- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 30 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what new investment in cancer services, in terms of (a) drugs and (b) staffing, each Scottish health board has made in each of the last three years.
Answer
In keeping with the priority that we attach to cancer, the Scottish Cancer Group has been set up to take forward at national level the further development of cancer services. The Group's tasks include the establishment of robust systems of clinical audit to underpin quality assurance systems, the development of waiting time targets for cancer services and the establishment of managed clinical networks.Specific financial information related to new investment in cancer services at local level is not, however, held centrally. Health Boards are given an annual general revenue allocation. It is for Health Boards to determine within the funds available how to manage and deliver local healthcare services that meet the healthcare needs of their resident populations, including cancer services, one of the clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 25 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action, if any, it proposes to take against Stirling council which at its meeting on the 7 October 1999 acted against the advice of its Monitoring Officer and beyond its legal competence by co-opting individuals disqualified under Part III of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Answer
Stirling council is free, as any council is, to adopt its own policies, provided they are within the law. We have asked the council to give us a full account of the council's practice in regard to co-option to committees, in relation to the relevant statutory requirements.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 14 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many repairs have been carried out to the M9 between junctions 9 and 11 over the past five years and at what cost.
Answer
For the period 1 April 1996 to 31 January 1999 £672,000 has been spent on routine and structural maintenance on the M9 between Junctions 9 and 11. Prior to April 1996 the M9 was maintained on behalf of the Secretary of State by the former Central Regional Council. Records relating to work undertaken by Central Regional Council for the 2 years prior to 1996 are not readily available.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 13 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that the DLO deficits in East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire councils do not recur.
Answer
It is for both Councils to take responsibility for ensuring deficits do not recur. Under the terms of the Section 19B Directions, both councils have tendered a significant proportion of the relevant work to the private sector. North Lanarkshire Council are also developing a number of public/private partnerships. East Ayrshire Council's DLO is undertaking some remaining work subject to robust benchmarking with private sector prices.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 13 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have still to be introduced to the permanent management of the East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire Council DLOs to ensure that an efficient service is provided to the public.
Answer
It is for both Councils to take responsibility for ensuring that any necessary changes to the management of their DLOs are made. Under the terms of the Section 19B Directions, both councils are implementing business plans.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 13 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the current financial position of the DLOs in East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire councils.
Answer
This is a matter for the councils themselves, although the Scottish Executive continues to monitor progress in both councils under the terms of Directions issued under Section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost incurred to date by Central Scotland Police is in respect of current disciplinary hearings.
Answer
I understand that the force has still to estimate the cost of the disciplinary hearing of Inspector John Bunyan, which concluded recently. No other disciplinary hearings are currently in progress.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 14 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the outcome of the 1998 consultation document "Access to Justice: Beyond the year 2000".
Answer
We are considering the outcome of this consultation in the context of our consideration of the civil justice system generally. This is a complex area and we shall make an announcement as soon as our deliberations are completed.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to ensure that local authorities pay their bills from private suppliers and contractors on time.
Answer
Payment arrangements are a matter between local authorities and individual suppliers. However, we encourage local authorities to pay their bills promptly.The Accounts Commission publishes annual comparative information on local authorities' performance in making payments within agreed timescales. The Late Payment of Debt (Interest) Act 1998, which gives small businesses the right to claim interest for the late payment of debt from larger companies and public bodies, should also lead local authorities and other agencies to improve their payment practice. Finally, under Best Value, the Scottish Executive is encouraging local authorities to set performance targets for a wide range of services including for the prompt payment of bills.
- Asked by: Mr Keith Harding, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will redefine the powers available to litter wardens under section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enable them to demand the name and address of litter offenders without the presence of a police officer.
Answer
We have no such plans.
