- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs would be of increasing (a) procurator fiscal and (b) deputy procurator fiscal numbers overall by (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 30, (iv) 40 and (v) 50 and what the increase in numbers would be in each sheriffdom under an equitable distribution of these increases.
Answer
There are 49 Fiscal offices in Scotland. Each of these is headed by a single procurator fiscal who holds a commission from the Lord Advocate. All of these appointments are made from within the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The salary and associated employment costs of these procurators fiscal varies according to the grading of the post and the experience and personal performance of the post holder. The average total employment costs per procurator fiscal at the level of regional office (of which there are six) is £100,000; at the upper level office (of which there are 12) is £75,000; at the lower level office (of which there are 26) is £60,000. The depute fiscal grade is the entry grade for those pursuing a legal career in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The average full employment cost of a new depute fiscal is £27,000.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-18538 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 October 2001, whether The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will be published in November.
Answer
The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will be introduced to the Parliament shortly.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 16 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases there were of intra-uterine transfusion to rectify rhesus incompatibility in each year from 1976 to 2001.
Answer
The number of intra-uterine transfusions performed each year from 1976 to 2000 is shown in the following table which has been provided by ISD Scotland. Information for 2001 is not available centrally at present. It is understood that the majority of intra-uterine transfusions performed in Scotland are due to rhesus incompatibility.Intra-uterine Transfusion - Scotland:Number of procedures and patients 1976-2000
| Year of discharge 1,2 | Number of Intra-uterine Transfusions | Year of discharge | Number of Intra-uterine Transfusions |
1976 | 10 | 1989 | 55 |
1977 | 4 | 1990 | 68 |
1978 | 3 | 1991 | 44 |
1979 | 0 | 1992 | 44 |
1980 | 8 | 1993 | 46 |
1981 | 6 | 1994 | 49 |
1982 | 2 | 1995 | 53 |
1983 | 1 | 1996 | 53 |
1984 | 5 | 1997 | 17 |
1985 | 0 | 1998 | 55 |
1986 | 9 | 1999 | 21 |
1987 | 6 | 20003 | 33 |
1988 | 28 | | |
Notes:1. Foetal medicine did not develop until the late 1980s, when ultrasound technology improved to an extent that foetal therapy became a reality. The first series of direct intravascular were not performed regularly in Scotland until 1988.2. The information shown refers to the number of
procedures performed. Many patients, particularly since 1988, received on average more than one transfusion during their pregnancy.Based on Classification of Surgical Operations (OPCS): 2nd Revision; 1976 (747), 3rd Revision; 1977-1988 (747), 4th Revision; 1989-2000 (R01.1, R04.3)3. Provisional data.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 15 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for delay in appointing a new Lord President to the Court of Session and a new Lord Justice General.
Answer
On Tuesday 13 November, the appointment was announced of the Rt Hon Lord Cullen who succeeds Lord Rodger as Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General. The Prime Minister made the final recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen after consulting the First Minister who nominated Lord Cullen. Scottish ministers warmly welcome the appointment of Lord Cullen and that of Lord Gill who succeeds Lord Cullen in the office of Lord Justice Clerk. Consultations about these appointments could not begin until after the announcement of Lord Rodger's appointment as a Lord of Appeal and that did not happen until 11 September.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 15 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to refer the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Law Commission for its views.
Answer
The Scottish Law Commission has already expressed its views on the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill during the extended consultation period for the draft Bill and Draft Scottish Outdoor Access Code earlier this year. Copies of the commission's response (number 2833), along with more than 3,500 other responses received, is available at the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17255) and at the Executive's library at Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 14 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what ethnic community languages are spoken in Scotland and how many people who speak each language regard it as their first language.
Answer
The Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland's Report Bilingualism, Community Languages and Scottish Education, published in 1999, quotes 60 languages used in daily life, including community languages.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 14 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ethnic communities have convenient access to interpretation facilities and whether there are a sufficient number of interpreters available for each language.
Answer
The Executive has convened a group to examine the provision of translation, interpreting and communication support across the public sector in Scotland.The group, which includes representatives from local government, health boards, the police, the Commission for Race Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Scottish Refugee Council, will report early next year and the report will include a consultative draft framework of standards.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 14 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing forward a Family Law (Scotland) Bill and when any such Bill will be introduced.
Answer
As announced in Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government, we will bring forward a draft bill to reform family law. We intend to publish a draft in the second half of 2002. Such a Bill would be the subject of consultation and would be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 14 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the illegal use of cocaine by young people has increased since 1997 and what the medical effects of cocaine abuse are.
Answer
Information from the Scottish Misuse Database indicates an increase in the last five years in reported use among new clients attending drug services. In 1996-97, 78 (2.1%) of people under 25 attending services reported cocaine as one of their drugs of use. By 2000-01 this figure had risen to 231 (4.8%). Several serious medical problems can be associated with cocaine misuse, including increased risks of myocardial infarctions and stroke. Other problems can include paranoia and psychosis, damage to nasal passages, hypertension, increased body temperature and agitated delirium. Intravenous use carries all the health risks associated with injecting illegal drugs. Smoking crack cocaine can lead to lung damage and chest pain.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the appointment of the new Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice-General will be announced.
Answer
The appointment of the new Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice-General is made by Her Majesty The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
