- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the rate of inflation will be in 2003-04.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not forecast inflation. For reference, the latest HM Treasury forecast for inflation, covering the period to 2003, was published in Building Long-Term Prosperity for All: Pre-Budget Report (November 2000).
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure that the provision of Zyban on prescription is fully integrated into existing smoking cessation services.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises that Zyban has shown to be most effective if used in combination with motivational support and, as such, complements existing smoking cessation services. The Executive is looking at the availability of smoking cessation services. However, Zyban is not clinically suitable for all patients who wish to stop smoking and the decision whether or not to prescribe this treatment is a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctors concerned.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require health boards to make publicly available the minutes and attendance records from each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting.
Answer
The Code of Practice on Openness for the NHS in Scotland makes a presumption of openness and accessibility of information to the public, subject to certain exceptions such as information on individuals and about internal discussions which would harm frank debate. Health boards are required to hold meetings in public wherever possible and to publish and provide information on services, proposals and decisions.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require each health board, prior to each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting, to make an agenda publicly available.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to the answer I gave to question S1W-11138.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require health boards to make each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting open to the public, Primary Care Trusts and Acute Trusts.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to the answer I gave to question S1W-11138.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Peter Peacock on 2 November 2000 that announcements would be made before Christmas on how the discussion of a small business rates relief scheme would be taken forward (Official Report, col. 1320) and to the statement by Angus MacKay on 7 December 2000 that an announcement would be made later that month about the point reached in consideration of such a scheme (Official Report, col. 694), why no such announcements were made.
Answer
We are currently considering a range of measures, including the issue of rates relief, which taken together will be of real benefit to small businesses. An announcement will be made soon.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9513 by Sarah Boyack on 21 September 2000, what progress it is making in exploring the options for banning lead solder in domestic plumbing systems.
Answer
The Executive's press release SE3051/2000 issued on 27 November set out the actions being taken in response to the results of a survey confirming that lead solder had been used in the domestic plumbing systems in new houses in Scotland. These actions should together help to protect the public from the potential ill effects of excess lead in their domestic plumbing and to eliminate the use of lead solder. We are continuing to explore with the Health and Safety Executive and European Commission whether it would be feasible to extend the ban on lead solder. In the meantime, in December the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation again recommended to its members a voluntary ban on the use of leaded solder.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 23 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the angling season for migratory fish in the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association waters from February to October to March to November in order to reduce the cull of white and immature fish in that river system.
Answer
The Executive has no such plans.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11857 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 December 2000, which local authorities have brought forward in 2000-01 flood prevention schemes eligible for 50% grant under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961; which of these schemes have met the specified cost-benefit criteria, and what the total cost will be of each approved scheme.
Answer
Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, flood prevention schemes which are confirmed by Scottish Ministers are eligible for grant. So far in 2000-01, schemes brought forward by Renfrewshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and Perth and Kinross Council have been confirmed. There have been five schemes in total, all of which meet the cost-benefit criteria for grant assistance. The estimated total cost of each scheme is set out below.
| Council | Scheme | Estimated Cost |
| Renfrewshire Council | Moredun, Paisley FPS | £750,000 |
| Collier Street, Johnstone FPS | £693,000 |
| East Dunbartonshire Council | River Kelvin FPS | £8,500,000 |
| Perth & Kinross Council | Bridge of Earn FPS | £740,000 |
| Weem Village FPS | £362,000 |
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 22 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the statement by the Institute of Civil Engineers, Scotland in the October 2000 issue of Ice Breaker regarding its procurement record.
Answer
The importance of professional expertise in the management of the Scottish Executive's major construction projects is recognised. As well as the appointment of professionals to provide design and cost control services, professionally qualified project managers are normally employed, and where clients themselves are not technical experts, they are supported by client advisers with the appropriate expertise.
