Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1344 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S3W-20500

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce an annual analysis of NHS bodies’ asset strategies.

Question reference: S3W-20501

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in light of the Audit Scotland report, Asset management in the NHS in Scotland, published on 29 January 2009.

Question reference: S3W-20580

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 25 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is making available to people who rely on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for heating.

The Scottish Government is aware of the significant additional burden that high fuel prices in general have on those living and working in many rural parts of Scotland.

As fuel duty is a reserved issue, responsibility for this matter rests with the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government has made a number of representations to the UK Government on the issue recently and will continue to do so.

In addition, Scottish Government officials are due to shortly meet with trade bodies and suppliers to discuss the impact of recent price rises in LPG and Heating Oil.

In terms of current assistance, to help households and small businesses we fund the Energy Saving Scotland advice network to advice on alternative fuel supplies, including renewable technologies, and on measures to improve the energy efficiency of their homes or premises, saving energy, carbon and money.

Depending on personal circumstances and the energy efficiency levels of homes, people may benefit from elements of the Energy Assistance Package, commencing in April 2009, which replaces the Central Heating and Warm Deal Programmes. This package will improve on the existing fuel poverty programmes by reaching more people and providing a wider range of support in one integrated package, and will begin to tackle rural fuel poverty more efficiently. The new package will help increase incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Question reference: S3W-20579

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 25 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with suppliers of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to ensure that people who rely on it for heating are not disproportionately disadvantaged by rising costs.

The Scottish Government is aware of the significant additional burden that high fuel prices have on those living and working in many rural parts of Scotland, especially as Scotland has a large proportion of people who are off the gas grid and rely on other sources of fuel for heating.

Following the recent Petition PE1181 to the Parliament from the Western Isles Council, the Scottish Government is disappointed by the refusal by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to investigate options to reduce the fuel price differential between remote rural and island communities and urban areas in Scotland, and in particular, the possible application for an EU derogation to set a lower rate of fuel duty in designated remote areas. However, the Scottish Government will continue to make representations to the UK Government on this issue.

As fuel duty is a reserved issue, responsibility for market regulation rests with the UK Government. Scottish Government officials are however, due to shortly meet with trade bodies and suppliers to discuss the issue of recent price rises in LPG and Heating Oil.

Question reference: S3W-20505

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when measures will be introduced requiring NHS bodies to specify build and design quality in capital projects.

The existing Design Quality Policy for NHSScotland already requires NHSScotland bodies to specify build and design quality in capital projects through the use of tools such as Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation Toolkit (AEDET) and BREEAM Healthcare as a basis for assessing sustainability in health projects.

The Scottish Government Health Directorates has a Framework Agreement in place with Architecture and Design Scotland for the provision of Design Review, enabling support for NHS Boards and the provision of advice and guidance on design related matters for NHS Boards.

Work is in hand to consider how design quality can be embedded within the Scottish Government Health Directorates business case approval processes through the further development of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual for NHSScotland and the involvement of appropriate design experts within the business case approvals process.

Question reference: S3W-20518

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve the NHS estate, given the finding in the Audit Scotland report, Asset Management in the NHS in Scotland, that the NHS estate is not sufficiently accessible for disabled people.

Question reference: S3W-20525

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that NHS bodies provide a breakdown of expenditure on planned and reactive maintenance.

Question reference: S3W-20521

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve those parts of the NHS estate described as in serious risk of imminent breakdown in the Audit Scotland report, Asset Management in the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S3W-20522

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that all NHS bodies have a specific strategy for addressing maintenance backlog.

Question reference: S3W-20527

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 February 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that NHS bodies comply with Scottish Government Health Directorate design policy.

Scottish Government Health Directorates have conducted a review of the implementation of the Design Quality Policy in November 2008. Issues arising from that review are currently being followed up with NHS boards.

As part of the performance management arrangements established under the terms of a revised Asset Management Policy from end of May 2009, NHS boards require to demonstrate compliance with the Design Quality Policy.