Questions · Cathy Jamieson

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make an announcement regarding the proposed dynamic loop on the Glasgow to Carlisle rail line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Feasibility work isexpected to be concluded in October and announcements will be made thereafter.

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change last met representatives of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I met with StrathclydePartnership for Transport (SPT) Vice Chair David Fagan, at my meeting with the Regional Transport Partnership Chairs on 17 July 2007, and with the Chief Executive, Ron Culley on 22 August 2007.

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and representatives of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport regarding rail projects in Ayrshire.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Cabinet Secretaryhas discussed progress required on the dynamic loop at Dunlop with the Chief Executiveof Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve services for people diagnosed with Huntington's disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsiblefor meeting the health care needs of those with long term conditions such as Huntington’s. Services for those with inherited diseases, such asHuntington’s disease are primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to plan andto fund, in …

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated specifically to help people diagnosed with Huntington's disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: Funding of servicesfor individuals with inherited diseases, such as Huntington’s disease is primarilythe responsibility of NHS boards to plan, in the light of the needs of their residentpopulation, from the unified budgets which are made available to them fro…

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Ayrshire and Arran are currently diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requestedis not available centrally. However, it is estimated that there are around 28 peoplewith Huntington’s disease in Ayrshire and Arran.

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be made available to support the modernisation of mental health services in Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3403 on 6 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve mental health services for young people in Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3403 on 6 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to review and modernise mental health services in Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3403 on 6 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

17 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the plans to carry out a review of mental health services in Ayrshire and Arran will be affected or delayed by the need to look again at other aspects of local health care.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Ayrshire and Arran are carrying out a review of mental health services inAyrshire and Arran. I understand that the proposed model formental health services in Ayrshire and Arran will be presented to the Ayrshire andArran NHS board in early 2008, seeking a…

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the treatment of bowel cancer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish BowelCancer Framework Group (SBCFG) has provided strategic advice and guidance to deliverthe actions set out in the Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change BowelCancer Framework and, in particular, a co-ordinated approach across sympt…

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projected impact the national bowel screening programme will have on deaths from bowel cancer.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish BowelScreening Programme is expected to save over 150 lives per year when fully implemented.

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the national bowel screening programme will be available in all NHS board areas.

Answer · Shona Robison: The programme roll-outstarted in June 2007 and is due to be available in all NHS board areas in December2009.

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether staff formerly employed at the Hannah Research Institute and now employed by Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian universities will be allowed to retain and fulfil the remainder of their transitional funding grants (less the grant holder’s salary) if re-employed by other Scottish ac…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3274 on 3 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently employed at Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian universities having moved from the Hannah Research Institute when it closed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3274 on 3 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review the terms and conditions of staff who moved from the Hannah Research Institute to Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian universities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Seventeen of theformer Hannah Research Institute staff are currently employed by Strathclydeand Glasgow Caledonian Universities under a transitional funding arrangement.The terms and conditions of those staff are a matter for those Universities. Thetransition…

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the current STAG appraisal into a Maybole bypass will be published.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The appraisal of options fora Maybole Bypass is expected to be available from the end of September.

25 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding and support has been given to clubs in the west of Scotland affiliated to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs in the last three financial years.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Funding is providedto support youth work organisations nationally. The Scottish Government providedheadquarters grant funding to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC)of £197,240 from April 2004 to March 2007 (£65,240 for 2004-05, £66,000 for…

25 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding and support has been given to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs nationally in the last three financial years.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Governmenthas supported the Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC) through the UnifiedVoluntary Sector Fund for Children, Young People and Families by providing £197,240in total from April 2004 to March 2007 (£65,240 for 2004-05, £66,000 f…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that all of those with, or at risk of, osteoporosis are diagnosed and prescribed appropriate medication to prevent fractures.

Answer · Shona Robison: SIGN Guideline 71 on themanagement of osteoporosis, and a number of other SIGN Guidelines which referto osteoporosis, set out the appropriate pharmacological management of thecondition.As indicated inthe answers to questions S3W-1938 and S3W-1939, both…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish IntercollegiateGuidelines Network Guideline 71 on the Management of Osteoporosis recommendsthe use of Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans for the diagnosis ofosteoporosis, and states that DEXA should be available in all NHS Board areas.This…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that preventative drug treatments are available to high-risk groups, such as those aged over 50 or diagnosed with osteoporosis, to stop them from suffering fractures.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware that this is anissue which NICE is considering in the context of its multiple technology appraisalof drugs used in the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures inpost-menopausal women. The process relating to these appraisals is set…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mandatory treatment options will be available to patients with osteoporosis who cannot take alendronate or do not respond to it.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware that this is anissue which NICE is considering in the context of its multiple technologyappraisal of drugs used in the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragilityfractures in post-menopausal women.For women who cannot take orhave withdraw…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that effective preventative treatment is available to all those who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis but have not experienced fractures.

Answer · Shona Robison: On 21 February 2007,the Scottish Executive issued guidance, HDL (2007)13 (<ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf">http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf</a>) which asks NHS boards and Community Health Partnerships to have a…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that a wide range of effective treatments are available to people diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are a number of SIGNGuidelines which deal with the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, inparticular SIGN Guideline 71 on the Management of Osteoporosis, covering the pharmacologicaland non-pharmacological aspects of management. These Guidelines ar…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support and advice it will provide to help people with coeliac disease to maintain a gluten-free diet.

Answer · Shona Robison: Once a diagnosis ofcoeliac disease has been confirmed, the only treatment is strict avoidance of glutenin the diet. This will be made very clear by the person’s GP, specialists and anyother health care professionals involved.The British NationalFormula…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to expedite diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: Early diagnosis isessential, to ensure the condition can be managed and to avoid serious complications.Once coeliac diseaseis suspected, the person’s GP can arrange for a blood test to be carried out, butdefinitive diagnosis depends on a biopsy of the …

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it will make to raise public awareness of coeliac disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: I commend the workof voluntary organisations such as Coeliac UK,who have an important role to play in raising public awareness of the condition,through events such as Coeliac Awareness Week.

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to raise awareness of coeliac disease among NHS primary care staff.

Answer · Shona Robison: In May 2006 the PrimaryCare Society for Gastroenterology produced an updated version of its guideline onthe management of adults with coeliac disease in primary care. This covers recentdevelopments in the areas of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosi…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation will take place about the revised proposals for health services in Ayrshire and Arran.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I will look to theIndependent Scrutiny Panel to assess the safety, sustainability, evidence-base andvalue for money of the revised proposals, and to be satisfied that the views oflocal people have been taken into account.