- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the duties of Highland Regional Council as the Secretary of State’s agent for the A87 Skye crossing scheme included ensuring compliance with statutory requirements placed on the Secretary of State by primary legislation.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive who has been responsible since May 1999 for addressing any financial discrepancies discovered since the 23 May 1997 National Audit Office report on the Skye Bridge.
Answer
In the period in question theexternal auditors of The Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive were:
For financial years up to andincluding 1999-2000 – the National Audit Office
For financial years starting2000-01 – Audit Scotland
In addition, KPMG were appointedto provide independent certification of toll revenue compensation claims submittedby Skye Bridge Limited.
Audit and other financial arrangementsat Skye Bridge Limited were a matter for the company.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive why over £60 million has been paid to Skye Bridge Ltd when the agreed costs to be collected by the commissionaire as announced on the statutory identification statement were to be “£23.64 million at July 1990 prices”.
Answer
The contractually agreed coststo be recovered by the concessionaire were expressed in 1991 prices discounted atsix per cent a year to 1991 base year. The amounts received by Skye Bridge Limitedinclude more than £33 million in toll revenuesand compensation payments, and £26.75 million to end the tolling concession. Boththese figures are stated in cash terms.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any dissenting comments on heart disease made by members of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) who resigned before the publication of new guidelines on heart disease.
Answer
This is entirely a matterfor the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, which forms part of theindependent organisation NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in ensuring that nursing staff in permanent and bank nurse employment do not work excess hours.
Answer
NHS boards have responsibilityfor ensuring permanent and bank staff are deployed in such a way as to comply withlocal Family Friendly Policies, Working Time regulations and other issues that governemployment matters. The Executive also published a report on Nationally Co-ordinatedNurse Bank Arrangements and this sets out clearly the action required by NHSboards to support the valuable contribution that nurse bank staff make.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31515 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 February 2007, what the timetable is for full implementation of the recommendations contained in the Audit Scotland report, Planning ward nursing - legacy or design?.
Answer
The Scottish Executive will workwith NHS boards, trade unions and Professional Bodies to implement Audit Scotland’s recommendationsand expect full implementation by 2010.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31083 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 January 2007, whether it will provide the statistics for each year since NHS 24’s inception using the formula that applied before 2005.
Answer
The formula which was appliedbefore 2005 was based on all calls dialled into the service, which included suchthings as mis-dialled numbers. These were described as “calls offered”. From April2005, a new formula was introduced which calculates call abandonment figures basedon call demand. This is the number of calls in the system at the end of the welcomemessage and therefore gives a more accurate representation of the number of callerswho meant to call NHS 24 and who then hang up.
The abandonment rates, usingthe old formula of calls offered, are listed in the following table, up to the lastavailable reporting date of 30 November 2006.
| | Calls Offered | Number Abandoned | Percentage Abandoned |
| 8 May 2002 to 31 March 2003 | 280,306 | 1,052 | 0.38% |
| 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 | 729,232 | 1,920 | 0.26% |
| 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 | 1,562,364 | 75,309 | 4.82% |
| 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 | 1,628,330 | 23,895 | 1.47% |
| 1 April 2006 to 30 November 2006 | 941,194 | 1,920 | 0.20% |
Note: Information supplied byNHS 24.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 12 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all land sales by local authorities and other public bodies, excluding the NHS, since 1997, also broken down by (a) year and (b) local authority or public body.
Answer
This information is not availablecentrally.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 8 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and with whom, about the services provided by One Plus in Lanarkshire.
Answer
The Executive has been incontact with a number of organisations regarding the services provided by OnePlus. The main point of contact has been South Lanarkshire Council.
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 8 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or will take, to secure the future of One Plus in Lanarkshire and the services it provides.
Answer
One Plus is now inliquidation and local authorities and other funders are taking the lead infinding new providers for One Plus services. The Executive has been informed bySouth Lanarkshire council that each of the four child care servicesoperated by One Plus reopened under new management on 29 January 2007, following ashort period when cover was provided by the local authority in co-operationwith other providers.
