Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland is aware that queues occasionally form back onto the northbound M77 at times of exceptionally high retail activity. This is due to congestion arising from insufficient capacity on the privately-owned distributor roads serving the car parking areas, during these periods of very high demand. The developer''s designers are currently in discussions with Transport Scotland to mitigate queuing at this exit. In the meantime our operating company Amey, Strathclyde Police and Traffic Scotland monitor queues implementing warning messages and other traffic management measures where necessary.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38519 on 27 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

These contracts are a matter for NHS boards. However, it is understood that by parking within an NHSScotland operated car park, the driver of the vehicle is accepting the conditions governing use of that car park and made available on notices in the car parks and the NHS board''s car parking management policy.

This is a matter for NHS boards, who have responsibility for managing their car parking appropriately.

It is understood that private car park operators who manage NHS car parking facilities on behalf of NHS boards do not issue fixed penalty notices, as that is not an option open to private land owners.

It is also understood that there are civil remedies open to private landowners, including NHS boards, to control the use of their land, including car parking.

Where an NHS board has a car parking management policy and the conditions of car park use are breached, the policy may provide for unauthorised parking notices to be issued and any follow up action pursued as a civil matter. The car parking conditions are made available on notices at the relevant car parks and in the NHS board''s car parking management policy.

This information is not held centrally.

This information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, information about general practices in Scotland and on the number of patients which they serve is available on a website maintained by the Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland and can be accessed at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3793.html.

There are four GP Practices in the Newton Mearns area. These are Dr Quinn & Ptns, Mearns Medical Centre, 13 Maple Avenue, G77; Dr Haughney & Ptn, 257 Mearns Road, G77; Dr Arfan & Ptn, Crookfur Medical Practice, 3 Corrour Road, G77; Dr Tobias, 3 Elmwood Avenue, G77.

A parliamentary motion S3M-5528 was lodged on 14 January 2010 and a copy of a press release issued by Newton Mearns Community Council supporting the motion was received on 19 January 2010.

The provision of new primary care premises is a matter for the GP practice and for the NHS board concerned, in the context of its overall priorities. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in respect of its overall infrastructure plans including primary care premises.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been carrying out a number of asset management surveys in relation to the independent GP contractor estate within the boundaries of the board''s responsibilities. It is anticipated that these surveys will identify priority areas for investment subject to agreement with the board, GMS Steering Group and Community Health Partnership/Community Health and Care Partnerships.