Parliamentary questions
Carolyn Leckie
686 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31693 by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007, how the public and the Highland Regional Council were informed of the length of toll period represented by the arrangement referred to in the answer.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The anticipated length of thetoll period was set out in the <i>Skye Bridge Assignation</i> <i>Statement</i>,which was made available for public inspection in October and November 1991.</p>
21 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31693 by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007, how long the toll period would have lasted if the Skye Bridge concession had not been bought out.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The <i>Assignation Statement</i>relating to the Skye Bridge crossing stated that the anticipated length of the concessionperiod was 14 to 18 years after the bridge opened to traffic. The actual lengthof the toll period was dependent on traffic flows, costs an…
21 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31693 by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007, whether the six per cent discount referred to in the answer was itself an index-linked figure.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No. Guidance on use ofdiscount rates is set out in HM Treasury's <i>Guidance on Appraisal andEvaluation in Central Gover</i><i>nm</i><i>ent</i>, knownas <i>The Green Book</i>. At the time the Skye Bridge was being planned, <i>The Green Book</i> recommended th…
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government to ensure that every public and private employer implements employment policies for carers.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Following the publication of the Care 21 report: <i>The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland</i> in April 2006,I wrote to UK ministers to draw to their attention the report’s recommendationson the reserved issue of employment rights.</p>
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of public bodies that have implemented employment policies for carers.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the findings published in the Care 21 report, The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland, it will ensure that all local authorities (a) inform all eligible carers of their right to a carers’ assessment, (b) ensure that all carers receive an individual assessment within a r…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Both the Executive and localpartnerships have taken a number of steps to improve the take-up of carer assessments.</p><p>The Community Care and Health(Scotland) Act 2002 gives carers the right to an assessment of their ability to care.The legislation requires…
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average existing (a) executive directors, (b) senior managers, (c) middle managers, (d) consultant medical staff and (e) nurses have been in their current posts in the NHS.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Table one shows theaverage length of time in years that staff on senior management grades, medicalconsultants and registered nurses have been in their existing posts in NHS Scotland,as at 30 September 2006. Middle managers cannot be explicitly identifiedfrom …
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of service in the NHS has been of existing (a) executive directors, (b) senior managers, (c) middle managers, (d) consultant medical staff and (e) nurses.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Information is not centrallyavailable on the average length of service of staff in NHS Scotland. Centrally helddata provides the date of commencement of employees within their current NHS boardarea but does not provide their total length of service in the NHS…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost was of the A87 Skye Crossing special road scheme as outlined in Schedule 1(7) of the Special Roads and Trunk Roads (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985/1165 (S.92)).
Answer · Tavish Scott: By virtue of regulation 5 of the 1985 Regulations, Schedule 1 of those 1985 Regulations applies only to schemessubmitted by local roads authorities to the Secretary of State for confirmation.The Skye Bridge crossing scheme was promoted by the then Secretary o…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23221 by Tavish Scott on 13 March 2006, whether the provision of the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road Scheme Order 1992 (SI 1992/1499) which prescribes use by all classes of traffic, and which…
Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes. The Invergarry-Kyle of LochalshTrunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (Revocation) Order2005 does not affect the 1992 Special Road Scheme Order. The classes of trafficprescribed by the Order therefore still apply.</p>
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15739 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, whether the answer indicates that a mandatory ministerial statement can be made anonymously.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No. The Assignation Statementwas made by the then Secretary of State for Scotland.</p>
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15739 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, whether the name of any minister was included on the statutory statement and, if so, which minister.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No.</p>
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it makes informed decisions in respect of acute service reorganisation, such as the closure of accident and emergency units, if it does not have access to information on the quantity and quality of ambulance resources available.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Prime responsibility for planningand consulting on acute services reorganisation lies with NHS boards. In doing so,they are guided by the Scottish Executive’s health care policies, including <i>Deliveringfor Health</i>, which aims to ensure that the service a…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how quality of service is assessed in the Scottish Ambulance Service, given that information on the balance of staffing in ambulances between paramedics and technicians is not collated.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The operational and financialperformance of the Scottish Ambulance Service is the subject of continuous monitoringboth by the service itself and by the Health Department. The Local Delivery Planand specifically the health, efficiency, access and treatment obj…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate that the Scottish Ambulance Service does not collate statistics on the balance of staffing in ambulances between paramedics and technicians and what effect this has on the Executive’s ability to deliver on the key health commitments in its Delivering fo…
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31774 on 22 February 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will guarantee that every ambulance will be staffed by at least one paramedic.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31774 on 22 February 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has made since 1999 in respect of the ambulance service, with specific reference to the staffing of ambulances by paramedics.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Ambulance Service’sobjective was to have a paramedic on board every frontline ambulance by the endof March 2005.</p><p>The Health Department has beenmonitoring the implementation of the service’s paramedic training programme. Theobjective of the …
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30229 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 February 2007, why there was a delay in giving a substantive answer to this question; what the median length of time is for giving substantive answers to parliamentary questions, and what the 10 longest delays were for in g…
Answer · Andy Kerr: Additional time was needed inthis case as a significant amount of work was on-going to develop appropriate guidancefor NHS boards and health care professionals to ensure a consistent approach insupport of the confirmed legal position. A copy of the guidance c…
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has been responsible since May 1999 for addressing any financial discrepancies discovered since the 23 May 1997 National Audit Office report on the Skye Bridge.
Answer · Tavish Scott: In the period in question theexternal auditors of The Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive were:</p><p>For financial years up to andincluding 1999-2000 – the National Audit Office</p><p>For financial years starting2000-01 – Audit Scotland</p><p>In addit…
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why over £60 million has been paid to Skye Bridge Ltd when the agreed costs to be collected by the commissionaire as announced on the statutory identification statement were to be “£23.64 million at July 1990 prices”.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The contractually agreed coststo be recovered by the concessionaire were expressed in 1991 prices discounted atsix per cent a year to 1991 base year. The amounts received by Skye Bridge Limitedinclude more than £33 million in toll revenuesand compensation pay…
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the duties of Highland Regional Council as the Secretary of State’s agent for the A87 Skye crossing scheme included ensuring compliance with statutory requirements placed on the Secretary of State by primary legislation.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No.</p>
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31515 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 February 2007, what the timetable is for full implementation of the recommendations contained in the Audit Scotland report, Planning ward nursing - legacy or design?.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive will workwith NHS boards, trade unions and Professional Bodies to implement Audit Scotland’s recommendationsand expect full implementation by 2010.</p>
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-31212 and S2W-31358 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 February 2007, what specific resources were deployed by Lothian and Borders Police to cover the Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum (GLF) Europe and how these compare with the standard daily deployment of …
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Lothian and BordersPolice.</p>
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any dissenting comments on heart disease made by members of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) who resigned before the publication of new guidelines on heart disease.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is entirely a matterfor the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, which forms part of theindependent organisation NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.</p>
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing clearer and simpler advice and labelling in respect of the number of units of alcohol in any given product or measure.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are participating in workled by the UK Department of Health, to agree voluntary UK-wide unit labelling andsensible drinking messages with the alcohol industry. These will be included onalcohol packaging, in point of sale material and in advertising.</p>
2 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31083 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 January 2007, whether it will provide the statistics for each year since NHS 24’s inception using the formula that applied before 2005.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The formula which was appliedbefore 2005 was based on all calls dialled into the service, which included suchthings as mis-dialled numbers. These were described as “calls offered”. From April2005, a new formula was introduced which calculates call abandonment…
31 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether any special measures in respect of the Parliament’s environment were taken for the Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In the run up to and duringthe Microsoft Government Leaders Forum, no special measures were required tomaintain comfort levels. Standard building procedures were followed, whichinclude closely monitoring building temperatures, switching equipment off whennot …
31 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether any special measures in respect of the Parliament’s environment, other than any taken for the Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum, were taken for the visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of York on 30 January 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In the run up to and duringthe Microsoft Government Leaders Forum, no special measures were required tomaintain comfort levels. Standard building procedures were followed, whichinclude closely monitoring building temperatures, switching equipment off whennot …
31 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the temperature in the Parliament building reached higher than normal levels on 30 January 2007 and, if so, what the reasons were for the increase.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Building temperatures weremonitored closely on 30 January and did not reach higher than normal levels.</p>
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the use of overtime rather than bank nurses to cover temporary staff shortages, in order to maintain continuity of care and more easily monitor compliance with working time regulations.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards are responsiblefor ensuring that they have the appropriate team with the right skill mix andcompetencies to meet patient need and maintain continuity of care. NHS boardstake these decisions based on family friendly policies, the working time regula…