Parliamentary questions
Margaret McCulloch
262 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing medical staffing issues in NHS Lanarkshire.
13 Sep 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS Lanarkshire to address the reported staff shortages in emergency medicine.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is supporting NHS Lanarkshire in aligning its staff to meet patient demand and the implementation of a number of site-specific actions. In NHS Lanarkshire, the number of A&E consultants has risen by over 300 per cent since 2006, from …
10 Sep 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how additional investment in patient flow will improve waiting time performance in NHS Lanarkshire.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government has invested substantial resources in NHS Lanarkshire to improve emergency waiting times for patients and enhance local delivery at hospital level. The investment is closely aligned to the recommendations of the Healthcare Improvement Scot…
10 Sep 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the World Health Organization's recommendation that the use of e-cigarettes indoors should be banned.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government agrees that electronic cigarettes need appropriate regulation. While we accept that the devices may potentially help people smoke fewer cigarettes, or even stop altogether, there is concern that they could also re-normalise smoking. T…
13 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of rheumatoid arthritis in addition to the NHS Health Scotland leaflet, Recognise, Respond, Relieve,– Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The NHS Health Scotland leaflet, ‘Recognise, Respond, Relieve, - Rheumatoid Arthritis’ is available on the Scottish Public Health Network, NHS Health Scotland and voluntary sector websites. NHS Inform provides comprehensive information on rheumatoid arthriti…
13 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many copies of the NHS Health Scotland leaflet, Recognise, Respond, Relieve,– Rheumatoid Arthritis have been (a) produced and (b) distributed; what assessment it has carried out of the effectiveness of the leaflet, including whether it has led to an increase in hospital referrals, an…
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) in conjunction with Arthritis Care and National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society developed the leaflet ‘Recognise, Respond, Relieve, - Rheumatoid Arthritis’ for the public to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis. T…
28 Jul 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership for workers, public services and small businesses in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could deliver economic benefits for Scotland and has been engaging with the UK Government to maximise the benefits of TTIP for Scotland and to ensure that concerns…
9 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the set-up costs of an international development agency would be in the event of independence.
4 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available in 2014-15 for community rail partnerships.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Ministers have, since 2012-13, engaged the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) to support the creation, development and operation of community rail partnerships (CRPs) in Scotland. Initially for a two year period, I announced at t…
19 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to develop play provision in the community.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: As part of the implementation of Scotland’s first national play strategy, the Scottish Government is working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other partners to develop and disseminate a guide for local authorities that will help to increa…
19 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward delivering each of the action points in Play Strategy for Scotland: Our Action Plan.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Progress is being made and a number of sector led, short-life Action Groups have been established to take forward priority activities. Progress is being monitored by the Play Strategy Implementation Group which is a multi-agency stakeholder group drawing its …
14 May 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what further information it plans to publish on proposals for pensioners' rights in an independent Scotland before the referendum.
6 May 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people returning to education, training or employment who have very young children.
1 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what priority it gives to the electrification of the East Kilbride railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: Priorities for future electrification, following the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High, will be determined in due course.
1 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18953 by Keith Brown on 6 January 2014, when it expects to determine the dates for the electrification of the East Kilbride railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government, along with industry, is developing its rail electrification strategy to determine future phases of electrification. As yet, there is no publication date.
16 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes scientific research and innovation in agriculture.
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures each NHS board has put in place to reduce the incidence of haemorrhagic stroke.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Primary prevention of stroke including haemorrhagic stroke can best be achieved through a healthy lifestyle: a healthy diet, regular exercise, drinking sensibly and not smoking. The Scottish Government has developed a range of policies aimed at supporting pe…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke is not currently available centrally. Information on the estimated prevalence of all types of stroke and transient ischaemic attack is published on Information Services Division’s website under the general…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what local incentives each NHS board has put in place to support warfarin clinics.
Answer · Alex Neil: Comprehensive information on each board is not held centrally. Eight boards are participating in the ‘Warfarin bundle’ element of the Primary care patient safety programme, which supports safer medicines practice. More broadly the service configurations chose…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines and protocols each NHS board has put in place regarding the use of novel oral anticoagulants.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information on the protocols and guidelines each board has put in place are not held centrally. These are matters for each territorial health board, and Scottish Ministers do not direct or intervene in these local arrangements. These local protocals guide…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what services each NHS board has put in place to support the use of novel oral anticoagulants.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information on the services each board has put in place is not held centrally. The service configurations chosen across acute and primary provision are entirely operational matters for the territorial health board and Scottish Ministers do not direct or i…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the use of novel oral anticoagulants as a percentage of population compares with EU countries similar in population size to Scotland.
Answer · Alex Neil: The percentage of the Scottish population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant in the financial year 2012-13 is 0.05%. Information on dispensing of these drugs in other EU countries is not held centrally. Sources: ISD Scotland, PIS (prescribing data); NRS W…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the usage of novel oral anticoagulants is as a percentage of the population, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: The percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant for the financial year 2012-13 is shown in table 1. This table includes community dispensing only. Table 1. Percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral coagaulant, by NHS board, 20…
13 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the usage of novel oral anticoagulants by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: The percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral anticoagulant for the financial year 2012-13 is shown in table 1. This table includes community dispensing only. Table 1. Percentage of the population dispensed a novel oral coagaulant, by NHS board, 20…
10 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with employers in developing the National 4 and 5 exams.
5 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the proposed Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill ensures equal and fair access for communities to build capacity and influence public services.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We are determined that all communities and all groups within society will be able to access the opportunities offered by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, to achieve their goals and to work in partnership with public services to improve local outcome…
28 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick airport.
21 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a strategy to grow the retail sector and ensure that it can contribute to the regeneration of town centres.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of a vibrant retail sector to the Scottish economy. That is why we have a range of measures currently in place to allow and encourage the retail sector to grow. The Town Centre Action Plan which is the Scotti…
21 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it will work with the private sector to develop appropriate investment models to support town centres.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As we state in the Town Centre Action Plan, it is meant as added stimulus to encourage and support action across the wider public, private and community sectors, all of whom we invite to contribute to the efforts required ahead. We will be seeking views from …
21 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the retail sector can play in implementing the government’s town centre vision.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Town Centre Action Plan makes clear the important contribution that businesses make to town centres. The role for retail is complementary to that of the other sectors, working in partnership with the wider town centre community.