- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how the number of linear accelerators allocated to the Beatson Oncology Centre has been calculated and what scope there is for increasing their number.
Answer
Information about the background to planning cancer services was outlined in the answer given to question S1W-19750.The linear accelerator (and related radiotherapy equipment) modernisation programme has been, and continues to be, developed by the Scottish Executive Health Department in consultation with Cancer Centre Directors and relevant staff drawn from across Scotland.Three new linear accelerators are installed at the Gartnavel Hospital site, giving a total of eight now available. Two further (additional) linear accelerators are to be purchased and installed there during 2002.Beyond that, the plans for further replacement and additional radiotherapy equipment will continue to be brought forward via the modernisation programme and within the context of the business planning process for the development of Phase 2 of the new West of Scotland Regional Cancer Centre at Gartnavel.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its short-, medium-and long-term plans are for resourcing (a) the Beatson Oncology Unit and (b) the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer
Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the Scottish Executive and for NHSScotland. The Executive is committed to year-on-year increases in the unified budget allocations made to NHS boards. From within these allocations, local NHS management are responsible for planning service provision to meet the needs of their resident populations, including provision for tertiary services from specialist centres such as the Beatson Oncology Centre. Greater Glasgow NHS Board was allocated an initial unified budget of more than £846 million for this year with indicative unified budget allocations of £907.9 million for 2002-03 and £982.3 million for 2003-04.In addition, an additional £40 million is being invested across Scotland over this and the next two years specifically for cancer services. Plans designed to secure improvements in these services, for example, through more rapid diagnosis and shorter waiting times, were announced on 6 November 2001. Of more than £10 million being invested this financial year, more than £5 million will secure improvements in Glasgow and the West of Scotland cancer services.Plans to build a new cancer centre in Glasgow are also being progressed, for which £44 million investment has also been set aside.Implementation/investment plans are available on
www.scotland.gov.uk and
www.show.scot.nhs.uk and copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 21 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry and the receivers for Atlantic Telecom and what progress has been made on whether any action will be taken by any body due to the lack of notice given to customers before the company went into receivership.
Answer
Telecommunications regulation is reserved to the UK government.However, we expect to be consulted by DTI on whether further action is needed, in the light of issues raised during the Atlantic Telecom situation, to ensure the regulatory framework meets the challenges of a competitive market.We have asked DTI to consider the potential to set up an "ABTA" type industry insurance scheme.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 18 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release SE5006/2001 on 10 December 2001, (a) whether it will outline a timetable for the creation of a Human Rights Commission for Scotland, (b) how many commissioners will be appointed to the commission, (c) what its relationship will be with the existing bodies (i) the Equal Opportunities Commission, (ii) the Commission for Racial Equality and (iii) the Disability Rights Commission, (d) how many posts are to be created under the new commission and (e) where it will be located.
Answer
The Executive has decided in principle to establish a Scottish Human Rights Commission. No decision has yet been taken on the timetable or on the detailed structure and membership of such a body. I intend to put forward proposals on those issues for consultation during the course of this year. No decision has been taken on the location of a commission.The Executive is clear that a Scottish Human Rights Commission should not in any way cut across the remits of the existing statutory equality bodies. The detailed proposals for the establishment of the commission will be drawn up with that firmly in mind. However, we anticipate that a Scottish commission will want to work closely with these bodies on matters of mutual interest, and we envisage that the new body, once established, will wish to draw up a memorandum of understanding to facilitate this working relationship.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19840 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, whether it will report on the success of the first month of the Glasgow Drugs Court pilot.
Answer
The Glasgow pilot Drug Court commenced sitting on 12 November 2001. So far it has imposed 10 Orders, an encouraging start and on course to meet the target of between 150 and 200 orders a year.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19094 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, whether it will report on the work of the Ministerial Group on Women's Offending.
Answer
The Ministerial Group on Women's Offending intends to publish its report within the next two months.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19520 by Jackie Baillie on 13 November 2001, what target percentage it has set for participation in the Warm Deal initiative by tenants in the private rented sector.
Answer
No target has been set for the private rented sector.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19131 by Allan Wilson on 13 November 2001, whether any meetings are scheduled with Glasgow City Council in order to discuss plans for the future of museums in Glasgow.
Answer
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture is to visit Glasgow museums on 11 February at the invitation of Glasgow City Council.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19095 by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001, what targets it has set in relation to increasing the use of alternatives to prison and diversion from prosecution for women.
Answer
The role of the Scottish Executive is to ensure that courts have access to a wide range of community sentencing options which can secure the confidence of sentencers. Similar considerations govern the relationship with procurators fiscal in the operation of diversion from prosecution. Whilst the relationship between the Executive and the courts precludes the setting of specific targets, figures setting out progress in the use of community disposals are published on an annual basis.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19977 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 November 2001, whether any other student awards are to be transferred from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.
Answer
No.