- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that effective statutory, voluntary and peer support is readily available for people being tested and going into treatment for hepatitis C.
Answer
Under the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, significant funding has been provided to NHS boards to improve the support services for those infected with hepatitis C. Managed Care Networks for hepatitis C have been set up in every NHS board area and all NHS boards have a local MCN Steering Group which includes representation from statutory and voluntary sector providers. The role of these steering groups is to drive the development of care pathways and associated service development, including support and care, in line with actions 1, 6 and 8 of the action plan.
In addition, the Scottish Government has commissioned further support services for people with hepatitis C through a national tender open to local authorities and voluntary sector agencies. This tender has resulted in the funding of a number of charities providing a range of support and care services including peer support initiatives.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the use of burprenorphine or suboxine in the treatment of heroin addiction as part of choice in management and recovery for addicts.
Answer
The Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management (sometimes known as the Orange Book) provide guidelines for clinicians on the treatment of drug misuse. This includes information on pharmacological interventions including buprenorphine and Suboxone®. The Scottish Government strongly supports these guidelines as stated in the drug strategy -
The Road to Recovery.
A copy of the guidelines can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/drug-clinical-guidelines.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take into account when reaching a decision on the proposed Beauly to Denny power line (a) the Health Protection Agency’s acknowledgement of an association between prolonged exposure to intense power frequency magnetic fields and a raised risk of childhood leukaemia, (b) proposed legislation in Germany and Austria in relation to undergrounding 400kV overhead power lines that pass within 200 metres of single homes and 400 metres of residential areas, (c) that the proposed legislation in Germany and Austria could result in the undergrounding of up to 250 kilometres of 400kV power lines in Lower Saxony and Thuringen in Germany, (d) the decision last year to underground 60 kilometres of the interconnector between France and Spain and (e) the decision to remove 52 pylons, 60 metres high, and underground 130 kilometres of overhead lines in east London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Answer
The Beauly Denny Local Public Inquiry considered a wide range of issues and the inquiry report was submitted to the Scottish Government on 18 February 2009. Ministers are now considering the report and will take a decision as soon as possible, after due consideration of the report and any other material considerations.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intended to inform the public and affected householders along the Larbert to Stirling train line of the intention to operate freight trains at night.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no powers to control the operation of rail freight services at night and therefore would expect normal rail industry processes to apply.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to passenger rail services between Edinburgh and Fife between 10 pm and 6 am necessitated that Transport Scotland require DB Schenker Rail to reroute deliveries of coal to Longannet power station via Larbert, Stirling and Alloa.
Answer
There were no changes to passenger rail services between Edinburgh and Fife between 10 pm and 6 am that necessitated the rerouting of coal deliveries to Longannet power station via Larbert, Stirling and Alloa.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it first considered the operation of freight trains between 11 pm and 7 am on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and how many train journeys to and from Longannet between 11 pm and 7 am were considered.
Answer
Transport Scotland first became aware of DB Schenker''s proposal to operate freight trains between 11 pm and 7 am in February 2008. The number of trains was a matter for DB Schenker to consider.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UP passenger loops at Stirling railway station allowing parallel moves on platform six and nine have been completed and, if so, what effect this has had on timings of the Alloa to Glasgow rail link and freight train operation.
Answer
The works have not been completed.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether speed restrictions on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line are being applied differently to trains with new and old wagons.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what external consultation was undertaken regarding the operation of freight trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line, as referred to in an email from DB Schenker Rail to Transport Scotland on 22 February 2008.
Answer
Transport Scotland understand that the consultation referred to is with other train operating companies as part of the normal rail industry timetable setting process.
- Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate Transport Scotland has made of the cost of doubling the track on the railway line from Alloa to Stirling.
Answer
Transport Scotland has not prepared a cost estimate for doubling the track on the railway line from Alloa to Stirling.
