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.

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Question reference: S1W-07282

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 19 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in reducing the costs to health boards and NHS Trusts of prescribing generic drugs.

The UK Government announced on 20 April proposals to set from 1 August 2000 maximum prices for generic drugs. The consultation period ended on 24 May and there has subsequently been a further limited consultation with the Industry on revised maximum prices. My officials are in discussion with the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council (SPGC) about the changes needed to the reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacists to ensure that the benefits of the proposed price cuts reach the NHSiS and patients. The overall prices of generic drugs have shown a consistent but modest rate of decline over recent months.

Question reference: S1W-08363

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 18 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will give to the opinion of Professor Robert Black that the Assignation Statement in respect of the Skye Bridge tolling regime is not a probative document.

The statement assigning the rights to charge and collect tolls for the Skye Bridge crossing is valid even though it is not a probative (or self-evidencing) document. It complies with the requirements of paragraph 14A of schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Assignation Statement (Prescribed Information) (Scotland) Regulations 1991. The Appeal Court, the High Court of Justiciary, in the stated cases of Smith and others v Procurator Fiscal, Dingwall, considered submissions that the Assignation Statement did not satisfy those requirements. On 16 December 1999 the court, in its decision, rejected these submissions.

Question reference: S1W-05992

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5348 by Donald Dewar on 27 March 2000, whether the Lord Advocate played any part in making or recommending recent joint judicial appointments.

Question reference: S1W-08321

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive when the outcome of the consultation on The Physical Punishment of Children in Scotland: A Consultation will be published.

Question reference: S1O-02110

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has endorsed an amended timescale for completion of the Acute Services Review in Tayside.

Question reference: S1W-08217

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #23.64 million used to fund the Skye Bridge was public money.

Question reference: S1W-08075

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1941 by Rhona Brankin on 15 June 2000, whether the #50,000 awarded to the Scottish National Dictionary Association is a one-off payment or is a permanent increment to their annual award from the Scottish Arts Council.

Question reference: S1W-08074

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 30 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the NHS responds effectively to the increased number of people diagnosed with diabetes.

Question reference: S1W-07883

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurance can be given that adequate financial resources will be made available to Angus Council to fund the replacement of the road bridge over the River South Esk at Montrose, given that the likely cost of a replacement bridge is estimated at #6 to #7 million and the council's anticipated annual capital allocation for all services is less than #6 million per annum.

Question reference: S1W-07231

Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 21 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional resources for education announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in March will be allocated in their entirety to schools or whether some of this funding will be retained by local authorities.