Parliamentary questions
Cameron Buchanan
61 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training opportunities it offers people over the age of 25.
2 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the film and television industry to discuss the building of a film studio.
24 Feb 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service plans to extend the temporary presumption that all cases involving a charge of theft by housebreaking or housebreaking with intent to steal would be prosecuted on indictment rather than summary complaint.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: Housebreaking is a horrible crime. It can have a devastating impact on those affected and leaves people feeling unsafe in their own homes. Since the Law Officers introduced a presumption in December 2013 that housebreaking cases would go on petition, the ave…
4 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) the benefits of keeping the Museum of Fire at Lauriston Place in Edinburgh compared with the potential cost savings from using a different location and (b) public opinion regarding its location.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The future of the Lauriston Place building and Museum of Fire are decisions for the board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). We recognise the importance of this historical collection, which highlights the valuable role this country has played, a…
11 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to set up specialist services for patients with prescribed drug dependence.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises the impact on individuals of developing a dependency of this kind, and shares the desire to see them get the help they need to tackle their individual needs. We support Scotland’s Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to consider th…
6 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered how it could make it easier for inpatients to participate in NHS consultations.
4 Dec 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed with experts the need for action on prescribed drug dependence, and whether that discussion included nitrazepam and Effexor.
Answer · Shona Robison: Advice to clinicians on dependence on prescribed medicines is issued from a number of sources, including the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Medical Association and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Medical st…
25 Nov 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time from GP referral is for elective surgery in NHS Lothian.
19 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the waiting times for aftercare services in the Lothians will be reduced.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Lothian and Edinburgh City Council to reduce the length of time people are waiting in hospital for packages of social care. Officials are currently agreeing an action plan that will see a reduction in delays…
18 Nov 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that planning applications and their associated documents are easy to understand.
11 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the drug, Afinitor, is not available on the NHS in Scotland for the treatment of breast cancer.
4 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) the Scottish Medicines Consortium will review the decision not to make the drug, Afinitor, available on the NHS in Scotland for the treatment of breast cancer.
Answer · Shona Robison: The independence of Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions on individual drugs is well established. We are advised that SMC is expecting to receive a resubmission from the pharmaceutical company for this drug.
4 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the drug, Afinitor, is not available on the NHS in Scotland for the treatment of breast cancer.
9 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported concerns of NFU Scotland regarding the effect of low prices on the farming industry.
25 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase support for local participation and decision-making in planning applications outside of local development plans.
30 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding has been provided for NHS Lothian to provide neurorehabilitation to children with a congenital disorder.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2015-16, NHS Lothian’s resource budget is £1,230.0 million, an increase of 3.5% from 2014-15. It is the responsibility of NHS Lothian to use this funding to resource services in its area.
30 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Lothian provides neurorehabilitation to children with a congenital disorder.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: NHS Lothian provides a wide range of neurorehabilitation services. There would be no distinction between children with a congenital disorder and an acquired disorder in terms of rehabilitation services offered. Individual treatments and other therapies are ag…
22 Jun 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government’s approach to regulation and licensing of the taxi market is focused on what is in the best interests of consumers.
17 Jun 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed Police Scotland’s professional standards with the chief constable.
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost is of an overnight stay in an NHS hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: The average cost of an overnight inpatient stay at an NHS Scotland hospital, in 2013-14 was £545. This is based on the hospital costs of the 14 territorial boards and the two special boards, namely the State Hospital and Golden Jubilee National Hospital. S…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many radical prostatectomies have been performed by the NHS in each year since 2007, also broken down by type of surgery.
Answer · Shona Robison: Figures for the number of radical prostatectomies carried out in Scotland are not available centrally as these are not identified separately in the data provided by NHS boards. The figures in the following table are for the types of prostatectomies performed …
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS is negotiating on a national basis to secure the best possible deal in its purchasing of facilities for robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: The National Planning Forum's Robot Assisted Surgery Implementation Group is overseeing the introduction of robotically assisted surgery in Scotland and will consider whether there may be opportunities for national procurement.
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Scotland patients have received treatment (a) in the rest of the UK and (b) overseas in each year since 2007, broken down by (i) place of and (ii) reason for treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of residents of Scotland who received medical treatment as an inpatient or day case (elective and emergency admissions) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is provided by main condition for the financial years 2007-08 to 2014-15. …
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the NHS should rent facilities to provide robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer patients until such time as it has its own fully-operational facilities.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25846 on 11 June 2014. There are no plans to rent such facilities. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http:/…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS Scotland patients requiring robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery are able to access facilities elsewhere in the UK.
Answer · Shona Robison: Clinically effective surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer is available throughout NHS Scotland. The arrangements for access to healthcare in NHS England (or elsewhere in the UK) for residents of Scotland are based on individual clinical decisions. Th…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the facilities for robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer surgery that are scheduled to be operational in Aberdeen in 2015 will be available to patients in all NHS board areas.
Answer · Shona Robison: Pending the planned roll out of robotically assisted surgery to other parts of Scotland, men who require prostate cancer surgery should have access to the most appropriate treatment, wherever that may be delivered, based on their individual clinical circumsta…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03490 by Michael Matheson on 21 August 2014, whether the spring 2015 target for opening the facility has been met and, if not, (a) for what reason and (b) when it will be operational.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22387 on 12 September 2014. On 19 August 2014, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced that the Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to purchase a robot which complements the fundr…
28 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is to put in place a care package for a person needing a carer four times each day.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. For those who are assessed as being at critical or substantial risk, the national eligibility and waiting times guidance recommends a maximum period of six weeks from confirmation of need to …
19 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the official statistics for recorded crimes and offences involving firearms for 2013-14 will be published before the stage 3 debate on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Yes. Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland 2013-14 will be published on 17 June 2015.
12 May 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of apprenticeships in woodwork.