Margaret McCulloch

7 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how town centre regeneration is supported through single outcome agreements.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) set out a clear vision of what each Community Planning Partnership (CPP) wants to achieve for its area. Where a CPP decides to prioritise the regeneration of town centres in its area, this should be reflected in the SOA and th…

7 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how town centre regeneration is supported through the National Performance Framework.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The approach to town centre regeneration is outlined in our regeneration strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future. The strategy takes an outcomes-based approach to regeneration that enables trends to be measured over time. These outcomes link to the national …

3 Jun 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the National Planning Framework 3 will support town centre regeneration.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Our current consultation on the Main Issues Report for the third National Planning Framework supports town centre regeneration, and reflects the emerging findings from the Town Centres Review, including the need for a broader mix of uses in our town and city …

3 May 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lanarkshire regarding the unscheduled care action plan.

22 Apr 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports manufacturing.

8 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring the introduction of the Employability Fund.

2 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the regulation of laser eye surgery in the independent sector.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with the Department of Health regarding the regulation of laser eye surgery in the independent sector. Doctors are required to be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). A doctor that performs …

2 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it regulates laser eye surgery in the independent sector.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not regulate laser eye surgery in the independent sector. Laser eye surgery undertaken in high street laser clinics is a private arrangement between the patient and the optical practice concerned. Doctors are required to be regis…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment, what contact it has had with the administrators of HMV regarding the firm going into administration and what support it is providing to affected staff.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland, coordinates local response teams under the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative, to provide tailored help and support for people facing redundancy. On 15 January 2013, HM…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether incidents of contamination of hospital food have been reported since 2011.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Food Standards Agency does not maintain records relating to the customers of products that have been withdrawn due to contamination.

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what tests have been conducted on hospital food following the identification of horse DNA in other meat products.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Food Standards Agency does not hold data on sampling at hospitals. However, there has been significant sampling throughout the food chain, and this will include foods that are supplied to hospitals.

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures the (a) traceability and (b) quality of hospital food.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The European Commission Regulation 178/2002 requires all food businesses to maintain a system of traceability. They are required to be able to identify the food business that they received a food product from, and the food businesses they supplied a food prod…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have received support from the business rates deferral scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: A rates deferral scheme was introduced in 2012-13 to allow businesses the flexibility to defer the annual inflationary rise in bills over a three year period should they choose to do so. Data on the number of businesses that have deferred rates under the 201…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it postponed the 2015 revaluation of properties for non-domestic rates until 2017.

Answer · John Swinney: The UK Government announced in October 2012 that it would postpone the 2015 business rates revaluation for commercial properties in England until 2017. If the Scottish Government did proceed with the 2015 revaluation it is likely that our ability to maintain…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much is raised annually by the (a) large business supplement and (b) public health levy.

Answer · John Swinney: Mid-year estimates of the income raised in 2012-13 from the large business supplement and public health supplement are estimated to be £38.8 million and £25.9 million respectively.

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its analysis of responses to the consultation, Supporting Business – Promoting Growth.

Answer · John Swinney: Responses to the business rates consultation Supporting Business – Promoting Growth will be published shortly.

11 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to NHS Lanarkshire to help reduce waiting times at accident and emergency departments.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Government Performance Support Team currently provides the Health board with detailed weekly analytical reports to: Help the board understand, forecast and manage the increases in demand; to identify specific points of pressure across the whole service, …

4 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Second Report on Proposals and Policies will contain marine issues that were not previously included.

25 Feb 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £50 million announced for the unscheduled care action plan will be allocated to hospitals in NHS Lanarkshire.

19 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many one bedroom (a) affordable homes and (b) affordable homes for social rent have been (i) started, (ii) approved and (iii) completed in each year since the start of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and how many are planned.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Information on approvals, site starts and completions for the affordable housing supply programme is not held centrally by number of bedrooms. Future planning is a strategic decision for local authorities, meeting needs identified through housing need and de…

19 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many one bedroom (a) affordable homes and (b) affordable homes for social rent have been (i) started, (ii) approved and (iii) completed in each year since 2007 and how many are planned.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Information on approvals, site starts and completions for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme is not held centrally by number of bedrooms. Future planning is a strategic decision for local authorities, meeting needs identified through housing need and de…

12 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Affordable Housing Supply Programme will have on levels of poverty.

22 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what budget lines will be affected by the transfer of £250 million from DEL resource to DEL capital as announced in the 2013-14 draft budget.

12 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new police service will support a traffic education programme.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police Service in Scotland has supported a number of traffic education programmes over the years with a view to raising awareness and improving safety for road users, both at local and national levels. A prime example supported by all existing Scottish fo…

12 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) accident and emergency, (b) minor injury and (c) acute specialist units have been understaffed in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not centrally available. However, National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland publish data on the NHS Workforce which is available from the following website: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/…

3 Sep 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason is for the reported rise in the number of people arriving at accident and emergency units who were not admitted, discharged or transferred within eight hours.

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made to the timetable for delivery of (a) East Kilbride Hunter Health Centre, (b) Wishaw Health Centre and (c) Kilsyth Health Centre since 2006.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The new health centres at East Kilbride, Wishaw and Kilsyth were part of the second phase of capital projects agreed by the board of NHS Lanarkshire in March 2007. The first phase was due for completion by 2013 with the second phase to commence after that dat…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps will be taken to prevent a future backlog in clinical coding at NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08646 on 23 July 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cause was of the clinical coding backlog in NHS Lanarkshire and what steps are being taken to address it.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08646 on 23 July 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has had with NHS Lanarkshire regarding (a) performance levels at accident and emergency units and (b) clinical coding.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Both ministers and Scottish Government officials keep in regular contact with NHS boards on a range of matters. NHS Lanarkshire held its annual review in public in Hamilton on 5 July with government officials in attendance as observers. The NHS board confirm…