Parliamentary questions

John Swinburne

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

16 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints of (a) abuse, (b) neglect and (c) malnourishment of older people in care homes have been made to the Care Commission in each year since it was established.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for theCare Commission who can be contacted at Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee,DD1 4NY.

16 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21188 by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 December 2005, whether it has concluded its consultation on the Executive's fuel poverty programmes and, if so, what plans it has to increase the maximum grant entitlement under the Warm Deal scheme.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have concluded the consultationon the Executive’s fuel poverty programmes.I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24143 on 14 March 2006. The maximum grant for the Warm Dealwill be maintained at £500. Work is being done to maximise the impa…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that, when the new concessionary travel scheme comes into effect on 1 April 2006, senior citizens will at all times be guaranteed a seat on a “first come, first served” basis and no differentiation will be made between them and paying customers.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Guidance on the operation of the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people makes it clear thatno discrimination should be made between concessionary card holders and any otherpassenger and that all passengers without reservations should be t…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether senior citizens travelling using the concessionary travel scheme will be guaranteed a return ticket should they request one.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No. The Scotland-wide freebus scheme for older and disabled people entitles card holders to a free singlejourney on an eligible service.

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that, when the new concessionary travel scheme comes into effect on 1 April 2006, senior citizens using the scheme will be treated in the same way as paying ticket holders.

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is on the provision of Troponin testing in community hospitals and general practice.

Answer · Andy Kerr: All district general hospitals have access to troponin testing. A technology appraisal published by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in September 2002 did not recommend the introduction of troponin testing to GP surge…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets its Health Department has for reducing CHD-related premature mortality and what progress is being made in implementing such targets.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The target for reducing mortality in people aged under 75 from CHD is 60% between 1995 and 2010. Data indicate that there has been a reduction of 44% since 1995, and if the present rate of reduction continues, the target will be met. A further target has been…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s report’s recommendations on Troponin testing have been implemented.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are responsible for implementing NHS Quality Improvement Scotland health technology appraisals.

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Health Economics Research Unit report examining NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s reports will be published and whether copies will be made available to the general public.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In March 2005 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) commissioned the Health Economics Research Unit to examine the impact of health technology assessments on the NHS and on patients. NHS QIS received this report in February 2006.The finding…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor and check for early signs of malnutrition among elderly people, both in the community and in residential homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Responsibilities for on-going care vary according to whether people are in the community, in care homes or in hospitals. In the community, people who are undernourished will generally come to the attention of their GP who will take appropriate action…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new plans it has to address poverty, in light of the recent 22% increase in fuel prices by Scottish Gas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have already said that I planto extend current fuel poverty programmes beyond 2006. I will be announcing detailsof these plans shortly.I have written to the major energycompanies expressing my concern at the impactrecent price rises will have on vuln…

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct the Care Commission to routinely inform local authorities of cases of abuse found to have been committed in residential homes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are already arrangements in place which allow the Care Commission to inform local authorities of cases of abuse, and alleged cases, in care homes or other care services. The Commission’s complaints procedure was published in September 2004 under …

4 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Environment and Rural Development has had with the Minister for Transport concerning the impact that provision for the use of private cars and taxis under the Scottish Concessionary Travel Scheme would have within rural areas.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I was content with the Minister of Transport’s proposition to introduce the Scottish Concessionary Travel Scheme but I have had no discussions with the Minister for Transport on the specific points raised in the question.

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people has been completed.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No. The closing date for consultation responses is Monday 5 December 2005.

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made regarding companion entitlements in the proposals for a free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is currently consulting on the terms and eligibility criteria of the new Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people. The consultation paper indicates that those of fare paying age (five and over) in receipt of on…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of (a) the Implementation Progress Group and (b) each of the task groups established in respect of the implementation of a concessionary travel scheme in April 2006.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested is provided in the following tables. Membership of National Concessionary Travel Implementation Progress Group<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Group</td> <td> <p alig…

26 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17890 by Mr Andy Kerr on 8 August 2005, what the terms of reference are for the December 2005 progress review on troponin testing commissioned by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The objectives of theassessment are to evaluate the dissemination of the recommendations of thehealth technology assessment; appraise the documentation, by seeking the viewsof users on factors such as accessibility, clarity, relevance and ease ofunderstanding…

29 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19005 by Robert Brown on 20 September 2005, what impact the additional £12 million in funding will have on kinship carers who do not currently receive any payment in areas such as Glasgow.

Answer · Robert Brown: It is for local authorities to decide how best to use this additional funding. However, when Euan Robson wrote to local authorities announcing the funding in April, he suggested that authorities may wish to consider further support to kinship carers.

12 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females aged over (i) 60, (ii) 70 and (iii) 80 have committed suicide in each year since 1999 (1) in total and (2) broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · George Lyon: The information requested is given in the following tables The data combines deaths from intentional self harm with deaths from events of undetermined intent as the majority of the latter are likely to have been suicides. Deaths from Intentional Self-H…

12 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females aged over (i) 60, (ii) 70 and (iii) 80 have been diagnosed with depression in each year since 1999 (1) in total and (2) broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The exact number of people diagnosed with depression in Scotland in each year since 1999, is not available centrally. However, national estimates of the numbers of people diagnosed with depression can be given based on the number of patients seen for the cond…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are issued by the Scottish Prison Service Rehabilitation and Care Directorate for the care of prisoners over 60.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The care of prisoners is guided by the recently revised SPS Healthcare Standards. The aim is to deliver health care appropriate to the ind…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Statistical Bulletin: Criminal Justice Series - August 2005, what the main crimes/offences were of (a) male and (b) female prisoners over 60 (i) on remand and (ii) having been sentenced, in each year since 1996-97, showing the total number of offences committed under ea…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 37437).

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners over 60 have been serving a sentence of (i) less than three months, (ii) three to six months, (iii) six months to two years, (iv) two to four years, (v) four years and over excluding life and (vi) life, in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 37435).

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females (i) on remand and (ii) having been sentenced aged over (1) 60, (2) 65 and (3) 70 formed part of the prison population in each year since 1999, in total and broken down into prisoners on remand and prisoners who have been sentenced, expressed also as a pe…

24 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with dementia since 2000, broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The exact number of people newly diagnosed with dementia in Scotland is not available centrally. However, national estimates of the numbers of people consulting for dementia since 2000 can be given based on the number of patients seen for the condition in gen…

25 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there are no winter-related deaths amongst the elderly population during the winter months of 2005-06.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is taking action on a number of fronts to minimise winter-related deaths amongst the elderly. The central heating programme is providing central heating to all those aged 60 and over who have none or whose system is broken down i…

25 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce year-on-year targets to eliminate cold or winter-related deaths of elderly people.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such targets. The causes of excess winter deaths are complex and the number of cases varies widely from year-to-year.

13 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of NHS Quality Scotland’s report, The organisation of troponin testing services in acute coronary syndromes.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Scotlandshould take account of advice and evidence from NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandand ensure that recommended drugs and treatment are made available to meetclinical need.NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandhas recently commissioned the Health Eco…

8 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-17101 by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 June 2005, what action local communities can take in the event that the precautionary measures are not being adhered to.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The answer to S2W-17800 referred to the recommendations of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP), the Government response and how the former have been reviewed by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB – now the Radiation Protection …

8 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17100 by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 June 2005, what precautionary measures were put in place in response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones published in 2000.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Independent Expert Group suggested a “precautionary approach” should be adopted for mobile telecommunications technology and made 34 specific recommendations. The Government response to the recommendation of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones a…