Parliamentary questions
Jackson Carlaw
1,088 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Practitioner Services plans to start collecting repayments from NHS general dentists for duplicate dental registrations from 2010.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Practitioner Services plan to commence recovery of overpayments of duplicate registrations from the February paid to March 2014 payment schedule for those dentists who have current list numbers in Scotland.
16 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Practitioner Services’ plans to retrospectively reclaim payments from NHS general dentists for duplicate dental registrations from 2010.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Practitioner Services have a legal duty to make the recovery of over-payments where that is appropriate. The Scottish Government has accepted that a recovery process is required. However in order to mitigate the effect on practices the recovery of duplicate …
13 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met representatives from NFU Scotland and what issues were discussed.
10 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Arran will have full service next generation superfast broadband.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government and its partners are investing over £280 million in our Step Change programme which, alongside commercial deployment, will deliver next generation broadband access to 95% of premises in Scotland by 2017-18. Deployment to Arran falls w…
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17526 by Kenny MacAskill on 28 October 2013, how many prosecutions there were in 2012-13 under section 6(1) of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There were four prosecutions where the main offence was under section 6(1) of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 in the financial year 2012-13.
3 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what procedures exist in the NHS for fast-tracking hospital appointments for people with serious ongoing conditions.
Answer · Alex Neil: The timing of appointments should always be based on the patient’s clinical need so those patients requiring to be seen urgently get early appointments either a serious ongoing or a new condition. It is important that GPs identify the need for an urgent appoi…
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the NHS should provide funding for homeopathic services.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18299 on 26 November 2013. 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/parliamenta…
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the variation in funding for homeopathy services across NHS boards.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises that some complementary and alternative treatments may offer relief to some people living with a wide variety of long term conditions. It is for individual NHS boards to decide what alternative therapies they make available …
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to move health professions on the assured voluntary registration system to a statutory regulatory system, and what discussions it has had with the Department of Health on this issue.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government supports the accredited voluntary register scheme, run by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and (in England only) Social care as a proportionate response to the risks presented by unregulated practitioners. There are no c…
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what processes were put in place to support the new, elected, non-executive members in the pilot NHS boards and how much it cost each board.
Answer · Alex Neil: All non-executive health board members receive comprehensive induction and development on taking up post. For the elected non-executive members, this was augmented by a two day national induction event on the 14 and 15 June 2010. This event, at the Beardmore …
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new, elected, non-executive members in the pilot NHS boards have resigned since the elections in 2010.
Answer · Alex Neil: A total of three elected non-executive members resigned over the course of the pilot health board elections exercise.
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will make a decision on the roll-out of NHS board elections across the country.
Answer · Alex Neil: I wrote to the Convener of the Health and Sport Committee on 7 November 2013 informing him of my intention to bring an end to the pilot health board elections in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Fife. A draft order has been submitted to the Scottish Parliame…
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17523 by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2013 and in relation to its proposals to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products, what consideration it has given to HM Revenue and Customs’ tobacco tax gap estimates for 2012-13.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are considering all relevant information in developing legislation for plain packaging of tobacco products and will continue to do so.
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations it plans to consult in connection with the business regulatory impact assessment related to its proposals to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have already invited a number of relevant organisations to provide information, and meet with officials, in relation to the development of a business and regulatory impact assessment on plain packaging of tobacco products.
7 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) timescales for the business regulatory impact assessment related to its proposals to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We will develop a business and regulatory impact assessment on plain packaging in line with the normal Scottish Government Better Regulation procedures.
24 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17358 by John Swinney on 3 October 2013, how many of the Government Car Service vehicles listed have been (a) purchased outright and (b) leased.
Answer · John Swinney: All the vehicles listed were purchased outright.
23 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made, or will make, of the effectiveness of the European Parliament's revised directive on tobacco products, which would increase the size of health warnings on cigarette packs.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Reducing the harmful impact of tobacco on Scotland’s health is a key priority for the Scottish Government. We welcome the proposal to increase the size of health warnings on cigarette packs. We will continue to examine any emerging evidence on this subject an…
23 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the European Parliament's revised directive on tobacco products would have on its plans to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We will of course take account of all relevant European requirements in developing our legislation on plain packaging. As announced in our recent Programme for Government, we will consult on the next steps in the New Year after which we will look to introduce…
10 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement a system of physician associates and, if so, by what date.
Answer · Alex Neil: While polices, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, it is for each NHS board to decide how best to plan and deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to meet the needs of their population. The Scottish Government recogn…
9 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what civil servants and at what grade are on secondment to other governments, excluding the UK Government, and what the reason is for each secondment.
Answer · John Swinney: Currently we have four secondments at B and C band to other governments. This includes two secondments to the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2013 to provide support on fisheries policy, one to the Welsh Government to assist the Off…
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the £948 million backlog expenditure requirement on the NHS estate identified in the Annual State of the NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report for 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: The 2013 Annual State of the NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report is currently in preparation and will be published shortly. This will include an update on the backlog expenditure requirement identified in the 2012 report.
1 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to paragraph 3.3 of the Annual State of the NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report for 2012, whether it will provide a breakdown by NHS board of the (a) £20 million spent on leasing cars and (b) £18 million spent on fuel.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table provide a breakdown of the car leasing and fuel costs contained within paragraph 3.3 of the Annual State of the NHSScotland Assets and Facilities Report for 2012: Health Board Car Leases £ NHS Board Fuel £ Ayrshire and Arran 2,301…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions there have been under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15685 on 27 June 2013. 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/parliamentarybu…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on the impact of the current tobacco control legislation and whether it will publish the findings.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Findings from Scotland’s evaluation of smoke-free legislation were published in 2010 and provides an overview of findings from 2005 to 2009. The information can be accessed here: http://www.healthscotland.com/scotlands-health/evidence/smokefreelegislation/f…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products would cost manufacturers in lost intellectual property rights.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Legislation on plain, standardised packaging will improve public health by regulating the marketing of tobacco. It will not regulate intellectual property. We will undertake a full business and regulatory impact assessment to accompany the introduction of a B…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out research on the impact that standardised packaging might have on trade in illicit tobacco products and, if so, whether it will publish its findings.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will undertake a full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment to accompany the introduction of a Bill on plain, standardised packaging of tobacco products. As made clear in the recent report of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group o…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has to support the assertion in its news release of 7 September 2013, Tobacco plain packaging, that "the evidence is clear, plain packaging is an effective way to prevent the uptake of smoking among young people."
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Public Health Research Consortium (PHRC) published a systematic review of the evidence on plain, standardised tobacco packaging to accompany the UK consultation last year. That report can be accessed at: http://phrc.lshtm.ac.uk/project_2011-2016_006.html…
29 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the First Minister last met the Australian High Commissioner and what was discussed.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The First Minister has not met with the Australian High Commissioner. The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs met with the Australian Deputy High Commissioner on 20 November last year. A number of issues were discussed including: The Scottish …
20 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) make, (b) model and (c) acquisition cost was of each Government Car Service vehicle in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: The following table provides details of the make, model and overall procurement cost of the Government Car Service fleet. Make Model Acquisition date BMW 520d Oct-08 BMW 520d Oct-08 BMW 520d Oct-08 BMW 520d Mar-09 BMW 520d Mar-09 BMW 520d …
20 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many car journeys were undertaken by ministers and to where in each of the last three years.
Answer · John Swinney: Details of all ministerial car journeys are proactively published on the Scottish Government website. These can be accessed via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/travel/MinisterialCarJourneys.