Chamber and committees

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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

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Question reference: S2W-13393

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 31 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4807 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 January 2004, what the difference in median wait and mean wait was for the quarter ended (a) 30 June 1997, (b) 30 June 1999, and (c) 30 September 2004, broken down by NHS board area.

The differences between the median wait and mean wait for in-patient/day case treatment and new out-patient appointments for the quarters ending: 30 June 1997,30 June 1999 and 30 September 2004, by NHS board of residence were asfollows:

		Difference in Median and Mean Wait (days)
NHS Board (Residence)	Quarter end	In-patient/Day Case Waiting Time			First Out-patient Appointment Waiting Time
		Median Wait	Mean Wait	Difference	Median Wait	Mean Wait	Difference
Scotland	30-Jun-97	34	59.7	-25.7	40	53.7	-13.7
	30-Jun-99	30	53.5	-23.5	46	64.0	-18.0
	30-Sep-04^p	43	81.3	-38.3	55	89.8	-34.8
Argyll and Clyde	30-Jun-97	36	61.1	-25.1	39	59.0	-20.0
	30-Jun-99	29	50.9	-21.9	42	58.5	-16.5
	30-Sep-04^p	45	76.2	-31.2	55	81.3	-26.3
Ayrshire and Arran	30-Jun-97	33	57.1	-24.1	35	44.4	-9.4
	30-Jun-99	34	55.4	-21.4	37	48.4	-11.4
	30-Sep-04^p	52	86.1	-34.1	51	80.5	-29.5
Borders	30-Jun-97	28	46.7	-18.7	33	43.3	-10.3
	30-Jun-99	27	43.4	-16.4	35	47.1	-12.1
	30-Sep-04^p	40	74.1	-34.1	41	74.2	-33.2
Dumfries and Galloway	30-Jun-97	33	60.2	-27.2	35	41.0	-6.0
	30-Jun-99	31	49.9	-18.9	45	53.2	-8.2
	30-Sep-04^p	52	79.1	-27.1	49	79.8	-30.8
Fife	30-Jun-97	37	69.1	-32.1	48	58.8	-10.8
	30-Jun-99	39	73.6	-34.6	54	73.4	-19.4
	30-Sep-04^p	45	90.1	-45.1	62	92.7	-30.7

		Difference in Median and Mean Wait (days)
NHS Board (Residence)	Quarter end	In-patient/Day Case Waiting Time			First Out-patient Appointment Waiting Time
		Median Wait	Mean Wait	Difference	Median Wait	Mean Wait	Difference
Forth Valley	30-Jun-97	31	56.8	-25.8	42	52.0	-10.0
	30-Jun-99	32	56.2	-24.2	54	68.9	-14.9
	30-Sep-04^p	50	90.2	-40.2	64	102.3	-38.3
Grampian	30-Jun-97	33	60.0	-27.0	35	50.4	-15.4
	30-Jun-99	28	48.8	-20.8	49	67.1	-18.1
	30-Sep-04^p	38	77.6	-39.6	57	92.4	-35.4
Greater Glasgow	30-Jun-97	35	59.3	-24.3	46	59.2	-13.2
	30-Jun-99	29	53.1	-24.1	48	65.7	-17.7
	30-Sep-04^p	34	75.0	-41.0	59	103.0	-44.0
Highland	30-Jun-97	30	52.0	-22.0	31	50.8	-19.8
	30-Jun-99	28	49.7	-21.7	35	56.0	-21.0
	30-Sep-04^p	42	84.2	-42.2	43	79.5	-36.5
Lanarkshire	30-Jun-97	38	64.4	-26.4	44	57.4	-13.4
	30-Jun-99	28	48.5	-20.5	50	70.4	-20.4
	30-Sep-04^p	54	90.7	-36.7	62	94.6	-32.6
Lothian	30-Jun-97	30	55.8	-25.8	38	53.7	-15.7
	30-Jun-99	29	51.9	-22.9	46	69.3	-23.3
	30-Sep-04^p	42	84.4	-42.4	50	83.4	-33.4
Orkney	30-Jun-97	20	35.8	-15.8	22	31.3	-9.3
	30-Jun-99	24	29.0	-5.0	29	33.8	-4.8
	30-Sep-04^p	25	45.1	-20.1	31	47.0	-16.0
Shetland	30-Jun-97	34	55.0	-21.0	32	37.7	-5.7
	30-Jun-99	20	42.1	-22.1	30	34.4	-4.4
	30-Sep-04^p	34	62.9	-28.9	35	41.1	-6.1
Tayside	30-Jun-97	34	63.3	-29.3	37	47.0	-10.0
	30-Jun-99	33	57.8	-24.8	44	58.9	-14.9
	30-Sep-04^p	47	77.2	-30.2	53	89.2	-36.2
Western Isles	30-Jun-97	30	50.0	-20.0	34	46.6	-12.6
	30-Jun-99	26	41.3	-15.3	33	52.2	-19.2
	30-Sep-04^p	40	68.0	-28.0	39	55.7	-16.7

Sources: ISD, SMR00 & SMR01.

^PProvisional.

The distributions of both out-patients and in-patients/day cases and out-patients are very skewed making the median the more appropriate measure. The mean is highly sensitive to the small number of unusually high values in the long tailof the distribution. A significant number of those waiting for a long time willhave been delayed due to failing to attend, cancelling an offer of anappointment or having medical/social constraints that prevent admission fortreatment.

Neither the mean nor the median are targets for NHSScotland and they are only summary measures for patients awaiting in-patient/daycase hospital care where reducing maximum waiting times is the Scottish Executive’s priority. They take no account of the annual 465,000 emergency admissions, where patients are admitted immediately and they take no account of the annual 26.5 million face-to-face contacts with the primary care team.

Question reference: S2W-13452

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 27 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Sexual Health and Relationships Strategy, referred to by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 4 November 2004 as due to be published before the end of 2004 (Official Report c 11579), will be published.

Question reference: S2W-13273

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made on whether Berebriggs Road, Strathaven, will be closed, as proposed by South Lanarkshire Council.

South Lanarkshire Council promoted the South Lanarkshire Council (Berebriggs Road, Strathaven) (Stopping Up Order) 2004 under Section 68 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. Several objections were received to this Order and, as required by legislation, it was forwarded to Scottish ministers for theirdetermination on 16 December 2004.

The matter is currently under consideration and every effort will be made to reach an early decision on the order.

Question reference: S2W-13355

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next publish the Social Justice Annual Report.

Our new Closing the Opportunity Gap approach has refocused our social justice strategy, and set out new objectives and targets, and action to deliver those targets. The targets were announced in the Scottish Parliament on 9 December 2004 S2W-12888, and more information can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/closingtheopportunitygap.

The Social Justice Annual Report which reported against the social justice milestones will not be published again. Data on the social justice milestones continues to be available, however, at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion/17415/milestones#top.

Question reference: S2W-12992

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 20 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the First Minister's study into the Irish model of addressing institutional child abuse.

Question reference: S2W-12555

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 19 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be provided in the (a) medium and (b) long term for organisations that are developing civic participation in public policy development, as envisaged and recommended by the Consultative Steering Group.

Question reference: S2W-13007

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure that Scottish legislation complies with the EU Directive on asylum procedures.

Question reference: S2W-12998

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 18 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards carry out hearing tests for digital hearing aids.

All NHS boards have the capacity to carry out hearing tests for digital hearing aids. Each NHS board area has its own programme for modernisation and has therefore reached a different stage in the modernisation process.

The Executive is currently setting up a mechanism for gathering information from audiology departments and it is proposed that this information, which will include details on the provision of digital hearing aids, will be published when the process has been established.

The Executive’s target is that NHSScotland should be in a position to dispense digital hearing aids in all cases where they represent the most clinically effective option by the end of March 2006.

Question reference: S2W-12995

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of site acquisition was per unit for sites developed in each year since 1980 by housing associations or co-operatives, or their agents, and funded in full or in part by (a) the Housing Corporation, (b) Scottish Homes and (c) Communities Scotland.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

The following table gives details of the average cost of site acquisition per unit for affordable housing construction approved through registered social landlords and other bodies by Communities Scotland, and its predecessor organisation, in each of the last 10 years.

Average Cost of Site Acquisition Per Unit of Houses Approved Through Registered Social Landlords for Funding by Communities Scotland

Year
1994-95	£3,940
1995-96	£4,699
1996-97	£4,952
1997-98	£5,843
1998-99	£5,754
1999-00	£5,688
2000-01	£5,108
2001-02	£5,562
2002-03	£5,426
2003-04	£5,894

Note: Data prior to 1994-95 are not available.

Question reference: S2W-12996

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage site acquisition costs represented of the overall development cost of sites developed in each year since 1980 by housing associations or co-operatives, or their agents, and funded in full or in part by (a) the Housing Corporation, (b) Scottish Homes and (c) Communities Scotland.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

The following table gives details of the proportion site acquisition costs represented of overall development costs for all housing construction approved through registered social landlords by Communities Scotland, and its predecessor organisation, in each of the last 10 years.

Percentage of Total Development Cost Represented by Site Acquisition Costs for houses Approved Through Registered Social Landlords for Funding by Communities Scotland

Year
1994-95	7.6%
1995-96	8.7%
1996-97	9.0%
1997-98	10.4%
1998-99	9.8%
1999-2000	9.3%
2000-01	7.7%
2001-02	7.8%
2002-03	7.2%
2003-04	7.2%

Note: Data prior to 1994-95 are not available.