Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12956 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The estimated journey times are set out in the following table.

Estimated Average travel time to Hairmyres Hospital

Ballantrae, South Ayrshire	1 hr 40 minutes
Barr, South Ayrshire	1 hr 40 minutes
Barrhill, South Ayrshire	1 hr 45 minutes
Dailly, South Ayrshire	1 hr 20 minutes
Girvan, South Ayrshire	1 hr 15 minutes
Maybole, South Ayrshire	1 hr
Patna, East Ayrshire	1 hr 5 minutes
Dalmellington, East Ayrshire	1 hr 15 minutes
Rankinston, East Ayrshire	1 hr 5 minutes
Cumnock, East Ayrshire	50 minutes
New Cumnock, East Ayrshire	1 hr
Muirkirk, East Ayrshire	50 minutes

Note: *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service

These times are based on average driving conditions. Journey times may be longer or shorter depending on weather, traffic and the condition of the patient.

Patients self-presenting to Ayr Hospital suffering from non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or who are not appropriate for primary angioplasty, will be treated at Ayr. The most likely reasons for this will be a clinical decision based on co-morbidity and the patient''s wishes. Patients who become unstable in transit from their home may be stabilised in Ayr A&E before receiving further treatment.

The development of a Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Centre at Hairmyres Hospital is an enhancement to the service currently provided in the West of Scotland. At present primary angioplasty treatment is only available for patients in the West of Scotland at the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

It is also worth noting that had Ayr A&E closed, then no heart attack patients would have been treated there.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The analysis of the Paying for Water Services 2010-14: Principles of Charging for Water Services consultation, together with the draft Ministerial charging statement were published today, Friday 30 May 2008. A copy of the analysis and the statement will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45675 and 45676).

The charging statement, which takes account of responses to the consultation, confirms the charging principles that the Water Industry Commission for Scotland will apply when determining water charge caps for 2010-14.

The key features of the statement are:

recognition of the importance customers attach to stability and certainty of charges;

that the existing principles of charging: full cost-recovery, cost-reflectivity, geographical harmonisation of charges, phasing of increases and paying for increased local capacity are maintained until 2014;

that the water services charges exemption scheme should be retained in its present form until 2014;

that the commission will phase in any unwinding of cross-subsidies over the 2010-14 period, but may extend this over a further regulatory period, and

that the maximum size of the capital programme should be around £2 billion.

These principles are essential to ensuring that Scottish Water can continue to be successful and maintain its significant contribution to the government''s strategic objectives for Scotland. Ministers will finalise their principles in September 2009 following the publication of the commission''s draft charges determination for the 2010-14 period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12959 on 30 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.