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.

Question reference: S1W-01191

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 August 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 17 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any plans for road charging will take account of the service rendered by charities transporting patients to specialist care facilities, and whether such groups will therefore be exempted from such a scheme while doing so.

The Scottish Executive published its consultation document on road user charging and workplace parking levy schemes, Tackling Congestion, on 13 July. The document seeks views on what national exemptions or privileges, if any, should be specified in legislation and what might be left to local discretion. The Executive would welcome views as to whether the service rendered by charities transporting patients to specialist care facilities should be exempt from any charging scheme. The consultation period ends on 30 September.

Question reference: S1W-01197

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 August 1999
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-177 by Susan Deacon on 19 July 1999, what criteria are being applied to the sighting of the Food Standard Agency and when an announcement on the location of the Agency will now be made.

Question reference: S1W-01192

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 August 1999
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fee for glaucoma tests provided for by the National Health Service is intended to include all three tests for glaucoma (namely opthalmoscopy, perimetry and tonometry) and if so, what steps it will take to encourage opticians who do not provide all three tests to do so.

NHS sight tests are available to diagnosed glaucoma sufferers, those who have been advised by an ophthalmologist that they are predisposed to the development of glaucoma and those aged 40 or over who are the parent, brother, sister or child of a diagnosed glaucoma sufferer. The fee for an NHS sight test covers the testing of sight to determine whether the patient needs to wear or use an optical appliance and also, for the purpose of detecting signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere:

a) an examination of the external surface of the eye and its immediate vicinity;

b) an intra-ocular examination, either by means of an ophthalmascope or by such other means as the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician considers appropriate;

c) such additional examinations as appear to the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician to be clinically necessary.The Scottish Executive has no evidence to suggest that optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners are not undertaking the appropriate examinations.

Question reference: S1W-00382

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 1999
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 2 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its assessment of the performance of the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S1O-00128

Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 2 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on its assessment of the performance of the NHS in Scotland.

Chamber and committees