- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-20247, S2W-23158, S2W-23156 and S2W-24271 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 November 2005, 17 February, 10 March and 4 April 2006 respectively, whether it obtained information on which these answers were based from personnel within the Scottish Criminal Record Office and, if so, from whom and whether it is satisfied that the information was accurate and unbiased.
Answer
The questions were answered onthe basis of advice obtained by the Scottish Executive from senior managers in the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO). The answers would not have been given ifthere had been reason to doubt that the information was accurate and unbiased.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 16 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the drug, Enbrel, can be prescribed for arthritis sufferers in Scotland on the NHS.
Answer
Enbrel (etanercept) is availableon NHS prescription and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Scottish MedicinesConsortium (SMC) have provided advice to NHS Scotland on its use.
The Health Technology Board forScotland (HTBS) (now part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) issued advice onthe use of etanercept (Enbrel) on the following dates:
17 May 2002 - Comment on theNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidancenumber 35 on the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
17 May 2002 - Comment on theNICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number 36 on the use of etanercept and infliximabfor the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
The comments can be accessedat www.nhshealthquality.org.
On 12 July 2004, the SMC issuedadvice to NHSScotland on the use of etanercept for the treatment of active and progressivepsoriatic arthritis in adults. The SMC advice can be accessed at
www.scottishmedicines.org.In each case, the HTBS and theSMC advised that NHSScotland should take account of the advice and ensure that recommendeddrugs and treatments are made available to meet clinical need.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 16 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23957 by Allan Wilson on 14 March 2006, whether this answer indicates that Scottish ministers will withhold consent under section 36(1) of the Electricity Act 1989 if construction of a new nuclear power station is proposed and the Executive remains unsatisfied that the waste management issue is resolved.
Answer
In accordance with ministers’duties under the Electricity Act 1989 any application to construct a new nuclearpower station would be fully considered on its individual merits. However, the Executive’spolicy, as stated in the Partnership Agreement, creates a presumption against the Executive granting consent to such an application while waste management issuesremain unresolved.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22066 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 January 2006, why there is such a differential in absentee rates between the Aberdeen and Glasgow fingerprint bureaux and what the absentee rate was amongst those officers cited in the MacKay Report as being the subject of a recommendation for prosecution.
Answer
I refer the member to the informationprovided on 26 April to the Justice 1 Committee (Col 2898) by the Director of the Scottish Criminal Record Office and the Head of the Scottish Fingerprint Service.This can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/justice1/or-06/j106-1201.htm.The absence record of individualsis a confidential matter between employer and employee.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 15 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is delaying its recommendations in respect of the prescription of donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine for the treatment of people with Alzheimer's Disease, given that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has issued recommendations on the management of dementia which include the use of these drugs to treat Alzheimer’s Disease.
Answer
The Scottish IntercollegiateGuidelines Network (SIGN) produces guidelines based on published evidence of theclinical effectiveness of interventions.
The National Institute for Healthand Clinical Excellence (NICE) also considers a final assessment of cost effectivenesswhen preparing its appraisals. NICE has not yet produced final recommendations onthese drugs. When NICE has reached final conclusions NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandwill decide whether they should apply in Scotland.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by George Reid on 15 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on what date the contractors handed over the Scottish Parliament building; how long the contractors were responsible for the maintenance of the building; whether there is any defects liability on the contractors after the completion of the maintenance period, and, if so, whether it will provide details of such liability.
Answer
I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 12 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23626 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006, whether the Shirley McKie case has featured in any such informal discussions and whether, if there is any record of, or correspondence relating to, such discussions, this will be published.
Answer
Over the past nine years theShirley McKie case will have arisen in the course of informal discussions with theConvenors of the Justice Committees and manyother members with an interest in justice matters. Informal discussions are not normally formally recorded.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 12 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23973 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006, what the definition is of “some documents” which can be signed on the author’s behalf if that person is not available to sign the document personally.
Answer
This refers to the generallyaccepted practice in offices of signing a letter or memorandum on someone else’sbehalf if he or she is not there to sign it for himself or herself. Such signaturesare preceded by the Latin abbreviation “p.p.” This stands for “per procurationem” meaning “by proxy”.
There is no such practice inrelation to the identification of fingerprints.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 12 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23601 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006, whether it can identify the two cases where the reliability of the identification was such that evidence was not used in court.
Answer
One case is that of Mark Sinclair,which concluded in the High Court in Ayr in October 2003 and to which reference has been madein previous parliamentary questions, including the answer to question S2W-3412 on12 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.The other case did not proceedto court and, therefore, it would be inappropriate to identify the individual concerned.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 12 May 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-23924 and S2W-24109 by Tavish Scott on 16 and 20 March 2006 respectively, when it expects an announcement to be made in respect of the feasibility study by Falkirk Council to improve rail services along the A80-M80 corridor, including opening a train station at Allandale.
Answer
I anticipate that I will be ina position to respond to the study of a new strategic Park and Ride site at Allandalebefore the end of May.
Further issues will remain outstandingin relation to improving the rail services on the route, which will be consideredduring the preparation of a Rail Strategy later in the year.
Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
