- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why all people diagnosed as gluten intolerant do not qualify for exemption from prescription charges.
Answer
Exemption from prescription charges on medical grounds is restricted to patients who suffer from one of the qualifying conditions listed in NHS Regulations. The Executive's priority is to focus assistance on those who are least able to pay, so that no-one need be deterred from obtaining prescribed medication on financial grounds.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 16 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why people with gluten intolerance, other than those diagnosed as having celiac disease, cannot obtain gluten-free products on an NHS prescription.
Answer
Prescriptions for gluten-free products are not restricted to patients with coeliac disease. These items may be prescribed for any patients who have been diagnosed as suffering from established gluten enteropathies.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 July 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer whether any black granite being supplied for the new Parliament building at Holyrood is sourced from Zimbabwe and, if so, why Scottish granite was not sourced instead.
Answer
No black granite is being sourced from Zimbabwe for the Scottish Parliament. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that some black granite is required for cladding purposes, to provide a contrast with the other cladding, and supplies of Belfast Black granite are being obtained from a quarry in South Africa. Black granite is not available in Scotland, but the vast majority of all granite supplies being procured for the Parliament building project is being sourced from Kemnay Quarry in Aberdeenshire.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 19 June 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer how many posters and postcards advertising the Parliament website were sent out to organisations such as churches, halls and recreation centres in the north-east prior to the Parliament's visit to Aberdeen and what the total cost of this was.
Answer
Ten thousand posters and 20,000 postcards were printed to promote www.Scottish Parliamentlive.com which was hosting the live broadcast of the parliamentary sittings in Aberdeen, at a total cost of just over £2,000. This was done through our in house print contract with TSO. The majority of these posters and postcards were distributed directly by Broadcasting Office staff in Aberdeen, with the assistance of Aberdeen University, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen University, Northsound, Grampian TV, and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. In order primarily to reach other outlets, and in particular to get the materials to areas beyond Aberdeen city, some 150 organisations - churches, schools and tourist board offices in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - were directly mailed limited quantities of the posters and postcards at a postage cost of £205.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any lack of qualified central heating technicians in order to complete the central heating initiative.
Answer
Eaga currently have a sufficient number of sub-contractors working under the central heating programme which enabled them to meet their target of installing 3,550 central heating systems in 2001-02. The nature of the programme is itself encouraging new entrants to take up jobs in the industry but Eaga will, if necessary, participate in recognised training and apprenticeship schemes to attract new trainees and encourage those who left the industry to come back.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what upper limit it places on the waiting time for a first assessment at consultant level for patients with an eating disorder.
Answer
No upper limit has been set but our work on waiting is founded on bringing down the longest waits.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alleviate any potential increase in council tax charges to make up for the rise in National Insurance contributions by local authorities.
Answer
As part of the Spending Review 2002, we are looking with COSLA at the future funding requirements for local government, taking into account all relevant cost pressures. We will announce the outcome of the Spending Review, including local government allocations for the next three years, later this year.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will facilitate the establishment of a dedicated eating disorder centre in every NHS board area which will provide residential as well as out-patient services.
Answer
The health department published guidance in October 2001 on the provision of eating disorder services. At that time, NHS boards were asked to assess the needs of their local population for all aspects of eating disorder services, including in-patient care. It is for NHS boards to consider what provision best suits the assessed needs of their area, in collaboration with neighbouring boards where appropriate. A number of NHS boards are currently reviewing their services in this regard.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether eating disorders are a major and growing condition and what level of priority it gives to such disorders in the planning of resource allocation.
Answer
Nationally there is evidence of an increased incidence and prevalence of eating disorders. However, this may, in part, result from greater awareness of the condition. In terms of resource allocation, it is for each NHS board to consider the most appropriate response in terms of investment, following the guidance which was issued in October 2001.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in the development of sector training councils.
Answer
Sector Skills Councils are being developed by employers as UK-wide organisations, with support from a new UK-wide Sector Skills Development Agency. They will replace the former National Training Organisations and will be licensed jointly by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Lifelong Learning Ministers in the devolved administrations. The Scottish Executive will be fully involved in the licensing process to ensure that the interests of Scottish employment sectors are covered.
