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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 ��˿�� 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

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Question reference: S2W-11629

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2004
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will break down the figure shown in table 8.02 of Draft Budget 2005-06 into (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads, detailing the total amount paid on each motorway and trunk road project for (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04; how much it estimates it will spend on such projects in each case in 2004-05, and what plans it has for motorway and trunk road projects in (1) 2005-06, (2) 2006-07 and (3) 2007-08.

The spending totals shown in Table 8.02 of Draft Budget 2005-06 comprise the entire motorway and trunk road programme for the years shown. Table 8.10 provides a more detailed breakdown of the categories of spending on all road improvement schemes and capital construction projects. The expenditure shown in the following table provides a further breakdown of expenditure on motorway and trunk road projects costing more than £3 million in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and planned expenditure in 2004-05. Expenditure on motorway and trunk road projects individually costing less than £3 million is not broken down but is given as a total.

��

£000��	2002-03 Budget	2003-04 Budget	2004-05 Budget
(a)motorways	��	��	��
M74 Completion	10.302	17.118	22.670
M74 Maryville-Fullerton	0.002	0.009	��
M77 Ayr Road Route-residual land compensation	0.070	��	��
M77 Fenwick-Malletsheugh	3.605	2.900	1.570
M8 Baillieston-Newhouse and associated improvements	0.007	3.805	1.850
M8 Newbridge-Edinburgh City Bypass-residual land compensation	0.105	��	��
M80 Stepps-Haggs (phase 1)	��	��	1.099
M80 Stepps-Haggs (phase 2)	��	��	1.115
M80 Stepps-Haggs (phase 3)	��	��	1.099
(b) trunk roads	��	��	��
A1 Bowerhouse-Spott	5.105	0.095	0.143
A! Haddington-Dunbar	16.460	20.275	3.626
A1 Howburn-Houndwood	3.804	1.526	0.049
A1 Spott Road-Oswald Dean	��	0.069	0.019
A68 Pathhead-Tynehead	��	0.009	0.316
A68 Soutra-South Oxton	��	0.013	0.223
A7 Auchenrivoch	��	0.050	0.311
A7 Glenmayne-Yair	��	0.028	0.316
A7 Hawick Traffic Relief	0.299	0.002	��
A720 Dreghorn-Lothianburn	0.180	0.010	��
A720 Edinburgh City Bypass Phase 2	0.018	��	��
A74(M) Residual land purchases	0.618	��	��
A75 Cairntop-Barlae	0.281	0.323	0.275
A75 Dunragit re-alignment	0.140	0.279	0.205
A75 Hardgrove-Kinmount	0.083	0.106	0.177
A75 The Glen	0.059	��	��
A76 Glenairlie	��	0.011	0.246
A77Drummockloch-Innermessan	��	0.049	0.320
A77 Haggstone climbing lane	��	0.063	0.320
A78 Ardrossan-Stevenston	0.976	14.386	20.385
A8 Baillieston-Newhouse maintenance project	1.985	17.176	3.361
A80 Auchenkilns	1.390	4.655	9.351
A830 Arisaig-Kinsadel	5.381	0.593	0.366
A830 Arisaig-Loch Nan Uamh	0.155	0.397	0.300
A876 Kincardine Bridge	��	0.025	1.400
A9 Ballinluig	��	0.060	0.521
A9 Helmsdale Phase 1	0.609	1.106	2.520
A9 Helmsdale Phase 2	��	0.632	0.200
A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral route	��	0.687	5.737
A90 Forfar grade separation (Kirriemuir and Glamis)	3.888	0.603	0.235
A90 Glendoick interchange	0.100	0.057	0.050
A90 Inchmichael	0.141	0.205	0.235
A90 Inchture	0.607	0.841	0.238
A90 Kinfauns	0.044	0.054	0.050
A93 Preston-Balfarg	0.668	1.431	0.100
A96 Blackburn-Kintore bypass	0.791	0.158	��
A96 Coachford climbing lane	0.146	0.569	2.050
A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch bypass	0.327	0.360	0.200
A96 Newtongarry climbing lane	0.677	0.968	0.016
A985 Kincardine Eastern Link Road	1.323	9.761	5.105
Small schemes under £3 million	19.998	25.304	36.267

Notes:

1. It should be noted that the figures quoted above show actual expenditure for previous years and anticipated expenditure and are not in real terms at 2004-05 prices.

2. Further expenditure may be brought forward for projects in 2004-05.

The following major projects are planned to be taken forward between 2005-06 and 2007-08: M74 Completion, M8 Baillieston-Newhouse and associated improvements, M80 Stepps-Haggs, A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, the new Upper Forth crossing at Kincardine, A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass. In addition there are a number of schemes planned on the A77 to improve access to the ferry port at Stranraer, together with schemes arising from route action plans on the A68, A7, A75, A76, A9, A90 and A96. Expenditure on all these projects and their construction start dates is subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures for each scheme.

A830 Arisaig-Loch Nan Uamh and A9 Helmsdale Phases 1 and 2 are being taken forward in addition to the trunk road programme to take advantage of potential funding from the Highland and Islands Transitional European funding. Construction is programmed to start subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

Question reference: S2W-12768

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 16 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility for the maintenance of Kinloch Castle rests with its owners, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and, if so, whether SNH has discharged that responsibility and how much has been spent on (a) repairs and maintenance and (b) other work at Kinloch Castle in each year since the inception of SNH.

Question reference: S2O-04586

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated for the rail functions to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S2W-12861

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 15 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its procurement policy for purchasing food for schools and other public sector establishments requires simplifying or streamlining; which consultants have been appointed to oversee the implementation of the policy and at what cost; whether it plans to carry out any consultations on the policy and, if so, at what estimated or planned cost, and what the remit of any such consultations will be.

The fundamental aim of public sector procurement legislation and policy is to ensure that goods and services are purchased on the basis of fair competition and represent value for money. Buyers must satisfy themselves that specifications are justifiable in terms of need, cost effectiveness and affordability.

The Executive does not buy food other than through its catering contractor. Major public sector food purchasers in Scotland are the NHS, schools (local authority) and Scottish Prison Service, who are responsible for their own purchasing decisions.

The Executive has, however, published guidelines on food procurement which underline the need for those taking purchasing decisions to take full account of quality factors such as freshness, seasonality and relevant farm assurance standards.

The Executive has also commissioned a research project which will:

estimate the value of the public sector procurement market in Scotland,
identify the incentives and constraints currently faced by the public sector in its purchasing decisions and
discuss how any incentives enhanced and constraints overcome.

The work is being carried out by DTZ Pieda and is a research project and not part of a public consultation. Liaison has therefore been with industry contracts and Executive policy colleagues. The project cost is in the region of £50,000

Question reference: S2W-12847

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 15 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the service provided by NHS 24 is adequate and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Now fully operational, NHS 24 has achieved its key business plan objective of providing ready access to health care assessments, advice and information for the whole population of Scotland. In addition NHS 24 is providing a vital call handling service for patients who may require a GP out of hours at a time when many GPs are exercising their right to opt out of providing such services. The Executive is continuing to monitor the performance of the organisation. Early findings from the Scottish Executive's independent evaluation of NHS 24 demonstrates a rise in patient satisfaction.

Question reference: S2W-12846

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 15 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS 24 staff responding to calls from patients are entitled to refuse to telephone a local GP and, if so, under what circumstances.

NHS 24 staff will pass a caller’s details to the relevant local out-of-hours services when it is assessed that the patient’s needs will be met most appropriately by contact with a GP. The out-of-hours service will in turn pass the call to the GP covering the local area.

If the clinical presentation of the symptoms does not require referral, but the patient insists on being referred to a GP, NHS 24 staff will ask the local out of hours service to call the patient back.

Question reference: S2W-12845

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 15 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any GPs have sought to opt out of NHS 24 and, if so, what the response has been.

Information on the number of GPs who use NHS 24 is not held centrally.

Under the terms of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs can transfer their responsibility for providing out-of-hours services to NHS boards. In such circumstances, boards have until 31 December 2004 to put in place alternative out-of-hours arrangements which must meet mandatory accreditedstandards to ensure a safe and quality service for patients. Under these new arrangements NHS boards are using NHS 24 to triage initial calls.

GPs who decide not to transfer their out-of-hours responsibility will have their own arrangements in place which may or may not involve NHS 24 to triage calls.

Question reference: S2W-12849

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 15 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether personnel have been leaving NHS 24 and, if so, how many nurses have left in each of the last 12 months.

The table below indicates the number of nurses who have left and joined NHS 24 over the past 12 months. A number of the nurses who have left have done so to take up promoted posts in other parts of the NHS and to utilise the new skills they have learned with NHS 24 in relation to nurse triage. The number of nurses joining the organisation has been phased to match the planned roll-out of the service and is continuing.

Month	Left	Started
December 2003	10	-
January 2004	8	-
February	10	31
March	7	29
April	5	-
May	7	33
June	5	-
July	11	11
August	12	36
September	14	-
October	7	9
November	11	44
Totals	107*	193

Note: *Of these 14 have since returned to NHS 24.

Question reference: S2W-12276

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations from the First Report of the Select Committee on Public Administration, published on 10 February 1998, it has put in place, with particular regard to the recommendation on political activity.

Question reference: S2W-12277

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the period over which candidates for public appointments are required to declare their political activity from five to 10 years and whether it will now ask such candidates about their membership of a political party or club.