Parliamentary questions
Carolyn Leckie
686 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what data or documents it has provided to the Department of Health’s internal review in respect of haemophilia blood products and whether it has been able to provide sufficient documentation to that review, given the statement by the department that some documents have been destroyed.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Department of Health commissioned a review in 2002 to clarify the facts surrounding the drive for UK self sufficiency in blood products in the 1970’s and 1980’s. If requested, the Executive provided copies of all relevant documents which it holds. However…
4 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will reassure itself of the accuracy of information from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service on the infection of haemophiliacs, given the statement by the UK Government in respect of the destruction of documents.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has confirmed that all relevant documents were held in Scotland and is not aware of any lost documents. If any Scottish documents held by the Department of Health in London were subsequently destroyed, it would …
4 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it can accurately answer questions on the infection of haemophiliacs with blood products, given the statement by the UK Government that some relevant documents have been destroyed.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The documents relevant to this issue were retained by the then Scottish Home and Health Department. The files covering the period in question are currently being reviewed under the Freedom of Information legislation and documents will be released in due cours…
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19342 by Tavish Scott on 19 September 2005, what specific information gained “through canvassing opinions and interviewing officials in local authorities who refer children to Camphill Rudolph Steiner Schools and on their policy towards Newton Dee” w…
Answer · Tavish Scott: This information will be contained in reports which will be published when I make the decision on the preferred route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19342 by Tavish Scott on 19 September 2005, what specific information from the Camphill Medical Director and staff in written and oral reports was referred to in the answer and whether a breakdown of this information is publicly available.
Answer · Tavish Scott: This information will be contained in reports which will be published when I make the decision on the preferred route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the open letter to the First Minister signed by 25 experts from the medical, psychology, psychiatry, autism, education, social work and associated fields expressing their concern at the proposed Murtle route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through Camphill…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The letter was received on 24 October and I will reply to it shortly.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost estimates are for the procurement of vaccines to cover the Scottish population in preparation for a potential flu pandemic.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Costs will be determined by the competitive procurement process for purchase of pandemic flu vaccines. Initial estimates are commercially confidential at this stage.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from pharmaceutical companies in relation to purchasing, procuring and tendering for anti-viral drugs and flu vaccines.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In pandemic flu planning, Department of Health are the lead UK Department on the purchasing, procuring and tendering for anti-viral drugs and flu vaccines.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the contracts being tendered with pharmaceutical companies for vaccinations against H5N1 will commence before or after the identification of a flu virus strain likely to lead to a pandemic.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The vaccines being developed are against the H5N1 avian flu virus which has already been identified as is currently circulating in South East Asia.</p>
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the tendering process for pandemic flu vaccines is being conducted on the basis of being concluded before any pandemic flu virus strain has been identified.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The tendering process to procure the capacity to manufacture vaccines has already begun and will be completed as quickly as possible. Because a pandemic flu virus will be different from other recent virus strains, a new vaccine will need to be developed. Unti…
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to workers having to undertake culling, incineration and landfilling of birds as a result of any flu pandemic.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Scotland’s Avian Influenza And Newcastle Disease Contingency Plan, which was published on 17 October 2005 and can be found at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/10/17113357/33579">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/10/1711…
3 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the 270,000 doses of H5N1 strain vaccine which have been ordered will cost.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is commercially confidential at this stage.</p>
26 Oct 2005 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the sickness absence levels of its staff have been in each year since the Parliament’s inception and, of these, what proportion were reported as being stress-related.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: <p class=MsoHeader>The information yourequested is set out below. Please note that there is no available data for1999-2000 and 2000-01.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p class=MsoHeader align=left>Reporting Year (Septe…
25 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to protect the pensions of Scottish local government employees.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20039 on 3 November 2005. All answers to written ParliamentInformation Centre are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…
25 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to protecting the pensions of Scottish local government employees.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Occupational and personal pensions are reserved matters under the Scotland Act 1998 and are the responsibility of the UK Government. However, Scottish ministers have the devolved responsibility for making regulations to establish and maintain public pensions …
20 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant-led maternity units are the subject of consultation for closure or conversion to non-consultant-led services.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for individual NHS boards. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
20 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many midwife-led maternity units there are and how many there have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
20 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant-led maternity units there are and how many there have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
20 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to ensure that there is equal access to prenatal diagnostic ultrasound scanning beyond routine dating ultrasound for all pregnant women.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive are liaisingwith NHS National Services Scotland and NHS health boards to define the resourceimplications, both financial and personnel, and possible timescales for deliveryof the pregnancy screening recommendations contained within the …
19 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which prisons (a) undertake and (b) do not undertake body searches of visitors and what protocols or criteria are applied in respect of such searches.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The searching of visitors andprisons in Scotland is governed by Rule 86A of the Prisons and Young OffendersInstitutions (Scotland) Rules 19…
17 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of autism is in the non-vaccinated population.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information about the incidence of autism in the non-vaccinated population in Scotland is not held centrally. A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism compared the risk of autism or other autistic spectrum disorders in MM…
17 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged up to 18 have received no vaccinations in their lifetime.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available for children up to 18 years. Although data is available from 1987 it is not possible to use that for children older than 13 as there are some concerns about the quality of data submitted in the early 1990s.</p><p>Chi…
17 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future vaccines will contain thiomersal or similar heavy metal based preservatives.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The European Medicines Agency(EMEA) will consider marketing authorisation applications for thiomersal-containingvaccines on a case-by-case basis, takinginto account efficacy and public health needs. The EMEA continues to endorse the development of vaccines wi…
17 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what current vaccines contain thiomersal or similar heavy metal based preservatives.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has advised that there are currently 102 vaccines licensed in the UK of these 20 contain thiomersal or sod…
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces in Scotland are operating a “shoot to kill to protect” policy in relation to suspected terrorists.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The deployment of firearms by police officers is an operational matter for chief constables.</p>
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were of any specialist riot training police officers received in the run-up to the period of the G8 summit.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Work is still on-going to determinethe additional costs incurred by police forces as a result of the G8 summit. Informationon total costs later in the year.</p>
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were of policing during the period of the G8 summit, broken down by local authorities.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Final estimates of the cost ofpolicing the G8 summit are not yet available. Work is still on-going to assess thetotal cost with a number of bills and invoices yet to be received. Details of costswill be published later in the year.</p>
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what authority the police have to exclude members of the public from the courts.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Section 17 of the Police(Scotland) Act 1967 sets out the general functions of the Scottish Police andimposes on them the duties to guard, patrol, and watch so as to prevent thecommission of offences against the law, to preserve order, and to protectproperty.<…
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what services, personnel and support the police received from the armed forces during the period of the G8 summit.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Police Service workedwith a number of partner agencies, including the armed forces, to ensure that therecent G8 summit and related events could take place in a safe and secure environment.</p><p>The support provided by the armedforces included as…
29 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what laws, standards, protocols and guidelines apply to the police in relation to displaying their numbers and identifying themselves and whether these also apply to officers from police forces outside Scotland when such officers are deployed in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There is no statutory requirementin the UK for police officers to display their identity numbers, although in normalpolicing circumstances it is considered good practice to do so. </p><p>Uniforms vary across police forcesand, on occasion, when an officer is w…