Questions and answers

Question reference: S1W-03258

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve survival rates for men suffering from prostate cancer.

The Scottish Executive wants to improve survival rates for all cancers. We have adopted the target of reducing cancer-related, premature deaths by 20% between 1995 and 2010.The biology of prostate cancer is not yet fully understood. One of the main things, however, which will improve survival rates for prostate cancer is to increase the early reporting of cancers and we encourage men to seek early help and expect GPs to ensure rapid referral for specialist treatment when symptoms appear.In order to help increase our understanding of cancers and their treatment, the Scottish Executive has supported a range of cancer-related research projects with funding from the Chief Scientist Office, totalling nearly £2.2 million. Many of the findings of these projects are relevant to prostate cancer.The Scottish Cancer Group is also following the progress of a number of studies being undertaken internationally to evaluate new forms of treatment for prostate cancer and is considering how best these might be introduced into Scotland, should the research confirm that they are effective. In addition the Chief Medical Officer's Clinical Resources and Audit Group has funded an audit of all urological cancers, which includes cancer of the prostate. The audit, starting in 2000, will provide a nationwide picture of the process and treatment of this group of tumours and leave Scotland well placed to demonstrate the effectiveness of new therapies. The possibility of a screening programme is also being kept under review by the UK National Screening Committee.

Question reference: S1W-03561

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of radiology equipment in each of Scotland's health boards is more than ten years old and what the time scale is for replacing such equipment.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.The prime responsibility for assessing the need for and the timetable for provision of all medical equipment falls to individual NHS Trusts. In reaching their decisions they should take account of the age and condition of the equipment.In addition £12.5 million is being made available through the Capital Modernisation Fund for the replacement of linear accelerators. This funding will be made available over three years. Proposals from the relevant NHS Trusts are currently being assessed.The Scottish Executive has asked the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee to develop proposals for a framework for capital investment in clinical radiology equipment in the National Health Service in Scotland. This will inform the Scottish Executive Health Department's capital investment plans.

Question reference: S1W-05781

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 13 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to redefine council tax bandings to take account of house price inflation since the council tax was introduced.

Question reference: S1W-05782

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 13 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes fell into each council tax property band in (a) the first year of its introduction and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

The table below shows the number of dwellings in each council tax property band in (a) the first year of its introduction and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

SCOTLAND COUNCIL TAX
Total Number ofDwellings
Valuation	Valuation	October	September
Band	Band Ranges	1993⁽¹⁾	1999⁽²⁾
Band A	Not exceeding £27,000	592,236	600,808
Band B	Exceeding £27,000, but not exceeding £35,000	562,540	576,854
Band C	Exceeding £35,000, but not exceeding £45,000	337,836	353,302
Band D	Exceeding £45,000, but not exceeding £58,000	237,343	266,645
Band E	Exceeding £58,000, but not exceeding £80,000	235,361	264,479
Band F	Exceeding £80,000, but not exceeding £106,000	115,134	128,134
Band G	Exceeding £106,000, but not exceeding £212,000	79,729	85,820
Band H	Exceeding £212,000	9,937	10,059
Total all Bands		2,170,116	2,286,101

Source: as reported by local authorities in statistical return Council Tax Base (CTAXBASE 1993 and CTAXBASE 1999).

Notes:

1. Total number of dwellings on the valuation list for authorities on 8 October 1993.

2. Total number of dwellings on the valuation list for authorities on 6 September 1999.

Question reference: S1W-05779

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 13 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet given substantive answers to questions S1W-1518, S1W-2429, S1W-2433, S1W-2603, S1W-3258, S1W-3259, S1W-3383, S1W-3384, S1W-3804 and S1W-3807, all lodged between 13 September 1999 and 18 January 2000 and when it will answer these questions.

Question reference: S1W-05392

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 13 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on private sector housing grants in each of the last four years for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

The information requested is shown in the tables below.Gross Capital Payments¹Private Sector Housing Grants(£000)

	1995-1996
Authority	Statutory Grants Gross capital payments	Discretionary Grants Gross capital payments	Total capital payments
Scotland	44,846	56,410	101,256
Berwickshire	0	545	545
Ettrick & Lauderdale	0	811	811
Tweeddale	0	548	548
Roxburgh	0	820	820
Clackmannan	384	6	390
Falkirk	0	766	766
Stirling	53	472	525
Annandale & Eskdale	473	0	473
Nithsdale	430	304	734
Stewartry	11	129	140
Wigtown	63	543	606
Dunfermline	166	617	783
Kirkcaldy	228	469	697
North East Fife	0	1,210	1,210
Aberdeen	2,325	783	3,108
Banff & Buchan	706	236	942
Gordon	1	422	423
Kincardine & Deeside	0	520	520
Moray	2	907	909
Badenoch & Strathspey	0	250	250
Caithness	0	709	709
Inverness	0	797	797
Lochaber	785	0	785
Nairn	0	155	155
Ross&Cromarty	568	2,168	2,736
Skye & Lochalsh	0	1,008	1,008
Sutherland	1	693	694
East Lothian	544	433	977
Edinburgh	7,180	12,763	19,943
Midlothian	615	0	615
West Lothian	0	691	691
Argyll & Bute	4,572	0	4,572
Bearsden & Milngavie	0	174	174
Clydebank	7	321	328
Clydesdale	682	76	758
Cumbernauld & Kilsyth	0	581	581
Cumnock & Doon Valley	0	251	251
Cunninghame	2,786	309	3,095
Dumbarton	712	172	884
East Kilbride	0	409	409
Eastwood	0	201	201
Glasgow	8,273	10,677	18,950
Hamilton	1,619	0	1,619
Inverclyde	8	4,290	4,298
Kilmarnock & Loudoun	405	0	405
Kyle & Carrick	820	0	820
Monklands	433	442	875
Motherwell	386	539	925
Renfrew	2,811	603	3,414
Strathkelvin	774	0	774
Angus	0	854	854
Dundee	2,861	1,430	4,291
Perth & Kinross	51	1,825	1,876
Orkney	0	1,268	1,268
Shetland	0	1,204	1,204
Western Isles	3,111	1,009	4,120

Source: Information supplied by local authorities on the statistical returns Housing: capital payments and capital receipts (HCM-5) 1995-96.Notes:1. Includes payments both funded and not funded from revenue.Gross Capital Payments¹Private Sector Housing Grants1996-99

	1996-97				1997-98
	Statutory Grants	Discretionary Grants		Total	Statutory Grants	Discretionary Grants	Total
Authority	Total capital payments	Total capital payments		Total capital payments	Total capital payments	Total capital payments	Total capital payments
Scotland	25,726	45,205		70,931	19,420	29,501	48,921
Aberdeen City	0	0		0	1,369	1,892	3,261
Aberdeenshire	963	23		986	279	118	397
Angus	983	0		983	0	853	853
Argyll & Bute	3,003	96		3,099	0	2,553	2,553
Clackmannanshire	2	238		240	30	393	423
Dumfries & Galloway	52	1,118		1,170	409	619	1,028
Dundee City	1,865	933		2,798	1,371	686	2,057
East Ayrshire	510	0		510	441	0	441
East Dunbartonshire	547	0		547	155	154	309
East Lothian	1,250	0		1,250	467	386	853
East Renfrewshire	0	357		357	182	0	182
Edinburgh, City of	1,498	15,997		17,495	5,745	0	5,745
Eilean Siar	2,601	978		3,579	1,888	861	2,749
Falkirk	0	470		470	7	382	389
Fife	204	2,455		2,659	3	396	399
Glasgow City	6,512	1,533		8,045	2,256	3,984	6,240
Highland	0	5,814		5,814	0	3,888	3,888
Inverclyde	5	3,231		3,236	0	1,318	1,318
Midlothian	0	343		343	0	39	39
Moray	1	646		647	1	212	213
North Ayrshire	1,738	193		1,931	2,048	227	2,275
North Lanarkshire	1,118	992		2,110	455	1,180	1,635
Orkney Islands	0	1,324		1,324	0	876	876
Perth & Kinross	84	878		962	149	875	1,024
Renfrewshire	2,344	569		2,913	1,323	635	1,958
Scottish Borders	120	1,610		1,730	64	1,017	1,081
Shetland Islands	0	516		516	0	261	261
South Ayrshire	0	876		876	80	768	848
South Lanarkshire	0	2,330		2,330	0	4,097	4,097
Stirling	312	468		780	182	387	569
West Dunbartonshire	14	572		586	21	444	465
West Lothian	0	645		645	495	0	495

	1998-99
	Statutory Grants		Discretionary Grants		Total
Authority	Total capital payments		Total capital payments		Total capital payments
Scotland	13,912		24,571		38,483
Aberdeen City	1,475		1,012		2,487
Aberdeenshire	239		0		239
Angus	365		18		383
Argyll & Bute	0		1,812		1,812
Clackmannanshire	6		306		312
Dumfries & Galloway	257		140		397
Dundee City	1,343		896		2,239
East Ayrshire	463		0		463
East Dunbartonshire	37		170		207
East Lothian	48		315		363
East Renfrewshire	44		142		186
Edinburgh, City of	833		2,124		2,957
Eilean Siar	1,665		712		2,377
Falkirk	417		0		417
Fife	41		82		123
Glasgow City	3,247		3,856		7,103
Highland	0		2,372		2,372
Inverclyde	4		1,384		1,388
Midlothian	152		0		152
Moray	0		695		695
North Ayrshire	1,613		179		1,792
North Lanarkshire	100		1,204		1,304
Orkney Islands	0		495		495
Perth & Kinross	171		650		821
Renfrewshire	1,183		405		1,588
Scottish Borders	31		1,301		1,332
Shetland Islands	0		0		0
South Ayrshire	50		362		412
South Lanarkshire	0		3,150		3,150
Stirling	2		374		376
West Dunbartonshire	126		0		126
West Lothian	0		415		415

Source: Information supplied by local authorities on the statistical returns Capital payments and their financing (CPR 5) 1996-97,1997-98,1998-99.Notes:1. Includes payments both funded and not funded from revenue.

Question reference: S1W-05692

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 12 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital debt was owed by each of Scotland's local authorities at the end of each of the last three financial years for which figures were available.

The total capital debt outstanding reported by each council and joint board for the past three financial years is shown in the following table.

Local Authority Capital Debt Outstanding 1996-97/1998-99

Local Authority	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99¹
	£ million	£ million	£ million
Aberdeen City	376	369	370
Aberdeenshire	356	356	361
Angus	97	99	100
Argyll & Bute	212	220	223
Clackmannanshire	68	70	72
Dumfries & Galloway	271	274	275
Dundee City	267	273	275
East Ayrshire	178	183	188
East Dunbartonshire	121	123	122
East Lothian	143	142	143
East Renfrewshire	80	83	87
Edinburgh, City of	848	839	835
Eilean Siar	163	166	167
Falkirk	198	197	198
Fife	472	477	480
Glasgow City	2,069	2,075	2,098
Highland	531	537	540
Inverclyde	209	213	218
Midlothian	99	96	95
Moray	138	142	146
North Ayrshire	196	203	204
North Lanarkshire	502	495	477
Orkney Islands	17	17	19
Perth & Kinross	141	141	145
Renfrewshire	286	289	291
Scottish Borders	194	201	208
Shetland Islands	61	61	60
South Ayrshire	147	154	157
South Lanarkshire	506	497	483
Stirling	145	143	146
West Dunbartonshire	188	187	188
West Lothian	216	210	207
Joint Board
Central Fire	6	7	8
Dumfries & Galloway Fire	4	5	5
Fife Fire	6	7	7
Grampian Fire	9	11	11
Highland & Islands Fire	11	12	13
Lothian & Borders Fire	15	17	18
Strathclyde Fire	37	41	43
Tayside Fire	7	8	8
Central Police	5	6	6
Dumfries & Galloway Police	8	8	9
Fife Police	14	16	16
Grampian Police	14	13	12
Lothian & Borders Police	20	20	20
Northern Police	13	15	20
Strathclyde Police	45	48	49
Tayside Police	9	10	11
Forth Bridge	0	0	0
Tay Bridge	10	11	13
Strathclyde Passenger Transport Auth.	42	47	51

Source: The information is taken from the Capital Debt Outstanding return which is completed annually by councils and joint boards. This includes debt for General Fund Services and Trading Services and Housing Revenue Account debt.

Notes:

1. These figures may be revised as a result of audit requirements.

Question reference: S1W-05694

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 11 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what blockages it has identified in local government which prevent modernisation and how it proposes to remove them.

In line with the recommendations of the McIntosh Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament, the modernisation of council decision-making structures and policy development processes is being taken forward by an independent panel - the Leadership Advisory Panel chaired by Alastair McNish. The panel has been tasked with advising councils on the development of their plans for modernisation over the course of this year, and then reporting to us on councils' change plans by the year's end.

During this period it will be for the panel to identify any blockages preventing modernisation and to do what they can to help councils overcome these hindrances. If they cannot be resolved satisfactorily the panel will ultimately report on them to us when they make their assessment at the end of this year. It will then be for us to consider how any such blockages, such as exist, should be addressed.

Management and operational practices may also be a barrier to modernisation in terms of service delivery. A new commitment to continuous improvement in local government has been taken forward on a voluntary basis so far in Scotland under the guidance of the Best Value Task Force. This involved a partnership between the Executive, CoSLA and its members, and the Accounts Commission. The Task Force's final report was published in December 1999 and recommended that some legislative amendments were needed to remove barriers to the full development of Best Value. Scottish ministers are currently considering the final report and how best to fulfil their commitment to deliver Best Value in local government.

Question reference: S1W-05689

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 11 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of engineering companies have experienced an (a) increase or (b) decrease in order intake, output volume, staffing, optimism and investment over the last year and what steps will it take to assist the engineering sector.

Question reference: S1W-05690

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 11 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many council tenants who bought their council house and subsequently sold the property were allocated another tenancy in the same local authority in each of the last three years for which figures are available, listed by local authority.

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