Parliamentary questions

Colin Fox

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

16 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on recent research in Canada, adverse events associated with prescription drug cost-sharing among poor and elderly patients, referring to a correlation between increasing charges for medicines and a fall in the number of patients taking up treatment.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I am not familiar with thisCanadian research project. The Executive is concerned to ensure that patientsin Scotland need not be deterred from obtaining the medicinethey need on financial grounds. We therefore have an extensive system ofexemption and remission…

16 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the conclusions of its review of NHS prescription charges.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Proposals for the detailedremit and conduct of the review are currently being considered by ministers. Iexpect to be able to make an announcement shortly, which will includeinformation on the timetable for completion of this project.

1 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of dental costs dentists recover annually from charges.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Patients are required to pay80% of the cost of their NHS dental treatment up to a set maximum per course oftreatment (currently £372), unless they fall into one of the groups entitled toexemption or remission from NHS charges.

1 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the cost of eye tests opticians recover annually from charges.

Answer · Tom McCabe: NHS sight tests are free. Thereis therefore no charge recovered from the patient.

1 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outright abolition of NHS prescription charges is an option considered in the review of such charges.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is committedto reviewing NHS prescription charges for people with chronic health conditionsand young people in full-time education or training. We have no plans to removeNHS prescription charges in Scotland.

27 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of recently announced increased profits for Scottish banks, the Financial Services Strategy Group will look at any implications, in particular the impact on customers.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is not within the remitof the Financial Services Strategy Group which has been established to supportthe financial services sector and maximise its contribution to Scotland’sprosperity. Growing the economy is the Executive’s top priority and I ampleased …

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what extra financial support it has offered to the City of Edinburgh Council in respect of the review of its Social Work Department following the Caleb Ness inquiry.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive has not offered any extra financial support to the City of Edinburgh Council in respect of the review of its Social Work Department following theCaleb Ness inquiry.

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the review of the City of Edinburgh Council's Social Work Department following the Caleb Ness inquiry.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive has been kept informed about the review of the City of Edinburgh Council's Social Work Department following the O’Brien Report into the death ofCaleb Ness but has had no involvement in its conduct.

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered calls for the establishment of a Scottish Poet Laureate as set out in motion S2M-789 in my name.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive has decided to create a position of national poet for Scotland. Scottish ministers believe that it is vitally important that we recognise the significant contribution of poetry to Scotland’s culture. This position will symbolise the suc…

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obstacles there are to the direct election of members of police boards.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Members of police boards in Scotland aredrawn from amongst directly elected members of local authorities who areappointed by their constituent authorities to the police board for their area. Any change to these arrangements would require changes to legislatio…

23 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide to the Scottish Tug of War Association for hosting the World Indoor Tug of War Championship in Glasgow from 19 to 22 February 2004.

Answer · Frank McAveety: None. The Scottish Tug ofWar Association applied for lottery funding from sportscotland towardsthe costs of hosting the World Indoor Tug of War Championship in Glasgow from19 to 22 February 2004 but this was rejected in March 2003.

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the making of any motion pictures currently being made on the life of Robert Burns.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Scottish Screen is the agencycharged by the Executive with responsibility for support of the screenindustries. There are no current motion pictures on Robert Burns being made inwhich Scottish Screen is involved. The agency has been involved in scriptdevelopme…

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to enable the tourism industry to capitalise on interest in Robert Burns at this time of year.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Scotland’s tourism industry benefits greatly from thiscountry’s cultural history and Burns is one of Scotland’s great culturalicons. His work is well known around the world, and in particular Burns Nightpresents an excellent opportunity for the promotion of S…

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how schools will commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns on 25 January 2004.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This is a matter for schoolsthemselves to decide.

12 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is being consulted over any plans to rename Prestwick International Airport as Robert Burns International Airport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Any plan to rename Glasgow Prestwick International Airport as Robert Burns International Airport is a commercial decision for the airport operatorand there is no formal requirement to consult the Executive.

12 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons have been learned from the arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent release without charge of Ghalem Belhadj, Salah Moullef, Hakim Ziem and Lasnan Lasnami.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I understand that thesearrests were the result of a thorough investigation carried out by Lothian andBorders Police. In the normal manner, a formal report on the evidence gatheredwas prepared and submitted to the Crown Office. The decision not to indict theac…

3 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will cancel poll tax debts.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The treatment of outstanding community charge debts is a matter for local authorities, inline with their statutory obligations, and in consultation with their auditors as necessary.

18 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce voluntary entitlement cards for its services and, if so, whether these will be different from any UK identity cards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has no plansto introduce a voluntary entitlement card for services directly delivered bythe Scottish Executive.The Executive is supportinga number of local authorities in the development of a voluntary citizen’sentitlement card for their …

18 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow NHS records to be incorporated in UK identity cards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has no plansto incorporate Scottish NHS records in the proposed UK identity cards.

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the work of Disclosure Scotland has been affected by the undertaking of work for the Criminal Records Bureau by the Scottish Criminal Record Office.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The work which the ScottishCriminal Record Office undertakes through Disclosure Scotland on behalf ofCriminal Records Bureau (CRB) is related to applications for EnhancedDisclosures under Part V of the Police Act 1997. This work is part ofDisclosure Scotland’…

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Criminal Records Office receives any financial payment for work undertaken on behalf of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland,which is part of the Scottish Criminal Record Office, provides the CriminalRecords Bureau (CRB) with a service related to applications for enhanced disclosuresunder Part V of the Police Act 1997. These are applications received by CRBwhere…

17 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average turnaround time is for a criminal history system check by Disclosure Scotland and what measures are in place to improve the service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: As of Monday, 24 November 2003, the turnaround times for applications processed by Disclosure Scotlandwas 24 days for standard and enhanced disclosures and 35 days for basic disclosures.To improve upon thisperformance and the overall service, additiona…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to section 16 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill, how many police officers of or above the rank of Superintendent are on duty on an average Friday or Saturday night within the A Division of Lothian and Borders Police.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The deployment of policeofficers is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The provisions ondispersal of groups in the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland)Bill do not require senior officers to be on duty at any specific times.

29 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of producing and distributing the document Building Better Cities, Delivering Growth and Opportunities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The total cost of producingand distributing the document Building Better Cities, Delivering Growth and Opportunities was £7,941.

29 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications for state schools in Edinburgh are of 25% of secondary school pupils in Edinburgh attending private fee-paying schools subsidised by taxpayers.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The local authority,supported by funding from the Scottish Executive, provides sufficient schoolsto meet local demand for state education, regardless of the number of pupilsattending private schools.

16 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police posts will be affected if plans to privatise prison escort and court security duties are implemented.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The contracting out ofprison escort and court custody services is expected to lead to theredeployment of up to 300 police officers on other operational duties.

13 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in its review of prescription charges, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Detailed proposals for theconduct of the review are currently being prepared. Whilst it is not possibleto give details of these proposals at present, they can be expected to includea wide ranging consultation with patientinterest groups, NHS professionals and…

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2202 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 September 2003, what role the police will play in respect of the operation of the decontamination units; whether such police will be armed, and what instructions they will be given

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The police will co-ordinatethe activities of the emergency services at the scene of a decontaminationincident, as they would at any other major incident. The police do not possessdecontamination equipment, although officers across Scottish police forces haveb…

24 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken into the effects that miscarriages of justice have on wrongfully imprisoned persons, their children and families.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has notcommissioned any research on the effects that miscarriages of justice have on wrongfullyimprisoned person, their children or their families.

24 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist help is available for victims of miscarriages of justice.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We recognise that those releasedfrom custody in such circumstances may require help to resettle in the community.Local authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act1968 to provide advice, guidance and assistance on request within 12 months of a…