Seòmar agus comataidhean

The High Court of Justiciary has confirmed the validity of the Statutory Order which introduced the Toll Order relating to the Skye Bridge. The letter referred to formed part of normal investigation into a pending criminal prosecution.

The Opinion of Lord Eassie referred to does not cast any doubt on the legality of the Skye Bridge tolling regime. The decision to end tolling followed detailed negotiations with Skye Bridge Limited. The agreement did not involve a change in the law, and does not affect the convictions for non-payment of the tolls or any related road traffic offences such as dangerous driving at the bridge.

No action is proposed in relation to persons prosecuted and convicted for non-payment of tolls.

While NHS boards are expected to develop and operate policies and procedures which maximise the contribution of volunteers, the information requested is not available centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16463 on 18 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

Establishment	Financial Year
	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05
Aberdeen	91,520	91,520	114,400	114,400	131,600
Barlinnie	557,700	557,700	617,760	629,200	636,600
Castle Huntly	85,781	85,781	80,080	80,080	80,080
Cornton Vale	110,000	110,000	143,000	143,000	131,560
Dumfries	83,512	94,380	125,800	101,816	114,400
Edinburgh	383,240	383,240	391,463	391,820	420,400
Glenochil	354,640	354,640	398,916	296,608	283,712
Greenock	143,000	160,160	171,600	171,600	172,386
Inverness	71,500	71,500	77,220	80,080	91,520
Low Moss	171,915	189,075	180,568	176,749	179,000
Noranside	74,360	74,360	68,700	71,500	67,000
Perth	340,340	340,340	337,480	377,520	400,400
Peterhead	171,600	171,600	165,880	188,760	175,032
Polmont	257,400	228,800	240,240	351,945	371,800
Shotts	302,008	302,008	302,008	302,016	295,152

 

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

The statement that all menus meet dietary needs is neither in the report nor claimed by SPS. The report commissioned by Cornton Vale was investigative, aimed at obtaining advice to ensure dietary needs are met. This report is still under consideration. However, the following recommendations have been agreed meantime: that healthy and vegetarian options should be highlighted in the menu and additional fruit should be included.

No record is kept of the number of meals consumed but prisoners are served three meals per day. Average numbers for Cornton Vale for each of the last five years were 2000-01 – 190; 2001-02 – 237; 2002-03 – 245; 2003-04 – 238, and 2004-05 - 245.

Annual budgets have been provided in response to S2W-16200, answered on 12 May 2005.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

Eaga Partnership, who administer the central heating programme on behalf of the Scottish Executive, have responsibility to source suppliers of oil-fired boilers required for the programme.

All oil-fired boilers used on the programme must meet the technical specification, including a Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) rating of 80% or higher.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

The central heating programme will be completed by the end of March 2006. We have no plans to commission an independent review but will take the opportunity available between now and the end of the programme to continue the on-going review of the existing arrangements and consider any improvements that can be made regarding the operation of the current central heating programme before the details of any successor scheme are finalised.

No specific standards have been set for timescales for appointments in primary medical services. It is for each primary medical services practice to establish appropriate access arrangements in accordance with local circumstances. Access to primary medical services is determined by a number of factors including clinical need. The Scottish Executive published a commitment in the Partnership Agreement that from April 2004 anyone contacting their GP practice would have guaranteed access to a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional within 48 hours. Access is defined as including appointments, but also includes other arrangements which are appropriate to the patient’s circumstances and clinical need. The performance of NHS boards is monitored through the Scottish Executive Health Department Performance Assessment Framework.

Access to GPs is dependent on a number of factors including the patient’s clinical need. It is for each practice to ensure that it has arrangements in place to provide access to an appropriate health care professional within an appropriate timescale. The Scottish Executive published a commitment in the Partnership Agreement that from April 2004 anyone contacting their GP practice would have guaranteed access to a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional within 48 hours. Guidance has been issued to NHS boards to support the implementation of that target. There is guidance to support the implementation and monitoring of the new General Medical Services contract, including the Quality and Outcomes Framework and the Statement of Fees and Entitlements, covering arrangements to offer a range of appointments, and details of the 48 hour access target. In addition, guidance and support is provided to those practices participating in the Scottish Primary Care Collaborative, led by the Centre for Change and Innovation.