- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the decision taken by the Minister for Transport and Planning that there was no need to hold a public enquiry relating to the construction of the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway.
Answer
The consideration given by the Scottish ministers' was contained in their decision letter of 13 June 2001, copies of which have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17592 by Susan Deacon on 6 September 2001, when it will publish the review by the Chief Medical Officer on the mapping of the relationship between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality.
Answer
The Chief Medical Officer held a series of four regional workshops to inform his review of the relationship between the various organisations with an interest in clinical effectiveness. The discussion document
Integrating Scotland's Clinical Effectiveness Organisations issued to inform this process was published on the Clinical Resource and Audit Group's website at
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/crag/. A formal consultation document will be issued shortly.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the specifications will be for the construction of access roads for emergency vehicles to the proposed A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway.
Answer
Access roads will be provided in both east and westbound directions from Traprain road. They will be designed by the successful tenderer and be of appropriate construction, gated, secured and for emergency vehicle use only.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures or legislation are currently in place, or are planned, to facilitate and expedite the obtaining of statutory powers to build light rail schemes.
Answer
At present, any proposals for new railways in Scotland require parliamentary approval at Westminster using either a "light railways Order" under the Light Railways Acts 1896 and 1912 or the powers of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936. As part of the package of measures for railways devolution, it was agreed that the Scottish Parliament should have legislative competence over the approval of the promotion and construction of new railways in Scotland. To achieve this, the Scottish ministers and the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions have instructed the preparation of a draft Order under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998. This will involve creating an exception to the reservation of rail transport in the Scotland Act.Once the Scottish Parliament has legislative competence over the promotion and construction of new railways in Scotland, parliamentary permissions will be granted using the Parliament's Private Bill procedure. Guidance for promoters wishing to bring a Private Bill before the Scottish Parliament has been issued and can be viewed at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/private-01/gprb-c.htm.Arrangements for cross-border projects are already provided for under section 24 of the Transport and Works Act 1992. In these circumstances, railway projects which cross the border are likely to be subject to Private Bill procedure before Westminster.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding educating children who have been permanently excluded from state schools.
Answer
Circular 2/98 Guidance on Issues Concerning Exclusion from School, provides comprehensive guidance on the issues surrounding exclusions from school, including the continuing obligation on local authorities in respect of excluded children, and the need to arrange alternative education provision.We are currently updating the guidance contained in Circular 2/98 in the light of recent legislation and the recommendations of the Discipline Task Group.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19048 by Susan Deacon on 9 November 2001, how many restricted patients who absconded in each year from 1998 to 2000 (a) did not return to hospital within 24 hours and (b) did not return to hospital at all within the period of their restriction order.
Answer
The figures are as follows:
1998 | (a) | 3 | (b) | None |
1999 | (a) | 3 | (b) | None |
2000 | (a) | 4 | (b) | None |
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 30 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering to improve the safety of children travelling to and from school by contract buses and coaches.
Answer
Such vehicles are subject to the safety and other requirements set out in road vehicle legislation. It is open to authorities to specify further requirements in school transport contracts if that seems appropriate to them according to particular local circumstances.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question to S1W-15240 by Susan Deacon on 24 May 2001, how it plans to address any concerns of parents with children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who have been prescribed methylphenidate other than through the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 52 Guidelines.
Answer
There is already provision for such concerns to be addressed, in the first instance by discussion with the prescribing clinician. If parents are still not satisfied it is open to them to seek resolution through the NHS complaints procedure.
Section 1.4 of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 52 on Attention Deficit and Hyperkinetic Disorders in Children and Young People makes it clear that its good practice guidance should not be construed as including all proper methods of care or excluding all other acceptable methods of care aimed at the same results. Doctors may use their own clinical judgement in any given case, though they are advised to ensure that any significant departures from the guideline are fully documented in the case notes.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects aimed at supporting young people with mental health problems it is currently funding.
Answer
Services aimed at supporting young people with mental health problems are primarily provided through NHSScotland and local authority mental health services, for which the Scottish Executive is providing record levels of resources. Such services are provided directly or through voluntary sector bodies. In addition, Mental Illness Specific Grant goes to many projects at local level, that benefit people with mental health problems. These are not categorised according to client age.
- Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the completed projects funded by the Mental Illness Specific Grant Scheme in 2000-01 were (a) eligible for mainstreaming and (b) actually mainstreamed.
Answer
Mental Illness Specific Grant supports many small projects in the community which benefit people with mental illness. Most of these projects provide a continuing service, and are not completed. Mainstreaming of projects into individual local authority budgets is a matter for local authorities.