- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 3 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the introduction of a plastics-to-fuel scheme for Scotland, similar to the one recently announced for Germany.
Answer
Techniques that producefuels in ways that are more environmentally sustainable are to be welcomed. Howeverinvestment in such commercial operations is a decision for individual companiesto make. Regional Selective Assistance(RSA) is the Executive’s main form of financial assistance to industry, helpingcreate and safeguard jobs and encourage investment in the Assisted Areas (AAs)of Scotland. Companies of all sizes and across a wide range ofsectors can benefit from RSA provided their projects meet all the RSA schemecriteria.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how dentists can meet the NHS commitment criteria for earning £50,000 from 500 NHS-registered patients, in light of average item of service fees of £40.10 per adult and £45.20 per child.
Answer
The calculation of gross NHSearnings when determining whether or not a practice is regarded as an NHScommitted practice for the payment of certain allowances includes, as well asitem of service payments, a number of additional fees, grants and allowances.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its criteria for measuring commitment to NHS dentistry discriminate against dentists who practice part-time in comparison with those who provide part-time NHS services.
Answer
No. I refer the member tothe answer to question S2W-25259 on 3 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the commitment of part-time dentists, irrespective of whether such commitment to the NHS is part-time.
Answer
The commitment of a dentistwho works part of the week with NHS patients and part of the week in privatepractice will be measured in the same way as a dentist who works full-time in amixed practice. A dentist whose income is overwhelmingly from part-time NHSwork will be considered as committed to the NHS if he or she signs adeclaration to that effect.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 2 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will run a Paramics traffic model on the Aberdeen Sub Area Model, simulating the twin trumpet design, north or south of Charleston, for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and what the reasons are for the Executive’s position on this matter.
Answer
No. We are satisfied that Charleston isthe optimum location for a junction with the A90, the AWPR and the A956 Wellington Road.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it currently helps to finance the Met Office to produce a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does notcurrently help to finance a weather forecast for people using Scotland’s mountains.
The Executive has received areport from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and is currently consideringa funding proposal for a more detailed mountain weather forecast service coveringScotland’s five main climbing areas: Glen Coe; Lochaber; CreagMeagaidh; Northern Cairngorms, and Southern Cairngorms.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 21 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content with indications that Communities Scotland regards the Scottish Tenants’ Organisation as a “former” organisation.
Answer
Members of the Scottish TenantsOrganisation (STO) Steering Committee have told the Scottish Executive and CommunitiesScotland that the STO is not currently operating as a constituted body.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 11 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about Communities Scotland’s approach to tenant participation and consultation.
Answer
The Scottish Executive fullysupports Communities Scotland’s approach to tenant participation and consultation,including its assistance to help tenants develop arrangements by which the tenants’movement can engage with the Executive at a national level.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Johann Lamont on 11 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive which tenants’ organisations it recognises for consultation purposes.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognisesRegistered Tenant Organisations for consultation purposes. We also endeavour toinform and consult with non-registered constituted tenant organisations where theirexistence is known to us.
- Asked by: Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 30 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about NHS boards seeking to “poach” nursing staff from other NHS boards within Scotland.
Answer
NHS boards are encouraged tohave complimentary workforce strategies so that the net workforce capacity for theNHS in Scotland is increased. Staff “poaching” as a result of recruitmentactivities in one area having a consequence on the workforce in another has notbeen a national issue until now.
Indeed, competition between NHS board employers in Scotland hasbeen markedly less since Government policy has been to encourage co-operation withinhealthcare sector and avoid the wasteful tensions created by independent NHStrusts and the need to have local pay bargaining.
Many services today are plannedon a regional basis. This also requires the workforce to be planned accordinglyto deliver these services at a local level. This requires NHS boards and regionsto work collaboratively in developing solutions to workforce pressures across NHSScotland.
However, the Health Departmentis aware that NHS Lothian Nurse Recruitment Service arranged a series of “Open Days”at various locations across Scotland. Theboards recruitment team were fully briefed and understood that this was an opportunityto not only recruit to Lothian but also to highlight vacant nursing posts acrossthe NHS in Scotland.
The local NHSboards in each of the areas of the proposed events were also invited to attend tosupport recruitment within their area by the NHS Lothian Nurse Recruitment Service.The event was also supported by the RCN, who sent representation to every venue.
