Parliamentary questions

Colin Fox

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

2 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the annual drugs bill of the NHS has been recovered through prescription charges in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The NHS prescription chargedoes not relate directly to the cost of the item prescribed or the cost ofsupplying it. It is a contribution towards the cost of the service as a whole.The table representsprescription charges collected in each of the last 5 …

2 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost is of administering the current NHS prescription charges system.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In 2003-04 the cost ofadministering the NHS prescription charges system was £1.54 million. This includes the cost of processing applications for help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, production, distribution and supply to patients of prescription pre-payment …

2 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider phasing out prescription charges by annual incremental changes rather than abolishing them outright, in line with practice by the National Assembly for Wales.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. In common with England and Northern Ireland we have no plans to remove NHS prescription charges.

2 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider undertaking a pilot study in one area into the effect of abolishing NHS prescription charges on take-up rates for patients with chronic conditions, on reduced admissions to hospital and on demand for GP services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. The Executive believesthat the way to assist people with poor health is to undertake the PartnershipAgreement review of prescription charges for people with chronic healthconditions and young people in full-time education or training. We have noplans to r…

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of providing free local public transport for under-12s.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Reliable estimates of the cost of providing free local public transport for under-12s could not be produced without detailed analysis of bus, rail and ferry usage by under-12s, and discussions with key stakeholders in local transport authorities and the bus, …

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients took advantage of prescription prepayment certificates in the last year.

Answer · Tom McCabe: As at 30 June 2004, 70,416patients had held a prescription prepayment certificate.

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were dispensed by pharmacists in the last year.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information for the yearending 31 March 2004 is given in the table.<table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Type </td> <td> No. of Items (Million)<…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients presented to GPs in the last year.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Data on the number of patientspresenting to GPs is not held centrally. However, extrapolating information derived from the sample of 62 practiceswhich undertake Continuous Morbidity Recording(CMR) estimates that approximately3,960,000 individuals were seen by…

18 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact has been of the introduction of means testing on those who apply for a home improvement grant.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Statistics on housing improvement grants since the introduction in October 2003 of targeting according to the applicant’s resources are not yet available. Statistics on grants for the year to April 2004 are due to be published in August 2004 but are unlikely …

18 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to discontinue the means test for disabled people seeking a home improvement grant for adapting their home.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The arrangements for private sector housing grants were modified in October 2003 to target grants according to applicants’ resources. For some priority categories, including adaptations to houses to suit the needs of disabled people, any grant made by the loc…

17 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what apologies are due to Angela Kennedy on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service and Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd after she was returned to prison for a week despite a court ordering her immediate release.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:A full investigation is undertaken into the circumstances surrounding each incident. If that investigation determines that a prisoner…

11 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prevent demolition of listed buildings in Edinburgh including those on the site of the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Lauriston.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Historic Scotland works closely with the City of Edinburgh Council to safeguard the built heritage. The result is that very few listed building are demolished.Applications for demolition of listed buildings require to be advertised, and planning author…

9 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of NHS prescription charges will begin.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Scottish ministers have approved the remit for a review of prescription charges for people with chronic medical conditions and young people in full-time education or training. This is in accordance with the partnership agreement (405). Preparations are now be…

8 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary schools are being considered for closure in the next two years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The pattern of school provision is the responsibility of the local authorities, subject to statutory requirements on them to consult parents and other interests where changes in provision are proposed. The Scottish Executive is not in a position to say how ma…

12 May 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether penalty charges introduced in the Health Act 1999 are being levied on those in receipt of incapacity benefit who are uncertain as to whether they are entitled to free NHS prescriptions.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Patients onincapacity benefit who realise they have mistakenly claimed exemption from NHSprescription charges and who pay back the prescription charge to NHSScotlandCounter Fraud Services (CFS) are not required to pay any penalty charges.Where apatient…

4 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the statute of limitation on debt recovery after six years does not apply in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The six-year limitation on debtrecovery is contained in the Limitation Act 1980, which applies only to England and Wales. The equivalentScottish provisions, in terms of which claims for debt are extinguished by prescriptionafter five years, are contained in t…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the practice of NHS staff wearing paper uniforms to senior management.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The issue of uniforms is a matterfor each NHS employer.

28 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration will be given to the community campaign for alternative routes of travel prior to any tendering of ferry services to South Uist.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The proposals for tendering theClyde and Hebrides ferry services, published for consultation in June 2002,explained that it was the intention to broadly replicate the existing services andtimetables. We received a good response to the consultation exercise, i…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh councils to hold a referendum seeking the views of parents in on whether five rural and six city schools respectively should be closed.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Education (Publication andConsultation Etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 set out the requirements on local authoritiesregarding consultations on school closure proposals. They include provision forparents and other consultees to make representations expla…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages there are in a road equivalent tariff scheme for transport costs to and from island communities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A road equivalent tariff schemewould generate significant additional subsidy costs, which could be funded onlyby displacing high-priority transport projects. We have no current plans to introduceferry fares based on road equivalent tariffs.

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now estimates that the practice of slopping out will be eradicated across the entire prison estate.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3188 on 3 November 2003.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it had on the level of fines for performance failures in prison escort duties by Reliance Security Task Management Ltd in England and Wales in 2002 prior to the Scottish Prison Service entering into its contract with that company.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7805 on 20 May 2004. All answers to written questions areavailable on the Parliament’…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it had on the level of fines for performance failures in prison escort duties by private security firms in England and Wales in 2002 prior to the Scottish Prison Service entering into its contract with Reliance Security Task Management Ltd.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service discussedthe track record of bidders, including Reliance with other contracting authoritiesand visited bidding …

24 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision to close six schools in Edinburgh and five schools in Midlothian has been taken with the best educational interests of children in mind.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Educationauthorities are always required to act in light of their statutory duties toprovide adequate and efficient education, to improve the quality of thateducation, and to ensure that it is directed to developing children’s fullestpotential. Detailed polic…