- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the reduction of capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment in the NHSiS, in real terms, from #55.129 million in 1994-95 to #25.022 million in 1998-99 has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists.
Answer
It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.
Capital investment in the NHS in Scotland continues to increase from £136 million in 1998-99 to £179 million in 2000-01, rising further to £194 million in 2001-02.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make upward-only clauses for rent reviews illegal and to allow rents and rates to be reduced in line with market trends where appropriate.
Answer
The Executive has no such plans. Scots commercial law favours a freedom of contract approach in which commercial tenants and landlords can, with professional advice, tailor a lease to suit their own circumstances; clauses, including upward-only clauses, can only be included in a lease if agreed by both parties. The present freedom of contract approach has worked satisfactorily for a long time and it would not be appropriate for the Executive to intervene.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were cancelled in Glasgow hospitals in the last year for which figures were available.
Answer
Information on the total number of operations cancelled in Glasgow Hospitals in the last year is not available centrally.
Details of planned admissions to hospitals which are cancelled are published annually in the NHS in Scotland Annual Report and in the Scottish Health Statistics.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4663 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 31 May 2000, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure a more even distribution of lottery funding.
Answer
We are monitoring the distribution of lottery funds and are addressing with distributors measures to encourage applications from areas of social and economic need.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether revenue support to Glasgow City Council in 2001-02 will be reduced; if so, whether it will provide an estimate of by how much and whether it has held or has any plans to hold discussions with or make representations to the council over their preparation for a 4% reduction in spending.
Answer
The level of grant Glasgow City Council will receive from the Scottish Executive for 2001-02 has yet to be determined. I expect to announce the provisional local government settlement for that year in December. The assumption used by the council in its forward-looking strategy can only be speculative at this stage.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards have a register of diabetic patients and what steps it is taking to ensure that all health boards have such a register.
Answer
All health boards have or are developing a register of patients with diabetes. Work is continuing in all areas to ensure that all patients with diabetes are included. The Scottish Executive is supporting a range of initiatives in diabetes including work to support and encourage integrated care. A pilot project is underway to support the central collation of data about diabetes.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the financial sector on providing venture capital for long-term investment for new and expanding Scottish companies.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is keen to ensure that small and medium-size companies are able to access sufficient finance to develop their activities.
Scottish Development Finance, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, currently operates two specific schemes in partnership with the private sector - the Scottish Equity Partnership and the Scottish Technology Fund - aimed at providing venture capital support for new and expanding Scottish companies.
SDF maintains strong links with the financial sector and the Scottish Executive is currently working with SDF to consider ways in which additional venture capital support for SMEs might best be delivered. The establishment of Scottish Development Finance as an independent fund management business - due to take place in July - will allow SDF to attract additional investment into this important area.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to provide, for sectors of the economy where skill shortages are evident, a register of skilled and senior management talent who may be on career break, semi-retirement or in part-time employment to enable companies to access expertise on a short-term basis as necessary.
Answer
The Scottish Labour Market Intelligence Unit is being established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of information which informs decisions and actions in the labour market. One of the roles of the new Unit will be to ensure that information and intelligence is available to employers to predict movement, trends and demands.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the mental illness grant was in real terms in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer
Total Mental Illness Specific Grant has remained stable at £18 million per annum since 1996-97 and is provided on a 70:30 ratio between the Scottish Executive and the local authorities through their Grant Aided Expenditure. The Scottish Executive's contribution is shown in the table below:
Financial Year | Mental Illness Specific Grant |
| | ACTUAL (£ million) | REAL TERM (£ million)* |
1995-96 | £12.229 | £13.737 |
1996-97 | £12.521 | £13.625 |
1997-98 | £11.966 | £12.669 |
1998-99 | £12.571 | £12.885 |
1999-2000 | £12.445 | £12.445 |
* Based on 1999-2000 as reference year, using GDP deflator.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the potential for confusion in the area of education and training initiatives for businesses by eliminating any duplication and simplifying access.
Answer
One of the key functions of the Scottish University for Industry - learndirect scotland - will be to assist businesses access the learning opportunities required, in the right place, at the right time and at the right cost. To be launched in the autumn, the learndirect scotland helpline and website will provide information and advice and take telephone or online bookings. Particular attention will be paid to the needs of small businesses: learndirect scotland will commission materials to fill gaps identified in existing provision.
