p…

5 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of its response to the Care 21 Report, The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland, were printed; to whom the copies were distributed, and what the total cost was of (a) design, (b) printing and (c) postage and distribution.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Two-thousand, seven hundred copiesof the Scottish Executive response to Care 21 report The Future of Unpaid Carein Scotland have been printed. Distribution is under way to the following groups:MSPs; relevant Scottish Executive,UK, Wales and Nort…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19287 by Tavish Scott on 28 September 2005, what emerging conclusions from the lessons learned report have been communicated to either the promoters of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill or to the Parliament and on what dates.

Answer · Tavish Scott: All relevant emergingconclusions from the draft lessons learnt report have been discussed with thepromoters of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill during the development of the project over thepast six months.

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19286 by Tavish Scott on 28 September 2005, what stage the lessons learned report has reached and when it will be published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The report is in draft. Its publicationwill follow as soon as the contents of the draft report have been discussed withTransport Scotland.

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the factors which led to the reported increase in cost of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line could recur in the construction of the Waverley line and, if so, what these factors are and what the financial impact might be.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The increases in costestimate associated with Airdrie to Bathgate are a result of scheme refinementand clarification issues in the early stages of scheme development. The scopeof the Borders railway is more defined and therefore further cost increasesfrom suc…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reported cost overruns on the electronic patient record project in England and Wales will have any impact on the costs, timescale or feasibility of the single patient record proposed in the Executive’s eHealth strategy.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is only one major contractfor electronic patient record-related IT services which we have in common with NHSEngland – telecommunications from BT – and on our contract there have been no delays,cost overruns or other negative impacts to date or expected.…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any increases in cost which would require funding additional to that shown for eHealth in table 5.03 of its Draft Budget 2006-07 in order to meet the original objectives in the stated timescale.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive isnot aware of any such increases in costs. The objectives which these budgetsunderpin are as set out for eHealth in Delivering for Health.

19 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25705 by Tavish Scott on 18 May 2006, when the Strategic Transport Projects Review will be completed.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland iscurrently in the process of appointing aconsultant to carry out the detailed technical analysis and transportappraisals required as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review. Thefinal report is planned for submission in the summer o…

19 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary question to question S2O-9833 by Lewis Macdonald on 18 May 2006 (Official Report, c. 25824), when a detailed assessment of progress against each milestone, target and impact set out in An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernisi…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I have placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre an assessment of progress against milestones andtargets for the first year (2005-06) set out in An Action Plan for ImprovingOral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services, 2005-2008 (Bib. num…

19 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have started providing NHS services since the publication of An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isshown in the following table.Number of Dentists who haveStarted Providing NHS General Dental Services since the Publication of An ActionPlan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland(17…

19 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have stopped providing NHS services since the publication of An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isshown in the following table. It should be noted (a) that ISD Scotland does notcollect information on the specific reasons why dentists cease to provide NHS generaldental services and (b) that ISD Scotland would expect a “drop-out”…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SO2-9666 by Tavish Scott on 4 May 2006, when the decision will be taken on whether to proceed with a bypass of the A7 at Selkirk.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A decision will be made oncethe Strategic Transport Projects Review is completed.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24928 by Nicol Stephen, on how many occasions it has revised Scottish Enterprise’s budget (a) upwards and (b) downwards in each year since 1999 and in how many years it did not revise the budget.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested iscontained in the following table. There are two opportunities for budgetaryrevision within the financial year, as shown in the table.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=103 valign=top> <p a…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24926 by Nicol Stephen on 4 May 2006, how many matters of concern it raised with Scottish Enterprise in 2005-06 and what those matters were.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In 2005-06 the Executivereceived two reports from Scottish Enterprise detailing overall performanceagainst objectives. The first report was for the year end 2004-05 and thesecond report covered the period April to September 2005. These reports are notconcerne…

4 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the Local Government Review Committee is considering, or has considered, any of the changes to local government finance effective in Northern Ireland from next year and, if so, which ones.

Answer · George Lyon: The Local Government FinanceReview Committee is independent of the Scottish Executive and the detailedcontent of their considerations is a matter for the committee.

26 Apr 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what trunk road upgrades or improvement schemes it is (a) committed to and (b) considering in the south of Scotland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The schemes in the current trunkroad programme are shown on the Transport Scotland Website at <ahref="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/">www.transportscotland.gov.uk</a>.In addition, we are consideringin the South of Scotland studies into A7 Selkirk…

11 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a target to reduce the number of business support services, similar to that announced by Her Majesty’s Government, and, if so, what that target is.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The vast majority of supportservices to business are provided through the Enterprise Networks. Since 2002,there has been an ongoing programme of simplification of the support offered tobusiness throughout Scotland.Scottish Enterprise, in2002, had appro…