Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social care workers are registered in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The number of social care workers registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Angus in 2007 are as follows.</p> <p >Aberdeen City: 531</p> <p >Aberdeenshire: 382</p> <p >Angus: 212.</p>
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many occupational therapists were registered in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus in each year from 2002 to 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: Using data supplied by the Health Professions Council (HPC), our best estimate (rounded to the nearest 10) for the number of occupational therapists who are registered and who are known to be working in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Angus in 2007 are as fo…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many occupational therapists are registered in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.
Answer · Shona Robison: Using data supplied by the Health Professions Council (HPC), our best estimate (rounded to the nearest 10) for the number of occupational therapists who are registered and who are known to be working in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Angus are as follows:</…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of diabetes were diagnosed in NHS Grampian during (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes at NHS board level is available from the annual Scottish Diabetes Survey. First published in 2001, the Survey includes data from primary and secondary care and is currently the most comprehensive sou…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to educate people about the causes and symptoms of diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison: One of the key actions in the Diabetes Action Plan is to improve communication and dissemination of information about diabetes in Scotland. The plan identifies two of the main mechanisms as clinical guidelines and clinical standards.</p> <p >The Scottish Int…
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to alleviate the financial impact on older people and those on low incomes of increases in water and sewerage charges.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All low income households, including low income pensioner households, already receive reductions in their water services charges.</p> <p >The focus of the Scottish Government''s general policy is the achievement by Scottish Water of substantial efficiency s…
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5301 by Maureen Watt on 8 November 2007, whether it has changed its advice on the interpretation and use of the 60% occupancy figure which was referred to in the Accounts Commission’s 1995 report, Room for Learning – Managing Surplus Capacity in Scho…
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has never endorsed use of this specific figure as a trigger for consideration of a school's future and notes the statement by the Chair of the Accounts Commission in a letter dated 24 January 2007 to the then Convener of the Scottish P…
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will decide whether Aberdeenshire Council’s plans to renew its schools estate will be appropriate for funding through the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The government''s proposals for a Scottish Futures Trust are at the consultation stage. It is and will continue to be for Aberdeenshire Council to consider the appropriateness of all funding options for capital investment.</p>
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings and correspondence it has had with Aberdeenshire Council to discuss its plans to renew its schools estate.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I discussed school estate issues when I met with Aberdeenshire Council on 17 August 2007. There have also been subsequent letters from Councillor Richard Stroud, Chair of the Council''s Education, Leisure and Learning Committee and from Councillors Jean Dick …
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Aberdeenshire Council to discuss its plans to renew its schools estate.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has no immediate plans for a follow-up meeting to the one held six months ago.</p>
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact not increasing the Bus Service Operators Grant would have on bus fares in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ultimately, the level of fares and the provision of bus services is a matter for individual bus operators who use their own commercial judgement in these matters. The Scottish Government currently provides substantial funds to the bus industry of around £260 …
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for regenerating the rail network north of Aberdeen.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Our High Level Output Specification (HLOS), published in July 2007, sets out the improvements we expect to make to the rail network. Tier 3 of the HLOS includes improvements to the Highland Main Line to reduce journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh/Gla…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much bus travel is worth to the economy of the north east.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Bus services provide the sustainable mass public transport necessary to support economic growth. Bus is an important enabler for Scotland''s economy by carrying people daily to and from their place of employment (currently 12% of the Scottish workforce use th…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners hold free bus passes in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As of 4 February 2008, the number of people in possession of a National Entitlement Card to access Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People on the grounds of being 60 years or over is as follows.</p> <p >Aberdeen City Council area “ 49,590…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners held free bus passes in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2004, (iv) 2005, (v) 2006 and (vi) 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland do not hold any information prior to April 2006 and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any figures prior to that date. Information obtained from local authorities, who administered local concessionary travel schemes is as follows. The foll…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people admitted to NHS hospitals died from complications related to strokes in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on deaths from complications related to stroke is not available because it is not possible to establish, from centrally held data, the causal relationship between the original stroke and any subsequent, potential complication.</p> <p >The numbers…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise awareness in Grampian of the symptoms and causes of strokes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Stroke Managed Clinical Network (MCN) in NHS Grampian works with public health teams, service users and their carers to provide information on stroke at public events. It also promotes awareness of the risk factors which lead to strokes, and continues to …
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire councils received from the Community Regeneration Fund and other programmes in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The table provides details of the original allocations to both local authorities from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) between 2005-0…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for increasing the number of apprenticeships available for young people who leave school early in the north east.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has committed to the provision of at least 50,000 appropriate training opportunities over the next three years. This will include an increase in the total number of modern apprenticeships.</p> <p >From April this year, the allocation …
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase spending on tackling organised crime in the north east.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have established the serious organised crime taskforce to provide political support and momentum across Scotland to enforcement efforts to tackle the global problem of serious organised crime. However, operational decisions about tackling specific crimes, …
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle commuter congestion on peak time trains in the north east and across Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In addition to improving journey times, through infrastructure enhancements and timetable changes, we are investing in new services and we are enhancing rolling stock to provide increased capacity for passengers.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to …
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide extra carriages for peak time train travel across Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A rolling stock programme identifying and responding to rolling stock needs to deliver Transport Scotland''s priorities for rail is being developed.</p>
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from heart disease in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested isshown in the following table. Figures for 2007 will not be available until August2008.</p><p>Deaths from Heart Disease<sup>1</sup>in NHS Grampian Hospitals, Deaths Registered 2002-06</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 w…
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from lung cancer in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of people who diedfrom lung cancer in NHS Grampian hospitals registered during the period 2002-06are in the following table. Data for 2007 is not yet available.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p a…
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of MRSA were recorded in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) produces quarterly reports of bacteraemia (blood infection) data for MRSA and Meticillin Sensitive Staph aureus (MSSA) by clinical specialty and by size of hospital. HPS published the latest quarterly MRSA/MSSA monitoring figu…
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the suitability of funding the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8469 on 22 January 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/webapp…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Informationregarding the national bowel screening programme is available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/cancer-bowel-">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/cancer</a>.</p><p>Implementation of the national bowel screeningprogramme commenced in May …
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area died from bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the numberof deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancers are available by NHS board and year (1980-2006)on the Information Services Division website at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_mort_m.xls">http://www.isdscotlan…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancer from 2002 to 2007 were under the age of 50.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information onthe percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancerfrom 2002 to 2007 under the age of 50 is shown in the following table:</p><p>Table 1: ThePercentage and Number of Cases of People Under the Age of 50 Diagnosed withBowe…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were diagnosed with bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on thenumber of people diagnosed with bowel (colorectal) cancer are available by NHS boardand year (1980-2004) on the Information Services Division website at:</p><p class=nhsrecipient><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_inc.xl…