Parliamentary questions
Jim Tolson
304 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to embed community benefit clauses in NHS contracts.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS contracts are a matter for the NHS to determine. The Scottish Government is working with partners in the public sector, including NHS National Procurement, and the third sector to raise the profile of community benefit clauses within contracts.</p>
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received supplies of extra salt and grit following contact with the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 and what the (a) source of the materials supplied, (b) date of delivery and (c) tonnage supplied was, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The detail requested concerns a series of individual transactions between local authorities, operators and suppliers and is therefore treated as commercial information. In the period to 18 January 2010 we can however confirm that with the support of the Scott…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have contacted the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 regarding low levels of salt and grit and what the (a) date and means of initial contact, (b) date of the Scottish Government response and (c) action taken was, broken down by local autho…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Local authorities and trunk road operators have their own contracts with salt suppliers and government quite rightly cannot interfere with these. However, the Scottish Government is doing everything possible to support councils and operators in keeping disrup…
1 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on prescription drugs for sleeping disorders in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The answer is given in the following table. The Gross Ingredient Costs (GIC) given relate to prescription items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. (GIC is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It exclud…
1 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for drugs for insomnia have been dispensed in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) drug type and (b) NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of prescribed items for drugs for insomnia dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors in for the three years ended 31 March 2007 to 2009. These data exclude the direct supply of medicines to…
1 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for drugs for sleeping disorders have been dispensed in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) drug type and (b) NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of prescribed items for drugs for sleeping disorders dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the three years ended 31 March 2007-09. These data exclude the direct supply of medicines …
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses to the 2009 census rehearsal questionnaires indicated Arab under the Other ethnicity option.
Answer · Jim Mather: In the 2009 census rehearsal, there were 29 responses to the ethnic group question which indicated Arab under the Other ethnic group section. This was out of a total of 33,531 responses to the ethnic group question.</p>
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses to the draft 2008 census form consultation expressed concerns about the ethnic categories listed.
Answer · Jim Mather: The proposed question about ethnicity for use in the next census and in other Scottish surveys was published in July 2008, following extensive consultation. It was not itself a consultative document.</p>
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend category F of the draft 2011 census form to include a category, Arab and Other Ethnic Groups, and subcategories, Arab, Scottish Arab or British Arab.
Answer · Jim Mather: That approach has not been taken in the draft Census (Scotland) Order which was laid on 26 November, for two reasons. First, it would risk reducing the response from ethnic groups which have no tick box, because their eye would be caught by Arab in the sectio…
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what ethnic groups were consulted in the drafting of the draft 2008 census form.
Answer · Jim Mather: During the extended period of consultation which led up to the publication in July 2008 of the proposed question about ethnicity for use in the next census and in other Scottish surveys, the following groups were contacted:</p> <p >African''s Women''s Group …
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the draft 2008 census form was drafted without consulting Arab community groups or representatives.
Answer · Jim Mather: The proposed question about ethnicity for use in the next census and in other Scottish surveys, and published in July 2008, was based on wide consultation over several years. Consultation with Arab representatives, and with users of census statistics, resulte…
19 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the ethnic category, Arab, was not included in the draft 2008 census form.
Answer · Jim Mather: The proposed question about ethnicity for use in the next census and in other Scottish surveys, and published in July 2008, included for the first time a separate tick box for the Arab ethnic category.</p>
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the exact number of people who have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea in Scotland is not available centrally.</p> <p >The following table gives a national estimate of the numbers of people consulting their GP practice for sleep apnoea, based on…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) disorder and (b) NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on number of individuals diagnosed with sleep disorders is not held centrally.</p> <p >Estimates of the number of people who consulted a GP or practice-employed nurse for a sleep disorder, at least once, in each financial year from 2003-04 to 200…
10 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent changes to the planning system, in particular the neighbourhood notification process, are proving effective.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The legislative changes have been in place for just over a month, so it is too early to make an assessment of their effectiveness. We are taking steps to monitor the situation and will consider the issues raised.</p>
4 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat mitigation or compensation measures it will provide for any environmental damage that occurs as a result of the proposed construction of the realigned B981 through St Margaret’s Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest as part of the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The B981 will be realigned as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing to improve the access to North Queensferry. In so doing, it will encroach on St Margaret''s Marsh SSSI which would result in some loss of habitat.</p> <p >At present the SSSI is in a poor c…
4 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it will publish the report into how the third sector contributes to the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives with particular reference to the potential for social enterprises to deliver health benefits.
Answer · John Swinney: <i >Th</i><i >e Evidence Base for Third Sector Policy in Scotland: A review of selected recent literature</i> will be published this autumn. The need for follow up research into the opportunities for the third sector to maximise its potential contribution to …
3 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Minister for Environment is taking to ensure that local authorities undertake their legal obligation under the Allotments acts to provide allotments if there is a proven demand.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Our national food and drink policy supports the development of allotments and grow your own projects.</p> <p >The provision of allotments is a matter for local authorities. They are best placed to meet the needs of their communities.</p>
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to limit or prevent abusive or fraudulent claims to the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not automatically reimburse bus operators on the figures submitted in their claim. Staff within the concessionary travel and integrated ticketing unit undertake a regular programme of audit inspections to examine the claim compilation…
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is suspected to have been abusively or fraudulently claimed from the national concessionary travel scheme since 2006 and how much has subsequently been retrieved by Transport Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ongoing validation of concessionary travel claims by bus operators means that claims are routinely scrutinised by the concessionary travel and integrated ticketing unit. This process can result in adjustments being made to claims submitted by bus operators. H…
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name and shame any companies found to have abused or defrauded the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Within the Transport Scotland concessionary travel and integrated ticketing unit''s fraud strategy, it is stated that we will seek media opportunities in respect of any prosecutions.</p>
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release a statement on the current situation regarding the abuse or defrauding of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information relating to Transport Scotland''s fraud strategy will be published in its annual report later this year.</p>
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of suspected abuse or fraud of the national concessionary travel scheme have been referred to the police since 2006; how many are ongoing, and how many have resulted in a successful prosecution.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since the introduction of the scheme in 2006, three have been referred to the Police, all are on going, however none have yet been called to court.</p>
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies have been found guilty of abusing or defrauding the national concessionary travel scheme since 2006.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No bus operator that has been reported to the Police has been referred through the court process.</p>
23 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivehow many companies are suspected of abusing or defrauding the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland undertakes a significant amount of validation work prior to any claims for reimbursement being processed. Only a limited number of claims are further investigated as potentially fraudulent.</p>
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that there is a fair, transparent and consistent policy across Scotland for the maintenance, adoption and upkeep of open spaces in private and housing association residential areas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: <i >Planning Advice Note (PAN) 65: Planning and Open Space</i> was revised in May 2008 and provides advice to all planning authorities on a range of matters including open space management and maintenance. The PAN outlines several mechanisms available for pro…
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to improve the accessibility of railway stations and, if so, how many and which stations will be improved in the next five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Major access improvements will be delivered through re-development of 14 stations over the next five years:</p> <p >Airdrie “ Easterhouse.</p> <p >Bathgate “ Haymarket.</p> <p >Croy “ Hyndland.</p> <p >Cupar “ Linlithgow.</p> <p >Dalmuir “ Montrose.</p> …
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when each railway station was last assessed for accessibility, broken down by (a) region, (b) station and (c) date of survey.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2004, ScotRail surveyed all 347 stations in Scotland to gather information about station facilities, which included disabled access to and within each station. This information is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and is included in their Disabled Pe…
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and which railway stations do not conform to disability access standards under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, broken down by region.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Disability access standards are not governed by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The standards are contained within <i >Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled People: A Code of Practice</i>, published by the Department for Transport and Trans…
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the provision of a park and choose facility at (a) Rosyth and (b) Halbeath.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Park and Ride/Park and Choose schemes are delivered by local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships.</p> <p >However, within the first six months of the 2007 election, the Scottish Government signed a concordat with CoSLA which provided local author…