- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Shetland Health Board of #1.754 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Shetland Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.
Answer
It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.
Capital investment in the NHS in Scotland continues to increase from £136 million in 1998-99 to £179 million in 2000-01, rising further to £194 million in 2001-02.
Information about the impact of local expenditure levels on medical equipment can be obtained from the health board.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Borders Health Board of #245,000 from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Borders Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.
Answer
It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.
Capital investment in the NHS in Scotland continues to increase from £136 million in 1998-99 to £179 million in 2000-01, rising further to £194 million in 2001-02.
Information about the impact of local expenditure levels on medical equipment can be obtained from the health board.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why #164.508 million was transferred from capital expenditure to revenue expenditure in the NHSiS from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 inclusive.
Answer
As explained in the answer to question S1W-6114, capital to revenue transfers were made annually to enable health boards and NHS Trusts to meet the costs of minor projects and non-added value elements of capital schemes. In addition, some resources were transferred to provide revenue support to assist NHS Trusts meet their financial targets.
From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Trusts can transfer resources from capital to revenue expenditure without its permission, whether such permission was previously required and, if so, when this position changed.
Answer
Health boards and NHS Trusts are required to seek permission from the Scottish Executive to transfer resources from capital to revenue.
From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make people travelling abroad on business or holiday pay the full cost of necessary vaccinations.
Answer
We have no such plans at present.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider revising flood defence legislation to take account of river catchment areas rather than local authority boundaries.
Answer
The Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 provides for local authorities to take measures for the prevention or mitigation of flooding of non-agricultural land in their area. The Act already allows for the exercise of these powers by a local authority to take place on land outwith their area. There are therefore no restrictions now to prevent local authorities working together on a catchment basis.
In addition, guidance contained within National Planning Policy Guideline 7 advocates wide consultation and encourages the creation of Flood Appraisal Groups. A number of such groups have been formed, some based on catchment considerations rather than local authority boundaries.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether whole life asset management rather than just road maintenance is required to link communities effectively and promote social and economic development.
Answer
Road maintenance on the trunk road network, which is the responsibility of Scottish Ministers, is considered in the context of whole life asset management to ensure the integrity of the network in meeting the requirements of local and national planning.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to eliminate any constraints on small business growth.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to creating a culture of enterprise and a sustainable business environment with higher levels of productivity and employment. Working with our economic development agencies we have a range of policies and measures in place to provide new and existing small businesses with the support they need to develop and grow.
These include the £12 million Business Growth Fund which provides loan funding to businesses unable to access finance from established sources; Business Mentoring Scotland - a new scheme designed to provide firms with growth potential with the benefits of an experienced business mentor; and the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit established to ensure that the regulatory environment is alert to small firms needs. In addition, our Small Business Consultative Group ensures direct and continuing dialogue between the Scottish Executive and the small business community.
But we want to do more to support the small business community. We are determined to improve the quality and consistency of support to small business by providing easier access to a new, improved and more consistent range of services. I plan to announce details soon.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses there are in Scotland and what percentage employ 10 people or less.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's Scottish corporate sector figures are produced by the Government Statistical Service using data from the Office for National Statistics' Inter Departmental Business Register, the Labour Force Survey and the Inland Revenue's Survey for Personal Income.
Scottish Executive estimates of size of businesses in 1997 and 1998 were published in Scottish Economic Statistics (table 2.1) in January 2000. This publication is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), or from the Scottish Executive website (www.scotland.gov.uk).
For very small companies, the sizebands are given for 0, 1-4 and 5-9 employees. It should be noted that the zero sizeband figures include estimates from the Labour Force Survey and the Inland Revenue's Survey for Personal Income.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out into any impact on the number of rough sleepers which the removal of benefit for 16 and 17-year-olds may have had.
Answer
No specific assessment has been undertaken. The Homelessness Task Force, which I chair, is taking a wide-ranging look at the underlying nature and causes of homelessness and as part of our programme of work we will be considering youth homelessness and benefit issues. Responsibility for the payment of benefit is a matter for the Department of Social Security, which is represented on the task force.
