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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S3O-07208

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2009
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory powers are available to local authorities in preventing damage to the local environment.

Question reference: S3W-24296

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider ensuring that dental practices display information publicly in surgeries detailing the maximum charges that a patient may pay for NHS treatments.

The leaflet HCS 2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs provides information on charges and optical voucher values, including the maximum patient charge for a single course of NHS dental treatment. Dentists providing NHS general dental services should display copies of this leaflet. It is also available at www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts.

We will issue guidance to dentists reminding them of the need to display copies of the HCS 2 leaflet.

Question reference: S3W-24297

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring is undertaken to ensure that dentists minimise the charges that patients pay for NHS treatments.

The individual items of treatment which dentists can undertake under NHS general dental service arrangements and the associated patient charges are set down in the Statement of Dental Remuneration and are set by the Scottish Government.

The decision on individual patient treatment needs will be made by the dentist following a clinical assessment. Under their NHS terms of service, dentists should not provide care and treatment in excess of that which is necessary to secure and maintain oral health.

Question reference: S3W-24298

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a public information campaign on charges associated with NHS dental treatments.

Question reference: S3W-24295

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to ensure that dental patients are fully informed of the maximum charges for NHS treatments.

The leaflet HCS 2 A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs provides information on charges and optical voucher values, including the maximum patient charge for a single course of NHS dental treatment. Dentists providing NHS general dental services should display copies of this leaflet. It is also available at www.scotland.gov.uk/healthcosts.

We will issue guidance to dentists reminding them of the need to display copies of the HCS 2 leaflet and also reminding them of the need to advise patients of the maximum charge arrangements, where appropriate.

Question reference: S3O-06955

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 14 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S3O-06653

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Football Association about the proposal for a GB football team at the 2012 London Olympics.

Question reference: S3W-21994

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the council tax regulations to assist people with a mental health condition.

Question reference: S3W-21501

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward its community council scheme and a code of conduct for community councillors.

These documents are currently being finalised and should be available shortly.

Responses to a consultation undertaken by the Scottish Government on behalf of the Community Council Work Group (CCWG) showed that there is substantial support from both local authorities and community councils for a Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councillors.

The Scottish Government, along with key partners, will promote and encourage the adoption of the finalised documents by all Scottish local authorities. It is recognised that if the Model Scheme is adopted by local authorities it will allow for more consistency and parity throughout Scotland whilst at the same time allowing individual local circumstances to be reflected.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role, within the wider community empowerment agenda, that community councils can play in local life. Adoption of these documents will also give every community council in Scotland the opportunity to build their capacity and to engage more effectively with their local authority as well as the community that they represent.

Question reference: S3W-20841

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the findings of its review of the National Physical Activity Strategy.