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.

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Question reference: S4W-04722

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented the recommendations made following the fatal accident inquiry into the sudden deaths of Erin Case and Christina Ilia.

We are currently working with clinicians, pharmacists, Epilepsy Scotland, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland to take forward the recommendations from the fatal accident inquiry report.

We have commissioned Epilepsy Scotland to carry out research to better understand people’s views on receiving information on the risk of SUDEP. It is expected that the findings of the research will help support healthcare professionals in the vital process of sharing information with people at risk of SUDEP.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has produced two guidelines on epilepsy, one for adults and one for children and young people. Both guidelines state that SUDEP should be discussed with patients and if appropriate, their parents or carers as soon as possible after diagnosis. We expect clinicians in NHS Scotland to follow these guidelines.

SIGN has confirmed that SIGN 70 on the Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults is due for review and a revised guideline will be published in April 2013. As part of that process, SIGN will review the latest available evidence on information giving on SUDEP.

In addition, SIGN has produced a booklet for patient and carers entitled “Epilepsy in children and young people”. This includes a short section on SUDEP and suggests that the parent or carer contacts their doctor or Epilepsy Specialist Nurse if they have any concerns.

Question reference: S4W-04724

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all hospitals have an epilepsy nurse.

Not all Scottish hospitals have an Epilepsy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Individual NHS boards are responsible for planning services in their area and for securing the staff, (including CNS’s), to deliver them. It is for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements, including training, based on the clinical needs and service developments in their area.

Published information on headcount and whole-time equivalent epilepsy nurse specialists broken down by NHS board can be found on the workforce statistics website at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health%2DTopics/Workforce/Nursing%2Dand%2DMidwifery/Clinical%20Nurse%20Specialists%202010.xls.

Question reference: S4W-04725

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012

The numbers of deaths involving epilepsy are given in the following table. These statistics were produced by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). The figures are based on what was recorded when the death was registered together with any additional information about particular deaths that NRS may have obtained from the doctors who certified those deaths. From the information which is available to NRS it is not possible to say how many of these deaths were sudden and unexplained.

Epilepsy Deaths¹ in Scotland, 2007-10

	2007	2008	2009	2010
Epilepsy recorded as the underlying cause of death	119	104	99	100
Epilepsy recorded as a contributory factor, but not the underlying cause of death	181	178	202	206

Source: National Records of Scotland.

Note: 1. ICD10 codes G40-G41.

Question reference: S4W-04687

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans for improvements to the Avon Gorge road.

We are in continuing discussions with Falkirk and West Lothian Council and other stakeholders regarding the development of the Grangemouth Freight Hub. This includes consideration of the A801 which forms part of the schemes supported by the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposal being developed by Falkirk Council.

We welcome the work led by both councils in progressing this scheme through an appraisal and economic assessment to the point where works can commence when funding is available. We will continue to work with Falkirk Council in the development of their TIF proposal, particularly where this supports the objectives of the STPR and National Planning Framework 2.

The pace at which the STPR Interventions will be implemented will be determined by the availability of resources in future spending reviews. The timetable for the delivery of the A801 (including the River Avon Gorge Crossing) will, therefore be set in the context of overall affordability and our wider commitments to STPR proposals.

Question reference: S4W-04686

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what investments are planned in infrastructure and public buildings in West Lothian under the Infrastructure Investment Plan and whether any such projects are at a value under £20 million are planned.

West Lothian, and those who live there, will benefit directly and indirectly from a number of the investments set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan, including the Edinburgh Glasgow Rail Improvements Programme, the Forth Replacement Crossing, the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements and the digital, energy, housing, health, water and schools programmes. The plan has not identified individual investments under £20 million, as it provides a long-term pipeline of the larger strategic investments. However, we expect a rolling programme of smaller investments to be taken forward throughout the country alongside these larger investments, named within the plan.

Question reference: S4W-04559

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 4 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the benefits to (a) taxpayers and (b) passengers of running rail services on a not-for-dividend basis.

Question reference: S4W-04829

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 January 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 4 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-scale responses have been required at HMP Addiewell since it opened and what the cause was in each case.

I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

There have been no “full-scale” responses required at HMP Addiewell since it opened in 2008.

The SPS defines a “full-scale” or Level 3 incident as one that requires a full (prison) command structure which will require additional resources and back up services to be deployed.

Question reference: S4O-00539

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prevent an over-concentration of wind farms in particular areas.

Question reference: S4W-04191

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers spoke at a conference between 4 May 2007 and 6 May 2011; what the topic of their contribution was; who (a) organised and (b) sponsored the conference, and what payment they received.

Question reference: S4W-04193

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what parliamentary receptions ministers hosted between 4 May 2007 and 6 May 2011.