Chamber and committees

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.

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Question reference: S4O-00108

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding the future of Cowal Hospice in Dunoon.

Question reference: S4W-00341

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the need for guidelines on using modifiers when assessing the health-economic case of ultra-orphan medicines.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) appraises all newly licensed prescription only branded medicines, including orphan medicines, for clinical and cost-effectiveness and issues advice to NHS boards.

The SMC is a consortium of NHS board area drug and therapeutics committees (ADTCs) and operates independently from the Scottish Government. Details about the nature of the SMC processes are available at:

http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.

Question reference: S4W-00342

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-40247 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 March 2011, on what date it expects the guidance to be published.

Question reference: S4W-00340

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the creation of a Cancer Drugs Fund in England has resulted in an imbalance in equality of access to cancer drugs between Scotland and England and, if so, what action it is taking.

As health is a devolved matter, decisions regarding the introduction of new medicines are taken by each of the UK countries through their own appraisal arrangements in line with established national priorities.

Scotland’s independent and robust arrangements for the appraisal of newly licensed, prescription only branded medicines focus on patients in Scotland having equitable access to clinically and cost-effective medicines to treat all conditions, not just those to treat cancer. This seeks to maintain a focus on equity across all conditions throughout all parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-00297

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will be incorporated into the new rail franchise agreement to ensure that trains on the rail line between Glasgow and Oban and Glasgow and Fort William are heated and have toilet facilities.

The trains on the West Highland Line are currently equipped with heating and toilet facilities and there are no proposals for these facilities to be removed.

ScotRail undertook a full examination and overhaul of on-train heating units on the Class 156 trains last year. This included commissioning a report into the options for improving the internal heating system on Class 156 units. ScotRail is currently reviewing the findings of this report.

Preparations are currently being made to carry out a consultation later this year which will allow stakeholders the opportunity to comment on, and make suggestions, on what should be included in the next contract for rail passenger services.

Question reference: S4W-00143

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 6 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the short-life working group established to examine the guidance issued to local authorities on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 has received a copy of petition PE1382 and written submissions on the Argyll rural schools' network from the Public Petitions Committee and, if so, when these were (a) received and (b) considered by the group.

Question reference: S4W-00144

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 31 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied by HM Inspectorate of Education when determining the educational impact of a proposed school closure.

HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) determines the educational impact of a proposed school closure by considering the likely effects of the proposal, if it were implemented, on certain groups of people as specified in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, namely the pupils and other users of the facilities at any affected school, children who would be likely to attend the school, and other pupils in the council area. HM Inspectors (HMI) take into account the arguments for positive impact set out in the council’s statement of the educational benefits which it believes will accrue from the proposal. HMI also consider any ways in which the council intends to minimise or avoid any potential adverse consequences which the council has identified as arising from the proposal.

In carrying out their determinations, HMI consider a range of factors, all of which can have a bearing on the educational impact of a proposal. These factors include the quality, nature and location of school buildings and grounds, and the quality of facilities and resources, curriculum, learning and teaching, school ethos, partnership with parents, attainment and achievement, staffing and pupil roll, and the overall quality of leadership and management of affected schools. HMI also consider the way in which closures and other changes to schools are being managed by the council.

HMI use professional judgement in determining the role of these factors in relation to the likely educational impact of proposed school closures. The professional judgements are informed by illustrations of practice in regard to these and other factors as set out in HMIE’s quality indicators in “How good is our school?” and in “Quality Management in Education”, which sets out quality indicators for the work of education authorities. The evidence gathered by HMI includes direct observation, discussion with stakeholders, and documentary evidence.

In cases of proposed closure of rural schools, councils are required to consider viable alternatives to closure, the likely effect on the local community with regard to sustainability and on the community’s access to the buildings, grounds and facilities if the school were to close, and the likely effect of different travelling arrangements on the environment and on children and young people and other school users occasioned by the closure. HMI use professional judgement in these cases too, and those judgements are informed by HMI’s knowledge of practice in a range of contexts, including the quality indicators set out in “How Good is Our Community Learning and Development?”.

HMIE determinations are in the form of advice to councils on the likely educational aspects of a proposal, and they do not constitute decisions on any proposal.

Question reference: S4W-00003

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to recategorise the section of the A83 between Kennacraig and Campbeltown as a trunk road.

Question reference: S4W-00005

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) it will provide an update on the tendering process of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route and (b) a vehicle service will be provided on this route as well as a passenger service.

Question reference: S4W-00002

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to upgrade the (a) A82 and (b) A83.

On the A83, we have been carrying out a number of measures to improve safety on the road, as well as structural maintenance schemes and minor improvements on both the A82 and A83 to improve the condition of these roads. We are also taking forward schemes on the A82 including major projects at Crianlarich and Pulpit Rock.

In the longer term, the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended an upgrade of the A82 to reduce accident severity and reduce journey times and we are continuing to engage with key stakeholders to develop a long-term vision for the route as a whole in ensuring that appropriate solutions are brought forward. That review has also recommended a series of route management initiatives for the A83 to maintain the physical condition and safety standards of that route.