Parliamentary questions
Jackson Carlaw
1,088 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the UK Department of Health on bringing forward a rare diseases plan.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The most recent meeting via teleconference across the four UK administrations was held in November 2011. The Draft UK Plan on Rare Diseases was launched for public consultation by the Department of Health on Rare Disease Day, 29 February 2012. The consultat…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03307 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 November 2011, what the timescale is for the review of the evidence on transcatheter aortic valve implantation and what steps are being taken to ensure that it takes account of (a) the updated guidance from the National …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Planning Forum will consider both the updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the health technology assessment (HTA) on TAVI commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research as soon as…
6 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the number of patients in Scotland who are accessing cancer medicines that are available through the NHS in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of patients in Scotland who are accessing cancer medicines that are available through the NHS in England is not held centrally.
6 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sufficient data on medicines prescribing and usage to make an accurate assessment of variations in access to cancer medicines, and whether it plans to introduce a central prescribing database.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Prescribing of cancer medicines is the responsibility of the clinician in charge of an individuals care. The most appropriate treatment, be it surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or a combination of these) will be made in consultation with the individual a…
6 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the recent Rarer Cancer Foundation report, Nations Divided.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As health is a devolved issue, decisions regarding the introduction of new medicines and treatments are taken by each of the UK countries through their own appraisal and assessment arrangements in line with established national policies. The arrangements set…
6 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the uptake of cancer treatment in Scotland in comparison to (a) England and (b) European Union member states.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No assessments have been undertaken to compare the uptake of cancer treatments in Scotland to those in England or other European Union member states.
6 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the levels of spending on cancer treatment in Scotland compared to (a) England and (b) European Union member states.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The most recent published data available in Scotland on spend for cancer treatments is available at: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Cancercosts10rtf.pdf?1. This report The Cost of Cancer Care in Scotland showed that 7.5% of spen…
10 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior charge nurses there were in each NHS board as at June 2011 and with what delegated level of authority.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The latest published information on headcount and whole time equivalent of nursing staff by band and NHS board can be found on the workforce statistics website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2011-06-28/Nursing%20and%20Mi…
10 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the senior charge nurse programme has been completed and, if so, what direct benefits have resulted.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Senior Charge Nurse programme, Leading Better Care (LBC), was introduced across all NHS boards by the target date of end December 2010. Two further related programmes are also now in the process of being implemented. Releasing Time to Care - Mental Health…
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish how The Bike Station spent its grant recorded in the report Section 70 Grant Payment In accordance with: Transport Scotland Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2010-11 (SG/2011/115) and what evaluation it has made of the effectiveness of that expenditure.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Bike Station received grant funding of £28,670 to run the Build Your Own Bike course. The grant was used to provide training to 36 young people from deprived areas or backgrounds and to build self esteem and encourage community cohesion. As part of the gr…
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish how Aberdeen City Council spent its low carbon vehicles (capital) grant recorded in the report Section 70 Grant Payment In accordance with: Transport Scotland Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2010-11 (SG/2011/115) and what evaluation it has made of the effecti…
Answer · Keith Brown: It is proposed that details of expenditure for all participating Community Planning Partnerships in the Low carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme will be published once all claims are made and finalised. Aberdeen City Council procured three electric vans …
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish how Dumfries and Galloway Council spent its sustainable travel - smarter choices grant recorded in the report Section 70 Grant Payment In accordance with: Transport Scotland Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2010-11 (SG/2011/115) and what evaluation it has made…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Dumfries and Galloway Council - sustainable travel - smarter choices grant was spent on a range of projects including: Transport Interchange enhancements Park and Choose sites Public realm enhancements Public realm enhancements Green Commuter cycle r…
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish how Scottish Enterprise spent its grant recorded in the report Section 70 Grant Payment In accordance with: Transport Scotland Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2010-11 (SG/2011/115) and what evaluation it has made of the effectiveness of that expenditure.
Answer · Keith Brown: The payments made through Scottish Enterprise were in respect of the start of new direct air routes under the Scottish Government’s Route Development Fund which improved business connectivity and made Scotland more accessible for inbound tourists. The payment…
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish how Eastern Airways spent its grant recorded in the report Section 70 Grant Payment In accordance with: Transport Scotland Act 2001 Section 70(4) Financial Year 2010-11 (SG/2011/115) and what evaluation it has made of the effectiveness of that expenditure.
Answer · Keith Brown: Eastern Airways Grant Payment was for the Air Discount Scheme which is evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that it continues to address the often high cost of air travel for those residents of the most peripheral parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotl…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34691 by John Swinney on 30 June 2010, how much has been provided in council tax discounts under the provisions for reducing council tax where improvements are made to the energy efficiency of homes, as outlined in section 65 of the Climate Change (S…
Answer · John Swinney: The information is currently not held centrally. However, in line with the provisions in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, Ministers will produce a report after 31 March 2012 and then report annually on the operation of local authority schemes that redu…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to publish an updated Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our approach to the prioritisation of the projects in the Strategic Transport Projects Review remains unchanged. Our priority projects remain the Forth Replacement Crossing, the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), the Highland main line and the A…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39332 by Keith Brown on 1 March 2011, whether it will provide an update on each project mentioned in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, showing the (a) actual expenditure to date, (b) planned or estimated future expenditure, (c) actual or plann…
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39332 on 1 March 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQ…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34691 by John Swinney on 30 June 2010, what action (a) it is and (b) local authorities are taking to promote schemes for reducing council tax where improvements are made to the energy efficiency of homes, as outlined in section 65 of the Climate Chan…
Answer · John Swinney: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on individual local authorities to introduce a discount scheme for council tax. The Scottish Government has no formal role in developing or delivering a discount scheme, but following joint work we undertoo…
2 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers constitutes a mass waste incinerator and what factors it may take into account when considering applications for these.
2 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32043 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 March 2010, what the most up-to-date estimate is of the (a) final cost and (b) completion date of the (i) Forth Replacement Crossing, (ii) M74 extension, (iii) M8 completion, (iv) M80 completion, (v) Aberdeen Western …
Answer · Keith Brown: The most up to date estimates are shown in the following table:</b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=left >Project</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=center >(a) Estimated Final Cost</p> </…
2 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on each project mentioned in the Strategic Transport Projects Review including (a) actual or planned starting date, (b) actual or estimated completion date, (c) actual expenditure to date and (d) planned or estimated future expenditure.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our priority projects remain the Forth Replacement Crossing, Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme, Highland Mail Line and the Aberdeen to Inverness line. We expect to deliver these projects by 2017.</p> <p >We are also working with partners and stakeh…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract for the management of car parking at NHS hospitals is between the NHS-appointed car park operator and the (a) driver or (b) owner of the vehicle.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: These contracts are a matter for NHS boards. However, it is understood that by parking within an NHSScotland operated car park, the driver of the vehicle is accepting the conditions governing use of that car park and made available on notices in the car parks…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis private car park operators operating NHS car parking facilities issue fixed penalty notices.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS boards, who have responsibility for managing their car parking appropriately.</b></p> <p >It is understood that private car park operators who manage NHS car parking facilities on behalf of NHS boards do not issue fixed penalty notic…
22 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the full job specification of car parking attendants employed by CP Plus Ltd at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde car parks as part of its approved car park management plans.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My officials have had no discussions with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde about the full job specification for car parking attendants employed by CP Plus Limited.</b></p> <p >Car parking management is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that has a contr…
22 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many abandoned vehicles were removed from the (a) M8, (b) M74, (c) M77, (d) M80 and (e) A80 during the weather disruption on (i) 6 and (ii) 7 December 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</b></p>
22 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to prevent traffic queues from forming back onto the M77 from the northbound exit at Junction 2.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is aware that queues occasionally form back onto the northbound M77 at times of exceptionally high retail activity. This is due to congestion arising from insufficient capacity on the privately-owned distributor roads serving the car parki…
22 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alterations have been made in the last 12 months and are planned for the next 12 months to improve traffic flows on the northbound exit of the M77 at Junction 2.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38519 on 27 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliam…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide a medical centre for Newton Mearns.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been carrying out a number of asset management surveys in relation to the independent GP contractor estate within the boundaries of the board''s responsibilities. It is anticipated that these surveys will identify priority ar…
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received calling for a medical centre for Newton Mearns.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A parliamentary motion S3M-5528 was lodged on 14 January 2010 and a copy of a press release issued by Newton Mearns Community Council supporting the motion was received on 19 January 2010.</b></p>
15 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the provision of a medical centre for Newton Mearns.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of new primary care premises is a matter for the GP practice and for the NHS board concerned, in the context of its overall priorities. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in respect of its overall in…